Sunday, October 28, 2012

The Business of DJing

To become a professional club DJ, you need to know the in's and out's of the club industry. And now-a-days it's becoming more competitive.

Everyone wants to be a DJ. The club industry is a huge arena with its set of rules and guidelines that must be followed and if you understand them you just might be able to rise up to stardom.

There's a lot to learn, believe me. It's not enough to just know how to beat-match and transition your tracks, you need to know the business aspect of this industry. Once you know the business side of the club industry, then you can position yourself properly in the DJ market.

Keep in mind that it takes time to build your reputation and you have to be consistent with your efforts. This isn't an area for the lazy. You have to become proactive.

There are many techniques that you can apply to help boost yourself up in name recognition, but you have to understand that you're not going to become an overnight success.

If you're really serious about getting more involved in the industry as a club DJ, here are some factors that you should start looking into to learn more about the business side of the club industry to help you in your endeavor.

You need to know:

1. Business management

2. Marketing and self-promotion

3. Networking

4. How the clubs industry works

5. How to get booked as a club DJ

One of the most important activities that you should be involved in on a day-to-day basis is; marketing online and self-promotion. This is key to building public awareness and stimulating demand.

There are many techniques that you can apply in this endeavor to get your name out in the music scene and knowing what they are is crucial to your success as a DJ.

When it comes to landing DJ gigs you need to know what promoters and club managers are looking for in DJ's to spin at their clubs. Knowing these key secrets will catapult you into the club arena.

Remember, DJing is a musical skill. To become successful at DJing you have to know everything about music.

If you have been producing music, then this is to your advantage, but for those of you who are starting out, I would suggest that you start studying everything about music composition, theory, and history.

Learning the business of DJing is a skill in itself.

Want to learn more insider tips to help you improve your DJ skills? DJWorkshop101 is an e-zine with insider tips to help the fellow DJ succeed as a DJ.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

How to Buy a Bass Guitar - Things to Think About For Your Next Purchase

How do you buy a bass guitar? Easy! You go to a music store and give them a bunch of money.

The real question of course is, how do you choose the bass that's right for you?

Recently, someone was asking me about choosing an inexpensive first bass. The questions were all about what kinds of wood the bass should have. Is Basswood good? Is Agathis better? I'm familiar with both woods but since I wanted to get my facts straight, I thought I'd better start doing some research.

But after a few minutes I realized how many basses I'd bought over the years and, good or bad choices, how often did the type of wood determine if I purchased it.

Mostly I think my decisions come down to:

- Does it sound good?
- Does it feel good?
- Does it look good?
- And, does it work well?

Really what else is there?

Well how much money you have really goes to the top of the list. Given enough money you could surely buy the best bass guitar in the world. Right? Well, maybe not.

Let's go through the list of things to consider. Not in the above order, but rather in the sequence that they occur. And, I'm going to assume that you are a player and not collector.

Not unlike when you are looking for a girlfriend or boyfriend, usually it's the visuals that get you first. Is that bass guitar shiny or does it have that certain look? It really is important. But just more than a shiny paint job, does it it fit in with the style and look of the kind of band or musicians you are playing with. A double neck Gibson SG isn't going to fit in well with that Celtic folk band, is it? But more importantly, does it stir up some emotion in you? If so, that probably a good thing. Isn't music all about emotion?

Once you grab that bass down off the wall, you start to get a feel for it. Is it heavy? Or, does it feel light and flimsy? You'll probably start off playing it sitting in a stool. Is it comfortable to hold? Is it head heavy? That is, if you let go of it does the head and neck drop toward the floor? If you sit with a bass a lot, it is comfortable in your lap? I have a bass where the lower horn sticks in to my leg. So I keep a folded towel in my lap while playing it. How does you hand fit around the neck? And, very importantly how is that action? That is, are the strings easy to press against the fretboard. Play some scales. Actually play chromatic scales up the entire neck. Do you hear buzzes? Is there a comfortable place for you right hand? There are so may types of right hand methods that may make a bass guitar work, or not work, for your particular style. Try playing with a strap and make sure you can get comfortable playing standing up with it. And, even though this seems silly, ask someone what the bass looks like on you. If you are tiny a huge bass can make you look like something from a circus show. Conversely, I'm quite tall and I once had someone tell me a bass was too small for me.

Okay, so this far, it looks good and it feels good. But, most important, does it sound good. After all when somebody listens to your record in twenty years are they going to say, "yeah but they played an ugly bass"? To be honest the above points can effect the sound. If you have a bass that is uncomfortable, it is going to affect how well you play it. But this is were the rubber hits the road. And cheap bass, expensive bass, basswood or solid granite, what you want is good sound. When Paul McCartney started playing bass in The Beatles he couldn't afford an expensive Fender bass. Instead he bought a cheaper bass. That bass helped to define the sound of the band for it's first few albums. Overall the sound is what matters most and every bass will have a different sound. And even buying a brand new American Fender Jazz Deluxe is not going to ensure you get a great bass. If you want a Fender Jazz bass, play several of them. You find they all have a different feel and sound. In one store I played an Epiphone bass costing $350.00 and the same Gibson bass cost about $1300.00. I quite honestly can say that the Epiphone had a sound that I thought was superior to the Gibson.

So now that you've decided that is the bass for you, let's get down to the logical side of the purchase. If the action isn't perfect, can it be adjusted? Most new instruments aren't that well setup and a good setup can fix a lot of stuff. But there are problems that setups don't always fix. And if you're buying a new instrument, shouldn't it already be setup? Kinda. They are setup in the factory. At least roughly. And most good music stores will perform some level of setup for you. Part of the setup, and your own evaluation beforehand, is the intonation. For modern basses this is mostly not a problem. The fret slots have been cut by a CNC machine and most bridges are fully adjustable. One notable exception is the Hofner 500/1 B-Bass. It comes with an old fashioned floating bridge. It can be adjusted, but you have to know how to do it. The other thing about most instrument purchases is that you never know who's been playing these things before you buy them. Even if you buy them direct, it's likely that somebody's been playing the bass and likely they didn't wash their hands. Not that I'm a germaphobe, but those dirty hands deaden the strings. So if that bass doesn't have that pristine sound, you want, a new set of strings can make a big difference. Often, if you ask, you can get a set thrown in.

