Music

We Discuss The Musical Instruments Used In Rhythm And Blues

2007-03-16T07:16:00.000-07:00

We Discuss The Musical Instruments Used In Rhythm And Blues by James Peterson

Rhythm and blues is a variety of related but different types of music combined in to one. We will discuss some information on rhythm and blues and the main instruments that are commonly used in this type of music.
The most common types of instruments used in this type of music is a drum set, bass, a piano (an organ can often be used instead of the piano), and the guitar, while the horn section features saxophones, trumpets, and sometimes trombones. The importance on horns in most styles of this type of music has been one of the ways in which the music has been historically recognized differently to that of white rock music.
What is musical instruments used in rhythm and blues known as
Today, rhythm and blues has become known as R&B and many black Americans have taken a major interest in this type of music. Rhythm and blues has gone more towards rap than the old style; many songs are now released that are classed as R&B when they are mostly rap. However they often do have a R&B melody in the background, but, it is no where near the same as this type of music once was.
Musical instruments used in rhythm and blues today
Today, the rhythm and blues style of music is ruling the musical scene once again. In the past has it has experienced several peaks of popularity, but, it normally dies out for a while after each peak. The 1950s are classed as a peak point for rhythm and blues; however, in the early 1960s it was replaced and died in popularity due to the huge popularity of soul music.
The popularity of musical instruments used in rhythm and blues
In the early 1980s, rhythm and blues peaked in popularity again, ruling the music industry alongside disco. The music then died out again. Recently, the music has become popular again with artists like Black eyed Peas, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, and other famous artists. If you trace the music style back over the decades, you will find it has had its peaks in popularity over the many decades, starting from the early 1950s.
From 2000 in to 2007, this style of music has been ruling the charts, maybe we will see a die in this type of music, however, with the current trends, and the way society is today, this music will likely continue to soar over in to the next decade. Only time will tell which type of music will rule the industry in the next few decades. This summarizes our musical instruments used in rhythm and blues article.
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Learn more about hand held musical instruments by visiting our free site. You'll also learn how to musical instruments

The Internet - A Great Place to Find Guitar Lessons

2007-03-12T07:56:00.000-07:00

The Internet - A Great Place to Find Guitar Lessons by Groshan Fabiola

If you are interested in learning how to play the guitar the easy, convenient way and in the quickest time possible, then it is advisable to turn to the Internet for help. At present there are thousands of high-quality, dedicated online resources that have been especially designed to meet the needs and requirements of existing and prospective guitar players worldwide, so everyone who wishes to learn more about playing the guitar can find and access a wide range of invaluable guitar playing tips, video tutorials and lessons simply through a few clicks of the mouse. However, in order to have the guarantee that you will only be provided with quality information and online guitar lessons that really produce significant results, it is very important to separate the efficient, properly designed and administered websites from the rest and only stick with the ones that are reliable and can help you improve your guitar playing in the minimum of time, with the least of effort and most important, for less money.
With so many guitar lessons out there (both free and paid), the task of finding the best ones (and more important, the ones that are most appropriate to you) can be very difficult. The best approach to this problem is to do a quick research on the specialized online resources with a good reputation and choose the websites that provide the guitar lessons which best suit your needs and requirements. Before choosing the lessons of a certain online tutorial-providing website over the lessons of another, it is recommendable to ask for the advice of your friends or other persons in whom you trust in order to find out whether those particular guitar lessons are efficient or not. Checking the testimonial sections and blogs of online guitar lesson websites is another way to determine the actual quality of the guitar lessons, tips and tutorials they provide.
By choosing to use only the lessons and tips of the major, highly reputed online guitar lesson-providing websites, you will ensure that you will be able to learn to play the guitar in an exciting, efficient and simple manner and that your efforts of learning how to play the guitar will pay off in the least of time. Especially if you are a complete novice at playing the guitar (and aren't yet capable of evaluating the quality and efficiency of online guitar lessons you may come across), it is very important to stick with the ones offered by the best guitar learning online resources. By doing this, you will avoid wasting time and money with guitar lessons that don't produce the expected results.
Once you have found the online guitar lesson-providing websites that are right for you, all you have to do is choose the lessons, tips and guitar-playing video tutorials that match your levels of skill and experience and start practicing in order to improve your playing. In case you are a beginner, it is also recommendable for you to decide over what you are interested in learning first or what guitar techniques you wish to master. For instance, if you want to become a pro at playing electric guitar, using acoustic guitar lessons would in most cases be a waste of time, considering that the guitar techniques used for playing the electric guitar are very different from those used to play the acoustic guitar.
Furthermore, it is very important to establish a list of priorities of the things you want to learn and take guitar playing one step at a time. As an example, rushing in at learning advanced guitar playing techniques such as guitar tapping or harmonic picking without knowing the basics behind guitar playing (the basic chords, the most extensively utilized guitar scales) are very likely to get you nowhere.
Another important thing to take in consideration is the genre of music you are interested in learning to play. For instance, online guitar lessons which concentrate on teaching playing rock guitar are very different from those which concentrate on teaching playing jazz guitar. To obtain the best results, it is therefore crucial to decide exactly what you want to learn and also establish a list of learning priorities. After doing this, with the help of quality guitar lessons provided by a reliable, dedicated guitar lessons website, and with a little ambition and practice you will be able to play the guitar like a pro in no time!
About the Author
For more information about online guitar lesson or even about guitar lesson your can check on this website http://www.guitar5day.com for more guitar related subjects.

