Learn How to Play Guitar in 4 Steps

Many people want to learn how to play guitar and it is not as hard as you would think. You do not even need to know how to read music to be able to play many songs on the guitar, especially if you can find beginner guitar songs. Here are just a few easy steps to have you on the way to playing songs on the guitar.

1. Learn the Frets. Rather than learning about how to play the music, you will need to know which letter corresponds to each fret. This can be done with the help of a book or the computer. You do not need to know what the different notes stand for, simply find music that will tell you the letters, which range between A and G.

2. Strum the Guitar. You will need to learn chords, which can be done with knowing which fret on each string is needed. You will then need to start strumming the guitar to pick up the chords.

3. Follow the Music. It is important to follow what is written on the sheets of paper and simply practice. This is the only way that you will be able to play the guitar well.

4. Get a Tutor. The more that you learn on your own, the more you will need to hire a guitar tutor to help you advance. You do not need to spend a lot of money and you could even find some guitar software online to help you with the tutor part.

When it comes to play the guitar, or any instrument for that matter, you need to learn to remain relaxed. The easier to let your body move, the easier it will be to play the music that is on the sheet. You should also find songs that you enjoy listening to as you will know how they are supposed to sound and will enjoy practicing them. If someone has something that they would like you to learn, spend some time listening to the music and find the guitar part first; that will help you learn how it is supposed to go so that you know whether you are playing it right.

Find lots of songs to keep you entertained but always practice. Try not to move onto the next one until you can play the first one the whole way through; although, if you are getting frustrated, it is time to move onto the next song in the pile.

Take your time and practice; those are the only ways that you will get better at playing your new instrument. Practice every day for about 30 minutes so that you have plenty of time to play over a few chords. Start of your practice with something that you know you are good at so you can feel good about what you are going to be doing. Trying to learn how to play guitar does not need to be difficult or boring; it is all about what you make it to be.

Grab free lessons from http://www.customguitarsdesign.com/ now to learn how to play guitar from the ease of your home.

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Canada Flocks to Sled Island: Summer Travel Destination

I just had a riveting interview with Lindsay Shedden, the Festival Director for Sled Island. Sled Island is a 4 day music and arts festival in Calgary that kicks off the summer, where hundreds of bands and artists get together to play in venues across the city.

History

Sled Island was founded in 2007 by Zak Pashak the owner of Broken City, a local Calgary bar. When I asked Lindsay how Sled Island came about, she said it was an idea over beers. In its inaugural year more than 6000 fans came out to see local sensations (Chad VanGaalen, Woodpigeons, etc.) alongside international bands (Spoon, Cat Power, Boredoms, etc.). There were 96 bands that played in multiple venues that first year and it was only the beginning. Sled Island has grown every year and the incredible line-ups have included Mogwai, Wire, Deerhunter, The Breeders, Jose Gonzales, Built to Spill and so many more.

This year - June 22-25, 2011

They are expecting over 25000 fans to see the 200+ artists coming to Calgary for this year's Sled Island Music Festival that will be playing in more than 25 venues across the city. Acts this year include The Buzzcocks, Dandy Warhols, Sleep, Of Montreal, Kurt Vile and more. To see all of the great bands that are coming check out the full line-up. Some of the exciting venues are Olympic Plaza, Glenbow Museum, Republik, Royal Canadian Legion #1, etc. There's a place for everybody so take a look at which venues are right for you. There's every type of music from hip hop to punk; and every type of venue from clubs to all ages shows. And if music isn't your thing, there's art, comedy and film. There's something for everyone.

With over 200 bands coming to town, it's hard to see all of them so I asked the expert.

Me: Who are you looking forward to seeing?

Lindsay: The Intelligence, Jim Ward, and Zola Jesus.

Me: These bands are a little more obscure than the Buzzcocks or Of Montreal.

Lindsay: That's the beauty of this festival is discovering these amazing bands that you may not have heard of before.

Me: What do you think is the best venue?

Lindsay: I don't know about best but I'm really excited about our new venue this year Twisted Element.

Me: Who are the fans that come out to Sled Island?

Lindsay: Music lovers. And it's not just Calgarians anymore. People are coming from all across Canada. Vancouver, they love Sled Island.

Me: Are there going to be any surprises this year?

Lindsay: Yes, there will be lots.

One surprise Lindsay let me in on is that there will be a new beer garden this year at Olympic Plaza, which was approved by the City of Calgary, a big supporter of the festival. It should be an amazing 4 days of shows. Tickets are available for individual shows starting at $20. The real value is a wristband though which allows you to go to all the 25+ venues and as many shows as you can handle. See what ticket is right for you. Check out their website for a printable schedule, links to all the bands, map of the venues, videos, ticket info and all you want to know about Sled Island.

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Choosing Presentation Music for Maximum Effect

There is more to a presentation than words, and the nonverbal content needs as much consideration as the verbal. The right presentation music can create an atmosphere for your piece that helps convey your message. Deciding which music to use is one of the most important decisions facing a presentation producer. Some production designers choose their music in an almost offhand manner. This is usually a mistake. The same designer would never choose presentation graphics at random; the visual elements of a project as carefully selected to enhance and elaborate on the message of each slide and of the work as a whole. Slapping a random track onto the result of weeks of design is risky and unprofessional at best and self-defeating at worst. Music, like every other part of the endeavour, should be chosen as part of the overall effect.

One important consideration in presentation music selection is the sensibilities of your target audience. You never want people to think your project is in poor taste. Work aimed at certain religious or educational venues should not be accompanied by anything that alludes to rap or rock music. Just as image files should be selected so as not to offend, so should music be carefully screened. People react to different music in different ways. Make sure the music chosen will have the effect desired. If the idea is to entice viewers to a trade show booth, the style will be bright and happy. It should not, however, make listeners want to move, or they may move right on past the booth and defeat the whole purpose. Similarly, an educational video on conflict resolution probably should not feature music with overtones of aggression. The loops have to be part of the total package.

Music search must be begun early immaterial of the loops that you choose. Finding the right track can take quite a long time, and it may even take more time to acquire the rights to the music. There are times when you can use music specially recorded for the presentation if you are making the video for use in a school or church setting where musicians can be hired for a reasonable cost. Never use copyrighted material when you are selecting presentation music. Copyright does not confine itself to the use of a record and quite often even the tune and lyrics have a copyright for which a fee may require to be paid, unless the circumstances are unusual. So whenever you are looking at such music as a designer make sure that the copyright on the tune has expired or specifically ask for original music. There are original performances that are pre-recorded and meant to be sold specifically as presentation music and this avoids the issue of copyright.

If the piece is not composed by the person selling it then they will supply the purchaser with the required documentation required for the usage. This is one of the safest legal ways of getting the music. If you want to use presentation tracks which are pre-recorded, you should know where they can be found. Music which is available commercially could prove to be quite expensive, whereas work which is amateurish will not get you the effect which is required. Appropriate music is available for download at affordable rates from certain websites which specialize in such music. Some of the free stuff may not be so great, but there are composers who have created great music from single loops to entire music CDs which can fit ideally to your requirements. Each presentation should have an appropriate soundtrack which brings out the emphasis on the topic and sets the mood that the designers intended. Presentation music available online is great to create an impact and will be well within your budget. For great music loop go to: http://www.musicalvibe.net.

Great presentation music loop tracks, go to: http://www.musicalvibe.net/.

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Miss Alana Stewart Serenades The Old Queen's Head, London!

I heard Miss Alana Stewart's song "perfervid" one afternoon. You know the routine- I get a lot of music thrown at me so I clicked play and got back on with my work not thinking twice. As soon as the track started though Stewart's voice was so successfully piercing that I paused just to focus on her range, the unavoidable longing in her addictive voice was hard to ignore, and before I knew it one track had turned into five, and without realizing it- I was hooked.

My first show in London, and one public transport ride and three flights of stairs later and I was sitting across from Stewart, innocently spinning in a chair as we prepped for our interview, and off we went!

LN: Let's dive right in and talk about your main musical influences!

AS: When I was younger- way younger- my Grandfather kind of directed the music at our church and my Grandmother played piano, and they used to take me to these things called gospel singings- kind of in the Ozark country in the Midwest, and that was the biggest chunk of music I was exposed to until about age 12. Then, I moved to California and the music scene in San Francisco was really great- they had a lot of great influences like Jimmy Lewis and the whole Rilo Kiley thing. I was trained as a jazz singer so I was listening to a lot of Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James.

LN: Does religion play a big part in music for you?

AS: I think at best, music has a religious or kind of cathartic feeling to it. But you feel kind of the same buzz if the music is good.

LN: I read that melody primarily holds the most importance to you in your music, and not lyrics- explain that a little bit.

AS: Sometimes I'll just be walking down the street and the melody will come, or I'll be working on a chord progression and the melody will come- and to me, that's when a song becomes a song, is when you have the melody.

LN: You were in school focusing on the visual arts- what did you originally want to be when you grew up?

AS: Originally I wanted to be a singer! But I got it in my head that that wasn't going to possible. So I started doing visual art for film and advertising and stuff like that. But I did a demo CD and I gave it out as Christmas presents to my professors and they were like- what are you doing?! You should be doing this (singing) school will always be here...

LN: Well I'm happy they said it!

LN: Pre-show vices or rituals?

AS: Hmm- I get nervous, I talk a lot. Can't sit still. Rituals, rituals... I should get a ritual!

