comment: >
  
  Right on, my 'unpopular' opinion here is really to ask someone "oooh isn't that an awesome chord/sound/melody intro? Wanna see how that's done?" It might give someone more appreciation for something they already love? Maybe I'm just an elitist musician, and I'm a pretty shitty one if so hahah
context: After reading some of your responses below, I do feel that your initial post sounds more gatekeepy than you may have intended. However,  I still don't entirely agree by virtue of its attempt to quantify a purely subjective experience. 
  Perhaps a less contentious way of conveying this idea would be to say that musicians have another avenue to appreciate music that isn't available to non musicians. >
  
  I think that it's true for certain genres and or songs.
  Take jazz as a genre for example, a lot of the subtlety is lost if you're not trained in the field so to say >
  
  It's true for almost anything you can study or take an interest in. We're generally blind to the details of things until we take a closer look. >
  
  I think assuming that knowledge = appreciation is an iffy prospect. Plenty of people know a ton of shit about stuff without appreciating it at all.
  And chord changes? Is that all you got? Chord changes are actually one of the things most people can easily notice about music, even if they don't know what it's called.
  Also, I used to play an instrument some years back and no longer do. But I think I actually appreciate music more now because I'm more attuned and experienced with the kinds of emotions that inspire good music, instead of just the technicality of it. >
  
  That is a tough one because I feel as though knowledge and appreciation in music are generally correlated. However, in tech it seems like the less knowledgeable the more “magical” everything feels. >
  
  So what your really saying is "since I play an instrument, I appreciate music on a level that your tiny brain couldn't comprehend." as you sip your drink with your pinky stuck out. >
  
  I am also someone who plays an instrument and I do not agree with Op. But i agree with this comment. >
  
  Multi-instrumentalist here, there absolutely is a difference in perception of music. I listened to a German (iirc) music theory book a while back that discussed psychologists (PHDs) doing MRIs during musical playback for both musicians and non musicians. 
  I don’t recall exactly what the differences in the study were, but anecdotally the difference between my wife (who plays two instruments) and myself is noticeable. When we listen to songs together she will often ask “what instrument is that?” 
  OPs post seems geared toward technical knowledge, however I would argue that knowing the difficulty of creating a good sound, whether simple or complex does give you an appreciation for the artist performance.
  I think any person can adequately discuss the emotion and the quality of a song, with respect to their personal taste. However, many people that listen to pop music simply shrug off classical, despite it often times being multitudes more complex, and knowing how difficult some classical music can be does give you a better appreciation for it, even if it’s not in your go to playlist. >
  
  Honestly that's a beautiful way to put it and I totally can see it from that perspective. Actually I agree with this I wish the OP would have said it as eloquently as you did. He said it in a very condescending way. >
  
  Learning music theory ruined music for me. I can't listen to music anymore, without having to analyze the composition and it fucking sucks.
  I know that I'm not alone in this. >
  
  True also not everyone who plays an instrument is knowledgeable in music theory lol so if anything (and no i don't agree with this, but if anything) OP could say if you didn't study music theory you can't enjoy music or smth >
  
  If I'm not mistaken, Mozart didn't play any instruments. He "only" wrote music. Pff... Did he even love music if he didn't play?! >
  
  Dude what the fuck??? Where do you get your information from 😂😂😂 mozart was an incredibly proficient pianist and violinist
  Are you trolling? you must be trolling
  Edit: omg sorry i thought you were that other person that thought composers don't play instruments, I would have answered wayyyy nicer if I didn't mix it up >
  
  I forgot who the composer was, but the deaf one didn't play music if I'm not mistaken.
  OP's arguement about "you can't properly enjoy this this and that, unless blablabla" is stupid. It's like saying that you can't enjoy a beer unless you're an alcoholic. >
  
  Beethoven was deaf and he was an incredibly good pianist, very talented which is exactly how he could keep composing once he went deaf - because he was so deeply familiar with the instrument and music generally that he didn't even need to hear the notes anymore 
  Oh and definitely OP's argument is stupid and I don't agree but I have never heard of a composer who didn't play an instrument, I also have education in classical music and most of my mom's side of the family are professional classical musicians >
  
  I believe that John Powell (Kong fu panda and How to train your dragon) didn't play any instruments up until he took his degree in composing, no? Mostly because you get forced to play the piano for your music degree, despite it not being your main instrument. >
  
  That might be I don't know much about modern day composers, interesting topic though! But still he plays an instrument now, and there's good reason why they get forced to learn piano imo >
  
  you can't fully appreciate a movie until you've directed one, plebs >
  
  I don’t think you can appreciate it as much as someone who understands the nuisances of directing, no >
  
