Thursday, July 31, 2008

Secrets to Guitar

I was recently watching a video of the late Stevie Ray Vaughn. He was playing a cover of the Jimmi Hendrix classic ‘Voodoo Child’. Even though Stevie could have just played the song the exact same way that he played it, he made it different by adding his own signature guitar style into the song.

How did he do that? By just letting it come to him. If you haven’t been playing guitar for a long period of time you may find this hard to grasp onto, but when you have really achieved ‘Guitar Greatness’, you should be able to sit down with any musician, start jamming and pour your emotions out through your playing. That’s exactly what Stevie Ray Vaughn did, and that is why he was and is so famous and called a legend.

People think that the guitar is an instrument that anyone can master, but it takes someone with a mixture of determination, musical sense, perseverance and roughness. If you don’t have those qualities the good news is that you can create them. You create these by simply playing your guitar as much as possible, creating your own sound while also learning the styles of the greats that played before you.

Monday, June 30, 2008

weissenborn guitar build

The mando-bass, has 4 single strings, rather than double courses, and it is tuned like a double bass. These were made by the Gibson company in the early twentieth century, but appear to have never been common. Most of the mandolin orchestras will prefer to use the ordinary double bass, rather than a specialized mandolin family instrument.

The piccolo or sopranino mandolin is a rare member of the mandolin family, tuned one octave above the tenor mandola and one fourth above the mandolin; the same relation as that of the piccolo or sopranino violin to the violin and viola. The instrument scale length is typically about 9.5 inches (240 mm).

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Learn How To Read Guitar Tabs

If you are learning guitar you have probably heard about tablature, or tabs. As a new guitar player you are anxious to start playing songs, and you have been told that tabs are the easiest way to learn. That is good news. You do not need to spend weeks or months learning music theory.

Guitar tablature is a system of musical notation which is very popular with guitarists. With guitar tabs a composer can express most musical ideas on the acoustic or electric guitar in a clear, straightforward way.
If you want to start playing guitar right away, grab the tabs for your favorite song and take a look at what the tab consists of:

E---3------------------

B----------------------

G----------------------

D----------------------

A----------------------

E----------------------

You will probably believe me when I tell you that the tab is a representation of the neck of the guitar. You find out which frets to put your fingers at by following the numbers printed along the strings. If there is a number 3 on the top string, that means you put your finger at the third fret on the top E string - the thinnest string on the guitar. You have just played the note G. No problem. The guitar is your oyster.

Now let us move onto tabs for guitar chords. Here is an E Major chord:

E---0-------------------

B---0-------------------

G---1-------------------

D---2-------------------

A---2-------------------

E---0-------------------

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Friday, May 30, 2008

Learn How to Easily Read Guitar Tabs

With all those technical quarter notes and treble clefs, who really has time to learn guitar chords and riffs without spending days, weeks or even months taking private music lessons? Music notation is intimidating, but there is a simple solution to the problem – guitar tablature. Known as tab to professional musicians, it is almost like a diagram that shows guitarists exactly where to place their fingers. Tab presents amateurs and professionals alike with an easy way to learn new guitar chords or even a complete song. Let’s break down the basics.

Where to begin with guitar tabs

Think of it this way - if you can read a map, then you can also learn guitar chords from tab. Tab consists of six horizontal lines, representing the strings of the guitar (similar to a guitar chord chart, only sideways). The low E string is represented by the bottom line, and the other strings follow in succession the highest E. Players simply follow symbols on the lines indicating what string should be pushed, and in what location (fret). For example, if the number one appears on the top line, it indicates that a finger should be placed on the highest guitar string, in the first fret. When multiple numbers appear simultaneously, it indicates that certain strings should be pushed at the same time, in the fret indicated by the numbers provided.

Taking guitar tabs to the next musical level

Most tab will indicate the chord symbol above the lines and fret numbers, so that more advanced players can read along with what they already know. Advanced tab notation may consist of complex instructions from the author. For example, sometimes a guitarist will slap their finger down forcefully on top of a string, creating a different sound. This technique, known as a hammer-on, is often indicated by appearance of the letter h in tab.

