How To Tune a 6-String Guitar

united_opinions — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 11:57:27 -0500

Guitar is perhaps the most popular instrument across the world. People of very small ages even take to guitar. However, no matter how old they are, if they find that their guitar is out of tune, at this stage they can only make out that something is wrong and the chords aren't sounding right. They have to get their guitar tuned from their teacher or someone who is an advanced guitarist. This dependence upon someone else every time your guitar goes out of tune is an unhelpful reminder that you're a newbie. It's way better to know the tuning process so you don't have to depend on anybody. So, here I'm giving the step-by-step process of tuning a 6-string guitar.

How To Sing

lashawn — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:09:46 -0600

How To Play the Piano Chords

lashawn — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:07:22 -0600

How To Promote Original Music

ramongonzalezjr — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:54:18 -0600

There are really only two ways of promoting original music depending on what your objectives are. I will deal with the promoting of your music by getting other, more established artists to record, and release your original creations. There are also several avenues in which to accomplish this.

Music is everywhere. You can't go through a day without hearing music. From complete songs, to snippets played behind an advertisement, or in a movie as background music. The basics are the same in each format.

I will assume that you have created, at least in your head, a musical composition with or without lyrics.

How To Understand Britney Spears

thedave — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:08:52 -0600

I know if you were to hear Britney say "oops, I did it again", you'd likely think she had another run in with the paparazzo or perhaps another "wardrobe malfunction" as they would call it these days. Yes, she has made the news quite a bit lately, and most of it has not been for good reason. But it is equally important that we consider her accomplishments. To fully understand Britney Spears it is important you take all of the following aspects of her career and life into consideration.

How To Keep Your Children's Piano Lessons on a Good Note!

ellen66 — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:12:50 -0600

My piano students range in age from five to eleven. They're all unique and very enjoyable to teach. However, if I don't keep things fun while they're learning, I might as well be talking to a wall. As a children's piano teacher, I hope these tips on how I keep my students interested in learning how to play the piano will help parents keep the music playing once their child leaves my teaching room!

How To Share iPod Music with Another Computer

MarkSeydel — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 13:35:07 -0600

For quite some time I hoped for a way to share my iPod music with friends on other computers than my own.

I came across an interesting article that went into great detail about how to use your iPod as a storage device or other drive. This turned out to be disastrous.

I knew the concept was a good one, so I searched for a program that would do it all for me.

I came across the 100% free program - SharePod.

Before beginning this tutorial, there are a few things you need to know:

How To Behave at a Classical Concert

leozoide — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 14:41:48 -0600

If you're not used to go to classical concerts, you should notice it's not like other concerts, such as rock, jazz, pop, or whatever. There are some usual practices to make this more enjoyable, although you don't need to have previous knowledge about the composers and songs to have a good time. Follow the tips:

How To Play Classical Guitar

Amadeus — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:15:29 -0600

First of all, every single hint I'll give in this article is for right-handed players. If you play with your left hand, replace all "rights" with "lefts". Also this is an article to give hints for those that already can play electric guitar. If you don't know how to read music or don't play an instrument, you should definitely look for a teacher; it'll be very hard to learn through articles.

How To Transcribe Music

d3llio — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:28:55 -0600

Transcription is the practice of converting sound (spoken language, music, noise, etc.) into a notated, written form. For this article, we'll only look at musical transcription though. Many music students look at transcription wearily as a laborious and painstaking process. While this may sometimes be the case, the benefits of actually hearing, decoding and writing out music does wonders for the ear, eye and mind in regards to music studies. This should be used in combination with regular music studies and requires basic knowledge of rhythm, pitch and music notation.

How To Choose a Piano Teacher

musicandyou — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 11:59:52 -0500

Did you know that piano teachers have different methods of teaching, different levels of teaching and different expertise? You need to match the teacher with your specific goals.

How To Get the Most Out of Your Concert Experience

MissySJ276 — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:33:59 -0500

Some people might call it obsession. Others might call you crazy. But you know better. You know the exhilaration of seeing your favorite band play live. Some of the best memories many people have are from concerts. It is such an incredible thing to hear and see your favorite song being performed live on stage.

Whether you've worn out the CD from playing it on repeat too much, or you're just a casual listener, everyone can appreciate a good concert. Music is universal. It bridges gaps across cultures, ages and people from all walks of life. Concerts are also a great way to introduce people to new types of music.

Before you grab your tickets and head out, whether it is across state or across town, be sure to read these tips on how to make the most out of your next concert experience. These tips have worked for me in the past, and I just wanted to pass them on to all you fellow music-lovers out there.

