Taylor Made Music

OK, I know that acoustic drums are not every drummer’s favorite and that electronic drums do have a part to play, BUT, what about the crack, crack that only an acoustic snare can produce. You know, that captivating sound that all drummers love. I try to like the sound of electronic drums, really I do, but when I hear the real thing I am hooked. I’m old school I guess!

Have you ever seen a marching band with an electronic drum line? Boy, they would need some serious extension cords. When playing electronic drums, be sure to always pay the light bill and pray that the soundman does not have a hangover. What I am trying to say, is acoustic drums are self-sufficient where electronic drums depend on a lot of other factors. The drummer is responsible for the sound of his own acoustics’ and no one else. They can be played any time any place.

The trademark of a drummer is his ability to tune his acoustics’ to the best sound that they will produce. Each acoustic drum has a magic spot. He is a true artist. Acoustic drums are so simple yet so profound. You take a wooden stick and strike a piece of plastic pulled tight over a wooden cylinder and let air do its thing. You bend sound waves to make the drum sound the way you like it. You can add overtones, take out overtones, muffle sound, magnify sound all with the turn of a few screws.

Acoustics’ are crafted instruments of beauty. Turn me loose in a drum store and I am a happy camper. I have never met an acoustic drum that I didn’t like on beauty alone. Some sound much better than others do but they all have a certain type of beauty.

Acoustic drums are the real things. I don’t want to call electronic drums fake drums, so I will call them imitator drums. They imitate acoustic drums. The imitator can never produce a better sound than the real thing because it is not the real thing, just the imitator. Some drummers try to get their acoustic drums to sound like electronic drums. They got it backwards. Sad but true.

Come on guys; don’t take the easy way out with electronic drums. Learn to master your acoustics’. You will be glad you took the hours and hours of getting to know you kit. They will produce a sound that none can match.

Happy drumming acoustic style.

Fred Fishburne - A guy that loves playing acoustic drums. http://mcdonoughinfo.com

[tags]acoustic drums, tom tom, tom toms, bass drum, kick drum, electonic, electronic drums, sticks[/tags]

Musical instruments have existed in one form or another for many thousands of years. There were several stringed instruments made before violins, but some of them are so ancient that modern scholars hardly know anything about them, having only seen them depicted in artwork or written record. The violin has existed in its current form since the 16-th century. The first Violin makers were Italians who were probably influenced by other ancient stringed instruments from around the world.

Some of the violin’s precursors date back several thousand years. The ravanstron, rebec, and rabab are ancient stringed instruments that were used thousands of years ago. By the 11-th century, the rote and vielle had been invented. These instruments looked somewhat similar to modern violins in that they fingerboards that containing strings which players could press in order to produce different tones. The vielle was probably the instrument most similar to the modern violin, different models had between two and five strings that could be plucked or bowed.

The history of the violin itself goes back to 16-th century Italy. The Medici family commissioned a famous lute builder named Andrea Amati to make a stringed instrument that was small enough for street musicians to use but had a sound quality similar to that of a lyre. His first violins were very successful and he was soon commissioned to build an entire orchestra by King Charles IX of France. The earliest known violin still in existence, dated 1564, was from this orchestra.

The Amati family — along with fellow Italian families like the Guarneris and the Stradivaris — continued to refine and develop the violin’s design until the 18-th century, when Antonio Stradivari built a violin that formed the basis for all future models.

Acoustic violins have not changed much since the 18-th century; the designs proved they could with stand the test of time. Some innovations, such as the advent of the electric violin have been made in recent years, but the basic design remains unchanged.

Violins Info provides detailed information about antique and electric violins, violin music, sheet music, strings, and shops; violin makers and repair; and explanations of how to play the violin and a short history of the violin. Violins Info is affiliated with Business Plans by Growthink.

[tags]violins, electric violins, violin music[/tags]

It’s not what you play, it’s how you play it. These words summarize the art of piano playing in general and New Age piano playing in particular. You could take 2 chords, and, if you were in the moment and in flow, communicate the utmost emotion and power.

However, give the same two chords to someone who is more concerned with image than music and the sound won’t have the appeal - the attractive quality that pulls the listener closer like honey to a bee.

The secret is not how much you know or how good you think you can become. No. The secret to the art of New Age piano playing is being able to forget yourself and express yourself without ego. Then you will begin to understand the meaning of art. For it is only when we transcend ourselves does something real appear.