  There is nuanced difference between understanding and appreciating though. If OP said understanding that would make more sense, but anyone can appreciate art, or engineering, skill, talent, etc, to any degree. A film or song can be so complex that only those with intricate knowledge understand it, but it doesn’t necessarily make it more or less appreciable. 
  Basically I’m thinking that understanding is an objective measure (either you do or do not understand how something works/is made), and appreciation is a subjective measure that entirely depends on personal preferences. A fragrance chemist, for example, can fully understand the intricacy of how the scent of a perfume/cologne is made, but personally have 0 appreciation for the actual smell. >
  
  Grew up playing piano, guitar, and violin - you’re wrong. How does me knowing what a chord progression is have anything to do with my enjoyment of music? If you hyper focus on chords and can’t genuinely enjoy the music, that might be a you problem >
  
  Listening to one of your favorite songs, you've never wondered why a particular melody/passage/chord sequence etc has given you goosebumps? I don't know why everyone keeps reading this as "YOU CAN'T ENJOY MUSIC EVEN ONE IOTA UNTIL YOU PERFECT AN INSTRUMENT" The same music that gives you goosebumps - you can create it yourself on an instrument and delve deeper into that emotion. Maybe I'm the only one that's happened to, and thus, a most very unpopular opinion. >
  
  No, I enjoyed it because I liked the way it sounded. I don't need to go into the specifics or details to fully understand why I like it to continue enjoying the song. It sounds good, I enjoyed it, that's enough for me >
  
  Fair enough! >
  
  You are/were definitely a band kid btw, it shows >
  
  Damn OP, this this post has “I’m the bassist and it’s my band” energy >
  
  I'm gonna say that playing the bass is the one thing that will make you appreciate music less. Kidding. >
  
  What? If someone makes a song that reminds me of the grief of losing a brother figure to cancer, there's some random person who appreciates it more than me because he plays the violin? >
  
  You don't need to do a thing to understand it. >
  
  I don't think one can well and truly understand something they haven't experienced.
  I can appreciate music but I don't think I can to the same capacity as someone who's put time,dedication and emotions into making it. I can objectively understand it but I can't really know and appreciate how it feels. >
  
  I cannot play an instrument for the life of me which leads me to appreciate artists who can not only play their instrument but can sing while doing it.
  I don't have to know how to play to be able to feel the awe over another person talent >
  
  It's actually interesting,must be a cultural thing because what I'm saying is the common consensus from where I'm from.
  I'm not saying you can't appreciate something,like the topic was i do believe you can appreciate it more when you know the nuances and experience first hand rather than as a somebody peeking in from the outside.
  Also I just realized I'm rather talking about appreciating things in general,not just music.
  I think for most people they take things for granted,and people in "the know" know to appreciate those things better. >
  
  r/Gatekeeping is gonna love this one >
  
  That's really unpopular. I like it (and I sort of agree with it) >
  
  I swear people here didn't fully read the post >
  
  Yeah opinions on here that mention a better understanding or appreciation of something usually get a lot of comments of people pointing out gatekeeping >
  
  It's only gatekeeping because they are butthurt and won't accept they won't know as much as someone who actually engrossed themselves into said work/activity. >
  
  I'm a musician I find it very much to be gate keeping. >
  
  I play guitar, the only thing that it gave me was: "Hey, this is this chord or this is this note I hear". It did not broaden or lessen my enjoyment - if the rhythm/lead or delivery of vocals in the music is not up to my liking it still sucks regardless of whether I play an instrument or not. >
  
  Recently I was playing a song on guitar that I love, and for years I've been playing one of the chords as a simple "C#minor". I happened to look at the sheet music and it noted the chord as a C#9. The 9th changed the color and texture of the sound. I've had this 'enlightened' feeling about the song ever since, every time I play it 'correctly' now and listen to it. >
  
  Ugh you really sound awful. Stop thinking you're superior.  Unless you're Steve Vai just stop. >
  
  But isn't that awful and limiting to only one type of appreciation? >
  
  Playing an instrument from an early age definitely developed a different enjoyment of music than I see in people who don't play an instrument, but I wouldn't say it's better because it's too subjective. For example, I can't for the life of me enjoy a song for the lyrics if I don't like the other parts. Of course, plenty of non-musicians feel a similar way, but it's more pronounced in musicians.
  I also think it's interesting how a lot of musicians like "basic" or extremely popular music for purely technical or aesthetic reasons, while a lot of non-musicians associate good music taste with liking the most obscure stuff possible, regardless of technical quality. I noticed this a lot when I was one of the only musicians at my college radio station. >
  