BASS GUITARS BUYING GUIDE

2007-01-12T22:42:00.000-08:00

Bass Guitars Buying Guide by Smita Anu
Once you have planned to Buying a Bass Guitars. The first criteria is to buy something you will enjoy. And full enjoyment of your new Bass Guitars means considering your music, your lifestyle and, of course, your budget.
The electric bass guitar (also called an electric bass or a bass) is an electrically-amplified fingered (or plucked) string instrument. The bass is similar in appearance to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, a longer neck and scale length, and, usually, four strings tuned an octave lower in pitch, in the bass range
Discover Basics of Bass Guitar
------------------------------
Bass guitars are simple instruments and many of them share common features.
Bass guitar body There is no industry standard body shape or design for bass guitars. An electric bass guitar has a solid body, which houses magnetic pickups. Bass guitar pickups come in two varieties: single-coil and humbucker. Single-coil pickups produce a bright, clear sound, but are susceptible to interference. Humbucker pickups aren't as bright, but are more resistant to interference.
Magnetic pickups detect the bass guitar string's vibrations and transfer them into an electronic pulse. This pulse is sent down a cable into an amplifier.
Features of a Quality Bass Guitar
----------------------------------- Even if you're a beginner, it makes sense to buy a quality bass guitar. Quality bass guitars produce a richer tone and are more resistant to damage. Plus, if you buy a quality bass guitar, it's more likely to hold its value. You'll get more money for a quality bass guitar if you decide to sell it later.
There are many brands of quality bass guitars, including the Gibson bass guitar, Epiphone bass guitar, Fender bass guitar, Ibanez bass guitar, Peavy bass guitar, Warwick bass guitar, and Squire bass guitar. Find more Bass Guitars Buying Guide at ShopNdeal.com
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5 Important Beginners Tips On How To Play Guitar

2007-01-06T20:09:00.000-08:00

5 Important Beginners Tips On How To Play Guitar by Tim B. Miller

Playing guitar is life long journey you will never stop learning this great instrument. It will give back so much enjoyment and healing that only guitar players know. Here are some quick tips for someone just starting out on guitar.
1. Find a Mentor or Teacher
It is ok to learn a little on your own but eventually you really need to seek out an instructor that can show you how to play guitar. With his or her knowledge you will learn much faster and not learn the wrong way when you are starting out.
2. Learn The Basics First
When you are just starting out it is vital that you learn the basics first. For example know all your parts of the guitar, know how to tune the guitar manually and using a electronic tuner. Get to know your basic chords and keys. This is the very first step you should take.
3. Learn Your Strumming Patterns
After you have some of the basics down you want to learn how to strum with your right hand. Most of the songs will be in 4/4 time you want to start out with quarter note strumming which is 4 down strokes per bar/measure. Keep it steady and smooth do not dig into your strings.
4. Another Strumming Pattern
Once you get the quarter not strumming pattern down you want to go into eighth note strumming. This is also called alternate strumming. For example 1&2&3&4 Down, Up, Down, Up, Down, Up picking. Once you practice this try and use this most of the time when you are playing it will make your songs sound much better!
5. Learn Some Easy Songs
After you have got some basics down and learn to strum your basic chords try and find some easy songs to learn. Find a recording of the song and listen to it how are they strumming, what is the tempo/how fast or slow is the song. Train your ear for this or get sheet music or tab to help you out to learn the song.
Take your time with guitar you will not learn it all in one week or one year like I said it's a life long journey of learning. Remember to have fun and try to keep practicing.
About the Author
-Tim B. Miller has been playing guitar for 34 years and teaching for 12. He has 7 published songs and is a graduate of GIT Guitar College in Atlanta Ga. Tim has put together an amazing complete how to play guitar package for beginners to intermediate players learn guitar see for yourself: http://www.howtoplayyourguitar.com

