With my Mind on my Money and my Money on my Mind: Trading Music

There are several things you can do to prepare and condition yourself mentally to get trading emotions under control and to stay focused on simply making one good trade after another. This topic is about one of those things you can do. Its not the most important thing, nor is it the only thing. But it is the most fun thing. I talk about food for the soul. I talk about music. And I don’t mean atmospheric new age relaxation / meditation sounds. Those give me an instant body rash. I mean real music. Listening to music forms part of my trading routines. One of the advantages of trading is that you essentially work alone so you can completely control your work environment.

What you hear while working the charts is part of that environment. For me, switching my phone to silent, closing the door of my study and putting on some music helps me to focus. It can also help to block out distractions. Obviously I do it in a way that trading alerts and news alerts are still audible. But it helps me to release stress, to stay motivated, to stay positive, to keep going and yes, to celebrate. I don’t do it constantly and there are moments when I don’t want to hear anything (like when I am actively entering or managing a trade). But I have integrated music into my daily routines. Apart from trading, I also listen to (mainly classical, non vocal) music while I study, read books or do my weekly forex market preview process. Classical music is known to aid cognitive functions and I simply get more work done that way.

Here are some of my favorite songs / pieces of music I like to listen to while trading:

Shoot to Thrill by AC/DC.
This classic mood heightening fist pumper by the kings of hard rock is best played when the pips are steadily rolling into your account on a winning trade. There is really nothing like it. Watch that P&L go green! “Don´t you fool around. Shoot to thrill, play to kill!”

Gin & Juice by Snoop Dogg.
I am a total sucker for old school hip hop and this lazy beat by West Coast rapper Snoop Dogg, with its bragging lyrics about living large, makes time go by faster during those hours when the market is slow or moving sideways. “With my Mind on my Money and my Money on my Mind.”

Happy by Pharrell Williams.
I always end up listening to this mid-tempo soul song after the important pre-market preparation. After getting up to speed with overnight news events and while still sipping on my first coffee, I let Pharell get me into the right state of mind. “Bring me down... can't nothing... Bring me down... my level's too high...”

Titanium by David Guetta ft. Sia
Like any endurance sport, trading is a game of perseverance. Fall down seven times, get up eight. Fighting your way out of a drawdown is -if anything- a test of your character. This song helps me to stay positive and to keep on going. “You shoot me down but I won't fall. I am titanium.”

Una Furtiva Lagrima by Pavarotti
This romanza from Donizetti kicks off my classical playlist on Saturday morning, when I start my weekly forex market preview process. A selection of arias, romanzas and madrigals gets me in a relaxed, concentrated flow while I review fundamentals, upcoming news events and while I scan the charts for price patterns. “Heaven! I could ask for nothing more, nothing more.”

So what is your experience with music and trading? Does it help you to trade or concentrate better? Do you enjoy listening to particular songs or pieces of music at certain moments of the trading day? Which are your favorite trading songs? Or is music just a distraction that breaks your concentration and should be avoided?

Like this idea if you think it´s fun or interesting and please post your comments below and share your thoughts and / or favorite trading songs. I am curious!