Just Press Foreplay

 

The right music can put a woman in the mood. Here's your playlist

Chill with the Marvin Gaye already. The seductive crooner had a good run, but researchers across the country are studying the art of using music to put a woman in the mood, and the science is screaming for men to dig deeper. What's more, studies show music's precise effects, from lowering her blood pressure to raising her libido. We've laid out the scenarios and selections. Grab a few CDs and start burning.

First-Time Sex

The scenario: This is really happening!

Play: Your first-date soundtrack

The reason: Familiarity is relaxing. In a study from the Long Island Conservatory, participants who listened to familiar music that they enjoyed had lower anxiety levels and blood pressure than those who listened to music they didn't like. "The emotional response triggers a profound physiological response," says George Stefano, lead author of the study. "It's a feel-good system that allows us to relax."

Quickie Sex

The scenario: She's purring, and Lost is coming to a commercial break.

Play: Up-tempo indie rock like the Killers, the Black Keys, the New Pornographers

The reason: Press play to speed up her body's physiological response. Italian researchers found that subjects' ventilation, heart rate, and arousal levels increased when they were exposed to music with a quick tempo and simple rhythmic structure. Bonus: You burn 35 calories in 20 minutes of sex.

Experimental Sex

The scenario: There's a gleam in her eye—and cuffs on her nightstand.

Play: Punk or hard rock like Green Day, Jawbreaker, Tool

The reason: In a study of college students, those looking for physical stimulation and an adrenaline high listened to more punk and hard metal. "People who are sexually promiscuous are more likely to engage in sensation seeking," says Rob Weisskirch, Ph.D., an associate professor of human development at California State University at Monterey Bay.

Casual Sex

The scenario: You've known her for two beers and a cab ride.

Play: Suggestive hip-hop and pop like Common, Ne-Yo, Liz Phair

The reason: In one study, women who listened to sexually provocative lyrics placed a greater emphasis on the sex appeal of potential partners. "They had been 'primed' to think about sexuality and were more likely to view everything from that perspective," says Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick, Ph.D., the lead researcher.