How To Sing With A Microphone

Michael 129 — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 23:31:58 -0500

Professional musicians often receive instruction on proper microphone technique as part of their musical training, but very few karaoke or amateur singers get that kind of specialized instruction. As a result, amateur vocalists frequently encounter such frustrating problems as feedback, distortion and explosive "pops" of breath. There are a number of ways to eliminate, or at least substantially reduce, these kinds of unpleasant effects when using a vocal microphone. The microphone itself may not be the source of some performance problems, however, so it also pays to have a knowledgeable audio specialist on hand to handle the PA system and mixing board.

How To Sing Karaoke for the First Time

Michael 129 — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:37:14 -0500

Many bars, restaurants and private event centers have regularly scheduled karaoke nights, which means the chances of you finding yourself with a songbook and a request slip one night are pretty good. For experienced singers, the thought of winning over the crowd with a dead-on Pat Benatar impersonation may be exciting, but others who are not performers by nature may find the whole karaoke experience to be a bit overwhelming and anxiety-producing. If you find yourself lost in a crowd of karaoke enthusiasts and your only chance is to sing your way out, here are some tips for making your first karaoke experience a pleasant one.

How To Form a Garage Band

Staff468 — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 17:11:00 -0500

This will have to be out little secret... If you succeed in forming a garage band, you can't ever reveal to anyone that you sought the advice of an online article - garage bands have to maintain their unstudied, uncalculated image, after all. Taking tips from an article online would mean an instant loss of garage credibility!

Finding bandmates. You won't have as much fun hanging out in your garage by yourself. Finding bandmates could be as simple as convincing your musical friends of how cool it will be to form the band. But you might have to advertise as well.
- Online. Popular websites like Craigslist are a great place to start.
- Print. Also consider buying small classified ads in local newspapers.
  
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How To Play the Violin

W.J.592 — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:23:00 -0600

The violin, a four-stringed instrument played with a bow, can be mastered beginning with the following techniques.

Find a qualified violin teacher. The Suzuki method is a fantastic method for learning to play violin, and a certified teacher can be located by looking in directories online or by inquiring at a local music shop. Some schools offer Suzuki lessons within the school day or private lessons after school. Having an inspiring, talented teacher will ensure that the student is getting the best instruction and will continue to practice at home in addition to attending lessons.

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How To Play the Drums

Tonya249 — Sat, 14 Oct 2006 19:09:00 -0500

Learning to play drums is very different from learning to play other instruments, in that you never have to learn a single note name to play drums. Mastering the drums is based entirely on rhythm and technique. If you have a natural sense of rhythm, you're already halfway there!

How To Play the Trumpet

Daniel452 — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 22:01:00 -0500

The trumpet is an instrument of the brass family. To create a sound, one must produce a buzzing with the lips on the mouthpiece. The note produced is dependent on the way in which one buzzes the lips as well as the finger combination made with the three valves. Before learning the trumpet, it is important that you take the time to learn the basics of music theory (as you would any other instrument) . You will need to be able to read music and understand rhythm and time usages.

How To Play the Bagpipes

Brian263 — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 14:47:00 -0500

The focus of this article is Scottish bagpipes, rather than Irish or the numerous other fascinating versions that exist throughout the world. Mainly I choose Scottish bagpipes because they are the best known, and because I believe true bagpipers should have to inflate the bag with the sheer force of their lungs and stand up while doing so, even if they are drunk (often the case).

You've got a lot of nerve, learning to play the bagpipes... you're about to embark along a path that will make you the object of admiration and ridicule. Pay no attention to the mockery and the occasional detractors - they're just jealous of your kilt and probably a little threatened by your thick, tree-trunk legs, furry sporran and that sharp little sgian dhu tucked inconspicuously into your sock. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Before you even consider buying the Highland garb and accessories, you've got to begin learning the bagpipe music, right?

How To Find Christian Karaoke

Michael 129 — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 08:17:00 -0500

During the late 1980s, the Japanese karaoke phenomenon gained its first foothold in the United States. By the end of the 1990s, karaoke had become extremely popular as a form of entertainment, leading to the opening of numerous karaoke bars and private mobile karaoke services. Advances in technology, such as the more affordable CD+G compact discs, allowed more singers to invest in their own favorite genres of music. While the initial karaoke craze may have waned in recent years, it is still popular with amateur singers around the world.

How To Write a Song

Blake357 — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 19:22:00 -0500

Trying to teach someone how to write a song is a lot different than, say, teaching someone how to play guitar chords or pick a lock. Those things are cut and dry--you put your finger here and do it this way. Songwriting is more esoteric than that.

Writing a "how to" column on songwriting is like trying to teach someone how to kiss. In songwriting, as in kissing, you just have to do it--trial and error--and find out for yourself, no matter what the "rules" are.

With that said, here are my six rules for becoming a good songwriter:

Have empathy. You must have the ability to put yourself in another's place and feel what he is feeling in order to write a good song. If you can't walk a mile in another person's shoes, you probably won't make a good songwriter. This rule also works for life in general.