The last point, which maybe should be the first, is of course money. Before you decide to buy, like anything, you need a budget. As of this writing, here's my price guidelines. (USD or CAD)

- less than $500.00 - budget
- $500.00 to $900.00 - intermediate
- $900.00 to $1400.00 - professional
- $1400.00 to $2000.00 - premium
- above $2000 - collector or boutique

It should be noted that these prices are just general guidelines, but it gives a good sampling of what instruments go for. There are certainly instruments in the budget range that are totally playable and more than adequate to learn on. But if you look around you'll find quite a few pros that play on those so called budget instruments. The Fender Mexican made (intermediate) basses as certainly decent instruments, but play a few to find a good one. That said, even the Fender American "professional" instruments vary dramatically in quality. So play a few. A great number of instrument these days are being made in China, Korea and Indonesia. The prices are amazing and the quality is surprisingly good. But made in America, Germany, or Japan is more desirable and more expensive.

Make sure when you buy a bass you get a case (a cass for your bass / a case for your base). Hardshell cases are optimal for protecting your instrument, but gig bags are way more practical. Unless you have a hollow body instrument, in this case always get a hardshell case. I like gig bags for, well, gigging. It's way easier to carry a gig bag over your shoulder and to get the instrument in and out of the bag in a cramped venue.

If you are buying more expensive instruments (or really any bass), try to negotiate a strap in to the deal. They all need to be set to different lengths so I try to have a strap for each bass that I keep in the gig bag for that bass.

Hopefully this has been helpful to those that are buying a new bass. It's the first step in one of the most rewarding aspects of your live.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

How to Read Guitar Sheet Music Easy

Before you know how to read a guitar sheet music, you need to know how to read the name of the lines and the spaces of the staff.

If you look in a piece of sheet music, you are going to notice that each system of stance has 5 lines and 4 spaces, and there's always a strange symbol in the beginning.
Guitar music starts to be written from the bottom up in the "G Clef", yeah that strange symbol has a strange name too.

Why it is called G Clef?

Because it starts on the second line from the bottom, the G note.

Oh look! You just learned a new note! The G note. So what about the others? Of course there are other notes, and I am going to tell about them right now.

The notes in ascending orders are A, B, C, D, E, F, and the G.

In the beginning I mentioned about 5 lines and 4 spaces, remember?
Each line or space in the piece of sheet music coincides to a note, so if we read the notes on the line, from the bottom up...

Lines:

F
D
B
G
E

Spaces:

E
C
A
F

I think you might know the acronym to remember those notes right? Even if you already know, I am going to mention it, because it is very important and it helps a lot in the learning process:

E - Every G - Good B - Boy D - Does F - Fine

For the spaces notes, you don't need to remember any acronym, just remember the word:

FACE

Really simple uh?

This is just a learning method, later on, you will be a pro and you will not need to remember those acronyms, every time you will be playing a guitar; yeah I know they are funny acronyms, but you can't stick with them forever, it would be annoying to play a guitar while thinking "Every Good Boy Does Fine" and "Face" all the time.

That's it for this article, I gave you the basic about how you can read a guitar sheet music, but this isn't the end of the road, if you want to play a guitar there are still a lot of things you need to know, but with these basic concepts, you can start dreaming to be a Pro guitar player in a couple of months, or maybe sooner, it depends on your effort and time spent in the right place.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Learning Guitar Is Easier Than Ever

That guitar is still there in the closet and maybe it's been years since you last pulled it out and tried to play that E minor chord. Maybe you took a few lessons but nothing stuck. Then you tried to teach yourself and just got frustrated trying to make sense of it all. But you still would love to play guitar.

It's time to take another shot at it because there are a number of reasons it's easier than ever to learn.

More learning options. Guitar instruction is available in a number of different formats today including DVD lessons, interactive lessons, video lessons and hundreds of websites where you can learn your favorite song or find out how to play a killer guitar solo. And don't forget to check out the latest guitar books online or at your local music store. Chances are good you'll find one that really works for you.

Better qualified guitar teachers. Gone are the days when your guitar teacher would hand you book one of a certain guitar method, then book two and three. They would simply guide you, page by page, song by song and your lesson would consist of them correcting what you worked on during the week. Teachers are much more creative today partly due to the availability, via the internet, of an almost endless amount of songs and other learning material. Plus, guitar students are more demanding now and look for a teacher with considerable experience and credentials.

There are a number of guitar courses you can take online if you want to go it alone. They are not particularly expensive if you compare them to the cost of private lessons and many of them allow you to learn at your own pace. It's not exactly a one on one experience but you may find it works for you.

A better awareness of your learning style. Trying to learn the guitar the first time around probably gave you a good idea of your learning style. Do you get the best results by watching someone else play? Do you like reading text-based lessons so you can put things together in your mind before trying them? Maybe you're most comfortable sitting in front of your computer with software you can tailor to what you want to learn. Decide which is best for you and get started.

New guitar tuners are easier to use. A big challenge in the early stages of learning guitar is keeping it in tune. But that is much less of a problem. There are new electronic tuners that automatically detect which string you are playing along with whether it's sharp, flat or in tune. There are models you can clip on your guitar and leave there so you always know where your tuner is. Displays are easier to see and batteries last longer.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Guitar Hacks

No Pain no Gain

Chords are notorious for causing pain in fingers and it's a big factor in guitar abandonment. The pain of pressing down strings will go away with regular practice. Just start with E, A & D chords. Play these until you can switch back and forth smoothly. Eventually, you'll have calloused fingers and clamp onto chords with ease. If a steel string guitar is still too painful to play you may be better suited to a different guitar. The classical guitar has nylon strings which are much easier to push down. Electric guitar strings are even easier to play, but don't plug it in while practicing - an electric amp is too distracting for someone simply trying to learn the basics.

