Wednesday, June 29, 2011

An Insight Into Gator Gig Bags

If you have spent any time researching pedal board cases on the internet then you will have heard of Gator gig bags. Gator gig bags are protective carry bags that are used by guitarists to protect their guitar pedals and carry all there guitar pedals around without damaging them.

Here's why Gator gig bags will greatly benefit you. First of all, Gator bags are one of the most popular and well respected brands today when it comes to protecting your guitar pedals. Thousands of musicians have become satisfied by using Gator bags, so more then likely it will meet your requirements and expectations too.

There are loads of benefits to Gator Bags that will not only protect your pedals, but also enhance your guitar playing. All Gator bags are heavily padded but they are light and durable which means that because they are not heavy, you can simply sling it over your shoulder and your away!

One of the best things about Gator gig Bags, is that it allows you to store all your guitar pedals so that they can be easily transported to gigs or practice. Once you set up your pedals they will always be set up, so you will be ready to go in an instant and you wont have to waste time setting up your pedals every time you want to use them.

I have personally used Gator Bags many times in my career and they have really done a good job in protecting my pedals. However, I must say that Gator gig bags may not be the best option for every guitarist, it all depends on how often you use and transport your pedals. For example, If you are in a band that gigs regularly then your pedal board will be in a van with all the bands other equipment and it will be more likely to get a hard knock off another piece of equipment and damage your pedals. In this case a flight case would be a better option.

However if you don't gig regularly or your gator bag won't be among heavy equipment in the back of a van, then a gator gig bag is a great option.

Like people helped me, I want to help you find the right gator bag too! Because believe it or not, including myself a lot of guitarists have made the wrong decision when it comes to choosing a gig bag and this can lead to a lot of problems later as a result.Trust me, I have been through a lot of gig bags in my time so I have come to know what works and what doesn't!

You can read my reviews on the best Gator gig bags here

By reading my reviews you will be able to gain an insight into what it is like to use gator bags in the long term as I have reviewed them based on my own experience with them You will be able to understand the benefits and problems with each of them and be able to identify what type of gator bags are the best option for you!

Here's the site again ==> http://www.pedalboardcases.com/


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3 Simple Steps to Tune an Electric Guitar

Novice guitar players usually have a problem with how to tune an electric guitar. However, this is an easy process that can be mastered with time and patience. Tuning an electric guitar can either be done electronically or manually. The first option makes use of a gadget known as pitch folk or an electric tuner device while for the later tuning is achieved by listening and then using your fingers to adjust the electric guitar headstocks.

Herewith is a step by step guide on how to go about the tuning business.

Step #1: Learn the Notes
Before taking a shot at it, you have to learn the various notes. The notes on an electric guitar are arranged in the following order-top to bottom: E, A, D, G, B, and E with the strings ordered from the thickest to the thinnest. Having known that, you need to establish a reference point.

Step #2: Establish a Reference Point
The reference point can be easily worked out by use of a pitch fork / electric tuner to obtain a standard pitch. Count five steps from the nuts and you will find the fifth fret mark. Strike the First E note and check the pitch on the tuner. Once you have the reference for the first pitch, the top E string, you can begin tuning the electric guitar.

Step#3: Work the Strings
Press the A note on the fifth fret and strike the string while adjusting the relevant head stock. Adjust the A note until it matches the pitch of the First E-Note.

The Third string to work on is the D string. Strike the D-string while holding it down at the fifth fret. Adjust it accordingly using the A-note above it until you obtain a matching pitch.

The next string on line is the G-string. Once again, count five frets and hold down the string then strike it. Adjust it accordingly so it matches the pitch of the D-string above it. When learning the methods of synchronizing an electric guitar, you will have to use your ears keenly to detect subtle differences in pitch between the notes. This skill is learned with time and depends on individual talent and ability. You can however notice the pitch differences by hearing a vibrating noise when you strike two strings that are out of tune.

After adjusting the G-String, work on the B-string. This string is quite different from the others and calls for a different approach. When tuning the B-string, count four frets from the nut and hold down the G-string directly above it. Adjust the B-string to match the pitch of the G-string using your ears to detect the changes.

Only the B-String is adjusted using the fourth fret as a reference. Once it is in tune, you can move on to the last string which is the E-String. The E-String is tuned by holding down the B-string above it on the fifth fret. Adjust the pitch until it is in tune with the B-string and your guitar is ready for playing.