Learn Guitar Free And Easily Online

2006-12-24T03:53:00.000-08:00

Learn Guitar Free And Easily Online by Joe Davies
Learning to play guitar for free online has never been easier. Absolutely anyone can sit down, load up a website, pick up their guitar and immediately begin learning basic chords and notes. This soon progresses to learning parts of your favorite songs.
Guitar tabs allow you to learn just about any song you want. Tabs make reading music easy for those of us who are not so musically inclined to be able to read traditional sheet music. Personally, I went from not being able to play a chord to being able to play some of my favorite rock songs all within just a couple of months of practice every day. If you have one hour per day, learning to play guitar free and easily online will soon lead you to be an accomplished musician. And with practice, you can only improve your guitar playing skills!
Guitar tabs will show you how to play the most common guitar chords such as D, C and G. These are the most basic form of guitar playing and you can literally learn these in seconds if you are learning to play guitar online.
Once you know the basics of reading guitar tabs, you can play any song your heart desires. If the tab is accurate, your playing will sound superb.
There is also specialized software which will play back the sound of a chord or note for you, from which you can then mimic with your guitar. This is a fantastic method of knowing if your playing is in tune and accurate.
Taking this even further, my favourite guitar website, Jamora provides VIDEO of people playing the exact notes or song you want to learn. You are able to watch their finger movements, slow down, pause and rewind the video until you can copy exactly what they are doing. Does it get any easier than this?
Check Jamora Out: http://jamora.quickly-learn-guitar.com
For the cost of one guitar lesson, Jamora will convert you from a beginner into a guitar GURU!
As you can see, learning to play guitar can be free or cost very little, and be so easy online. No longer do you require expensive guitar lessons. Anyone can do it and best of all, you can learn any time of day, not just when your instructor is ready!
About the Author
Joe Davies is the Chief Blogger at the Learn Guitar Free Blog. He plays guitar and writes songs, aswell as writing an ebook on songwriting.

Guitar Scales

2006-12-16T17:08:00.000-08:00

Guitar Scales by Catalin Trif

GUITAR SCALES
Well, you have all heard of the term "scale". But what exactly is a scale? You know, in my development as a guitar player, I often stumbled upon these important notions without really knowing what they actually are. This is the goal of this article, to explain the basic notions and free the developing guitarists from these weak points as to be able to release the creativity.
The scales are, put simply, a succession of notes, which are determined by a formula. Every song is based upon a certain scale, or even more than just one. There are infinite possibilities of available scales, but the mother of all scales will always be the major scale. Every scale is based upon the intervallic relationships between its notes. The major scale has the following formula :
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
W W H W W W H
What do those weird symbols mean? The numbers represent the steps of the scale, whilst W means whole step and H, half step.
So, keeping in mind these facts, let's construct the C Major Scale: We start from the root of the scale, which is C. We go one step further ( 2 semitones ), and we get the D note. We go another whole step further, and we get the E. We go a half step further ( 1 semitone ) and we get the F. We go another whole step, where we find the G. We go another whole step, and we stumble upon the A. We go a whole step once more, and yes, you got it: the B Finally, we go a half step, where we find the C, which is one octave higher than the first C.
Now, another important scale you have all heard about is the minor scale. There are actually 3 types of minor scales, but the general term refers to the natural minor scale. Besides the natural minor, there are also the harmonic minor scale and the melodic minor scale. To check those two out, please go to the scales section. Now, let's focus on the natural minor scale, which has the following formula:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
W H W W H W W
As you can see, in the natural minor scale, the semitones are found between the 2nd and 3rd notes of the scale, as well as between the 5th and the 6th notes of the scale. Given this fact, let's construct the A natural minor scale, following the same procedure as with the C Major. The result will be: A B C D E F G A What does this scale have in common with the C Major? Well, quite simply, the notes! That's also the reason why it's called the relative minor of the C Major scale. It is the only minor scale with no flats or sharps! As you probably have already guessed, every major scale has its relative minor scale. To find it, simply go 3 semitones down from the root of the major scale whose relative minor you want to find. When I realized these simple facts, I found myself asking two simple questions, that nobody seemed to concretely answer:
1) Ok, then what's the difference between a major scale and its relative minor? In our case, the C Major and the A minor scales. 2) How can the fact that they have the same notes help me?
I will answer these questions now, in a very understandable way, as for you not to go through the frustrations that I did. For the first questions, the answer is the harmonic context. You see, the intervallic relationships between the notes of a scale determines the way the scale sounds and what chords can be formed from it. So, in a minor sounding song, the atmosphere will most likely be nostalgic, or melancholic, it's very well suited for ballads. In a major scale song, the effect will be quite the opposite.
As for the second question, the answer is: hey, if they have the same notes, than it means they have the same patterns. Yes, if you learn the 7 patterns of the major scale, then you have already learnt the minor scale! For example, on the site you can find the 7 patterns for C Major scale. As a matter of fact, by learning those, you also learn its relative minor scale, which is, of course, A minor. This applies for every major scale and its relative minor. So, as you can see guitar scales are not so difficult to understand.
About the Author
Catalin teaches some effective guitar lessons and techniques on his blog http://www.guitarspark.blogspot.com/