Unfortunately, tab does not have a set of standardized rules, and there are many variations. There is also little direction for rhythm and timing, but it will work well for musicians who have a good ear, and a preexisting idea about how something is supposed to sound before they play it. It is best to start by picking out a well known, simple folk melody that is easily identifiable, and then move on to more complex patterns including chords and riffs.

Guitar tabs for every musician

Tab is not only an excellent way to learn new guitar chords; it is also used to notate scales, riffs, or entire songs. Guitarists who wish to try their hand with classical pieces, but do not read standard notation can experience the joy of tackling and mastering challenging pieces. Many publishers create albums of classical pieces which include standard notation, chords, and tab. Every genre is available in tab on the Internet or for purchase in a music store.

One of the greatest aspects of tab is that once you learn how to read it, the notation can be applied to many stringed instruments like the mandolin or bass. The possibilities for a blossoming musician are endless with this simple system. From chord charts to power ballads and sonatas, tab will expand your repertoire to include an unlimited number of pieces.

For advice on how to select the perfect drum set, cymbal, conga, bongos, djembe, acoustic guitar, electric guitar or other musical product, please see our Buyer's Guide and Advice pages.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Learn To Play Musical Instrument


If you want to learn a musical instrument, you are in luck. There is a vast variety of musical instruments which can be learned easily and at low cost with the help of the scores of music instruments available. However, if you are a beginner, you may get confused by the array of choices. You may worry about which instrument to choose, how much time the lessons will take, the costs and many other factors. This article will guide you on the correct selection of the instrument so that you may not have to regret your choice later.

First of all consider your interest which is of course what will keep you to the end of the lessons. Unless you are interested in the instrument you are trying to learn, you will never really master it. So think about the type of music and instrument you like. Check out different options and pick the one you feel is best for you.

Next point to consider is the cost. It is possible that the music you want to learn is too costly for you. May be the instrument costs a ton or the tuitions are too expensive. Thus, try to select one that suits your budget. Also, consider taking tuitions that are offered in groups in order to reduce costs. If money is not a factor, you could opt for private tuitions that can offer you a lot of flexibility in timings.

Another thing to consider is the amount of time the lessons take. If you have a time crunch or are not a patient sort, you may not be able to finish learning a difficult musical instrument. There is no short cut to learning music. You may have to work very hard to be able to understand and work with any new instrument.

You must be really involved in the training and be enthusiastic. You may not grasp the ABCs of the musical instrument immediately, so you need to be patient. Also, expose yourself to a lot of recordings by good players. You could also do the home recording of your own music to check on your progress.

An important point could be the physical restrictions that certain musical instruments pose. If you are small, you may find certain musical instruments too heavy. Also, certain instruments require longer fingers or other such natural characteristics. Usually, the music teacher will be able to judge and guide you on proper selection. You could also borrow an instrument from an acquaintance to check how well you could do with it.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Know Your Pearl Drums Better

Drums are one of the most popular of musical instruments. Drummers all over the world have been making the effort to create a drum set that would truly suit the appetite of music lovers all over the world. One of the primary characteristics of a drum is that it can produce indefinite low and high-pitched sounds constantly.

Pearl rock was based on anti-establishment rock music genre in the mid 70s,The pearl drummers made a name for them with playing with the shorter version of the rock. The right pearl drum kit gear depends on features like playing style, personal penchant, monetary funds, and moving options of the drummer. The hardware part was constituted by the cymbals and tom-tom stands and was considered an integrated part of the base drum kit. Drums and cymbals are considered the breakable part of the collection as it goes through rigorous wear and tear.

One or two electric guitars, an electric bass, a drum kit, the vocals constitute the distinctive punk rock instrumentation. During the mid 1970s people who did not have too much ability in music tried to express themselves through the new form of rock music. The anti institutional based drumming was quick to catch the attention of the public.

