The first thing that surprised me inside the tent wasn't the taste, but the sound—Oktoberfest music and "Ein Prosit"
Theresienwiese in Munich. When we, Schmatz, first arrived at the Oktoberfest venue, it wasn't the taste of the beer that caught us off guard.
It was the sound.
The moment we opened the heavy tent door, I couldn't hear the person standing next to me. They were saying something, their mouth was moving, but no sound reached me. For several minutes, until we could order beer, we just stood there, stunned.
There are many photos of Oktoberfest circulating. But that sound isn't captured in pictures. Today, I'll talk about that.
◯ The moment the door opened, voices became inaudible
Outside the tent, it was quieter than I expected. There were only the calls of food vendors and the motor hum of the Ferris wheel.
When you open that door, the world changes. The closest description is that the sound hits you like a wall. It's not that your ears hurt; it's that themusic and the voices of thousands of people reach your body directly as vibrations.
Not "noisy," but "dense"
At first, I simply thought it was noisy. But after standing there for a few minutes, I realized that "noisy" wasn't the right word.
The sound was layered. At the very bottom, there were thousands of conversations. Above that, the hard clinking of dishes and steins. And above that, brass melodies. These three layers were sounding simultaneously, and if you tried to listen to one, the others faded.
Large tents can accommodate 8,000 to 9,000 people, combining indoor and outdoor seating. Live music is added to a space where this many conversations are happening simultaneously. Later, I understood why the sound became so dense.
◯ The sound came from the center, not the ceiling
When we enter a large venue, we instinctively look for speakers on the ceiling.
However, here, the sound doesn't come from above. Itcomes from the center of the floor. A bandstand is set right in the middle of a sea of long tables, and a live band stands there.
The stage and the audience are not separated
I thought this was the sound design of Oktoberfest.
The performers are surrounded by guests 360 degrees, and the tables spread out radially around them. There are no seats facing forward; instead,people drinking are at the center of the sound.
So, it doesn't feel like you're "watching a performance." The music doesn't come from one direction; the very place you're in is reverberating. I think this structure was the essence of the "feeling of participation" I'll write about later.
◯ The band on the stand was like a rock band
When people think of Oktoberfest music, many probably imagine brass bands.Blaskapelle. "Blas" is German for "to blow," and "Kapelle" means "band." This is the traditional ensemble that has played at Bavarian village festivals and beer gardens for ages.
However, what we saw on the bandstand was a bit different. It wasa lineup closer to a rock band, with electric guitars, drums, and keyboards.
I later learned that the bands in the tents rotate depending on the time of day, and the band we saw was scheduled for that particular time. Some tents have the same band playing the evening slot for nearly 30 years, and I thought it was quite a nice story thatpeople choose a tent specifically for "that band in that tent."
💡 Low frequencies prevent it from being drowned out by voices
This band also included brass instruments like trumpets. What left a strong impression on me wasits low-end sound.
Beneath the melody, a low sound supported the atmosphere. Low frequencies don't clash with the human vocal range. So, they penetrate through the thousands of voices. When you think about it logically, it's obvious, but experiencing it physically was a revelation.
💡 What was played wasn't just German music
The song selection was also surprising. Mixed in with German pop songs and Bavarian classics, there wereWestern songs everyone knew.
Songs you might hear at a Japanese drinking party were played with brass instruments and accordions. The whole tent sang along. It was a much more open place than what I had imagined from the phrase "traditional festival."
◯ Everyone stands up 2-3 times an hour
About 30 minutes into drinking, the music suddenly stopped.
A moment of silence. Then, a familiar melody began.
A short song called "Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit"
"Ein Prosit der Gemütlichkeit".
"Prosit" means "cheers," and "Gemütlichkeit" refers to coziness, comfort, and a warm atmosphere. It's a word that doesn't translate perfectly into Japanese, but if forced, it means "Cheers to this coziness."
The lyrics are almost exclusively this one line. It finishes in about 20 seconds. And with the final "Eins, Zwei, Drei, Gsuffa!" (One, Two, Three, Drink!), the entire tent raises their steins.
What surprised us was thatno one was giving instructions. The moment the melody started, everyone naturally stood up on their benches. Even with tourists mixed in, everyone moved at the same time. That sense of unity, honestly, I hadn't expected it.
