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December 20, 2009

Guitar chord calculators/fretboards

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: guitar calculator — editor @ 7:17 pm

Today I was playing with several down loadable guitar chord “calculators” for lack of a better term. I am old school and usually opt fro a book full of chords or scales but I must admit that these on screen tools are very useful. It takes a little while to learn how it all works, but soon you will see how to choose a chord or a scales, save it , print it and so forth.

http://www.virtual-fretboard.com/

The virtual fretboard has the best graphics and include options to color the fretboard and is user friendly. You can save the image as well as a jpg and this comes in handy.

http://www.guitarcalculator.com/main.html

The guitar calculator is very easy to work, although it appears very small to my eyes and I woudl like to be able to view it in a larger size. You can print the chords you save instantly but you cannot save the image which I do not like.

All in all though they are both very useful.

Tune your guitar

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December 15, 2009

The Stage is Yours

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: performance tips — editor @ 9:57 pm

One of the biggest problems that a musician faces on their road to success is a lack of confidence. You can be the best in the industry, but if you are not confident in your abilities, no record company is going to take special interest in you. Why? The music industry has changed in its level of performance over the years. When you go to a concert, the artist that you are watching probably doesn’t stand still and sing like a timid child. They probably don’t tell you how bad they butchered the last song, and they don’t tell you how horrible they are. It’s not because they are great and they have recognition, it’s because they will be unappealing without showing confidence.

If you are going to play at a show, or play for a family member, or whatever the case may be, if you want to be good you must have confidence. How do you do this? One of the best methods that worked for me in my music career is a pattern of thinking that I like to call, “The stage is yours.” When you play for someone, whether you’re playing for 3 people or 300 people, you have to remember one thing.

how to sing

They are there for one reason, and that reason is to see you. You already have your fanfare; because they are sitting down to listen to you. The stage is yours. You have every right to use it which ever way you want to, in order to give them what they came for. Being timid about your ability is natural, but needs to stop at some point.

If you think that your not a musician because you only know five chords, then remember this; You know five more chords than almost any body else around you. You will never get better, if you don’t think you’re good to begin with. When you perform, give your music attitude that will leave your audience starving for more. Don’t be shy, because this is extremely noticeable to the people on the outside watching you.

While learning to be confident be sure that you don’t become over confident. This is also extremely important. Nobody likes an arrogant performer that is full of themselves, as it is unappealing. Acknowledge your skill, but don’t try to rub it in. You will make people angry, and no one will listen to the music, because they don’t respect the artist.

There is a fine line between being humble, and being cocky, and you don’t want to find yourself on the wrong side of the fence.

So when you get ready to perform, tell yourself the stage is yours, I’m going to show them who I am, and when I’m finished, more people will know my name. Remember that the audience isn’t there to judge you; they are there to enjoy you. If you don’t take yourself seriously, no one else is?

perform music

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December 12, 2009

Two Handed Guitar

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: guitar techniques — editor @ 1:12 am

The guitar takes ideas from both hands to make a full sound. You will increase your flexibility and skill as you learn both right hand and left handed techniques.These are the terms and skills you should know and work on right away.
Skills for the Right Hand

Flat picking is playing the guitar with a plectrum or pick, usually plastic. Flat picking is essential to a well rounded guitar player.

Finger picking is usually described as playing the guitar with only your fingers, not with a pick. When you use all of your fingers, you can play difficult parts at the same time.

December 7, 2009

Is Older Better? Ask a Vintage Guitar

Filed under: guitar — Tags: vintage guitars — editor @ 11:17 pm

Why, you say would anyone need to have an old instrument as opposed to a new one? Time will only improve the sound of a well made guitar. As a guitar ages, so does the sound; mellow is the word for a vintage guitar as the wood changes over time.
What does it mean to have a vintage guitar.

There are other factors that matter when you are thinking about a vintage guitar. A guitar is more valuable if it is not available, perhaps made in a limited run. The Martin guitar company produced various models of an individual design in short runs.

The Les Paul Gold Top guitar had a particularly cherished finish and golden color which also aged well. With the Fender Stratocaster the quality was more highly desired during an earlier time of the companys history. Famous guitarists lend their name and endorse special guitars known as signature guitars. The guitar is not vintage necessarily but it is more desirable and will be vintage someday. If a guitar was owned by someone famous, that of course makes it more valuable and increases its value.If the guitar was played at a big concert like Woodstock, that would make it more prized as well. A guitar that has a great sound will be valued regardless of the age of the guitar.
Guitar amplifiers are also considered to be vintage in some cases. Vox, Marshall and Fender amplifiers have particularly pleasing sound reproduction capabilities. The tube circuitry is largely responsible for the sound of these amps.