Punk drummers like to change their tuning with particular music intervals. This makes the distance between the tuned notes of one drum with the other consistent. As it is not based on any chromatic notes so the punk drummers can have any start point with the punk drums. Although there are many tuning opinions, the bulk of them revolve around the major chords. In addition, the time factor for the whole music length was shorter than the regular rock so the start with the punk drums was fast.

A drum key or a similar kind of device is used to tune the drum set. The tension of a drumhead is changed to tune it. The difference in tuning between same elements of a drum kit and other percussion element is quite significant. Punk drums are no different.


Alternating with the hi-hat cymbals will help you keep the speed but make sure you are not changing the beats. You can create interesting fills with fast music. Listening to good drummers will help you in building your own creative ways. One of the chief ingredients of the punk music is energy, so beating the punk drums with vigor would help in being attuned with the speed of the music.

Live Music - Browse the LMFM listings and check out featured artists, live gig reviews and recommended live bands and artists playing near you in the UK and Ireland.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Playing The Guitar First Time

Looking for a new guitar can be confusing if you are only just learning to play the instrument. Strolling down to your nearest guitar shop will help you determine the different designs, but it will not help you to decide on which guitar to pick. The first time I had received my first acoustic guitar was when I was seventeen. I had no idea how to play it, nor did I know that the strings needed changing or that the frets were a little worn down.

To me it was all about having a guitar and finally being able to learn to play - the trouble is how would I learn how to play? What would I need to do to maintain my guitar and what strings do I need to buy to replace my existing ones? The truth is, I had asked all my friends and decided to visit the nearest guitar shop and gain some helpful tips from them. I soon learnt that I needed to but very specific strings and found they came with varying thickness.

The point is there is no 'beginner' guitar, apart from sticking to a six-string guitar, which can be acoustic or electric. Acoustic guitars tend to need harder strumming, I find, but if you do buy an electric guitar, you will need to buy a good Amp to go with it.

Getting a guitar is about playing and making music with it, so for those who are learning to play for the first time should endeavour to learn more about the guitar itself as well as learning how to play it. So now, you have the guitar you find yourself strumming away to painstaking noises, scratches and distorted tunes. You think to yourself, that maybe you should take another trip to the guitar shop and perhaps buy a guitar playing guide for beginners. Alternatively, you could buy a DVD tutorial, audio CD with an accompanying book or look up for music teachers.

In the nine years, that I have had my guitar I have to this day not learnt how to read or play music, because I learnt how to read guitar tabs. This is a much simpler and easier version of reading music notes. Instead of learning your notes and their tones, you are learning which fret to place your fingers and what string to play that note. They are easy to read and with a short practise, you will be picking it up in no time.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

How To Learn To Play Piano

Though learning piano is a dream for many people for years, deciding to learn and learning wouldn't happen just like that. Luckily, some tools are provided by the technology and this makes it easier than ever to learn the piano even in the busy schedule of our lives. An offline lesson occasionally maybe needed or not along with your online learning materials according to your style of learning. It can be pleasing and beneficial in the growth and restoration of the mind, though learning piano may be difficult at an elder age.

Today, online courses on the internet have come as a great source to people who want to learn piano without leaving the comfort of their home. So you need not surprise if there are a number of piano aspirants moving on to the internet for courses on piano learning. And for the people who have patience, commitment and the money for those CD courses which are costlier, this is a great alternative. However, what about those people who want to learn piano in their style and their own conditions? It would be great if there were websites that provide piano learning aspirants with knowledge they needed to expertise the piano without overstressing them. Fortunately, there are sites which help you learn the piano in your own style, but there are only a few of them. Hence, you really need to research, particularly when many websites try to take your money and leave you disturbed without making you learn any skills.

It would be great if you find such a website, and you can learn playing tunes on the first day itself without any difficulty even if you have not touched a piano key before. And it is possible as there is no reason for you to get surprised by the greatness of this instrument. Nevertheless, a piano keyboard is just a row of buttons, and if you can push buttons, you can create music easily. Therefore, the great determination to make music and being well on your way to become a pianist is what are all really needed.

