Visit Catherine Kean at: http://www.catherinekean.com
During the winter of 1192 in England, Lady Faye Rivellaux and her friend, Elayne Lorvais, married to Lord Torr Lorvais, and their eighteen month old daughter Angeline, often enjoyed picnics by the river. On an idyllic day, little Angeline discovers a valuable chalice buried beneath some mud and rocks. Recognizing its immense value, aye and Elayne keep the discovery a secret.
Elayne falls ill and on her deathbed, she extracts a promise from Faye to protect and care for little Angeline as if the child were her own. Faye takes this promise to heart and becomes a loving, substitute mother to the small child.
Then one day, Angeline is mysteriously kidnapped. Faye receives a demand for a large ransom of silver and is told of a location to make the exchange. An impoverished widow who survives on the charity of Lord Lorvais, Faye does not have the silver to pay the ransom, but she is in possession of the golden chalice and will gladly relinquish it to save Angeline. Dedicated to fulfilling her promise to her friend, Faye sets out to meet an unknown man at an arranged destination.
Sir Brant Meslarches’ past is inextricably tied to that of Lord Torr Lorvais, and he harbours a deep dislike for the man. Because of a dying request by Brant’s brother, Royce, Brant is compelled to obey Lorvais’ demands and recognize him as overlord. But it is Lorvais who orchestrated the kidnapping of his own daughter in order to win the affections of fair Faye. Lorvais knows Faye does not have the silver to pay for the ransom, so he orders Brant to only scare her. When Faye offers Brant the golden chalice, he is shocked. How did she acquire it? Rant believes it is part of King Arthur’s lost treasure that his brother Royce spent his life searching for.
This wonderfully rich medieval tale encompasses a little mystery, an abundance of love, an insidious sprinkling of evil, and enough adventure to keep the reader reading throughout the gripping climax to the very end.
Catherine Kean writes a rich medieval prose that draws you into this masterfully weaved tale. The novel’s flowing prose allows the reader to immerse themselves completely in the story. The plot is uncomplicated with not too many characters. It is an enjoyable read with a gripping climax that held my attention long into the night until I reached the very satisfying ending.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Free Guitar Chord Charts
This article will show you how to make the best use of free guitar chord charts that you can find online. As the internet changes, sites go down and new ones come up, so I won't risk this resource going out of date by discussing where to find your free guitar chord charts, just how to use them to kick start your guitar playing.
You can easily get together a nice collection of chord charts and lyrics to your favorite songs to help you learn to play the guitar. If you feel that you should be learning a whole bunch of musical theory and how to read musical notation, but somehow feel it's just not you, then that's okay - start with what you feel most enthusiastic about. Once you have started to learn using guitar chord charts you have bought or downloaded for free, you might see as you go along that you will need to know a little bit about musical theory to see how chords and scales fit together. If, however, you are comfortable learning chords to your favorite songs, then keep at it.
So let's start with the basic baby steps and work up to some really useful knowledge about guitar chords and how the dots on the charts relate to musical sounds. You know the frets on your guitar's neck somehow show you where the notes are, so let's get a little more technical. You will see when you use scale charts to learn to play guitar tunes that in a given position on the fret board, you will sometimes need to move up or down one fret or two frets. If you play the note at the first fret, and then move up to the second fret, you have moved up a semitone. If you have moved up two frets, it is called a tone. The distance between the notes E and F or B and C is a tone. The distance between the notes C and D is a tone. So as you learn songs in different keys you will start to see that what you are playing when you play scales is different patterns of tones or semi tones on the guitar neck.
If you have watched guitarists play you will have noticed that sometimes they place their index finger across all six strings. This is called a barre. When you begin to learn songs you will be making use of chords played in the FIRST position on the fret board. These are mostly open chords, that is chords that do not make use of the barre. You can try to play barre chords any time, but it's a bit ambitious to expect to be able to use them until after your hands have done some practice with open chords.
When you are learning chords to accompany songs, you will probably make use of your chord charts showing you chords that use all the guitar's strings. But if you want to get into playing solos start with the three note chords called triads. The three notes in a triad are the basic notes of your chord, so by learning triads you will begin to see how the guitar chords are structured. Also you can move your triads up and down the fret board to make new chords. Here's an example: The chord of A Major is made up of the notes A C# and E shown in tab form as:
You can easily get together a nice collection of chord charts and lyrics to your favorite songs to help you learn to play the guitar. If you feel that you should be learning a whole bunch of musical theory and how to read musical notation, but somehow feel it's just not you, then that's okay - start with what you feel most enthusiastic about. Once you have started to learn using guitar chord charts you have bought or downloaded for free, you might see as you go along that you will need to know a little bit about musical theory to see how chords and scales fit together. If, however, you are comfortable learning chords to your favorite songs, then keep at it.
So let's start with the basic baby steps and work up to some really useful knowledge about guitar chords and how the dots on the charts relate to musical sounds. You know the frets on your guitar's neck somehow show you where the notes are, so let's get a little more technical. You will see when you use scale charts to learn to play guitar tunes that in a given position on the fret board, you will sometimes need to move up or down one fret or two frets. If you play the note at the first fret, and then move up to the second fret, you have moved up a semitone. If you have moved up two frets, it is called a tone. The distance between the notes E and F or B and C is a tone. The distance between the notes C and D is a tone. So as you learn songs in different keys you will start to see that what you are playing when you play scales is different patterns of tones or semi tones on the guitar neck.
If you have watched guitarists play you will have noticed that sometimes they place their index finger across all six strings. This is called a barre. When you begin to learn songs you will be making use of chords played in the FIRST position on the fret board. These are mostly open chords, that is chords that do not make use of the barre. You can try to play barre chords any time, but it's a bit ambitious to expect to be able to use them until after your hands have done some practice with open chords.
When you are learning chords to accompany songs, you will probably make use of your chord charts showing you chords that use all the guitar's strings. But if you want to get into playing solos start with the three note chords called triads. The three notes in a triad are the basic notes of your chord, so by learning triads you will begin to see how the guitar chords are structured. Also you can move your triads up and down the fret board to make new chords. Here's an example: The chord of A Major is made up of the notes A C# and E shown in tab form as:
Ukulele Strings: Which Do You Need?
There are so many different types of ukulele strings out there, it can be very confusing. I've ended up buying the wrong type of string in the past and so have many others.
The type of string you have on your uke can make a big difference to the sound. Usually, new ukuleles will come with low quality strings. With every ukulele I've bought, I've immediately changed the strings to a quality brand.
However, you need to be careful what you buy. Here are some things to consider:
Size
It is very important that you buy the right size of string to fit your ukulele. The thickness and length of the string differs depending on the size of ukulele.
If you have the standard, smallest size ukulele, make sure you buy soprano strings. If you have a tenor or baritone ukulele, make sure the strings are marked with that size.
Brand
Amongst most ukulele players, there is a general consensus that Aquila and Worth are the best strings around. You should definitely test out these two brands of strings to see which you prefer and provide a baseline if you want to test out other brands.
There are many other makes of ukulele string. Professional ukulelists endorse other brands. For example, Jake Shimabukuro has an endorsement deal with D'Addario and James Hill has Hilo strings on his re-entrant ukes.
Tuning
Different types of tuning require different types of string. The standard ukulele tuning is gCEA with the g-string pitched between the E and A strings (known as re-entrant). If the strings you are buying don't state a tuning, it's fairly safe to assume that this is the tuning.
Before you buy the strings, be sure to check they are not low-G strings (unless that's what you're looking for). It is not possible to tune low-G ukuleles to high-G and vice versa. However, you can use low-G tuning on a high-G uke (and vice versa) with a little modification (sometimes no modification at all is needed).
You'll sometimes see strings intended for ADF#B tuning. This is the standard ukulele tuning but two frets higher. There's very little difference between these two tunings and string sizes, so the strings you get for this tuning will be suitable for standard tuning.
Buying a quality set of ukulele strings is a wise investment. It's by far the cheapest way to improve the sound of your ukulele and will make playing a more pleasant experience. Just be sure to double check that the strings you are buying are correct for you ukulele.
The type of string you have on your uke can make a big difference to the sound. Usually, new ukuleles will come with low quality strings. With every ukulele I've bought, I've immediately changed the strings to a quality brand.
However, you need to be careful what you buy. Here are some things to consider:
Size
It is very important that you buy the right size of string to fit your ukulele. The thickness and length of the string differs depending on the size of ukulele.
If you have the standard, smallest size ukulele, make sure you buy soprano strings. If you have a tenor or baritone ukulele, make sure the strings are marked with that size.
Brand
Amongst most ukulele players, there is a general consensus that Aquila and Worth are the best strings around. You should definitely test out these two brands of strings to see which you prefer and provide a baseline if you want to test out other brands.
There are many other makes of ukulele string. Professional ukulelists endorse other brands. For example, Jake Shimabukuro has an endorsement deal with D'Addario and James Hill has Hilo strings on his re-entrant ukes.
Tuning
Different types of tuning require different types of string. The standard ukulele tuning is gCEA with the g-string pitched between the E and A strings (known as re-entrant). If the strings you are buying don't state a tuning, it's fairly safe to assume that this is the tuning.
Before you buy the strings, be sure to check they are not low-G strings (unless that's what you're looking for). It is not possible to tune low-G ukuleles to high-G and vice versa. However, you can use low-G tuning on a high-G uke (and vice versa) with a little modification (sometimes no modification at all is needed).
You'll sometimes see strings intended for ADF#B tuning. This is the standard ukulele tuning but two frets higher. There's very little difference between these two tunings and string sizes, so the strings you get for this tuning will be suitable for standard tuning.
Buying a quality set of ukulele strings is a wise investment. It's by far the cheapest way to improve the sound of your ukulele and will make playing a more pleasant experience. Just be sure to double check that the strings you are buying are correct for you ukulele.
12 Tips To Guitar Sales
If you're in search of information on guitar sales, how to buy a guitar or how to buy a bass guitar, there are some points you should take into consideration before you part with your hard earned cash. Whether you buy new or used, these steps should be taken in order to avoid disappointment. So, 'how to buy a guitar' is a question easily answered if you do the following.
1. Play the guitar 2. Inspect for cracks, dents and scratches 3. Test the neck for strength and twist 4. Sight the neck for straightness 5. Check a bolt-on neck's alignment 6. Inspect the nut's shape, slots and action 7. Check the fret condition and height 8. Make sure the truss rod works 9. Check the bridge and tailpiece 10. Check the tuning keys 11. Make sure the hardware is secure 12. Check the electronics
If you follow these steps, your questions about what to look for at 'guitar sales', 'how to buy a guitar' or 'how to buy a bass guitar' will be quickly answered. The rules for either are the same.
Here some more excellent tips on how to buy a guitar, when investigating a guitar for sale, from Dan Cross:
Have patience - do not decide you HAVE to buy the guitar that day. Plan on taking at least two trips to the music store. Maintain control - You are in charge! Don't let music store salesmen intimidate you. Research - The web is a great place to find info on guitars. Use it to your advantage! Get help - if at all possible, recruit a friend who plays guitar to help you choose an instrument. If not, don't be afraid to ask music store employees multiple questions.
You do not have to be an expert guitarist to get a good deal on a good guitar at a guitar sale. What you do have to be is a disciplined shopper.
For many guitarists, especially novices, trying out a guitar in a music store can be an intimidating experience. Invariably, there are several other guitarists in the store who feel the need to show off their skills on the instrument, by playing all their most impressive licks. Understandably, this can be scary, but you'll need to focus on your goal - finding the best instrument possible, for the least money.
Scan the store until you find an instrument that appeals to you. Make sure you are given a good stool, and a pick (although I suggest you bring one you're comfortable with). If you're looking at electric guitar sales and playing an electric guitar, make sure you're plugged into an amp similar to the one you plan to use. If you've only got a small practice amp at home, don't allow the guitar to be plugged into a Marshall half-stack through a rack of pedals.
The first few times I tried out a guitar in a music store, I remember playing very quietly so no one would hear that I wasn't very good. A perfectly natural instinct, but in retrospect I've realized it was the silliest thing I could have done. In order to really hear the tonal qualities of a guitar (either electric or acoustic), it needs to be played at a reasonable volume. Do not be afraid to strum the open strings hard - listening to the guitar's sustain, and keeping an ear open for problems like buzzing strings. If you're having a hard time hearing (due to other guitarists in the store, etc.), ask to play the guitar in a separate room, or in a quieter part of the store. It should be noted I've been in music stores where owners glared at me for turning up the guitar a little, or strumming an acoustic vigorously. My solution to the problem - I hand them the guitar, say thanks, and take my business to a store that allows me to find out what the guitar sounds like before I buy it. I urge you to do the same... these people are obviously not very familiar with the way guitars work, thus not the best stores to deal with anyway.
Let's look for a moment at guitar makers and manufacturers and which are at the top of the heap. Probably the 3 most widely known and respected guitar makers are Martin, Gibson and Fender guitars. These manufacturers have been a huge part of the industry for decades and their reputations speak for themselves. Martin guitars however, are slightly different than Gibson guitars or fender guitars in that they don't make electric guitars, per say but only acoustic and acoustic-electric models. Hopefully, before you start hunting down the guitar sales in your local area you'll learn these simple steps.
1. Play the guitar 2. Inspect for cracks, dents and scratches 3. Test the neck for strength and twist 4. Sight the neck for straightness 5. Check a bolt-on neck's alignment 6. Inspect the nut's shape, slots and action 7. Check the fret condition and height 8. Make sure the truss rod works 9. Check the bridge and tailpiece 10. Check the tuning keys 11. Make sure the hardware is secure 12. Check the electronics
If you follow these steps, your questions about what to look for at 'guitar sales', 'how to buy a guitar' or 'how to buy a bass guitar' will be quickly answered. The rules for either are the same.
Here some more excellent tips on how to buy a guitar, when investigating a guitar for sale, from Dan Cross:
Have patience - do not decide you HAVE to buy the guitar that day. Plan on taking at least two trips to the music store. Maintain control - You are in charge! Don't let music store salesmen intimidate you. Research - The web is a great place to find info on guitars. Use it to your advantage! Get help - if at all possible, recruit a friend who plays guitar to help you choose an instrument. If not, don't be afraid to ask music store employees multiple questions.
You do not have to be an expert guitarist to get a good deal on a good guitar at a guitar sale. What you do have to be is a disciplined shopper.
For many guitarists, especially novices, trying out a guitar in a music store can be an intimidating experience. Invariably, there are several other guitarists in the store who feel the need to show off their skills on the instrument, by playing all their most impressive licks. Understandably, this can be scary, but you'll need to focus on your goal - finding the best instrument possible, for the least money.
Scan the store until you find an instrument that appeals to you. Make sure you are given a good stool, and a pick (although I suggest you bring one you're comfortable with). If you're looking at electric guitar sales and playing an electric guitar, make sure you're plugged into an amp similar to the one you plan to use. If you've only got a small practice amp at home, don't allow the guitar to be plugged into a Marshall half-stack through a rack of pedals.
The first few times I tried out a guitar in a music store, I remember playing very quietly so no one would hear that I wasn't very good. A perfectly natural instinct, but in retrospect I've realized it was the silliest thing I could have done. In order to really hear the tonal qualities of a guitar (either electric or acoustic), it needs to be played at a reasonable volume. Do not be afraid to strum the open strings hard - listening to the guitar's sustain, and keeping an ear open for problems like buzzing strings. If you're having a hard time hearing (due to other guitarists in the store, etc.), ask to play the guitar in a separate room, or in a quieter part of the store. It should be noted I've been in music stores where owners glared at me for turning up the guitar a little, or strumming an acoustic vigorously. My solution to the problem - I hand them the guitar, say thanks, and take my business to a store that allows me to find out what the guitar sounds like before I buy it. I urge you to do the same... these people are obviously not very familiar with the way guitars work, thus not the best stores to deal with anyway.
Let's look for a moment at guitar makers and manufacturers and which are at the top of the heap. Probably the 3 most widely known and respected guitar makers are Martin, Gibson and Fender guitars. These manufacturers have been a huge part of the industry for decades and their reputations speak for themselves. Martin guitars however, are slightly different than Gibson guitars or fender guitars in that they don't make electric guitars, per say but only acoustic and acoustic-electric models. Hopefully, before you start hunting down the guitar sales in your local area you'll learn these simple steps.
All You Need To Know About Free Music Contracts
What are Free Music Contracts? These are forms that you can download from the Internet. They are usually one page agreements that contain basic information. There will be no frills and special clauses regarding copyrights and royalties. This means that the company can take advantage of you if details are not included in the agreement.
Where can you get these agreements? When you type in the keyword on Google, you can get many websites that will bring up several different agreement forms. All you need to do is to choose the one you want and print it off. There are a number of these types of agreements at this link http://www.karemar.com/category/free-music-contracts-and-legal-agreements
Why use Free Music Contracts? Convenience is the number one reason for using these agreement forms. It does not take long to find, download and print off one of these agreements. You can get an idea of what a basic agreement should look like. When you see the form you can have a good idea what to expect from a simple contract. You can also see what you might need to add or modify. You can look professional and keep it simple: The form makes you look professional and adds credibility to your agreement. Good for simple agreements like one night gigs that do not need much detail:
Advantages of Free Music Contracts: They are simple and easy to understand so will be quick and easy to fill out. It saves time and money if a basic agreement is all you need. You can modify them for your purpose and it takes a shorter time than writing a whole new contact.
