For me it is Oldies Goldies from 60’s, 70’s, 80’s. We have actually one radio channel that plays with non stop so there’s no commercial’s to interrupt. Oldies Goldies are easy to “not” listen. Even I’m writing I found my self tapping my foot or humming and somehow it doesn’t disturb writing but sometimes even helps.
A friend just hooked me up with a group named Lost Years – retro wave synth. No lyrics, just wave synth goodness. Combine with the Tron Legacy soundtrack and Dance With the Dead and you have hours of futuristic writing joy.
I can’t write with anything rhythmical playing. For me, when necessary, it’s either straight noise-cancelling headphones or SomaFM’s Drone Zone. For doodling, a bit of Nils Frahm does the job.
No Man’s Sky Soundtrack
Hyper Light Drifter Soundtrack
Machinarium Soundtrack
Transistor Soundtrack
I also try some mediation music too. Most recent, I listen to apknite concentration music. This make me more focus on my work. It’s really productive, work well for me.
Does Peppa Pig theme song from kids’ room next door count?
Awesome list 8)
Thanks to devinganger for redirecting me to this list. I skimmed through the list and will go through it again and try all the links provided.
Personally I listen only to instrumental music at a low volume. If I work on a website I crank it up higher. I use headphones with noise cancellation.
For the most part I shun any music with lyrics as it is too distracting unless it is something like chanting of mantras and I am writing about India philosophy which then sets a Indian mood. I will sometimes listen to music in lyrics of another language that I don’t understand as it will not distract.
Otherwise for writing (I only do non-fiction) I prefer classical music of different regions as in Indian classical music, Persian classical, Arab classical, Chinese and Japanese classical music with traditional instruments. Classical Spanish and Flamenco guitar the later if I need an upbeat mood to keep me awake (I don’t drink coffee). These are not electric based and much more tonal in quality.
If I am coding then then I like to listen to virtuoso instrumental guitarists like Jeff Beck, and Joe Satriani as well as Flamenco music. And sometime rousing classical pieces like Marche Slav by Tchaikovsky or Toccata and Fugue in D minor by Bach.
Later I will give some links to different music genres that you might find interesting and useful for your writing. But in meantime I recently I stumbled across Didula, he is one of Russia’s most popular musicians who I never heard of before. He is a guitar virtuoso who blends his training in Slavic music with Spanish Flamenco and techno style music leading to an interesting fusion. It tends to be melodic and upbeat and calming music. Nothing that jars the nerves. 98% lyric free.
Here are a couple of samples:
youtube.com/watch?v=38SojId … adio=1&t=3
youtube.com/watch?v=wMNdIl0E49k
And his “Greatest hits.”
youtube.com/watch?v=4L3p9Iw_dzo
I prefer to download the tracks so as not to get distracted by what’s on the screen for downloading you could try
Link redacted: facilitates copyright violations. – Mod.
I’ve been experimenting with generated sound instead of music. There is a good selection of tracks at https://mynoise.net/NoiseMachines/isochronicBrainwaveGenerator.php, and you can adapt and combine them.
MyNoise also has an app for iOS! 
Best,
Jim (who is too distracted by melodies to listen to any kind of music while writing)
Ooh, this is just the kind of think I was looking for. Very smooth and flowing, reminds me a little bit of Bond and Loreena McKennitt’s “Book of Secrets” album.
Definitely earned a place on my list, thanks!
You are welcome
If you like Flamenco style that has a lot of “brightness” in it then you might like
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svfsqlkhCaE
Though it is 3 hours long the play list repeats 3 times.
Then you might try https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olTJf8OyD7A
Then a whole series of Spanish Guitar hits https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=spanish+guitar+hits+tt±+1
I like these as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chzHd1uSP_A
Very nice. Thanks.
My taste is music is varied. Sometimes it’s Chopin. Lately I have found Cajon music lifts me up and gets me in a mood to succeed no matter what comes. Great for getting past writers block. Gets the body dancing with the emotions and the mind.
Soppsleven’s Cajun Mix - 34 Upbeat Cajun Music Tracks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm5QF680FI8
I have eclectic tastes and even developed a liking/tolerance for (some) country music, but this would take a bit of getting used to. 
I also like I like the pentatonic scale of traditional Japanese music played with traditional instruments like Koto, Shamisen, and Bamboo Flute. .
This is a short piece featuring Shamishen “A Paper in the air” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqRABgSn8lc
Here is a long multi-track piece https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkW1iTyS8dk
Then there is traditional Chinese if you want a change of pace. Here are few samples.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kk6K_5fxZs&list=RD8kk6K_5fxZs
https://youtu.be/Tlsev6ZepqE?t=32
Very nice, added to my bookmarks.
Well having found the cliche of a coffee shop benificial I then found mynoise.net. There are so many soundscapes there and the real thing is to change ones environment as this is a stimulus for creativity. Each soundscape can be fixed or set to vary over time. I’ve found it useful for work and to aid sleep.
I’m a big fan of myNoise.net. I also have their iOS app, which is pretty damn awesome too. https://apps.apple.com/be/app/mynoise/id813099896
I’ve also mentioned them here: [url]Music for writing - #42 by JimRac]
Best,
Jim