Sometimes, as people were told that to learn piano one needs to put a lot of hard work, they used to withdraw themselves from trying to learn piano. Now, this wasn't actually untrue some years back, as there were terribly painful exercises to be played by students and learn songs they didn't like for the preparation of the songs which were fearful. In other way, learning piano was made an unpleasing and boring task in those days. Now a days, easy to understand and visual cues and "tricks" have replaced the boring lessons in books, which is a complete contrast to the older ways of learning. With some practical changes like these, learning piano has become so easy and enjoyable than it was.

On the other hand, along with beginners, even qualified performers can take the advantage from the vast piano learning opportunities out there. So if you know the basics already and want to easily play the keys and tones very well, you need not worry, because, if you believe it or not, now you can get a way to many hidden secrets on learning how to play keys and play piano as your favorite musicians do.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Snare Drum


Analog synthesizers have regained some degree of popularity in recent years, as electronic dance music has become more widespread and successful. Although analog technology has become replaced by cheaper digital modeling technology with more features, the goal of VA (virtual analog) synthesis is to be able to recreate the warmth and nuances of the highly variable analog circuits of yesteryear. The ability of digital components to accurately model is the subject of great debate and beyond the scope of this article, but a general consensus is maintained that they are becoming more and more difficult to tell the difference between.

With that in mind, the assumptions that this article works under include the following: That you possess an analog or virtual analog synthesizer with at least one oscillator (VCO), a low pass filter with resonance (LPF) and key tracking (also called key follow on some models), one or more standard ADSR-type envelope generators (EG) that can be routed to affect amplitude, filter cutoff frequency, and preferably pitch, and a white noise source. Even with such a relatively limited palate of sound-sculpting tools, a large number of exciting sounds can be achieved.

Furthermore, these articles will make the following assumptions about the default settings (an initialized patch, if you will) of your synth in the interest of consistency. First, the oscillator footage (or octave) should be an intermediate setting (16' or 8'). The filter should be wide open (all the way up so as to let all sound pass through unaffected) with no resonance. The envelope(s) should have zero attack, decay, and relase with %100 sustain. With these parameters adjusted to the preceding values, most basic synth sounds can be easily realized.

In this article we will examine classic analog percussion sounds similar to the drum machines and synths of the 80's through modern techno and house music. Let's start with a basic snare-type sound. Use a relatively mellow waveform such as a triangle wave, blended with however much white noise is appropriate to your ears. The key here is to find a good ratio between the sound of the shell of a snare drum (the oscillator) and the crack of the "drum head," which is approximated with noise. Keep the filter open for now. Set the amp envelope to have zero attack and sustain and quick decay (a third or less) with a little bit of release. These parameters can be adjusted, depending on whether you are going for a more or less realistic sound.

This should put you comfortably within the realm of the classic Roland drum machines of the 80's, which used ringing oscillators excited by a noise source to achieve their classic sound. For a more Kraftwerk-esque thwipp-type snare, use the filter in conjuntion with an envelope with similar parameters to the amplifier EG. Set the filter cutoff frequency fairly low with resonance to taste (try at every setting, but watch your speakers and ears at high resonance settings!). Use a healthy amount of envelope modulation to keep the transient bright, with a more muted decay. Now you can make some sweet synth-pop snares.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Choose the Right Piano

Choosing the right piano brand is important when you make this major purchase. Taking the time to learn about what makes a piano great will help you make a wise decision. Although there are a some major names when it comes to choosing a piano, keep in mind the three "T's":

- Touch
- Tone
- Type
Touch and Tone

Touch and tone are the keys to buying a piano. You want to make sure that you like the action of the keyboard as well as whether you want a "brighter" sounding, or a piano with more bass.

A piano with a light action is going to have a very "touchy" keyboard, you're not going to be able to fiddle around with how loud or softly you play. A firmer action on a keyboard keeps allows you to fool around with the dynamics while building up your finger strength. This may not seem very important, but when you go to play someone else's piano it will make all the difference.

Construction of your piano is important too. This will affect the action of the instrument as well as the tone. Look inside the piano, have the technician on staff explain the differences between piano brands. Don't fall victim to beautiful casework when the insides of the piano are junk.