What comes out of you is something from you but it is also something greater - a spiritual something that says, “let go and let the music come of its own accord.” Can you create this kind of music? A music that is subtle yet very powerful. A music that can penetrate to the depths yet still remain lovely and light. Yes, you can do it. The secret? Get out of the way and let the music tell you where it wants to go.

After you learn technique and theory and a little bit of improvisation skill, you will be able to grow and create in proportion to your ability to get out of the way and let the music take over. To do this requires a listening ability somewhat similar to meditation. That is, you must be open and receptive to what comes next - never forcing, never trying to come up with something.

When you are in this listening frame of mind, wonderful things begin to happen. But when you try to create something, you set yourself up for blocks. Why? Because the trying blocks the listening, receptive attitude necessary for improvisation. The key to getting around this is to walk away and come back later. Believe me, you can try and try but if nothing is coming, it probably won’t come at this moment.

Art appears when you are in the moment. The art of New Age piano, like any other art requires you to learn the skills and techniques - then forget about them and begin to play.

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music’s online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!

[tags]new age piano,piano lessons,piano music,piano,edward weiss,new age music[/tags]

There are so many guitar models on the market today. So many types including electric, acoustic, acoustic electric, nylon string, and steel string guitars. How does one make a selection? Here are a few tips to help you choose one that meets your needs.

1. It depends on how much you can afford.

With such a wealth of guitars available, a working person shouldn’t have a problem finding one that fits their budget. But this doesn’t mean that you should settle for anything. As the old adage goes, you usually get what you pay for. Usually the more money you invest, the greater the returns. You’re going to be spending a lot of time practicing so choose an instrument that you can enjoy. An instrument that you can look forward to playing.

2. What style of music will you be playing?

The style of music to be played should influence your choice of guitar. For instance if you plan on playing rock you should buy an electric guitar, since Rock music is better suited to be played on that type of guitar. If Jazz and blues is your thing you may prefer a semi-acoustic guitar from the start. An acoustic nylon string guitar may be better suited to classical music and smooth Jazz.

3. Child or adult?

Are you a parent looking to buy a guitar for your child? Consider buying a 1/2 size or 3/4 size guitar. Your child doesn’t have the reach that an adult has, so these smaller guitars are better suited. Regular size guitars will be more difficult to play and can cause a lack of interest.

You may also want to look into buying an electric guitar for your child if you can afford it. They have a small neck and very light thin strings and are therefore easier to play. If money is an issue a second hand electric guitar may be the answer.

4. Wood type and its relation to tone.

Although there are no rules for choosing guitar woods, there is a guide that you can follow. Generally, darker woods produce a brighter tone while darker woods produces a deeper, richer tone. Medium tone wood like mahogany produce a very even smooth sound spectrum. You should compare various wood colors. The best thing to do is to listen to the tones that a guitar produces before deciding.

5. Pay attention to the guitar’s features.

Your guitar must have certain important features. Don’t simply focus on looks.

For example, your guitar should have die-cast machine heads (or tuning gears). With this feature, you will be able to tune your instrument more accurately and your guitar will stay in tune longer.

A solid top is also very important. A solid top usually consists of 2 solid matched pieces glued together side by side. This is of better quality than a laminated top where various woods are glued together on top of each other. With a solid top the guitar’s tone will be more even and accurate and you can expect a sustaining vibration throughout the guitar’s body.

6. Buy a guitar that feels good to you.

You’re the one who will be playing that guitar. So you’d better buy one that feels comfortable to you, whether you’re sitting or standing. For instance, if the strings are too far from the fretboard, playing will be difficult. An expensive guitar that is not comfortable is a waste. Spend time with the guitar before deciding.

7. The bottom line is sound.

If it sounds good, buy it. No two guitars can ever be the same. It’s never about looks. It’s about the sound that is generated through the use of the right type of wood and through superior craftsmanship.

You should be able to find a guitar easily online. You can order one that suits your needs today. Some of the best guitar prices can be found on the Internet. You even get free shipping to your door.

Mantius Cazaubon offers a buying guide to help you choose an electric guitar that meets your needs on his site http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com. Visit Electric Guitars Guide for electric guitar reviews, tips, and lessons.