  Interesting, I like this and probably relate to it the most. I'm rather dismissive of pop music, but I appreciate its production quality just from the sense of how it's done 'perfectly'. I really prefer low-fi and imperfect music. I'm ok as a guitarist, and I've played around with violin and keyboards and learned just enough music theory to be familiar with it, but I really think its the range of things that's given me the ability to enjoy so many types of music, from the production standpoint all the way through the most drone-like exotic music and electronic productions. >
  
  And you can't appreciate music as much as someone who makes an instrument. >
  
  That's true. >
  
  That’s like saying I can’t appreciate a unusual sandwich someone else made. I know enough to manage just fine, thanks. >
  
  "Can't appreciate" or "you'll appreciate it more"? >
  
  More than what? >
  
  Gatekeeping. No thanks. You're right that this is an unpopular opinion though, so you get an upvote. >
  
  How is this gatekeeping?  I don't think you understand what gatekeeping means. >
  
  This is mind bendingly stupid.
  Are you that desperate to feel superior to strangers? >
  
  Mind bendingly stupid, to be able to appreciate music more when you understand how a composition is made. Oh.k. >
  
  It’s just not something you can rate on a scale. There’s no way to measure appreciation so you don’t know how people feel about listening to music. >
  
  Richard Wagner didn't play an instrument, but I reckon he had a greater appreciation for music than me. Same goes for Tchaikovsky and several other renowned composers. >
  
  Uuuuhm like 99,9% of composers play at least piano and many play a few different instruments
  Tchaikovsky started learning piano at the age of 4 >
  
  And wagner started piano at the age of 7 and was really talented, piano is kind of the basis for most of classical composing >
  
  I have a doctorate in piano performance and perform and teach music for a living. This opinion is simply wrong and misinformed. Almost everyone connects with music in some way, and one does not need to be technically adept at an instrument to have a passion for learning and studying the intricacies of music theory. Honestly elitest ideas towards music do a disservice to those of us in the field. >
  
  Did everyone miss the key words "AS MUCH"? Did everyone read this as "you have to be a professional masterclass musician to enjoy music to a great extent" ? You don't think you have an even deeper emotional connection to music when you understand how it's composed or created? >
  
  No, I really don’t. I believe I have a better academic understanding of how the music works than a non-musician, but it has not impacted how I process it emotionally. In fact, understanding it too much has made me approach it too logically rather than sitting back and feeling it. I can’t just hear music without analyzing the chords in my head. >
  
  I'm a classical vocalist and some people wouldn't consider that a "real" instrument when compared to say, the piano or guitar (even though we have to learn music theory and sight reading too! And at music school, every has to take basic piano, guitar and voice classes to develop basic proficiency in those three core instruments, so I can play those at an intermmediate level).
  I think anyone can appreciate music, regardless of whether or not they play an instrument. 
  I will say that as a vocalist and someone who has had to learn about voice as an instrument, I understand it from a technical perspective more than someone who hasn't had that training. So, the perspective I bring to appreciating vocalists can often be different from the perspective nonsingers bring. And I actually really enjoy hearing what it is that nonsingers appreciate about vocal music because they're processing the sound in a way that I'm not. And it helps me to know that as a musician. >
  
  I believe this is true (to an extent). People enjoy music for all sorts of reasons, and enjoy various aspects of it differently than others. Some are about the lyrics, some are about the melody, some about the rhythm, some about the actual singer(s), some like the types of instruments, etc. 
  Further, this appreciation can be a double edged sword. Example: I picked up guitar playing 30+ years ago at around age 17 or 18, and I can DEFINITELY say that I gained a much greater appreciation for a lot of the music that I really love. I also lost some appreciation for some music that I previously loved because it was so simplistic. >
  
  This comes off as pretentious but it's sorta true. I recall thinking that golf was super boring until I started to play and then I realized how difficult the things the pros were doing was and I appreciate it way more. Obviously you can appreciate something without understanding how it works but you appreciate it more when you do >
  
  I think you should change appreciate to understand then I’d agree.  Anybody can appreciate sounds. Although when discussing music I have a hard time taking somebody who doesn’t play anything as seriously as someone who does. Don’t want to be “gate keeping” but it is what it is. >
  
  The more I've learned about playing an instrument and making music, the greater I appreciate music and the more I hear in it. I would say and have been told I have a greater appreciation for music than most. And that's cool I guess. But my experience is probably no more fun or valid than someone who casually listens to the radio. Music, like all hobbies, should be enjoyed at whatever level you want! And no one should ever judge you for it. >
  
  Certainly. I wouldn’t preface any music experience with “…but can you play anything?” as if their enjoyment isn’t valid. What I would do is if someone was noting a certain passage of music or showed interest in dissecting something about a tune they love I’d want to show them how interesting that might be to recreate. >
  
  Yeah this is bars, I agree. I think every musician knew exactly what you were talking about eoth this post but you didn't word it very tactfully but I can see that it isn't at all hoe you meant. >
  
