Is My Child Ready for Music Lessons?

Music teachers handle music students of all ages, and while it is never too late to improve one's voice or learn how to play an instrument, exposure to musical training is most beneficial during the early years. Children as young as toddlers can be effectively taught the piano, provided that they already show interest and readiness for music lessons.

One advantage to getting an early start on music lessons is that it also serves to enhance other intellectual skills. There are numerous studies showing how exposure to music during the early years has many benefits, such as improved mathematical abilities and spatial reasoning, improved concentration, longer attention spans, and increased self-confidence. Music teachers also emphasise that music lessons develop a child's ear for rhythm, melody, and other musical concepts, leaving them with a sincere appreciation for music that lasts well into adulthood.

While toddlers as young as three years old may already be ready to take music lessons, Most music experts recommend that parents should carefully consider their own child's current developmental stage. Although Music teaching experts teach voice and other instruments, students who begin young are usually started at piano; compared to other musical instruments, the piano requires less strength and coordination.

To determine whether your child is ready to take music lessons, consider the following checklist:

1. Interest

Does your child indicate a desire to sit at the piano for a few minutes at a time, and does he seem intrigued by the various sounds he can make by pounding the keys? Interest is perhaps the most crucial criterion in determining your child's suitability to take music lessons. After all, forcing him into taking lessons is bound to be more harmful than beneficial: he may form a negative perception against music and develop a resistant attitude towards learning.

2. Ability to sit still and take directions

Piano lessons take at least 15 minutes at a time, and your child must be able to focus on what the teacher is saying during this period. Although a good piano teacher knows how to provide timely and fun breaks, your child must have enough maturity to work seriously during lesson proper.

3. Motor Development

Your child must be able to dextrously use both hands, and isolate finger movements quite well. This is self-explanatory really, given that the piano keys need to be pressed in order to produce sounds.

4. Intellectual Development

Your child should be able to tell his left hand from his right, and know how to identify the different fingers in each hand. And while he does not need to know how to write, he should at least be able to recognise the letters A to G when he sees it written.

And on a final note, the best music teachers reminds parents that enrolling your child in music lessons also calls for a certain commitment on your part. Ideally, a music student should practice at least 15 minutes a day, and while parents are discouraged from coercing their kids into complying, it is a good idea to actually sit down with them and offer positive reinforcement.

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The PRS Story

The Journey Begins

From a high school shop class to an attic workshop to a state-of-the-art facility, it's been a long, tough road for PRS guitars. Paul Reed Smith built his first guitar as a challenge to his college music professor. After receiving an 'A' on that project, his dream of building guitars for a living finally seemed achievable.

In the early days, Paul was lucky to crank out one guitar a month. Once he completed a guitar, it would be field tested in the most telling way possible, by playing a gig. Paul learned from every design change. Every subsequent guitar was improved by trial, error, and feedback from Paul and other guitarists playing live. Over the course of ten years, there were three headstock changes, a few different body shapes, many tremolo designs, and various different combinations of wood and construction techniques to arrive at the perfect guitar.

Paul began hanging out at local concert venues before shows making friends with roadies and collecting backstage passes. Once he had access to the stars, it was a chance to make a sale. Nine times out of ten, there were no takers, but Carlos Santana, Al Di Meola, Howard Leese, and a few other well-known players gave him a chance.

Upon building a small following, two prototypes were built and the marketing campaign began in earnest. With the prototypes in the back seat of his truck, Paul traveled up and down the East Coast collecting enough orders to finally start his company. Factory capacity has grown, as has number of employees, level of distribution, and the number of famous artists using PRS guitars. Despite all the success, PRS continues to push the envelope to guarantee a product that has no equal. Paul Reed Smith: "That's the story of the beginning of the journey. Not so short, but very sweet. The moral? Believe in your dreams."

The Journey Continues
Not only has PRS guitars become the gold standard of quality in the guitar business, they have maintained that standard from their humble beginnings all the way to the major industry presence they are today. While success in guitar building requires a constant reevaluation of materials, tools, and procedures implemented on a daily basis, the underlying goal of building extraordinary guitars has remained their primary focus.

While other companies try to relive the success and designs of historic guitars from the 50's and 60's, Paul Reed Smith knows that the craftsmen who designed and built those guitars had a goal of producing great instruments. Those early pioneers (among them Paul's mentor, Ted McCarty) strived to build a guitar with tone that inspired better playing, a durability to last for a thousand gigs and beyond, and an elegance that made your guitar a work of art in its' own right.

Quality is the name of the game at PRS guitars. Automation and computerized CNC machinery are the wave of the future, but the essence of the magic that is PRS still comes down to a pair of hands. Every PRS craftsman has the authority to halt the construction process if a guitar falls short in any way. Quality control is an integral, organic part of the guitar building process, from design and materials all the way to construction and testing. The quest to build the perfect guitar is never finished. Paul Reed Smith: "We want players to know that no matter how great that old PRS guitar is, we're pushing for the new one to be even better."

Colin McDonald writes on behalf of PRS Guitars

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What Is 180 Gram Vinyl?

When buying and selling records you need to understand what is meant by the phrase, 180 gram vinyl. This has a lot to do with the value of the record because it will be a determining factor in the overall quality of the album. To make records, manufacturers use a technique called pressing. The vinyl is cut into a circular shape and then the pressing process imprints grooves into the vinyl. When the needle on the turntable passes through these grooves, it creates the amazing sound you hear.

180 gram vinyl actually refers to the weight of the vinyl record and it's considered a heavy grade vinyl. The standard record weighs between 120 and 140 grams. This is what a lot of the records were recorded on in the past because they were mass-produced and many companies used the cheaper grade vinyl to save money. However, by doing so, they also sacrificed quality.

Records recorded on this lower grade vinyl will not last as long when played as the heavier grade. The grooves begin to wear down quickly and the sound becomes distorted. They're easier to scratch, causing the music to skip and they break easier, too. This is why some companies chose to use the 180g or 200g vinyl instead of the cheaper grade, although the 200g is very rare. They wanted to provide the public with the best records possible.

This heavier grade is more durable so they last much longer than the cheaper grades. They also have better sound quality, which is something that all music lovers can appreciate. The thicker vinyl allows for deeper grooves to be pressed into the vinyl and this is what helps to create better sound. You won't hear the typical cracking and popping that you'll hear in the lower grade vinyl. These heavier grade records are usually flatter and this also helps to create the quieter sound.

The 180 gram vinyl records are the ones that the true audiophiles search for the most. These are the people who can really appreciate the warm, rich tones they produce. You can play these albums over and over and not have to worry about wearing them out to the point they need to be replaced.

Good reproductions made today use the 180g vinyl and this is what you need to look for when collecting albums. This way, you'll know that you're receiving good quality records that will last. The extra weight in these records also means you don't have to worry about warping, a common problem with the cheaper grades. The next time you buy records, look for the ones made from the 180 gram vinyl.

About the Author:

180 Gram Records is a premier producer and distributor of collectible vinyl records from best selling music artists and other limited-run collectible merchandise. They offer select and expertly crafted items to satisfy the demands of collectors, music enthusiasts, and fans alike.

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How Did Rock Music Change America

Precisely how rock 'n' roll got its name probably never will be definitively answered, but there can be no doubt that it entered popular usage thanks to a disc jockey named Alan Freed, a "wild, greedy and dangerous man" who was, in the mid 1950s, "the dominant nighttime personality on radio in New York City." Almost exactly half a century ago he changed the name of his show to "Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party" and began to plug the music of black rhythm-and-blues performers as well as the young whites who began to copy and reinterpret their work.

The rest is history, not a blip on the pop-cultural radar screen but a development of major importance in 20th-century American, and eventually world, history. Thus we now have, in Oxford University Press' ongoing series called "Pivotal Moments in American History," Glenn C. Altschuler's account of rock 'n' roll's formative years, the decade immediately following the Second World War. Its three predecessors in the series cover the Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education, the stock market crash of 1929 and the battle of Antietam, which is to say the editors, the distinguished historians David Hackett Fischer and James M. McPherson, put rock 'n' roll in rarefied company.

They are right to do so. "How Rock 'n' Roll Changed America," as Altschuler's subtitle puts it, really should be phrased as a question rather than a declarative statement because the exact nature of its influence is not easily pinned down, but it surely ranks with the movies and television among the most important developments in 20th-century America. Inasmuch as that was the century in which pop culture shoved high culture aside and became (to borrow a pop-cultural slogan) the heartbeat of America, it must be viewed in a far larger context than historians traditionally have been willing to accord such matters.

If a strong case can be made (and it can) that the most important American of the 20th century was Walter Elias Disney, then by the same token the Founding Fathers (along with a few Mothers) of rock 'n' roll must also be given their place on history's stage.

This is what Altschuler attempts to do in "All Shook Up." He is a something less than riveting prose stylist, and it's not likely that many readers familiar with the music and literature of rock 'n' roll will find much here they don't already know, but the books in this series apparently are intended to be syntheses of primary and secondary sources rather than ground-breakers. This Altschuler accomplishes capably. He also gives overdue recognition to a number of people, some of whom made absolutely wonderful music that deserves rediscovery not only because of its undeniable influence upon the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and others, but also for its intrinsic merit.