[tags]guitar buying tips, buying guitars, guitar buying tip, buying guitar, guitar[/tags]

Everything is so new to beginning piano students that they may not be aware of simple measures they can take to dramatically improve their progress over the next year. Too often students compare themselves to experts they see on television and their teacher. Parents can help their beginner at home take a realistic look at what goes on behind the scenes to achieve the progress students want to make in a way that doesn’t hurt kids’ feelings. Here are 7 ways beginning students can do this by taking a look at their

1. Practice Environment -

The practice environment will do one of two things. It will either support learning or detract from it. Make a list of things in the environment that support learning and then those that create distractions. Kids tend to self-distract a lot so the environment needs to be as helpful as possible. Turn off the television, friends come over to play after practice, no food at the piano, piano books shouldn’t be scattered all over the floor, but organized, etc.

2. Daily Schedule -

Beginners, just like advanced students, need a routine to keep their piano promises to themselves. Substitute the word Commitment for Routine and you’ll see what I mean.

3. Practice Session -

To make more progress over the next year simply increase daily practice by 10 minutes. This helps students become accustomed to longer periods of practice gradually. Small incremental changes are much effective because they lead to growth instead of short-term success followed by burn out.

4. Music Assignments -

If students are following the above steps they will enjoy the reward of learning a new piece of music every week. Over the course of a year that’s 52 songs!

5. Knowledge -

Make a list of music knowledge that needs to be memorized. Make copies of this information and keep it handy. Or purchase additional music theory or note reading workbooks. Beginners can take advantage of their time riding around in the car or waiting for dinner in a restaurant to memorize some useful music facts.

6. Goals -

Setting goals is a powerful tool. All human behavior is goal driven so staying focused on the goals that are most important over the long run is essential to help beginners reach their musical dreams. Piano recitals are often viewed as tests by students, but they are really just a tool to help students set goals. Students learn more when they have goals to reach.

7. Experience -

Following the above 7 steps will give beginning students more experience. Another way to increase musical experience is by listening to other musicians. Making a commitment to attend the symphony or a piano concert once a month or buying a new piano CD will help your beginner increase their musical experience and develop their listening ears.

These 7 New Year Resolutions will set at example for students to improve on year after year. By striving to make what goes on behind the scenes at home line up with their piano dreams students achieve the progress they want to make and feel good about their piano lessons. Start now by looking at which of the above 7 improvements you could most quickly implement in your own home - and do it today!

For great home piano activities parents can use to help children ages 5 to 11 develop their musical talent, visit Piano Adventure Bears Music Education Resources You’ll find a treasure box filled with piano resources to create an exciting musical adventure for your child - right in your own home! Visit their website and subscribe to their f’ree internet newsletter so you can download f’ree piano sheet music and mp3s of original piano compositions.

These exciting stories, games, piano lessons, and inspirational gifts feature the Piano Adventure Bears, Mrs. Treble Beary and her new piano student, Albeart Littlebud. Young students follow along with Albeart to learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand appreciate. Click here to visit PianoAdventureBears.com For a wealth of information about piano lessons, visit tallypiano.com

[tags]beginner piano lessons,piano lessons for children,piano lessons for kids, children’s piano books[/tags]

So, you want to know how to buy a new guitar. Whether you are just
learning to play the guitar or you’ve been playing for some time,
choosing to buy a new guitar can be one of the most exciting experiences.

You will soon learn that people have their own opinions about the type of
new guitar to buy. You will need to consider what is important to you.
In addition, learning how to buy a new guitar is similar to buying a new
pair of shoes. They are better once they have been used a bit.

In guitar terms, they need to have a good “setup.”

There are essentially three types of guitars on the market: electric,
acoustic, and classical. You can also find acoustic guitars that have pickups.
These are properly called acoustic-electric guitars.

If you’re are just learning to play the guitar you may be interested
in purchasing a brand new guitar instead of a used one. You may think
that there is much more trouble associated with purchasing a used guitar.

You shouldn’t have to worry about the general condition, but there are some
tips for how to buy a new guitar that can save you a headache and point you
in the right direction.

Getting Your Money’s Worth

One aspect of new guitars that you will learn quickly—they’re not cheap.
As with anything you buy, the highest price doesn’t necessarily correspond
to the best. When you are considering how to buy a new guitar, the best deal
that you want to secure is one where you get a quality guitar with the lowest
prices possible. Quality in terms of the guitar relate to its construction and tone.

When you look at the construction, notice the wood that is used. Inspect the
entire guitar and look for peeling or chipping. Also look closely to notice the
shape of the guitars. Guitars are typically kept in storage areas.