Finally play a few chords to make sure everything is right and make adjustment if need be. And that's it; you've tuned a guitar by following the above three simple steps.


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Flamingo by Brandon Flowers

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

The Killers' first album, Hot Fuss, struck a special chord with me- and its success reminded us that modern rock radio isn't all about post-grunge jock-rockers like Nickelback and Godsmack (though it is mostly about that). The Killers' music was so infectious and rhythmic. Aesthetically, I was very fascinated by them because they managed to pull off that sort of androgynous, new wave sheen in a very modern setting. They came along in 2004, the year I graduated from high school, and their music and style made me feel like I was entering a new world in which I could really flourish, far from all of those jerks in high school who simply didn't understand me. Of course, beginning with their second album, Sam's Town, The Killers began to shed some of the sheen. There wasn't a huge dynamic shift in their sound, but it all felt a little dirtier. Flowers, as you may know, is from Las Vegas and his music, to me, has always sort of sounded like Las Vegas. Sure, he literally writes songs about Vegas on occasion, but it goes beyond that. It's more of a feeling. That city has a flashy surface, full of glitz and glamour and celebrity socialites throwing parties in nightclubs. If you're really looking for that kind of lifestyle, however, you'd be better off going to somewhere like Miami, 'cause it ain't really what Vegas is about. Below the surface it's a dusty, desert town full of alcoholics, gambling addicts and washed-up performers waiting to help you indulge every vice you've ever had.

Brandon Flowers is an expert at exploring every side of his hometown and setting it to music. This has never been more apparent than on his first solo album, Flamingo (named for the hotel and casino on the Vegas Strip). The same types of characters that appeared in Killers songs are back, only this time he's all but completely abandoned his old new wave sound in favor of one that's a lot more, well, 'Vegasy.' Every song is an anthem that's as big and flashy as a Lance Burton magic show but as heartbreaking as the middle-aged waitress at the diner who actually has to live in the giant tourist attraction that is Las Vegas. On "Hard Enough," a duet with Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley, Flowers portrays a man trying to change in order to save his relationship with the woman he loves. It's the type of song that's been written a million times before, but when it's done this well you really don't mind hearing it again. Like a lot of the songs on the album, "Hard Enough" is a great piece of power-pop with a bit of an outlaw country twist and would sound right at home performed by Kenny Rogers and Linda Ronstadt. First single "Crossfire" is perhaps the highlight of the album. I'm a sucker for a good power ballad and this one is pitch-perfect. It's one of the best songs Flowers has ever written and certainly better than anything on The Killers' last album.

Flowers can be a little cheesy at times, especially when he makes the most blatant references to Vegas culture. In the 'gambling-as-a-metaphor-for-relationships' lyrics of "Jilted Lovers & Broken Hearts," he sings, "Why did you roll your dice, show your cards?/Jilted lovers and broken hearts," in a manner that suggests even he thinks he should take it down a notch. Still, most of the time Flowers comes across as very sincere and heartfelt, a difficult task for someone whose rock and roll persona is close to reaching Bono levels of grandeur. The only really disappointing moment of the album comes with closing track "Swallow It." It's not a bad song, per se, but it's kind of quirky and mid-tempo and doesn't really go anywhere. It sounds out of place and would have been a poor choice for a closing song on any album, but particularly on one like Flamingo that is otherwise filled with arena-sized rock and roll anthems. Although, I suppose ending the album like this makes it feel like an actual trip to Vegas: You expect to go out with a bang, but end up going out with a hangover and a lot less money in your pocket. But either way, you had a good time!

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


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My Priced Possession, My Guitar

It seems a lot of people are quite obsessed with the word 'music.'

They want to learn instruments as fast as possible. I do not think there is any shortcut to learning. If you want to learn absolutely anything properly, then I am sure that shorts cuts are not that great an idea.

But yes if you have the passion in you to work hard and learn it, then no one can stop you from being successful.

There are three tools for this success. They are known as the 3 P's, they are:

1. Patience
2. Practise
3. Pay attention

One of the instruments that are quite fashionable in these days and preferred by a lot of people of the young generation is the guitar.

A guitar is a string instrument that is played either with the help of a pick or with the help of the figures.

The guitar is an instrument that has a huge body with a neck. There are some strings attached to it. There are generally 6 strings.