LN: Festival you're looking forward to in the coming year?

AS: Well- I don't have any money to go to festivals... but if I could pick any it would be SXSW!

LN: Alright main musical differences between the states and the music scene here in London?

AS: I think London bands are a lot more plugged in! They're using a lot more equipment than California bands are. I think California bands are going through like a neo-acoustic thing and using a lot more kind of jazz instruments and things that just don't need to be plugged in! And- the fashion's a lot different! They have cleaner lines.

LN: Craziest trip/ show story to date?!

AS: Well... there's the deportation story! I came over here (London) in 2009 to try and play shows and I bought a one way ticket to London and I had all these shows I had booked myself so I was just going to travel after and play shows, etc. But I got rejected at the border, and they sent me to Iceland because I took Iceland Air and so their policy was to send you back to your last port of entry! So I ended up stuck on this island in the Arctic Ocean for 2 months. So then, when I was trying to come here for meetings and tours and stuff my passport had obviously been flagged so I ended up in airport jail overnight.

LN: But the moral of the story is you made it!

AS: I made it! I had to get a lawyer but I got people involved who really cared and it worked out!

The soft-spoken Stewart seems like she would be in possession of a mere meek voice incapable of any amount of substantial depth, but she took the stage, and nothing (nothing, including a glass of Chardonnay) could have prepared me for what was about to come out. I was in complete acoustic shock, and couldn't grasp for the right words when she stepped off stage post-performance. Her jazz style influences are more than apparent, but equally so are her mid-west roots that pop up every so often mid-song.

You can keep up with the latest and greatest in Miss Alana Stewart's life HERE and London, you can catch her at the Old Queen's Head on Thursday, Jun 30! I can't thank her enough for being my intro into the London music scene- the show was an absolute blast and if I walked away with anything it's knowing this is just the beginning for this artist!

Lauren Novik at http://www.bestnewbands.com/.

See that pic of me? Yeah- that would be me running across 6th street in Austin to catch another great band at SXSW. You can pretty much find me running to catch a great show 24/7, 365. I'm BestNewBands.com's Festivals Editor, and I'm here to keep you in the know, now, about the latest & greatest happening in the music scene! Feel free to cyberstalk me via my Twitter account to keep up with what's lust at first listen, and what's hear today- gone tomorrow. Rock & Roll.

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Great Moments In Opera, Conclusion To Puccini's "Tosca"

The conclusion to Puccini's Tosca is one of the most dramatic ever in the history of opera. It is after Mario Cavaradossi finishes singing "E Lucevan Le Stelle" that Floria Tosca comes to see him to tell him the wonderful news. Tosca telling her lover, Mario Cavaradossi that she has struck a deal with Scarpia in which his execution will be but a simulation to give the impression that he has been killed. This so Scarpia can save face but the truth is that they will only pretend to execute him. After which he is free to go with her to the boarder where the document she has received from Scarpia will guarantee her and the one who accompanies her a safe passage.

Mario, naturally rejoices at the offer which has been made as he shows his joy yet Tosca tells him that it would best if he did not smile and put on the face of somebody who is about to be executed. Mario accepts as he makes his best effort to look the part yet Tosca is feeling the elation of triumph which she unlike Mario does not have to hide or at least not to the same extent. Tosca after all has not only secured a deal which should save the love of her life but has even killed the man who was feared by practically the whole of Rome.

It had been Tosca, herself who with steak knife had stabbed Scarpia to death. After which she had the pleasure of seeing him plead for help as he looked in to her eyes which declared all too clearly that it was she and nobody else who was killing him. This was Tosca's moment as Mario is about to be executed which is her victory as she has not only been able to safe her beloved but has done away with the dreaded Scarpia. Tosca showing all the joy of those who are about to emerge triumphant yet for my part I see this as being Angela Gheorghiu. Gheorghiu best capturing the sensual passionate woman of strength; who is but one of fiction yet comes to life when interpreted by Angela Gheorghiu.

Mario Cavaradossi is taken to where a firing squad will fire upon him yet all the while we see and hear Floria Tosca as she describes the scene while the music is one of victory mixed with drama and suspense. Tosca calls it a comedy yet one which they must go through if they are to be free. This as she finds it almost too difficult to control her emotions of joy yet she must await for the ceremony to be completed before she and Mario can be off. All in the fashion of a child who is forced to look at presents, he or she can not open till Christmas and is very much aware of the fact that they will be taken away if he or she even attempts to open them prior to the day of Christmas.

The music increases in its bombastic effects as Mario is fired upon yet Tosca admires and even praises him for his acting ability which allows him to fall to the ground so convincingly when he is shot. Tosca words being "Ecco un artista!" (there is an artist) with a hint of pride that perhaps he has been influenced by seeing her on stage on so many occasions while her eyes sparkle with all their beauty as does the rest of her with the radiance which is really Angela Gheorghiu's. Angela Gheorghiu being the one to bring vigor to this character by not only providing her with a grand voice but making her come to life; as if she were transforming herself in to Floria Tosca.

The tension in the music builds as Mario is about to be fired upon while Tosca thrills in ecstasy and it is precisely at the moment that the shots finally come that there is a moment of relief. As if all is but a distant memory and Tosca and Cavaradossi are free at last. Tosca as if passing on instructions to Mario not to move which he of course can not hear yet they are perhaps more for herself. This as Spoletta goes over to check if Mario is really dead which he does with a touch upon Mario's throat; after which he turns to Tosca and smiles with a wink. This as if passing on a secrete message that their deal is completed and she and he are free to go in peace.

Tosca awaits the moment for all the guards to leave the place so she can rush over to her Mario and be on their way. Tosca seeming like a child who is waiting for that moment on Christmas in which she can open her presents yet knows that it will arrive any minute. This as Tosca continues to sing out instructions to Mario that he must not move. Tosca acting much like an air traffic controller when guiding an airplane on to a runaway which is about to land. Tosca trying so hard to control both the elation she is feeling along with Mario's.

The moment does arrive when all the soldiers have gone and there is a silence which is relief that all is over. This prompting Tosca to run to Mario like that child to her Christmas presents with all her desires and hopes being as apparent as the beauty which radiates from her. Tosca runs and kneels to Mario, whom she urges to get up so they can escape yet it is at that moment that she sees that all those lovely Christmas presents were but beautifully decorated boxes which in fact are empty. This being the cruel joke which had been played upon her by Scarpia. As the truth is that Mario is truly dead and the execution had been real.

Tosca crying out "morto,morto" (dead) in despair as all her optimism has been dashed. Tosca now seeing that all had been but a trick to fool her in to making love to Scarpia; who had been no more honest in keeping his end of the bargain than she had been in keeping hers. Tosca's bitter tears are clear as she feels the rage of having her beloved lie dead at her feet yet just as she is going through the anxiety of Mario's death; she hears voices and the firing squad returning. It is apparent that Scarpia's body has been found and that this time they are coming for her.

All of which sending Floria Tosca in to a frantic run to where she might be able to jump off the top of Saint Angelo's castle which is the place where they find themselves. This being a fall which is sure to kill her yet she is Tosca, who will slay herself; for her life is hers and hers alone to end. This as the music reaches dramatic heights as Tosca runs with the freedom of those who are still in a position to decide their own fate for themselves. Tosca standing on top of the parapet as she screams "Scarpia will answer to God!" just before jumping to her demise. Thus bringing Puccini's opera Tosca to its grand conclusion which grants neither defeat nor victory to any of its main characters; as to a certain extent they have all died with a taste of both.

In conclusion, I would say there is grandness in Puccini's "Tosca" as it allows us to feel all the emotions of victory while it demonstrates the political turmoil of the time. As for the role of Tosca though many have played this particular role; I would say that there is something about Angela Gheorghiu's perhaps passion along with her perhaps at times capricious ways which make her the ideal Tosca. Angela Gheorghiu being one whose gestures and strength of personality seem ideally suited to play this woman, who adores with all of herself; in ways that do not exclude those of jealousy and possessiveness. Naturally, it also being the power of her voice which allows us to feel the pain of Floria Tosca; whose ways include not only those of a woman of strength but at times those of a delightful child.

My name is Gianni Truvianni, author of many an article to be found on the internet along with the book "New York's Opera Society". My works also include the books "What Should Not Matter", "Love Your Sister" and several others which still remain unpublished though I am presently looking to change this.

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Digital Audio File Formats - Lossy Vs Lossless

We've come a long way from toting around cases of cassette tapes for our vehicles. While there's part of us that never wants to let go of that mix tape, or that Van Halen or Madonna collection, you can't ignore the fact that we've gone digital. Analog still has its place, even if it's just to revisit old times, but most of the audio and music we deal with now is in a digital format.

Not all digital audio is the same however; not only can it be found in variable compression formats but because we deal in so many different types of technology and how that data is read, there are numerous digital audio formats.

Those digital audio formats, also referred to as codecs (MP3, WMA, AAC, AIFF, etc.) are grouped into two different categories; Lossless and Lossy. Regardless of where it's grouped however, a codec is named such because of its overall function. Codec= compression + decompression of music into digital audio files.

Working with Lossless Codecs

With Lossless Codecs, every bit of the musical data and information that forms the overall audio file is maintained and preserved upon compression. That data is then stored for retrieval. When compared to other audio, lossless codecs offers up the highest audio fidelity with the crispest digital sound.

