The Best Music For Sleep

I sometimes like to listen to music to help me get to sleep, and I have a whole collection of songs and genres I like to play. What is funny is that I have a couple of friends who do the exact same thing, but their selections are much different from my own, and it got me to thinking about the best music for sleep and what it would actually be. As the old saying goes, different strokes for different folks, and I guess the best music for sleep just depends upon who you ask.

One of my favorite songs that I like to listen to when I am trying to go to sleep is ironically entitled Sleepers Awake, by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is such a mellow piece of classical music and so beautifully composed, that even when I am awake and it comes on I immediately start to become drowsy and have to get up and stretch a bit. This is probably the best music for sleep for me, because I can always fall asleep whenever I hear it and I never grow tired of playing it before I go to bed, but I do like some variety.

I am not sure if this works for everyone, and it could just be the Texas in me, but some of the older country and western ballads that do not really have a lot of louder dynamics can usually put me to sleep. I am not sure if it is their voices or the music itself, but I have always found this type of music to be very relaxing and soothing. Even more modern songs, like "Chiseled in Stone" by Vern Gosdin, for me, is some of the best music for sleep, and I will often play a compilation of country songs that I created just for that purpose.

On the other hand, a good friend of mine swears that the best music for sleep for him is classic rock. He said that he can put on a local oldies station and be asleep in no time. He attributes that to the fact that he grew up with a lot of the songs that he listens to before he is going to bed and said he thinks it just takes him back to his childhood where he always felt safe and comfortable. Another friend of mine swears by light jazz when he is trying to get to sleep.

I guess the best music for sleep just depends on what types of music a person likes for each different occasion. I know that soft classical and country can usually do it for me, but for other people, it may be something else.