The Classical Guitar is the perfect Instrument for a Child to learn

2006-12-13T09:47:00.000-08:00

The Classical Guitar is the perfect Instrument for a Child to learn by Will Kalif

There is no arguing with the fact that teaching a child to learn an instrument is something that can potentially bring him or her a lifetime of joy and enrichment. But keeping a child interested in practicing can be a challenge. Among all the instruments that a child can learn how to play the classical guitar is among the best. Here are the reasons.
The classical guitar takes advantage of the allure of the rock star. Every child is familiar with pop music and every child who is interested in playing an instrument would probably take very quickly to playing the guitar. Any child would be quick to brag to his or her friends that he is learning to play the guitar. It is a highly romanticized instrument and this is what I call the allure of the Rock Star. You can take advantage of this attraction to popular music by teaching a child to play classical guitar.
Playing classical guitar is a bit different than playing pop and rock but there are some distinct advantages to classical guitar. The child will learn the fundamentals of sound music theory and will focus on learning how to read sheet music. Along the way the child will learn the basics of classical music.
But he or she will not lose interest in playing because while the classical guitar is a good instrument for learning theory, history, ability, and classical music, it is also an instrument that offers an incredible range of pieces to play in many genres. With the ability to play classical guitar comes the ability to play in every other genre that the guitar is played in. He or she will be able to play pop, rock, easy listening, country, jazz, blues, or any other type of music where a guitar is used. It is because of this wide variety of music that will be available to the student that he or she will be much more prone to continue practicing and continue playing. And this is another great reason why the classical guitar will bring a lifetime of enjoyment and enrichment. As the child grows and his musical tastes change the guitar can be right there through all the changes.
There are also some very pragmatic reasons for the classical guitar
Portability: The classical guitar is something that can be carried to and from lessons and to and from a friend's house. Classical Guitars are also made in half size and three quarter size which gives young children the ability to play on an instrument more suited for their small hands.
Expense: professional guitars can be very expensive and run into the thousands of dollars but with the popularity of the guitar as an instrument there is a tremendous selection of inexpensive yet well made guitars. An adequate first guitar can usually be found in the fifty to a hundred dollar range.
Quiet Instrument: the classical guitar is an instrument that can be played in a room without the music being intrusive to other people in the house.
What if there is no classical guitar instructor in your town or city?
Upon the surface or during an initial look this may be true; there may be no official classical guitar instructors available to you but there is no doubt a large list of teachers who teach rock guitar. And one thing about the genre of rock and rock guitarists is that they have a reverence for classical guitarists because classical guitarists are renowned for their technical ability -classical guitarists are simply great guitarists and any rock guitarist can probably name his favorite classical guitarists. To overcome the lack of an official classical guitar instructor you can simply ask rock guitar instructors if they are willing to take on a child that wants to learn classical guitar. Many of them will jump at the chance because it will also broaden their horizons and musical ability.
But there is one question you should ask any potential rock guitar instructor. Make sure that he or she can read sheet music reasonably well. This is of paramount importance for learning classical guitar. Some instructors may not fit this requirement because rock guitarists often learn their craft through ear training and using tablature, which is a notation form of music. This type of instructor wouldn't be suitable for a student of classical guitar.
The classical guitar sometimes has the reputation of being a bit of a high-class instrument. But it is an instrument that crosses all genres of music and if you are considering the classical guitar for you child I applaud your decision. It is an instrument that can bring him or her a lifetime of musical enrichment and enjoyment.
About the Author
Will Kalif has been playing classical guitar for over twenty years. If you would like to learn more about the beautiful classical guitar visit his website at:The Classical Guitarist

What Do You MAKE with Your Musical Talent?

