Limited Musical Taste

Wondering about something:

Why is it that so many musicians I've met only seem to listen to one genre of music? (Or two at the most.) Death metalers listen to death metal, jazz guys listen to jazz, punkers listen to punk, indie rockers listen to indie stuff or maybe Velvet Underground. It seems that so many musicians are so limited.

What gives with that? Is it some kind of concerted effort to NOT like things or force oneself to be limited? The best musicians I've played with had varied tastes and were fluent in different genres. Is there some kind of law that one cannot listen to Cannibal Corpse and Kansas and Theivery Corporation all in the same week?

I'm a metal guy, and familiarity with other genres makes me better at playing metal. Isn't that part of being a musician? Isn't that what makes being a musician so enjoyable in the first place?

[tdub0199]

I play in a experimental metal band and I listen to everything from light Jazz - Pink Floyd - alternative - some Hip Hop - some country... I think it makes me a better musician and well rounded....

[snyderz]

Two shots of espresso this morning? Lighten up. To each his own, and all that rot. If someone likes ONE genre, what's the problem with that?

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by jhan

Wondering about something:

Why is it that so many musicians I've met only seem to listen to one genre of music? (Or two at the most.)

Maybe that says more about your circle of acquaintance than it does musicians in general.

Wow snyderz, maybe you need to lighten up a little. There was no angst in mu question.

[baba]

Actually, I've noticed exactly the opposite with musicians. Ed may be on to something...

[krafty]

While I spend a lot of time actively listening to very few genres of music (but oh, the hours I could spend talking about the sub-genres of those) I appreciate almost all genres. While I don't actively seek out classical music I think I have a pretty enlightened understanding of its influences in lots of music, especially when it comes to rock and metal. The same with some types of blues and jazz.

If someone really is ignoring everything but one genre than it's their loss, but I think you're jumping to some conclusions. If you ask them and they say "yeah, man, all I care about are the Ramones and the Sex Pistols" then I kinda feel sorry for them, but I believe most musicians aren't that shallow.

I hate to say it, but I've been pigeon-holed mainly because of what's coming through my speakers on a daily basis, but with the exception of "nu-country", some of the really monotonous rap stuff and the hipster-centric nerdcore stuff I listen to pretty much everything and enjoy it based on my mood. Most people just happen to catch me in my metal mood!

[tdub0199]

Originally Posted by krafty

While I spend a lot of time actively listening to very few genres of music (but oh, the hours I could spend talking about the sub-genres of those) I appreciate almost all genres. While I don't actively seek out classical music I think I have a pretty enlightened understanding of its influences in lots of music, especially when it comes to rock and metal. The same with some types of blues and jazz.

If someone really is ignoring everything but one genre than it's their loss, but I think you're jumping to some conclusions. If you ask them and they say "yeah, man, all I care about are the Ramones and the Sex Pistols" then I kinda feel sorry for them, but I believe most musicians aren't that shallow.

I hate to say it, but I've been pigeon-holed mainly because of what's coming through my speakers on a daily basis, but with the exception of "nu-country", some of the really monotonous rap stuff and the hipster-centric nerdcore stuff I listen to pretty much everything and enjoy it based on my mood. Most people just happen to catch me in my metal mood!

Well Said...

[Breslin dp]

I haven't run into that with most musicians that I hang with. I am a punk musician at heart but I play and listen to a broad spectrum of music. In fact as I write this I am listening to Stanley Clarke's album School Days.

[Marco A. Mayer]

Originally Posted by baba

Actually, I've noticed exactly the opposite with musicians. Ed may be on to something...

Same here.

[erigod23]

I listen to anything, with the exception of opera. I have nothing against it, just that I haven't been exposed to that piece of music that makes me "get it."
I play in punk, bluegrass and progressive rock bands and I've played in electronic improv bands.
I just love music.

[James Hart]

I completely agree with Ed, baba and Marco. Only 'limited listeners' I know are my non musicians friends.

[geeza]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

Maybe that says more about your circle of acquaintance than it does musicians in general.

I think this is probably pretty close to reality.

[Nurb]

Originally Posted by baba

Actually, I've noticed exactly the opposite with musicians. Ed may be on to something...

Same here, I listen to everything from jazz to death metal.

[Unrepresented]

I don't intentionally limit myself to a strict genre, but I know that for me there's an archetype that influences my musical tastes. I can find it in a variety of groups, and time periods, but it still is a fairly consistent set of criteria. I don't know that that makes me any better than someone whose criteria are all found in one tight genre.

For example: Does liking Mahavishnu Orchestra, Devo, and Slayer because all of them explore degrees of chromatic progressions and non-standard times in a rock setting make me any better than anyone else's limited genre focus?

[Ayliffe]

hangout with people who aren't douchebags.

[bassy7]

I only really saw this when I was younger-- as people were often expected to listen to a certain type of music, which was usually a genre that at least overlapped with what the rest of their "circle/clique" were listening to. Just as in middle and high school, if you dressed or acted a certain way- then you musical tastes would be "known" by others.
As most people get older there tastes expand in many areas---

That makes sense actually.

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

I don't intentionally limit myself to a strict genre, but I know that for me there's an archetype that influences my musical tastes. I can find it in a variety of groups, and time periods, but it still is a fairly consistent set of criteria. I don't know that that makes me any better than someone whose criteria are all found in one tight genre.

For example: Does liking Mahavishnu Orchestra, Devo, and Slayer because all of them explore degrees of chromatic progressions and non-standard times in a rock setting make me any better than anyone else's limited genre focus?

Ok folks. As I said, I didn't make this post with any degree of angst. I was just curious.

Once again we see the phenomenon of people saying things on posts that they would never say to someone's face. Rude is rude, no matter how you look at it.

[Ed Fuqua]

I'd say exactly what I said to your face.