What is Medicine Music? A Complete Beginner's Guide
Medicine music is a broad term encompassing musical traditions used with healing, ceremonial and spiritual intention. From Amazonian icaros to Indian kirtans, through sacred chants of indigenous peoples, medicine music connects humans to their deepest selves and to nature.
Origins and traditions
Medicine music doesn't belong to a single culture. It's a universal phenomenon manifested in different forms throughout history:
- Icaros — Songs of Amazonian peoples, used in plant medicine ceremonies. These melodies are received by healers from the plants themselves.
- Kirtan and Bhajans — Devotional chants from Hindu tradition, where sacred mantras are repeated with simple, powerful melodies.
- Mantras — Sacred syllables or phrases from Hinduism and Buddhism, chanted repetitively for meditation and healing.
- Ceremonial songs — Songs from Native American, African and other traditions, used in healing rituals.
- Cacao songs — Songs accompanying cacao ceremonies, blending different musical traditions.
Guitar in medicine music
The guitar has become one of the most popular instruments for accompanying medicine music. Its versatility allows playing from simple chord progressions to complex melodies that evoke the textures of original traditions.
Most medicine music songs use simple chords (Am, Em, G, C, D, F), making them accessible to beginner guitarists. Many medicine musicians prefer 432 Hz tuning instead of standard 440 Hz, as it's considered more harmonic and natural.
How to start playing medicine music?
- Listen — Familiarize yourself with different traditions. Listen to icaros, kirtans, mantras and ceremonial songs.
- Learn basic chords — Most songs use Am, Em, G, C, D and F. With these 6 chords you can play hundreds of songs.
- Tune to 432 Hz — Use a tuner (like the one on Musica Medicina) to tune your guitar to 432 Hz.
- Practice with intention — Medicine music isn't just technique, it's connection. Play from the heart.
- Find songs — On Musica Medicina you'll find chords and lyrics for hundreds of songs from all traditions.
Popular songs to start with
Some accessible songs for beginners:
- Om Namah Shivaya — Classic mantra, usually in Am and G
- Lokah Samastah — Universal peace mantra, simple chords
- Hare Krishna Maha Mantra — The great mantra, many versions with 2-3 chords
- Madre Tierra — Very popular ceremonial song in medicine circles
Medicine music is a path of connection, healing and community. You don't need to be an expert guitarist — you just need the intention to share from the heart.