Tap your foot

If you can tap your foot in time, then you can absolutely strum the guitar in time too. The key here is to always be tapping your foot, but let it be your master clock. You can trust that foot, so go with it and never miss a beat. This can at first feel awkward, but it's no different than riding a bike. Once you get the hang of it, you'll always have the rhythm. The common problem of stopping and starting over in the middle of a song comes from overthinking. Follow the foot and if your chords are buzzing keep strumming anyway. Don't let a bad chord stop your flow - play right through even if you have to play bad chords. Just keep the tempo and keep strumming.

Get a Tuning Fork

Remember these? You smack it against the dresser and it responds with a perfect tone. Not only does it help tune the strings, but also your ears. There are a tons of digital tuners out there, but they have created a generation of lazy guitarists who tune by sight. These tuners get the job done, but when looking at the colored strobes, the ears can become disengaged. The tuning fork forces critical listening, and activates musicality. This simple tip alone can bring a rapid advancement in playing for everyone from students to professionals. Seriously, grab a set online or at the local guitar shop. Another option is to use an online guitar tuner as a virtual tuning fork.

Learn That Song

We all have one. That song that we know all too well and can be played inside your head, from start to finish. Commit to learning a song or two and playing it all the way through. Start by finding the chords online or in a tablature book at guitar center. After you can play the chords, it's time to play along with the actual song. Playing guitar is 90% listening and 10% doing. While the song plays, just strum along lightly while keeping focused on the song. The trick here is to improve your listening and then use it to self adjust. Music is a subtle art whether your thing is black metal or ragtime.

Turn on the TV

With the television turned on and muted, play the guitar while watching your favorite show. This will improve another subtle guitar skill called Intuition. Simply knowing those chord changes (without looking) will bring fluidity and comfort on the instrument. Getting your eyes off the instrument, while playing it, brings familiarity.

Final tips

Since those E, A & D chords may get boring, a subtle change to the fingering can make things very interesting. Take the middle note out of the E and A chords for a more bluesy sound. Learn all the variations of these chords and you'll soon be improvising and writing tunes. Grab a guitar tuner that suits your style.

After finding your way around standard tuning on the guitar, consider trying an open tuning for a while. The guitar will instantly sound deeper and heavier. All of the chords you've been practicing will sound completely different. Explore a bit in open tuning and you'll feel like a vast horizon opens up right in front of you. Make some music.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Changing Chords On Guitar Without Stopping

The most challenging thing about playing guitar, no matter how long you have played, is changing chords smoothly and in rhythm. Even the greatest guitar players in the world struggle with a difficult chord change from time to time. But there are a number of things you can do to keep the music flowing.

Plan ahead. It's very important to think about the next chord and how it is played. In other words, make sure you know what fingers go where and where on the guitar the chord is played. In fact, try to picture the next chord in your mind. It will help you get there quickly, smoothly and cleanly. The goal is to make the chord change without interrupting the rhythm (taking too long to make the change).

It also helps to decide which finger(s) of the chord will land first. There are times when you'll be able to land all your fingers at the same time and that's ideal but not always possible. When playing a C chord, for example, it might be best to let your ring finger land on the 5th fret first as it is the bass note of the chord and the first string to play when strumming. Then quickly place your fingers on the remaining strings.

Substitute a different chord for a bar chord that's difficult to play. Even if the bar chord sounds better, if you can't make the switch in rhythm, you won't be able to make the song work (and that can be frustrating). With a little bit of practice and planning, you can play most songs without bar chords. When choosing an easier chord, keep in mind that you don't have to play all the strings all the time, In fact, for a lot of songs, many of the chords will sound better with three or four strings being played.

Make the chord switching part of the music. This is a little trick that all great guitar players know. For example, while switching from a G chord to a C chord, you can play an open string as you're changing. In this case, you could play the G chords three times, then play the third string open as the fourth beat while you are forming the C chord.

Use a bass run between chords. Try this one: play a G chord, then play the fifth string open, then the fifth string at the 2nd fret. Finally, play a C chord starting with the fifth string at the 3rd fret (the bass note for the C chord). Not only does it make the chord change easier but the bass run adds to the music.

Practice the difficult chord changes separately. Take the most difficult chord changes and practice them over and over until you get them down. The next time you play the song, you can breeze through the difficult parts.

Changing chords on guitar is a challenge for any player but there are a number of things you can do to go from chord to chord without stopping. You'll keep the groove going and sound great in the process.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Next Level Guitar - Learn To Play The Guitar

Next Level Guitar is an online portal of online guitar lessons available in video and text form. The lessons can be downloaded to your computer and accessed anytime that you are ready to learn more. One can find more than 150 different beginners lessons available, including chords, chord charts, scales, hand fret positions, strumming techniques, major chords and more.

In addition to music lessons Next Level Guitar offers lessons in the fundamentals of playing a guitar. You can learn how to hold your instrument, how to read sheet music and even what each chord means, all with a few clicks of the mouse to this amazing website. If it concerns playing the guitar you can rest assured that you will learn how to play the guitar!

The Next Level Guitar website makes it easy for anyone to turn pro in no time at all. The website is easy to navigate through, and while it does take a commitment to learning, can be quite enjoyable to visit and learn with each day. There are many who claim that they've went through the entire Next Level course in just 30 days and are now playing like pros!