The unfortunate downside is that the files they create can become expansive and rather large. Depending on the size of your music server or drive, you could be limited with the number of songs you can store. As technology continues to advance however this is becoming less of an issue. Terabyte external drives and small portable drives and players exceeding 500 gigabytes will have little problem with storage capacity.

The most common Lossless Codecs:

Windows Media Lossless - this codec is built into newer versions of Windows Media Player software from Microsoft and is widely supported by a number of other media adapter systems.

Apple Lossless - Of course Microsoft has its competitor in Apple. This codec is included in the iTunes software and the Apple Lossless Encoder is their answer to the Windows Media Lossless.

Free Lossless Audio codec (FLAC) - Wherever there is something commercial there can often be found something free. As the name implies the FLAC is a codec that is free on the digital market. It's widely supported, and a few of the audio players that support the free codec includes the Sonos Digital Music System and Slim Devices (of course there are numerous others).

Working with Lossy Codecs:

When you're dealing with data compression, you can expect some loss of data. Lossy codecs discard some of the music information intentionally in order to reduce the size of the audio file. This is done for a variety of reasons including the reduction of overall size in order to allow more digital files to be stored. Likewise, size reduction makes it easy to move files over the web. To the human ear, listening to the music on a run of the mill audio system won't reveal much difference. If you play the sound through a quality sound or home theater system you can begin to pick up the subtle difference in quality and tone.

The most common Lossy Codecs:

MP3 - Also known as MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3 (Motion Picture Experts Group). As the concept of digital music grew, it was the mp3 that took over as the preferred format due to the great compression ratio. Because of its widespread acceptance, it's the most common digital music codec on PC's and digital music systems. Most equipment including Compact Disc players and digital file recorders/players are designed to read this codec. Proof is in the fact that most people refer to portable music devices "Mp3 players."

WMA - Windows Media Audio is the standard audio format used on the Windows operating system and Windows Media Player as well as compatible hardware. While it's possible to use a lossless version of WMA, most files use and rely on lossy compression systems.

AAC - While most audio formats can be read across different systems, even Mac, Apple Computers iTunes Store uses the Advanced Audio Codec (AAC) as the default codec for music that's been encoded using the iTunes app. Like Windows Media Audio, AAC files fall under the Lossy category. You can however access a lossless codec within the iTunes system known as Apple Lossless.

Other Common Formats

WAV files were a common format among PC users in the 90's and are still a widely used format. The quality of a.wav file is equivalent to that of a Compact Disc and is used by many audio professionals when recording and editing music. The downside is that.wav files are lossless and as such the files are very large in size. A.wav file is about 10 megabytes for every minute of audio, making it a poor choice when storing many songs on a small capacity audio player.

Like.wav files popular for PC users, the.aiff format is a popular lossless format for the Apple user. The format was developed by Apple in 1988 in conjunction with Electronic Arts and was widely used on the Amiga systems and Mac computers. Like.wav files, standard.aiff is used on the professional level with audio and video apps and, like.wav files, it is uncompressed leading to large files.

Choosing a codec

Which codec you ultimately choose depends on a few factors including where you get your music, the device you play your music on and of course your personal preference. Although most stores sold WMA and AAC formats because of the ability to digitally protect the files with DRM (digital rights management) encoding. Most stores nowadays have switched to the more generic MP3 audio file. MP3 files are not protected but are generally lesser quality files.

If you have a high quality sound system with high storage capacity you'll likely enjoy the fidelity offered by lossless codecs. If you pipe music through your stereo system from a computer you'll need to give some consideration to the software you use, as many have a limited number of supported codecs.

Audible Forensics provides both forensic audio and audio transfer services. Our clients include law enforcement agencies, businesses, universities, museums, and others. Visit our website if you're interested in these services: Voicemail Retrieval, Convert Cassette Tape to CD or mp3, Transfer Reel to Reel to CD or mp3.

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Endgame By Rise Against

Record Label: Geffen Records
Release Date: March 15, 2011
Parental Advisory?: No

Endgame, the latest release from Chicago-based punk band Rise Against, has finally made it to store shelves, and it does not disappoint. The fast paced, high energy sound will most assuredly get your foot tapping, your blood pumping, and may, in some cases, get you driving a little too fast. All the while, the strong political and social messages will touch you, and get you thinking long after you turn the album off.

Rise Against is a band that seems to just keep getting better and better, and Endgame very much continues this trend. This album is easily the best new release of the year. Rise Against has provided an incredible sound, one that is instantly recognizable and all their own. Every instrument is played perfectly, and that sound comes across flawlessly. The guitar work is above and beyond most punk offerings and will have you playing the air guitar along with every song on the album. You will, without question, find yourself humming the song lyrics after only hearing them a few times.

The vocals of front man Tim Mcllrath are not only powerful, but also incredibly thought- provoking, once again delivering the excellent mix of singing and screaming that Rise Against fans have all come to know and love. The political and social messages here are so strong that even people who aren't fans of the band or genre should give it a listen, if only to just hear the cry for help and the wake up call that Mcllrath and the rest of the band delivers. With every track, Endgame touches on many important issues, from the war and mistreatment of our soldiers, to the disaster that was hurricane Katrina, and more, making Endgame an incredibly thought-provoking album that really should be required listening for every citizen of this country.

The only complaint that could possibly be brought against this album is that it's over all too quickly. Clocking in at just a little bit under forty-six minutes, the album is not too short, but Endgame is so good that it does leave you wanting more. Minor complaints aside, this album should be a frontrunner for album of the year. The spectacular mix of hardcore and punk vocals, along with the deep political messages, and the high-energy musical performance make Endgame a must-have for anyone who is a fan of the band, the genre, or even music itself.

If you want more great reviews, visit http://slackers.com/!

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Gloss Drop By Battles

Record Label: Warp Records
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Parental Advisory?: No

Saying that the band Battles is experimental doesn't really do them justice. It's like saying the gamma bomb that turned Dr. Bruce Banner into the Hulk was experimental. While it is an honest statement, it doesn't quite sum up the true scope of things. Although "Atlas," their first single from their debut album Mirrored, did find its way into a couple of ad campaigns as well as the hit video game Little Big Planet, for most people the band's disarrayed song structures are pretty out there.

Drummer John Stanier (Helmet), guitarist/keyboardist Ian Williams (Don Caballero) and guitarist David Konopka (Lynx), borrow elements of prog-rock, post-rock and math rock, and fuse them into an alien conglomeration of technical instrumentation and poly-rhythmic melodies. While other experimental rock acts feel it necessary to inject their sound with a large amount of brooding and solemn introspection, Battles sidesteps that pitfall. Their product is largely upbeat and downright catchy, albeit filled with a dissonant tunefulness and off-key harmonies. If Philip Glass, Frank Zappa and Chick Corea all co-wrote pop songs for Disney films, their final product would sound something like a Battles album.

The band's recently released LP, Gloss Drop, is their second full-length and the first recorded as a trio after the departure of member Tyondai Braxton in 2010. Braxton, an established solo musician and composer, was the band's keyboardist and an undeniable force in the group's creative process. Battles' remaining members hide the loss well, however, unleashing their brand of controlled chaos as skillfully as ever, and covering their bases with a few strong collaborations. The first track "Africastle" is an instrumental that sounds like it would have been right at home on Mirrored. Full of jangly guitar arpeggios and not quite real vocalizations, the opening track is strongly reminiscent of the band's earlier work, as if the trio is trying to assuage any fears the listener may be harboring about Braxton's departure. Later instrumentals vary a little further from previously tread areas: succeeding with tracks like my personal highlight "Inchworm," but occasionally falling flat, as in the case of "Toddler." Here the less is more approach reveals that, in this band's case, less is less.

While often Battles' earlier work had vocal elements, the collaborations on Gloss Drop see the vocals higher up in the mix than in any of their previous recordings, and most of them work quite well. "Ice Cream" with Chilean producer and vocalist Matias Aguayo is one of the more hook laden tracks on the album and has one of the best keyboard mini-breakdowns since the opening to the Beastie Boys' "So What'cha Want." "'My Machines" with Gary Numan is as close to ominous as Battles gets, with a low end guitar drone pulsating under Numan's wailing vocals. "Sweetie & Shag" with Blonde Redhead's Kazu Makino is a nearly straightforward indie rock affair, putting Makino's reedy, saccharine vocals on center stage. The only real disappointment here is "Sundome" with Yamantaka Eye. While the song in and of itself is all right, the vocal effect they used on Eye's caterwauling starts to grate a bit by the seven minute mark.

Ultimately, the album is entertaining and fans of the band will be mostly pleased with what they hear on Gloss Drop. Aside from an occasional miss, the album is nearly as strong as Mirrored. Equal parts demented cartoon soundtrack, other-dimensional carnival music, and catchy pop from the next universe over, Battles has produced a sophomore effort that's worth checking out if you have a tendency to listen to bands that are at the outer limits of "genre."

If you want more great reviews, visit http://slackers.com/!

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An Open Letter to New Acoustic Guitar Players Who Can't Hear Themselves Sing When They Play

As a beginning acoustic guitarist there is every possibility that you won't be able to hear yourself sing when you play.

No it is not because you are deaf or anything as dramatic as that. It is because the sound being generated by your acoustic guitar as you play is so loud that it overshadows your voice and you can hardly hear what you are singing.