  Yeahhhh i went with the blunt, untactful way of just putting the thought out there as an unpopular opinion, seems to have done well to spark the convo lol but I sweeear I am not an elitist musician. I love music, give it my best effort but remain average at best, and my favorite type of tune is downtempo, lo-fi, imperfect stuff, not polished perfect orchestrations and such. Think I’m gonna lose my defense though lol >
  
  Gatekeeping musical appreciation.
  Nice. /s >
  
  You appreciate it differently, not more >
  
  That's stupid.  So you can't appreciate sports if you aren't an athlete? You can't appreciate food if you are not a chef?  Can't appreciate movies or TV shows because you are not an actor? >
  
  *as much.
  Readings is fundamentals. >
  
  Way to dodge the questions there bucko. >
  
  Ok, on a similar level, people say soccer is boring and have never played it.
  Electronic music “is just made by a computer.”
  You don’t have to be a “professional” to elevate the appreciation but it helps to have more in depth experience with the subject. >
  
  On the other hand, there's thousands of sports fans who haven't played the sport but are just as passionate as the players. Electronic music can be made with instruments, depending on how literal you mean by electronic. >
  
  He’s just saying it can give you a better appreciation. Knowing how to play an instrument is not required to enjoy music >
  
  Yeah I get that, I just think that was a little unclear in the initial post. >
  
  It will give you a greater appreciation of the technical skill and difficulty, sure. But that's not the same as appreciating the music. >
  
  This is what I thought OP meant in the first place tbh >
  
  An ignorant gate keepy post that's most likely bait because OP doesn't get enough attention in their personal life. How original. >
  
  I can’t believe the depth of emotions this is provoking! Did everyone translate this into “You will never enjoy music correctly or even a little bit if you haven’t masterfully perfected several instruments.” Haha no. What I’ve seen is people dismiss whole genres- hip hop, electronic music, country, and ethnic music as being untalented and boring. Play an instrument and you will- key words here: appreciate more music to a further extent . >
  
  From my own experience, have you not ever recreated a chord from something you were listening to, like 'what IS that chord that sounds so good, when it combines with another one?!" I don't know. It's given me chills and goosebumps when I do that. >
  
  I mean, would you say a factory line assembly man who makes fireworks but hates them appreciates it more than a 9 year old kid who absolutely loves and enjoys them? >
  
  I kinda thought more along the lines of appreciating artistic/ creative pursuits. >
  
  I disagree, learning music theory and all that tends to de-magicify music. It goes from mysterious to mechanical >
  
  I disagree with this. Knowing how to read, grammar, spelling, sentence structure, etc. doesn’t take away from my enjoyment of books. It’s not mechanical. Music theory is just a way of describing what you already hear. >
  
  Absolutely. Knowing theory, I actually appreciate a lot of my favorite song even MORE. Knowing how complex some of the melody and harmony writing is for a song, makes me like it even more. 
  Whether the artist knew what they were doing or not. Doesn't matter. I know what they are doing. And if they didn't know? That adds another level of complexity. 
  Like Nirvana. Kurt wrote some very unique and sophisticated melodies. He had no idea how complex some of those were. But we do, when we break down the song. 
  So yeah. Musical knowledge on an academic level absolutely makes you appreciate music more. >
  
  I don’t think playing an instrument is a prerequisite. But I do think the act of studying music and having learned how to listen can help you appreciate music better. But you don’t need to play an instrument to do this. >
  
  Yep that’s it, just appreciate it more. >
  
  Would you like a wine glass to fart in? >
  
  You can't enjoy apps until you make one yourself >
  
  You can’t enjoy them, or you’ll appreciate them more if you make one yourself? >
  
  Spoken like a true snob >
  
  I will say, learning an instrument and some theory allowed me to notice certain parts of music and enjoy it more. But it's not  required for everyone to learn it to understand and enjoy it >
  
  I'm right with you. You can love and enjoy and appreciate music just fine. I seem to be in the way far down minority of people who says, "oh wow, it's the combination of this chord, this melody and this vocal, " for example, that makes something sound so good. >
  
  "The combination of this chord, melody and vocals" is like the most basic elements of music.  Keep gatekeeping something that it doesn't even sound like you know that much about. >
  
  How is it gatekeeping? I think people overuse that word a lot. And the prevalence of inability to read this one sentence is astounding. "appreciate more". Not "you'll never be a fan of music until you play an instrument expertly." So bizarre. >
  