💡 This happens 2-3 times an hour
This song is said to beplayed an average of 2-3 times an hour in the tents. A study by the German music copyright organization also reported it as the most frequently played song at Oktoberfest.
In other words, if you're seated, an opportunity to stand up will come every 20 to 30 minutes. This cycle is what keeps the tent's energy from dying down.
Interestingly, this song doesn't seem to be of Bavarian origin. The author is said to be from Northern Germany, and the melody was brought to Munich's Oktoberfest in 1898 by a vendor from Nuremberg. A song that feels like a symbol of Bavaria originated elsewhere and took root. This is a common story in the world of beer, and we quite like such tales.
◯ A full Maß weighs over 2 kilograms
Now, standing up and raising your stein. This action is harder than I thought.
Oktoberfest beer is served in aMaß, a 1-liter stein. The vessel is thick glass. Empty, it weighs about 1.3 kilograms. With 1 liter of beer, the total is about 2.3 kilograms. Imagine a 2-liter plastic bottle. Now, lift that with one hand, higher than your chest. And do it repeatedly every 20 minutes.
By the way, why glass instead of ceramic? Becauseyou can see the amount inside from the outside. There's a fill line, so the pouring amount can't be cheated. The allowable error is also precisely defined, and I was impressed by this German meticulousness.
💡 That's why you clink the thick bottom, not the rim
Knowing this weight reveals the reason behind the toast etiquette. Locally, youclink the thick bottom of the stein, not the rim. The upper rim is more delicate than it looks, and it can chip if hit forcefully. You grip the handle with your fingers, extend your arm straight, and clink the bottoms together with a solid thud.
If you swing a 2.3-kilogram vessel with force, it won't hit where you intend. So, clinking the bottom is safer, and the sound is also satisfying. It's more about practicality born from weight than just etiquette.
And looking into each other's eyes, say"Prost!". This is never omitted. Whether there are a few people or ten, you make eye contact in turn.
◯ It wasn't music to be listened to
I realized something after leaving the tent.
For those few hours, wenever "appreciated the performance".
💡 The meaning of having only one line of lyrics
"Ein Prosit" is 20 seconds long, and the lyrics are essentially one line. So, even someone hearing it for the first time will be singing along by the second time. "Eins, Zwei, Drei" is just counting numbers, so you can say it even if you don't understand German.
It's designed for participation. You don't need to sing well or even know the song. The reason why the sense of unity wasn't broken even with tourists mixed in was probably because of this.
💡 Sound was bridging the distance between people
In that volume of sound, conversations also change. You talk loudly and briefly. You stick to the main points. You lean in close, shoulders touching, to talk.
The distance that would normally feel a bit awkward becomes natural thanks to the sound. I think the sound also encouraged me to toast with strangers.The sound created the space, and the space determined the distance between people. We've summarized the German beer culture in our article"How to Enjoy Authentic German Beer," but I only truly understood this feeling after experiencing it firsthand.
◯ What changes when you bring sound to the table?
On the flight home, we talked about this the whole time.
The beer was certainly delicious. I'll never forget the clear taste of the Helles poured from a wooden barrel. But it wasn't just the beer that created that euphoria.
Of course, there's a certain charm to a quiet night drinking alone in your room. But the vibrancy of that moment was created by the sound. That much was clear.
So, if you're gathered around a table with someone at home, in addition to drinks and food,try adding just one sound. A playlist of brass music is fine. And once an hour, everyone stands up and says"Prost!". Clink your glasses at the sturdy bottom, not the rim. Just doing that will change the atmosphere at the table.
◯ Come and make a toast with us
We, Schmatz, will be holdingSchmatz Oktoberfest 2026 from September 1st to October 31st, 2026.
During this period, our restaurants will offer special seasonal menus and German beers. Gather around a table with a large group and call out a toast. Look each other in the eye and say "Prost!". Just doing that will bring you a little closer to the atmosphere of that night in the tent. You can view our restaurants from thestore list. Reservations can also be made there.
The origins of the festival itself, from its history to local customs, are summarized in ourcomplete guide. Reading it before you drink will probably change the taste of your first glass.
We look forward to seeing you at a table somewhere this autumn.
Eins, Zwei, Drei── Prost!