As far as sound goes, this is totally up to you. Listen to a few pianos before you make you decision. This will be a lot like picking out a t.v. set. Find a piano that has the right touch and the right tone for to inspire you to sit down and play it.

Types of Pianos

When it comes to piano brands, the sky is the limit. Arming yourself with a little knowledge before shelling out the bucks will help you find the best buy.

Be aware that many makers of pianos have different "series" of instruments, each of these differ in quality and price. There are many store brand pianos, these instruments are like the house brand ketchup you might find at your local grocery store; they will do the job, but in the long run they may not be a wise investment.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Buying Music Gear for Home Studios

First of all you need to decide what kind of studio you want. There is a pro studio ideal for recording full bands. This kind of studio can deliver CD master recordings. The other is a project studio, which generally supports recording electronic synths, samplers and maybe a few live players when needed. The quality level meets TV and film standards.

Another form of studio is the home MIDI electronica mainly software studio with at least one or two mics. It could also be a demo or a song writing studio with mics or even just a little hobby studio, or just want to make music studio. All the above mentioned options can be accomplished but there are certain things you also need to look into really carefully before buying music gear.

Avoid buying the same feature over and over again on different pieces of music gear. You may only end up otherwise having a number of preamps, samplers and recorders that you cannot use and they are just an additional expenditure.

Do not buy Cubase and Sonar and try to get them to work together. Or get Sound Forge and Sonar, as these applications will not work at all on a Mac. Therefore, it is advisable to be well versed with the music gear before purchasing them.

The recorder you choose be it a multi track, computer sequencer, or MPC 4000 and MV8800 are the most far reaching decision you can make. But, you have to consider that choice carefully. It is advisable to learn one form and master it, and then you can resort considering buying them.

There are stores that offer 30 days return policy on music gear. This can also be a great idea that makes it real easy for you. Get it for trial and when you find it is perfect for you then only you can opt to buy.

Many people face a lot of difficulties with the software they buy because they do not understand or misread the recommended requirements to run the software. Never buy software if you cannot meet the stated requirements.

When buying a music gear try to stick to the companies that are supremely focused on your computer platform, your operating system and in some cases your motherboard and your CPU. Some soundcard drivers may refuse to work well with some chipsets on some motherboards.

Do a thorough research before buying music gear. Ask questions from your dealer or you will end up spending extra for your digital mixer. Therefore, the price of a piece of gear, which is at a lower price, may mean spending another extra dollars to make it work.

Always buy the latest music gear to avoid future expenditure. Buy the cheaper or a secondary music gear now, and then it will be outdated in some years and you will have to buy the new one and this will cause unnecessary expenditure. It is best to wait a year or two after the release and then buy the finished, mature, stable products. Features may look good on paper but may not sound good in music. If you buy cheap music gear you may just end up buying again.

Besides the above mentioned tips of buying music gear, there are other variables you need to look into, like the cost of service, the upgrades, software and many more. Above all, the bottom line is the sound that should be your prime concern. Focus on the sound coming out of the speakers. Great sound never goes out of style.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Snare Drum Buying Guide

The snare drum contains:
A shell or circular body. A top "batter" head and a bottom ultra-thin clear head. Chrome hoops (rims) that fasten the heads to the shell. Tension rods that screw into lug casings, these are used to tighten the rim onto the shell. Snare wires. A throw-off apparatus.

Whatever drum you buy make certain that the snare (thin metal strings on the bottom of the drum) are intact and that the throw-off lever on the side of the drum works properly. The throw-off is a chrome apparatus found on the side or the shell of the snare drum. It contains a lever that snaps the snare wires up against the bottom drumhead or releases them so that they hang about 1/8" below the head. When the throw-off or strainer is in the up position, you will hear the buzz of the snare wires. When the throw-off is in the sideways position, the drum will sound similar to a high-pitched tom-tom.

