If you are like most people, you may not pay too much attention to instrumental songs. We hear them all the time: in movies, in elevators, while we wait on the phone. We may even play them in the home or car for relaxation. However, do we really appreciate them in the same way that we do songs with words? If not, then we should.
Why should we appreciate instrumental songs more? The answer is simple: they are every bit as musically complex, if not more complex, than their lyrical cousins. However, there are no words. It may not be engaging enough to hold our attention. This simply is not the reason. You simply have to train your ear. Train your ear to hear the music. The music will take you where words cannot.
Appreciate Classical Music
You should not give thought to Classical music as being “boring”. Within the genre, there are so many different types of pieces that are enriched by the incredible diversity of the musical instruments. Each era has its own characteristics. Each instrument has its own distinct sound.
If you want to learn to appreciate classical music a little better then you should read into the history of each era. Familiarize yourself with the key composers. The music of Johann Sebastian Bach, for example, has a rich and polyphonic sound that beats the simplicity of modern pop music any day. There are also some wonderful Spanish classical and flamenco instrumental pieces that are worth a listen.
Instrumental Rock, Blues, and Jazz
These instrumental songs are ideal for those who typically love Rock music and Rock bands. Some of the best Rock guitar musicians, such as Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, are primarily instrumentalists. They make a decent living touring solo (or together) to a world wide audience. There are other instrumental guitar artists such as Ingwe Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert, and even Chuck Berry.
That does not even count the countless Jazz and Blues instrumentalists such as Robben Ford, Les Paul, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, and other greats. These artists all celebrate the instrumental form with complexity and passion.
Another fascinating sub genre of Jazz is Gypsy Jazz, a style of music essentially started by Django Rheinhardt. Modern day followers, such as Stochelo Rosenberg and the various Hot Club bands that have formed throughout the world, pay tribute to Django’s original style while giving it their own charisma.
Instrumental songs are worth appreciating and listening to. They are not boring at all. They are dynamic, interesting and every bit as worthy as songs with lyrics.