Video in the series range in time from about 5 to 20 minutes long. David Taub, a professional and highly sought after guitar player, teaches each of the videos. His humor helps you learn how to play the guitar without becoming bored or overwhelmed. It is so exciting to see each new lesson, and with this easy instruction you'll never get behind on a thing.

Furthermore the Next Level Guitar instruction is more than affordable. Unlike some programs out there, it will not cost you an arm and a leg to learn how to play the guitar. Even if you choose to go through all of the available courses it can be done at an affordable price.

Next Level Guitar is a trusted name that all who want to learn how to play the guitar can depend on. You'll get quality instruction that can be done from the comfort of your home at any time you wish. There's plenty of money to be saved with the guitar lessons without sacrificing the instruction that you need as well. All around the Next Level is one of the very best guitar lessons on the market today. When you are serious about playing, Next Level Guitar is there to take you to the next level.

Sunday, September 16, 2012

How To Learn Any New Skill On Guitar

Chances are you've heard the old saying "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." The only problem is, when you want to learn a new skill the guitar (Scales, Chords, Songs, etc.) it always seems difficult to know which step to take to begin the journey. If you've played guitar for just about any amount of time, then you know what it's like to be interested in a new skill (let's say Chords) and begin researching all the aspects of that skill only to be discouraged at the overwhelming vastness of that skill alone (Major, Minor, Dominant, Altered, Extended, etc.).

I thought about how discouraging this aspect of learning can be and decided it would be good to write an article that will show you which "first steps" to take when learning the most popular skills on guitar. So here are my recommendations if you are interested in learning a new skill to better your playing.

Scales & Improvising

Here's a tip: If you want to learn anything new, then the first - and best - step to take is to learn the easiest thing first. For example, if you want to begin improvising then you're going to want to start learning various scales. You'll want to learn these scales straight up and down the fretboard and then begin manipulating the notes to create your own music. So don't begin learning the Phrygian Dominant or Mixolydian scales. (Confused yet?) You want the first step you take to be an easyone.

Probably the easiest, best scale to begin with is the Minor Pentatonic Scale. It only has five notes (hence the prefix "Penta-") and since most scales are Diatonic (seven notes), it will be much easier to learn fewer notes. These notes are repeated once you get to the last of the five notes, so you're actually playing the same notes in different places on the neck. Each position is considered a "Box."

One other thing: Another easy way to learn scales is to break them down into manageable pieces. Learn just the first five notes - plus the 2nd root, or "octave" note - (E, A, & D strings), then learn the rest of the notes (G, B, & E strings). Also notice the repeatable pattern of notes if you take the first position, or "Box 1," of the Minor Pentatonic Scale: Whole+Half step stretches (E, B, & E strings) and Whole step stretches (A, D, & G strings).

This makes it easier to see the scale visually. Lastly, can you see the G minor chord within the scale (Green)? Now you've learned multiple ways to learn a scale thereby cutting your learning curve in half! You can also use these methods when it comes to learning other things such as chords.

Chords

Maybe you're a complete beginner and want to learn chords. Don't start with the hard ones: Gmaj7, C13, Emin7b5, etc. No, no, no! Remember, your first step must be an easy one. Otherwise you'll get discouraged and give up. Once you learn the easy chords, scales, etc. you'll have the motivation to tackle the more advanced stuff.

So start simple. Learn the "Five Basic Major Chords" (you can also learn basic minor chords - not pictured). Their shapes spell the word CAGED and are very useful later on down the road when you want to learn the CAGED method of fretboard memorization.

If you're already familiar with basic chords and want to learn more advanced chords, the easiest way to begin is to take what you already know and add/subtract your fingers. Take, for example, the C chord and lift (subtract) your 2nd finger from the D string on the 2nd fret (Csus2) and see how different the C chord sounds. Now put it back and press down (add) on the 3rd fret of the D string with your pinky (4th) finger (Csus4). And voila... you've just created two more chords for the price of one!

Songs

If you want to start learning songs, the easiest thing to do is learn the "Five Basic Major Chords" and start playing. However, most songs use these - and other - chords in a specific order called a " chord progression." This refers to the "progression" in which the chords flow. The most common is known as a I-IV-V progression. If you count sequentially, in alphabetical order from the first chord you play (the first chord being number I) to the 4th note (IV) and the 5th note (V) you get the I-IV-V progression.

For example, if you start with a G chord (I) and count to 4, you have a C chord (IV: G, A, B, C). If you count from G to five, you have a D chord (V: G, A, B, C, D). Thus, the I-IV-V progression in the key of G Major is G-C-D. It's as simple as counting! Play these chords in any order - so long as you start with the G - and you'll hear some familiar things. Believe it or not, this is the chord progression used in 90% of the songs you hear on the radio! There may be a minor chord thrown in here or there (usually E minor for the key of G), but the main skeleton of most songs is I-IV-V! You can also use this chord progression if you want to begin writing your own songs. Easy!

The "Easy" Way Out

So there you have it; a few "first steps" on your musical journey. Always remember: Start with the easiest, simplest skills and progress to the next level only once you're confident that you've learned the previous skill adequately. And don't stop there! The key to getting better is to keep going back and practicing the simple skills after you've mastered new ones! Once you've learned the easy guitar skills cold, all you have to do is go back and "oil the machinery" from time to time. In other words, you don't have to learn these skills all over again; just pay them a visit from time to time and keep them "awake" in your mind. Here's to hoping you take the easy way out more often than not!

Best Wishes and Keep Practicing,

Sunday, September 9, 2012

3 Double Bass Drum Techniques For Improved Speed And Power

Over the years, bass drumming has gone through many stages. Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich amazed the masses with their hand speed, but little attention was paid to their kick foot. Jazz drummers like Ed Shaughnessy began using double bass drum set ups in the 40's and 50's and rock drummers like Ginger Baker, Keith Moon and Carmine Appice made the double bass drum setup popular.