Tom-toms are similar to snare drums in that they have two heads fastened to a shell. They do not contain snare wires though. They also differ from the snare drum in their function. When checking the snare strainer, make sure that you can turn the snares on and off without too much effort. Also, make sure that the snares tighten and release quietly. If you do not get this on-off effect at all, it may simply mean that the snare wires are too loose. All quality snare drums have an adjustment knob that is part of the throw-off apparatus. If the snare is not working properly, try tightening this knob. You should feel the tension increase depending on the direction you turn it. If you turn the knob and it has no effect on the sound of the drum, chances are the apparatus is faulty. Don't buy this drum.

Finally-and this goes for any drum-check to see if the drum has any cracks in the shell and make sure that the rims or hoops that fasten the head to the shell are not bent or dented. Also, make sure that none of the tension rods (screws) are missing, and check that none of the lugs(tension rod casings) are stripped. Don't worry about heads, because these are dispensable. Often the head that comes with your purchase needs replacing anyway. Once upon a time, drumheads were made from calf hides (skin). However, the problem with skins was that they were very difficult to keep in tune due to fluctuations in the weather. They were also not very durable. Now days, we use plastic or Mylar heads on our drums and the most popular head manufacturer is Remo, although Evans and Aquarian make fine heads, too. On the bottom of your snare drum, you must use an ultra-thin clear head. Anything thicker will choke the snare wires and they will not vibrate. Also, you should use only a single-ply "batter" head on the top of your snare drum. The batter head is a rough, sand papery-surfaced head that is designed to give texture to brush strokes. If the head were smooth, brush-ing the head would have little effect. The batter head is also single-ply to allow for a crisper tone and more sustain.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Development of Steel Drums


Earlier the Musical instruments were devised by cutting varying lengths of bamboos. A by product of cultural gaps between the rich and the poor, steel drums have emerged with the musical quality of both the classes.

The early 1930s saw a great evolution in the history of steel drums with metal beating drums. The first pitched metal drum was made out of small metal containers, which were convex in shape. But with time it evolved to a great extent and now it is constructed from a 55 gallon barrel. Steel drums are a recently re-invented addition to the world of musical instruments.

Steel pan music reached new heights in the 19th century when a steel band got the opportunity to perform in common wealth celebrations. This gave steel drummers a new international exposure and gradually it became an established art form, revered by music lovers across the world. Steel drummers are adapting themselves in a varied number of ways to suit different tastes.
Instrumental music can broadly be categorized into the following types

Vocal supported instrumental music
Western instrumental music
Oriental classical music

Instrumental music has been very popular from ancient times. The different traditions of instrumental music have been as followed .

Andalusian classical music
Arab classical music
Gagaku, Gamelan
Classical Korean
The world of music is full of fun and thrills. So, be ready to sway every heart and soul with the lilting tunes of steel drums that are definitely going to jazz up the musical world.

With steel drums you can churn out almost everything ranging from buoyant pop tunes to hip hop music. Steel drums can churn out almost every type of music old, straight, alternative, orthodox as well as modern.
Characteristics of steel drums
Steel drums generally have a very high tempo.
It follows repetitious beats.
Steel drums are a product of western cultural scenario.
It produces high decibel sound.
It provides greater versatility to drummers.
It is capable of producing chromatic range of notes and tones.
Steel drum beats can actually transport you to a new different world of music and acts as a rebellion against established social norms. It can cast a hypnotic spell on its listeners.

Friday, February 29, 2008

10 Greatest Movies Of All Time

After hundreds of movies, thousands of eye-popping fight scenes and millions of punches thrown...which ones are the best? Which ones have I been missing out on my whole life? Which ones must I have in my collection in order to not bring shame upon my family name?

We’ve scoured the internet. Reviews. Forums. Amazon. Postings. Bulletins. And this list is what we’ve come up with as the greatest Kung-Fu movies of all time and why you should watch each one. Pay attention to movies involving Yuen Wo-Ping as either director or action director, there's a reason why half this list is movies where he was involved!

