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Any Spotify Playlist you can recommend to boost coding concentration? Thank you!

JezrielBajan on November 27, 2017

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Mikk Pristavka

I created a Spotify playlist for just this purpose: open.spotify.com/user/1178336656/p.... Has a variety of styles, so give it a whirl.

I recently discovered brain.fm, but haven't used it enough to give a conclusive opinion. Seems great, though!

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Martin Himmel

brain.fm is really good if you want music/sounds with no vocals. I've used it off and on over the last couple years with good results. It also changes regularly, which is a nice touch.

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Yokim Pillay

Brain.fm seems pretty neat! I'm loving it so far, about to sign up for a monthly subscription. Thanks for sharing!

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JezrielBajan

I just started listening to that playlist, sounds great! Thanks!

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Chris Raser

Funny-- I was just thinking the other day that I should look around on Spotify for some new stuff to listen to.

I'm a fan of this one, but I often prefer just having a playlist on my phone. That's mostly comprised of:

  • Boards of Canada
  • Trentemøller
  • Cocteau Twins (Mostly "Heaven or Las Vegas")
  • Múm

I've also come to really like noise generators that mimic the ambiance of the interior of an aircraft cabin. (My favorite is no longer available, but included randomized in-flight noises like the ping of the "fasten seatbelts" light coming on, muffled in-flight announcements, etc.)

If you find some great stuff, let us know!

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Matthew Francis

I love listening to chilled out hip-hop open.spotify.com/user/spotify/play...

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Leon

I almost forgot this playlist. Hadn't listen to it for a while now, but it's great.

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aksel

Not Spotify, but I frequently listen to musicforprogramming.net

It's a bunch of mixes by a bunch of electronic musicians.

I'll let the website description speak for itself:

function musicForProgramming(task) 
{
  task = (task === undefined) ? 'programming' : task;
  return 'A series of mixes intended for listening while '+task+' to aid concentration and increase productivity (also compatible with other activities).';
}
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David James • Edited

Not specifically a Spotify playlist but various video game soundtracks work a charm for me! Usually ends up being a nostalgia trip then some good ol concentration.

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hkly

I've heard that video soundtracks are great for concentration because they are designed to keep you focused and hooked on the game without distracting you from the gameplay, which seems ideal for concentrating on coding.

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David James • Edited

yep definitely agree with this :D

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David James
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Martin Himmel

I'll second video game soundtracks. Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy VI (or any FF, really), etc. As you can see, I'm a fan of RPGs. :)

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Jules Pénuchot • Edited

I made it about two weeks ago for a friend who went back to NYC from Boston. She took the bus and it was my contribution to keep her busy -or at least relaxed- during the trip.

It features ambient tracks with a rather wide variety of influences (Techno, Jazz, Experimental music...)

open.spotify.com/user/jpenuchot/pl...

Also this EP from Damaskin & Seraphim Rytm is absolutely incredible. It is incredibly progressive so no distraction and its mechanical atmosphere always leaves me speechless. I recommend a good soundsystem for this one, plenty of details hide in the low range.

youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtDlB1Q...

Also soft Drum'n'Bass might be great for you if you enjoy higher BPMs. This playlist features pretty much all the sub-genres of DnB (Jungle, Liquid, Neurofunk, even some Footwork) but always either atmospheric or chill, nothing too aggressive.

open.spotify.com/user/jpenuchot/pl...

Hope you enjoy these !

PS; Almost forgot about this incredible website : Police scanners mixed with random ambient music, absolutely gorgeous and definitely safe for work.

youarelistening.to/

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Mike Thomas

+1 for liquid!

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Isaac Lyman

I've got a huge one full of instrumental music: open.spotify.com/user/isaaclyman/p...

It's non-distracting, but interesting enough to keep my brain from getting bored.

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Andrew Reese

My new go-to is this: open.spotify.com/user/newretrowave...

And Mike's Basement Beats from Stranger Things 2: open.spotify.com/user/spotify/play...

Also any playlist made by signalnoise is gold: open.spotify.com/user/signalnoise?...

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Riku Lindblad

I've found Synthwave music to be the best for concentration.