The creation of the "slave pedal" allowed drummers to have 2 beaters hitting one bass drum, allowing for smaller setups without sacrificing the double bass ability. The use of the double bass is predominant in heavy metal, death metal and punk music. There are 3 predominant playing styles for the bass drum pedal.

The first is the "heel-toe" technique. The technique allows a drummer to play two strokes in a single motion. It consists of two parts. First, the foot is suspended above the footboard of the pedal and the first of the two notes is played with the ball of the foot. Then, the foot snaps forward, the heel comes up and the toes complete the second stroke. This technique allows for rudiments to be played with the feet, as well as increased speed.

The second is the slide technique, in which the pedal is struck around the middle area with the ball of the foot. As the drum produces a sound, the toe is slid up the pedal. After the first stroke, the pedal will naturally bounce back, hit the toe as it slides upwards, and rebound for a second strike.

Of course, many drummers like simply using the flat foot technique, which simply applies the majority of the foot to the pedal, and only the heel is elevated slightly off the pedal. This method utilizes more muscle groups than either of the other 2 methods. It also relies more on repetition and less on "technique".

The great thing about double bass drumming and the various techniques is that there is no right answer and no wrong answer. It is all about personal preference. If you tallied up the most amazing drummers in the world, you would be able to find each technique in use. What works for one drummer doesn't always work for another drummer - this led to all of these inventions and techniques being created.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

An Inside Look At Midi Sequencing And Production

If you feel that you need a creative challenge, and you're interested in music and music production, you may want to check out MIDI sequencing and the latest technologies and products associated with it.

What's so special about MIDI production? Well, one unique aspect is that technology has evolved so much, that you can actually use the same software as famous Grammy-winning artists, without paying a fortune for it. This is not like toying with a small drum kit in your basement; you'll get access to the same technology as pros, and you can test your limits to the maximum. Who knows, maybe you'll even come up with the next number one hit in the process, but, until then, you'll definitely have a lot of fun with all the new and exciting features.

If you're just starting out with MIDI production, you may want to take a course first. Almost all suppliers provide extensive tutorials and manuals for their products; but it may be a good idea to enroll in a short training course, just to make sure you understand all the options.

A typical such course in MIDI production may take anything from one day to a week, and will explain the basics. Previous knowledge in music production may be an advantage, but don't worry if you know nothing about the topic, as you'll catch up quickly. This is a good opportunity to figure out whether this hobby is right for you or not, before actually investing in equipment and software. Plus, you will get a general overview of unique features and individual capabilities of each application, so that you can make a better informed purchase decision in the end.

The fee for the training in MIDI sequencing will probably be around $500, maybe even less, depending on your location and the number of training companies available in your area. In order to make the most of it, try to find a course that includes practical activities, so you have a chance to play around and make some mistakes of your own in the process.

Also, there will probably be one or two introductory sessions about music theory in general and the basics of MIDI sequencing, so, if you're already familiar with these concepts, you may want to skip ahead and save some time.

When it comes to actually purchasing the DAW, make sure you understand what you're paying for, and shop around for the best option. The most common mistake among the beginners is to look for the very best audio quality. Of course, all producers claim they offer the very best, and the reality is that the race is so tight, the quality varies very little - pretty much to the point that it cannot be distinguished by the human ear.

So, with audio quality taken out of the equation, you can select your product based on how comfortable you feel with it, how compatible it is with the equipment you own, and, of course, the price. Enjoy the experiment, and remember - louder is always, always better.

Willem Prinsloo is a studio producer and works a lot with midi files for artists using backing tracks. Check out this site for an awesome recource of Professional midi files at a fraction of the normal rates..

Sunday, August 26, 2012

How To Play Electric Guitar - A Beginner's Guide

Learning how to play electric guitar can be a challenging, yet very rewarding thing to do. It can be fairly easy to pick up the basics though, and actually, with the right guidance, you could be playing some of your favourite songs in next to no time. To fully master the instrument however, can take years of practice and dedication; indeed, it can take an entire lifetime. How far you want to take it is up to you. In this article I'm going to discuss some of the key things you'll have to know if you want to learn how to play electric guitar, and cover some of the techniques that are used by professional guitarists.

The electric guitar is a very versatile instrument, and it can be heard in many different styles of music. Whatever the type of music though, broadly speaking the electric guitar will usually fulfil one of two roles - either that of an accompaniment or rhythm instrument, or that of a solo or lead instrument. First of all then, I'll explain briefly how to play electric guitar effectively as a rhythm instrument, to accompany a solo voice or lead instrument.

The rhythm guitar forms part of the rhythm section of a band, usually along with the drums and bass guitar. The role of the rhythm section is to provide a backing over which the lead instruments or voices can be played or sung. Because of this, it is very important for all instruments in the rhythm section to play together in perfect time, in order to keep a steady tempo to what is being played. If you hear a band with a good, tight, rhythm section, it's a sure sign that they are very competent musicians, whereas one of the biggest giveaways of an amateur band is sloppy timing amongst its rhythm players. To achieve good timing when learning how to play electric guitar you should always use a metronome when practicing. This will make you sound much more professional when you come to play in a band.

You'll find that in a lot of music, the role of the rhythm guitar is primarily to play chords in a rhythmic pattern so, for this reason, learning as many chords as possible, and being able to change between them fluently is an essential part of learning how to play electric guitar. You'll need to learn different strumming patterns and rhythms as well as the chords themselves, but strumming is not the only way chords can be played. Individual notes of the chord can also be picked, one at a time, either with the fingers or a pick, as arpeggios, or broken chords. This is another very common thing to hear rhythm guitarists playing. It is a lot more difficult than simply strumming in time, so will require a lot of practice. Care should be taken to play all the notes cleanly and evenly, and in time, in order to sound professional.

