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Critical listening and altered states

Ok, this is not a question about relaxing, but about listening to evaluate how the system (or a piece of gear is sounding).

What, in your experience, are the pluses and minuses of altering your state of mind for listening? This can include anything you've used to affect your everyday state of mind, from coffee, beer, scotch, tobacco, to much stronger — and psychoactive, dissociative — additives.

What do you gain by altering your consciousness in terms of what you notice, attend to, linger on, etc?
What causes more details to emerge?
What allows you to stick with a thread or, alternately, make new connections?

Or perhaps you like to keep all those things *out* of your listening; if that's you, please say a bit about why.

hilde45

Showing 1 response by barts

barts's avatar
barts
753 posts
 
In bumbling feeble attempt to answer the original question...

For true critical listening I believe that completely sober is the way to go.

Ok, now that we got that out of the way, I also believe that a little buzz can add enjoyment to the experience.  And I have heard things that I didn't notice in a sober state.  I attempt to take note and at some later
sober date see if it sounds the same as buzzed.

BTW I'm chuckling at myself as I type "buzz" and "sober" because I only alter my states in a very minor enjoyable way.  The days of getting blasted and listening to music are far behind me now.

Regards,
barts 
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