Many vintage guitars today are valued as works of art and are treated as such. To own a vintage guitar is to own a piece of modern music history.Knowing that so and so played the guitar really adds to its reputation and enjoyment. Modern rock and roll came into being with these instruments.

Some guitars have been restored to play perhaps even better than they did originally.

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December 6, 2009

What does a conductor do?

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: the conductor — editor @ 11:24 pm

Conductors are usually present in one of the following situations;
Choir
Jazz group
Smaller instrumental ensemble

Some people are confused by the point of a conductor, what do they do? How can the players understand what they are doing?

Like instrumentalists, conductors also have their own sense of style and each will vary from ensemble to ensemble. The style will also change according to genre as there are different factors to consider, for example, a band leader or conductor of a jazz group will keep the band in time as well as signal when performers are to take solos.

There are some general tips on how to treat conductors before understanding how to follow them.

1) When playing a concert, the performers should always stand an applaud to show respect
2) The lead instrumentalists of each section should follow the conductor the closest. It is their responsibility to lead the other players in their section.
3) Watch the conductor using your peripheral vision. This will allow you to follow them as well as read your music.
4) When the composer states the next piece of music, quickly and quietly change you music, especially in a concert situation. Talking and chatting in-between undermines their seniority.

A conductor does so much more than keep time. They know the music inside out and shape the orchestra, leading them during a performance. Here are some quick tips on how to follow the conductor; read more here

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December 1, 2009

Why Read Music? I can Play ok

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: read music — editor @ 3:30 pm

sms-background-2-tone-blue-on-white

I wanted to share a few thoughts on reading music. I think it is essential to being a well rounded musician and it can really help in learning a new tune.

Often I have one particular song I want to learn and really want the easiest way to find it and learn it quickly. I go to musicnotes.com and there I search for the song. If it is available it costs about $4 at this writing to print it out at home. I can listen to it first at various tempos and keys with the player they provide.

I can also download it in any key. Than I can get to work learning it.

I am not an affiliate of musicnotes, I juts love it and use it to demonstrate the point of how knowing how to read music helps my music learning process.

music notation

Thanks for reading and you can read more here. Learn to read music.

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November 22, 2009

Protect Your Voice

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: protect your voice — editor @ 10:55 pm

Our voices are the most fragile musical instruments you can imagine. Every day, we use our voices for much more than singing, and our bodies endure conditions and stressors that can deteriorate our voice quality, if we don’t take measures to protect it from harm.

Factors That Can Affect Your Voice
Weather conditions, second-hand smoke, noisy environments, what we eat and drink, coughing, clearing your throat, medications, allergies – the list of things that can directly or indirectly impact your voice is numerous.

You certainly can’t stay in a bubble or prevent exposure to everything that might affect your voice, but the best way to manage these individual hazards is to think of your overall health and take precautions whenever possible to protect your voice.

Protect Your Voice, Water It
The basics for your body’s health also apply to your voice. Water is a singer’s best ally, since it provides natural hydration without taking vital fluid out of your system in digestion. Staying hydrated during hot weather in summer and dry conditions in winter while indoors are especially important. Cool-mist humidifiers can keep the indoor humidity at a comfortable level in winter.
The vocal folds within your larynx are, in effect, small muscles that need to be conditioned and exercised with caution to build their strength without damage. They also need to be well lubricated. Drinking water steadily over the course of every day helps maintain the right density of water in your tissues, including your throat and this tip alone will help to protect your voice dramatically.

Steam is also healthy for the outside of the vocal folds in your throat. Some vocal experts recommend taking a hot shower or using a hot vaporizer for a few minutes twice a day to generate some much-needed moisture for your vocal chords.