If a guitar spends a significant amount of time in such an area, it is very
possible that the wood may become affected so that the instrument loses its shape.
Now that you are learning how to buy a new guitar, you will be able to tell the
difference in a new guitar that is worth its price tag and one that is not.

Checking the Action

If there is one aspect of guitars that separate them from each other, it’s tone.
Another tip for how to buy a new guitar is to refrain from judging a guitar
simply by its looks alone. You need to take it down from the shelf and listen
to its tone. If you are just learning to play, you don’t have to worry that you
don’t know enough to test out the tone. You can tell if a guitar has good tone
by simply strumming a few strings on it. Action is an important thing to check as well.

Action refers to the amount of space between the strings and the fretboard.

When you play a note, you have to press down on the strings so that they touch
the fretboard. If there is too much space between the string and the fretboard,
the action is considered high. If there is very little space between the two,
the action is considered low. Either extreme can affect your guitar playing.
You want to aim for an action that is somewhere in the middle.

The tips presented here are only a few to show you how to buy a new guitar.
The more time you spend talking to other guitar enthusiasts you will learn
more about new guitars.

For more more information about buying a new guitar please visit http://www.guitar-directory.net

[tags]new guitar, buy guitars, buy new guitar, guitars, play the guitar[/tags]

In a world that is increasingly based on technology, music has also become digital. Many people prefer to listen to music accentuated with modern methods and over mediums such as the Internet and CD. However, there are also some music lovers who believe that the real taste of music lies in the rendition of live pianos. Grand pianos are pieces of priceless treasure and for someone who owns them they are a matter of great pride. There are many ways to acquire grand pianos and the Internet is an invaluable tool to facilitate this effort.

Before buying a piano, it is essential to make a checklist of the buyer’s requirements. Buying a grand piano depends upon the size of the living room and involves factors such as availability of ideal conditions for playing, proper maintenance and regular tuning. The budget and the need to place the piano in an appropriate place wherein it matches the overall d

Learning how to practice the guitar effectively can help you transcend from guitar enthusiast to musician. The old saying that “practice makes perfect” is a bit overused, but it doesn’t oversimplify the importance of making regular guitar practice a part of your road map to becoming better at playing the guitar. What does learning how to practice the guitar effectively involve? Essentially, effective guitar practice consists of taking four elements of playing the guitar and incorporating them into your practice routine. When you make preparation, timing, and warming up a part of your routine of how to practice the guitar effectively, you will see how quickly you improve your skills.

Timing

Timing is important to learning how to practice the guitar effectively because it will mentally your prepare you. We all have a biological clock (yes men too!) that functions basically according to how we perform out activities. This is how people are able to adapt to shifting work shifts and other such changes in time rhythm. While you don’t have to practice the same time, it is a good idea to try and set aside a time each day to practice the guitar. It may seem awkward at first, but eventually your body will adjust to the new activity and eventually it will seem like second nature.

In addition to finding a place in your schedule to practice the guitar, it is a good idea to practice for a specific amount of time each time you practice. While you can obtain some good practice time within 15 minutes, a 30-minute session is better for when you want to learn how to practice the guitar effectively.

Preparation

So what will you do when you practice? Knowing the answer to this question is essential to understanding how to practice the guitar effectively. It is not enough to show up at your scheduled time with your guitar in your lap. You should prepare what you intend to practice before your practice session. By doing this you don’t waste time. Is there a particular song you’re learning? Do you want to practice a new chord you recently learned? Not that you need it, but thinking ahead about what you are going to practice is a great motivator.

If getting in the habit of performing guitar maintenance seems like a chore, make it part of your routine that you perform before you practice. You don’t have to spend twenty minutes of your practice session cleaning your guitar, but a few swipes of the body, fretboard, and strings with a dust cloth is a good place to start. It is also a good idea to perform regular maintenance after you finish your practice session. Incorporating these maintenance steps into your practice session is not only part of how to practice the guitar effectively, but it also a way to add life to your guitar.

Warming Up

Before you actually start practicing the guitar, you should warm up first. How you choose to warm up is ultimately up to you. Some people play scales, either the chromatic or whole scale since this is the best way to warm up all of your fingers. This part of your practice session should not be stressful. The goal is to work up to playing the guitar.

After you have gone through these basic steps you can start practicing the guitar.