Disadvantages: they will have just the basics and to get a lucrative long term agreement you will very likely need more. You might get taken advantage of by the company when you use a simple agreement like this. it may be difficult for you to assess the modifications you need.
Free Music Contracts have their uses and can save you a lot of time. They can also save you money, because you do not need an entertainment lawyer for these simple forms. However if you need a more detailed agreement or need to modify the form an entertainment lawyer is recommended. This is to prevent you from getting cheated by the companies. Keep in mind that paying for modifications to a basic agreement would still be cheaper than getting a whole new agreement written up by an entertainment lawyer.
Where can you get these agreements? When you type in the keyword on Google, you can get many websites that will bring up several different agreement forms. All you need to do is to choose the one you want and print it off. There are a number of these types of agreements at this link http://www.karemar.com/category/free-music-contracts-and-legal-agreements
Why use Free Music Contracts? Convenience is the number one reason for using these agreement forms. It does not take long to find, download and print off one of these agreements. You can get an idea of what a basic agreement should look like. When you see the form you can have a good idea what to expect from a simple contract. You can also see what you might need to add or modify. You can look professional and keep it simple: The form makes you look professional and adds credibility to your agreement. Good for simple agreements like one night gigs that do not need much detail:
Advantages of Free Music Contracts: They are simple and easy to understand so will be quick and easy to fill out. It saves time and money if a basic agreement is all you need. You can modify them for your purpose and it takes a shorter time than writing a whole new contact.
Disadvantages: they will have just the basics and to get a lucrative long term agreement you will very likely need more. You might get taken advantage of by the company when you use a simple agreement like this. it may be difficult for you to assess the modifications you need.
Free Music Contracts have their uses and can save you a lot of time. They can also save you money, because you do not need an entertainment lawyer for these simple forms. However if you need a more detailed agreement or need to modify the form an entertainment lawyer is recommended. This is to prevent you from getting cheated by the companies. Keep in mind that paying for modifications to a basic agreement would still be cheaper than getting a whole new agreement written up by an entertainment lawyer.
The Blues Guitar's Influence On Popular Music
Anybody interested in modern music sooner or later asks the question, "Where did it begin?" Well, if you leave blues music out, you will not have much of an answer. So let us look at where the blues came from, where it went and who it met on the way. We will also take a look at the "blues sound" and how it has its unique effect on our feelings.
The blues as a musical phenomenon began around 1911 when W.C. Handy published popular songs, notably "Memphis Blues" and "St Louis Blues", which affected the hearts and souls of the black people. By the nineteen twenties the general population were beginning to hear this new music through its influence on jazz. Early blues singers like Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday sang with jazz bands while others played with "jug bands" accompanied by fiddle, kazoo and washboard.
Of course to people like W. C. Handy who were brought up singing in church, the piano was the natural instrumental accompaniment to their songs. But the guitar is portable and always was popular so it had to have a place in blues and jazz. Blues guitar players like twelve string guitarist Leadbelly and future electric guitar player B.B. King were making sure the guitar would be an integral part of the blues. Other blues guitarists made their living in smoky saloons playing slide guitar using a bottle neck or the blade of a knife to fret the notes.
After the Second World War young artists like Elvis Presley and Bill Haley were wrapping the blues in a new package called "rock'n'roll" and the players of the electric blues guitar like B.B. King were heralding the arrival of the lead guitar, soon to be a great attraction for both musicians and audiences. Throughout the evolution of the blues the guitar had always taken its turn for solos in jazz bands but now it competed with the singer for the attention of the audience.
Blues guitar can be played in any key that takes your fancy and comes in three basic forms: eight bars, for example "Heartbreak Hotel", sixteen bars like "Saint James Infirmary" and twelve bars like "St. Louis Blues". For some reason the twelve bar blues form is way more singer-friendly and popular with audiences than the other two, and it is the basis of many great songs outside the blues idiom.
If you go poking around the internet you will find that the blues scales are just your garden variety major and minor scales except that the third, fifth and seventh notes are played flat. However, you may be astonished to learn that blues players managed for centuries without knowing about European musical theory. They learnt to sing and play from their families and friends just as many of the young white blues players of the nineteen sixties learnt from imitating the artists they heard on records.
And this is where the blues takes another direction. After years of imitating their idols something odd happened to the white blues guitar players in Britain and the USA. They developed their own authentic, original styles. The older blues players even began using the new arrangements of classic songs and adopting some of the unbluesy musical innovations introduced by young white guitarists like Eric Clapton. So the beat goes on. A foreign culture influences American popular music and in turn gets fresh input from a new generation of guitar players from all over the world.
The blues as a musical phenomenon began around 1911 when W.C. Handy published popular songs, notably "Memphis Blues" and "St Louis Blues", which affected the hearts and souls of the black people. By the nineteen twenties the general population were beginning to hear this new music through its influence on jazz. Early blues singers like Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday sang with jazz bands while others played with "jug bands" accompanied by fiddle, kazoo and washboard.
Of course to people like W. C. Handy who were brought up singing in church, the piano was the natural instrumental accompaniment to their songs. But the guitar is portable and always was popular so it had to have a place in blues and jazz. Blues guitar players like twelve string guitarist Leadbelly and future electric guitar player B.B. King were making sure the guitar would be an integral part of the blues. Other blues guitarists made their living in smoky saloons playing slide guitar using a bottle neck or the blade of a knife to fret the notes.
After the Second World War young artists like Elvis Presley and Bill Haley were wrapping the blues in a new package called "rock'n'roll" and the players of the electric blues guitar like B.B. King were heralding the arrival of the lead guitar, soon to be a great attraction for both musicians and audiences. Throughout the evolution of the blues the guitar had always taken its turn for solos in jazz bands but now it competed with the singer for the attention of the audience.
Blues guitar can be played in any key that takes your fancy and comes in three basic forms: eight bars, for example "Heartbreak Hotel", sixteen bars like "Saint James Infirmary" and twelve bars like "St. Louis Blues". For some reason the twelve bar blues form is way more singer-friendly and popular with audiences than the other two, and it is the basis of many great songs outside the blues idiom.
If you go poking around the internet you will find that the blues scales are just your garden variety major and minor scales except that the third, fifth and seventh notes are played flat. However, you may be astonished to learn that blues players managed for centuries without knowing about European musical theory. They learnt to sing and play from their families and friends just as many of the young white blues players of the nineteen sixties learnt from imitating the artists they heard on records.
And this is where the blues takes another direction. After years of imitating their idols something odd happened to the white blues guitar players in Britain and the USA. They developed their own authentic, original styles. The older blues players even began using the new arrangements of classic songs and adopting some of the unbluesy musical innovations introduced by young white guitarists like Eric Clapton. So the beat goes on. A foreign culture influences American popular music and in turn gets fresh input from a new generation of guitar players from all over the world.
Easy Guitar Tabs
Guitar tabs are an easy solution for you if you have no idea of how to read sheet music but are constantly bugged by the notion that you want to be a guitarist. Guitar tabs are easy to learn and allow you to begin playing songs right away, even if you are not familiar with them. Once you have bought your first guitar, it is time to begin looking for easy guitar tab versions of some songs to find out what it feels like to be a guitar player. Which songs you need tabs for depends on how you see yourself as a musician. Do you want to play your favorite songs chiefly for your own amusement or do you want to aim your repertoire at a potential audience? Let us look at your audience for a minute. The most popular songs in the world are all from years gone by. If you sit a bunch of people aged between ten and fifty down and play songs at them you will find some universal favorites, and they will all be old songs. If you want to please a random audience, your ultimate goal should be to have about one hundred popular songs ranging from the 1940's to the present, but you could probably narrow the range to just include songs going back to the sixties.
So what are the easiest songs to learn from tabs? What can a beginner guitarist learn quickly without too much trouble? Well, I did a little searching on the internet concerning that question, and I found that "Horse With No Name" contains only two chords, and dead simple ones at that! You could be playing that song in a convincing fashion today! "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" makes use of the chords G D C and Am - all easy chords. Building on chords you have acquired learning these songs, you can go onto "House Of The Rising Sun" which uses Am C D F E and E7. Once you have learnt that, it's only natural to go onto another beautiful song, "California Dreamin'" which has the same chords. If you do not like the idea of beginning your guitar playing with these songs, do an internet search in the country music and blues genres. Actually a working knowledge of twelve bar blues is very useful for a guitar player just starting out.
Now for a short list of songs that are both easy to play and have proven to be popular with audiences of all ages. You can find tab arrangements for these songs by typing the titles into a search engine. "Angie" by The Rolling Stones "Blowin' In The Wind" by Bob Dylan "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison "A Day In The Life", "Here, There And Everywhere" and "Hey Jude" by The Beatles "I Walk The Line" by Johnny Cash "Tears In Heaven" by Eric Clapton "Gloria" by Van Morrison "Hotel California" by The Eagles "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who "Scarborough Fair" by any number of performers, and "White Room" by Cream
Once you have some guitar songs under your belt, you could learn more popular favorites that do not fit into the "Easy Guitar Tabs" category. Wilson Pickett's "Dock Of The Bay" and "American Pie" by Don Mclean come to mind. But do not let the tastes of the masses be your only guide. If, for example, you decide you would like to do a folk guitar arrangement of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" then you could use tabs for the original electric guitar version as a basis for your new work. With a bunch of easy guitar tabs at your disposal, the only limits to your musical achievements are your imagination and your audience's supply of tomatoes.
So what are the easiest songs to learn from tabs? What can a beginner guitarist learn quickly without too much trouble? Well, I did a little searching on the internet concerning that question, and I found that "Horse With No Name" contains only two chords, and dead simple ones at that! You could be playing that song in a convincing fashion today! "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" makes use of the chords G D C and Am - all easy chords. Building on chords you have acquired learning these songs, you can go onto "House Of The Rising Sun" which uses Am C D F E and E7. Once you have learnt that, it's only natural to go onto another beautiful song, "California Dreamin'" which has the same chords. If you do not like the idea of beginning your guitar playing with these songs, do an internet search in the country music and blues genres. Actually a working knowledge of twelve bar blues is very useful for a guitar player just starting out.
Now for a short list of songs that are both easy to play and have proven to be popular with audiences of all ages. You can find tab arrangements for these songs by typing the titles into a search engine. "Angie" by The Rolling Stones "Blowin' In The Wind" by Bob Dylan "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison "A Day In The Life", "Here, There And Everywhere" and "Hey Jude" by The Beatles "I Walk The Line" by Johnny Cash "Tears In Heaven" by Eric Clapton "Gloria" by Van Morrison "Hotel California" by The Eagles "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who "Scarborough Fair" by any number of performers, and "White Room" by Cream
Once you have some guitar songs under your belt, you could learn more popular favorites that do not fit into the "Easy Guitar Tabs" category. Wilson Pickett's "Dock Of The Bay" and "American Pie" by Don Mclean come to mind. But do not let the tastes of the masses be your only guide. If, for example, you decide you would like to do a folk guitar arrangement of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" then you could use tabs for the original electric guitar version as a basis for your new work. With a bunch of easy guitar tabs at your disposal, the only limits to your musical achievements are your imagination and your audience's supply of tomatoes.
5 Reasons Why Audio Books are Killing the Paper Book
May 13th is a day for music quotes. Why? Because it's Stevie Wonder's birthday, and what better way to celebrate than with some quotes relating to the art that he loves? Even if you're not a huge fan of his music, you have to admit that he is quite an inspiring man. Overcoming the obstacles in his life to become one of the greatest musicians of all time ' the world needs more role models like Stevie. So these music quotes go out to Stevie Wonder and all his fans to celebrate the day of his birth.
1. "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." ~ Stevie Wonder
2. "Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." ~ Berthold Auerbach
3. "Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul." ~ Plato
4. "Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven." ~ Walter Savage Landor
5. "Music happens to be an art form that transcends language." ~ Herbie Hancock
6. "Without music, life would be a mistake." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
7. "I really do seek to create music that is timeless, ... Each project takes on its own life, and the songs from A Time To Love are the most appropriate for the statement I wanted to make." ~ Stevie Wonder
8. "There are more love songs than anything else. If songs could make you do something we'd all love one another." ~ Frank Zappa
9. "Music isn't just learning notes and playing them, You learn notes to play to the music of your soul." ~ Katie Greenwood
10. "I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music." ~ Billy Joel
11. "Music is the vernacular of the human soul." ~ Geoffrey Latham
12. "My mother would cry about my blindness and the hopelessness of my ever seeing, but I told her I wasn't sad. I believed God had something for me to do." ~ Stevie Wonder
So there you have it -- twelve famous music quotes to celebrate the birthday of Stevie Wonder. Whether you're a fan of Stevie, a fan of triumph or just a fan of music in general, let's celebrate this great man's accomplishments together this year. It is not everyday we get to know someone this special, insightful and courageous. Let's celebrate Stevie Wonder's birthday with these great music quotes.
1. "Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." ~ Stevie Wonder
2. "Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." ~ Berthold Auerbach
3. "Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul." ~ Plato
4. "Music is God's gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven." ~ Walter Savage Landor
5. "Music happens to be an art form that transcends language." ~ Herbie Hancock
6. "Without music, life would be a mistake." ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
7. "I really do seek to create music that is timeless, ... Each project takes on its own life, and the songs from A Time To Love are the most appropriate for the statement I wanted to make." ~ Stevie Wonder
8. "There are more love songs than anything else. If songs could make you do something we'd all love one another." ~ Frank Zappa
9. "Music isn't just learning notes and playing them, You learn notes to play to the music of your soul." ~ Katie Greenwood
10. "I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music." ~ Billy Joel
11. "Music is the vernacular of the human soul." ~ Geoffrey Latham
12. "My mother would cry about my blindness and the hopelessness of my ever seeing, but I told her I wasn't sad. I believed God had something for me to do." ~ Stevie Wonder
So there you have it -- twelve famous music quotes to celebrate the birthday of Stevie Wonder. Whether you're a fan of Stevie, a fan of triumph or just a fan of music in general, let's celebrate this great man's accomplishments together this year. It is not everyday we get to know someone this special, insightful and courageous. Let's celebrate Stevie Wonder's birthday with these great music quotes.
5 Reasons Why Audio Books are Killing the Paper Book
Audio books have gone crazy in popularity in the last couple of years. The technology involved, number of titles published added to the realization of the benefits that audio books can offer have combined to bring them very much into the mainstream as a genuine alternatives to paper back or hard back books. Indeed in many situations they offer much more than a traditional book could - You couldn't learn a language from a paper book while walking the dog could you? Of course not, but with an audio book you can!
So it will come as no surprise that so many people are going nuts for audiobooks. Here are just a few of the advantages that audio books have over normal hardcover or paperback books:
1) You can make incredibly constructive use of dead time. Time that would be otherwise utterly impossible to fill with a paper book. For example, listen to a section of a hyper motivational audiobook while on the way to work.
You'll not only learn but also save the time spent reading such a book. More than that though, a book is a passive device that you have to draw information out of.
An audio book in comparison pushes it to you. In the example of motivational audio books that's a massive advantage as you can get the worlds best motivators giving you a pre work pep talk every day.
That will, I absolutely guarantee you, energize you for the day ahead.
2) Audio books are much more cost efficient and environment kind than hard back and paper backs. Very simply they don't need trees to be cut down and greenhouse gases released to produce them.
3) With mp3 player functions such as mid track resume, bookmarking or simple visual chapter selection you can flip through them easily and quickly. Pick up where you left off or find a place easily again just like that.
4) You can listen to an audiobook when it's dark (example - walking the dog at night when you have no lights). So, with an audio book you can still 'read' no matter what the time or situation. I find them great when out fishing at night when you don't want to use a light but do want to have a book going.
5) Get the kids to sleep easier - With an audio book, unlike a normal book you can simply play it for them until they fall asleep. Plus with audio books specifically for children the narrator(s) are expert actor/speakers trained to read children's books so they make them loads of fun and then there are extras like the sound effects that really bring it to life better than you can (sorry to say but it's true!)
So why not go and check out some audiobooks today and find out for yourself how useful and how fun they are. There are loads of free audio books as well so you can test the water for free as well.
So it will come as no surprise that so many people are going nuts for audiobooks. Here are just a few of the advantages that audio books have over normal hardcover or paperback books:
1) You can make incredibly constructive use of dead time. Time that would be otherwise utterly impossible to fill with a paper book. For example, listen to a section of a hyper motivational audiobook while on the way to work.
You'll not only learn but also save the time spent reading such a book. More than that though, a book is a passive device that you have to draw information out of.
An audio book in comparison pushes it to you. In the example of motivational audio books that's a massive advantage as you can get the worlds best motivators giving you a pre work pep talk every day.
That will, I absolutely guarantee you, energize you for the day ahead.