These men and women created and performed within the genre of rhythm and blues as well as its several sub genres. R&B came into being soon after the war as "a distinctive musical genre, drawing on the rich musical traditions of African-Americans, including the blues' narratives of turbulent emotions, and the jubilation, steady beat, hand clapping and call and response of gospel." It "tended to be 'good time music,' with an emphatic dance rhythm." Its most famous performers were and still are Chuck Berry and Fats Domino, but there were innumerable others.

R&B is the essential link between the blues, jazz and swing and all the forms of rock that developed in the 1950s and thereafter as whites began to "cover" to borrow, copy and often homogenize black music. Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly and other, far tamer white musicians Bill Haley, Pat Boone, Ricky Nelson couldn't have done what they did without the black foundation to build on.

In sex as in other matters, "the influence of rock 'n' roll was not always pivotal." Altschuler correctly notes that though it did affect attitudes toward race, "the civil rights movement would have unfolded much as it did without rock 'n' roll." But in other aspects of 1950s America, its influence was important:

"To a significant extent, a distinct teenage culture, with its own mores and institutions, did develop during the decade. A catchy and insistent rock 'n' roll led the way by encouraging boys and girls to resist the authority of parents, be more sexually adventurous, and learn from their peers about what to wear, watch, and listen to, when to study, and where to go on Saturday night. With the development of a separate market for teenagers, differentiation based on age became more pervasive and permanent in American culture and society. The values of young men and women were by no means fully formed, nor were they necessarily all that different from those of their parents. But in increasing numbers these young people were unwilling to be policed or patronized. As the '50s ended, the vast majority of baby boomers had not yet become teenagers: rock 'n' roll and the youth of America had history (and demography) on their side."

What all of this means is still being debated, not least because it is still very much a work in progress. It is useful, though, to be reminded that this work didn't begin when Elvis slipped into his blue suede shoes or when the Beatles landed in New York. Like just about everything else in American popular culture, its roots are deep, old and sometimes very, very hard to trace.

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Mixing a Live Band

So we've covered how to set up a PA system, here's a few useful tips on how to mix a live band. Let's assume it's a rock band, so you would have guitars, bass, drums and vocals. First of all you'll need to figure out what the band want in their monitors. A bad monitor mix can turn a good show into an awful one, and sadly you'll be the first to be blamed for the band not being able to hear each other. The easiest way to get a good monitor mix is to set the levels of the instruments first, so whilst you're setting the kick drum level ask the band who wants to hear the kick drum through their monitors. Do the same with the bass, guitar and vocals. You can fine tune how much of each instrument goes through the monitors later.

Below is a list of what musicians usually like in their monitors, use this as a guideline. If someone wants more or less of something, they'll ask for it.

Vocalist: Expectedly, vocalists like to hear themselves. ALOT. Usually the vocalist will also want to hear some guitar and maybe some drums too. Remember, if you're using compression on the vocals make sure you don't include it on the monitor mix as this can promote bad microphone technique.

Guitarist: The guitarist will want to hear any other guitarists on stage, it's also very useful for them to be able to hear the singer. They may also want the bass in there too.

Bassist: It's important for a tight bassist to be able to clearly hear the drums, the bass drum in particular is very important.

Drummer: Drummers will want everything in their mix. Usually with a little more guitar and vocals.

It's important in any live situation that everyone can hear the vocals. They should be paramount in your mix, especially in a small club. It's often the case that the guitar amp will be too loud and you'll only be able to hear the band. If possible try to get the whole band to turn down allowing the vocals to come through clearly. Guitarists in particular can be quite touchy about their sound and volume. Just remind the band that if they want to ruin their sound they're more than welcome!

A common enemy when mixing a live band is feedback. Feedback occurs when a loop forms between an input and output source, commonly it can be a microphone and a monitor/speaker. Whilst it can be tricky to get rid of feedback completely, there are a few things that can be done. If experiencing high feedback, cut the high frequencies on the input and output source. You don't need to cut it too much as this will leave the sound lifeless and the band will loose it's dynamic. The same goes for low feedback, cut the bottom end off the input and output source to help reduce the problem. When sound checking the band, experiment to see how high you can turn up the fader until you hear feedback.

Play around with the equalizer and find a happy medium. This is important to achieve the best sound possible and you'll notice the difference that a little tweaking can make! It's important to keep it simple and use these tips to try to bring what you can't naturally hear through the mix. This will most often be the vocals. Use the equalizer for the rest of the band till you're happy with the sound.

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Learn to Play Piano - 5 Elements of Music to Learn First

In order to learn to play any musical instrument it is necessary to learn a small amount about music. Difficulties in understanding the instrument are compounded when you do not understand music or the instrument. Music is quite simply a map that provides a musician with the information needed to play the right notes. To read the map it is necessary to understand a simple code. A note will have a pitch, a period of time it is played for and loudness. The code provides that information. Knowing the simple code allows you to read music.

Here are 5 basic elements of the code to learn before you start to learn to play piano.

1. Music is written on paper in the form of symbols to represent the length of time a note is to be played for. The symbols can be called after their original names of crotchet, minim, breve, semi breve, or by their more modern names of quarter note, half note, double whole note, whole note respectively.

2. The symbols above are written on horizontal lines arranged in two blocks of five lines. The lines and spaces between them represent the pitch of a note. The lines and spaces at the top of the five lines are a higher pitch than those on the bottom lines or spaces. The blocks of lines are called the staff, stave or ledger lines. Which one you use is unimportant.

3. The two blocks of horizontal lines represent the higher pitch notes on the top block and the lower bass notes on the lower block. These are differentiated by the use of a sign placed at the left of each block of lines. The top block has a symbol called the treble clef. (sometimes also called the G clef)This is similar to a British pound sign. The lower block of lines has a symbol called a bass clef which is similar to an upside down letter C with two dots after it. Using two blocks easily shows the range of the notes that are to be played. Not written in music is a line between the two blocks of five. This apparent line is called C representing the note of C; this is the middle C note on piano.

4. Musical notes are called by letters. The notes start at A and finish at G. The lines of the stave are called after the same notes. The middle line (The one not written on the paper) as you know is the note called C, the space above the line is D, the line above is E, the space above that line is F, the line above is G and the space above that is A and so on up the lines.

5. Musical notes on the piano follow exactly the same system. The C in the middle of the piano is C the next white key to the right is D the next right key is E and so on up the piano. A note symbol on the line called G calls for the key of the piano called G to be pressed.

Music is basically simple as can be seen above. Symbols represent the note to be played. Knowing the code enables the music to be understood.

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3 Easy Steps To Promote, Advertise Your Mixtape Online

It seems like everyone has a new mixtape out nowadays. Everywhere you look the internet is flooded with people trying to promote and advertise their latest and greatest mixtape. However, there are actually very few "successful" mixtapes due in part to the lack of proper promotion and advertisement. If you are promoting a mixtape, there are 3 very simple steps to follow.

1. CREATE A HIGH QUALITY MIXTAPE
This may seem like a no-brainer to most people but you would be surprised at the number of mixtapes lacking quality music production and audio engineering. If you are sharing a song or mixtape with someone, it needs to immediately grab their attention. You have about 10 seconds from the time someone pushes play to make your first impression. When a person plays your music, it should immediately inspire an emotion. If your mixtape could talk it should say "listen up! I have something important to say!" No matter what the genre, if your music doesn't grab people's attention you will potentially miss out on fans.

Carefully choose the song order of your mixtape. You want your mixtape to have a good flow. Take your listeners on a journey through sound! It is critical that you do this to keep your listeners from getting bored. If listeners get bored, they typically forget about what they were listening to. This means your music will likely end up hitting the digital trash can.

2. CHOOSE 1 SONG FOR FREE DOWNLOAD

After choosing your mixtape's song order, choose 1 single representive of you and make it available to the public as a free download. Make sure that this is a song you feel strongly about and that you'd be comfortable performing. Make the song available for free via all your social networks like Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, YouTube, Google+, etc. Be sure to upload your music to free mixtape websites such as Datpiff and livemixtapes.com, if you are making your entire mixtape available for free. Provide links to all your contact information wherever you can. Be sure to have your digital/electronic press kit available for online viewing in case someone wants to hear more of your work.

3. Target Prospective Fans, Promote the Mixtape

Here is where the tire meets the road. After completing the first two steps you will need to find out who your fans are AND promote to them. To do this you will need to begin building relationships with potential fans. please do not spam! This is one of the worst ways to damage your name and brand. It will usually get you blocked, banned, unfriended, etc.

Free Ways to Promote Your Mixtape Online:

Blog about your mixtape and encourage people to subscribe to your blog

If your mixtape is free, upload it to the top free mixtape websites

Ask fans or friends to write a mixtape review for you to post on a blog or website

Have fans or friends recommend your mixtape via their social networks (e.g. Have someone tweet: @joeblow My friend @soandso makes some really great music. I think you'd like his mixtape www dot whereeveryourlinkisat dot com)

Note: This method of promotion is WAY better than you randomly hitting someone up saying "hey check this out..." Why? because someone is referring your music and edifying you at the same time! That equals a win-win situation for you!