Power Glove's Far Cry: Blood Dragon soundtrack is a good starting point. After that you can move into Kavinsky

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Cubicle Buddha

I’m all about JPop when it comes to coding 8 have some other tips on music and concentrating on code in my most recent article

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Mauricio Fierro

I usually repeat one song. Clubbed to death, from the Matrix OST youtu.be/APgQ1lNAzdg , Session from Linkin Park's Meteora youtu.be/J1KqQYsUYIk , or Around the World by Daft Punk's Homework youtu.be/_JPa3BNi6l4; work wonders. Also from Daft Punk, their whole Alive 2017 album does the trick for me most of the time.

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Jastria Rahmat • Edited

unlike others, this one makes you dive into the code itself. no vocal distraction. dev.to/ijash/hacking-programming-m...

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Corentin H. ⚡ • Edited

I'm mostly listening to this Casey Neistat inspired playlist all day long. Kinda chill yet dynamic enough to motivate me.

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Oleg Krasavin • Edited

When I do easy tasks I listen to playlists like "Massive Pop Remixes" and "New Pop Revolution". It gives me some energy to avoid boring.

When I do more complex tasks like designing or reading I listen to something like Instrumental Study. It helps me to be focused on a task.

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Patrick God

Deadmau5. I'm listening to deadmau5 all the time. ;)

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Flo Barriol

I always listen to the Peaceful Piano playlist of Spotify !

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JezrielBajan

Hah. This will surely increase my hunger for nap.

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Flo Barriol

Haha, so you probably need some drum'n'bass music to boost your productivity : open.spotify.com/user/hofnarr/play...

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Yaro Fidra

I find post-rock great for focusing. My "Programming Focus" playlist: open.spotify.com/user/fidraj/playl...

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Renan Lourençoni Nobile

I really like listening to stoner rock, but mostly on YouTube.
There's a fantastic channel for this, Stoned Meadow of Doom.

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Mike Thomas

Personally I find Liquid DnB has a good balance of calm, no (or minimal) vocals, repetition, with strong consistent beat to keep things moving along.

I find a lot of the other chill mixes lack the beat which keeps things moving forwards.

E.g. open.spotify.com/album/3c7yM2n84Bp...

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Pierre Bouillon

I don't have spotify but I really love to work with epic orchestral or epic celtic when I'm working.
Makes work incredible !

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Oleg Krasavin

It's a good idea! I'll try it.

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Marcusltm

youtube.com/watch?v=kxopViU98Xo

Many find this annoying but it help me concentrate

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JezrielBajan • Edited

Hahaha funny at start but dude its lit and it helped me concentrate

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Michael Minshew

I've found that either folk metal or decent metal in a language I dont understand is helpful. Enough to keep me energized but not enough to distract.

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someDevDude

I have noticed that most of these playlists are more chill, does anyone listen to harder stuff to get energised while they code?

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George Offley

Works really well for long coding stints.

youtu.be/AQBh9soLSkI

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Casey Webb

Tranquility with a Beat is my go-to.

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Chetan Malhotra

Give this a shot: open.spotify.com/user/debuggermalh.... You shall like it.

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Carl Vuorinen

I really like this playlist (it was used as background music in a workshop by thoughtram)

open.spotify.com/user/pascalprecht...

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Rickard Engberg • Edited

Science says music is actually bad for concentration, or at least for creativity as listening to music engages the right brain, which is where creativity is. So, preferably a quiet space without disturbances is optimal to get in the flow and be effective and creative.
On the other hand, however, reports from programmers (and lots of other people, for instance, students) is that listening to music is the only way to concentrate and get into the flow. So, to each his own I guess.

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Thomas Cordeiro

I always type 'lowfi' on spotify or youtube and so far not dissapointed.

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DavidMartín

I think youtube.com/watch?v=T5UsrAxid74 or youtube.com/watch?v=R-1wBk3H2LI is the best playlist for programing

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User_name • Edited

Here's my playlist-- give it a whirl! 😊
I add to it often!
open.spotify.com/user/129211967/pl...

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Tomke Reibisch

Beats to think to
open.spotify.com/user/thewiddy/pla...

Was recently removed but this is a reboot.

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Justyn Clark
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Brett Stevens

Has anyone already mentioned noisli.com/?

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Gerwin Bosch

I'm mostly listening to the Stellaris soundtrack

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Marcus Zippka

Youtube has a 10 hours version from Hans Zimmers Time, the Soundtrack from Inception.
and i hear a lot of music from Para for Cuva, the DJ Set @ Urban Spree in Berlin is great.