But there is more to rhythm guitar than just chords and arpeggios. Another common type of rhythm guitar playing involves the use of power chords, particularly in rock music. A power chord is basically a two note chord containing just the root note, and the perfect fifth. Sometimes the octave is added to fatten it up, and there are variations whereby the fifth may be diminished or augmented for example. Power chords are usually played with some amount of distortion, and are often moved around the neck in quite fast sequences. It is best to play power chords using down strokes and palm muting to keep it sounding tight. Anyone learning how to play electric guitar should spend time practicing power chords cleanly and rhythmically, in time to a metronome, as a lot of guitar music relies heavily upon their use.

Another important aspect of playing rhythm guitar is learning how to play riffs. A riff is a repeating melodic pattern, chord progression, or refrain which makes up the basis of a composition. Although they can be used in any genre of music, they most commonly appear in rock music. They can be very simple - just a few repeated notes - or very complex and fast, as might be heard on heavy metal records. They can be one of the most technical sides to rhythm guitar playing and, therefore, it's important that you get to grips with playing riffs early on when learning how to play electric guitar, so that you become comfortable and confident incorporating them into your playing.

So that explains a bit about rhythm guitar, but what about electric guitar as a solo or lead instrument. Thanks to the vast array of sounds, and the expressive timbre that the electric guitar possesses, it is perfectly suited to this role. Learning how to play electric guitar as a lead instrument is one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling aspects of guitar learning, as it allows you to truly express yourself as a musician. Mastering lead guitar, though, will require you to become proficient in a number of specialist techniques, as well as gaining a thorough knowledge of scales and theory. Let's take a brief look at some of these techniques.

Most of the time, lead guitar consists of single note melodies, runs, and licks, so it is vital, when learning how to play electric guitar as a solo instrument, to master the art of picking correctly. In order to pick cleanly and accurately, you should hold your pick close to the tip, so that only a small part of it touches the strings. This will give you more control when you pick. Try to keep all movements as small as possible, and don't allow your picking hand to become tense. The actual motion for picking should come from the wrist, not the elbow or fingers. As with all guitar practice, picking should be practiced with a metronome, and you should pay attention to the dynamics of the notes as well - try to play all notes at consistent velocities.

The next two most important techniques to master when learning how to play electric guitar are string bending and vibrato. These closely related techniques are a fundamental part of lead guitar playing, particularly if you want to play rock or blues. Having a good vibrato will really make you stand out as a good player - a bad vibrato is the hallmark of an amateur - so it's important to spend time working on yours. Vibrato is achieved by bending a note slightly sharp, and then returning it to its original pitch, over and over again. The motion for this should come from the wrist, not the fingers, so it's a good idea (contrary to what you should do normally) to hook your thumb over the top of the neck, to get a good grip. You should then use a twisting, rocking motion of your forearm and wrist, whilst keeping your fingers straight and still, to produce the vibrato effect. One key mistake made by amateurs is not returning fully to the original pitch after the bend up, making the note sound sharp and out of tune, so pay close attention to your intonation at all times. You can vary the 'width' of the vibrato by increasing or decreasing the amount of bend you apply, as well as the speed. The important thing is to stay in control of the vibrato, and don't let it run away, out of time or too fast. This will require a certain amount of muscle strength to be built up in the wrist and forearm, so you should practice this regularly, and be patient.

String bending uses the same technique, but instead of alternating between two pitches, you bend up, usually a semitone or a tone, to a new note and stay there. You can add vibrato to this new note, or bend it back down as you wish. You can also bend up to the note before you pick it, and then release the bend the bend once it is played. It is best to use either your second or third fingers to do bends with as these are the strongest. Again, it is important to watch your intonation when playing with bends. Another technique, which gives a similar sort of sound to bending, is sliding. This is another very common technique heard in lead guitar playing, so needs to be mastered by anyone serious about learning how to play electric guitar. To play a slide simply pick a note then slide your fretting finger up or down the fretboard to another note. This second note can be picked once you reach it, or left ringing from the original note as you like.

Picking every note you play can sound a bit jaggedy and harsh; sometimes you want a smoother sound. Playing notes smoothly is called legato, and on the guitar this is achieved using hammer-ons and pull-offs. To play a hammer-on all you do is play a note, with your first finger say, then to play the next note you hammer the string with your next finger, say your third finger. You do not pick this note, the sound is produced by the hammering action of your third finger. At first this is quite a difficult technique to master; many beginners find it hard to get adequate volume from the hammered-on note. Therefore, when learning how to play electric guitar, you should practice this technique regularly, as always with a metronome, and pay particular attention to achieving even volume and tone with all hammered-on notes.

The opposite of a hammer-on is a pull-off. This is played by playing a note, this time with your third finger for example, then with another finger already in place on a lower fret, say your first finger two frets lower, you pluck the string with the third finger of your fretting hand by pulling it towards the floor - hence the term, pull-off. Again, the second note is not picked, the sound is produced by the pull-off action. This is a slightly more difficult technique to learn than the hammer-on, but anyone wanting to learn how to play electric guitar as a lead instrument needs to master both. By combining these two techniques you will be able to play very fast, impressive guitar solos.

I've covered the most common techniques used in lead playing, and those are the ones you absolutely have to master when learning how to play electric guitar as a solo instrument, but there are other, more advanced techniques that you might like to look at as well. I must warn you that these can take a lot of practice to get to grips with, and their applications are more limited than the techniques discussed above, but they will set you apart from other guitarists if you do take the time to master them. The first of these is tapping. Tapping is an extension of the legato technique looked at earlier, but this time you use fingers of the right hand to hammer-on, or 'tap', notes that the left hand can't reach. In its simplest form only one right hand finger is used, and often it just taps repeating three or four note patterns at very fast speeds. This technique does produce some very impressive results, and with a little practice it's actually quite easy to master.