Create a mailing list for your fans to keep them updated on your latest work

Write an article on Wikipedia about yourself and your mixtape(s)

Create promotional videos of yourself with your mixtape music playing in the background

Preview your mixtape live via Ustream and hold a Q&A session afterward

Create fan pages on social networks or on music websites such as Reverbnation

Network with Djs online and see if they'll spin your records

Track your internet spins, plays, downloads, etc. and use that in your promotion information (i.e. This is Hot -mixtape downloaded 3,000 times in 1 hour! Drop your link.)

Offer a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th song for free download

Do promotion exchanges via your social networks (i.e promote someone else in exchange for promoting your mixtape)

The suggestions listed above are just a few of the ways you can begin to increase exposure and advertise your mixtape online. Ultimately, you will need to begin building strong relationships with each of your potential fans in order to gain the support needed to have a successful mixtape release.

Good Luck!

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Getting The Best Professional Synth Sounds

Music is an array of wonderful sounds, whether they are natural of computer synthesized. Creating sounds and beats for music through a synth (synthesizer) program can be a tricky business. In order to get the best synth sounds possible through synth software or hardware, professionals have used and continue to use a series of tricks and tips to guide them.

A good way to start out with making some new sounds is to use the presets as a base. The preset synth sounds on a synthesizer can have different sounds and sound effects added to them. These include other musical instruments and basic effects like reverb, chorus, and overdrive. Adding these effects one by one allows a musician to hear the difference that the added sounds make allowing them to easily choose the sound most pleasing to them. After trying them separately, a musician may also use more than one effect at a time.

Audio samples and music loops from sound library websites can also be used as a base. Sometimes, however, sampled songs can come through as sounding "dirty" (having extra sounds in the backround). To "clean up" the extra sounds, a low-pass filter can be applied. It should cancel out any high frequency sounds leaving the low-end sound.

When professionals find that their synth patches seem a bit thin or empty, they simply add more voices to the patch. This can be done by turning on some of the synth's oscillators one by one.

There are several options available for rhythmic drum sequencing. Of course, the standard MIDI keyboard, used for a synthesizer, makes for a good tool. The key input's velocity recognition is quite effective. However, the velocity recognition of pad sensors on a MPD is far more superior. Pad sensors do come with one big drawback though. They are unable to endure 50 hours of use, the average music producer's required amount of use.

It is also crucial for musicians to clearly hear the sounds they are working with. Synth sound is best heard over monitor speakers. These speakers are able to pick up the frequency range needed to create the best synth sound possible. Desktop or laptop speakers, on the other hand, fail to get the required frequency range. A less expensive option to monitor speakers is a set of quality headphones. The headphones will work in the short term to mid-term ranges and are excellent for concentrating on specific areas of work when checking for proper sitting.

One other very important thing needed to create high quality synth sounds is creativity. Musicians let their imagination fly and flow with it, and in the end they sometimes wind up landing the next big hit.

Mike is a business consultant and has worked for several companies. In his spare time he enjoys experimenting with music and in particular synth sounds. For more details on any issues raised in the article visit Dance Midi Samples.

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Old Vinyl Records Are a New Beginning for Many

To the older generation, old vinyl records are a reminder of a simpler time when people appreciated the music they listened to but for the new generation, they're a new beginning. The young people of today are growing up on digitized music that comes from CDs and MP3 players. Many of them have never even heard of a record unless it was something they saw in a movie.

There are probably a lot of young people that couldn't imagine what it would be like to sit and listen to a vinyl record but others are learning what king of benefits old vinyl records have to offer. Having the opportunity to listen to music being played on a turntable has opened up new doors for them and they have a newfound interest in old vinyl.

These young people are learning all of the benefits associated with listening to albums instead of MP3 players and CDs. They now understand why the older generation often talks about how much they miss records. There is something special about taking the album out of the decorative sleeve and placing it on that turntable. It makes you feel excited and there's a feeling of happiness that you don't get with other music.

This could have something to do with the fact that records produce a different sound than any other type of music. It's a smoother, more natural sound than what you'll get from CDs and other modern music players. Even the cracks and pops that you can hear in some records seem to make them even more interesting by adding to the experience.

The attraction to old vinyl records are growing to the point that many young people consider it the newest, hottest trend to hit the music industry even though they were the beginning. Even some of the modern singers of today are recording their music on both CD's and vinyl so they can cater to this trend.

The interest in records continues to grow as projects are being launched to restore many of the older albums that were so popular years ago or to re-record many of them. Just go online and do a little research on albums and you'll get a good idea of how popular they are becoming again. Old vinyl records are not just for the generation of baby boomers, they're a new beginning for the younger generations as well.

About the Author:

180 Gram Records is a premier producer and distributor of collectible vinyl records from best selling music artists and other limited-run collectible merchandise. They offer select and expertly crafted items to satisfy the demands of collectors, music enthusiasts, and fans alike.

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Uses of Karaoke Machines and Top Tips on Buying Them

The popularity of karaoke machines makes them one of the most sought after entertainment devices on the market today. They are very useful in a number of fun and entertaining ways, but there are some basics that you should be aware of if purchasing one. So let us take a look at what you need to know when shopping around for a good and reliable unit to buy.

The uses of karaoke machines can be applied to both the business setting and the home entertainment centre. For clubs, bars and anywhere that people gather for entertainment they are a great crowd-pleaser. They are an interesting option for the office that has regular staff parties or has guests that come in town for conferences. They are a welcome addition to any recreational centre, gym or places where single people gather regularly. They are also useful in restaurants, schools or any organisation with a large employee population. They fit in anywhere and people instantly want to join in the fun they offer, plus they are a way for people to get to know each other in groups. They are also great fun as part of a home entertainment centre.

There are a few basic tips to keep in mind, when buying karaoke machines. All devices of this type are generally similar in technology, but some are portable and others need external equipment to work. Portables are convenient, but are small for a large group to use and they often are limited in the amount of real music loaded on board. Larger devices will need an external television monitor and sometimes will need speakers for audio. All of these will need the music discs for singing along with; these will vary in availability and price range. Remember that any piece of equipment will require some maintenance and upkeep, so you want to figure this into your budget for it.

This kind of audio equipment generally gets used and treated roughly, since it is something that various audience members randomly have access to. For this reason it is not a great idea to buy this type of device used. There may be electronic problems, it may already be damaged in some other way and as a used device it definitely has lost some of its lifespan. Think about these things before becoming the owner of it. Even if you get a really nice price for a used piece of equipment, also know that you are usually going to get what you pay for. If it ends up being a lemon, it is unlikely there will be anyway to recover the money you have lost. In any situation, know what you are getting into before buying.

Gary is a freelance graphic designer and has worked with several companies in the past. In his spare time, he likes to unwind by belting out a few tunes with his friends using one of their karaoke machines. For more information on the topics raised, visit Sing To The World.

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What Makes a Quality Music Sample Pack?

When looking for quality music sample packs online there are a few key pieces of information that will help you succeed in your effort. The first is to know what type of music you are looking for. Be familiar with the types of instruments that are typically associated with that particular style. With this information you can filter through many sample packs that do not fit your needs. The next most common thing to take into consideration is how limited the instrumentation appears to be. Typically you find loops of drum beats or short samples of a particular composition.

If this is what you are looking for then your search should not be a painful one, but if you are looking for single notes or a more limited range of sounds from particular instruments then the process can be a bit more tedious. The kinds of sounds we are talking about here are individual snare drum hits or single notes from a saxophone. Samples such as these allow for a broader range of creative options and more freedom for the individual producer.

Once you have narrowed down your parameters for the type of sample that you are looking for then you can start investigating the quality of the actual content in the package. Here, we are talking variety. A common problem to run into is a huge amount of samples that are only slightly different. Another common problem is the palette of the instruments. Often packages contain kits of a particular instrument. This kit will contain an instrument played in a particular style such as jazz or rock. In a quality music sample pack you should find a greater variety of instruments, rather than a small amount of instruments played in a wide range of styles.

Quality packages often provide information regarding where the sound was obtained or the musician that produced them in order to be used. This information can guarantee for the user a 'natural' feel to the sounds available. This point brings us to the final element crucial to finding good music packages online, and that is the quality of the individual sounds or how natural a particular instrument sounds. If an individual is looking for something more techno or house oriented then a concern would be how synthetic or computer generated the texture is for a particular sound.

However, if as a producer one is interested primarily in jazz, then the human element prevalent in the sound is a major concern. Also related to the quality of individual sounds are question such as, "How crisp is the snare drum and how full are the kick pedals?" Keeping these things in mind when searching for quality music sample packs online should lead to the success of any aspiring musician or producer.

For more information on the topics mentioned in the article such as using sample packs, please visit Dance Midi Samples where they have tutorials.

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Finding Great Software and Vocal Samples Online

When it comes to being a musician and trying to create their own music, it's a fact that not everybody has their own recording studio with the fanciest equipment that all the professionals use. It's just not practical for most people to have this. However, this does not mean that they should not be able to have access to some great software that allows them to create some amazing music right from their very own computer. For this reason, a lot of musicians who are starting out these days are looking for how to find the right software and vocal samples to use when they are creating new music on their computer.