The 2 classification of the types of guitar are-

1. Electric guitar
2. Acoustic guitar

An acoustic guitar is the one that first came into existence. It is being used since thousands of years.

A modern format of the guitar is the electric guitar. An electric guitar makes use of the amplifier that can help in electronically manipulating the tone.

For someone who loves and admires this musical instrument it is essential to understand what it is made up of. Let us understand its major components.

Generally the guitars are made in such a manner that they are for both the left hand players and the right hand players.

As the right hand and the left have different functions to perform so arrangement is made in such a manner that it is not inconvenient for anyone.

The strings have an order and if they are reversed the orientation will also change.

Headstock

The headstock is located at the region that is at the end of the neck. It is there to ensure that the string tension is properly adjusted.

Nut

A nut is a tiny little piece of plastic, brass, steel, etc. It grooves the strings in place. It has to be accurately cut so that the tuning is proper.

Frets

These are the metal strips that help in scale based division. According to some mathematical formula they are placed. If you press the string against the fret, a pitch sound is produced.

Truss rod

The truss rod is made up of a metal. It runs along the neck side of the guitar.

Inlays

The inlays are what form the external part of the guitar. They are of various graphical shapes. The most common shapes are- dots, diamonds, parallelograms, etc.

Neck

The neck of the guitar is usually glued to the body of the guitar.

Strings

The strings are one of the most important elements of the guitar. A standard guitar has 6 strings. There are some guitars with 4, 7, 8, 9, 12 and even 18 strings.

Visit our site to learn guitar tricks. By visiting our site, you will also learn how to play guitar for beginners.


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More And More Musicians Are Finding It Beneficial To Buy Beats

A lot of musicians will shop around to buy beats, and there are many reasons for this. There are those people that would consider the purchase of tracks to limit the creativity level of an artist, yet the artists that purchase them say that quite the opposite is actually true..

Any artist that wants to use this type of beat can purchase it and add it to their music. Most of the artists that do are working within the hip hop genre though. Many of these artists do not have the equipment or knowledge that is required to make a beat. Some of them are more concerned over their lyrical work.

A lot of people might have noticed that when they turn the radio to the rock station, they will hear many songs that have the type of beat track that is being discussed here introduced. This is because most modern genre music is more hybrid than it has ever been before. Artists that are influenced by many more than one genre are starting to buy these tracks and throw them somewhere in their final mixes...

So many websites that specialize in selling such beat tracks can be found through a simple web search. There are two ways in which such tracks are sold to artists. Some artists prefer the old fashioned way, these artists like to have an actual CD shipped to them. Many other artists would rather type their payment information into the website and have access to an instant download.

Most sites that specialize in selling beat tracks to artists are naturally going to let artists sample tracks that they might be considering. Why would any artist buy something when he or she has no idea how it even sounds? It is important to remember that it is in the seller's best interest to make sure that such samples are of a much more compressed and lower quality than the purchased tracks.

Some artists practice on royalty free tracks that are free to download and use. This is because they want to learn the craft before investing their hard earned money into it. There are some publishers that specialize in free tracks. In some cases the creator of a particular track might require a credit within any final works that utilize their track. This is still a very effective way to learn.

A lot of musicians are able to concentrate on lyrical work and other musical elements when they start using the web to buy beats. It is important to not worry too much about what formats a company offers. This is because free software exists that will convert one format into any other.

Don't fool yourself into thinking you can't find great instrumentals and Buy Beats on the internet, then you should click the links in this sentence so you can find and Buy Rap Beats Online.


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Jack White's Dead Weather Project

Strange, unusual and unique make up the definition of an anomaly, or for a better description, "Jack White".

The former White Stripes icon has been keeping busy since retiring his former label, instead of flying off to some decadent Rock & Roll playground for the rest of eternity, Jack has opted to stay active by keeping his talented paws busy with two well-established bands (Raconteurs and the Dead Weather). The one defining aspect of Jack White is that his work ethic is a hard wired machine that lives deep in his artistic soul. In his own words he states "...if you call yourself an artist, you have a responsibility to that liberty that you've given yourself. You don't have a day job where you work 9 to 5 at a factory because you're an artist? Well, okay, well then you better make some art. That doesn't mean you can sit around all day and do nothing". The man is driven, and along with his talent for music has made him so successful in the music world.