2) Audio books are much more cost efficient and environment kind than hard back and paper backs. Very simply they don't need trees to be cut down and greenhouse gases released to produce them.
3) With mp3 player functions such as mid track resume, bookmarking or simple visual chapter selection you can flip through them easily and quickly. Pick up where you left off or find a place easily again just like that.
4) You can listen to an audiobook when it's dark (example - walking the dog at night when you have no lights). So, with an audio book you can still 'read' no matter what the time or situation. I find them great when out fishing at night when you don't want to use a light but do want to have a book going.
5) Get the kids to sleep easier - With an audio book, unlike a normal book you can simply play it for them until they fall asleep. Plus with audio books specifically for children the narrator(s) are expert actor/speakers trained to read children's books so they make them loads of fun and then there are extras like the sound effects that really bring it to life better than you can (sorry to say but it's true!)
So why not go and check out some audiobooks today and find out for yourself how useful and how fun they are. There are loads of free audio books as well so you can test the water for free as well.
10 Ways to Discover New Music
I listen to music all the time; at home, at work, in the car, sometimes even to help me sleep. But without the ability to find new music, I would soon get bored of the same old play lists. I've tried different methods over the years to expand my musical tastes, so hopefully some of these can be useful to somebody else.
1) BBC iPlayer Radio
Now I'm not a great fan of everything played on mainstream radio stations, including the BBC ones, but I do really enjoy using the BBC iPlayer radio. Annoyingly the BBC seems to have the habit of putting all it's niche shows on a stupids hours of the day, when nobody is listening, but with the iPlayer you can simple pick any of these shows from the last 7 days, and re-listen to it on your PC.
2) Music store latest releases
I find my local music stores pretty uninspiring at times, but it doesn't stop me walking in to check out the new releases, and staff recommendations stand. They may only have a handful of CDs in them at a time, but every few weeks I will walk in, scoop up a copy of each CD, and stroll over to a listening post to review my selection.
3) Last.fm
There are many social music sites about, but I seem to have made the most use of Last.fm. A simple plug-in to iTunes allows it to monitor all the music I listen to on my PC and iPod, and uploads the data to the Last.fm website. It's very interesting to be able to see some statistics on your listening habits, but it's most useful feature is the ability to view the listening habits of people that are deemed statistically similar to you. You can browse through your musical neighbors, looking out for bands that they listen to but you are not familiar with, and then even listen to sample tracks of them using the built in music player.
4) Pandora.com
Pandora is an automated music recommendation service, which allows you to input a band or track you enjoy, and it will build you a radio station of similar music for you to listen to. I used Pandora for about a year until sadly the service was restricted to only be available in the USA, although many similar services have popped up since, such as One Llama.
5) Go to gigs
Going to see a band you love live is fantastic, but often it's easy to underestimate the support bands. Support bands tend to be up and coming, or local bands you wouldn't normally run into, so are a great source of new sounds.
6) Pick up a music magazine
I confess I don't often buy music magazines, as I find the articles a waste of time. It might sound cheap, but often in shops I will pick up a copy of Kerrang, or the NME, and flip through to the new releases section, have a quick read and then return it to the shelf. I make a mental note of the bands, and then look them up later on the Internet, when I get home.
7) iTunes
I often use the iTunes store to search for and listen to samples of bands I'm investigating, such as ones I found on Last.fm. You may only have the ability to listen to short samples, but the iTunes catalog is vast, which means you've got a good chance of finding what your looking for. Once in a blue moon I even purchase using the store, as I'm to damn impatient, and can't wait for a CD to be delivered.
8) Magnatune
I discovered Magnatune at work, where I use an Ubuntu based Linux box for my daily tasks. The latest version of Rhythmbox that comes with the operating system, has been integrated with the Magnatune service. Magnatune allows you to listen to all the music you want for free, and even purchase songs using a "Pay what you deem fair" system. The music isn't very mainstream, but selecting a bunch of tracks and playing them on random keeps me entertained.
9) Put you MP3 Player on random
I have a large MP3 collection, which played end to end would span many weeks. It's very easy to find you have music you hardly ever, or never listen to. Putting your player on random, can often help your rediscover some hidden gems.
10) Ask your friends
Don't under estimate your friends or co-workers, even if they do seem to have lame taste in music. It's good to take interest in what other people are listening to, as it helps you diversify your listening habits, and explore something you wouldn't usually listen to.
1) BBC iPlayer Radio
Now I'm not a great fan of everything played on mainstream radio stations, including the BBC ones, but I do really enjoy using the BBC iPlayer radio. Annoyingly the BBC seems to have the habit of putting all it's niche shows on a stupids hours of the day, when nobody is listening, but with the iPlayer you can simple pick any of these shows from the last 7 days, and re-listen to it on your PC.
2) Music store latest releases
I find my local music stores pretty uninspiring at times, but it doesn't stop me walking in to check out the new releases, and staff recommendations stand. They may only have a handful of CDs in them at a time, but every few weeks I will walk in, scoop up a copy of each CD, and stroll over to a listening post to review my selection.
3) Last.fm
There are many social music sites about, but I seem to have made the most use of Last.fm. A simple plug-in to iTunes allows it to monitor all the music I listen to on my PC and iPod, and uploads the data to the Last.fm website. It's very interesting to be able to see some statistics on your listening habits, but it's most useful feature is the ability to view the listening habits of people that are deemed statistically similar to you. You can browse through your musical neighbors, looking out for bands that they listen to but you are not familiar with, and then even listen to sample tracks of them using the built in music player.
4) Pandora.com
Pandora is an automated music recommendation service, which allows you to input a band or track you enjoy, and it will build you a radio station of similar music for you to listen to. I used Pandora for about a year until sadly the service was restricted to only be available in the USA, although many similar services have popped up since, such as One Llama.
5) Go to gigs
Going to see a band you love live is fantastic, but often it's easy to underestimate the support bands. Support bands tend to be up and coming, or local bands you wouldn't normally run into, so are a great source of new sounds.
6) Pick up a music magazine
I confess I don't often buy music magazines, as I find the articles a waste of time. It might sound cheap, but often in shops I will pick up a copy of Kerrang, or the NME, and flip through to the new releases section, have a quick read and then return it to the shelf. I make a mental note of the bands, and then look them up later on the Internet, when I get home.
7) iTunes
I often use the iTunes store to search for and listen to samples of bands I'm investigating, such as ones I found on Last.fm. You may only have the ability to listen to short samples, but the iTunes catalog is vast, which means you've got a good chance of finding what your looking for. Once in a blue moon I even purchase using the store, as I'm to damn impatient, and can't wait for a CD to be delivered.
8) Magnatune
I discovered Magnatune at work, where I use an Ubuntu based Linux box for my daily tasks. The latest version of Rhythmbox that comes with the operating system, has been integrated with the Magnatune service. Magnatune allows you to listen to all the music you want for free, and even purchase songs using a "Pay what you deem fair" system. The music isn't very mainstream, but selecting a bunch of tracks and playing them on random keeps me entertained.
9) Put you MP3 Player on random
I have a large MP3 collection, which played end to end would span many weeks. It's very easy to find you have music you hardly ever, or never listen to. Putting your player on random, can often help your rediscover some hidden gems.
10) Ask your friends
Don't under estimate your friends or co-workers, even if they do seem to have lame taste in music. It's good to take interest in what other people are listening to, as it helps you diversify your listening habits, and explore something you wouldn't usually listen to.
Why NLP Accelerated Learning Techniques Are Useful For Learning To Play The Guitar
This article is about how you can learn NLP Accelerated Learning Techniques by applying those techniques to learning to play guitar.
Playing a guitar is a combination of skills and knowledge in a real time situation. Learning to do this quickly and easily is a real test of NLP and Accelerated Learning applications.
Playing a guitar is all about putting your fingers in the right place at the right time without hesitation, pause for thought or break in the flow. This might seem easy but consider what happens to get your fingers in the right place. If you are reading music then you have to translate the dots and lines to finger positions. If you are improvising you have to listen to the rest of the band and using your knowledge and experience play the most appropriate notes in response.
Learning music is a perfect environment for NLP Techniques. Many people have preconceived notions about music. It is difficult, you need talent and reading music is complex. These preconceived ideas and beliefs are often not helpful.
By breaking down the unhelpful beliefs and installing empowering ones you can start to build momentum making the learning of music very simple. One of the best applications of Accelerated Learning in music is Duncan Lorien’s Understanding of Music Seminar. Duncan takes the time to increase people’s understanding of the basic components of music and how anyone can apply them. He does this deliberately to break those old, unhelpful beliefs.
Practice is an area where musicians don’t always help themselves. Taking the time to find practice routines that stretch and challenge you enough to develop but not so much that you can’t perform is useful. Only PERFECT practice makes perfect so finding the right practice drills is imperative.
Perhaps a typical situation for a guitarist is finding a small section of a new piece of music they are learning that causes them trouble. Usually they will over practice that sections until it is perfect and then have difficulty putting it back into the whole piece. Along with this they might criticise themselves and install unhelpful beliefs and emotions about that part of the piece of music and their ability to play it.
You could take the difficult section and turn it into a series of finger exercises playing at different speeds, frets and keys…even different fingers. All of a sudden you have taken a problem and turned it into a routine for developing your muscle memory and flexibility. Celebrating this would be a true NLP Accelerated Learning approach.
By designing exercises carefully you only need to practice ten minutes a say to get significant progress. Duncan Lorien’s Understanding of Music Seminar actually contains 100 ten minute lessons that dramatically improve your playing ability. A skilled trainer can show you haw to break down a complex skill into sections and develop Accelerated Learning exercises from it. A good NLP Practitioner Course will show you these techniques. Learning to play the guitar has the added benefit of teaching you how NLP Training and Accelerated Learning can be used for learning complex skills.
Developing good practice routines and developing empowering beliefs are just two factors in developing skills using accelerated learning. The best way of understanding how to do this effectively is to invest in a good NLP Training Course.
Playing a guitar is a combination of skills and knowledge in a real time situation. Learning to do this quickly and easily is a real test of NLP and Accelerated Learning applications.
Playing a guitar is all about putting your fingers in the right place at the right time without hesitation, pause for thought or break in the flow. This might seem easy but consider what happens to get your fingers in the right place. If you are reading music then you have to translate the dots and lines to finger positions. If you are improvising you have to listen to the rest of the band and using your knowledge and experience play the most appropriate notes in response.
Learning music is a perfect environment for NLP Techniques. Many people have preconceived notions about music. It is difficult, you need talent and reading music is complex. These preconceived ideas and beliefs are often not helpful.
By breaking down the unhelpful beliefs and installing empowering ones you can start to build momentum making the learning of music very simple. One of the best applications of Accelerated Learning in music is Duncan Lorien’s Understanding of Music Seminar. Duncan takes the time to increase people’s understanding of the basic components of music and how anyone can apply them. He does this deliberately to break those old, unhelpful beliefs.
Practice is an area where musicians don’t always help themselves. Taking the time to find practice routines that stretch and challenge you enough to develop but not so much that you can’t perform is useful. Only PERFECT practice makes perfect so finding the right practice drills is imperative.
Perhaps a typical situation for a guitarist is finding a small section of a new piece of music they are learning that causes them trouble. Usually they will over practice that sections until it is perfect and then have difficulty putting it back into the whole piece. Along with this they might criticise themselves and install unhelpful beliefs and emotions about that part of the piece of music and their ability to play it.
You could take the difficult section and turn it into a series of finger exercises playing at different speeds, frets and keys…even different fingers. All of a sudden you have taken a problem and turned it into a routine for developing your muscle memory and flexibility. Celebrating this would be a true NLP Accelerated Learning approach.
By designing exercises carefully you only need to practice ten minutes a say to get significant progress. Duncan Lorien’s Understanding of Music Seminar actually contains 100 ten minute lessons that dramatically improve your playing ability. A skilled trainer can show you haw to break down a complex skill into sections and develop Accelerated Learning exercises from it. A good NLP Practitioner Course will show you these techniques. Learning to play the guitar has the added benefit of teaching you how NLP Training and Accelerated Learning can be used for learning complex skills.
Developing good practice routines and developing empowering beliefs are just two factors in developing skills using accelerated learning. The best way of understanding how to do this effectively is to invest in a good NLP Training Course.
Peer-To-Peer: A Musicians Highway to the World
Peer-to-peer is the term used to describe a complex computer network. It is very different from a regular computer network as there are no centralised servers; it is simply a group of nodes connecting for the purpose of sharing files.
Instead of relying on a busy, slow FTP servers or websites for a bunch of files, peer to peer networks distribute or transfer files over a network as large as the amount of people using it is. In fact it enables those who download the files to upload them to others at the same time. In effect the more people you have downloading the file the more people you will have distributing the file on your behalf.
On a regular website, in order to get the best transfer speeds, you would need to keep your sites a secret and not tell others about the page. With peer to Peer, you actually benefit by having a larger group of people aware of your page. For musicians wishing to get there music heard this can be a simple, free and easy answer.
The broad term used to describe this process is called P2P technology. The key of course is to take advantage of this wonderful technology while at the same time maintaining control of your music. Let your talent be seen, and discovered and then let them pay you to listen to your albums and tracks.
Peer-to-peer networks are tools just like many others that we employ in our day to day lives. A car when driven improperly can kill people. Does this make the car bad? Of course not! The same thing applies to peer-to-peer networking technology. It is not intrinsically bad or malicious. It is a very effective tool that unfortunately is being misused by a large number of people.
There are many more people that use P2P networks for legitimate file sharing (which does not infringe copyrights). It is a way for small independent musicians to release their music to the masses. It is a method that can be used to disseminate information quickly and easily without incurring huge transfer costs in bandwidth. In fact it is one of the most efficient ways of distributing information that man has ever created.
Contrary to popular beliefs, giving your music away for free does not mean you can not make money from your music. In fact this could not be further from the truth.
Instead of relying on a busy, slow FTP servers or websites for a bunch of files, peer to peer networks distribute or transfer files over a network as large as the amount of people using it is. In fact it enables those who download the files to upload them to others at the same time. In effect the more people you have downloading the file the more people you will have distributing the file on your behalf.
On a regular website, in order to get the best transfer speeds, you would need to keep your sites a secret and not tell others about the page. With peer to Peer, you actually benefit by having a larger group of people aware of your page. For musicians wishing to get there music heard this can be a simple, free and easy answer.
The broad term used to describe this process is called P2P technology. The key of course is to take advantage of this wonderful technology while at the same time maintaining control of your music. Let your talent be seen, and discovered and then let them pay you to listen to your albums and tracks.
Peer-to-peer networks are tools just like many others that we employ in our day to day lives. A car when driven improperly can kill people. Does this make the car bad? Of course not! The same thing applies to peer-to-peer networking technology. It is not intrinsically bad or malicious. It is a very effective tool that unfortunately is being misused by a large number of people.
There are many more people that use P2P networks for legitimate file sharing (which does not infringe copyrights). It is a way for small independent musicians to release their music to the masses. It is a method that can be used to disseminate information quickly and easily without incurring huge transfer costs in bandwidth. In fact it is one of the most efficient ways of distributing information that man has ever created.
Contrary to popular beliefs, giving your music away for free does not mean you can not make money from your music. In fact this could not be further from the truth.
The Six Sigma Music Business: Keep your audiences coming back for more!
Six Sigma? What could a statistical math term possibly have to do with music? Well I could bore you with a long answer on the statistical benefits, or I could explain it in one simple sentence.
Six Sigma is about quality, service, and making sure that your customers or "audiences" keep coming back for more! Would you like your audiences to come back for more?
The more your audiences come back to see you;
• The more of your music they purchase.
• The more concert tickets you sell.
• The more promotional items you sell.
• The more venue’s you fill.
• The more publicity you get.
• The more money you earn!
Of course you want your audiences to come back for more! Every musician wants to have his or her music appreciated. Every musician wants to sell more albums and more concert tickets.
So what does six sigma have to do with that? Using six sigma techniques provides you with a clear understanding of what your customers expect. It helps you identify who your customers or audiences are and ensures you reach them.
Does six sigma mean you change your music to accommodate the masses? Well of course not! Your music is your creative essence. The key to success is not to change your music to fit the wrong audience, the key is to reach the right audience and make sure they always know where, when, and how to find you.
Do you actually know who your customers are? Can you tell me where they come from? How they found you? Or even what it is that they like about you, your music, or your work?
Most musicians and bands that I come across always say the same thing! "Of course we do!" Yet when I ask them how their audience found them they would always answer "At the bar!" When I asked for specifics I always got the same answer! "I don’t know".
The key to music success is knowing who your audience is and how to reach them. If you where a Gospel Singer, where would you most likely find an audience that appreciates your music, in a church or a Jazz bar? I know, I made it a bit obvious but rest assured it is not always that clear.
Ok, so I said that six sigma means quality! What does that imply? Well in general terms six sigma means that out of 1,000,000 occurrences no more then 3.4 have defects. Looking at it from the music industry point of view it could mean that:
• For every 1,000,000 people that hear you sing all but 3 want more!
• For every 1,000,000 concerts that you perform all but 3 sell out completely!