There are a lot of different types of software out there that can help starting musicians when it comes to recording, mixing, and creating great music right from their computer. With these different types of software, there are some things that are standard with most of them. For example, most of them allow the user to record and edit different music clips, as well as overlay them to create a rhythm or beat that they like. Aside from that, the music should be able to be edited with different special features and filters that are built into the program. However, this is not always necessarily the case, and for that reason it is important than the musician knows what they are looking for in their music software. For example, musicians that would like to work on music that needs special filters and editing, such as hip hop and rap artists, would want to make sure that they are able to find some software that has this available. One popular software available for download is called Garage Band, and it is common for use among musicians starting out because it is great at editing music and still easy to use and learn.

Another important thing when it comes to creating music is being able to have access to some good singing samples. This is important, especially if there are no real vocalists in the band or the musician does not typically sing. Even if the band does have a lead singer, however, finding vocal samples can still be important because they can be used for background singing. Some music software will have access to some singing samples, however, not all do. The good thing is that it's relatively easy to go online and find some good voice samples to use. And often times, a lot of these samples are free. However, some websites do charge for their samples. It really just depends on the website itself.

There is no denying the importance of music software and voice samples for any musician. In fact, having the right software and samples available can give any musician the ability to create a masterpiece.

Mike is a business consultant and has worked for several companies. In his spare time he enjoys experimenting with music and in particular vocal samples. For more details on any issues raised in the article visit Dance Midi Samples.

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Benefits of Learning the Circle of Fifths

The circle of fifths is one of the most fundamental and useful concepts in music theory. It can be used for many purposes; learning major and minor scales, the order of sharps and flats, building major and minor chords, chord progression, understanding keys and the accidentals that occur in keys.

In this article I'm going to discuss how you can use the circle of fifths to play the two most common progressions in western music in any key. I'm referring, of course to I-IV-V progressions which are the most common chord progression in rock, folk and country music (examples include: "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison, " Down on the Corner" by CCR and "This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie" ) and ii-V-I progressions which are the most common progression in jazz and also common in all western music genres. (examples include "Satin Doll" by Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald's "How High the Moon" and Gershwin's "Summertime". )

To figure out any I-IV-V progression:

1. Pick the key you'd like to play the chord progression in. I'll arbitrarily choose the key of D which is at two o'clock on the circle of fifths.

2. To find the IV chord simply go counter clockwise by one hour. Relative to a root note of D, one hour counter clockwise is G.

3. To find the V chord simply go clockwise by one hour. One clockwise hour past our root note of D is A.

I-IV-V in the key of D = D-G-A

And there you have it, it's that simple! To reiterate, to calculate what a I-IV-V progression in any key is you pick a root note then go one hour backwards to find the IV chord then go two hours clockwise (or one hour clockwise from the root) to find the V chords.

To figure out any ii-V-I progression:

1. Pick a key to play the chord progression in. We'll use the key of A for the example which is at three o'clock on the circle of fifths.

2. To find the ii chord go two hours clockwise relative to the root note. Our root note A is at three o'clock and two hours past three is five o'clock and on the circle of fifths five o'clock is B.

3. To find the V chord go one hour counter clockwise from the ii chord. The ii chord (B) is at five o'clock and one hour counter clockwise from five is four o'clock so the V chord is E which is at four o'clock.

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Best Songs on Acoustic Guitar - Part 5: Covers

The list continues. Here are a few more songs that could be added to the list of the best acoustic songs. Only this time, they are all cover songs.

Signs - Tesla. Not a lot of covers have made the list thus far, in fact if memory serves me correctly I think only one other one has. But here is another. Telsa is one of those 80's bands that has basically made a career on three of four songs, Signs being one of them. Originally done as a protest song in the sixties by Five Man Electric Band, Tesla made the track very much their own. They decided to go acoustic with it, which was an awesome choice and they added their flavor of rock. For an acoustic jam, it is definitely rocking. Again it is a cover, but a great cover at that. That is why Tesla's version of Signs deserves to make the list of best acoustic songs.

Boyz N The Hood - Dynamite Hack. This song is amazing because of how ridiculous it is. It was part of a compilation disk released by MTV called Rap Goes Punk. Basically MTV got a bunch of punk bands to do iconic rap songs. Dynamite Hack was asked to Boyz N The Hood, originally by N.W.A. They did the songs, but not as I think most expected them to. Instead of doing it their dirty, grungy kind of way, the boys played a beautifully finger picked number and gently sang the lyrics. It was hilarious. But the guitar part was very complicated and intricate, not what Dynamite Hack is known for. Again this song is not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but it is funny and clever enough to make the list of one of the best acoustic songs.

Wild Horses - Bush. Bush is one of those band you either love or hate. But love them or hate them, they did an amazing rendition of The Rolling Stones - Wild Horses on Jay Leno. It wasn't a straight up acoustic number, but the lead was played on an acoustic guitar. Okay there was only one acoustic instrument in the set, but this songs needs to make the list. It was an amazing rendition of an amazing song. I never thought anyone but The Stones could do that song, but I have to give Bush credit, they slayed it.

That's it for now. Three awesome cover songs that feature the acoustic guitar. Again, they may not be amazing or mind bending, but they all have that one undefined quality that makes them worthy of being added to the list of best acoustic songs.

Benjamin J. Cloyd is a guitar instructor and has a website called best acoustic songs where you can find and print great songs for beginners to intermediate to advanced. He also has a humorous clothing line for musicians at Music Tshirts ETC.

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Greatest Songwriters of All Time

There have been many great songwriters in our time but some that take the top of the list are the ones that shaped the music industry and paved the way for all musicians. The greatest songwriters of all time are the ones who wrote and in many cases, sung songs from the heart. They're from a simpler time when people had the time to sit back, listen to good music, and enjoy the lyrics as much as they did the acoustic guitar and other instruments.

Here is my list of the 10 greatest songwriters of all time:

1. Johnny Cash- Known as "The Man In Black", Johnny Cash has a number of great songs which made him famous that include "I Walk the Line" and Folsom Prison Blues." He was a unique artist with a humble, serious and rebellious side all rolled into one. When you add in his unique dark voice, you can see why his music is one-of-kind that could never be imitated.

2. Jimmy Buffett- One of the most unusual songwriters of all time has to be Jimmy Buffett. In his early years, his music had a serious side that took a drastic turn after his first couple of albums to songs that reflected alcohol, freedom and humor. "Rockefeller Square" and "Ellis Dee (He Ain't Free)" are two of his most popular songs from the early years.

3. Willie Nelson- When you think of the greatest songwriters of all time, Willie Nelson has to come to mind. He has the honor of being a member of the "Songwriting Hall of Fame", if that gives you an idea of how famous he is. Two of his big hits that helped to shape his career are "On the Road Again" and "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground".

4. Bob Dylan- Bob Dylan has often been referred to as a songwriting genius. "Like a Rolling Stone" was his signature song which lasted for six minutes instead of the tradition two to three minutes. When it comes to rock and roll music, he is certainly one of the most famous songwriter in history.

5. Hank Williams, Sr- They'll never be another like Hank Williams, Sr. He was a remarkable singer with songs like ''I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" and "Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain." He had a short career before he met an untimely death. However, during that time, he made such an impression that he is often still referred to as one of the most important country music singer/songwriters in history.

6. Stevie Nicks- One of the greatest rock and roll songwriters/singers whose music is legendary is Stevie Nicks. She has so many favorites that it's difficult to choose between them but two of her most well-known songs are "Don't Stop" and "Go Your Own Way."

7. Paul Simon- Simon broke up the "Simon and Garfunkel" team to go out on his own to become one of the most influential songwriters of the 80's. His music influenced musicians throughout the years and it will surely continue to do so for many more.

8. Cat Stevens- When it comes to creativity, Cat Stevens was one of the most ingenuous songwriters of his time. With classics like "Peace Train" and "Cats in the Cradle," he will always be remembered.

9. Janis Ian- Janis began her career as a teenager and she wrote songs about relationships and world peace with a little bit of everything else in-between. She was one of the most exciting Folk music singer and songwriter you'll ever hear.

10. Chuck Berry- One of the very first Rock and Roll songwriters and singer is Chuck Berry. After "Johnny B. Good" hit the charts, all types of artist have modeled themselves after this legend.

These men and women hold a special place in the hearts of music lovers as their songs helped then through the good and bad times of life. They have earned the title of the greatest songwriters of all time and their music will live on forever.

About the Author:

180 Gram Records is a premier producer and distributor of collectible vinyl records from best selling music artists and other limited-run collectible merchandise. They offer select and expertly crafted items to satisfy the demands of collectors, music enthusiasts, and fans alike.

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Yamaha DTX Drums

With a reputation for bringing professional technology to the masses at a price that won't break the bank, Yamaha has managed to uphold that reputation again with their latest additions to the DTX ranges of electronic drum kits. Launched at MusikMesse in Frankfurt this year the DTX500K, DTX520K, DTX540K, DTX700K and DTX750K span entry level and mid-level price points and all build on the technology and success of the DTX900 series. With features such as revamped rack systems, new textured cellular silicone (TCS) pads and training functions there is a kit to suit every percussionist from beginner to professional.