This simple, one finger, tapping technique is just the beginning though. Taken to it's logical extreme you can use all four fingers of your right hand to tap, in what's called '8 finger tapping'. In practice, 8 finger tapping often uses only 7 fingers, as the first finger of the right hand keeps hold of the pick to allow easy transition between techniques. Using this technique enables players to play things that would otherwise be impossible, like full scale single string legato runs, large intervals, and very fast arpeggios. The principles of right hand tapping are the same as those for left hand hammer-ons and pull-offs. As I'm sure you'll appreciate, to get really good at this will take a long time, and a lot of practice and, with its limited application, only players who are really serious about learning how to play electric guitar tend to worry about it.

Another advanced technique, one with perhaps more application, and certainly more common, is sweep picking. Sweep picking is used as a more efficient way of moving the pick from one string to another, particularly when you are only playing one note on each string, such as when playing arpeggios. The technique itself is quite simple, but it takes a lot of practice to master it. It involves playing successive strings using all downstrokes, or all upstrokes, depending on which direction you are going, in a 'sweeping' motion, similar to strumming. The key is in maintaining control of the timing of each note played with the picking hand, whilst making sure only one note at a time is being heard by careful muting with the fretting hand. Once mastered, this technique will allow you to play amazingly fast arpeggios with ease, but when done badly it can sound terrible, so you really have to practice this technique before attempting to use it in your playing. It can also be used when playing scales or runs when changing between strings - in this case it is often called 'economy picking'. When learning how to play electric guitar as a lead instrument many people leave sweep picking till late on, as it is very hard to master, but I would advise anyone who is serious about their playing to try and tackle it early on, for precisely the same reason. It's definitely a technique worth having.

All this technique however, as important as it is to develop, is useless if you don't know what to do with it - in other words, what notes to play, and when. The only way you can learn this is by becoming proficient at playing, and understanding, scales. A scale is a group of notes that work well together over a given chord or backing. Examples of common scales include the minor and major pentatonic scales, the major scale, and its modes. When learning how to play electric guitar it is vital, especially if you want to be able to improvise or compose your own solos, to be able to play as many scales as possible, and in any position on the neck.

Scales must be practiced until they are ingrained in your head, so you can play them without thinking, but playing scales up and down is only one way to practice them. You should play them in thirds, melodically and harmonically, fourths, fifths, and all other intervals. Practice different sequences of the scale notes too. For example go up three notes, then down one, up three, down one, etc. Or up six, down three, or up three, down one. There is virtually unlimited number of ways to practice scales; play them all on one string, on two, or three. Play them up and down skipping one string all the way. By practicing scales like this you will become fluent at playing the right notes, without just going up and down the scale, enabling you to improvise and compose guitar solos that are much more musical. Anyone learning how to play electric guitar should make learning scales a priority.

In this article I've given a brief overview of the most common techniques used to play electric guitar, but there is another important aspect to the instrument that I'd like to quickly look at before I'm done, and that is getting a good sound. This will require an amplifier of some kind and, perhaps, some effects. It's very important, when learning how to play electric guitar, to understand the importance of producing a good, professional sound out of your instrument and equipment. Whole books have been written on this subject, so I won't go into too much detail here, but I'll just mention some of the most important things to think about. Of course, the sound initially comes from the instrument itself, so make sure it is well looked after, properly set up, with good strings, and in tune. Take full advantage of the controls on the guitar, as well as the different pick-ups. The real secret to getting a good sound is in the way you play. Experiment with different pick angles, and velocities, and pay attention to the sound of the notes you play. Always try to avoid unwanted string noise.

As for amplifiers, there are so many to choose from, it really comes down to the type of sound you're looking for, how much power you need and, of course, how much you're willing to spend. Whichever amp you use though, you should spend time familiarising yourself with the controls, and experiment until you find some sounds you like. It is worth noting, however, that often a sound which sounds great on its own will be lost in the context of a full band as it fights for space with the bass and drums. If this happens, you usually need to turn up the mids. Also, you usually don't need anywhere near as much distortion as you think you do, as this can also muddy the sound, especially in a live context. Finally, a brief word on effects units; use them wisely. When done correctly, effects can add a whole new dimension to your guitar sound, but when over used, or miss-used, they can ruin it. Often, over-use of effects is a means of hiding bad technique, so don't fall into that trap. If you can play well, you shouldn't need to smother your guitar with effects in order to sound good.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

How to Prepare Your Music Room for a Taiko Drum Lesson

Taiko drums are a form of Japanese percussion that have grown in popularity over the years. These huge drums are big (in fact, that's what 'Taiko' means!) and due to their huge size can produce a truly powerful sound.

Book a Teacher

Although drum teachers are fairly easy to come by, Taiko drummers are a bit more of a rare breed! A well renowned teacher will have extensive experience in Taiko drumming, will have run workshops with a range of students, and will be familiar with using all different types of Taiko drums no matter what their size or material.

Drumming lessons can be great for individuals, but also are good fun for groups to take part too - just make sure when you book it that you are clear about how long you want to have the lesson for, and how many people will be taking part.

Prepare a Space

If you have a room in your house dedicated to musical instruments, then great. Not everyone has the space though, and because Taiko drumming can be very loud, clearing a space in your basement and only rehearsing underground is a great way of keeping your noise to a minimum and keeping your neighbors happy.

When playing the drum, you will generally use a lot of your body and a lot of arm movement to get the best possible sound out of the instrument, so take this into account when you are choosing a space to practice in.

Get Suitable Accessories

Taiko drums are large instruments - this is why it is important to have a stand for the drum when it is not in use, so that it keeps the drum and your floor protected; just make sure that you get one big enough for your drum.

You may also want to get a cover for your drum if it is small and light enough to move around, and you will need bachi (the sticks used to beat it) to get the best sound from the instrument.

