# Music you like to fall asleep to? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [August 3, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121 "2026-08-03T16:48:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/1 "2026-08-03T16:48:11Z")
For me, nothing beats Jean-Luc Ponty’s **Mystical Adventures**. No vocals, just some relaxing electric jazz violin. If I’m looking to take a short afternoon nap, this album chills me right out. What music do you like to fall asleep to or just relax with? ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/2 "2026-08-03T16:51:13Z")
I don’t fall asleep to music, but a good choice for destressing for me is the Alan Parsons Project. Lots of instrumental stuff. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/3 "2026-08-03T16:55:50Z")
Celtic harps. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/4 "2026-08-03T17:30:56Z")
Folks interested in this thread might also like this sorta-related thread from 3 weeks ago. > [@What kind of noise do you require for sleep?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-noise-do-you-require-for-sleep/1031566): > > This was an issue for me and Mrs. H when we first moved in together. I’ve slept with a fan since I was a tween+, and I can’t sleep without it. I find the silence deafening. She always slept with a radio on, but for me, my brain just anticipates the next song and I can’t fall asleep. Eventually she got used to the fan. What about you Dopers? Are you an absolute silence kind of sleeper? A fellow fan user? +I developed my sleep habits when I was a tween and my parents were too cheap to use the ai… ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/5 "2026-08-03T18:21:20Z")
While I can’t fall asleep to music, and it actually keeps me awake, certain well-chosen music can clear everything out of my head so I can fall asleep easier. For that purpose I use [Marconi Union](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYnA9wWFHLI&list=RDqYnA9wWFHLI&start_radio=1). It works well because: 1. It has just enough variety to compel some attention, you can’t just tune it out 2. But there’s no real hook or repetition to anticipate or enjoy, it meanders endlessly 3. The sonic texture is mostly bland, no vocals, no dynamics, no distinct instrumentation That’s what I use when I want to stop thinking about things. Not exactly “white noise” but more like “white music”. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/6 "2026-08-03T18:31:31Z")
The cliched chimes and flute meditation stuff does it for me. Boring as Hell, but that’s probably why it works. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/7 "2026-08-03T20:57:31Z")
The KLF Chill Out. An ambient concept album that’s supposed to be a “mythical night time trip through deep south gulf states”. Some crickets, a train horn in the background, car sounds, Elvis fading in and out of the a.m. radio, etc. Just sort of sleepy and trippy. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/8 "2026-08-03T21:04:18Z")
Music … from the hearts of space. 😌 ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/9 "2026-08-03T21:10:04Z")
Loved Stephen Hill’s voice Safe journeys space fans wherever you are It’s been years since I’ve listened ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/10 "2026-08-03T21:15:08Z")
> [@chela](#): > > Loved Stephen Hill’s voice > Safe journeys space fans wherever you are The very essence of “mellow.” 😴 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2026, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/11 "2026-08-03T21:39:31Z")
It’s funny, our NPR station used to play that early on Sunday mornings. It may be good for falling asleep, not so much for waking up! 😄 ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/12 "2026-08-05T00:15:22Z")
This is what I came to suggest, I believe it has been called the most relaxing song in the world. ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/13 "2026-08-05T01:05:01Z")
I’m another who cannot fall asleep to music, mainly because I’m a musician and can’t help but analyze what I’m listening to. It actually keeps me awake. But, for pure blissful relaxation, my preferences are Pat Metheny, Bela Fleck and Michael Hedges. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2026, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/14 "2026-08-05T12:02:47Z")
I have a couple of Pat Metheny albums. My wife calls it “hotel lobby music”. 🙂 One of my favorites: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Tb6h7rjRAYs/maxresdefault.jpg "Last Train Home") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb6h7rjRAYs) ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/15 "2026-08-06T16:43:27Z")
I honestly never conceived of trying to fall asleep to music. I once tried one of those machines that generates, like, forest sounds or ocean waves or whatever, but it never really hooked me. There’s just nothing like a good ol’ box fan running in the corner of my bedroom to help me drift off. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/16 "2026-08-06T18:38:48Z")
Music featuring Native American flute. Examples from our go to sleep playlist: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/BM7VBYRjlUQ/maxresdefault.jpg "Anhinga") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM7VBYRjlUQ) [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/nPAk_K0UjQo/maxresdefault.jpg "Red & Blue") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPAk_K0UjQo) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/17 "2026-08-10T15:10:41Z")
I just put on the ‘spa music’ on cable tv music channels. New age tootles and flutes and uileann pipes, low and soothing, no loud blats or time changes to jar me awake. The fan, though, the fan is always going. It’s very quiet here, but there are planes, trains, occasional barking dog outside that sound louder than they are in the middle of the night. ---
**Author:** ![Doowapdabadoowap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doowapdabadoowap/32/21749_2.png) [@Doowapdabadoowap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doowapdabadoowap)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-you-like-to-fall-asleep-to/1032121/18 "2026-09-01T10:23:30Z")
Usually softer songs, but if i had to pick a specific artist/band, probably oasis, stand by me is a go to