Starting with the 500 series, which are all centred round the updated DTX500 module and all have over 400 voices, these are the most affordable of the range and yet, with possibilities for expansion are possibly the most versatile. Suitable for beginners who can then opt for upgrades as they progress, they bring professional technology to entry-level musicians. The DTX500K is distinguished by its compact and foldable rack system and traditional rubber surface for the snare and toms, whilst the DTX520K and DTX540K have a new rack design with four legs and TCS pads on the snare (520K) and snare and toms (540K). Yamaha's famous training functions and practice tools ensure that musicians can improve on their rhythm and technique.

The 700 series takes the drumming experience a step further with a more professional feel. Over 1200 voices and 64-note polyphony are features of both the DTX700K and DTX750K, and if that isn't enough new sounds can be uploaded into the 64MB Flash-ROM. Two USB ports are handy for sampling or sequencing on stage or in the studio, whilst the real hi-hat controller and stand adds a quirky traditional twist to the set-up.

The DTX700K will take the percussionist from bedroom drummer to professional with training functions to improve timing, on-board practice songs which allow the drum parts to be muted for playing along and a recording function for analysing performance. It comes with a compact RS500 rack. The DTX750K is a true professional drum kit, combining all the features of the 700K with an extra cymbal and a sleek curved RS700 rack. The DTX-PADs used for snare and toms on both kits are Yamaha's most advanced pads yet with an unequalled sensitivity that enables the drummer to develop an authentic drumming technique.

For percussionists starting out the 500 series will more than happily do the job, starting at the lower price point and offering possibilities for progression to a professional standard. Professionals looking for something new to improve their performance on stage and in the studio will be amply served by the 700 series, which offers the latest advanced technology and redesigned rack for better playability. Take a look here to check out all the details on Yamaha's DTX drum kits and get into the rhythm with a drum kit to suit your needs.

As part of Andrew's work, he has an on-going personal and professional involvement in the music industry. In addition to advising several companies involved in the sector, such as Soundslive and Let's Do Music, his gigging roots go back to the club and pub circuit in the English Midlands of the late 80's and early '90's. These days he's more likely to be found working on online marketing for music industry businesses or lending his sound deck experience (and gear!) to local music groups.

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Top 5 Places to Enjoy Old Time Radio

The golden age of radio was a rich and colorful time in American history. In fact, it can be argued that many classics of the time gave birth to the movies and television series we enjoy today!

I must confess that this old art form holds a special place in my heart. My younger years were filled with episodes of the heart-warming stories of 'Lassie' and the fantastical adventures of the 'Wizard of Oz.' These old radio shows had a huge impact on my life which is why until this very day, I still have a deep love for old time radio.

The fact that old radio shows are rapidly becoming popular among avid radio fans warms my heart. With today's technology, syndicated serials from yesteryear have become available and accessible to this niche market. This same popularity has pushed old time radio to the forefront of many other areas in society and has expanded its reach and use beyond simple entertainment.

Hospitals have started utilizing old radio programs in the rehabilitation of their patients. It has been noted that listening to classic shows helps speed up their recovery time. Old time radio has the advantage of keeping them entertained without taxing or stressing them out unlike television.

Radio drama anthologies or detective mysteries have also played a huge part in lifting the spirits of elderly retirees in an Old Folk's Home. Immersing themselves in old radio shows provides them with a way to stroll down memory lane and remember the best years of their life.

Learning about history has also become fun with the unique approach of using old time radio as an educational tool. By listening to serials geared towards world wars I & II, the interest of a student becomes hooked by this interactive method.

On a personal level, I believe that old radio programs are best enjoyed at home. I find that it is easier to concentrate and imagine the exploits of 'Flash Gordon' on my Mp3 player while puttering about in the kitchen or tinkering with my gardening tools in the shed.

Another great place to enjoy the hits of the golden age of radio is while traveling. In fact, I believe that this is an avenue that greatly benefits from old radio shows the most. Commuting to and from work is no longer boring when I'm tuned in to the amazing world of my all-time hero, 'Superman.'

I'm a big fan of Old Time Radio.

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Adjustable Piano Bench Advantages - Three Important Reasons to Purchase an Adjustable Bench

For all musicians, whether they are playing the piano, guitar, harp and any other instrument, one of the important areas of interest would be correct seating and posture. When you are researching the different bench options, you need to look at the widely used adjustable piano bench styles since they offer excellent features than any other models. This article will examine the three important reasons to purchase an adjustable bench: comfort, versatility and height variability.

When your torso and hands have the correct coordination this will result in additional skill and less stress, lowering the risk of incapacitating, long-term injuries related to musicians like carpal tunnel syndrome. In order to get this coordination, you need a bench with the correct height. Although most piano benches will be the standard height, you can find differences in the overall height and built as this will vary significantly. The height variability for most benches can be adjusted from 18 to 24 inches in height to successfully enable the player to match their height with the piano to reduce stress and increase their musical efficiency.

Aside from the height adjustment feature, all adjustable benches will have a top that is fully padded with foam and covered in genuine leather or vinyl. When a musician is interested in their instrument, most times they will spend several hours practicing in the same position. During this time a bench that is fully padded will become a valuable asset, plus it offers added comfort to make long practice sessions feasible without discomfort. There are other bench models that will not offer full comfort from the thick padding and foam like the adjustable models.

Often times, the active musicians have to practice and perform in many different spaces and settings. The adjustable benches are known to be the most versatile because they are easily transportable and could be used with many instruments when adjusted. The best possible seating position of individual players can easily be preserved regardless of when and how the adjustable bench is used. In general, you can find adjustable piano bench in wide selection of colors and styles including models with genuine leather covers. This bench will be the ideal choice for pianists who are playing duets and would like a double adjustable bench with dual seating. Whenever you are ready to buy a new bench, you can find speciality niche online stores offering a great selection of benches with affordable prices, plus direct shipping to your front door.

It is much more convenient to purchase a piano bench online, rather than from a local piano store. Often the local merchant will not have an adjustable piano bench in stock, or have the proper color to meet your needs.

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The Ultimate Guitar Buying Guide

Not sure just what all those terms mean in determining the quality of a guitar? Instead of just making sure that you have an instrument that plays in tune, frets easily, and doesn't collapse like a house of cards if you breathe on it, you also need to make informed decisions. Don't worry - that's not as grave as it sounds. The following guitar buying guide will clue you in.

How a guitar is built defines what type of guitar it is and (generally) what type of music it's used for. Consider just two examples: A solid-body electric guitar is used for rock. It has no holes in the body - which adds to its sustain (the guitar's ability to increase the amount of time a plucked note rings). An acoustic archtop is used for traditional jazz, because it has a carved, contoured top, which produces the mellow tones most associated with that style.

Solid wood versus laminated wood: your guitar buying guide

A solid-wood acoustic guitar is more desirable than a laminated acoustic guitar (where, instead of using a solid, thicker piece of top-wood, the guitar maker uses several layers of inexpensive wood pressed together and covered with a veneer). Guitars made completely out of solid wood are very expensive - costing more than $1,000.

The guitar's top is the most critical element in sound production; the back and sides primarily reflect the sound back through the top. So, if you can't pick up the tab for a solid-wood acoustic guitar, look to various configurations in which the top is solid and various other parts are laminated. A good choice is a solid-top guitar with laminated back and sides, which can cost as little as $350.

Another very popular configuration, just a step higher in quality, is a guitar with a solid top, a solid back, and laminated sides. You can find a wide variety of acoustics constructed this way at around the $1,000 mark and even slightly less.

Because the sides have a negligible effect on the sound (even less so than the back does) and because laminates are structurally stronger than solid woods, this setup equates to a win-win situation for both manufacturer and buyer. Some people argue, therefore, that the cheaper manufacturing process (using laminated sides) is also the superior one (because the laminates are stronger than the solid-wood construction).

If you're unsure as to whether a guitar has solid or laminated wood, go over a guitar buying guide (there are tons for every type of guitar player), or ask the dealer or consult the manufacturer.

Singer and songwriter Jim Byrne has been a guitar player all his life. His songs has a twist of bluesy folk, country, Americana and Scottish. Discover the ultimate guitar buying guide, and valuable guitar playing tips as he offers some great all-around advice for beginner and advanced players alike. 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 Buying - Getting Started With A Practice Amp

If you have limited funds after guitar buying, but would like to own an amp, start out with what's known as a practice amp - one that has a decent feature set (tone controls, reverb, and two or more volume controls so that you can sculpt your distorted sound) and that delivers a good sound but at low volumes (6 to 12 watts is typical on practice amps). This type of starter amp accustoms you to hearing the electric guitar as it's designed to be heard - through a guitar amp.

Practice amps can run as little as $175 and boast features that appear on their higher-priced performance counterparts. In amplifiers, power - not features - is what drives up the price. Power is expensive to build, requiring heavy-duty transformers, speakers, and cabinetry. For home and casual use - such as jamming with a couple of friends in a garage or basement - 15 or 20 watts is often plenty loud enough, and 6 to 12 watts is sufficient for solo practicing and playing along with your stereo.

