vladivan t1_ixfg7cz wrote on November 23, 2022 at 1:07 AM

On a serious note: let's assume the aliens have some kind of hearing organ. Our music would probably sound like noise to them. Harmonies and melodies would make no sense to them. If they have a spoken language, they would be able to detect a rhythm though. So techno would be the best choice.

Their music would of course sound like nothing to us. Unless they also have techno producers.

solenyaPDX t1_ixfmfo8 wrote on November 23, 2022 at 1:58 AM

Actually, harmonies and melodies do have math in them. There are specific frequency ratios present in those intervals, such that the peaks intermittently line up. This is why it sounds good to us, and I think they'd hear that too.

As such, I recommend Canon in D. It starts simple, one note at a time, and adds in complexity little by little. I think it an excellent option for an introduction to human music.

The other that could go with it would be somewhere over the rainbow, sung by Iz.

Kavy8 t1_ixgdd02 wrote on November 23, 2022 at 6:04 AM

Yay physics! Harmonics! Resonance!

vladivan t1_ixgiv4a wrote on November 23, 2022 at 7:12 AM

Understanding music is a learned process. Western music is different to music from the east. Music from the east often sounds weird to westerners. (This is based on research). Instruments have also been tuned in many different ways in history. So intervals have changed throughout history aswell. Matg is just one factor. If humans on earth can't fully appreciate music from different cultures, they would most likely not understand alien music.

BrewThemAll t1_ixh389d wrote on November 23, 2022 at 11:55 AM

It's kinda strange to talk in these absolutes on a subject we know nothing about. It's all speculation. No sense in saying 'Their music would of course sound like nothing to us'.

vladivan t1_ixh72w4 wrote on November 23, 2022 at 12:37 PM

This is based on research into music. There is a significant difference between cultures when it comes to music data. If there is a difference between humans on earth, it is more than likely that the difference between aliens and humans,when it comes to music, would be huge.