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 perspective,” says Silvia Knoblock-Westerwick, Ph. D., the lead researcher.

How does your music affect your chance of scoring?

The percentage chance that fans of the following musical genres have had five or more sexual patterns within the past 5 years (from a British study of 2,500 men and women):

38% HIP-HOP
25% INDIE/ROCK
14% JAZZ
4% CLASSICAL
2% COUNTRY

PLAY THIS, NOT THAT

The right song can fan the flames; the wrong one can put them out.
Replace hackneyed selections with these fresher, more seductive incarnations.

PLAY THIS:  John Legend, Once Again
NOT THAT:  Marvin Gaye, Let’s Get It On
Want to be the first to play her the rousing newcomer, or the 17th to reach for the Marvin? Easy Choice.

PLAY THIS:  DJ Shadow, The Outsider
NOT THAT:  LL Cool J, Mr. Smith
LL’s flows nab him the ladies, but shelve his dimpled crooning when it comes to boudoir beats; the smooth-out Shadow beats will lend a sense of urgency to your frolicking.

PLAY THIS:  Rodrigo y Gabriela, Rodrigo y Gabriela
NOT THAT:  Gipsy Kings, Gipsy Kings
“Bambileo!” Enough already. Fingerpick your way into her world with this duo’s arousing, flamenco-inspired compositions.

PLAY THIS:  Air, Talkie Walkie
NOT THAT:  Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon
Save the Floyd classic for spaced-out periods of introspection. Air brings the same slow-burning, multilayered groove without all the hazy memories.
 

PLAY THIS:  Ray LaMontagne, Till the Sun Turns Black
NOT THAT:  Norah Jones, Come Away with me
Norah lost her sex appeal once she hit the horel elevator. Take your lady to the penthouse instead with Ray’s smoky, sparse ballads.
Men’s Health