2006-12-10T23:54:00.001-08:00

What Do You MAKE with Your Musical Talent? by Da Duchess

What Do You MAKE With Your Musical Talent? © 2005 - 2006 Da Duchess

It's always easier it seems to MAKE excuses than it is to MAKE something happen, don't you agree? Yet and still, countless numbers of people trying to MAKE it in this business just don't seem to get it because they are waiting to be discovered (by whom, they don't even know) and waiting for that big chance...but the chance to do what? What are you waiting for someone else to do for you that you can't do for yourself? The power is in your hands to MAKE what you want out of your career and your talent. The moment you open it to get a hand out, cleverly disguised as 'your big chance', you are giving that power away. Think about it as I describe a recent experience.

There was a young lady that emailed us and asked us to financially sponsor a recording project for her. On the surface that doesn't seem like anything, but what makes this so bizarre, is that I think I had only exchanged 3 emails with her up until this point: the 1st one we received was to visit a website (this was a talent management website and on her 'one page of fame,' she had one small black-and-white, very unclear photo of herself and 2 very short snippets of 2 songs she had sang a cappella); the 2nd email was to find out who she was and where she lived and the 3rd was to find out what she was doing with her career and to find out the progress she's made.

In these two emails, we found out that she was "signed" to a manager and had been through a year-long rollercoaster ride of broken promises and shattered dreams, but she was still holding onto the promise of this "manager" getting her discovered through getting her a record deal. This would potentially be a big thing for her and the other artists on his roster.

I'd heard enough and just finally asked her when was she going to decide to do something for herself, especially after all of these disappointments...I didn't hear anything for about a couple of days and then "THE" email came asking if we would finance her recording project (an album mind you). I was speechless. I know I had at least a two-page email back to her almost instantly. I likened her request to that of a guy meeting a girl for the first time and that after asking her what her name was, the girl asked, now that you know my name, would you pay my bills?

It never ceases to amaze me what people will ask, and I guess our parents encourage us to ask for the things we want, right, no matter how far-fetched it may be, but ladies and gentleman, that was a little far-stretched, don't you think? Needless to say, I still haven't received a response from her, almost a year later. I think I struck a nerve, perhaps a dose of reality came over her, more like a rude awakening I hope, and that she considered that maybe I was right, but she was just too embarrassed to admit it. I would just chock it up to a learning experience, a look inside to ask herself "what do I really want out of this music thing?" and "why can't I do something for myself, what am I waiting for exactly?"

I can understand, you might not know what to do and you jump at the first 'chance' (and sometimes what we think may be our only one) to get into the music industry. We all need these wake up calls every once in a while. Nothing to be ashamed of. As long as you learn from it, move on and try not to make the same mistake again. Don't find yourself 10 years from now saying I should've done this, what if I had done that...do something NOW!

So, what do you MAKE with YOUR music? MAKE MONEY, MAKE A LIVING, and MAKE IT HAPPEN!

About the Author
Da Duchess, a music industry career coach, offers a FREE Resource library and information on info products within the Music Marketing Sellutions™ Series found at www.Music-Marketing-Sellutions.com and on this site as well.

How To Buy A Guitar

2006-12-08T02:20:00.000-08:00

How To Buy A Guitar by Darren Shotter

So you are ready to part with your hard earned cash and purchase a new guitar. You will have done your research and you know what type you want to buy and have a shortlist of possible purchases. You must now approach this process with a great deal of thought, in the same way you would approach any other major purchase. Treat it just like buying a new car.

1. Check the basic structure of the guitar.

Give the guitar a very close inspection. Check all of the joins carefully, they should be clean with no gaps between the two parts of the guitar which are being joined. You must pay particular attention to the join between the neck and the body. Next check all of the surfaces of the guitar. They should be free from lumps and bumps and there should be no ripples when looking across the surfaces. Take a look inside the sound hole at the braces you can see. Again, the seems should be clean with no gaps. A useful tip is to gently tap the body of guitar all over and listen to the sound. A rattle could indicate a loose brace.

2. Play the guitar.

We're not talking a quick strum here. You will need to play the guitar for as longer time as possible. Try playing all of the different styles you expect to play on the guitar. Play all of the strings at each fret and listen out for buzzing. At the same time check the action of the guitar. If the strings seem unusually high then check the neck to see if it bowed. This problem could be corrected by adjusting the truss rod. If you are in any doubt, ask the expert in the shop. Most guitar shops have a technician who repairs and prepares guitars.

3. Are you sitting comfortably?

Perhaps most importantly, does the guitar feel comfortable while you are playing it. Is it sitting comfortably in your lap and does the fingerboard and neck feel comfortable to play. While you were playing the guitar did you manage to play all of the pieces accurately.

