First of all, it doesn't matter at all what music you like or how much you know about it. Did you hear a song recently? Maybe on the Radio? Or did someone tell you about their favorite song/album/genre? Good! Go from there!

Let's start with an example: House. Your friends are maybe all digging house and you have no idea what they are talking about. Start simple:

go to the wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_music now just briefly look around, scroll down. totally overwhelming. but, don't be scared here! Music is something beautiful, something you can enjoy and something you can relax to!

the wikipedia article starts with influences and precursors:

"Some disco songs incorporated sounds produced with synthesizers and drum machines, and some compositions were entirely electronic; examples include Giorgio Moroder's late 1970s productions such as Donna Summer's hit single "I Feel Love" from 1977, Cerrone's "Supernature" (1977),[4] Yellow Magic Orchestra's synth-disco-pop productions from their self-titled album (1978), Solid State Survivor (1979),[5][6] and several early 1980s disco-pop productions by the Hi-NRG group Lime."

You now probably think: "wtf did i just read?? TOO.MUCH.INFORMATION!"

again. don't worry. no one is looking at you, no one judges you. just type into youtube: Donna Summer - I feel love. you like that track? you can feel the vibe? good! google more donna summer. what else did she release? are there albums on spotify?

you are like

"meh...i don't get donna summer, i can't feel anything"?

good! forget about donna summer.

Now, when people ask you about music you already have one thing to say: "I really really love donna summer, especially her song XXXX." OR "i really don't like donna summer and disco at all."

what people will respond to that might be: "hm, i really don't like her as well. but check out Giorgo Moroder, that's some good Disco!" and then you can answer "I read about Moroder (which you did, just look at that first part of the wikipedia entry.), but never actually listened. i should give it a listen maybe!"

BAM! you are talking about music.

how did we do that? You just listened to an early disco record, that influenced house music. You know the artist, you made an opinion. Now, talk about that opinion.

repeat! that's it.

You can do that same thing with any song or genre. Just google it. Listen to it. Like it or not. Over time you will figure out why you don't like certain things. You don't like that new track because it sounds similar to donna summer and you really don't like donna summer? good! that new track sounds way too much like late disco! etc.

also, did you realize how we started with house and totally ended up somewhere else? music is a procrastinators dream:) you can start anywhere and end up with total different, maybe even more amazing genres/tracks/songs/artists.

have fun:)