  You can't appreciate movies unless you've made you own >
  
  True, you can probably appreciate it more once you've made one. >
  
  Mate, that was me mocking you. >
  
  And I, to you, good sir. >
  
  Truely unpopular opinion- yay >
  
  Good thing I play the triangle then. >
  
  Really stands out in the mix! >
  
  Disagree. You will be more knowledgeable on why certain melodies and chord progressions make you feel a certain way, but that doesn't deminish the listening experience of people who don't have a theoretical music background. >
  
  I mean, this will be an unpopular opinion I don’t agree with and it looks like others don’t either. 
  Have an upvote. >
  
  I disagree. A lot of people forced to play an instrument by their parents actually hate music because of that. There's also a lot of people who look down on instruments they don't play or genres of music that doesn't use their instrument. >
  
  Things can be appreciated for various reasons, so no, this is not correct. >
  
  Try making music in some DAW.  Its just that you will find out its harder than you thought and appreciate  it more bcs of that. >
  
  Playing an instrument gave me an understanding but more of a love for music. >
  
  Oh you appreciate music? Name every instrument ever made… >
  
  No, I appreciate music more. >
  
  Disagree on the premise of this argument.
  "You can't enjoy food as much as a professional chef."
  Instrumental music is some of my favorite. Be it classical, video game OST's or other synth/random stuff.
  I find that instruments can convey emotion and feelings far better than words.
  I used to play acoustic guitar and electric bass.   
  But I loved music far before I played. >
  
  But you can appreciate food more once you learn how to cook it right? You don't have to be a professional - chef, musician or otherwise - knowing what goes into it makes the experience a little deeper maybe? >
  
  You can have a more sensitive, nuanced and precise sense of taste, and are able to appreciate food more than a 5 star chef with decent taste.
  Having appreciation for the process isn't the same as enjoying the product of said process.
  This is how I see it. >
  
  That's an excellent description really. I agree. >
  
  I'm a huge believer that as a musician you enjoy music much differently than someone who is not. You'll pick up things that the regular listener wouldn't normally pick up. Same goes the other way, as it might seem more magical for a non-musician since they don't know the technical aspect of how something is being composed. >
  
  ok? dont care
  music sounds good >
  
  I think I would be if I was saying only certain types of music are worth listening to and you can't even listen to quality music until you've mastered an instrument. But in fact.... what I'm saying is... learn a little bit about what goes into making a song - any of the hundreds of genres -  and you might love that type of music even more. >
  
  I actually did my BA dissertation on this topic. It's not really about the level of appreciation, more about the difference in appreciation. Extensive musical training (especially aural training) obviously leads to a better understanding of the content of a piece of music. However, this can add to the listening experience in a positive OR negative way.
  One thing I did discover, which vaguely relates to OPs post, was that musical training can lead to a preference for more complex music, but not a better appreciation of music in general. 
  This was simply an undergraduate dissertation though so these findings are not definitive. There is a lot more information on this topic and it's very interesting (to me lol) - especially when you get into different methods of teaching music, neurological factors etc. >
  
  Very interesting thanks for this! This honestly arose from a conversation with friends, some who play instruments and others that don't. I am absolutely not dismissing anyone's love of music that hasn't played. Just thought it would be an interesting 'unpopular opinion' and I am truly surprised at how many people are angry about this haha. >
  
  I actually think it's a great unpopular opinion to spark discussion, and the comment section gives an insight into people's obvious passion for music - which is great! I do think it's easy for people who don't have musical training to get offended by it though as I can understand it feeling a little condescending. Great post for this sub though, glad I got to weigh in on something that I've actually researched for once lol >
  
  I really expected more answers like this haha I can't believe it's this unpopular of an opinion! >
  
  I kind of agree actually because i think if you know the difficulty of the passage played or know with what kind of brilliance its written you can enjoy it even more because you are more fascinated! Still i think most of the mainstream music nowadays is very easy to listen to because its less complex instrument wise so i think you dont need a deep musical understandig to feel it! >
  
  I agree and everyone here hates you. upvoted >
  
  LOL >
  
  As a professional music, I think you're almost correct with a huge caveat but otherwise completely off the mark.
  First, "music" is a humongous word. Regardless of how many instruments you play, you still wouldn't be able to be an expert in all of it.
  For example, my degree in percussion and my expertise in jazz drumming does nothing to help me understand classic Hindi music being played on a sitar. 
  Furthermore, just because you can strum three or four chords on a guitar or even tell me the difference between major and minor doesn't you can tell me anything about the history of the blues or rock like my father who is a walking encyclopedia of music knowledge from that era even though he can barely figure out a G Major on a guitar. 
  This is ultimately a discussion about musical pedagogy and what a musician actually knows about music when they learn an instrument, but this comes off as elitist, gatekeeping bullshit. I guarantee you you know far, far less about music than you think.
  "Chord changes and melodies" do not sound like the types of criterion for knowing a lot about music, and what about these could someone who plays piano would be unknown to someone who doesn't? Please, enlighten me about chord changes and melodies. >
  
