---
title: "Silence, The Points Between The Notes"

description: 'When the music stops... what happens? From dreams to songs-stuck-in-your-head to John Cage''s 4''33", silence is just as much a part of music as the actual music. Let''s talk about breath, phrasing, anticipation, and even a little neuroscience.'

status: complete

date: 2026-06-30

kind: solo

guestSlugs: []

listenUrl: "https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lovemusicmore/episodes/Silence--The-Points-Between-The-Notes-e3lecqk"
spotifyUrl: "https://open.spotify.com/episode/34azmi92HJLVkgpfbGrj5c"
appleUrl: "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silence-the-points-between-the-notes/id1567355195?i=1000774810583&uo=4"

topicsDiscussed:
  - "Philosophy"
  - "Guitar"
  - "Drums"
  - "Memory and nostalgia"
  - "Classical and orchestral music"
  - "Jazz"
  - "Songwriting"
  - "Funk"
  - "Music theory"

hostNote: |
  When the music stops, what is left? I start from Debussy and Miles on the spaces between notes, then **John Cage’s 4'33"**: you cannot make a silence no matter what you try. Guitarists who transcribe horn players are really learning where to breathe.
  
  Rhythm needs absence the way a phrase needs inhale. The brain still answers silence; groove is placement plus the hole that makes it funky. So much of the dopamine is anticipation, not the hit.

selectedMoments:
  - label: "Introduction to Silence"
    startSec: 54
    note: "I introduce the concept of silence being integral to music and reference historical figures like Debussy and Miles Davis."
  - label: 'Cage''s 4''33" Explained'
    startSec: 137
    note: 'I discuss how Cage''s 4''33" shifts our perception of music and silence during a performance.'
  - label: "Silence and Rhythm"
    startSec: 229
    note: "I explain how silence is necessary for rhythm to exist and how it echoes the act of breathing."
  - label: "Neuroscience and Silence"
    startSec: 271
    note: "Exploring the brain's auditory response to silence and the deeper connection tied to musical memory."
  - label: "Groove and Anticipation"
    startSec: 361
    note: "I delve into how groove is affected by silence and how music uses moments of anticipation to engage us."
  - label: "Emotional Impact of Silence"
    startSec: 495
    note: "I conclude by affirming that silence shapes emotional responses and the anticipation of upcoming musical phrases."

excerptQuotes:
  - text: "The idea is true. And we should talk about Mr. John Cage."
    startSec: 93
    reviewed: true
  - text: "You cannot make a silence no matter what you try."
    startSec: 138
    reviewed: true
  - text: "In a lot of guitarists' lives is when they start transcribing horn players and trying to figure out how do they solo."
    startSec: 181
    reviewed: true
  - text: "Music is pleasing not only because of the sound but because of the silence that is in it."
    startSec: 224
    reviewed: true
  - text: "So much of what we have a dopamine response to is anticipation."
    startSec: 494
    reviewed: true
  - text: "It's the placement and the absence that makes them funky, makes it groove."
    startSec: 541
    reviewed: true

faq:
  - question: 'What is John Cage''s 4''33"?'
    answer: '4''33" is a composition by John Cage where performers do not play their instruments for four minutes and thirty-three seconds, inviting the audience to focus on the ambient sounds and silence.'
  - question: "How does silence affect musical phrasing?"
    answer: "Silence provides necessary pauses and space which allow for rhythmic articulation and emotional expression in music."
  - question: "Why is silence important in music composition?"
    answer: "Silence helps create anticipation and contrast, enriching the listener's experience and enhancing the impact of musical notes."

transcriptPublished: false

draft: false
---