Features, on the other hand, such as tone controls and effects (reverb, tremolo), are easier to implement because the manufacturers can stamp them onto a chip and install it on a circuit board.

Now that you are done with guitar buying, the following are some useful things to look for in a practice amp:

1. Multiple-gain stages: Gain is the technical word for "loudness power," and having two or more separate volume controls on an amp gives you more flexibility in shaping the distorted sound.

2. Three-band EQ: EQ, or equalization, is tone controls for bass, mid, and high. An EQ device is a fancy tone control that gives you increased flexibility over the bass, midrange, and treble makeup of your sound.

3. Built-in reverb: Reverb is an echo effect that makes the guitar sound like it's playing within a given environment - rooms of varying sizes, a concert hall, cathedral, canyon, etc.

4. Channel switching via footswitch: Channel switching enables you to access different sets of volume and tone control. Some practice amps include it; others don't. Decide whether that feature is important enough to pay for in a practice amp. You can always get your distorted sound through an external effect, such as a stomp box, but that's a little bit more of a hassle.

5. Headphone jack: A headphone jack is a very handy thing in a practice amp as it enables you to get a fully amp-treated sound without going through the speaker. Great for late-night practice sessions!

Because of the miniaturization of all things electronic (you'll know this soon enough once you're done with guitar buying) you can now get full-sounding, authentic guitar sounds from a unit the size of a disposable camera - as long as you listen to it through headphones (meaning that it has no speaker or amplifier of its own). These strap-on wonders come with belt clips and are battery powered for unfettered practicing (great for walking into the bathroom and standing in front of the mirror). And they offer distortion, EQ, reverb, and other effects; numerous presets (sounds programmed or set up by the manufacturer); and stereo sound. These units are great for playing in a moving vehicle and can even output a signal to tape or disk, suitable for recording. They are worth the price if portability, privacy, and authentic tone are important to you.y

Singer and songwriter Jim Byrne has been a guitar player all his life. His songs has a twist of bluesy folk, country, Americana and Scottish. Discover more tips on how to get the most out of guitar buying, and valuable guitar playing tips as he offers some great all-around advice for beginner and advanced players alike. 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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The Advantages of Being a Digital DJ With a DJ Console

Knowing what the advantages of being a digital DJ are can be very useful if you're starting to DJ today or thinking of transitioning finally from CDs and vinyl to digital.

Some people have referred to the digital music format disease and are displeased by what they perceive as low quality compression leading to disk jockeys increasing their volume levels to compensate.

For those from a vinyl and CD mixing background, who have had far more sets on real decks than anything else, this is an interesting point of view. Over the past few years, DJs have been using digital controllers in venues and it's been so convenient that they get used to it. It's pretty important for you to understand why a digital DJ has plenty of advantages and why it will inevitably end up taking over the DJing world completely. This can help some of you make choices in choosing your digital equipment when it comes to making decisions.

Why being a digital DJ is great

1. DJ Gear and music is easy to transport

Rather than carting crates of vinyl or CDs on public transport only to for your records and CDs to be stolen or scratched later on you have a neat little gig bag to take with you. The weight of your gear is manageable enough to carry on your shoulder (with the laptop included).

2. You can find your music instantly

Instead of rummaging through your crate and having a panic attack when you can't find what you need, finding music using a controller is easy. You either scan your organised playlists, type in the name of a tune or search in your hard drive. Whatever may happen, you can reach a wider selection of tunes at your fingertips in far less time.

3. You can carry as much music as you need

Any experienced DJ remembers a time when he or she either forgot the right music or simply didn't bring a good selection for the crowd.

Reading and reacting to the crowd in the right way is what makes the best DJs even better. Having instant rapid access to 100 times more tracks than you could possibly manage in non-digital format boosts your confidence and ability to adapt to different crowds. Now you just have to get to know your music.

4. You can take it out afterwards

Just like a new girlfriend, you can take your digital DJ controller gig bag out with you to a party or a club.

With a DJ controller you can play the best gigs and then join in the after party afterwards without having to worry about where to put your heavy gear and record bag.

5. Mixing is easier

It's true; mixing tracks is far easier using a USB controller.

Prior to the digital DJing age, disk jockeys would practice mixing for hours and hours before they could learn to beat match. The best disk jockeys would practice for 7 hours a day in their spare time. Nowadays, a DJ controller makes it much easier, freeing up resources for you to concentrate on finding new tracks, remixing and relooping current tracks and dropping effects.

There are many other advantages of being a digital DJ too, some which can help you to get DJ bookings in far less time.

This article and many more other DJ tips, reviews, advice and a free guide to getting DJ gigs can be found at The Total DJ Blog

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Guitar Lesson Teacher - How to Find the Right Guitar Teacher

Learning how to play the guitar can be extremely rewarding and it is a good idea to try and find ways to help you get started in the right direction. Getting on the right foot to learn how to play the guitar does not only require finding the right resource but also the right guitar teacher who will guide you in achieving your musical goal. However, with many guitar teachers offering their services, it can be hard to figure out who among them are truly exceptional. Exceptional in a sense that he/she would not only provide you the guidance you need but also one that would supply you the right information as well.

Here are some tips that can help you get started with your quest in finding the right guitar teacher.

How to Locate an Instructor

1. Ask for referrals.

You can hang out on your local music or guitar store and see if they have someone to recommend you that offer guitar lessons. These people often have connections to music instructors. Chances are they are music instructors themselves. You can also ask private music schools for further referrals.

2. Browse thru directories or your local newspaper for advertisement about guitar lessons available. It is important to take note of rates so you can compare each.

3. Determine how much time and money are you willing to spend to learn.

4. Determine your level of proficiency in order to asses which instructor is the right for you.

5. Negotiate with the fee. Most of the time, in-store music instructors may accept a higher fee compared to local musicians.

6. Inquire if the instructor offers a free introductory lesson.

7. You can also browse the internet because many video guitar lessons are being offered online. There are many existing sites that you can check out for great offers.

How to Choose the Right Guitar Teacher

The above mentioned are just prerequisites on how you can locate a music instructor that you may consider if you really want to pursue learning to play the guitar. You may already have the list of teachers to choose from. Still, finding the right guitar teacher can all come down to one important question, "Will he/she provide the right information?" and this will help you to further narrow down your search. The following questions can be your guide to find out if a certain music instructor can be the right guitar teacher for you.

1. How long have you been teaching guitar lessons? Credentials?

2. Does he/she offer a particular music style that you may want to learn?

3. How many students are you teaching right now?

4. What is the instructor's preferred schedule? Or better yet, can he/she accommodate your preferred schedule?

5. What is your payment policy? Do you offer discounts?

6. How about cancellation policies?

7. What specific instructional material do you use for each lesson?

8. If you don't have a guitar, you might also want to ask what type of guitar you should get.

Being laid out all these essential tips on how to find the right guitar teacher, you can now easily filter out mediocre music instructors from those that can offer a truly exceptional guitar learning experience.

One recommended online option can be found at: http://www.starlandguitar.com/

Learn to play guitar with a professional guitar teacher Visit http://www.starlandguitar.com/ to find out the best online guitar teacher.

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How To Improve Your Lead Guitar Playing

Do you have a hard time coming up with guitar solos that sound like real music instead of a "combination of guitar licks"? Have you spent a lot of time looking for countless guitar exercises, new scales and guitar licks to play on the internet, only to realize later that these things are NOT making you a better lead guitar player?

The guitarists who attempt to make their guitar solos more creative by using the approach above, typically end up frustrated with their slow rate of progress and start to lose hope in their potential to become great guitarists. Very often they also start to believe in the common misconception that their ability to create great guitar solos is restricted by their amount of natural talent.

Fortunately, it IS possible for anyone to greatly improve their lead guitar soloing skills with the right approach. If you haven't reached this goal yet, I want to show you the most common reasons why guitar players struggle with creating truly GREAT guitar solos and give you the steps you can take now to massively improve your lead guitar playing.

The truth is that most guitar players focus on entirely the wrong things when trying to improve their lead guitar soloing and improvising skills. Many guitarists assume that the solution to their guitar soloing challenges is in learning more "new" skills (innovative soloing concepts, new guitar licks/scales/arpeggios etc...). In reality, simply acquiring new musical skills will not (in and of itself) make your lead guitar playing better, just like having a lot of ingredients in the kitchen will NOT make you a "better" cook. While having a lot of musical skills will give you more options to choose from, these skills will NOT "increase your ability" to create great guitar solos until and unless you learn how to "integrate" them to make the best musical choices possible in any musical situation. For the vast majority of musicians, it is this lack of ability to fluently APPLY and INTEGRATE their existing skills that prevents them from mastering the art of lead guitar soloing.