  
  I guarantee you you know far, far less about music than you think
  
  Absolutely, I'm a life long learner, I'm not a professional, I know only the basics. All I'm trying to convey is the wonder and awe someone might experience from recreating one of their favorite melodies or passages or stumbling on their own bit of magic from playing an instrument. Something that recently happened to me was how, forever, I was playing a song that I thought was a simple C# chord, but then the sheet music showed me it was actually a C#9 and it gave this whole new texture and color to the song for me. But.. as it says in the forum, this is just my unpopular opinion. I'm not professing a definitive irrefutable take here, just my thought that hey, if you really love music, if you get into it, playing it, you might love it even more! maybe I should move this over to r/badopinions lol >
  
  I don't see how a layperson would care one iota if a D# has been added to a C#maj chord.
  You should spend like 20 years learning a specific instrument and see how your relationship changes with music. >
  
  Alright, I've played guitar for 30 years. I'm nowhere near a standard of excellence in any realm with it. I've played violin. Poorly. Keyboards same level of perpetual beginner. And messed with producing sounds and it's all given me a greater appreciation for music, musicians, and all that goes into it. I have this unpopular, bad, dumb, opinion that other people would appreciate a vast array of music even more if they tried playing instruments too. >
  
  I think it's about the quality and amount. Did it take you 30 years of guitar to learn that major chords can sound happy and minor chords can sound sad? How much arrangement or theory did you learn in that time and how did you apply it to how you listen or think critically about music?
  My point is, because time spent playing an instrument is no measure of the knowledge of that instrument, it can't universally be applied as a measure of knowledge or appreciation of music. >
  
  I actually PRODUCE parts of istruments...soo..
  "You can’t appreciate music as much as someone who produces an instrument."
  You simply do not understand how i put hours of work and thought in some parts of an instrument, no matter how tiny, all are super important.
  So you plaing an instrument is one thing but you having 0 idea how they are made.. gives me more knowledge. And i simply enjoy music therefore more than other. >
  
  But are you producing a good instrument or is it just firewood? Kidding. >
  
  Hahahaha
  I dont wanna talk about what parts.. >
  
  Thank God Prince didn’t feel the way you do. Considering on some of his songs Prince played all of the instruments!!! >
  
  I aggree and if your hearing is well developed thankt to practice, you will hear new things in songs you've heard a thousand times. >
  
  As a musician I call BS >
  
  You can't enjoy cake as much as a baker. >
  
  Disagree.
  I play several instruments and my partner who doesn't, understands and appreciates the music as much as I do.
  You don't have to do something to have a solid understanding and appreciation for it. >
  
  Hmmm…interesting proposition…I don’t believe playing an instrument is required but having some basic knowledge of music theory can definitely increase one’s appreciation.
  Also, from the musicians I’ve known, I strongly suspect this is a popular opinion amongst people that DO play instruments. >
  
  That's like saying you need to be a chef to know when your food is good or bad. >
  
  But my post isn't "You need to be a professional to understand good or bad", it's: if you try cooking a meal yourself you'll appreciate what a chef does more. >
  
  That's still an incredibly stupid take.
  Hopefully you fall off your high horse soon. >
  
  Why do people always get so angry and triggered by this topic whenever it is brought up? It is totally true that when you’re a musician yourself and play an instrument yourself you can hear a lot more detail and appreciate a lot more of the music itself when listening to a song. A lot of non-musicians don’t even listen to the music or notice the instruments being played at all and only just listen to the lyrics. But people always get so angry just because it triggers them when they think someone is being “condescending” 
  Ah, fuck all of you triggered non-musicians lol >
  
  Ok but are there degrees to appreciation? What if I can play "happy birthday" on the harmonica? Does that mean I enjoy all songs more? Or only certain songs that happen to sound like happy birthday? What if I'm mid-way learning an instrument? At what point do you "level-up" to this appreciation spot your talking about? Do certain instruments make someone more or less appreciative? Like, is a guitar top tier, or what if you can only play the trumpet? Are you not able to enjoy BTS songs more because you can only play the trumpet? Or what about rap music? If I learn how to play a vintage 20th century Organ will I enjoy rap music more??
  Ok, ok, yeah... I'm being an asshole. But you see my point?
  This opinion is dumb. 
  I'm an artist, and I've painted professionally for a living at one point in my life. And trust me, some other people who can't mix the colour purple enjoy paintings a lot more than me. >
  
