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How Many Times Do You Have To Listen To Understand A Piece Of Music?

Speaking solely about popular music, broadly speaking, it takes 2 to 3 listens to figure out if I like something.  Roughly meaning do I want to hear it again.  To get to the point where I think I understand the piece can take dozens of listens.  A big factor in how digestible a piece is whether it's a genre, artist or song I'm already familiar with.  At least for me truly new music is harder to get into.

Just curious as to how others experience new music.

128x128onhwy61
michaellent's avatar
michaellent
200 posts
 

Did you ever understand Picasso? There you go!
 

michaellent's avatar
michaellent
200 posts
 

it is not meant to be understood by you. It has meaning to the artist. Not necessarily to you

aewarren
658 posts
 

Once.

tony1954's avatar
tony1954
1,051 posts
 

I know it's not fair, but I am quite judgmental when listening to new music.

If I don't want to listen to the entire song, then it has almost zero chance of getting a second chance.

wolf_garcia
6,708 posts
 

I don't think you have to objectively "understand" a piece of music to absolutely enjoy it right away, from complex jazz or classical to a simple tune. If it feels good, it's good. I was a Beatles and Dylan fan in the 60s when it was new and would sit stunned when first hearing some new thing...saw Monk at 13 when he opened for Peter Paul and Mary at the Hollywood Bowl...didn't know any jazz, no clue who he was, got my mind blown. All that resulted in a decades long career playing music for a living.

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