If you want to watch trailers of these movies, go to:

#1 - Way of the Dragon (1979)
#2 - Shaolin Temple (1982)
#3 - Ong Bak (2003)
#4 - Iron Monkey (1993)
#5 - 5 Deadly Venoms (1978)
#6 - The Seven Samurai (1954)
#7 - Legend of Drunken Master (1994)
#8 - Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000)
#9 - Kill Bill vol. 1 (2003)
#10 - Fist of Legend (1994)
By:- Javier Lozano, Jr.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

The Ipod Generations

For a better understanding about iPod generations, check the following:

On October 23, 2001, the first generation of iPod was released. The model name was iPod and had the storage capacity of 5 to 10 gb. It used FireWire connection to computers and it had a mechanical scroll wheel.

On July 17, 2002, the second generation of iPod was released. It had the storage capacity of 10, 20 gb. It used FireWire connection to computers and it had a touch-sensitive wheel. The Hold switch was revised. The FireWire port had a cover.

On April 28, 2003, the third generation of iPod was released. It had the storage capacity of 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 gb. It used FireWire connection to computers (USB for syncing only), and it had a central row of touch sensitive buttons. New backlit screen was introduced. Dock connector port was introduced.

On January 6, 2004, the first generation of iPod mini was released. It had the storage capacity of 4 gb. It used FireWire or USB connection to computers, and it introduced the "Click Wheel", which was later adopted by the fourth generation iPod. It was available in 5 colors.

On July 19, 2004, the fourth generation of iPod was released. It had the storage capacity of 20, 30, 40, 60 gb. It used FireWire or USB connection to computers, and buttons were integrated to form "Click Wheel". The monochrome model was replaced in June 2005 by the color display with photo viewer, which was introduced in October 2004.

On January 11, 2005, the first generation of iPod shuffle was released. It had the storage capacity of 512 mb, 1gb. It used USB connection to computers, and it had no screen, no click wheel. It used flash memory instead of hard drive storage.

On February 22, 2005, the second generation of iPod mini was released. It had the storage capacity of 4, 6 gb. It used FireWire or USB connection to computers , and it had longer battery life, and brighter color variants. Gold model discontinued. No AC adapter. The body color matched the click wheel lettering.

On September 7, 2005, the first generation of iPod nano was released. It had the storage capacity of 1, 2, 4 gb. It used USB connection to computers (FireWire for charging only), and it was the successor of iPod mini. Slimmer design, flash memory, color screen and lyrics support.

On October 12, 2005, the fifth generation of iPod was released. It had the storage capacity of 30, 60, 80 gb. It used USB connection to computers (FireWire for charging only), and it had large screen with video player and lyrics support. No AC adapter, Universal Dock, or A/V cables were included. It had black and white color variants. This model was revised in September 2006 (often called as generation 5.5) had a brighter display, a music search function, and a longer video battery life.

On September 12, 2006, the second generation of iPod shuffle was released. It had the storage capacity of 1 gb. It used USB (via dock only), and it had the aluminum case with smaller form factor. Built-in clip. Later multi-colored models were also released.

On September 12, 2006, the second generation of iPod nano was released. It had the storage capacity of 2, 4, 8 gb It used USB connection to computers (FireWire for charging only), and it had the anodized Aluminum case in 6 colors. Music search function, longer battery life, and brighter screen.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Learning to Piano Music

When you are sitting at the piano, your thoughts become reality. Your thoughts instantly take form as you are creating. Your barrier may be that you are focused on what once was, instead of focusing on the now! If all you do is focus on the fact that it was once easy for you to memorize, you are not focusing on the now. Present moment awareness is the key to learning to play the piano or any other instrument. It is also the key to learning anything in life that’s worthwhile learning.

The next time you practice just sit at the piano and meditate on what you are feeling. Don’t play, just feel. Does it feel stressful, joyful or painful? Are you anticipating stress or anticipating pain? Are you looking forward to playing or are you hearing little scripts in your head saying “you used to be great, now your not, you are not this, that, etc?” What are you feeling?

The next day, sit at the piano again and turn your attention to the now. Feel the joy of playing. Feel the joy of what it is to make beautiful sounds. Just let your hands explore over the keys, and listen to every note like it was the most beautiful sound you ever made! You are in the now! No one can steal this moment and pure joy from you. Feel the joy and the freedom in the now.