• For every 1,000,000 albums you sell all but 3 customers want to buy more of your albums.
Do I need to go on? I think you pretty much have the idea! Think of the possibilities. A large audience full of very happy people or "customers". How much money is that worth? Its mind boggling!
Ok, I know, the next question is always, "Why just 3, why not 4, 5, or even 100 out of 1,000,000, it is still a very small percentage of the total?"
Yes that is true and it is often the most common mistake that anyone in the industry can make. The key to understand this is in recognizing that it is impossible to actually measure lost opportunities. The one person that left your concert in disgust could have represented the record label that would have sold the largest quantity of your albums.
Many years ago companies where targeting the three sigma level of quality. This translates to about 2,700 defects per million. Consider what this would mean if it was applied to other processes used today.
• No modern computer would function
• 270 million wrong credit card transactions
• Don’t even think about getting on an airplane!
I think by now you have probably gotten the point. The thing to consider is this. How much money would you be making if every 999,997 people that listened to your music wanted to hear more!
Six Sigma is about quality, service, and making sure that your customers or "audiences" keep coming back for more! Would you like your audiences to come back for more?
The more your audiences come back to see you;
• The more of your music they purchase.
• The more concert tickets you sell.
• The more promotional items you sell.
• The more venue’s you fill.
• The more publicity you get.
• The more money you earn!
Of course you want your audiences to come back for more! Every musician wants to have his or her music appreciated. Every musician wants to sell more albums and more concert tickets.
So what does six sigma have to do with that? Using six sigma techniques provides you with a clear understanding of what your customers expect. It helps you identify who your customers or audiences are and ensures you reach them.
Does six sigma mean you change your music to accommodate the masses? Well of course not! Your music is your creative essence. The key to success is not to change your music to fit the wrong audience, the key is to reach the right audience and make sure they always know where, when, and how to find you.
Do you actually know who your customers are? Can you tell me where they come from? How they found you? Or even what it is that they like about you, your music, or your work?
Most musicians and bands that I come across always say the same thing! "Of course we do!" Yet when I ask them how their audience found them they would always answer "At the bar!" When I asked for specifics I always got the same answer! "I don’t know".
The key to music success is knowing who your audience is and how to reach them. If you where a Gospel Singer, where would you most likely find an audience that appreciates your music, in a church or a Jazz bar? I know, I made it a bit obvious but rest assured it is not always that clear.
Ok, so I said that six sigma means quality! What does that imply? Well in general terms six sigma means that out of 1,000,000 occurrences no more then 3.4 have defects. Looking at it from the music industry point of view it could mean that:
• For every 1,000,000 people that hear you sing all but 3 want more!
• For every 1,000,000 concerts that you perform all but 3 sell out completely!
• For every 1,000,000 albums you sell all but 3 customers want to buy more of your albums.
Do I need to go on? I think you pretty much have the idea! Think of the possibilities. A large audience full of very happy people or "customers". How much money is that worth? Its mind boggling!
Ok, I know, the next question is always, "Why just 3, why not 4, 5, or even 100 out of 1,000,000, it is still a very small percentage of the total?"
Yes that is true and it is often the most common mistake that anyone in the industry can make. The key to understand this is in recognizing that it is impossible to actually measure lost opportunities. The one person that left your concert in disgust could have represented the record label that would have sold the largest quantity of your albums.
Many years ago companies where targeting the three sigma level of quality. This translates to about 2,700 defects per million. Consider what this would mean if it was applied to other processes used today.
• No modern computer would function
• 270 million wrong credit card transactions
• Don’t even think about getting on an airplane!
I think by now you have probably gotten the point. The thing to consider is this. How much money would you be making if every 999,997 people that listened to your music wanted to hear more!
Selecting A Music System Made Easy
Today’s life is full of stress. Listening to music is a good and easy way of getting rid of the tensions. To enjoy music one needs to have a nice music system at home. It is easy to purchase a music system as it is available in any shop selling electronic goods. Even though one need not require a music system of the quality of that used in a recording studio, it is always better to think thoroughly before purchasing one as is the case with any of the durable goods. A little planning and forethought towards the present as well as future requirements will enable us to decide on the type of the music system we need. This article gives you guidelines to help you select a good music system as per your requirement.
An iPod is all that you need if it is for personal use. This can be heard without disturbing others and also can be carried along with you. It can be a good companion during a journey. The latest iPods come with added capacities and even video viewing features to keep you entertained during periods that you have nothing better to do. If it is for using in your drawing room a DVD player or MP3 player will be sufficient. This can also be used outdoors if it has got a battery pack attached to it. It will be useful when you go on a family picnic. But, if you are planning to channel music to a number of rooms of your house a bigger system capable of feeding a number of speaker sets will be required. Also, care should be taken that the speaker sets in each room can be switched off independently. Some of these systems can also be used for music recording at your home.
A home theater is a more advanced system which can be used to watch video apart from listening to music. It also can be used to play video games which are the craze of the present day kids. It always comes with a remote control. One should check that the latest software is available in the system so as to obtain best performance from it. You can also download music software from the Internet to update your system.
Upon deciding about the system requirement the next step is to select a particular system. Your past experiences and also opinions about various makes that can be gathered from people will be giving you a good insight into this. In any case, it is always better to select a model of a company of good reputation, which gives adequate guarantee and have a servicing center near to you. This aspect is important. One should not blindly believe in exaggerating advertisements and compromise on your decision even though other models may be offering certain freebies.
Lastly a thought can be given to the color, shape and other external features of the equipment so that it matches the interiors of your home. It is better to check for proper operation of all the functions as laid out in the manual at the shop itself.
An iPod is all that you need if it is for personal use. This can be heard without disturbing others and also can be carried along with you. It can be a good companion during a journey. The latest iPods come with added capacities and even video viewing features to keep you entertained during periods that you have nothing better to do. If it is for using in your drawing room a DVD player or MP3 player will be sufficient. This can also be used outdoors if it has got a battery pack attached to it. It will be useful when you go on a family picnic. But, if you are planning to channel music to a number of rooms of your house a bigger system capable of feeding a number of speaker sets will be required. Also, care should be taken that the speaker sets in each room can be switched off independently. Some of these systems can also be used for music recording at your home.
A home theater is a more advanced system which can be used to watch video apart from listening to music. It also can be used to play video games which are the craze of the present day kids. It always comes with a remote control. One should check that the latest software is available in the system so as to obtain best performance from it. You can also download music software from the Internet to update your system.
Upon deciding about the system requirement the next step is to select a particular system. Your past experiences and also opinions about various makes that can be gathered from people will be giving you a good insight into this. In any case, it is always better to select a model of a company of good reputation, which gives adequate guarantee and have a servicing center near to you. This aspect is important. One should not blindly believe in exaggerating advertisements and compromise on your decision even though other models may be offering certain freebies.
Lastly a thought can be given to the color, shape and other external features of the equipment so that it matches the interiors of your home. It is better to check for proper operation of all the functions as laid out in the manual at the shop itself.
How To Learn Guitar, The Basics
Learn to play the guitar can easily be achieved by almost anyone who wants to try it.
There are different methods, and it is hard to decide which is the best way to learn to play guitar. As a matter of fact, there are differing opinions on the best way to learn the guitar. There are probably several different methods that could be described as the best way to learn to play guitar depending on the student.
Learning to play a guitar is almost equal to using the best instrument possible. Naturally, people learn faster and easier if they have the right equipment for the activity.
The time spent at work on the instrument depends on your goals. For the guitar as an instrument, nothing replaces a regular practice. It is more effective to work a little each day and that many, but more rarely. For a beginner, a half-hour per day may be sufficient to make steady progress.
First you must know that type of music, you want to learn to play the guitar. Would you play of Johann Sebastian Bach, Matteo Carcassi.
In this case, but rather choose to learn to play classical guitar.
If you want to play as Guns N'Roses Rock, Eric Clapton, Van Halen, Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Jeff Beck, Chuck Berry should be chosen to play the guitar Electric.
Then you want to learn Folk Guitar, played by Grand as a folk guitarist, Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Michael Hedges.
Learn to play Guitar Blues (my favorite). It is played with an electric guitar type Gibson ES-345 Reissue Electric Blues Guitar. Major Blues are Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters.
Finally of course you have the Jazz, who plays guitar with a type Fender American Standard Jazz Bass Guitar. Major players guitar jazz Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Mick Goodrick, George Benson.
Now that you know what you want to play, you have to choose your guitar.
For this reason, it is important to invest and buy a good, not necessarily the best, guitar. This is because good guitars have better strings that will trigger quality play and better sound. Good guitars provide comfort to those who have not yet experienced playing the guitar.
There are different methods, and it is hard to decide which is the best way to learn to play guitar. As a matter of fact, there are differing opinions on the best way to learn the guitar. There are probably several different methods that could be described as the best way to learn to play guitar depending on the student.
Learning to play a guitar is almost equal to using the best instrument possible. Naturally, people learn faster and easier if they have the right equipment for the activity.
The time spent at work on the instrument depends on your goals. For the guitar as an instrument, nothing replaces a regular practice. It is more effective to work a little each day and that many, but more rarely. For a beginner, a half-hour per day may be sufficient to make steady progress.
First you must know that type of music, you want to learn to play the guitar. Would you play of Johann Sebastian Bach, Matteo Carcassi.
In this case, but rather choose to learn to play classical guitar.
If you want to play as Guns N'Roses Rock, Eric Clapton, Van Halen, Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Jeff Beck, Chuck Berry should be chosen to play the guitar Electric.
Then you want to learn Folk Guitar, played by Grand as a folk guitarist, Judy Collins, Joan Baez, Michael Hedges.
Learn to play Guitar Blues (my favorite). It is played with an electric guitar type Gibson ES-345 Reissue Electric Blues Guitar. Major Blues are Robert Johnson, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters.
Finally of course you have the Jazz, who plays guitar with a type Fender American Standard Jazz Bass Guitar. Major players guitar jazz Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Mick Goodrick, George Benson.
Now that you know what you want to play, you have to choose your guitar.
For this reason, it is important to invest and buy a good, not necessarily the best, guitar. This is because good guitars have better strings that will trigger quality play and better sound. Good guitars provide comfort to those who have not yet experienced playing the guitar.
Country Music: The Evergreen Classical Songs
Music is the passion for many of us and it gives the reasons to enjoy our lives. Various types of music are popular in different parts of the world. People from different cultures enjoy their festivals in several ways. The music industry is an organised sector now and thousands of artists and singers have build up their careers in this field. Though today's youths and adults are passionate for pop songs & rock stars, the popularity of evergreen classical numbers has not reduced. Many people are still fond of the classical songs and often listen to them.
Country music is a popular musical form that has its roots in traditional music. It has a very unique style that excites the youths and adults in the UK. The blues, gospel, Celtic and folk music are the roots of it and therefore it is popular among all kinds of music lovers. Its popularity can be understood by the fact that even in today's modern world, the listeners enjoy it. With the radical changes in the music industry, the Country songs have also been modified by the modern artists. The modifications have made them more popular and therefore they have got huge response in the markets.
One can find various kinds of Country music and most of them are highly popular. In fact, many new songs have been recorded in such a way that they fit into the style of Country musical forms. Some of the famous singers who are known for singing such songs are Bob Wills, George Strait, Willie Nelson, etc. The rhythms and structures of the chords of the Country songs have attracted many other renowned singers all over the world. The style of these songs has been adapted by many choreographers and they have produced several hit numbers such as "Milk Cow Blues" and "I Let Her Lie". Many rock stars and renowned singers of today's music world have also sung these songs and they have got huge popularity in the markets.
The history of Country Music songs has been very interesting. These songs have been there for a long time but they became popular after 1960. Now, they have been classified into two forms viz., traditional and solo vocal. Unlike earlier, the younger performers and artists can be seen today and they have brought the excitement factor in the latest Country songs. Basically, these are the genres that have got good lyrics, special effects, loud tunes and many other factors which make them so popular. The DVDs which contain the hit numbers of Country songs can be availed from a number of places. The Online Music websites provide the cheap DVDs to the customers and make them delighted. Many lucrative deals and schemes are also offered on these online marketplaces.
Some of the Latest Country Music genres are Dixie Chicks' "Home", Kelly Wills' "Easy" and Allison Moorer's "Miss Fortune". Various other artists like Rhonda Vincent, Brad Paisley and Danni Leigh are also gaining fame these days for their wonderful songs. The music CDs/DVDs have become very useful since one can record and listen to these kinds of music genres whenever one wishes. One can easily afford these products and enjoy listening to his or her favourite songs. All the latest genres are available on the online portals with many special and free offers. Many sites offer the opportunity to the customers to download their songs at a nominal price. Some of the popular websites from which these songs can be downloaded are Amazon.co.uk and Buy.com. The customers can place their orders on these portals and the products are delivered to them within the specified period of time. Mobile phones are used extensively these days and the handsets have come up with many advanced features. One can store a large number of songs in his or her phone and enjoy listening them irrespective of time & location. The Country songs can also be saved in the mobile devices and the users can even set them as ringtones in order to attract others.
Country music is a popular musical form that has its roots in traditional music. It has a very unique style that excites the youths and adults in the UK. The blues, gospel, Celtic and folk music are the roots of it and therefore it is popular among all kinds of music lovers. Its popularity can be understood by the fact that even in today's modern world, the listeners enjoy it. With the radical changes in the music industry, the Country songs have also been modified by the modern artists. The modifications have made them more popular and therefore they have got huge response in the markets.
One can find various kinds of Country music and most of them are highly popular. In fact, many new songs have been recorded in such a way that they fit into the style of Country musical forms. Some of the famous singers who are known for singing such songs are Bob Wills, George Strait, Willie Nelson, etc. The rhythms and structures of the chords of the Country songs have attracted many other renowned singers all over the world. The style of these songs has been adapted by many choreographers and they have produced several hit numbers such as "Milk Cow Blues" and "I Let Her Lie". Many rock stars and renowned singers of today's music world have also sung these songs and they have got huge popularity in the markets.
The history of Country Music songs has been very interesting. These songs have been there for a long time but they became popular after 1960. Now, they have been classified into two forms viz., traditional and solo vocal. Unlike earlier, the younger performers and artists can be seen today and they have brought the excitement factor in the latest Country songs. Basically, these are the genres that have got good lyrics, special effects, loud tunes and many other factors which make them so popular. The DVDs which contain the hit numbers of Country songs can be availed from a number of places. The Online Music websites provide the cheap DVDs to the customers and make them delighted. Many lucrative deals and schemes are also offered on these online marketplaces.
Some of the Latest Country Music genres are Dixie Chicks' "Home", Kelly Wills' "Easy" and Allison Moorer's "Miss Fortune". Various other artists like Rhonda Vincent, Brad Paisley and Danni Leigh are also gaining fame these days for their wonderful songs. The music CDs/DVDs have become very useful since one can record and listen to these kinds of music genres whenever one wishes. One can easily afford these products and enjoy listening to his or her favourite songs. All the latest genres are available on the online portals with many special and free offers. Many sites offer the opportunity to the customers to download their songs at a nominal price. Some of the popular websites from which these songs can be downloaded are Amazon.co.uk and Buy.com. The customers can place their orders on these portals and the products are delivered to them within the specified period of time. Mobile phones are used extensively these days and the handsets have come up with many advanced features. One can store a large number of songs in his or her phone and enjoy listening them irrespective of time & location. The Country songs can also be saved in the mobile devices and the users can even set them as ringtones in order to attract others.
Elements of Classical Music
For the most part it can be distinguished by the type of instruments in the musical piece. Most modern forms of music only have a couple of instrumentations used in its creation, whereas classical music uses several types of instrumentation. Musicians of this type of music are extremely skilled in their chosen instrument because of the detailed compositions.
The instruments used in classical music generally come from five or so different groups of instruments, including string instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments and percussion instruments. The use of these types of instruments generally makes up a symphonic orchestra. When the human voice is added to this ensemble of instrument, and opera is formed.
The forms of classical music are numerous as and tend to be very well defined. The concerto is a musical work in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra. This form of music was established in the Baroque period and has continued to be a strong musical force today. The symphony is a musical composition and is usually for an orchestra. The opera is an art form in which singer and musicians work together to produce a work that combines text and musical. Another form is known as dance music and its specific use is to facilitate or accompany dancing. This form can either be a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. The suite form of music is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral pieces of music that are performed in a concert setting rather than as accompaniments. An etude is a short musical composition designed to provide practice in a particular technical skill in the performance of a solo instrument. A symphonic poem, also known as a tone poem, is a piece of orchestral music in one movement in which some extra-musical program provides a narrative or illustrative event.
Classical music requires a strong knowledge of music and as well as skill in playing an instrument. Knowledge of music must include the familiarity of development, modulation, variation, musical phrases that are of differing lengths, counterpoint, polyphony as well as sophisticated harmony. The skill involved in playing an instrument requires the musician to be adept at sight reading, have the ability to coordinate with other players in the ensemble as well as experience in playing a composer’s music.