Now that you understand more about why the traditional ways of improving your guitar solos are ineffective, here are some specific steps you need to take to begin to integrate your existing lead guitar playing skills on a deeper level and greatly improve your guitar solos in the process.
Learn The Guitar Fretboard Inside And Out - True mastery of the guitar neck goes much deeper than simply being able to identify a specific note/fret on the guitar. In order to really know your way around the guitar, you need to be able to play all the scales and chords used in your style of music everywhere on the neck, and be able to combine these shapes fluently. Guitar players - from Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughn to Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen - all have/had this exceptional awareness of scales and chord shapes on the fretboard. This skill enabled them to improvise great guitar solos effortlessly in any key without "getting lost". In contrast, guitarists who struggle with making their lead guitar solos sound like music, often do not have this skill well developed and become stuck with soloing in the same 1-2 positions every time they play lead guitar. Regardless of how many scales you actually know, if you cannot fluently play them all over the guitar neck, you will have a VERY hard time with using them creatively in your lead guitar soloing.
Master Aural Skills (Train Your Ear To The Fullest) - Most guitar players (even the RARE few who actually practice ear training exercises on a regular basis) do not have a clear understanding of what it really means to "have a good ear for music". It is commonly believed that ear training is all about "being able to identify any interval, chord, or scale" after hearing it. Although this skill IS "a part of" having a good ear, in reality, ear training plays a much deeper role for your lead guitar playing. At the highest level, aural skills are "the link" between all of your musical skills (guitar technique, music theory knowledge, phrasing, mastery of scales and chords and more) that enable them to work TOGETHER to create the most expressive guitar solos possible. Master musicians use their ears to imagine the music they want to hear and direct their hands to produce that sound on the instrument as quickly and naturally as you speak your thoughts when holding a conversation. Without good aural skills, your musical skills can only work in isolation and your ability to create great guitar solos will forever remain limited (more on this below).
Create Music With Your Mind Instead Of Your Hands - Most guitarists approach the process of lead guitar soloing in a mechanical way by "playing scales over chords". After learning the key of the chord progression, most musicians simply begin to solo by running through familiar scale shapes and licks. Essentially their mind goes on autopilot and all of the "creating" is done with the hands.

In contrast, great lead guitar players rely on their ears and their mind to imagine what they want to hear before playing a single note, and use their hands (guitar technique) as well as their music theory knowledge, mastery of the fretboard, and other musical skills to express what the mind wants to hear. Although they also end up "playing scales over chords", the overall level of creativity and expression achieved is much greater because all of their musical tools/skills are integrated together as one "creative whole".

Although the steps above happen very fast (and almost always occur on a subconscious level), this kind of thought process is key to creating truly great guitar solos.

The most important thing I want you to notice is that most of what actually "creates" a great guitar solo needs to be done with your mind and your ears. This is totally different from the thinking process of inexperienced guitarists, whose guitar solos are merely an attempt to "fill up space/silence with notes".
Continuously Work On Your Guitar Phrasing - Many lead guitar players continuously search for "notes to play" but neglect looking for better ways of HOW to play (phrase) those notes. Good guitar phrasing involves much more than applying an occasional bend or vibrato to a note. When I train my students how to master guitar phrasing, I show them how this skill consists of "macro" and "micro" level components. "Macro" level phrasing refers to how each phrase fits into the big picture of the lead guitar solo and the song itself (much like phrases flow in a conversation). "Micro" level phrasing deals with ornamentation applied to individual pitches of the phrase. It is important to understand the difference between the two components and to have effective strategies for training both of these areas of phrasing.
Get Regular Feedback On Your Lead Guitar Soloing From More Experienced Guitarists Or From A Guitar Teacher - Unlike improving your guitar speed, where you can measure your own progress in a tangible way, improving your lead guitar playing is a very "intangible" skill. This means two things:

1. It is very hard to become aware of specific flaws in your lead guitar soloing when you don't know what things you should be listening for.

2. It is also challenging to determine whether or not your guitar solos are actually improving and what areas of your lead guitar playing still need work.

You will make the fastest progress when you have your guitar solos analyzed by a guitar teacher who can not only point out specific flaws in your guitar playing but also can create an effective lesson strategy to help you overcome the specific challenges that are holding you back from creating truly great guitar solos.

Now that you understand more about what it takes to improve your lead guitar playing, you should become excited as you realize that all of your musical goals are entirely within your control to achieve. When you begin to implement the steps I have outlined above, your lead guitar soloing skills begin to improve rapidly.

Tom Hess is a highly successful online guitar teacher, touring musician and a guitar player for the band Rhapsody Of Fire. He teaches guitar players around the world in his online guitar lessons. Visit tomhess.net to get free guitar playing resources and to read more guitar playing articles.

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Music and Movies: History of the Soundtrack - Pt 1

Music and film have always gone together. In fact, before 'talkies' came along, the only sound you'd hear in a silent movie would be music. Silent film star, Charlie Chaplin was one of the finest physical comedians to ever grace the silver screen. But despite this, without music in the background, even his best films would be missing something. There's no doubt about it, music adds an emotional element to whatever may be occurring on film. Music can enhance and punctuate the entire spectrum of human emotion. Can anyone imagine a movie without music? Would you even want to?

One the first great musicals, the 1939 fantasy masterpiece and timeless classic, "The Wizard of Oz", starring the velvet voiced Judy Garland, is probably most peoples' first exposure to a movie musical. The longtime children's classic about a Kansas farm-girl named, Dorothy, who, along with her dog, Toto, is whisked away by a tornado to the magical land of Oz. There she befriends many strange and wonderful characters and makes a serious enemy in the form of a wicked witch, as she tries to get back home. Along with the imaginative story, the songs such as, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Ding Dong, the Witch is Dead!", have since become a part of our popular culture. That same year, the first full length color film, the sweeping epic, "Gone With the Wind", about life in the south before,during, and after the civil war. The film's main musical theme was widely popular and still recognizable even today. Another very popular soundtrack was Walt Disney's first full length animated film, the classic, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs". Released in 1937, Snow White made musical and movie history by being the first film to have it's soundtrack transferred to record disk. Other notable Disney film soundtracks were 1940's "Pinocchio" and the animated and live action, "Mary Poppins", released in 1964.

In 1955, Rodgers and Hammerstein's broadway musical, "Oklahoma", was brought to the big screen. Director, Fred Zinnemann fillmed the movie in the wide open spaces of Arizona. The visually beautiful film was big, bright, and colorful. However, the cinematography did not overpower Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical score, but rather complemented it. Oklahoma is classic musical film fare for all audiences. Remember "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin"? That song, along with other classics graced the film's soundtrack. Another Rodgers and Hammerstein musical brought to the big screen in 1965 with movie classic results, is the beautifully filmed, "Sound of Music". The memorable songs and Julie Andrew's outstanding performance as the governess of a wealthy man's children in Nazi occupied Austria, is a wonderful musical about the human spirit's ability to be uplifted by song in the face of unspeakable madness.

In 1961, we saw a musical retelling of Shakespeare's,"Romeo and Juliet" in the film "West Side Story". Starring the beautiful Natalie Wood, the story revolves around two rival gangs, the 'Jets', a white gang, and a Hispanic gang called the 'Sharks'. Complications arise when Maria,(Wood), the sister of the Sharks gang leader falls in love with the leader of the Jets. True, the fighting/dancing sequences are a bit corny, but the songs in the film, such as, "Somewhere", "I Feel Pretty", and of course, "When You're a Jet" are all classics. In fact, the 2003 film, "Anger Management", starring Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson, there's a scene in which Nicholson playfully goads Sandler into singing, "I Feel Pretty", to ease his tensions. 42 years later, and yes, youthful audiences may not have known where the song came from, but they recognized it.

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Alice in Chains: The Story of One of the Pillars of Grunge and Alternative Rock (Part 1)

Along with Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana, Alice in Chains was a very important piece of the puzzle that made a musical genre known as grunge critical and commercial success, which emerged in the early 90's. Just like the bands mentioned at the start of this article, Alice in Chains is also a band from Seattle, Washington. Layne Staley (vocals) and Jerry Cantrell (guitars) were the ones responsible for the conception of this band in the late 80's.

Staley had a metal cover band named Alice N' Chains prior to the conception of the group. The group soon broke up and Staley joined a funk group. He then met Cantrell during the time that the former was working at a rehearsal studio in Seattle. The two had chemistry and similar ideas that led them to put up their own rehearsal studio. Then, Cantrell asked Staley to join his band Diamond Lie and he agreed. They played at bars and clubs, which increased the number of their followers and fans. After several performances, the group decided to adapt the Alice in Chains name instead of Diamond Lie.

Their performances at clubs and bars paid off, as a promoter saw their potential and gave them the opportunity to have their own demo album. The demo was entitled 'Treehouse Tapes' and was released in 1988. Then, the management team that handles grunge rock band Soundgarden had the chance of hearing the demo. The team was impressed and sent it to a Columbia Records representative. Afterwards, Alice in Chains was signed to Columbia Records in 1989.

In 1990, the band was given the opportunity to record their first EP 'We Die Young' that is used as a preview of what Alice in Chains is - the sound, the attitude, and the intensity. The single off their first EP was an instant hit especially on radio stations that play heavy music. Due to the single's popularity, Columbia Records decided to give the band their first full-length album as soon as possible.

In the same year, 'Facelift' was released. It reached #42 on Billboard's Top 200 album charts and sold 400,000 copies six months after its debut. Afterwards, their single 'Man in the Box' was included to the daily playlist of MTV, a TV channel that plays music videos of different artists from different genres. It propelled the popularity of the band to greater heights and the single made its way to different rock charts across the country. In 1992, the band launched 'Dirt,' their follow up to their successful debut. It reached the sixth spot on the Billboard 200 and was certified quadruple platinum. Both albums received critical acclaim and nods from many music enthusiasts and columnists.