So it that how it is always going to be? I mean you hear songs on the radio and no matter how loud the guitar is you are still able to hear the voice of the artiste. If you cannot accomplish the same thing then you are forever doomed. You should simply forget about playing the acoustic guitar because you are not just talented enough right?

No. Nothing like that. There are a few things you can do to fix the problem. If you are ready then let us get started.

Dear New Acoustic Guitar Player:

I know you are sick and tired.

You are sick and tired of playing the acoustic guitar while you sing but can't really hear yourself because what you are playing is very loud. You have tried to strum lightly to get it quieter but the attempt just makes strumming very uneven. You barely touch the strings and miss them often whenever you try to play lightly.

You hear people like Jack Johnson play and find that their guitars are so quiet compared to when you hear yourself play. Their playing sounds really nice and you can't help but wonder: how can I play quietly like them?

Well here's how:

1. Try Using a Foam
Let me guess. One of the other reasons why you want to be able to play quietly is because you don't want to be a pain in the ass. You don't want to be the one to always have to wake your neighbors up whenever you play. So what can you do?

Simple: try using a foam and see if you are able to get the result you want.

What you need to do here is look for a foam that is just thick enough to fit into the space between the strings and the surface of your acoustic guitar. The foam should not only be able to fit into the space but also be able to touch the strings. Then all you have left to do is slide it under the strings very close to the bridge and viola! You can play till eternity without having to wake the whole neighborhood.

2. It Is Not By Force
Yes I know you want to be able to play in such a way that you produce a smooth and pleasing sound. But the way to do it is not by force.

One thing I have noticed about beginning acoustic guitar players is that they apply a lot of force when they strum. That is not the way to do it. Your state of mind needs to be relaxed. Your arms need to be relaxed. Your wrists need to be relaxed. In short your whole body needs to be relaxed. That is the only way your strumming can be effortless and that is how you can accomplish the effect that you want: to be able to play quietly.

And one more thing. Use a plectrum that is 0.46mm thick. Your playing will sound smoother and a lot less loud.

3. Use a Leather Strip
Okay listen to this.

This tip is from one of the all time guitar greats, Manuel Barrueco. In 1974 he won the Concert Artist Guild Award. He was 22 at the time and that made him the first ever classical guitarist to win the award. After that other classical guitarist started to win the prestigious award which means that he was the one to kind of break the jinx.

Anyway ever since then Barrueco has become well known. There was even a time where he got to play with guitar greats like Steve Morse popularly known as Deep Purple and Andy Summers popularly known as The Police.

So what is the point of all this? The point is that this guy is a guitar freak and he knows what he is doing. So if he says "try doing things this way" you should know it is going to work.

And that brings us back to the main point. According to Manuel if your acoustic guitar happens to be giving you a lot of problems in terms of too loud a sound, all you need to do is use a leather strip to cage its sound.

How do you do this? Look for an averagely long leather strip and then weave or roll it round the strings at the bridge. Believe me it will surely reduce the loudness of your guitar. Try it out and see how it turns out.

4. Change to Nylon Strings
Ask classical guitarists and you will find that most of them use nylon strings. It is not because nylon strings are better than steel strings or vice versa. It is because nylon strings have this kind of sound that sounds peaceful. And that is the kind of effect you want to achieve when it comes to classical music.

So if your objective is to produce a peaceful and quiet sound when playing the guitar, here is my advice. Change your strings to nylon.

The reason why I like them is because they not only sound sweet but are also easy on the hands. Of course if you are serious about becoming an extremely good player your fingers will still hurt and the tips of your fingers will still become hardened if you use them. But they will make it a lot less painful and the experience amazing.

Of course nylon strings will not give you the same sound effect as their steel counterparts but they will give you a peculiar sound that will touch your soul. Whenever you play you will always get a good feeling.

I know this because I have tried it and the experience has been wonderful. You too should do the same.

So What about You?
Have you ever been in a situation where you can't really hear what you sing when playing the acoustic guitar? What did you do to fix the problem?

I am waiting to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Samuel Lab

About the Author: Samuel Lab blogs at One Hour Acoustic Players. If you would like to learn more about what it really takes to become an extremely good acoustic guitar player, check out his blog on learning acoustic guitar with ease.

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Hurley By Weezer

Record Label: Epitaph
Release Date: September 14, 2010
Parental Advisory?: No

Weezer has held my interest for many years now, and what keeps me coming back is their consistency. Their debut album Weezer (the "Blue" album) will always have a place in my heart as one of the few CDs I will never tire of. Sixteen years and eight CDs later, the band still has it, with their latest album Hurley. Although they have become much more commercial (hitting huge popularity after release of 2000's Green album) it is impressive they have survived so long without changing their original sound.

Hurley, released September 14, 2010, looks like it may be their most commercialized album yet, featuring the popular character Hurley (actor Jorge Garcia) from TV's Lost. Surprisingly, though, this is their first release on an indie label since the old days of the Blue album. The lucky record label Epitaph records will have a great year, with just this release alone.

Judging the album by its cover, I was expecting an hour of easy going beachy tunes. Wrong! I was hit in the face with a pop rock anthem- a theme that follows through much of the CD. "Memories" kicks off the 10 tracks with catchy lyrics, childhood flashbacks and pop culture shout outs. It's a track that can easily get stuck in your head. Moving on, there is a great pattern of loud obnoxious sing-along songs closely followed by the softer side of singer Rivers Cuomo. The 2nd track is pretty forgettable, but track 3, "Trainwrecks" picks it back up and from there it gets better and better. The cleverly written track 5, "Where's my Sex?" brings humor, arrogance and overall ridiculous lyrics. It could very well be their next single. The mood is brought to a calmer side by track 7. "Hang On," is about love lost but not forgotten. The sound is reminiscent of The Smiths, and is easily my favorite song on the album. I was convinced Cuomo is a man in love and there is a one and only for him-until "Smart Girls" started up. Apparently he just wants lots and lots of smart girls. There is even a name role call much like Lou Bega's "Mambo No.5." Maybe he'll call out your name!

The CD ends with the perfectly placed track "Time Flies." The track has a bluegrass, toe-tapping feel that I swear Conner Oberst had something to do with. It's a happy song, despite its subject, and it gave me the warm feeling I was looking for from Weezer.

Overall, Hurley didn't let me down. The CD is more comparable to their last 2 albums Raditude from 2009 and the Red album from 2008. If you are a fan already, or are just looking for a feel-good CD, check it out. It wouldn't be the #1 CD I'd bring with me if I were stranded on a deserted island (a lame reference but I said it anyway!) but it wouldn't disappoint either. I think Hurley would approve.

If you want more great reviews, visit http://slackers.com/!

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How to Become a Songwriter - Break Those Bad Habits

Do you consider yourself a real songwriter? If yes, then you should learn how to become a songwriter by breaking your bad habits that hinder songwriting. Real songwriters write songs as often as they can. Although they are aware that most don't make the grade; they keep on keeping on.

Why?

It is because of the basic fact that songwriting is a craft. Any craft should not only be practiced, but perfected. Let me ask you a question: Can you expect to become a great golfer, pianist, painter or novelist if you don't take the time to practice everyday?

Learning how to become a songwriter involves avoiding some of the most common pitfalls on songwriting.

1. Never rely on your memory. Don't ever assume that you can hold an idea in your memory for 5 minutes - keep in mind that a hundred distractions may come your way within that 5 minutes. If you have a new song idea, capture it immediately on a recording or in writing; and don't forget to collect those scraps together in place for future reference.

2. Perfectionism. Remember; no first draft is perfect! It will take time for you to write a great song from scratch, so be gentle to yourself. Just jot down the best lines you can think of to finish your song - you can always rewrite and judge later. Doing this will still give you the advantage of having a foundation to build upon.

3. Don't just wait for inspiration to strike. Learning how to become a songwriter won't be fruitful if you don't take action. If your writing strategy involves waiting then I am telling you now: expect to wait a long time in between songs. We're talking about a couple of weeks, months - some songwriters wait for years! Fifteen minutes of writing songs might turn up an idea. One writing prompt could set of a domino effect that leads to a finished song by midnight! Actively pursue inspiration instead of waiting for it. If you are a procrastinator; then here's a good mantra for you: "any words on a page is better than none."

Remember how I told you to jot everything down? This would be effective only if you consistently go back to reading all your song ideas and fragments from time to time. Reviewing your ideas encourages you to think about them - to build on them. Keep a pen handy at all times; encircle any lines that seem promising. Take pleasure in going through the pages of your drafts to discover the diamonds!

Jim A. Byrne is a musician and recording artist who has been writing songs for over 30 years. As well as writing songs for his own Folk and Country Blues albums he has written songs with other people including the pop star Marti Pellow of Wet Wet Wet and Jazz singer Carol Kidd MBE.

Visit Jim's website for more tips and to download two of Jim's latest songs for free: http://www.songsbyjimbyrne.com/freemp3music/index.html

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Get Professional Quality Sound Indoors And Out With A Bose System

Bose speaker systems have been dominating the market almost since their inception. They were the brainchild of a professor of Engineering at MIT that brought stereo sound into the next century with a unique design that enhances quality and maximizes sound dispersion all within a small, sleek and attractive exterior. And now you can find the Bose system that you want at a reasonable price by shopping online.