Finally, after considering all of the above points you must base your decision on the facts. Is the guitar of sound construction, does it play well and does it feel comfortable. You must be prepared to let your head rule your heart when making your final decision as your guitar will hopefully be part of your life for a long time to come.

About the Author
You can find out more information on learning to play the guitar in this 5-part mini course - http://www.learntoplayguitar.useful2know.com

Take Good Care of the Guitar

2006-12-01T01:40:00.000-08:00

Tips on How to Take Good Care of the Guitar by Cyndie King

Many guitar players only know how to play their instrument but there are times that they forget to clean and maintain their guitar's appearance. It is essential to take good care of the guitar's main parts; where the main components for creating tunes and sound are located. The frets and strings need to be maintained regularly to keep them from loosing their tune and form. Here are some tips on how to take good care of the guitar.
1. Polish and clean the fingerboard of the guitar at least every six months. A person may use a soft cloth and apply lemon oil on the bridge and the fingerboard of the guitar. This will keep them from drying out when they are not in use. Always handle the guitar with care when cleaning it.
2. It is important to adjust the truss rod when you change the string gauge of the guitar. The strings tension may vary if there is a constant change of the climate. The tension tends to tighten if the weather is cold and if the climate is humid, the strings tend to loosen.
3. You may adjust the saddle by using a little piece of cardboard that will raise the strings vertically or he may remove the shims to lower its height.
4. When the guitar is transported, it is important that the strings be loosened. It is essential to pack the peg-head portion of the case with towel or a piece of clothing to protect the body of the guitar.
5. The frets should be polished or you may use a fret dressing that will remove any cloth or lint (from packing materials) remaining on the frets; this may vary with the type of cloth the owner uses to pack his guitar.
6. You need to make sure to snug the tuners twice a year. Tuners tend to loosen automatically because they are made of wood or metal that creates contraction at different rates. You must be careful not to over tighten the knot to avoid any cracking on the peg-head.
7. You must remember not to carry the guitar with the luggage. There are airlines that allow a person to carry a guitar along with him on the plane. You should not forget to call before going to the airport to confirm that they will allow you to "carry on" your guitar.
Taking good care of the instrument is essential to maintain its features. A person must always realize that he should not only know how to play the instrument but should also know how to take good care of his guitar as well.
About the Author
As the owner of a small business, and a teacher of several instruments, I always try to teach others how to take care of their instruments. I also recommend some online products that will help your guitar knowledge. If you would like to try an online guitar course please visit:
http://tinyurl.com/ykx6mn

3 Chords

2006-11-23T21:28:00.000-08:00

Christmas Carols You Can Play This Christmas With Just 3 Chords!By: Duane Shinn

Did you know that there are literally thousands of songs you can play if you know just 3 chords?It's true. Songs from "Amazing Grace" to "Cum Ba Ya" to "Happy Birthday" to "On Top Of Old Smoky", "My Country 'Tis of Thee", "Take Me Out To The Ball Game", "God Bless America" and countless others.But there are also Christmas Carols that you can learn to play this Christmas if you know, or are willing to learn, three simple chords.So what are these chords?In any given key, there are 3 "family members" that are residents of that key -- the I chord, the IV chord, and the V chord. They are far and away the most likely chords to occur in any given key.For example, if I am playing in the Key of C, and the first chord is the C chord and I have to guess what the next chord is, I would guess that it would be either the F chord or the G chord. Why? Because those are the other "family members." So we have narrowed the odds a great deal just by knowing who the members of the family are.So how could I tell whether it should be F or G?If the melody is a "B", then the chord is probably a G chord. Why? Because "B" is in the G chord, but is not in the F chord.If the melody is a "A", than I would guess that the chord is F. Why? Because "A" is in the F chord, but is not in the G chord.You can also just match one of the three chords to the melody to see if it sounds right. If it doesn't, try another of the 3 chords. It won't take long before you get the knack of matching chords to the tune of a song.Does that mean that there are always just 3 chords in a song? No, but there are literally hundreds of songs that are made of just 3 chords.Here are a few Christmas Carols you can play with just 3 chords:O Christmas Tree Angels We Have Heard On High Silent Night Away In A Manger Joy To The World Deck The Halls Go, Tell It On The Mountain O Come, O Come Immanuel Star Of The East The First Noel The Holly And The Ivy While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen Hark! The Herald Angels Sing I Heard The Bells On Christmas DayCan you use other chords in these carols? Of course. And they will probably sound fuller if you do. But you can "get by" with just 3 chords -- the family chords in whatever key you want to play them in.Here are the primary chords (the family chords) of all the major keys (remember that the primary chords are the I chord, the IV chord, and the V chord based on the scale of that particular key)
:Key of C: C, F, GKey of G: G, C, DKey of D: D, G, AKey of A: A, D, EKey of E: E, A, BKey of B: B, E, F#Key of F: F, Bb, CKey of Bb: Bb, Eb, FKey of Eb: Eb, Ab, BbKey of Ab: Ab, Db, EbKey of Db: Db, Gb, AbKey of Gb: Gb, Cb, Db
Do you have to know all these chords in all these keys?No.You can choose to play in just one key, or just a few keys.But what you MUST know is the 3 chords in whatever key you want to play in! That means that the stark beginner can learn 3 chords in just a few minutes, and be able to play along with thousands of tunes, because most folk songs, hymns, country songs, and many rock songs just use the 3 basic chords. That's why people who know zilch about music can pick up a guitar or sit down at a piano or keyboard, learn 3 chords, and chord along while singing everything from "Silent Night" to "Joy To The World" to...well, you get the idea.Go thou and do likewise. It's not too late -- Christmas comes every year right on schedule!
Article Source: http://www.webiar.com
Duane Shinn's DVD video courses titled How To Play Spectacularly Beautiful Christmas Carols on the Piano This Christmas!" have been used by pianists around the world to help them arrange Christmas Carols in an exciting manner.