Jack White- a true Modern Rebel, his music sets the tone for a raw generation. Defying labels and letting his resonating vocals haunt the souls of his fans, not giving a rat's ass about his critics he refuses to change or bend to the conformity of the sold out facade of the music world. Many of his fans felt the loss of his haunting music when the White Stripes announced in early February of 2011 that Meg and Jack were going to be no more. Lucky for us Jack has been stirring up the musical kettle and just released some songs from his Dead Weather project, the album is titled "The Dead Weather - Horehound". The debut single "Hang You from the Heavens", is available for download now from iTunes, and as an added bonus you can download another song titled "Two Against One" for free for the rest of this week. Two Against One is haunting and mesmerizing in a way that only Jack White can deliver, it is primal, pure and raw to its dark core

Hang You from the Heavens has a strong and thick distorted guitar hammering in the background, setting the wicked tone, with primal drums taking over with perfectly timed beats. Alison Mosshart adds to the grungy feel with her fiery voice, the song works on a dirty and raw level. Something you would listen to while throwing back a shot of Jack Daniels before punching the bouncer in the nuts, it stirs rebellion deep in the soul and we like that.

Other songs like "Will There Be Enough Water" is Jack White at his bluesy best, Alison and Jack work perfectly together to deliver one of my favorite songs on the album. Simple and pure bluesy rock delivered by a driven anomaly in the form of Jack White and his new band "The Dead Weather". For me the best song has to be "Treat Me like Your Mother", the song just reeks with attitude. Alison Mosshart and Jack White's vocals create a whirlwind of adrenaline against a backdrop of modern rock tempo. The recently released video of Treat Me like Your Mother goes perfectly with the aggressive mood.

Something about most the songs in The Dead Weather's Hore Hound awakens something primal in the listeners mind, it makes you want to blow some things up, smash some glass and flip off the neighbor.

If you are remotely a fan of the White Stripes do yourself a favor and check out "The Dead Weather", you will not be disappointed

Thomas Holohan is the executive editor for modern-rebel.com.You will find information and advice for men that live on the edge at modern-rebel.com


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Church Wedding Music - How to Make Your Selection

Are you busy planning the various arrangements for your wedding including the music that will be played during the ceremony? Your wedding music should be selected with a great deal of care because this is something that can make or break the atmosphere of the event. If you plan to get married in a traditional church wedding service then you have to select your music accordingly. In fact it will be quite easy for you to select the wedding music to play because churches and other houses of worship always have clear-cut guidelines of what you can do and what has to be avoided at all costs.

There is a certain decorum that has to be maintained in a church wedding and you will not be permitted to play any music you want, especially if it consists of raucous tunes or profane lyrics. Of course, this is an extreme case, but many churches do not allow any sort of secular music to be played. Other churches are more accommodating and will allow popular music to be played during the wedding as long as the tune is beautiful and the words pertain to love and marriage. Make sure that you find out about this before you book the church for your ceremony just in case you have set your heart on playing a really romantic and beautiful number at your wedding.

There is a huge amount of traditional and classical music you could select from for your ceremony. There are also many hymns and Christian wedding songs that are perfect for this occasion because the words and music match perfectly with the solemnity of the occasion. These pieces serve to remind people that they are witnessing the union of two people before God and that it is not a secular ceremony.

There are certain pieces that are played very often at weddings and you could choose to use or ignore them depending on your preference. Certain pieces such as Franz Schubert's Ave Maria or Johann Sebastian Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring are beautiful pieces of music that are unfortunately played at many weddings. The hymn Amazing Grace is also very apt for weddings and is therefore extremely popular. While they undoubtedly have a familiar feel, you should avoid these pieces of music if you want your ceremony to sound very unusual. You could opt for something that has special significance for you instead.

Do your planning well in advance and take help from people who are knowledgeable about the subject. Go on the internet in order to listen to as many different tunes as possible so that you can be absolutely sure of what you want. Be sure to communicate your wishes to the wedding band and to the church well in advance and try not to make any last-minute changes because that will surely lead to disaster. Selecting your Church wedding music is actually very easy as long as you do it systematically and well in advance of the event.

Are you looking for the perfect band for your wedding or just need some help with the music?

http://weddingbandsmelbourne.net.au/ is the only place to find the best Wedding Bands Melbourne!


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