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Cracking in Piano Soundboards

Some piano owners have been dismayed to learn from their piano technician that their piano has a crack in the soundboard. While this may sound disconcerting, it does not automatically mean that the piano has to be rebuilt or replaced. The fact of the matter is that pianos are sensitive to changes in the climate and in the room conditions. The greatest factor affecting piano tuning and stability is humidity. Over many years, solid (usually sitka spruce) soundboards dry out. This drying out process eventually could lead to a split occurring along the grain somewhere on the soundboard.

The criteria as to whether it is necessary to repair the soundboard is whether there is a distortion in the sound of the piano at various frequencies or notes. In other words, there might be a distinct "buzz" that develops when certain notes are played. This would mean that a repair should be done. In most other instances, there is no sound distortion so no action needs to be immediately taken to repair the soundboard.

A basic repair for this in an upright piano is to insert glue between the soundboard and the ribs closest to the crack and draw the soundboard back to the ribs either by screws or by some other method. This usually will eliminate the offending noise when the piano is played.

In grand pianos, this condition is a little more serious mainly because of the visibility of the soundboard. Soundboards in grand pianos are very visible especially when the top lid is propped in the open position. Depending on where the crack is, the piano technician will usually have to loosen the tension on the strings directly over the crack to access the affected soundboard area. Then he will take a specially shaped chisel and widen the crack so that a wooden shim can be inserted into the widened area. This shim is glued in and then, after the glue has dried, the shim is sanded flush to the existing soundboard area. A light finish such as lacquer is applied to make the repair look good and the strings are then replaced.

In severe cases, the entire string set and plate have to be removed to expose the crack. This is a shop repair which means that there will be an additional expense in moving the piano to the shop and returning it to the customer's home. It is important to get a professional estimate done with a reputable technician before this repair is undertaken.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Playing Guitar and Singing - Six Things to Know to Sound Like A Pro

Accompanying yourself on guitar or backing up another singer requires the right approach and a certain set of skills. Your job is to play the kind of guitar part that supports the singer and the song and there are six things you can do to make that happen.

Keep it simple. In order for the singer to deliver a song in the most effective manner, the guitar can't be getting in the way. Start with a simple strum of basic chord shapes (this works as a great starting point) then go from there. A complex, busy guitar part can get in the way of the singing and ruin the song. Whether you are accompanying yourself or someone else, always keep in mind that your job is to support the singer, not wow the audience with fancy guitar licks.

Choose the proper technique for the style. Many songs sound best with a simple guitar strum while others really shine if you use a gentle finger picking pattern. Or you may find you need an electric cranked up a bit to give a song the needed energy and push. Make sure you discover the best way to create the perfect guitar background while staying true to the style.

Fill in around the vocal. In any song, there will be places where the vocalist takes a break, even between phrases. This is where you need to play a little something extra to keep the music interesting and entertaining. If you have an extended part of a song, such as an instrumental break, that's where you can stretch out a bit and play "more" guitar. It's best to keep the melody in mind and stay within the framework of the song.

Choose the best way to play each chord. There are a number of ways to play the same chord on guitar so it's a bit of challenge to play the right one (at the right time) for a particular song. For example, playing an Am chord in the first position might work best for a folk song but playing the same chord as a bar chord at the 5th fret might work best for Blues or Rock. Knowing a number of different chord shapes comes in handy.

Be consistent. First and foremost, keep the rhythm consistent. If there are trouble spots such as difficult chords in the song, practice them separately until you get them down so you don't interrupt the flow of the music. You may find you have to play certain chords in a simpler way to get the job done.

It's also important to be consistent in how you play including strumming the song the same way throughout or using the same finger picking pattern from start to finish. When backing a vocalist, keep your experimenting to a minimum.

Know how to use a capo. A capo allows you to change keys without having to play a whole new set of chords. Typically, if you play a song for a male vocalist, you can play the same song (and use the same chords) for a female voice by placing the capo on the 4th or 5th fret.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Common Mistake When Learning How To Play Guitar

I have been lucky enough to have the pleasure of teaching a young girl named Angela how to play the guitar. Her parents came to me and explained that she had been taking lessons for nearly a year with another instructor, and that they had not seen her make the progress in her playing that they had hoped for. So when she started taking guitar lessons with me I told her to check everything she had already learned at the door and that it was time to start fresh. I came to find out that her instructor obviously didn't care much for her to learn but was more interested in taking her parents money and claiming he was doing his job. One day she brings in a gigantic binder full of songs that was given to here by her previous instructor. Granted, the songs were cool but they were far beyond her skill level at the time and beyond her understanding of music.

This is where most instructors go wrong, they have a broad and definitive understanding of music but they can't put themselves in the shoes of a beginner again. Her instructor assigned her such difficult material and barely explained the concepts behind how the music was put together, why it was written in such a way, why it is played in such a way, and how all of that links back to the fundamentals. When you're learning how to play guitar it's easy to want to jump right in and go for gold with the Stairway To Heaven Solo or Back in Black but that's just not the right way to do it. What Angela was missing was the core concepts and knowledge of music as a whole. I'm telling you right now that it's so much easier to master your instrument, no matter what it is, when you understand how music fits together and your not just memorizing.

All to often this is where aspiring musicians go wrong as well. They are eager to jump in but they get in over their heads and get discouraged. Believe me it's OK to start from square one, that's where you're supposed to start. There is a lot of hype about online guitar lessons these days as well, or just learning from YouTube. If you can really do it then more power too you, but my guess is that it's not the right way, you will suffer as a player because you will develop bad habits and have a lack of true understanding. A YouTube video can't give you advice or show you how to improve. You can't ask a question, or tell it your goals. You need a mentor for that.

Well to jump back to the beginning of this story, I'm happy to say that Angela is doing excellent she is developing as a musician is understanding what is what as far as guitar and music and is making outstanding progress. The point of the story is, if you want to learn Wonderwall and play it as a party trick go the YouTube route, if you want to develop true musicianship, start from square one and commit.