How To Play The Piano

2006-11-23T00:16:00.000-08:00

How To Play The Piano Using "Shorthand" -- Chord Symbols -- Instead of Reading the Full ScoreBy: Duane Shinn

Most people who took piano lessons as a kid, including me, grew up learning to read music exactly as it is written on the printed page. Being able to read music is a valuable skill, and I am delighted I learned that skill at an early age.But there is a downside to only being able to read music without understanding what you are reading. A couple real-life examples illustrate the point:What happens when you are playing and your sheet music slips off the piano and onto the floor? Unless your name is Victor Borge and you can turn the situation into comedy, you will probably find the situation extremely embarrassing. I have seen it happen several times to pianists who play well but who don't know how to improvise, and it's not a pretty site. It happened to me once years ago as well. I was accompanying a singer and someone opened a side door, letting a gust of wind sweep into the auditorium and right across my piano. The sheet music scattered onto the stage and a couple pieces blew off the stage. If I hadn't understood the music and had a grasp of it's harmonic form, I would have had to stop, pick up the music, get it back in order, and so forth, delaying the soloist and the performance. As it turned out I had several people ask me how I kept playing without the music in front of me. I replied that I knew the chord progressions of the song, so was able to "wrap the chords around the singer" and therefore keep the song going.So what are chord symbols, and how do they work?Chord symbols are a shorthand way of writing what is going on harmonically in a song. For example, if I were to write the chord symbols of the first line of What Child Is This? (also known as Greensleeves and several other titles) in the key of Am, I would write:Am G F E7 -- which corresponds to the first line of the song and would appear directly above the melody line in the treble clef, so all the pianist would need to do would be to read the melody (tune) of the song -- not all the supporting notes.I think you can see that once you know a few chords this would be infinitely easier to remember than the entire score of the song. Not only that, but that chord progression -- A, G, F, E7 -- repeats several times during the song, so once you know the form of the song, you have a huge advantage over someone who is chained to the written music and has no idea about the logic of the song.So how does a person learn this "musical shorthand"? It's no secret -- there are books galore on learning chords, plus web sites that teach chords, or you could even pick up a chart of chords in your local music store.Then buy a "fake book" -- a songbook with hundreds or even thousands of songs, each song showing just the melody of the song with the chord symbols listed above it. Each song alone would be known as a "lead sheet", but cumulatively the collection of songs is known as a "fake book". Then every day play a dozen or so songs just with the melody in your right hand and the chord in your left hand. It will sound barren at first, but you're learning how it works.After a couple weeks of that, instead of playing the melody in your right hand, sing the melody (doesn't matter at all how it sounds) and use your right hand to break up the notes of the chord you are playing in your left hand. Once you get the hang of it, you can start breaking up the chord in both hands and experimenting with various rhythm patterns.I am not saying it's easy; I am saying it's fun and exciting and that it is worth it many times over!
Article Source: http://www.webiar.com
Duane Shinn is the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions- Intelligent Piano Lessons For Adults Only! " with over 84,400 current subscribers.