Alice in Chains is undoubtedly one of the pillars of grunge and alternative music. To find out more about alternative rock bands you can visit my alternative music blog at http://alternativemindset.net/

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Acoustic Guitars for Girls - The Real Deal

Acoustic guitars for girls have become big business these days. Teenagers and preteens, both boys and girls, have always been interested in music, and these days they seem to really be interested in playing music, as well as listening to it. They like most all instruments, but they seem to be especially intrigued by the guitar. Most teenagers would probably prefer to play the electric guitar because it is deemed to be cool, and many think that is easier to learn to play. However, many adolescents and teenagers and young adults are opting for the mellow, less raucous sounds of the acoustic guitar. Many teens/preteens and young adults are tiring of the loud, mind numbing clamor of the electric guitar playing rock or any other kind of loud music. Not surprisingly, many girls and young women have decided to take up acoustic guitars as their instrument of choice. As I said, this is not surprising, given that some of the biggest names in music are younger girls or women, who sing and play guitar.

Female entertainers such as Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus (a.k.a. Hannah Montana), and others, have truly captured the imagination and adoration of young girls the world over. And because these two superstars and many others, play the acoustic, it also has gained well deserved respect. This exposure has, in turn, sparked the development of guitar lines targeted specifically at young girls and women. several brands of acoustics are now made specifically for girls and young women, and these acoustic guitars for girls are selling in larger numbers than ever before. This new guitar market spurred the manufacture of acoustic guitars built for the smaller frame and smaller hands of girls and women. They incorporate smaller bodies, slimmer necks and finishes and ornamentation aimed squarely at the female's sense of aesthetics and style. One has always been able to find a youth acoustic guitar, and smaller versions of almost every style guitar, but, not until a few years ago, could you find them made, finished and ornamented especially for young women and girls, as they are today.

Today, girls and young women alike, may find top rated guitars from well known, established brands and also, some brand names that are not so commonly known. Taylor guitars, a big name, has several guitars, including, in the Baby Taylor line, acoustics that are endorsed and named after the singer, Taylor Swift. One can also get a Taylor acoustic autographed by Taylor Swift herself, though it will not be modestly priced. The Hannah Montana name is also on some guitars, though Miley Cyrus is not known as great guitar player. Lines and brands such as Darling Divas, Daisy Rock and Luna are all marketed to girls and young ladies, although, you'll find some full size models there too. Many of these beautiful guitars come with fantastic finishes, including just about all colors and even sparkles. Some will come with great graphics also. When you start looking for nice acoustic guitars for girls or young women, I think you will be absolutely surprised at the great selection that you are going to find. You'll also see that many of these instruments are not your classic acoustic guitars any longer, and that prices can range from well under $100 to several hundred dollars. You'll also find that, these days, it is really an experience looking for acoustic guitars for girls.

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Saving a Favorite Guitar Pick

You either buy a guitars pick so that you can play music or because they are pretty cool to fiddle around with when you are talking to people. They will see it and just assume that you play the guitar. There is no need to correct them if you don't want to. And, if you are lucky there might be that moment that a very special person gives you their pick as a memento of one of the coolest nights of your life. It might be the night of a real big, once in a life time concert and it can be the night that your boyfriend's bar band actually rocks the rafters and makes you feel like a star's girlfriend. Even if they don't get two people to notice their music, it might be a special night because it was the first time that he said "I love you." It doesn't matter how or why or when or who, all that does matter is that you have a special guitar pick and you want to save it.

So the options for saving your pick are pretty obvious. You can have a very small hole drilled into it and wear it around your neck, keeping your pick near your heart always. Of course, there are other jewelry options, including as an earring or part of an anklet. If that is what your intention is, you have to decide if you are going to leave the pick as is or if you are going to embellish it in some fashion. On the topic of fashion, thanks to super strong and fast setting fabric glues, you can even wear your pick on your jeans, a jacket, a hat or your shoes. If you make it a habit to collect picks, then you can find a great way to showcase your collection, one that is not only funky and fashion conscious but also one that can be expanded as your collection grows.

If you collect posters or tee shirts from concerts, you can add the picks to these- adding a little bit of a personal touch to your items on your wall, allowing them to tell a story of music and adventure. On the other hand, if you are not interested in having a bunch of posters on your walls, you can put the picks in a nice cabinet or shadow box for safe keeping. For some people, these are items that would never be parted with, for others it is something that they would be willing to sell for the right price. You would be shocked by how much you could get for an old guitars pick.

Now I would like to invite you to garner more valuable information on pickholders at http://www.pickholders.com/

From Craig Thornburrow - A writer, small business owner and big fan of guitars"

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Jimi Hendrix - A Birthday Tribute

Born 27th November 1942 in Seattle, Washington, Johnny Allen Hendrix was to become one of the most iconic figures ever to be associated with the electric guitar.

His father, Al Hendrix, who had not been consulted about the naming of his son, officially changed young Johnny's name to James Marshall Hendrix on 11th September 1946.

Noticing that the young boy had a penchant for strumming on a broomstick -- for a while in fact, Jimmy and his broom were inseparable, he even took it to school -- Al relented and got him his first acoustic guitar for five dollars.

Jimmy was strumming away, teaching himself to play. He soon started hanging around the porch of a local bluesman who lived nearby, picking up whatever he could. This mysterious guitar-slinging bluesman no doubt had a great impact on Jimmy. After playing for a couple of years and hankering for an electric guitar, Jimmy persuaded Al to get him a white Supro electric guitar. Soon he was playing at local gigs and parties around Seattle.

Joining the army for basic training in 1961 as part of his duty to the country, Jimmy eventually got posted to the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. It was in the army that Jimmy was to meet fellow serviceman and bassist Billy Cox. The two put a five-piece band together and, as the King Kasuals, started entertaining soldiers in the Service Clubs, with the occasional gig around town.

After 14 months, a broken ankle and a feigned back injury got Jimmy out of the paratroopers in 1962.

Moving to New York's Harlem district, Jimmy took on the stage name Jimmy James. Times were lean and Jimmy took whatever gig came his way. In 1964, Jimmy was offered an audition with The Isley Brothers after being spotted at a club where he would often beg to sit in with the resident band.

For the audition, Jimmy was so broke that he didn't even have a full set of strings on his guitar. As part of the agreement for Jimmy to come for the audition, Ronnie Isley would have to buy him a set of strings.

Jimmy was hired and recorded the single 'Testify' with the band. A tour immediately followed and Jimmy found himself playing before stadium-sized audiences. On a tour back to his hometown of Seattle, Jimmy missed the bus back to New York and also had his guitar stolen. Once back in New York, he purchased his first Fender guitar, a Duosonic, from Manny's Music on 48th Street.

Quitting the band in 1964 -- Jimmy felt the Isley's had too many rules, especially when it came to dressing and choreographed dance routines -- he found himself drifting once again. Changing his stage name to Maurice James, Jimmy eventually found himself in Little Richard's backing band.

Jimmy soon realized that he had stepped into another regimented musical outfit, worse than his experience in The Isley Brothers. Little Richard was a star, and he did not like to be outshone, let alone by his own sideman. Jimmy's flamboyance onstage, coupled with his wild hair and colorful dress-sense made for an uncomfortable situation in the Richard camp.

While on a break from Little Richard, Jimmy did some gigs with Ike and Tina Turner. Ike too saw that Jimmy was stealing the show and dropped him. By this time Jimmy had also been fired from his gig with Little Richard.

Arriving back in New York, Jimmy wrote this piece of prose:

I was just a little square

Like the cat with unconked hair

Now I'm hip to the chicks

And far from a drip

The cats on the square

Call me Joe Ad-Lib

Joe Ad-lib, it would seem, would be discovered while playing to an empty house at the Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village by the ex-bassist for The Animals, Chas Chandler. Chandler had just just gone into the management business and was looking for new talent to boost his music management portfolio. Signing on Jimmy, Chas brought him to England on 24th September 1966.

With only a Fender Stratocaster and a change of clothes, Jimmy descended on London's bustling music scene. In a very short time, Jimmy's name became a buzzword, and rock's royalty -- Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Pete Townshend and Jeff Beck -- had been won over and become ardent, although sometimes begrudging admirers.

Chandler's business associate, Mike Jeffery, recruited guitarist Noel Redding to play bass in Jimmy's fledgling trio. Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames had just broken up and their drummer Mitch Mitchell was also invited to audition.

When Jimmy came to London he had reverted to this real surname. It was Chandler's idea to change the spelling of his first name to Jimi to make it unique and memorable.

With the trio of Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding, the Jimi Hendrix Experience was born.

Happy Birthday Jimi. In one short lifetime, you taught us several lifetimes of lessons.

Clinton Carnegie is a music educator, jazz-rock guitarist and recording artist. He has two fusion guitar instrumental albums to his name, Say What You Mean and Santiago. His music blog can be found at http://www.theguitarcolumn.com/

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