Beginning with the concept of improving the sound quality of traditional stereo systems, they have improved on the technology and now offer a wide range of products, including some of the best speaker systems you can find anywhere. And the addition of a Bose outdoor speaker takes things a step further by allowing you to enjoy your favorite music with the same Bose quality whether indoors or out.

The Bose Corporation was founded in 1964 with the idea of improving on the technical specifications of stereo systems. Bose engineers focused on the ability of a small musical instrument like a flute to fill an entire room with sound and aimed to reproduce that ability in a stereo system. As a result, Bose speaker systems have revolutionized the stereo world with their exceptional sound quality and sleek packaging.

Though the original design was for a compact home stereo system, Bose has expanded into concert halls, theaters and other professional settings as well. Bose even has loudspeakers and controllers that can fine-tune the output of its unique sound systems. And with the ability to play music directly from your computer or other digital sources, there is almost no limit to their application.

One of their most popular innovations has been the creation of the Bose outdoor speaker. These speakers are specially designed to withstand the harshest of weather and to blend in with your backyard landscaping so you can maintain the look of your yard while enjoying exceptional sound quality. And even the installation hardware is tested to make sure it can stand up to whatever Mother Nature throws at it.

In both wall mounting and ground versions, these outdoor speakers contain all of the same unique technological elements as Bose indoor speakers, enabling them to produce smooth, even, high quality sound. And with specially designed casing, like all Bose speakers, the outdoor models are designed to provide maximum sound dispersion so that you can hear your favorite music throughout your yard or patio area.

Nothing beats the quality and durability of Bose speaker systems. For individuals who truly appreciate music, there is nothing that equals the sound of Bose. Once you've experienced Bose quality firsthand, you'll never want to go back. And with a wide range of Bose products available online, there is no reason to settle for second best.

If you're looking for the ultimate listening experience, go no further than Bose. And you can find great deals on Bose products as close as your own keyboard. So do some online shopping today and find the sound system that can truly rock your world!

You will only be as successful as the decisions you make. Each decision we make either takes us closer to success or failure, nothing is neutral.

The Internet offers us the opportunity to easily research the decisions we make so we take actions that help us integrate the experiences of others so we can move forward with confidence when considering purchasing a Bose speaker system.

By considering a wide selection of locally available used restaurant equiptment before we make a decision we are more likely to make the right choice. Visit our web site http://www.21stcenturyinstantaudio.com/ the full range of Bose speaker systems in your area, whether you're in Los Angeles, New York, or anywhere in between.

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Amy Winehouse - The Diva With a Difference

Nicknamed as 'Wino', Amy Winehouse, the stunning English singer and lyricist, has received the prestigious Grammy Awards for a record five times for her unforgettable hits 'You Know I'm No Good' and 'Rehab' among others. She is known for her musical excellence in genres like soul, jazz and R&B, but there are some crazy fans who simply love her for her power-packed contralto vocals too.

Amy was born on 14th September, 1983 in the city of London, England to Mitchell (father) and Janis (mother), a Jewish family. In her young age, the diva used to play her only brother Alex's guitar; and when she turned 13, she got one for herself. Many say that she was a rebellious kid and was once rusticated from her school in London for piercing her nose and painting her body with tattoos at the age of 14.

Amy Winehouse's professional career took off very early when she was in her teens. Initially, she performed club gigs and recorded demos at low prices. A turning point in her career came in the year 2003 with her debut album Frank. This jazz music album got her into instant fame with marking her nominations in several award functions. After this, she suffered a setback on personal front in her relationship and even took to substance abuse.

The year 2006 witnessed Amy Winehouse's comeback with her super hit album 'Back on Black' followed by 'Rehab' which sizzled the US pop charts capturing the No. 9 slot on the list of hits. These two releases got her a much desired global recognition. But, these were just not enough for a talent like Amy. On February 10, 2008, Amy broke all records by grabbing 5 Grammy Awards in one night. She was awarded in the category of 'Best New Artist' and 'Record of the Year' for Rehab. From here, everyone's lovely Winehouse was just unstoppable. The same year she gave multiple powerful performances to simply add more fans to her already huge fan-base.

Later in the month of June, Amy had to encounter some unfortunate health issues. She was admitted in hospital because of lung infection. But, to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday, she went out of the hospital to reach London's Hyde Park. There she performed her hit numbers Rehab and Valerie and once again made a place in thousands of thumping hearts. She also gave an unforgettable one hour performance at Roman Abramovich's party which was held in Moscow. For this single performance, she was paid $2 million.

In the blink of an eye, Amy Winehouse became a rage for her fashion statement and musical concoction. In April 2008, she was voted the "ultimate heroine" by her British fans. But, because of her unacceptable behavior, the very next month she was voted as the most hated figure in the United Kingdom.

Nevertheless in the sphere of music, Amy is unbeatable with her heart-stealing, cross-genre performances. Her experimentation with different musical genres like pop, R&B, jazz, reggae and soul not only captured millions of hearts, but ruled them completely.

Love her or Hate her, Amy is Amy!

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Being a Fan

Back in the day we connected with our favorite artists by buying all their records and going to see their concerts. In doing that we felt a close affinity with our heroes, it was like we had a part of them. Some of us, myself included wanted even more so we'd buy their bootlegs. I have inferior quality recordings by Neil Young, Dylan, Tom Petty etc that I paid almost double the price of an album for just because I wanted more of them. The point being it didn't matter what it cost it was needing to have as much as you could of them and about being a fan. As a 15 year old I went backstage to meet Led Zeppelin and I felt I had it all. I won't recount the story here in case I already have but I might come back and devout an entire blog to it, maybe several. Let me tell you it was worth it, a defining moment for any teenager and an ultra defining moment for me. As a fan it's something you don't ever forget and especially as the years go by you start to understand what those moments mean to you and how much music mattered.

In those days you paid for everything, you didn't tape your friends records or if you did it was because you were going on some dumb camping holiday where you had nothing to plug your turntable in to so you needed everything to be battery operated. But above all else we cared about our artists and we wanted to be a part of that success, we wanted to help. We wanted heroes, the bands were our heroes and whatever part of them we could have we did. The pleasure they gave us we wanted to pass on to out friends, we wanted to share what we had discovered. It was important to stake your claim, to let people know you were first but after that then whoever you could play those records to you were round like a shot. Endless evenings spent huddled round the turntable watching it go round as though your life depended on it, waiting for that next track. 'No stop, listen to this one first' as you carefully picked up the needle and placed it on another track too impatient for it to take its natural course. Simple pleasures but totally fulfilling ones. Music was your life.

Fans can get to their artists now with social networking and that can only be a good thing. You can talk to more artists than ever and the ones who reciprocate are the ones most likely too. No artist today is too big to talk to their fans. Even good old Bono said, 'without our fans we have no job.' Before it was backstage or catch the band leaving the venue, a quick autograph and that was about it. Some had fan clubs but it was usually just a general letter to all the fans. How cool now that someone could write to you. But remember if they do to be courteous, don't think they're there to instant message you for the next 5 hours. You could turn in to an obsession and make them pull away. They have lives even if you don't!

Plenty more to say on this subject but we'll save it for another day. Be gone, I have things to do.

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Joell Ortiz Mixtapes - The Early Years

Getting started in the hip hop industry is difficult on its own, and many artists need to deal with personal issues on top of it all. While he was recording and releasing the first Joell Ortiz mixtapes, the artist had quite a lot to deal with both in and out of the studio. Although the early years were not easy, they gave him material for excellent hip hop songs that would take him far into his career.

Joell Ortiz was born in 1980 in Brooklyn, New York, where he competed in a number of rap battles throughout the years. While competing, he met a number of artists who would influence his sound and eventually put the experiences into the first Joell Ortiz mixtapes. While working on new mixtapes, he also put his energy into locking down a record deal.

In 2004, Joell Ortiz started getting the attention he deserved when he appeared on The Source Magazine's Unsigned Hype list. He was also on the Chairman's List for XXL Magazine, but his big break came when he won the EA Sports Battle that year. As the winner of the battle, he was given the opportunity to record a song for release on the NBA Live Soundtrack.

After appearing on the NBA Live Soundtrack, Joell Ortiz finally got the break for which he had been looking. Hip hop legend Jermaine Dupri signed Ortiz to his label, So So Def Records. Unfortunately, the deal did not pan out and Ortiz began collaborating with artists like KRS-One and Kool G. Rap to release new Joell Ortiz mixtapes.

Finally, after shopping around for a new deal, Ortiz signed to Dr. Dre's label, Aftermath Records. Although he was signed to Aftermath, Dre let him take an opportunity to record an album with Koch Records entitled The Brick: Bodega Chronicles. It seemed as if things were finally going his way, but many personal issues distracted the rapper from pursuing his success. He has been compared to Big Pun many times now, a comparison that he takes very seriously.

Joell Ortiz mixtapes provided a great venue for the rapper to stay connected to the industry when his record deal fell apart. Unfortunately, he had personal issues to deal with in addition to his professional issues and his career took a rocky turn for quite awhile. However, with some perseverance and patience, Joell Ortiz would eventually get back on track and realize his dream of making it in the rap industry.

