Find Good Music of the Genre You Like

Music is a fundamental part of most people’s lives and offers all kinds of benefits, from improved mood due to the release of dopamine to supporting our immune system and even helping us deal with psychological and physical pain. Most of us have favorite genres and artists and it can be fun to explore new music that is similar to what we already know we like. However, it can also be difficult to wade through the vast world of music. Read on to learn how you can effectively find what you like without wasting too much time.

Steps

Trying New Live Music

1. Find music festivals and shows. There are many music festivals that are specific to one genre, such as the Chicago Blues Festival and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco. Going out to music festivals will not only expose you to up and coming bands, but will also put you in contact with others who enjoy listening to the same type of music and you may find end up getting even more recommendations from them.
   • Music shows and festivals have the added benefit of experiencing the music in a new way, which can make you appreciate not only the new music, but the genre in a different setting.
2. Take note of random songs you like. Though we all have specific genres and artists we really like, sometimes we will randomly hear a song that we really enjoy. Do your best to find out what the song is and if it’s an artist you’ve never heard of before, then you’ve already expanded your inner music library a bit!
   • For example, if you hear a song you like in a bar or restaurant, ask an employee if they know what it is.
   • You can also use music apps, such as Shazam, if you have a smart phone. Such apps will pick up on the sounds around you and can be surprisingly effective in identifying the song title and artist if no one around you recognizes it.
3. Go to your local music store. Record stores in particular are a great place to find new music in the genres you like as the music is divided into different sections. Employees also tend to be knowledgeable about music so feel free to ask them for recommendations.
   • If you don’t know of any music stores in your area, trying looking up “music” or “record stores” on Google maps.
   • You should start by browsing the different sections of the store that carry the genres of music you like. However, if you want to find music that is similar to specific artists, you’re better off asking the employees directly.
   • Try not to be too specific. If you really, really like an artist, you probably will not be able to find another artist which sounds exactly the same, so don’t get frustrated if the employees give you recommendations that take you out of your comfort zone. After all, it would be boring to listen to music that all sounded exactly the same, so listen to their suggestions with an open mind.

Using the Internet

1. Check out music databases. There’s a wealth of information about music that will help you not only learn more about what you like and listen to, but will provide you with many new suggestions to listen to.
   • Try a site like AllMusic, which is essentially an online encyclopedia of music and even has options to stream music so you can listen as you browse.
     • To navigate this site, search for an artist you like and check out the “Related” tab near the top of the artist page. This page lists 1) artists which influenced your artist, 2) artists which are similar to your artist, and 3) artists which were influenced by your artists.
2. Use digital music aggregators. These are web-based technologies that collect music from all sources and consolidate it in one place. They can come in the form of apps or websites and are extremely useful for finding new music that is similar to what you like.
   • For example, the website If You Dig allows you to simply type in an artist you like and it will suggest related artists. Other options abound, including Gnod which describes itself as a “search engine for music you don’t know about” and Spotify, a commercial music service, that has a range of options, including radios and lists of similar artists, to help you find music you will enjoy.
   • If you are outside of the United States, the collection of music you can access may be limited due to copyright restrictions. Luckily, there are still other music aggregators that are not geo-restricted and you can access these from anywhere around the world. Check out Earbits Radio, Musicovery, or Shuffler.fm.
3. Read music journalism. Turning to the critics, such as Rolling Stone and Pitchfork, can help you find new music. Music journalists are taste-makers for a good reason. They tend to have an in-depth knowledge of music, including specific bands’ influences and peers.

Researching the Old Fashioned Way

1. Ask people for recommendations. Though many of us turn to the Internet for nearly all of our research, real world recommendations can be just as rewarding. We all have at least one or two people in our lives who have similar music tastes to us and so you should always look to these people as a resource.
   • If you know any music experts, be sure to seek their guidance. If they are knowledgeable about the area of music you are interested in, tell them who your favorites are and write down any suggestions they have. They will likely be able to steer you in the right direction based on your current tastes.
   • Ask your friends what they listen to. In all likelihood, your friends will have similar taste in music to yours, and the recommendations they give will be helpful.
2. Take a class. If you are serious about rock n roll or jazz, you may want to take your music appreciation to the next level by taking a class. You can enroll in online classes or community college classes. This may be a good option if there is one genre you are a die-hard fan of as you are sure to not only find new music, but come away from the experience with a deepened knowledge of and appreciation for that particular style of music.
3. Go to the library. Libraries are still an incredibly useful resource for finding new music, especially if your access to the Internet is limited. Public libraries tend to have CDs and sometimes other music formats as well.
   • Libraries can also be a resource if you are interested in doing more in depth research about music. You could ask as a librarian for books about the musical styles you like and read up on the history and influences of your favorite artists.
4. Use other forms of media. Exploring other art forms, such as reading books and watching documentaries about the artists and music genres you like can be a great way to learn more about the music influences and related or significant artists.
   • When doing this, it is helpful to keep a notebook handy to jot down notes and look up the artists to listen to their songs later.
5. Listen to the radio. Many stations just play the most current songs or the Top 40, but there are also stations which play older songs in a variety of genres.
   • Use a search engine to find stations in your area and their genre(s) of choice, or just dial around. Many stations keep records of what they played on their websites, and some even allow you to text or call in with questions about the artists they have played.

Tips

• Keep an open mind, and be generous to the artists you decide to test out.
• Be sure to try a variety of different methods. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people and let them know you are open to new music suggestions.

Warnings

• Piracy (downloading copyrighted material for free) is illegal and not worth doing just for the sake of new music. There are many sites where you can listen to music for free, such as YouTube and Spotify, without infringing on copyright laws.

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Sources and Citations

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