Guitar

2006-11-22T20:25:00.000-08:00

The Best Gifts for Guitarists in 2006 Guitar EffectsBy: William McRea

Are you looking for a great gift for the guitarist in your life? They already have a guitar and amplifier so getting them another is out of the question. And most guitarists seem to buy the accessories that they need as they go along. Have you considered purchasing guitar effects in the form of pedals or effects units?

With the guitar, the sound is generated using electrical signals. When you take the signal and process it in certain ways, this changes the sound. When you use a special device such as a pedal or an effects unit, the signal is processed by the device and the changed sound comes out through your speakers.

Do you want some advice on purchasing the best gifts for guitarists in the form of guitar effects? Here is some advice that will help you make a purchase.

Purchasing Pedals

Effects pedals either come with a series of options but the one thing that is consistent is that you use your foot to make any changes to the settings. Some, like the Line 6 PODSX Live Pedal, have 11 channels each with a different sound. Others are just a single pedal and you press it to turn the effect on or off.

When purchasing pedals, it is a good idea to do your research and choose products that are highly regarded. Look at reviews, compare prices, and ask the guitarist which effects they tend to like. Here are some ideas for pedals:

o Line 6 PODSX Live Pedal with 11 Channelso Ibanez TS808 Vintage Tube Screamer Reissueo Line 6 DL-4 Delay Modeler Pedal o Dunlop Original Crybaby Wah Pedal

Effects Processors

Effects Processors also take the signal and alter it. But, they have different functions and uses than a pedal. Some are designed to hook up to your computer and others hook up to your computer. The type of effects processor you choose will depend on your individual tastes and needs. Here are some good choices for gift giving:

o Yamaha Magicstomp II Guitar Effects Processor o Boss RC-20XL Loop Stationo Boss GT-8 Guitar Effects Processor o ToneWorks AX1500G Guitar Floor Effects Processor

Great Gifts

Effects processors make great gifts because they help a guitarist expand and enrich their sound. You can use effects to help enhance your creativity. You can also use them to convey a certain emotion in a song you are writing. If you are unsure of which pedal or processor to purchase, finding one that has a variety of sounds is a good bet because then they can experiment.

Article Source: http://www.webiar.com

Guitar Warehouse is the source for guitars, bass and drum kits.Buy a Guitar, at Guitar Warehouse

Why a Musical Instrument is the Best Christmas Gift for Your Child in 2006By: William McRea

It can be difficult finding the best Christmas gift for your child. They give you a list, but it is filled with things that do nothing to educate or enrich them. Movies, clothes, video games etc. Why not give them something that will both entertain and enrich?

Giving your child a musical instrument for Christmas is one of the best things you can do. Here is some more information on why.

Confidence Builder

Children who play a musical instrument develop confidence. It is gratifying to work hard at something and feel yourself progressing. As a child builds their skills, their self worth will increase. Having them perform at recitals and in front of the family also builds their self worth, especially when they get applause.

Develops Creativity

Creativity is important throughout life, not just for children. The more you strive to build their creativity as kids, the more creative they will be as adults in the work force. Too often, parents unknowingly squelch this creativity. Why not encourage it by giving your child an instrument for Christmas?

Its Fun

Not only are instruments educational, they are fun. Avoid purchasing them an instrument they may find ridiculous and embarrassing, like a tuba. Cool instruments like guitars, drums, violins, and basses. Keep in mind that they more than likely want to emulate their favorite bands and pop artists. You can not do that with a tuba or trumpet.

The best way to ensure that they will have fun is to ask them what kind of instrument they would like. If your child likes rock music, they would gravitate toward one of the instruments in a rock band. If they like folk music, they may ask for an acoustic guitar. But there is no sense in guessing which one they would really like. Their answer may surprise you.

Helps Kids Focus

The act of practicing the instrument each day encourages your child to focus on one thing. Helping them understand that you do not learn and get better unless you take lessons and practice is an important thing you can teach them.

However, be careful with this. There are plenty of children who decide they hate their instrument because they are forced to practice it. Give them some space and help them learn that without this vital practice time, they wont truly learn how to play.

If your child wont practice, ask him why. Getting to the root cause will help encourage inspiration. Perhaps they do not like the teacher or the song they are learning. These things are easily fixable. The key is to make it fun.

A Great Gift

A musical instrument is the best Christmas gift for your child because it helps them develop skills. Plus, it is both entertaining and enriching. With a musical instrument, parents can be happy that their kids are learning a new skill, and the kids are happy because they are able to play like the people they admire.

Article Source: http://www.webiar.com

Guitar Warehouse is the source for guitars, bass and drum kits.Buy a Guitar, at Guitar Warehouse