The popularity of classical music has been debated for years. It has been said that it is strictly for upper-class citizens, and at the same time others have said that it is popular with the working class. All in all, the popularity depends on what one considers to be classical music. Certain staples of classical music are often used commercially. Movies and television often use standard clichéd pieces of classical music to convey certain emotions to their audiences. In order for the commercial use of classical music to be effective, it has to rely on the fact that anyone who listens to the music will recognize it and be emotionally drawn to it.
Classical music has many forms that make up the genre, even though no specific form is implied in its description. The knowledge and skill of classical musicians makes these musicians sought after for orchestras or symphonies. The commercial use of certain classical pieces helps to keep the classical music alive and available to all classes of people.
The instruments used in classical music generally come from five or so different groups of instruments, including string instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments and percussion instruments. The use of these types of instruments generally makes up a symphonic orchestra. When the human voice is added to this ensemble of instrument, and opera is formed.
The forms of classical music are numerous as and tend to be very well defined. The concerto is a musical work in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra. This form of music was established in the Baroque period and has continued to be a strong musical force today. The symphony is a musical composition and is usually for an orchestra. The opera is an art form in which singer and musicians work together to produce a work that combines text and musical. Another form is known as dance music and its specific use is to facilitate or accompany dancing. This form can either be a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. The suite form of music is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral pieces of music that are performed in a concert setting rather than as accompaniments. An etude is a short musical composition designed to provide practice in a particular technical skill in the performance of a solo instrument. A symphonic poem, also known as a tone poem, is a piece of orchestral music in one movement in which some extra-musical program provides a narrative or illustrative event.
Classical music requires a strong knowledge of music and as well as skill in playing an instrument. Knowledge of music must include the familiarity of development, modulation, variation, musical phrases that are of differing lengths, counterpoint, polyphony as well as sophisticated harmony. The skill involved in playing an instrument requires the musician to be adept at sight reading, have the ability to coordinate with other players in the ensemble as well as experience in playing a composer’s music.
The popularity of classical music has been debated for years. It has been said that it is strictly for upper-class citizens, and at the same time others have said that it is popular with the working class. All in all, the popularity depends on what one considers to be classical music. Certain staples of classical music are often used commercially. Movies and television often use standard clichéd pieces of classical music to convey certain emotions to their audiences. In order for the commercial use of classical music to be effective, it has to rely on the fact that anyone who listens to the music will recognize it and be emotionally drawn to it.
Classical music has many forms that make up the genre, even though no specific form is implied in its description. The knowledge and skill of classical musicians makes these musicians sought after for orchestras or symphonies. The commercial use of certain classical pieces helps to keep the classical music alive and available to all classes of people.
Indie Rock Music News
Maria Taylor has already released a number of music hits with the introduction of her first album. She is the epitome of indie-chic, and she can sing. And play guitar, drums and piano. Oh, and she is dating Conor Oberst.
Taylor released her solo music album, "Lynn Teeter Flower," recently, the same time that her beau released his "Four Winds EP", which includes five songs plus a cut from his upcoming eighth album "Cassadaga." The songstress has been recording music half her life and has been an integral member of Azure Ray, Now It’s Overheard and Little Red Rocket; the first two music bands still exist but are currently on hiatus. Two other Taylor sisters and two guests serve as the music band for this new music album produced by Spoon drummer Jim Eno. Many blogs about indie rock music artists get confused that when it comes to Saddle Creek artists so many get confused about their anecdotes. Some authors touted that Taylor sings backup on songs for The Faint and Bright Eyes. Just so everyone is clear, the appropriate way to use this nuanced information is to say that she sang on a friend’s music album. Saddle Creek and the larger indie rock music world is chock full of incestuous band member swapping and guest appearances.
Taylor’s music album was recorded over a period of four weeks in Athens, Ga. with a band member of Now It’s Overheard partner in crime, Andy LeMaster as well as in Omaha with Saddle Creek engineer extraordinaire Mike Mogis. The music album goes between harmony driven pop-rock songs and melancholic acoustic musings. The aptly named opening track "A Good Start" features Taylor’s ethereal vocals advising a friend to quit running from the world. Very emo music, people think, but in fact it is considered indie rock music.
The upbeat melody of "A Good Start" juxtaposes starkly with the next music track, the acoustic and introspective lo-fi cut "Clean Start." The down-tempo songs continue for a few tracks, but come to a screeching halt with the dance-worthy beats of "Irish Goodbye."
Taylor creates a Rilo Kiley-ish work but stays true to her distinct, otherworldly vocals. There are even traces of rap music from a man named RIG, which oddly enough doesn’t disrupt the power of the song, but helps break up the track. Two tracks stand out as profound music compositions. The simple guitars and mellow drums of "No Stars" are augmented and joined by piano and bass as each successive verse builds on the previous. The ambling track "The Ballad of Sean Foley" was co-written by Oberst. The lyrics are all Oberst, but the music is all Taylor; her voice even serves to fill in the holes of his warble. This effect can be felt when listening to Bright Eyes’ new single "Four Winds." Oberst’s voice is at its classical best with Taylor holding him up.
Taylor released her solo music album, "Lynn Teeter Flower," recently, the same time that her beau released his "Four Winds EP", which includes five songs plus a cut from his upcoming eighth album "Cassadaga." The songstress has been recording music half her life and has been an integral member of Azure Ray, Now It’s Overheard and Little Red Rocket; the first two music bands still exist but are currently on hiatus. Two other Taylor sisters and two guests serve as the music band for this new music album produced by Spoon drummer Jim Eno. Many blogs about indie rock music artists get confused that when it comes to Saddle Creek artists so many get confused about their anecdotes. Some authors touted that Taylor sings backup on songs for The Faint and Bright Eyes. Just so everyone is clear, the appropriate way to use this nuanced information is to say that she sang on a friend’s music album. Saddle Creek and the larger indie rock music world is chock full of incestuous band member swapping and guest appearances.
Taylor’s music album was recorded over a period of four weeks in Athens, Ga. with a band member of Now It’s Overheard partner in crime, Andy LeMaster as well as in Omaha with Saddle Creek engineer extraordinaire Mike Mogis. The music album goes between harmony driven pop-rock songs and melancholic acoustic musings. The aptly named opening track "A Good Start" features Taylor’s ethereal vocals advising a friend to quit running from the world. Very emo music, people think, but in fact it is considered indie rock music.
The upbeat melody of "A Good Start" juxtaposes starkly with the next music track, the acoustic and introspective lo-fi cut "Clean Start." The down-tempo songs continue for a few tracks, but come to a screeching halt with the dance-worthy beats of "Irish Goodbye."
Taylor creates a Rilo Kiley-ish work but stays true to her distinct, otherworldly vocals. There are even traces of rap music from a man named RIG, which oddly enough doesn’t disrupt the power of the song, but helps break up the track. Two tracks stand out as profound music compositions. The simple guitars and mellow drums of "No Stars" are augmented and joined by piano and bass as each successive verse builds on the previous. The ambling track "The Ballad of Sean Foley" was co-written by Oberst. The lyrics are all Oberst, but the music is all Taylor; her voice even serves to fill in the holes of his warble. This effect can be felt when listening to Bright Eyes’ new single "Four Winds." Oberst’s voice is at its classical best with Taylor holding him up.
Tuning the Ukulele: Seven Ways to Do It
When it comes to playing the ukulele, nothing will make you sound worse than being out of tune. For beginners, getting in tune can be a tricky task. There are many options for tuning. Some methods are easier than others, some methods are more accurate and some methods are cheaper. Find out which suits you best.
Tuning Notes Online
There are a number of websites on the net that will give you notes to tune to. You listen to the note and then try to match is as closely as possible on your uke. You will need to put in some practice until you can consistently find the right notes. But improving your ear is beneficial in many ways and is well worth the effort.
Downloadable Tuners
There are a number of tuners available free online. My personal favorite is the AP Tuner. You install these onto your computer, play into the mic and the tuner will tell you if you are sharp, flat or on pitch. The disadvantage of this is that you have to be near your computer.
Ukulele Tuners
Buying a tuner will mean you can get your ukulele in tune anywhere. The best type to buy if you play gigs or are a member of a ukulele club is a clip on tuner. Rather than picking up the sound, they work by picking up the vibrations of the ukulele. This means they can be used in noisy environments.
Using Pitch Pipes
Pitch pipes are the pre-digital era version of online tuning notes. They work like a mouth organ and have four holes: each one producing the right pitch for one of the ukulele strings. You play one note then tune your ukulele to match it.
Using a Piano
If you have a piano on hand, you can find the notes you need to tune your ukulele on there. The C on the uke is the middle C on the piano. E is two white keys up from that, G another two, then one more to A.
Using a Guitar
If you are playing with other instruments, it's vital that you are tuned to the same pitch. The tuning notes for the ukulele can be found on the guitar here:
G = 1st string, 3rd fret C = 2nd string, 1st fret E = 1st string open A = 1st string, 5th fret
Using the Ukulele Itself
If you have none of these things to hand. It's possible to tune the ukulele to itself. You need to take one string as your base. Since the C string tends to hold its tuning best, we'll use that. Playing the C string at the fourth fret will give you the note for the E string. The E string at the third fret will give you the G string. Play the second fret on the G string to get the note for the A string.
Having a ukulele tuner will mean you can be sure you are in tune. However, it's a good idea to practice tuning by ear. This is an essential skill to pick up. You can always test yourself against the tuner to see how close you are and how much you are improving.
Tuning Notes Online
There are a number of websites on the net that will give you notes to tune to. You listen to the note and then try to match is as closely as possible on your uke. You will need to put in some practice until you can consistently find the right notes. But improving your ear is beneficial in many ways and is well worth the effort.
Downloadable Tuners
There are a number of tuners available free online. My personal favorite is the AP Tuner. You install these onto your computer, play into the mic and the tuner will tell you if you are sharp, flat or on pitch. The disadvantage of this is that you have to be near your computer.
Ukulele Tuners
Buying a tuner will mean you can get your ukulele in tune anywhere. The best type to buy if you play gigs or are a member of a ukulele club is a clip on tuner. Rather than picking up the sound, they work by picking up the vibrations of the ukulele. This means they can be used in noisy environments.
Using Pitch Pipes
Pitch pipes are the pre-digital era version of online tuning notes. They work like a mouth organ and have four holes: each one producing the right pitch for one of the ukulele strings. You play one note then tune your ukulele to match it.
Using a Piano
If you have a piano on hand, you can find the notes you need to tune your ukulele on there. The C on the uke is the middle C on the piano. E is two white keys up from that, G another two, then one more to A.
Using a Guitar
If you are playing with other instruments, it's vital that you are tuned to the same pitch. The tuning notes for the ukulele can be found on the guitar here:
G = 1st string, 3rd fret C = 2nd string, 1st fret E = 1st string open A = 1st string, 5th fret
Using the Ukulele Itself
If you have none of these things to hand. It's possible to tune the ukulele to itself. You need to take one string as your base. Since the C string tends to hold its tuning best, we'll use that. Playing the C string at the fourth fret will give you the note for the E string. The E string at the third fret will give you the G string. Play the second fret on the G string to get the note for the A string.
Having a ukulele tuner will mean you can be sure you are in tune. However, it's a good idea to practice tuning by ear. This is an essential skill to pick up. You can always test yourself against the tuner to see how close you are and how much you are improving.
Free Music Downloads
While downloading music is one of the most popular online activities, besides social networking and playing games, there is a lot of information that is not made available to the public at large.
There are a number of serious issues that should be understood when downloading music (which most people overlook) and there are also ways to obtain free music that are simply unknown by the majority of people online.
This is very important when considering the growing trend by the large music companies, of suing individuals who infringe on their copyrights. Court records show a large number of out of court settlements, with fines ranging from $3000 to $5000, and maximum awards in excess of $250,000.
As if the fines and legal issues where not enough of a problem now there is the added danger of downloading music imbedded with spyware and viruses. The need to be cautious in your quest for free downloadable music is evident.
Having access to free music download files means that you can enjoy as much music as you want in your own home whenever you want it. You will find that many musicians are now freely giving away their music as a way to promote themselves and their bands. The concept of free legal downloads means that you have permission from the author or creator to download their intellectual property.
Free music downloads have surged in popularity since the emergence of the Internet and even more so in the last few years. With the advent of iTunes, the mass population has become more accustomed to buying their music from the Internet in the form of single track downloads from membership websites. No longer is it necessary to purchase an entire album when you really only want a single track.
A huge shift occurred and people have moved toward digital media for the ease of use and speed of acquisition that it offers. As such, more and more people have begun to search the Internet for music rather than going to the local record shop.
You can find and use free and legal music downloads from a number of sources and in a number of ways. The key is to be aware of the dangers and also to know what you can use legally and what will get you into trouble.
There are a number of serious issues that should be understood when downloading music (which most people overlook) and there are also ways to obtain free music that are simply unknown by the majority of people online.
This is very important when considering the growing trend by the large music companies, of suing individuals who infringe on their copyrights. Court records show a large number of out of court settlements, with fines ranging from $3000 to $5000, and maximum awards in excess of $250,000.
As if the fines and legal issues where not enough of a problem now there is the added danger of downloading music imbedded with spyware and viruses. The need to be cautious in your quest for free downloadable music is evident.
Having access to free music download files means that you can enjoy as much music as you want in your own home whenever you want it. You will find that many musicians are now freely giving away their music as a way to promote themselves and their bands. The concept of free legal downloads means that you have permission from the author or creator to download their intellectual property.
Free music downloads have surged in popularity since the emergence of the Internet and even more so in the last few years. With the advent of iTunes, the mass population has become more accustomed to buying their music from the Internet in the form of single track downloads from membership websites. No longer is it necessary to purchase an entire album when you really only want a single track.
A huge shift occurred and people have moved toward digital media for the ease of use and speed of acquisition that it offers. As such, more and more people have begun to search the Internet for music rather than going to the local record shop.
You can find and use free and legal music downloads from a number of sources and in a number of ways. The key is to be aware of the dangers and also to know what you can use legally and what will get you into trouble.
How to Buy Your First Bass Guitar
Have you been considering buying a bass guitar? If so you have made a great choice as far as musical instruments go. Bass guitars have a great deep sound and are very easy to learn how to play. Before you rush right out and buy one, here are some buying tips to give you some peace of mind. Online bass guitar purchases are just fine, but before buying I suggest you visit your local music shop to get a feel for what is out on the market. You want to see how the bass guitar fits you and feels in your hands. Most music shops will let you plug it in and play around with any guitar right in the store. If you know any experienced bassist, see if they do not mind tagging along with you, as most sales associates merely want to sell you any bass. Listen for the tone and quality of the sound that matches your taste.
Make sure you have a budget in mind before making a purchase, as a brand new bass guitar can cost you anywhere from $200 to $5000 depending on the brand, quality, and wood finish. Used basses tend to range from $100 to $1500 and are often just as good, although pricing and selection will vary from one locale to another. Consider buying a used bass. Most used bass guitars drop in price over the years and can offer much better quality and sound as a new bass would.
When you think you might have found a bass you like, do a search for that model on the internet to see if any reviews have been written from people who have already purchased that same model. Bass players are usually pretty straight forward on the bass guitars they have played and purchased.
Some great starter brands include Rogue, Squier and Epiphone. These brands of basses both look good and play great for the price. Fretless , acoustic and five-string basses each have their own type of sounds and pluses, but it is easiest to learn on a four string electric bass. Most beginner tutorials are written with the four-string bass in mind. Other brands of popular basses include: Fender, Gibson, Washburn, Ibanez, Rickenbacker and Yamaha to name a few.
There are great places to buy bass guitars online. eBay and Musicians Friend are great starting points to begin your search for that special first bass and you can usually purchase cheap bass guitars there as well.
Make sure you have a budget in mind before making a purchase, as a brand new bass guitar can cost you anywhere from $200 to $5000 depending on the brand, quality, and wood finish. Used basses tend to range from $100 to $1500 and are often just as good, although pricing and selection will vary from one locale to another. Consider buying a used bass. Most used bass guitars drop in price over the years and can offer much better quality and sound as a new bass would.
When you think you might have found a bass you like, do a search for that model on the internet to see if any reviews have been written from people who have already purchased that same model. Bass players are usually pretty straight forward on the bass guitars they have played and purchased.
Some great starter brands include Rogue, Squier and Epiphone. These brands of basses both look good and play great for the price. Fretless , acoustic and five-string basses each have their own type of sounds and pluses, but it is easiest to learn on a four string electric bass. Most beginner tutorials are written with the four-string bass in mind. Other brands of popular basses include: Fender, Gibson, Washburn, Ibanez, Rickenbacker and Yamaha to name a few.
There are great places to buy bass guitars online. eBay and Musicians Friend are great starting points to begin your search for that special first bass and you can usually purchase cheap bass guitars there as well.
Pulp Fiction Novels Get A New Life
Turn off the TV and pick up some good old fashioned Pulp Fiction…
Great Deals on some GREAT reads!
NEW LIFE FOR SOME OLD FAVORITES
While many rare books will never get a chance to become "reprints", here are some classics that have been given a new life. Originally published in the 30’s and 40’s, these Doc Savage and The Shadow pulp fiction novels reprints are delighting audiences 70 years later thanks in part to co-publisher Nostalgia Ventures, Inc. Each book which is printed in double novel format includes historical commentary by Will Murray and Anthony Tollin, along with original cover art and interior illustrations.