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Beats For Sale: A Review of myFlashStore

In March of 2010, I started an online music production business. After searching around and doing a bit of homework, I began utilizing the popular website Soundclick to sell my beats online. There were many other third-party beat selling websites to choose from but I chose Soundclick because it allows producers to upload an unlimited number of instrumentals on their web server at no cost. With the help of a good friend skilled in graphic design, I was able to establish a web page where artists could download & buy my beats.

However, I ran into a problem. The process of someone buying my instrumentals became very cumbersome and time consuming. When a customer would visit my website they would pay for beats via PayPal. Once I received a payment, PayPal would send me an email stating that I'd received payment for a specific beat or instrumental. From there I would determine what beat(s) would need to be sent to the customer(s) per their email instructions (or by default, the email that the beat payment was sent from). As I began to gain more clients, I noticed that I was spending way too much time sending beats to my customers. I was in search of some way to completely automate the sales of my beats.

This brought my attention to the website myFlashStore.net. This website provides a way for artists and other customers to buy beats online and download beats for sale in a clean, professional and fully automated manner. It allows customers to listen to beats, make their instrumental selections, and place an order to buy a beat all within a flash player.

As stated before I was looking for a way to completely automate my beat sales, but I was also looking to save time and money. Other third party beat selling websites I'd checked were charging up to 50% or more in commissions of the beat sale. I wasn't looking to give up that much cash!

myFlashStore was free to sign up and twenty dollars per month ($19.99 to be exact) to upload an unlimited number of beats to their servers. I was hesitant at first to pay the fee, but I must say that for the value provided it was well worth it.

Some of the features of myFlashStore are as follows:

You can post the player on an unlimited number of websites

Instant download delivery to customers

0% commissions taken on beats for sale

You can upload a personalized voice tag or sound mark to protect your instrumentals

Wav files and Track outs of the beat sessions are supported

You can create customized beat discounts

You have multiple player design offers to choose from

After registering my account I began to upload some beats to lease. This process was easy, simple, and intuitive. myFlashStore allows you to upload up to 25 beats at a time! After uploading your beats, myFlashStore provides you with an area where you can choose the type of design you would like your customers to see. They have four flash designs to choose from: The bubble store, the echo store, the sound store, and the istore. My personal favorite is the bubble layout because it fit well with my website and blog pages' color.

After choosing a flash design, myFlashStore made it dead simple for me to post their flash code within my blog and website. Literally, all I had to do was copy and paste the given html code. One of the great things about the flash player, is that when you upload a beat, it automatically updates all your flash players no matter where you have them posted!

One of the downsides to the flash player services is that it lacks the ability to upload contracts and agreements with the beats for sale. In my opinion, this would be a great feature to add. I think that if this feature was available, it would streamline the beat selling process completely.

Overall, I am happy with my subscription to myFlashStore. I am pleased to say I've sold over $250 worth of beats through the player in the past 3 months. The 20 dollar fee I pay per month is more than worth the value provided by the company.

For pop beats for sale, free beats, and music tips & tricks go to http://www.almostfreebeats.com/

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How to Purchase a Bass

How many occasions have you heard songs that acquired you unconsciously tapping your foot? Perhaps, you've experienced it a lot of times. That musical instrument that quickly caught you grooving was actually the bass guitar.

The bass guitar belongs to the family of stringed instruments. It is primarily played by plucking, picking, slapping and tapping (the strings) rather than strummed. Typically, this low- pitched instrument mostly played a supporting part towards the drummer in setting the rhythm and beat of a audio. But through the years, it became widely acknowledged in numerous styles of music. This musical instrument that frequently leads to your heart to beat actual quick is really being played as being a band instrument for nation, jazz, blues, rock, metal, pop and for a lot of other genres. It could also be played as being a solo instrument for particular music types.

If you're an amateur bassist that's thinking of purchasing a bass guitar, the following important information can educate you regarding how to buy a bass which you really want:

1. Types of bass guitars. The two most typical types are Acoustic bass and Electric bass guitars. The former have large hollow bodies and sound hole, that are occasionally formed such as the alphabet F that serve as a vibrating sound outlet. There are also Acoustic-Electric Basses which can be plugged into bass amplifiers for better projection of the sound. Then there's the Semi- Acoustic Bass with a partially hollow physique. Electrical Bass guitars are frequently used because they usually have sound bodies and therefore are light-weight. This type of instrument is totally dependent on a bass amplifier to be heard.

For beginners, honing your bass enjoying skills could be much much better when you play the kind of instrument which has a distinctive bass sound quality, that is generally produced by big-bodied acoustic basses. This might mean which you have to spend quite a big amount of energy and spending budget as they are frequently much larger and costly. Thus, for bass beginners, the electric bass would be more convenient and affordable.

2. 4-string, 5- string and 6- string basses. These days, electrical basses for sale are available in a range of 3 designs. Within the previous, four -string designs dominated each solo and band performances, simply because it could be played for many types of audio. However, with the advent of electronic keyboards in the 80's which played lower bass notes, manual basses were slowly outplayed. This inspired bassists to explore on five and six -string instruments.

More strings are basically meant to include much more range to be able to play reduced and/or higher pitched notes. This also means that you can easily play more notes when you've got more strings with out frequently shifting throughout the neck of the bass. However, much more strings might also need you to function on more things such as finger and sound control. In the event you believe you do not have to use more strings, a 4-string bass which has been about and has played countless music for many many years could be an ideal instrument.

3. Scale duration. The scale length of the bass refers towards the vibrating duration of the strings. It's the distance from the bridge towards the nut. Scale lengths have a substantial impact around the high quality of the tone as well as on the stress with the strings. You will need a longer string when you want to go down on the reduce pitch. The standard scale length of an electric bass is 34". Bass scale lengths variety from 30 inches (short scale) that is pretty great for little hands, 32 inches (medium scale), 34 inches (regular scale), 35 inches (lengthy scale) that is perfect to get a standout low B string on a 5-string bass and 36 inches (extra long scale). Bass playing requires stretching of the hand, if it may appear uncomfortable initially, you'll quickly get accustomed to it. Therefore, it generally has absolutely nothing to do with the length of one's hands.

4. The neck. The size of one's hand largely influences the type of neck that your bass ought to have. Bass neck types include round, flat back again, oval," vee" and asymmetrical. Clearly, you will want a wider neck if you choose a 5 or 6-string bass.

5. Precision and Jazz basses. Leo Fender and his team was the first to produce each models called Precision Bass also known as "P" Bass and Jazz Bass often known as the "J" Bass. Their distinction can be acknowledged by their distinct styles in body shape, pickups and their neck. The P bass has a split pickup style and physique shape. The J bass, around the other hand, has two single-coil pickups with its own distinctive body shape and neck. More than the past many years, there have been a lot of innovations to each designs. Today, whether or not you buy a P bass or J bass, it still carries the legacy of the traditional models.

6. Frets. They refer towards the metal wires around the neck beneath the strings of the bass. The amount of frets can also be a matter of individual preference. Basses can have 21, 22 or 24 frets. There's also a fretless bass which some seasoned bass players use to produce pleasant-sounding sounds. However, for amateurs, a fretless instrument is definitely not advisable as there's a need for much more enjoying experience to make sure notes played are accurately in-tune even without the manual of frets.

7. Pickups. Pickups definitely affect the sound of a bass together with other factors that may lead to the overall sound quality. However, it's essential to know that a handful of energetic and passive pickups can be found. Consider also the battery and its replacement is also some thing to consider in the future.

8. Wood and Finish. The wood has also a significant effect around the sound of the instrument. Since bass guitars are often large, they're frequently made of lighter weight, soft wood such as swamp ash and alder. Though, the type of finish is not much of an issue for most electrical instruments, the finish can also include more worth to your instrument.

Buy a bass at Russo Music Center. RussMusic offers the best prices on a large selection of bass guitars, bass effects pedals, bass amplifiers and more

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Baritones - Learning Important Facts About The Horns

Baritones for music playing, or baritone horns, belong to the brass family of instruments. This horn is commonly found in school, military and marching bands. When baritones are included in orchestra performance, it is oftentimes used in a solo part. The instrument was invented in the late 1700s and at that time it was played by stroking its glass rods with moistened fingers. The new kinds of baritones look like a small tuba. It is about 3ft in height, has three valves, a bell, and a mouthpiece. Sometimes it is mistaken as a euphonium, the two instruments are always compared due to their close similarities in appearance but not in the sound they produce.

The cost of buying a baritone horn will vary on the brand. It can be from several hundreds of dollars up to a few thousands. It will also depend if the instrument is brand new or used. For those who are looking into learning this just for a hobby, there is no immediate need to buy. There are music stores, or even individuals, who provide musical instruments for renting or leasing. In a music store, however, a repair plan may be included in the deal. Those who consider playing professionally though will need to buy a baritone horn. If money is a problem, get a lease plan which allows you to play on a monthly or quarterly basis until the full amount is paid.

Many kids get acquainted with musical instruments from classes in school. It is where they begin to discover the inkling to seriously learn an instrument like the baritone horn. Getting classes in school entails learning within a group so there is less individual focus from teacher to students. Classes are short which results to students' slow development. But the good thing is, when a school teacher take a leave, replacement is always assured. Finding a good baritone teacher in the same area of residence is quite challenging to some. A nearby music store is always a good source of information when looking for musical instrument classes or teachers, they usually have a directory. Teachers may also advertise their services online so use the internet. If all else fails, the last resort is by buying video tutorials or learning them from online on your own.