Once you have gone through this little exercise, and you are in the now, and every note becomes beautiful…even wrong notes. Now, in the present moment, without any negative thoughts to the contrary, you are ready to learn one thing at a time.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Purchasing Drum - TIps & Tricks

If you purchase a full drum set, don't be concerned with getting a full array of tom-toms, cymbals, and other accessories. A simple four-piece will suffice. Rack tom-toms are mounted on top of the bass drum, floor toms stand on the floor supported by three metal legs.

Also, don't forget the hi-hats and stand, bass drum pedal, and padded throne or drum stool. Finally for beginners, cases are optional since you will not be traveling all over town, night after night, with your gear. If you do buy cases, Humes & Berg makes easy to use nylon padded bags. They call them Tuxedo cases. In summary, do not to be fooled by beautiful, sparkly new drums and cymbals, since this can be misleading. As you may have guessed by now, used drums and cymbals should not, in any way, be looked down upon. In fact, many in-the-know drummers enjoy scouting for rare and used equipment, and revel in stories of how they found some great snare drum or cymbal tucked away in the bargain bin at a pawn shop, tag sale, or even large retail outlet. So, take your time and find equipment that will keep you satisfied for at least a few years.

Climate control is essential to the health of your drums and cymbals. Extreme cold can cause shell veneers to peel off and crack. Consistent contact with moisture can also cause the brass on cymbals and the chrome on drums to rust.

Buying the Right Accessories

Buying the right gear is extremely important. Having the most expensive or fancy equipment is not. As you begin to define your goals and solidify your musical interests, you will be able to make better decisions about what drums, cymbals, hardware, sticks, pads, and other equipment you will want to use for practice. You may even begin to think about what your dream drum set might be. At this stage of the game, however, it is important not to become overly preoccupied with equipment. You will want to make smart purchases, but don't get caught up in a retail frenzy, or you will only waste your money.

Drum Pads

Drum pads are an essential part of every drummer's collection. Beginners often can't afford drums themselves, so pads take on even more relevance. As of this writing, the best pad on the market is the gum rubber Real Feel drum pad. This pad will give you the necessary bounce you need to develop good technique. The Remo Drum Company also makes fine pads and pad drum sets, though they are a little loud. If neither pad is available, ask the clerk at your local music store which pads offer great stick rebound and a quiet surface. Since drums themselves can be very loud, the pad offers a wondet-ful alternative to supplying earplugs for your entire neighborhood.
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Thursday, February 21, 2008

Online Guitar Guide


A guitar teacher is the classic way in which to learn guitar. A guitar teacher will either come to your home periodically or have you visit them in their home or classroom if they work at a school. But having a Guitar teacher can be very time consuming and Guitar lessons can be pricey but they can also be significantly beneficial for the student. A teacher can provide the level of motivation necessary in order to put in the long hours of practice. Because you are meeting with another person on a regular basis you become aware of the things expected from you and are more likely to deliver on those expectations. A guitar teacher will help you learn guitar by first teaching you finger placement and chord techniques before instructing you on basic songs. Once you master a few simple songs you will began to expand your technique from there.


Online Guitar Guides


Now with the growing market of technology available, there also exist videos and online courses completely devoted to those looking to learn to play guitar. These guides and DVDs can be very helpful and can be listened to at your convenience. Videos are exceptionally helpful as they are crafted after classroom lessons and can be played over and over again so that you can learn at your own pace.

Online guitar guides don’t cost as much as the neither guitar teacher, nor do you have to travel to the classroom or have someone come to your home. With guides you learn how to play the guitar at your own peace. This as an end result will make you a much better guitar player.

Learning Guitar tabulates can also be used to easily learn guitar. Guitar tabs are much like sheet music but they are for those who can not read notes. They take each song and break it down by finger placement so that beginners can learn how to play a song easily. Here’s a quick tip, when learning Guitar Tabs, just think of it just like being a piano tab. They read much in the same way.

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