Complete Set of Doc Savage includes:Volume 1 Fortress Of Solitude & The Devil Genghis; Volume 2 Resurrection Day & Repe; Volume 3 Death In Silver & The Golden Peril; Volume 4 Land of Always Night & Mad Mesa; Volume 5 The Spook Legion & The Submarine Mystery; Volume 6 The Polar Treasure & Pirate Of The Pacific; Volume 7 The Lost Oasis & The Sargasso Ogre; Volume 8 The Sea Magician & The Living-Fire Menace; Volume 9 The Majii & The Golden Man; Volume 10 Dust Of Death & The Stone Man; Volume 11 Cold Death & The South Pole Terror: Volume 12 The Squeaking Goblin & The Evil Gnome: Volume 13 Brand Of The Werewolf & Fear Cay; Volume 14 75th Anniversary The Man Of Bronze & The Land Of Terror: Volume 15 The Red Spider & Other Cold War Thrillers. 4 Titles are available with James BAMA covers.
Complete Set of The Shadow: Volume 1 Crime Insured & The Golden Vulture; Volume 2 The Chinese Disks & Malmordo; Volume 3 The Red Blot & the Voodoo Master; Volume 4 The Murder Master & The Hydra; Volume 5 The Black Falcon & The Salamanders; Volume 6 The Shadow's Justice & The Salamanders; Volume 7 The Cobra & The Third Shadow; Volume 8 The London Crimes & Castle Of Doom; Volume 9 Lingo & Partners Of Peril Bonus: Grim Joker; Volume 10 The City Of Doom & The Fifth Face: Bonus: Radio Script - The Immortal Murderer by Alfred Lester; Volume 11 Road Of Crime & Crooks Go Straight; Volume 12 Serpents of Siva & The Magigals Mystery; Volume 13 Six Men Of Evil & The Devil Monsters; Volume 14 The Grove Of Doom & The Masked Lady; Volume 15 The Shadow Unmasks & The Yellow Road; Volume 16 City Of Crime & Shadow Over Alcatraz.
Every 5 weeks or so, pulp fiction fans can pick up a new novel from each series to add to their collection. And like most great companies that respond to customers’ needs, Nostalgia Ventures offers a "subscription package" for those pulp fiction fans who want to be the first on the block to receive their copy (even before retailers!). Customers can call Nostalgia Ventures Toll Free number (800) 886-0551 and ask for Adele. She’ll be happy to put you on their "auto-ship" program.
Great Deals on some GREAT reads!
NEW LIFE FOR SOME OLD FAVORITES
While many rare books will never get a chance to become "reprints", here are some classics that have been given a new life. Originally published in the 30’s and 40’s, these Doc Savage and The Shadow pulp fiction novels reprints are delighting audiences 70 years later thanks in part to co-publisher Nostalgia Ventures, Inc. Each book which is printed in double novel format includes historical commentary by Will Murray and Anthony Tollin, along with original cover art and interior illustrations.
Complete Set of Doc Savage includes:Volume 1 Fortress Of Solitude & The Devil Genghis; Volume 2 Resurrection Day & Repe; Volume 3 Death In Silver & The Golden Peril; Volume 4 Land of Always Night & Mad Mesa; Volume 5 The Spook Legion & The Submarine Mystery; Volume 6 The Polar Treasure & Pirate Of The Pacific; Volume 7 The Lost Oasis & The Sargasso Ogre; Volume 8 The Sea Magician & The Living-Fire Menace; Volume 9 The Majii & The Golden Man; Volume 10 Dust Of Death & The Stone Man; Volume 11 Cold Death & The South Pole Terror: Volume 12 The Squeaking Goblin & The Evil Gnome: Volume 13 Brand Of The Werewolf & Fear Cay; Volume 14 75th Anniversary The Man Of Bronze & The Land Of Terror: Volume 15 The Red Spider & Other Cold War Thrillers. 4 Titles are available with James BAMA covers.
Complete Set of The Shadow: Volume 1 Crime Insured & The Golden Vulture; Volume 2 The Chinese Disks & Malmordo; Volume 3 The Red Blot & the Voodoo Master; Volume 4 The Murder Master & The Hydra; Volume 5 The Black Falcon & The Salamanders; Volume 6 The Shadow's Justice & The Salamanders; Volume 7 The Cobra & The Third Shadow; Volume 8 The London Crimes & Castle Of Doom; Volume 9 Lingo & Partners Of Peril Bonus: Grim Joker; Volume 10 The City Of Doom & The Fifth Face: Bonus: Radio Script - The Immortal Murderer by Alfred Lester; Volume 11 Road Of Crime & Crooks Go Straight; Volume 12 Serpents of Siva & The Magigals Mystery; Volume 13 Six Men Of Evil & The Devil Monsters; Volume 14 The Grove Of Doom & The Masked Lady; Volume 15 The Shadow Unmasks & The Yellow Road; Volume 16 City Of Crime & Shadow Over Alcatraz.
Every 5 weeks or so, pulp fiction fans can pick up a new novel from each series to add to their collection. And like most great companies that respond to customers’ needs, Nostalgia Ventures offers a "subscription package" for those pulp fiction fans who want to be the first on the block to receive their copy (even before retailers!). Customers can call Nostalgia Ventures Toll Free number (800) 886-0551 and ask for Adele. She’ll be happy to put you on their "auto-ship" program.
Get the packaging right for your DVD and CD
Getting a CD or a DVD properly duplicated or replicated is obviously something very important for any company wanting to sell them or use them for business purposes.
Once you have done CD and DVD duplication or CD and DVD replication, CD or DVD packaging is something you should never forget to do as not doing it could easily penalize you. Even if the main and first role of packaging is simply to contain the product and to protect it, it can also have a more marketing and sales use.
In this case, CD or DVD packaging can be part of a very important strategy to make a product more appealing to its potential buyers. Actually, packaging can be so important that it may cost a lot more than the product inside. You can get different kind of packages to choose from when you are doing CD and DVD packaging. The first type of packaging is called "Wallets". Those wallets can be made of paper or plastic and are usually the most cost effective and simple packaging solution to use for CD and DVD packaging.
Maybe the most commonly used type of package is the jewel case that would have a booklet at the front and inlays at the rear of it. Clam shell box, also called C-shell are another form. They would include a booklet and could be printed according to the client’s will. They can be as big as a jewellery box or simply in plastic only surrounding the CD or DVD. This form for CD and DVD packaging is actually becoming increasingly popular. You could also get coversheet that would be the size of a book but mostly used for DVDs.
But one very important thing we tend to forget is the CD or DVD by itself. They can easily be printed as well to make the whole package much more appealing.
Marketing Directors of the biggest companies are now seeing the huge importance of packaging and start using more and more often packaging professionals or engineers, suppliers and designers that are all involved in early consumer research to find out the best and most appealing packaging for their product.
Once you have done CD and DVD duplication or CD and DVD replication, CD or DVD packaging is something you should never forget to do as not doing it could easily penalize you. Even if the main and first role of packaging is simply to contain the product and to protect it, it can also have a more marketing and sales use.
In this case, CD or DVD packaging can be part of a very important strategy to make a product more appealing to its potential buyers. Actually, packaging can be so important that it may cost a lot more than the product inside. You can get different kind of packages to choose from when you are doing CD and DVD packaging. The first type of packaging is called "Wallets". Those wallets can be made of paper or plastic and are usually the most cost effective and simple packaging solution to use for CD and DVD packaging.
Maybe the most commonly used type of package is the jewel case that would have a booklet at the front and inlays at the rear of it. Clam shell box, also called C-shell are another form. They would include a booklet and could be printed according to the client’s will. They can be as big as a jewellery box or simply in plastic only surrounding the CD or DVD. This form for CD and DVD packaging is actually becoming increasingly popular. You could also get coversheet that would be the size of a book but mostly used for DVDs.
But one very important thing we tend to forget is the CD or DVD by itself. They can easily be printed as well to make the whole package much more appealing.
Marketing Directors of the biggest companies are now seeing the huge importance of packaging and start using more and more often packaging professionals or engineers, suppliers and designers that are all involved in early consumer research to find out the best and most appealing packaging for their product.
How To Play Bass Guitar
This little essay on how to play bass guitar is aimed at the guitar player who needs to enter some kind of witness protection program but still maintain a tenuous connection with the world of music. This has proven to be a great way to keep your anonymity while staying in the public eye. The bass guitar player in a rock band maintains the rhythm of the song while the lead guitarist is checking out the chicks in the audience, and the drummer is recalling what decade he is in. To change to this subservient but useful role in a musical group requires a little understanding of the difference between a bass guitar and a real guitar together with some idea of bass guitar playing technique.
Theoretically any guitar player can switch from lead to bass although only one guitarist of note - Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake And Palmer - made a career out of it. It was rumored that he thought it would be a good way to stop attracting women. Actually he constantly switched between lead and bass while maintaining his position as lead singer. Clearly a guy with issues.
Anyway let us get onto the main features of a bass guitar. The standard tuning of a four string bass guitar is E A D G. The tunings are similar on the five string bass except for a low B string, and on a six string except for a high C string. So on a 6 string bass the tuning is B E A D G C. There are also seven string basses with a high F string. There are several ways you can tune a bass guitar but as they are the same as those used to tune a regular guitar, I will not mention them. As with other guitars you tune the bass guitar by loosening the string and tuning up to the note you are aiming for. Tune each string separately being careful to match the sound of the string to your bass guitar tuner. While we are on the subject of tuning, be sure to do a search for a free online bass guitar tuner.
On the electric bass guitar, the music is made by plucking with the index and middle fingers or with a pick. Early Fender basses had a "thumbrest" attached to the pickguard, below the strings. This was to rest the fingers while the thumb plucked the strings. The common perception is that the pick is used by rock bass players but players of all styles have their own individual techniques, sometimes using thumb, fingers or pick according to the sound they want. The guitar can sound different if all upstrokes, all downstrokes or alternating strokes of the pick are employed.
Some bass players such as Les Claypool and John Entwistle played using their fingernails similar to a classical acoustic guitarist. There is controversy among musical historians over whether bass guitarists who pluck with their fingers are innovators who have explored new horizons or they simply were not told about plectrums.
Playing the bass guitar needs a certain amount of speed and dexterity, and bass guitar music will demand that you develop your own style. For inspiration listen to the most popular and influential bass players of past generations such as Paul McCartney, Pino Palladino - the replacement bass player for John Entwistle in The Who, Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jaco Pastorius - called by many musicians the most innovative bass player ever, Mark King - a very fast English bass player, and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin.
Theoretically any guitar player can switch from lead to bass although only one guitarist of note - Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake And Palmer - made a career out of it. It was rumored that he thought it would be a good way to stop attracting women. Actually he constantly switched between lead and bass while maintaining his position as lead singer. Clearly a guy with issues.
Anyway let us get onto the main features of a bass guitar. The standard tuning of a four string bass guitar is E A D G. The tunings are similar on the five string bass except for a low B string, and on a six string except for a high C string. So on a 6 string bass the tuning is B E A D G C. There are also seven string basses with a high F string. There are several ways you can tune a bass guitar but as they are the same as those used to tune a regular guitar, I will not mention them. As with other guitars you tune the bass guitar by loosening the string and tuning up to the note you are aiming for. Tune each string separately being careful to match the sound of the string to your bass guitar tuner. While we are on the subject of tuning, be sure to do a search for a free online bass guitar tuner.
On the electric bass guitar, the music is made by plucking with the index and middle fingers or with a pick. Early Fender basses had a "thumbrest" attached to the pickguard, below the strings. This was to rest the fingers while the thumb plucked the strings. The common perception is that the pick is used by rock bass players but players of all styles have their own individual techniques, sometimes using thumb, fingers or pick according to the sound they want. The guitar can sound different if all upstrokes, all downstrokes or alternating strokes of the pick are employed.
Some bass players such as Les Claypool and John Entwistle played using their fingernails similar to a classical acoustic guitarist. There is controversy among musical historians over whether bass guitarists who pluck with their fingers are innovators who have explored new horizons or they simply were not told about plectrums.
Playing the bass guitar needs a certain amount of speed and dexterity, and bass guitar music will demand that you develop your own style. For inspiration listen to the most popular and influential bass players of past generations such as Paul McCartney, Pino Palladino - the replacement bass player for John Entwistle in The Who, Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jaco Pastorius - called by many musicians the most innovative bass player ever, Mark King - a very fast English bass player, and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin.
Music Piracy and the New Musician
Today’s click-and-download technology presents a greater threat to the music recording industry than all other past music-delivery technologies combined.
Music piracy exists in 3 different planes:
• Illegally mass-manufactured pirate music CDs
• Illegal copies of legitimately purchased music CDs
• Illegally downloaded digital copies of recorded music
A recent research study on the economic impact of music piracy (Institute for Policy Innovation, August 2007) paints a grim picture. The impact of music piracy to the U.S. economy is estimated at U.S. $12.5 billion annually. It is estimated that 71,060 jobs are lost or at risk due to the economic impact of piracy and the lost growth opportunities account for 26,860 jobs that would have otherwise been created in the recording industry. Even the U.S. government is affected by piracy with an estimated loss of $422 million in tax revenues from lost personal and corporate income due to piracy.
Of course, these figures are based upon the assumption that sales of recorded music on CD would have held constant, or increased, from year to year. The truth is, however, that CD sales are on the decline as MP3 players and other digital technology make the need for music on physical media obsolete.
In addition to falling CD sales, half of America’s independent record stores closed between 2003 and 2005. (NY Post). One of the largest international chains of recorded music sellers, Tower Records, closed its doors forever on December 22, 2006.
Want to see how prevalent music piracy really is? Here’s a real-time counter that shows the number of illegal music files downloaded around the world every second.
When the average person thinks of music piracy, he or she usually thinks of unauthorized sharing of downloaded or recorded music between small groups of friends. And while those numbers do contribute to the music industry’s losses, the biggest losses occur from the sale of pirated music that is burned onto CD-R disks by the thousands in small commercial laboratories by professional music pirates.
The costs of music piracy are staggering not only for the high profile superstars but for the new musicians as well. It is important for every musician and band member to understand the nature of music piracy and learn how to combat this problem. Know your rights, and learn about the technology that exists that can protect you and your intellectual property (music) from piracy.
Music piracy exists in 3 different planes:
• Illegally mass-manufactured pirate music CDs
• Illegal copies of legitimately purchased music CDs
• Illegally downloaded digital copies of recorded music
A recent research study on the economic impact of music piracy (Institute for Policy Innovation, August 2007) paints a grim picture. The impact of music piracy to the U.S. economy is estimated at U.S. $12.5 billion annually. It is estimated that 71,060 jobs are lost or at risk due to the economic impact of piracy and the lost growth opportunities account for 26,860 jobs that would have otherwise been created in the recording industry. Even the U.S. government is affected by piracy with an estimated loss of $422 million in tax revenues from lost personal and corporate income due to piracy.
Of course, these figures are based upon the assumption that sales of recorded music on CD would have held constant, or increased, from year to year. The truth is, however, that CD sales are on the decline as MP3 players and other digital technology make the need for music on physical media obsolete.
In addition to falling CD sales, half of America’s independent record stores closed between 2003 and 2005. (NY Post). One of the largest international chains of recorded music sellers, Tower Records, closed its doors forever on December 22, 2006.
Want to see how prevalent music piracy really is? Here’s a real-time counter that shows the number of illegal music files downloaded around the world every second.
When the average person thinks of music piracy, he or she usually thinks of unauthorized sharing of downloaded or recorded music between small groups of friends. And while those numbers do contribute to the music industry’s losses, the biggest losses occur from the sale of pirated music that is burned onto CD-R disks by the thousands in small commercial laboratories by professional music pirates.
The costs of music piracy are staggering not only for the high profile superstars but for the new musicians as well. It is important for every musician and band member to understand the nature of music piracy and learn how to combat this problem. Know your rights, and learn about the technology that exists that can protect you and your intellectual property (music) from piracy.
New York Broadway's New and Revival Musicals.
After booking our discount flight tickets to New York we decided to plan for viewing some Broadway shows when we were there and were surprised at the choice of new and revival musicals.
There's a great choice of musical revivals. From the five-time Olivier Award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's, Sunday in the Park with George, showing at Studio 54 on 254 West 54th Street. This musical is presented by the Roundabout Theatre Company and chronicles the life of French impressionist painter Georges Seurat that won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1985. South Pacific is a revival of the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, which is about forbidden love on a South Pacific Island during World War II and shows at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on 150 West 65th Street. Then there's A Chorus Line, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on 236 West 45th Street.
The 1975 show won the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best Musical telling the story of the Broadway gypsies who bare their souls and put their lives on the line when they audition for an unnamed Broadway musical.