For serious learners, it is very important to go into one-on-one classes or sessions. There are many free tutorials online that are useful but one can only get the best education by attending classes that have been set and developed to achieve the best in every student. For baritones, or any other musical instrument for that matter, each individual has a different learning curve and getting direct personal instructions based on individual developments is the fastest way to narrow down the areas of improvement. It may cost some amount of money but the returning benefits may not just be monetary, because the joy music can bring is priceless.

Tyler Barnes is an expert musician. His love for music coaxed him to write to share to the people all over the world where, how, and what to look for in a professional musical instrument such as baritones, euphoniums, trombone, electric violas, and a lot more. Visit http://greatmusicalinstruments.net/index.php if you want to know more about Great Musical Instruments that you should try. Enjoy great prices today.

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Jim Jones Mixtapes - The Early Years

Even when their rap mixtapes are a success, many artists need to work long and hard before they are successful in the commercial markets. Jim Jones mixtapes are a perfect example of an artist who had to wait quite awhile before finally becoming successful in the mainstream. The early years were difficult but Jim Jones eventually became one of the biggest stars in the hip hop industry.

Jim Jones was born Joseph Guillermo Jones II in 1976. He was born in the Tremont section of The Bronx but was raised in Harlem. While growing up, he attended Catholic school but would often cut classes to hang out at the local train station. The experiences he had around the train station influenced him greatly and appeared in later mixtapes.

After releasing a few mixtapes, he released his first major album, On My Way To Church, in 2004. Two singles were released off of the album, entitled "Certified Gangsters" and "Crunk Muzik." Unfortunately for Jones, they only reached numbers eighty and eighty-four respectively on the hip hop music charts. He returned to the studio and started working on songs that would get better radio play and make him a household name. When he first came out with Cam'ron, no one had any idea who he was, besides Cam'ron's homie.

In 2005, Jim Jones released his sophomore album, Harlem: Diary Of A Summer. Although the album reached number five on the Billboard charts, Jim Jones was once again disappointed with the performance of the singles on the radio. "Baby Girl" made it to number fifty-eight on the charts, while "What You Been Drankin' On" did not get any higher than number one hundred and six.

Not to be deterred by the disappointing reaction to his hip hop songs, he released another album in 2006 called Hustler's P.O.M.E., which stood for Product Of My Environment. The lead single was called "We Fly High" and featured rap superstar Lil Wayne. His perseverance paid off and Jim Jones saw his new record become certified gold.

Jim Jones mixtapes were just one stop on the long road to success for the rapper. He released two albums that had disappointing sales and even more disappointing radio play before finally putting out the album which put him on the map. His willingness to stick it out through the hard times helped launch him into stardom, but there was much more in the future for this rap artist.

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One of the Best Bob Dylan Albums

Bob Dylan has created so many great albums in his time; it is a big task to choose the greatest Bob Dylan albums ever made. All of his albums differ, giving his listeners a glimpse of the pride of Hibbing, Minnesota.

Below are my top 3 picks:

1. Bringing it All Back Home - This is a great compilation of all songs electric. Have you heard a more inspired way to go electric?

2. Blonde on Blonde - Considered as one of Dylan's most ambitious creations. It has a sporadic nature that keeps it from being totally accessible with sonic valleys and hills. A sterling example would be "Just Like a Woman" or "Rainy Day Woman."

3. Highway 61 Revisited - Dylan sets the stage with an organ-driven kaleidoscope of images that takes you on a trip to his consciousness for six incredible minutes with "Like a Rolling Stone." This album says everything: no home is ever complete without this collection of songs.

These Bob Dylan Albums show that he was really on a roll!

A lot of people would probably say that The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan or Slow Train Coming should be included in the list; but I am just stating my opinion; and I have listened to Dylan's songs practically all my life. But then again, to each his own.

These Bob Dylan albums definitely have their own tale. His album "Bringing It All Back Home" was created when he evolved from acoustic folk to electric. "Blonde on Blonde" was where he pushed the limits in folk-rock; and if you ask me, this rockin' double album doesn't have a distasteful song in it. "Highway 61 Revisited" was made when was just transitioning to folk-rock.

For my listening pleasure "Blonde on Blonde" is unparalleled. For me, there has never been a more compelling album or a greater personification of an art form. In addition, the lyrics are simply and naturally brilliant! The list of songs from this exceptional double album continues to amaze me until today. Just try listening to the harmonica intro and the sinister horn of "Most Likely You Go Your Way" or the folk-rock and gentle Mowtown accents of "Visions of Johanna," kicking off with the drunken swagger of a band. I listen to them over and over, even after all these years. They should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I rest my case.

Jim A. Byrne is a musician and recording artist who has been writing songs for over 30 years. As well as writing songs for his own Folk and Country Blues albums he has written songs with other people including the pop star Marti Pellow of Wet Wet Wet and Jazz singer Carol Kidd MBE.

Visit Jim's website for more tips and to download two of Jim's latest songs for free: http://www.songsbyjimbyrne.com/freemp3music/index.html

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Guitar Amps

Guitar amps are used to amplify the sound of your guitars strings (via pickups). Amplifiers fall into three main varieties: Valve, Solidstate, Hybrid and Emulator.

Examples of valve amps include the classic Vox AC30 which is all valve and has been used by many popular music artists. Transistor amps tends to be less expensive and are considered to produce a less desirable sound than valve amplifiers. Hybrids generally have two valves in the pre-amp stage and then use transistors. A good example of a hybrid amp is the Marshall series of Valvestates. As you can see the name is a mixture of Valve and Solidstate - Valvestate. They are a popular next step up from a purely solidstate amplifer to an all valve beast.

Emulator amps such as the Line 6 range are digital interpretations of popular valve amps. Valves are characterised as being analogue so the tone varies. They are also much more touch sensitive and respond better to picking dynamics. Valve amps are said to produce a warmer, nicer tone.

Many professional musicians tend to use a couple of amps and switch between them using a A/B switcher. This is because many valve amplifiers are either very good at clean or very good at overdrive or distortion. For example, the Vox AC30 might be used as the clean amp because these are very good at producing a gritty, British clean sound (or you could go for the warmer, smoother Fender range of amps) and then a Marshall or Mesa Boogie may be switched to for when a dirtier sound is required. Alternatively, analogue effects pedals can be used to provide the professional guitarist with the dirty channel that they need.

Valve amplifiers have been used for many decades by professional, amateur and semi-professional guitarists and bassists. Some guitar players do prefer solid state amps. Hybrids have become popular over the last few decades or so and the amplifiers that emulate the analogue signals of popular and classic amps also have a following. It all comes down to what sounds good to you. Different people like different sounds and the particular musical influences that a musician has will tend to dictate an individual's choice of sonic production. The guitar, effects pedals, picks, wood that is used to make the guitar, string gauge and, of course, the guitarist's fingers have a big effect on the overall sound that is produced.

For more information visit Guitar Amp

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Indie Art and Music - Headphones

When you listen to great indie art music, it's like..."candy for the ears". You could easily put the repeat button on and listen to the same track over and over again. The vibrations of the sound coming from the speakers into your ears hypnotizes the senses and really transports the listener into the same "atmosphere of mind" that the composer/musician was in.

Which brings me up to...HEADPHONES.

To obtain a quality set of speakers/good room acoustics/etc is a lot of money. And the reason I love my pair of headphones. I got them for around a hundred bucks online and they sound amazing! The sound is right there, being fed to your ear canals. You're ensured that you aren't losing any of that "candy" with poor speaker or room acoustics.

Now, for many professionally produced music CD's, headphones really do make a difference. These producers and sound engineers put much time into deciding what is going to be heard from the listener.

For example, the left and right channels are often heavily manipulated. They design the sound in a way so that not all the sound is coming from one specific angles. I know that when I listen to indie art music I am sure to have a quality pair of headphones.

There are many downsides to using cheap headphones. I used to always use the cheapest I could find for indie art music. However, as soon as I purchased my first good quality set of phones, I realized the difference. I could hear things I could not before hear. In addition to this, the sound was much crisper and cleaner.

There are many sound technical reasons for this. But in addition to this, often the headphones use specific EQ settings and what not to enhance the listening experience. This is great when listening to music. However, don't fall into the trap of believing that what you're hearing is what you're getting. When producing your own music, be sure to try it out on multiple sets of headphones and audio systems. In general, you should be working with a system that does not equalize the sound. This prevents you from believing it sounds one way when it actually doesn't.

I recommend using a headphone set that is set at neutral so that you don't have false sound coming out and making you mix things differently.

Check out some cool Indie Art at sLiLT, a site filled with cool indie art, music, and blog content!

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Music to Medicate Unemployment

My sister just lost her job at a large well-known corporation. She had been there for more than a decade which means it was a really good position for her. When the company announced the cut-backs, due to the economy, she was immediately concerned about her position. However, with friends in high positions she figured her career was safe. Wrong!

During the next few weeks the company executives assured them that there was no reason to panic. Even though the company seemed secure for the moment she still decided to move into a less expensive apartment, in the same apartment complex, cut expenses like cable, landline phone, premium channels, DVR rental and other luxuries. This was her initial effort to save as much income as possible while searching for another position. The inevitable happened. Unemployed!

The endless search for another position started in an already crowded market of unemployed financial specialists. My sister and her former coworkers decided to start meeting to discuss their lingering unemployment, applying for unemployment insurance, explore stress management options, and to explore other avenues to become employed again.

