Music and Climbing

This is my first post, so I'll keep it brief.

What are your thoughts on the correlation between music and climbing?

Especially in the gym...

Are there any climbing musicians out there?

Let me know whats up fellow artists!

Other climbers shouldn't have to hear your (anybody's) music. Keep it to yourself by wearing earphones or earbuds.

I hate it when someone is playing music out loud at the crag.

FrankPS wrote:Other climbers shouldn't have to hear your (anybody's) music. Keep it to yourself by wearing earphones or earbuds. I hate it when someone is playing music out loud at the crag.

there's music in the gym... like always

Music in the gym is expected and fine. If you want to play music outside, make sure it's not too loud and if anyone comes to climb within hearing distance, ask them if they mind the music and offer to turn it off.

Music in the gym: don't play it so loudly that it interferes with belayer/climber communication. Yeah, if its too loud, you're too old. Rock concert -- sure that applies; bar -- sure; climbing gym where communication is a safety issue? Nope.

Outside: I shouldn't hear your music. Headphones are the way to go if you need music while climbing.

I'm a climber/musician. Generally, I like to to enjoy my tunes away from the crag, with the rare occasion of jammin out at a place like say, Potash (roadside). It's kind of a nature thing w climbing. Plus, you can always argue the whole clear communication factor involved with the climber and belayer. And yet another argument would be to state that not everyone enjoys the same type of tunes that you do. With all of those factors, I like to not subject other climbers to music at the crag. The gym is one thing, but outside is a whole other thing.

I would be annoyed with any music outside. It is always so strange to me when I see someone hiking with one of those speaker backpacks and blasting their tunes into the mountains. These are easy hikes of course, but why would you want music, even earbuds, outside? It just seems unsafe to me. Besides, I get out into the wilderness to be away from humanity. Bringing humanity with me is just counter-productive!

In the gym there is definitely no problem as long as the music doesn't suck :). Unfortunately, gym music is 100% dependent on the people climbing and which staff members are in. It is all personal preference, but I find rap and experimental-type music very distracting. I prefer when they play good old rock and roll...

Keep the music to yourself. No matter what you play there will always be someone who doesent like it.

When I'm on a wall I definitely enjoy music. I think it's appropriate on a big wall but perhaps not as much at the local sport crag. However, everyone is entitled to enjoy climbing in their own way. While I'm usually not bothered by music out loud at the crag, I think respecting others wishes is appropriate too.

If you are at a crag and noone else is around and want music go for it. If other people are there and are ok with you playing the music than fine go for it.

If anyone doesn't like your music or doesn't want music at all... than stop playing it and being annoying. Not everyone likes the music you like.

I personally would just cut your rope if you are playing annoying music and wouldn't stop. (kidding but still)

I once witnessed a near disaster when a couple of dudes blasting country music at the crag geared up with no less than 15 draws and a full rack for an 80ft 5.9 sport climb. The leader set off and somewhere mid-climb, well above a bolt, shouts, "I'm gonna fall! Take!" only to be yanked down when his belayer took. I started to pack my gear to move away from impending doom on the other side of the wall when I took once last glance their way: the leader was now near the top but had somehow traversed onto another route such that the rope ran perpendicular to the ground. A nearer group had given suggestions only to be met with scoffs. Terrifying stuff.

Not sure if there is a correlation between near-misses like this and country music, but it sure was annoying.

here you go:
youtube.com/watch?v=3jqR4Mk…

Nicki Minaj and Pharrell are without a doubt THE staples of any worthwhile climbing play lists.

If met with static about your tunes at the crags just start playing Adell's "Someone like you" as a tear jerker, so it is impossible for anybody to get mad at you.

One day the dudes who run the gym forgot to turn their tunes on.
Best gym climbing day ever...

Halbert wrote:here you go: youtube.com/watch?v=3jqR4Mk…

I dig this funky revolutionary bass slamming pow pow
good groove to the moon

thanks for everybody's opinions. I'm a fan of music always, everywhere, any time, any jam. so when i climb i'd like to slam about a micro-gram of bass just to keep up the pace, unless the fish was misplaced, then i'd be feeling outer space.

what you know about the grizzly bear stomp?

I agree 100% with the safety concerns of music drowning out important communications between climber and belayer. However, I do think some folks get way too indignant about someone else playing music at a crag. I was with a small group of folks at a beginner's sport crag right by a river and right by a road, so the background noise was considerable. We asked the people nearby if they minded if we had quiet music on and nobody minded. The music was so quiet and the river and road so loud that you could be two lines over and barely hear it. Then along came another party and first thing upon arriving this guy comes over and asks one of our people if the music was theirs, they said no but that it was of our group, and he said something like: "well it needs to be turned off." We turned it off, but then he and his group proceeded to move around to the other end of the crag, definitely out of earshot...

I understand people wanting their "own experience" while climbing, but I also think that when you go to a popular crag, you have to accept that you won't have the place to yourself and have to learn how to share. We weren't bothered by having to turn the music off, just annoyed at the guy's attitude and tone, and his demanding that something be changed that didn't even affect his climbing.

I guess the point of all this is Guideline #1: don't be a jerk

Kev V wrote:I agree 100% with the safety concerns of music drowning out important communications between climber and belayer. However, I do think some folks get way too indignant about someone else playing music at a crag. I was with a small group of folks at a beginner's sport crag right by a river and right by a road, so the background noise was considerable. We asked the people nearby if they minded if we had quiet music on and nobody minded. The music was so quiet and the river and road so loud that you could be two lines over and barely hear it. Then along came another party and first thing upon arriving this guy comes over and asks one of our people if the music was theirs, they said no but that it was of our group, and he said something like: "well it needs to be turned off." We turned it off, but then he and his group proceeded to move around to the other end of the crag, definitely out of earshot... I understand people wanting their "own experience" while climbing, but I also think that when you go to a popular crag, you have to accept that you won't have the place to yourself and have to learn how to share. We weren't bothered by having to turn the music off, just annoyed at the guy's attitude and tone, and his demanding that something be changed that didn't even affect his climbing. I guess the point of all this is Guideline #1: don't be a jerk

i hope you enjoy my favorite cragging music ... i never play it unless other folks start blaring their music

after all if they can play theirs why cant i play mine

or is only "certain types" of music acceptable ... wouldnt want to biased against certain cultures musics here would we now

enjoy my cragging music !!!

youtube.com/watch?v=w20UnLq…

;)

Boston wrote: I dig this funky revolutionary bass slamming pow pow good groove to the moon

Well..I think it has been etched into the mind of many a climber watching Big Up Dosage.

Last time I was climbing was on a multi pitch.y partner had headphones in and was listening to music, I didn't hear it and enjoyed nature ( as I prefer) communication was fine, he was happy I was happy. I'm all for jammin out to his tunes in the car (he's got good tastes), but on the cliff he just keeps it to himself. Works out well

I heard if you play Berry White at the crag while sending .12s, all the crag girls will come talk to you.