With the revival of the much-loved Broadway favorite Grease, this stars Max Crumm and Laura Osnes as thwarted teenage lovers Danny Zuko and Sandra Dee. On at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 256 West 47th Street, Crumm and Osnes were selected for their roles after auditioning before a national audience on TV's Grease: You're the One That I Want! Over at the St. James Theatre on 246 West 44th Street, Gypsy stars Broadway legend Patti LuPone and shares the story of a stage mother with her daughters and the pursuit of stardom.
For new musicals we have a varied choice from Young Frankenstein to The Little Mermaid. Young Frankenstein at the Hilton Theatre on 214 West 42nd Street is a new musical adapted from Mel Brooks' 1974 film. Following the struggle of Frederick Frankenstein as he chooses between rejecting his mad grandfather's work or seeing it through to its dangerous climax. Xanadu, based on the cult film and showing at the Helen Hayes Theatre 240 West 44th Street, follows three dreamers in Venice Beach as they attempt to open a roller disco night-club. Featuring original songs written for the film by the Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton-John.
Disney's new musical The Little Mermaid, follows the mermaid Ariel on her quest to become human and find her prince. Showing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on 205 West 46th Street, this is a stage adaptation of the animated film, The Little Mermaid features new songs as well as favorites such as "Part of Your World," "Under the Sea" And "Kiss the Girl." A new musical about the lives of those in the Washington Heights neighbourhood of Manhattan, In The Heights at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on 226 West 46th Street, makes its Broadway debut after a successful off-Broadway run. And lastly we have, Passing Strange at the Belasco Theatre on 111 West 44th Street, this was created by the New York City performance artist Stew, following a young bohemian as he travels the world to find himself.
Well that's a brief tour of the new and revival shows on New York's Broadway at present, more details at www.travel05.co.uk
There's a great choice of musical revivals. From the five-time Olivier Award-winning production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's, Sunday in the Park with George, showing at Studio 54 on 254 West 54th Street. This musical is presented by the Roundabout Theatre Company and chronicles the life of French impressionist painter Georges Seurat that won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1985. South Pacific is a revival of the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, which is about forbidden love on a South Pacific Island during World War II and shows at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on 150 West 65th Street. Then there's A Chorus Line, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on 236 West 45th Street.
The 1975 show won the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for Best Musical telling the story of the Broadway gypsies who bare their souls and put their lives on the line when they audition for an unnamed Broadway musical.
With the revival of the much-loved Broadway favorite Grease, this stars Max Crumm and Laura Osnes as thwarted teenage lovers Danny Zuko and Sandra Dee. On at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 256 West 47th Street, Crumm and Osnes were selected for their roles after auditioning before a national audience on TV's Grease: You're the One That I Want! Over at the St. James Theatre on 246 West 44th Street, Gypsy stars Broadway legend Patti LuPone and shares the story of a stage mother with her daughters and the pursuit of stardom.
For new musicals we have a varied choice from Young Frankenstein to The Little Mermaid. Young Frankenstein at the Hilton Theatre on 214 West 42nd Street is a new musical adapted from Mel Brooks' 1974 film. Following the struggle of Frederick Frankenstein as he chooses between rejecting his mad grandfather's work or seeing it through to its dangerous climax. Xanadu, based on the cult film and showing at the Helen Hayes Theatre 240 West 44th Street, follows three dreamers in Venice Beach as they attempt to open a roller disco night-club. Featuring original songs written for the film by the Electric Light Orchestra and Olivia Newton-John.
Disney's new musical The Little Mermaid, follows the mermaid Ariel on her quest to become human and find her prince. Showing at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on 205 West 46th Street, this is a stage adaptation of the animated film, The Little Mermaid features new songs as well as favorites such as "Part of Your World," "Under the Sea" And "Kiss the Girl." A new musical about the lives of those in the Washington Heights neighbourhood of Manhattan, In The Heights at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on 226 West 46th Street, makes its Broadway debut after a successful off-Broadway run. And lastly we have, Passing Strange at the Belasco Theatre on 111 West 44th Street, this was created by the New York City performance artist Stew, following a young bohemian as he travels the world to find himself.
Well that's a brief tour of the new and revival shows on New York's Broadway at present, more details at www.travel05.co.uk
Learn To Play Guitar Fast
When you watch somebody play fast on the guitar do you always wonder if you could learn to do that? Let us look at what resources we need to increase our own guitar playing speed on a regular basis.
The very first thing you are going to need is a metronome. You can buy one from your local music store, steal one from a maiden aunt or download one for free on the internet. If you choose to steal one, then I am afraid you will not make much progress in your quest to play guitar fast because shortcuts just do not work. Most of us look for the quickest and most painless way to do things, and that is why most of us are not playing guitar at the speed of light.
Okay, you have your metronome and an attitude adjustment. You are ready to begin. The next thing you need is something to practice. It can be a solo passage from a song. It can be an exercise, like a series of arpeggios or a picking exercise. You need to choose your material carefully because you will need to know exactly how fast you want to play in terms of the settings on your metronome. You may or may not need to spend time learning your passage from scratch as some familiarity with the piece is necessary to start increasing how fast you play it. By familiarity I mean the muscles in your fingers, hands and arms need to be able to play your piece without hesitation.
So that is the next thing you need. In order to play guitar fast you need to be able to play slowly. The exercise you have chosen to play should not be too easy, but at the same time it should not have too many tricky bits. That is why you are using an exercise or an isolated passage rather than a song or long solo.
Now you are starting to see the way ahead. If you have your practice passage ready, check it with your metronome. Make sure you know what your present speed is. The next thing is to take a metronome setting not too far above your present one and make that your goal.
Let us now talk about something you do not need. Muscular tension. You need to practice playing guitar fast without building a level of tension in the muscles that will work against your goal. In order to escape the possibility of too much tension you need to forget about time frames. You have your goal in the metronome setting. Leave the time open ended. The idea is not to actually PLAY guitar faster at sometime in the future, but to WORK A LITTLE BIT ON PLAYING FAST every day.
So if you choose a passage to practice in order to play fast, and you devote some time every day to practicing, your guitar playing speed will begin to increase. Once you have reached a level of skill on one exercise, choose another one with a couple more challenges. But remember to begin again from the beginning. Ascertain where you are now and decide on a realistic goal for your next step.
The very first thing you are going to need is a metronome. You can buy one from your local music store, steal one from a maiden aunt or download one for free on the internet. If you choose to steal one, then I am afraid you will not make much progress in your quest to play guitar fast because shortcuts just do not work. Most of us look for the quickest and most painless way to do things, and that is why most of us are not playing guitar at the speed of light.
Okay, you have your metronome and an attitude adjustment. You are ready to begin. The next thing you need is something to practice. It can be a solo passage from a song. It can be an exercise, like a series of arpeggios or a picking exercise. You need to choose your material carefully because you will need to know exactly how fast you want to play in terms of the settings on your metronome. You may or may not need to spend time learning your passage from scratch as some familiarity with the piece is necessary to start increasing how fast you play it. By familiarity I mean the muscles in your fingers, hands and arms need to be able to play your piece without hesitation.
So that is the next thing you need. In order to play guitar fast you need to be able to play slowly. The exercise you have chosen to play should not be too easy, but at the same time it should not have too many tricky bits. That is why you are using an exercise or an isolated passage rather than a song or long solo.
Now you are starting to see the way ahead. If you have your practice passage ready, check it with your metronome. Make sure you know what your present speed is. The next thing is to take a metronome setting not too far above your present one and make that your goal.
Let us now talk about something you do not need. Muscular tension. You need to practice playing guitar fast without building a level of tension in the muscles that will work against your goal. In order to escape the possibility of too much tension you need to forget about time frames. You have your goal in the metronome setting. Leave the time open ended. The idea is not to actually PLAY guitar faster at sometime in the future, but to WORK A LITTLE BIT ON PLAYING FAST every day.
So if you choose a passage to practice in order to play fast, and you devote some time every day to practicing, your guitar playing speed will begin to increase. Once you have reached a level of skill on one exercise, choose another one with a couple more challenges. But remember to begin again from the beginning. Ascertain where you are now and decide on a realistic goal for your next step.
Online Book Options are endless
Online Book Options
If you spend any amount of time online today, you will notice that the possibilities for finding things are virtually endless. If you are an avid book reader, or you are attempting to teach your children to have a love for reading then you will most likely spend some time searching for books online.
There are many options available these days online for books, from reading books online, to downloading books, to purchasing books; to swapping books, there are literally dozens of possible ways to find books online.
The option of reading books online has fast become popular. These books, many times known as e-books are usually quite a bit cheaper than the hard copy and provide a way for you to actually read the books from your computer or you have the option of printing them off to read away from your computer. This would be where the process of downloading the books comes into play and is really quite simple to do.
The options to purchase books online are seemingly endless. You can purchase books at retail cost from a variety of online stores, or you can purchase books from other people or warehouses at a discount cost, some for literally pennies. There are also many online auctions available for books where you can bit a cost that you are comfortable with for the book.
Finally, there are also book-swapping websites that allow you to hook up with other avid readers in an effort to save costs and swap books with each other. Many times the only cost involved is paying shipping on the books. These are a great way to not only save time and money but also conserve paper. What a great combination of benefits.
As you can see the options for finding reading materials online are vast, it really should give you, the avid reader something to smile about.
If you spend any amount of time online today, you will notice that the possibilities for finding things are virtually endless. If you are an avid book reader, or you are attempting to teach your children to have a love for reading then you will most likely spend some time searching for books online.
There are many options available these days online for books, from reading books online, to downloading books, to purchasing books; to swapping books, there are literally dozens of possible ways to find books online.
The option of reading books online has fast become popular. These books, many times known as e-books are usually quite a bit cheaper than the hard copy and provide a way for you to actually read the books from your computer or you have the option of printing them off to read away from your computer. This would be where the process of downloading the books comes into play and is really quite simple to do.
The options to purchase books online are seemingly endless. You can purchase books at retail cost from a variety of online stores, or you can purchase books from other people or warehouses at a discount cost, some for literally pennies. There are also many online auctions available for books where you can bit a cost that you are comfortable with for the book.
Finally, there are also book-swapping websites that allow you to hook up with other avid readers in an effort to save costs and swap books with each other. Many times the only cost involved is paying shipping on the books. These are a great way to not only save time and money but also conserve paper. What a great combination of benefits.
As you can see the options for finding reading materials online are vast, it really should give you, the avid reader something to smile about.
Classical Gas - A Musical Legend
In an episode of The Simpsons called "Last Exit to Springfield" Homer leads the workers of the nuclear power plant in a strike to regain their dental plan. As they picket the plant, Lisa plays an appropriately dismal protest song. When she is finished, Lenny says, "Play Classical Gas". Lisa begins to play and everybody watching the episode on TV goes, "Oh, yeah, THAT tune!" Classical Gas is inevitably requested whenever a bunch of people and a nylon string acoustic guitar are in the same room. In fact it is not a great showpiece for finger style guitarists but it is an ideal vehicle to show off the sound of the classical guitar.
Classical Gas appeared in the world in 1968. A song by The Doors stopped it from becoming a number one hit but it stayed in the second spot for two weeks. Forty years later it is among the most easily recognized tunes of all time and, along with The Anonymous Romance and Leucona's Malaguena inextricably associated with the classical guitar. And nobody can say why. Classical Gas is way more than the sum of its parts. There are very few musical ideas in the tune. It is basically repetition of a theme consisting of a few notes. There are some parts that are unforgettable "surprises" making use of syncopation, scales, strums, and abrupt time signature changes. Somehow all the bits link together like pearls on a string and the final note adds a sublime resolution.
The composer, Mason Williams, states on his website, "I didn't really have any big plans for it, other than maybe to have a piece to play at parties when they passed the guitar around. I envisioned it as simply repertoire or "fuel" for the classical guitar, so I called it Classical Gasoline." Mason Williams was, in fact a comedy writer and stand-up comedian who had many other projects on the go besides writing a classical guitar instrumental.
It was Mason Williams' work on the Smothers Brothers' "Comedy Hour" which gave him the opportunity to have his composition heard by the public. The original score of the piece called Classical Gasoline shows only chords and a few notes. Mason Williams had a twenty-three year old composer named Mike Post finish out the piece.
It won Best Instrumental Composition and Best Instrumental Performance for Mason Williams and Best Instrumental Arrangement for Mike Post whose latest in a career of triumphs is the theme(s) for the "Law And Order" series. Classical Gas has been used as the theme music for several news programs, the background music for the Apollo 4 movie, and featured in many other movies and TV shows. Many people have mistaken Mason Williams' solo version of the tune for a cover by Eric Clapton.
Classical Gas is a very easy piece to play, the challenge is to play it with passion and dynamics because it sounds, to non-guitarists, more complicated than it is. Maybe this is the reason it is among the most requested guitar pieces ever.
Classical Gas appeared in the world in 1968. A song by The Doors stopped it from becoming a number one hit but it stayed in the second spot for two weeks. Forty years later it is among the most easily recognized tunes of all time and, along with The Anonymous Romance and Leucona's Malaguena inextricably associated with the classical guitar. And nobody can say why. Classical Gas is way more than the sum of its parts. There are very few musical ideas in the tune. It is basically repetition of a theme consisting of a few notes. There are some parts that are unforgettable "surprises" making use of syncopation, scales, strums, and abrupt time signature changes. Somehow all the bits link together like pearls on a string and the final note adds a sublime resolution.
The composer, Mason Williams, states on his website, "I didn't really have any big plans for it, other than maybe to have a piece to play at parties when they passed the guitar around. I envisioned it as simply repertoire or "fuel" for the classical guitar, so I called it Classical Gasoline." Mason Williams was, in fact a comedy writer and stand-up comedian who had many other projects on the go besides writing a classical guitar instrumental.
It was Mason Williams' work on the Smothers Brothers' "Comedy Hour" which gave him the opportunity to have his composition heard by the public. The original score of the piece called Classical Gasoline shows only chords and a few notes. Mason Williams had a twenty-three year old composer named Mike Post finish out the piece.
It won Best Instrumental Composition and Best Instrumental Performance for Mason Williams and Best Instrumental Arrangement for Mike Post whose latest in a career of triumphs is the theme(s) for the "Law And Order" series. Classical Gas has been used as the theme music for several news programs, the background music for the Apollo 4 movie, and featured in many other movies and TV shows. Many people have mistaken Mason Williams' solo version of the tune for a cover by Eric Clapton.
Classical Gas is a very easy piece to play, the challenge is to play it with passion and dynamics because it sounds, to non-guitarists, more complicated than it is. Maybe this is the reason it is among the most requested guitar pieces ever.
Stock Media Licensing Explained
Off-the-Shelf Solutions - Stock Media includes photographs, illustrations video footage, music recordings, Flash animations, web site templates, PowerPoint backgrounds and clipart.
Many stock companies refer to themselves as libraries because, like a library, they carry a broad array of materials that tries to satisfy a wide range of tastes and needs.
Licensed Not Sold - With stock media, what you are really buying is a license that gives you permission to use the material you're interested in.
Once you have a license you don't in fact own the material. It is still owned by the stock company. They remain the copyright holders. Your license lets you legally use the material in your production.
There are two main types of stock licenses.
1. Rights Managed The price of a rights managed license depends on how you wish to use the media you're interested in.
For instance, is it going to be used in a national advertising campaign or is it for your company brochure? Is it being considered for a PowerPoint presentation or is it going to be used in a motion picture? Each usage has a different price.
A rights managed license also takes into consideration how long you will use the media. Periods usually range from 3 months to several years.
If you are going to include the material in a product, your license will be based on how many pieces you plan to manufacture.
With a right managed license, at the end of the license period, you no longer have permission to use the media. Your relationship with the company ends (unless you extend your license).
2. Royalty Free Royalty free means you are not charged a fee for each separate commercial use of the media. You can use the material as often as you’d like for as long as you’d like. You pay an initial fee for the license and are then free and clear of any further licensing restraints.
A rights managed license is more expensive Why? Because when you license, for instance, a rights managed photo, the stock company removes the photo from circulation for the period of your license. No one else can use it.
This is the main advantage a rights-managed license provides. It protects against simultaneous use - so your competitor won't be using the same photo as you to launch their ad campaign. When you use royalty free content, there is no such protection. The same photo or music track may be being used by hundreds of companies at the same time.
The question to ask is…is this important to me? Do I care if another company is using this image or this particular web template? If you do, then you will want to pursue a rights managed solution. If, on the other hand, it really doesn't matter to you, then you'll want to take a serious look at royalty free media because it is so much cheaper.
Stock by any other name - Rights managed recordings are known as "needle-drops" in the stock music world. This name came from the act of actually lowering a phonograph needle onto a record to place the music in a production. Now with compact discs, they've started calling it "laser-drop". I find "rights managed" to be a much better description.
Royalty free is sometimes called "buy out". I've also seen it referred to as "copyright-free" but this is really an error. The material is in fact fully copyrighted by the stock media company. UniqueTracks is a royalty free stock music company.
Many stock companies refer to themselves as libraries because, like a library, they carry a broad array of materials that tries to satisfy a wide range of tastes and needs.
Licensed Not Sold - With stock media, what you are really buying is a license that gives you permission to use the material you're interested in.
Once you have a license you don't in fact own the material. It is still owned by the stock company. They remain the copyright holders. Your license lets you legally use the material in your production.