After many weeks of meeting at their homes, they decided to treat themselves by meeting at a popular restaurant. While at the meeting it was suggested they go to a well-known spa to get a facial. Most of the women hesitated at spending extra money until they were told the spa had a special for certain women who are trying to keep themselves together during a rough patch, like being unemployed. The spa offered a buy one get one free facial.

That evening my sister arrived home with a more hopeful attitude plus she looked and felt like a million dollars. The trip to the spa gave her a more positive attitude about the job market, too. She told me in glowing details how much the music relaxed her. She forgot all about her problems like paying rent, bills etc. She raved about the conversation they had after the spa and how much the experience was enhanced by the type of music playing in the background.

Since the beginning of time music has been known to have a therapeutic effect on the soul and mind. In one of his famous quotes Plato said, "Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything." Music gives people a sense of belonging and to have something to identify with. It is a creative expression of what is going on inside of an individual.

Music has the power to evoke positive memories, transforming the present negative energy into healing. My sister and her friends were rejuvenated while listening to the music at the spa. They did not spend much money to keep up their appearances to continue interviewing for new jobs. The most beneficial part of the visit was the discovery of listening to smoothing music which made them relax.

What happened with my sister and her former coworkers was really amazing. All of them decided to make a point to listen to smoothing music every day. Some of them have started learning how to play an instrument so they can make their own music! That one experience involving music relaxed their minds and conquered the stress of looking for new positions. It was an amazing accomplishment that left all of them speechless. Their search for new positions is still a priority but it is approached with a more relax and positive mind.

Music can be a smoothing and inexpensive medicine to relieve unemployment stress. Being unemployed can be one of the most stressful situations anyone can go through. The constant effort to find another channel of income can be nerve racking. Then add the day to day struggle of paying bills, raising children, and all involved work of keeping body and family together can be difficult to manage.

Some experts believe the rhythm or the beat of certain music has a calming effect on the mind even though the listener may not be conscious about it. The experts further suggest this rhythm could be our mother's heartbeat when we were in the womb. During that time it was a safe and protective place to be. The experience of rhythms later as an adult takes us back to the time in the womb.

Some experts suggest listening to or playing certain types of music can alleviate such illnesses as stress and high blood pressure. To get started using music as a medicine find the kind of music you feel comfortable listening to. Listening to relaxing type music does not necessarily deal with stress. It is the affect the music has on the listener. Be sure to listen to smoothing music that is comfortable and puts you at ease.

In my own experiences, the smoothing power of music has been a constant companion during periods of sorrow. Music is something that can never be taken away from the listener. Once a tune is in the mind it can be played over and over again no matter where we are or what we are doing. It is a powerful natural medicine that the brain records and store in our memory so it can be recalled and enjoyed.

Music is the type of medicine anyone can afford. The medicine can be taken at any time of the day and without the use of needles. All you have to do to take this healing medicine is sit back and relax. The music will do the rest.

At an early age the author discovered the positive benefits of learning how to play an instrument as a member of The Harmony Band. The band was a group of about 30 members that played the flute. Learning how to play an instrument lead to the author's discovery of life-long benefits like Discipline, Improved Intelligence, Enjoyment, Achievement and Stress Management.

At musicandkeys.com we strive to spread the word about music being a positive healing benefit for the mind, body and soul. Learning how to play an instrument has lifelong benefits that will help a musician throughout their lifetime. We believe music can prevent and relieve medical problems because it can be stored in the memory and enjoyed at any time.

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Finding The Right Piano Teacher For Learning To Play The Piano

Learning how to play the piano can be fun and exciting way to get into music. With the piano lessons, you not only learn proper technique, but you also learn how to read music. The skills that you learn by playing the piano will apply to other instruments that you may choose to play in the future. Learning to play will serve as a solid foundation for all of your musical endeavors.

Once you have decided that you would like to take piano lessons, you need to set out and find a teacher. There are a lot of different piano teachers available that range in all different types of musical experiences. It's best that you find a teacher that has a classical approach to teaching the piano. By learning how to play classical piano, you will ensure that you will have the proper building blocks to branch out into other musical styles in the future.

When choosing a piano teacher, you need to find someone who is fun and exciting. Learning the piano is rather difficult and it is important that you study with someone who keeps you engaged with learning the piano. It's also a good idea to find a lesson teacher that is open to playing music selections that you are interested in learning how to play. This will allow you to be excited about playing and taking lessons.

If you are a parent that is looking for a piano teacher to teach your young children, then you need to spend extra time making sure that you have the right piano teacher. Teaching young children requires a great deal of patience and special skills to keep them interested in the piano. The piano teacher should have a fun and creative manner in teaching young children to play the piano. It's important to keep young children excited with the idea of playing the piano so that they will continue learning how to play.

If you are interested in learning how to play the piano, then you should get started right away. It's important to note that it takes a long time to learn a musical instrument including the piano. To be good at playing the piano, you will have to spend many hours practicing and studying music. In the end, all of the hard work is worth it. Playing the piano is a skill that will last you a lifetime.

Find the right piano teacher at Piano Lessons Eugene.

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Acoustic Treatments for Churches

Churches and other large, spacious venues often have trouble with the quality of sound being produced by bands and preachers using microphones and speakers. From drums and guitars to organs and brass instruments the chances for distortion due to reverberation and sound reflection are increased when you don't have the right acoustic treatments to deflect and absorb sound waves. If you are in charge of the music at a church or similar house of worship consider high quality sound baffle equipment to help reduce reverb time in the venue and achieve optimum sound that will be enjoyed by the entire congregation.

SORBER sound baffles can be permanently attached to walls and ceilings to effectively control sound and greatly reduce reverberation time so drums and guitars don't drown out the sound of a chorus or preacher. Made from rigid 1.5" thick compressed fiberglass encased in heavy duty trunk cloth, SORBER sound baffles help to contain sound and control reflections that occur when instruments are played in enclosed but spacious areas. Without sound baffles this sound is free to bounce off walls and ceilings creating a distorted tone that can ruin the music being played or a hymn being sung. Easy to attach to ceilings and walls of a church SORBER baffles will help temper the reflections of sound waved producing a crisp and clear sound.

Many church bands include drums and while some have tried electronic drums to soften the tone many have complained that the sound from V-drums is artificial and not conducive to a church environment. A great way to optimize the acoustics of a church while still using natural percussion drums is to use high quality acrylic and Plexiglas drum shield enclosures. Using free-standing acrylic panels to form an enclosure around a drum kit you effectively temper the loud nature of the drums while still getting the desired natural sound of percussion. You can use drum enclosure kits in conjunction with SORBER baffles to fully control the reflection and reverberation of sound.

Almost every church will have an organ but again the acoustics of the church venue have to be planned accordingly so the sounds from the organ don't bounce off ceilings and walls and drown out a choir or pastor. Using superior speaker isolation equipment including Plexiglas panels and SORBER baffles you can effectively contain the tones from the organ speakers and reduce reflected sound. Many church goers enjoy the sound of organs and choirs but if the music produced isn't clear or is distorted by poor acoustics the experience is not the same. Keep your congregation happy by optimizing the acoustics of your church with excellent church acoustic treatment equipment.

For a great selection of sound isolation equipment visit ClearSonic where you'll find high quality drum shields, amp enclosures, SORBER sound baffles and vocal isolation booths.

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How to Purchase Wiz Khalifa Concert Tickets

For all of you who do or don't know Wiz Khalifa, he was born Cameron Jibril Thomaz on September 8, 1987 in Minot, North Dakota. As a young child everyone called him "Young Wiz" because he was so good at everything he would do, but who would have known Wiz Khalifa Would be selling out concert tickets all around the world.

His name was given to him by this Muslim granddad. Wiz is short for wisdom and Khalifa is an Arabic word that means successor. As a child he had many experiences that would live up to his nickname. With his parents being in the military he was able to live in Germany, Japan, and England before coming back and settling in the United States of America.

Wiz was discovered back in 2007 when he signed to Warner Bros. Records and released his debut album. But he and his label separated shortly afterwards. He later released his second album and a free mixtape that would finally help him get the recognition he deserved.

He is now signed to Atlantic Records and is best known for his super number one hit "Black and Yellow". Ever since the success of the song black and yellow this guy has been performing everywhere. He is currently on a World tour around the United States and Europe. You will definitely be there to witness a great and up and coming talent in his prime.

If Khalifa's music says anything about what you can expect from his live concerts you should get your tickets now. If you have ever been to one of his shows you would know that this talented rapper has energy that could last for day and such an appreciations for all of his fans in the crowd.

His music is very catchy and energizing and you will find yourself singing along with him. Wiz Khalifa's concert is definitely not one to be missed. So make it your mission now to find out when he will be coming to a city near you so you can get your Wiz Khalifa concert tickets. This will definitely be a fun and exciting experience you will never forget.

Also, here are some tips for purchasing your tickets:

If you are purchasing online make sure you are purchasing from a reputable dealerNever purchase from someone selling on the streets or near the concertIf you are getting your tickets online make sure to read all information about where your seats are located, prices, and how you will receive your tickets.And always purchase on a secure website that will keep your debit or credit card information safe.

If you are looking for affordable Wiz Khalifa Concert Tickets you have found the best place. Also, Click Here for Wiz Khalifa concert dates!

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