  Well. I don't know. I feel like I've met several people who dismiss lots of music like electronic music, or West African music, just to name a couple, as not being talented or 'real' music. And I always feel like I want to tell them, if you could dissect this music to see what it's made up of, you'd appreciate it more. Just my opinion. I'll move it out of 'unpopular' over to 'dumb' or 'bad' opinions lol >
  
  I think the word you're looking for is not 'appreciate' but 'relate.' 
  If you are a guitarist, for example, you relate to the guitar and the guitarist on a deeper level.  
  Appreciating music is like appreciating ice cream. Making your own ice cream does not necessarily mean you appreciate it more. >
  
  Good point, I can see that. But also, it lets you 'appreciate' the 'ingredients' right? Like, that's a more delicious, quality chocolate or something, maybe? >
  
  I think it helps you understand the value of labor and makes you knowledgeable about it. You still have to develop the actual taste to appreciate something. >
  
  So, let’s try it with another learned skill? 
  Because I do play instruments etc and so, I can only sort of imagine what it’s like to appreciate music without the knowledge I have….I’m not a dancer. Two left feet if I’m lucky lol now aside from the obvious stage freezing I can’t tell if a move is correct, if they could use more instruction, etc but I sure can appreciate that they’re doing something I can’t and it’s wonderful. 
  When I see other artists perform musically, I’m always thinking about the vocal range, did they hit that note supporting their diaphragm, did they nail the key change, etc. I can see and hear those smaller technical points and can appreciate a well done performance- although more often than not I end up with a list of distracting technical caveats no one else cares or notices lol 
  I think you can appreciate something greatly without knowing the technical mechanics and standards. But when you do know those things and can recognise them done well it sort of adds a layer of personalised appreciation to it? 
  Idk I’m stoned maybe that all makes no sense >
  
  I like that comparison. Right on. A friend of mine is into ballet, I don't get it, but I bet if I tried it I'd be amazed at all that goes into it. I just took music cause it's kind of my obsession, but any interest or activity it could be said the same - and I say this more for people who dismiss genres of music as being not good across the board. I bet they'd appreciate it more if they saw what went into it. >
  
  100% yes, I mean I’m not one to put on the kinda rave heavy bass stuff, but I’ve sat and made music in a programme listening to the same 16 bars to get it all lined up and I at least have lead ins and outs within each musical piece and it was still infuriating. I can’t imagine the nightmare it is trying to make a heavy percussive track, being as repetitive as they can be with just vocals or one distinct difference. And I cant rap either, how do you not get tongue tied and end up with the first letter of word one on word two and the first of word two on word one! 
  I think you sort of shot yourself in the foot by choosing music, because unlike nuclear power or theoretical sciences, the arts are intended to be accessible and open to everyone. Art is subjective and yet deeply personal. Often times we find interpersonal bonds strengthened  and lives saved by the art and work that people put out. So when someone says x bands song y saved my life when I felt alone and wanted to give up, and then someone else says “your feelings are less valid and intense because you don’t understand the music production/dance hours in lessons/canvas quality” I suspect people feel a little offended, even though objectively your opinion/take it correct. >
  
  Disagree with absolutes like "can't". Agree with probabilities like "far more likely". >
  
  The more I know about music theory, production and playing instruments, the less I can enjoy music as it is. >
  
  I'm in another field of the arts.  I have a saying for this in regards to civilians.
  Everyone can tell what is good and what is bad, and everyone can tell what entertains them and what doesn't.  The difference between those who create and those who watch or listen is vocabulary.
  If I say something is a piece of shit and Joe Blow says it's a piece of shit, I can pinpoint the exact reasons why, but Joe lacks the vocabulary that comes from training, and he can say something like "Those colors aren't right" if he's looking at a painting, or he can say, "People don't talk like that"  if he's watching a play.  Don't expect Joe to break down iambic pentameter. >
  
  This is completely wrong, music is subjective, I can see if you are talking about older styles, not many are tuned to that sound. But to say you can’t appreciate music a a musician does is dumb. This is coming from a three instrument playing musician. >
  
  You must never have used drugs and listened to music >
  
  depends on what you mean by appreciate
  i feel like you can't appreciate the craftsmanship or the creative genius as a non musician unless you've really listened very carefully and intentionally and have a really good ear.  however, i feel that you can definitely appreciate the emotional content just as much as a non-musician than as a musician, perhaps even more in some cases. >
  
  You meant to say you can't experience music the same way as someone who plays an instrument. It's not possible to quantify "how much" you can appreciate music because there's just not an objective metric for how much experiences effect you. >
  
  Lol this is dumb and gate keeping. I'd actually argue the opposite that someone can appreciate a song more than someone who plays am instrument because they can enjoy the melodies, not constantly critiquing it. >
  
  As someone who plays multiple instruments, I disagree.
  You can study musical theory without playing an instrument, a sense of rhythm and various other musical skills. Oh, and most people have, at the very least, attempted to sing. >
  