There are two main types of stock licenses.
1. Rights Managed The price of a rights managed license depends on how you wish to use the media you're interested in.
For instance, is it going to be used in a national advertising campaign or is it for your company brochure? Is it being considered for a PowerPoint presentation or is it going to be used in a motion picture? Each usage has a different price.
A rights managed license also takes into consideration how long you will use the media. Periods usually range from 3 months to several years.
If you are going to include the material in a product, your license will be based on how many pieces you plan to manufacture.
With a right managed license, at the end of the license period, you no longer have permission to use the media. Your relationship with the company ends (unless you extend your license).
2. Royalty Free Royalty free means you are not charged a fee for each separate commercial use of the media. You can use the material as often as you’d like for as long as you’d like. You pay an initial fee for the license and are then free and clear of any further licensing restraints.
A rights managed license is more expensive Why? Because when you license, for instance, a rights managed photo, the stock company removes the photo from circulation for the period of your license. No one else can use it.
This is the main advantage a rights-managed license provides. It protects against simultaneous use - so your competitor won't be using the same photo as you to launch their ad campaign. When you use royalty free content, there is no such protection. The same photo or music track may be being used by hundreds of companies at the same time.
The question to ask is…is this important to me? Do I care if another company is using this image or this particular web template? If you do, then you will want to pursue a rights managed solution. If, on the other hand, it really doesn't matter to you, then you'll want to take a serious look at royalty free media because it is so much cheaper.
Stock by any other name - Rights managed recordings are known as "needle-drops" in the stock music world. This name came from the act of actually lowering a phonograph needle onto a record to place the music in a production. Now with compact discs, they've started calling it "laser-drop". I find "rights managed" to be a much better description.
Royalty free is sometimes called "buy out". I've also seen it referred to as "copyright-free" but this is really an error. The material is in fact fully copyrighted by the stock media company. UniqueTracks is a royalty free stock music company.
Independent Music Isn't Dead. It's the Only Thing Left.
If you haven't been reading the trades for the last couple of years, you might be saddened to know that the music industry--at least, the music industry as it has been molded over the last 40 years--is crumbling.
The cause of death is a pretty simple one: You and I and everyone we know have been stealing records for almost ten years now, remorselessly and relentlessly. As much as we all hate to listen to Lars Ulrich cry into Bob Rock's silk ascot, it's true. It's illegal, and we've been doing it because we assume that we are justified because our jobs aren't as much fun as emptying Hetfield's dishwasher and flipping mansions for profit. We rationalize our theft by telling ourselves that it's ludicrous that someone should make millions (MILLIONS!) for creating art while we have to roll up our sleeves and wake up for our jobs every day.
We're not exactly right about that, though. The reason Lars, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Kelly Clarkson and all of those goobers are justified in making millions off their art is the same reason why LeBron James is worth millions for playing a game: If they weren't making millions off of it, their promoters would be making many more millions off of it while the artists lived on Ramen. In short, if Dave Grohl writes a song that a million people want to hear, that fact by itself doesn't justify a million dollar paycheck. But SOMEONE is going to make a million dollars selling that record. It might as well be Dave. If LeBron James averages 74 points a game for a whole season, that's going to lead directly to someone selling a billion hideous Cavs jerseys. Shouldn't LeBron get a piece of that? Shouldn't LeBron get a BIG piece of that?
But obviously, everyone's not satisfied with that explanation. If we were, we wouldn't be burning the hell out of everything we even sort of liked and filesharing all day. The result is that millions and millions of dollars are failing to make their way into the music industry.
It's only bad news for a few people. Your favorite millionaire activists will still be able to sell records. Kanye and Tom Morello and Gwen S. aren't going anywhere. As long as there's an Us Weekly, they will still sell records and fill the Staples Center, and that's pretty good news for communists and fourth-graders everywhere. Fountains of Wayne are going to have to start sleeping at Days Inn, but they'll still be OK. Their bosses, though, the ones who had a different diamond-encrusted grill for each Wu-Tang album release, who insisted on feting Frances Bean's eighth grade graduation on a hovercraft in the Aegean (I'm making this up; I wasn't invited), who had millions and millions of dollars at their disposal for promotion and production and street teams and advertising and risk-taking, THOSE guys are dying off like the dodo.
What that's going to do is polarize music in a pretty serious way. On one side, there will be a tiny nucleus of megabosses at the labels. Their stables -once full of hundreds of acts that had good songs but no following or who had been working their way up for years- will be cut down to only the very biggest sellers. That part of the industry will always be there.
The cause of death is a pretty simple one: You and I and everyone we know have been stealing records for almost ten years now, remorselessly and relentlessly. As much as we all hate to listen to Lars Ulrich cry into Bob Rock's silk ascot, it's true. It's illegal, and we've been doing it because we assume that we are justified because our jobs aren't as much fun as emptying Hetfield's dishwasher and flipping mansions for profit. We rationalize our theft by telling ourselves that it's ludicrous that someone should make millions (MILLIONS!) for creating art while we have to roll up our sleeves and wake up for our jobs every day.
We're not exactly right about that, though. The reason Lars, Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Kelly Clarkson and all of those goobers are justified in making millions off their art is the same reason why LeBron James is worth millions for playing a game: If they weren't making millions off of it, their promoters would be making many more millions off of it while the artists lived on Ramen. In short, if Dave Grohl writes a song that a million people want to hear, that fact by itself doesn't justify a million dollar paycheck. But SOMEONE is going to make a million dollars selling that record. It might as well be Dave. If LeBron James averages 74 points a game for a whole season, that's going to lead directly to someone selling a billion hideous Cavs jerseys. Shouldn't LeBron get a piece of that? Shouldn't LeBron get a BIG piece of that?
But obviously, everyone's not satisfied with that explanation. If we were, we wouldn't be burning the hell out of everything we even sort of liked and filesharing all day. The result is that millions and millions of dollars are failing to make their way into the music industry.
It's only bad news for a few people. Your favorite millionaire activists will still be able to sell records. Kanye and Tom Morello and Gwen S. aren't going anywhere. As long as there's an Us Weekly, they will still sell records and fill the Staples Center, and that's pretty good news for communists and fourth-graders everywhere. Fountains of Wayne are going to have to start sleeping at Days Inn, but they'll still be OK. Their bosses, though, the ones who had a different diamond-encrusted grill for each Wu-Tang album release, who insisted on feting Frances Bean's eighth grade graduation on a hovercraft in the Aegean (I'm making this up; I wasn't invited), who had millions and millions of dollars at their disposal for promotion and production and street teams and advertising and risk-taking, THOSE guys are dying off like the dodo.
What that's going to do is polarize music in a pretty serious way. On one side, there will be a tiny nucleus of megabosses at the labels. Their stables -once full of hundreds of acts that had good songs but no following or who had been working their way up for years- will be cut down to only the very biggest sellers. That part of the industry will always be there.
The Art of Buying Beats Online
Gone are the days of not being able to get your hands on quality production on the internet. Now and days finding production online is as easy as making your favorite meal. The internet has truly open up a new world to both artist and producers. With new sites coming along everyday like soundclick and mybeatshop it's not hard to buy quality beats online. Buying beats online at onetime was looked down by many major artist and producers in the industry. One grammy winning producer by the name of Rocwilder made the switch to selling beats online when he was approached by internet guru Allen Brown. Together they formed rocbeats, this is where artist who were fans of Rocwilder could purchase his non-exclusive beats for just $20.00 a beat. Many people said it would never work no one is going to buy beats online.
Now you can find many websites that host beats for producers to sell their music from. Some producer have even cornered their own markets by making their own websites. Their are many way's to buy beats online one way is non-exclusive rights. With non-exclusive rights the producer retains full rights to the production. The artist is free to record a song over the beat and promote his music on sites like myspace. But the artist will need permission to use the beat for an retail album he wishes to sell. Some producers even give away free beats online just to build a name and become a brand. But these beats are sometimes non-exclusive and the artists are so grateful to get a quality beat that they don't even care. This allows the producer to sell that one beat over and over at times making a huge profit in the process.The next way artist buy beats online are through exclusive rights. With exclusive rights the producer gives up total ownership of his beat to the artist. Now the artist can use this beat for albums, websites and many other ways to promote their talent.
When buying beats online you must beware their are many fake producers on the internet that steal beats. This has even affected rapper 50 cent who was approached by a producer with a stolen beat. Once they started asking the producer for the full tracks they found out he took it from a popular producer online by the name of Appex. 50 cent staff contacted Appex and told him the situation and received the full tracks from him and 50 went on to record the smash hit "I Get Money".
So now if your looking to buy beats online just google it! Good Luck:)!
Now you can find many websites that host beats for producers to sell their music from. Some producer have even cornered their own markets by making their own websites. Their are many way's to buy beats online one way is non-exclusive rights. With non-exclusive rights the producer retains full rights to the production. The artist is free to record a song over the beat and promote his music on sites like myspace. But the artist will need permission to use the beat for an retail album he wishes to sell. Some producers even give away free beats online just to build a name and become a brand. But these beats are sometimes non-exclusive and the artists are so grateful to get a quality beat that they don't even care. This allows the producer to sell that one beat over and over at times making a huge profit in the process.The next way artist buy beats online are through exclusive rights. With exclusive rights the producer gives up total ownership of his beat to the artist. Now the artist can use this beat for albums, websites and many other ways to promote their talent.
When buying beats online you must beware their are many fake producers on the internet that steal beats. This has even affected rapper 50 cent who was approached by a producer with a stolen beat. Once they started asking the producer for the full tracks they found out he took it from a popular producer online by the name of Appex. 50 cent staff contacted Appex and told him the situation and received the full tracks from him and 50 went on to record the smash hit "I Get Money".
So now if your looking to buy beats online just google it! Good Luck:)!
Heavy Metal - Its Growing Mainstream Appeal
The music known as heavy metal has for years been misunderstood and much maligned by the general public each and every time they see someone in heavy metal clothing. This is very much due to the associations the genre has with negative social concerns including that of religion and the many cases of fans running afoul with the law. These same fans attend heavy metal concerts drinking large amounts of alcohol and end up drunk, leading to problems and accidents normally associated with the condition, including drunken fights and car accidents. Heavy metal bands and artistes generally do not help much to improve the image of the genre, as they are often portrayed as drunken rebels who indulge in material excesses such as the above-mentioned alcohol binges and drug use.
However, there are heavy metal artistes and bands who are wholly professional about their art, and are known as hardworking musicians who dedicate hours upon hours to their craft and music. Bands such as Dream Theater and surprisingly, Metallica, are serious musicians despite the latter’s famous partying ways often reported in the media. Music magazines that concentrate on specific musical instruments have invited various band members to provide musical and performance advice, and these individuals are very much lauded in the professional music industry for their effort and abilities. In fact, heavy metal bands can often boast of members who number amongst the top musicians in their specific musical instruments. Dream Theater’s John Petrucci has, for years, been considered one of the most gifted guitarists in modern times, and has been voted in numerous awards.
So it is solely the result of the merits derived from the work of these heavy metal musicians that the genre itself has over the years, been taken more seriously in both the music and entertainment industries. While heavy metal music has its foundations in basic power chords, chugging rhythms and fast paced songs, the many sub genres that has spawned from a free spirited creativity in the community has resulted in it being one of the most versatile musical genre in history. There are many camps within heavy metal that swear by its more specialized forms, but these purists also encourage diversity and exploration from their own work. It is not uncommon to find heavy metal bands to have a wide repertoire throughout their discography. The more mainstream bands such as Metallica have one time or another in their career, explored different musical forms such as classical, rock and even pop.
Perhaps to emphasize the influence heavy metal has had on both the industry and the public has been the increasing number of heavy metal acts that have populated the popular music charts, as well as the growing visibility of the genre in commercial marketing and advertising avenues. Heavy metal merchandise continues to be one of the top selling products in various forms, from heavy metal shirts and CD sales, to other apparel and even tattoos. Many heavy metal bands, no matter how underground they consider themselves to be, are also keen to include merchandise sales in their efforts to promote themselves and the music. Even the hardest forms within the genre such as black and death metal have been able to break into the consciousness of the public in major European countries, making constant appearances in their musical charts.
However, there are heavy metal artistes and bands who are wholly professional about their art, and are known as hardworking musicians who dedicate hours upon hours to their craft and music. Bands such as Dream Theater and surprisingly, Metallica, are serious musicians despite the latter’s famous partying ways often reported in the media. Music magazines that concentrate on specific musical instruments have invited various band members to provide musical and performance advice, and these individuals are very much lauded in the professional music industry for their effort and abilities. In fact, heavy metal bands can often boast of members who number amongst the top musicians in their specific musical instruments. Dream Theater’s John Petrucci has, for years, been considered one of the most gifted guitarists in modern times, and has been voted in numerous awards.
So it is solely the result of the merits derived from the work of these heavy metal musicians that the genre itself has over the years, been taken more seriously in both the music and entertainment industries. While heavy metal music has its foundations in basic power chords, chugging rhythms and fast paced songs, the many sub genres that has spawned from a free spirited creativity in the community has resulted in it being one of the most versatile musical genre in history. There are many camps within heavy metal that swear by its more specialized forms, but these purists also encourage diversity and exploration from their own work. It is not uncommon to find heavy metal bands to have a wide repertoire throughout their discography. The more mainstream bands such as Metallica have one time or another in their career, explored different musical forms such as classical, rock and even pop.
Perhaps to emphasize the influence heavy metal has had on both the industry and the public has been the increasing number of heavy metal acts that have populated the popular music charts, as well as the growing visibility of the genre in commercial marketing and advertising avenues. Heavy metal merchandise continues to be one of the top selling products in various forms, from heavy metal shirts and CD sales, to other apparel and even tattoos. Many heavy metal bands, no matter how underground they consider themselves to be, are also keen to include merchandise sales in their efforts to promote themselves and the music. Even the hardest forms within the genre such as black and death metal have been able to break into the consciousness of the public in major European countries, making constant appearances in their musical charts.
Bass Guitar Tab
Bass guitar tab has become a very popular method of writing bass music. With this tool you can learn to play bass music fast without getting bogged down in a lot of unnecessary theoretical stuff.
The bass player's role is just to keep time. It is very simple. A lot like bass players. Keeping time is done by playing a 'bassline' which is usually a rhythmic' sequence of notes. The bass player unites the rhythmic playing of the drummer with the chords and melodies played by the lead guitar. Does this take talent? Yes it does. The bass guitar player is the guy who turns off his brain and becomes one with the music. He then turns his brain back on and assumes the mantle of the designated driver for the rest of the band.
The bass guitar tab gives the guitarist written directions on what to play to give the bass line to a piece of music. Tablature is a written representation of the strings of the guitar using numbers to show the frets. If you want to learn the bass guitar quickly tab is the way to go. It is easy to pick up and to remember, and it enables you to learn very quickly the riffs and phrases you need to give your group's music that something extra.
A bass guitar tab is a picture of the fretboard which can be drawn using Notepad on your computer or by hand. The frets are numbered on lines representing the guitar strings. If you have a four string bass, the upper string is the G string, next the D string, the A string, and the E string. The numbers below the lines are the frets where the notes are played. If there is zero below the line it means the open string is played. A chord is represented in bass guitar tabs by two numbers, one above the other. Most bass guitar tabs contain a legend which explains any unfamiliar terms.
The internet is by far the best source for bass guitar tabs. Just do a Google search and you will have more material than you will ever need. All you have to do is learn and practice. Learn and practice your favorite songs first. Bass guitar is not a musical instrument you can approach without passion. Bass guitar riffs can be learnt from tab books but should be played from the heart.
The bass player's role is just to keep time. It is very simple. A lot like bass players. Keeping time is done by playing a 'bassline' which is usually a rhythmic' sequence of notes. The bass player unites the rhythmic playing of the drummer with the chords and melodies played by the lead guitar. Does this take talent? Yes it does. The bass guitar player is the guy who turns off his brain and becomes one with the music. He then turns his brain back on and assumes the mantle of the designated driver for the rest of the band.
The bass guitar tab gives the guitarist written directions on what to play to give the bass line to a piece of music. Tablature is a written representation of the strings of the guitar using numbers to show the frets. If you want to learn the bass guitar quickly tab is the way to go. It is easy to pick up and to remember, and it enables you to learn very quickly the riffs and phrases you need to give your group's music that something extra.
A bass guitar tab is a picture of the fretboard which can be drawn using Notepad on your computer or by hand. The frets are numbered on lines representing the guitar strings. If you have a four string bass, the upper string is the G string, next the D string, the A string, and the E string. The numbers below the lines are the frets where the notes are played. If there is zero below the line it means the open string is played. A chord is represented in bass guitar tabs by two numbers, one above the other. Most bass guitar tabs contain a legend which explains any unfamiliar terms.
The internet is by far the best source for bass guitar tabs. Just do a Google search and you will have more material than you will ever need. All you have to do is learn and practice. Learn and practice your favorite songs first. Bass guitar is not a musical instrument you can approach without passion. Bass guitar riffs can be learnt from tab books but should be played from the heart.
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