Can the Foods You Eat Protect Your Voice? Read More Here

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sound systems

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: sound systems — editor @ 4:19 pm

When you go into an area to perform your music, you have to have some way to amplify your sound so that the audience may hear you. This is done through a series of equipment called a PA System (Personal Amplification System) It is important to be capable of operating this machinery, because if you do not possess your own, you will more than likely be using somebody else’s. So what does a PA system consist of?
The first and most important piece of equipment needed in order for the system to function, is a Mixing Board. The Mixing Board varies in size, and consists of channels. These channels are used to amplify several instruments at once. On every channel, there is an equalizer. This is so that when all of the instruments are amplified together, to may mix them into a much more manageable sound. Some mixers also contain effects loops. These are used to place musical effects on the master output of your sound.

The Next most important piece of equipment that you are going to need is a set of speakers. PA’s can hold anywhere from 2 to 50 speakers, depending on how big the amplification system is, and how many watt’s it is able to run off of. Speakers need to be positioned at angles to where they fill the entire area with sound waves that blend together. Another type of speaker that more experienced people use, are called monitors. Most Monitors are placed on the floor and are facing up. They provide the performing artist’s with sound as well so that they are able to hear themselves in order to play or sing.

Another must have in the system, is a couple of good live audio microphones. Shure Microphones seem to work very well in this genre. It is important to designate a few channels on your PA system to your microphones, and keep it that way so that you do not have to constantly rework your settings. A very affective way to keep up with your microphone’s channels is to place color coated tape on the microphones, and their corresponding channels.

There are many more required pieces of equipment, such as instruments, cables, effect pedals, powered mixers, etc. But in order to start simple and learn as you progress, you must have a grasp on this basic knowledge. The best teacher is experience, and the best student is the active one. Try working a soundboard for local shows, or asking experienced personnel about them in order to learn more. It is always good to take in as much information on this industry and its requirements as you can, in order to produce a more productive and effective performance.

Learn Music

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November 17, 2009

Cleaning a Trombone

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: cleaning a trombone — editor @ 10:15 pm

Keeping your instrument clean is a very important part of being a musician. Dirt and grime can build up on any instrument, affecting the sound of your music. Because it is such a long instrument, cleaning a trombone can be a challenge. But keeping a trombone clean is crucial, especially in the slide area. Build up in the slide can make it hard to play. Here are some steps to clean your trombone.

The first step to take in cleaning a trombone is to fill your tub with lukewarm water. Do not use hot water, as it will damage the finish of your instrument. Fill the tub to about seven inches, and add a cup of mild liquid soap.

Do not use harsh soap as it can damage the finish on your trombone. Place a layer of thick towels on the bottom of the tub. They will absorb some of the water, but this is an essential step to cleaning a trombone as it will protect the instrument from the hard surface of the bathtub.

The next step is to place the trombone into the water to soak. This is an important step in cleaning a trombone, because this soaking will loosen up the debris inside the instrument. If you want, you can take the instrument apart during this soaking. It is imperative that the water reaches all the parts of the instrument. Allow the instrument to soak for at least four hours. You can leave it over night if you prefer.

After the instrument is done soaking, take all of the tubing outside. Take your garden hose and put a sprayer attachment on it. Wrap a towel around the sprayer to make it soft, and put it into the bell of the trombone. Spray a strong stream of water into the instrument to flush out the debris. Some dirt will remain lodged in the trombone, so to finish cleaning it, take a snake brush and loosen the dirt, then flush the instrument again.

The next step in cleaning a trombone is crucial. You must rinse, dry, and oil all parts. Do not leave water in the instrument, as it can induce mold or rust. After drying and oiling your instrument, reassemble it. This intense level cleaning should be done once a year. Not only will it increase the life of your instrument, but it will also remove bacteria from the instrument, which will make you healthier.

Just as learning your scales or practicing is mandatory, so is the care of your instrument.

Cleaning a Trombone

http://simplemusicsecrets.com/cleaning-a-trombone.html

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November 13, 2009

Play Classic Guitar Solos

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: guitar lead solos — editor @ 11:31 am

I wanted to speak to all the guitar players out there who have always wanted to learn say, Carlos Santana or Chuck Berry or many other great guitar solos exactly as they were played.

There are a few tools on the market that help with this and one is called “Guitar Leads”. You can read about it on the site here:

Guitar Leads Review

When I was a teenager and wanted to play the exact Clapton or Hendrix lead riff I would spend hours with a record and struggle to play it over and over. There was no capability to slow it down unless you could afford a reel to reel tape player. If you could slow the record down it was to 16 1/2 r p ms and now it sounded like Darth Vader underwater.

Now you can slow it down and still hear it in pitch.

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