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How To Play Harmonica

Tonya249 — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 18:50:00 -0500

Like all instruments, harmonicas require practice and enthusiasm to master. They can be found in many different styles. The most common is the diatonic harmonica, which is sometimes called a blues harp. It has a total of ten holes. The first four holes are used to play chords and the next six are used to play single notes. Diatonic harmonicas consist of a basic major scale. With more advanced techniques, you can add in the notes that don't occur in the scale. Diatonic harmonicas come in many different scales, ranging from very high to very low.

Another style of harmonica is the chromatic harmonica. This harmonica can play an entire chromatic scale (all notes, including sharps and flats), using buttons, instead of playing technique.

Often used in Asian music, tremolo harmonicas have two rows of holes that are played simultaneously to produce a wavering tone.

How To Play Castanets

Tonya249 — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 10:11:00 -0500

Castanets are traditionally used in the lively Spanish dance known as flamenco. They provide the rhythmic baseline for the dance and are usually played by the dancers.

There are two types of castanets - those with handles, which are played by striking them against your knee, and those without handles, which are played by holding them within the palm of your hand. The castanets without handles are used most commonly.

How To Play Guitar Chords

Tonya249 — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 19:18:00 -0500

The guitar is a very versatile instrument. Once you learn to play, you can perform classical, folk, country or hard rock music--or a host of other styles. To play any of these, however, you'll need to know how to play chords.

How To Play Bass Guitar

Jerome163 — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 07:41:00 -0500

Were you made to be a bass player? Do you feel that urge to hold down the bottom and make people move to the music? Are you ready to get people onto the dance floor? Here are some ways to get started on electric bass.

How To Write Your Own Lyrics

Jerome163 — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 07:22:00 -0500

The best lyric writers are able to express ideas of great beauty and truth. Though you may not fancy yourself as much of a lyricist, here are several ways to help tap into your creative voice and write your own song lyrics.

One of the ways to start finding your voice is to pay attention to other voices. Study the work of lyricists whose work you admire. Pay attention to themes, metaphor, and other elements of the lyrics. Consider the ways in which the ideas are communicated. Is there a story that follows a narrative path? Is it a commentary on a general notion? How does the author use the elements of the music to communicate?
In the same way, study the work of lyricists whose work you don't care for. Ask the same questions of these works, and try to come to some conclusions about why you don't like them. How would you improve upon this person's work?

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How To Play the Piano

Ashtyn198 — Sun, 21 May 2006 12:32:00 -0500

The piano is one of the most common instruments people learn to play. Whether you play the piano for its romanticism, the beauty of the pieces that can be played, or because your parents are forcing you to do it (lucky you), you need to keep in mind that playing an instrument requires hard work and dedication.

The standard piano is made up of 88 black and white keys. While a keyboard follows the same basic rules you use to play the piano, keyboards often have less keys and achieve a different sound. Nevertheless, if you have to get something smaller due to your current living accommodations, a keyboard will suffice for basic learning purposes and practicing requirements.

This article contains tips and advice for those who wish to learn how to play the piano. By following these tips, you are sure to be on your way to playing the piano in no time.

How To Play the Flute

Tonya249 — Sun, 14 May 2006 12:44:00 -0500

Learning to play the flute can seem like a daunting task, but it's simply a matter of mastering a few basic steps. Soon, you'll be able to play everything from baroque to jazz!

How To Read Sheet Music

Ashtyn198 — Thu, 11 May 2006 15:04:00 -0500

Learning to read sheet music can seem daunting to some people, especially those with no prior musical background. Sheet music contains its own little language documented on paper. The key is to find a way to crack the code, read music, and be able to play or sing on the pitch of each note.

If you want to learn how to read sheet music, then you have come to the right place. The following article contains a guide that will teach you how to read sheet music as well as lists resources you can use to learn more about music, in general.

If you want to learn more -- and in one night, no less -- here's a recommendation: Learn to Read Music… In One Evening. Who doesn't want instant gratification?

How To Transpose Music

Michael 129 — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 18:51:00 -0500

A composer or musician may have any number of reasons to change the overall key of a musical piece. A vocalist may have difficulty singing in the original range of the song, or other musicians may find the original chords too difficult to perform on their instruments. Guitarists, for example, often find keys such as C or F to be especially difficult, while keyboards try to avoid keys such as A, E or B. It may be easier to transpose the music into a key that all instrumentalists and vocalists can agree upon.

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How To Read Music Notes

Michael 129 — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 07:45:00 -0500

No matter which musical instrument you choose to master, it all begins with learning to read musical notation. Musical notes are to music as words are to literature or numbers are to mathematics. They are the critical basics that need to become second nature to musicians before any other musical theory can be appreciated. While there are complete lesson books dedicated to learning the notes on a musical staff, here is a crash course on interpreting musical notation.

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