  But you're talking about the practical and literal element of instrument playing. That is one of MANY aspects of music and a very subjective one at that. 
  A lot of people have absolutely no interest in how difficult it might be to play an instrument, that knowledge adds zero to the experience of LISTENING to a piece of music in the majority of instances. 
  It might give YOU a greater enjoyment and appreciation for a piece of music, but I guarantee knowing how difficult an instrument is to play would make zero difference to how I enjoy or connect with a song, seeing as I have no interest in instruments or playing them. >
  
  I make money playing in bands and have recorded a few albums. Most people enjoy music more than me though. >
  
  You can’t appreciate food if you don’t know how to cook. >
  
  Wromg >
  
  Eh…I learnt violin and piano growing up. Everyone has different levels of appreciation of different types of music. If people enjoy something regardless of their “understanding”, it’s nice that they enjoy it. >
  
  Eh don't think you meant it as being gatekeepy but thus is gatekeepy >
  
  OP can’t appreciate music as much as my friend who has synesthesia and can smell music. There will always be a higher level of elitism.
  Does that also mean you can’t appreciate vocals in songs as much if you don’t know how to sing? So, if OP doesn’t know how to sing, can they just not ~understand~ any song with words as much as I can? I mean sure, the knowledge is helpful for me, but me knowing how to sing doesn’t change my love of Celine Dion. I’ve always known she was amazing, even before I learned singing. 
  Being more knowledgeable ≠ appreciation >
  
  I guess it’s appropriate that I have to continually repeat myself like a broken record on a post about music: it’s not about “you can or cannot appreciate “ music based on your instrumental ability, it’s the dissection of what strikes your mind, heart and soul with tunes that can lead you to appreciating music more. I have a horrid voice, my attempt at singing makes me appreciate great singers even more. >
  
  absolutely. >
  
  I would say it makes you more sensitive to that instrument. Before I played guitar, I didn't even care about guitar solos. After, I was able to understand them better and appreciate them more >
  
  Agreed.  But it doesn't have to be an instrument.  You just have to have be musically inclined and have an understanding of musical composition.  You could be a singer who spends all of his time around instrumentalists and still have the same appreciation as long as you have a physical understanding of how much work goes into composing a song. >
  
  As someone who learned an instrument later in life, I did not notice any changes in how much I enjoy music >
  
  Clearly didn't do it right then.  Forget everything you learnt and do it properly. >
  
  I mean I am not Beethoven but I am good enough to play live in a band lol >
  
  It was a joke, I meant to put /s at the end. >
  
  I think this can be true for some things, things that are complex and require knowledge of it to understand it to its potential. Like chess, someone who doesn't play or just isn't good isn't going to understand the intricate moves that high level players are making. Music or cooking doesn't require that understanding. >
  
  I think maybe your message came off a bit more egotistical than you intended. 
  As a musician I appreciate music more than I did before. Non musicians obviously appreciate music no doubt about it, but when you see it through the lens as a musician yourself it's not entirely the same. >
  
  Yeah I feel like everyone glossed over the words 'as much' and well, ya know, I'm posting this as an 'unpopular opinion' so I didn't think I needed to be delicate with the wording haha Millions of people love music that don't play an instrument, I'm perfectly understanding of that. I simply feel that if you understand how a particular part of a song, melody etc., is constructed, the same piece that has always given you enjoyment, you can delve deeper into that emotion and appreciate it even more. I say this as someone who is a lifelong average guitar player and played around with several other instruments. I hear interesting notes and passages in a wide range of music that has brought me respect for everything from metal, to rock, to hip hop to disco to electronic music, things I would've more likely dismissed. >
  
  Exactly. I think this does apply to all skill sets. When you yourself understand the craft and its technicalities, you can learn to appreciate it a bit more than those that don't. >
  
  Being an amateur musician myself, I'd say it can be the other way around. When I hear great players I mainly think how much I suck. No enjoyment, only depression. >
  
  Damn. If anything for me it motivates me. >
  
  It's the opposite. I cannot enjoy elementary band concerts because I know how terrible they are. >
  
  I agree with this opinion for myself, but not for everyone. I personally appreciate music on a different level after learning instruments/theory, but that’s just me. 
  I just finished up my music degree and I found that theory and work on a major instrument have heavily deepened my appreciation for music and theory in general. I love having the words to describe why something is ‘satisfying’. 
  On the other hand, I can see why this might suck the fun out of sitting back and enjoying the music for some people. Many people don’t have time, access, or the interest to learn an instrument but can appreciate music at the same level in different ways. 
  I just think that everyone appreciates music in different ways for different reasons, and that’s perfectly fine!