For more more information about guitar practicing please visit http://www.guitar-directory.net

[tags]guitar practicing, practicing the guitar, playing the guitar, guitar playing, guitar lessons[/tags]

A harmonic is a tone that’s created by the guitar by touching the string above a fret on an open vibrating string. There are 2 types of harmonics Natural and Artificial or I prefer to call them pinch harmonics.

Natural Harmonics

Natural Harmonics can be produced by touching your index finger on your fret-hand above at the 5th, 7th or 12th fret. Just place your finger on the string above the fret, don’t press to hard or you will mute the note, pluck the note and then pull your finger off. Try it on the A string.

E|————|

B|————|

G|————|

D|————|

A|—-12——|

E|————|

Timing is critical when playing harmonics. The length of time you keep your finger on the string will determine if you hear a harmonic, muted sound or just a regular note. Natural harmonics occur in various locations along the fretboard. The most common ones are on the 5th, 7th, and 12th fret. The harmonics in those positions will ring for all 6 strings on the same fret. Try playing them in all 3 positions. Place your finger across all 6 strings and play from the Low E to the high E lifting your finger as your pick strikes each individual string. You have to work at this and it takes some time, but it sound so cool.

E|———5—–|——–7—–|———-12—|

B|——–5——|——-7——|——–12—–|

G|——-5——-|——7——-|——-12——|

D|——5——–|—–7——–|——12——-|

A|—–5———|—-7———|—–12——–|

E|—-5———-|—7———-|—-12———|

Pinch Harmonics

Pinch harmonics are done with the pick hand hand. I found this technique very difficult to master. The best method is to “choke” down on your pick so there is very little pick exposed between your thumb and your index finger. With time you’ll learn the pick has to be mobile in your hand, and you will move it into different position depending on how you play. Now when you pluck a string with your pick the trick is to hit the pick first and then slightly twist your thumb so that it touches the string immediately after hitting the string.

Why play a pinch harmonic..well because they are very cool when playing solos. You can combine string bends with pinch harmonics and vibrato to get totally cool sounding “squeals”. They even sound great when you do them by accident. The trick is to devote some of your practice time everyday to just playing cool licks and try adding a pinch harmonic with some demonic vibrato. Oh yea, it makes you want to play more guitar because you can just create some of coolest sounds!

Bill McRea is the publisher of The
Guitar Warehouse and Guitar
Playing Techniques. Both sites offer free lesson and product sales.

[tags]Guitar Lessons, Harmonics, Pinch Harmonic, Natural Harmonics[/tags]

Relax Your Hand

Most people handle the guitar like it’s a baseball bat. They grab it and squeeze the hell out of it. There is nothing more simple to understand and so difficult to learn. Learning how to relax your hands and remove tension is critical. The more tension in your fingers the more difficult it will be to make changes on the guitar. Tension binds your fingers and makes it harder to perform the small movements needed to play guitar.

Beginners are often intimidated about pressing the strings hard enough to prevent string buzzing. A little string buzz is better than the tension. With time your fingers will develop calluses and strength, and the string buzzing will go away. For now focus on being relaxed and flexible in your fingers. I start every playing session by just simply making a fist and the extending my fingers several times. This had the affect of teaching my fingers the relaxed state when my fingers are half extended. This is the feeling I look for when playing guitar.

Slow Down to Speed Up

The best method to increasing the speed you play your guitar is to SLOW DOWN. This is so true. Most beginning guitarist want to play as fast as they can, but to do this and make it sound good, you have play some notes people want to hear. Not just a jumble of stuff.

To trick to speed is being able to play the notes or chords correctly and by instinct. The best way to develop instinct is to start slow and play the notes properly without building tension in your hands and with a consistent beat. You should purchase a metronome, or I prefer a drum machine.

Set the beat at a reasonable speed and play at that speed until you’ve mastered what you are trying to learn. Sometimes it needs to be annoying slow, but it pays off with a big dividend in a relatively short period of time. Once you are comfortable playing at the selected speed, kick the speed up about 15% and then repeat the process. Before long you’ll be flying up a sliding pentatonic scale flawlessly and at unbelievable speeds.

Slow down and relax and your playing will improve faster than you think. If you want to play the guitar the rest of your life, then give yourself the time to learn.

Bill McRea is the publisher of The
Guitar Warehouse and Guitar
Playing Techniques Both sites offer free lesson and product sales.

[tags]Guitar Lessons, Guitars[/tags]