Music Articles

Music | By Sam Salmon @ Wednesday, 23rd July 2008 @ 5:24 PM

Ever since turning 35 years old I've had a nagging feeling that my life had somehow changed. Where once there was wonder and amazement at the simple things in life like a cloudless summer day, or the unspoilt scenery of the countryside, these things stir little inside of me. It takes a lot more to excite me now than a few years ago. I talked to my friends who were the same age as me, and yes they felt the same way. What was it - what's changed? We came to conclusion that it was ... more...

Music | By Sam Salmon @ Wednesday, 23rd July 2008 @ 4:54 PM

Although it is quite possible to teach yourself how to play an instrument, the advances that you can make with a good music teacher and following a course of structured lessons can not be overvalued. Don't be afraid to make that call to a teacher and discuss your needs. As adults it can be hard to take that first step, but playing music is undeniably good for the soul, and you shouldn't allow yourself to miss out on the opportunity to feel happier and learn something new. Before... more...

Music | By Duane Shinn @ Wednesday, 23rd July 2008 @ 3:00 PM

In popular music, blues keyboard riffs are universal. From Billy Preston jamming with the Rolling Stones to Ray Charles kicking into "What I'd Say," blues progressions and scales serve as the basis for legendary songs and amazing keyboard solos. One of the greatest aspects of blues keyboard riffs is the musical theory behind them, which is simple enough for beginners, yet still challenges virtuosos. An important musical tool to understand when playing blues keyboard riffs is ... more...

Music | By Mike Shaw @ Wednesday, 23rd July 2008 @ 2:19 PM

Music memorabilia has always been popular for keen collectors of merchandise from famous music artists. Now, with the help of online auction sites, collecting music memorabilia is fast becoming a popular hobby for brand new collectors. If you want a piece of music history these days, just search the internet. There's no need to check out music shops and second hand shops. You can find virtually anything you're looking for, some of it very desirable. Items such as Elvis Presley&#... more...

Music | By Duane Shinn @ Wednesday, 23rd July 2008 @ 11:37 AM

For anyone studying popular classical music, it can be a daunting task to know where to begin. There are so many great pieces that a beginner can get overwhelmed. Here are 10 of the most popular classical pieces with a brief background of each. There are many others, of course, but these 10 are certainly among the most popular classical pieces of all time. Clair de Lune is a piece by Claude Debussy, a French composer. It is the third and most popular movement of the larger Suite bergamasq... more...

Music | By Mike Shaw @ Wednesday, 23rd July 2008 @ 11:06 AM

If you want to learn to play the piano, you can go to a piano teacher or teach yourself. If you're going to teach yourself how to play the piano then you have to decide whether to use piano software courses or tuition books. Whichever method you choose you should be aware that there is no magic solution to learning to play the piano, whether you choose piano software or tuition books there is going to be a certain amount of study and self-discipline on your part to succeed. Let'... more...

Music | By Duane Shinn @ Tuesday, 22nd July 2008 @ 7:05 AM

The ability to play blues piano is usually not expected of beginning pianists. There are reasons why most beginning pianists start out playing old songs written by classical composers from centuries past. Many songs written for the piano by such composers as Mozart, Beethoven, and Tchaikovsky were originally intended as pieces to be used for lessons. Plus, the conventions of classical music lead to chord structures, harmonies, and melodies that were comparatively straight-forward, perfect for ... more...

Music | By Duane Shinn @ Tuesday, 22nd July 2008 @ 6:40 AM

The Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel is a composition well known throughout the world. It's a piece of music that is played in commercials, feature films, and shopping mall music systems. Its melody and harmony are such that, when heard, spur an "I know this song" reaction in listeners. Pachelbel wrote this music around 1680. Its exact name is 'Canon and Gigue in D Major for three Violins and Basso Continuo'. It's now called, in regular parlance, the Canon in D (or D... more...

Music | By Mike Shaw @ Monday, 21st July 2008 @ 5:53 AM

I have written a number of articles about the demise of the electronic organ. Having seen and played the latest crop of organs from Roland like the new Roland Atelier AT 900, AT 900 C and the AT 800 I think this could be the start of a comeback. It's only the beginning I have to say that this is only the beginning of a comeback, and in my opinion, there is still a lot that organ manufactures have to do, especially Roland. I believe that Yamaha are heading in the right directi... more...

Music | By Kevin Sinclair @ Monday, 21st July 2008 @ 2:32 AM

The most beautiful thing that a human voice can do is sing a song. All people, history, and culture share this vocal exercise. It has to be one of the very best mediums for the art of music. However, in order to be able to make wonderful music, it is vital for a singer to have a great singing voice. The music industry stresses that a great singing voice is more than just covering a wide range or having enough confidence. What is also required is a good ear to enable the singer to hit ... more...

Music | By Duane Shinn @ Saturday, 19th July 2008 @ 11:57 PM

When learning how to play piano, free opportunities present themselves all over the Internet. Most notably, many websites offer quick step-by-step lessons, as well as free online sheet music, which beginning pianists can use to learn how to play piano at no cost. Obviously, like any free service, these should be approached with caution, and many should be taken with a grain of salt. After all, they are free for a reason. In spite of everything the Internet has to offer, most of the best ways t... more...

Music | By Mike Shaw @ Saturday, 19th July 2008 @ 11:10 PM

To play a piece of music you have never seen before takes a great deal of skill. So how is it, some musicians can do this easily such as session musicians and others such as non professional players of all standards find sight reading so difficult. Don't confuse learning to play a piece with sight-reading a piece Many players confuse learning and playing a piece of music with sight-reading. You also have to learn how to sight read and this is completely different from learning... more...

Music | By Art Gib @ Friday, 18th July 2008 @ 10:08 PM

The harp is one of the most ancient instruments that continues to prevail in today's modern world. Its use dates back several centuries. Archaeologists and historians have confirmed the use of harps by the ancient Egyptians and Persians. The actual "invention" of the harp cannot, however, be pinned down to any one person or even any one civilization. It is actually believed that several civilizations around the world had invented some type of harp independent of each other.more...

Music | By Duane Shinn @ Friday, 18th July 2008 @ 10:04 PM

The piano is the most perfectly designed instrument for playing chords. It's visually straightforward, easy-to-understand layout makes it simple for the beginning piano student to learn how to play chords. Unlike other instruments, such as the guitar, the player doesn't need to learn how to contort her fingers in strange, unnatural ways just to play the most simple combinations of notes. In contrast, the basic chords on the piano seem almost magically designed to be played... more...

Music | By Duane Shinn @ Friday, 18th July 2008 @ 7:30 PM

Even non-musicians around the world are undoubtedly familiar with one of Johann Sebastian Bach's more famous compositions, Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. Usually, this song is played in a slow, almost reverent style during weddings or in religious and liturgical services. However, many music lovers aren't aware that this recognizable tune was actually intended to be played in a much more upbeat manner. The song was originally composed for accompaniment of voices, as well a... more...

Music | By Patrick Omari @ Friday, 18th July 2008 @ 7:28 PM

Have you ever seen a local, unsigned band and thought to yourself, why aren't these guys huge? Conversely have you ever heard a band on the radio and thought, these guys are terrible, I hear better than this at my local. All too often great musical talent goes unnoticed, and it isn't down to a lack of good songs or live performances. The main thing holding back independent bands is a lack of good self promotion. With the huge wealth of outlets for promoting your music online the... more...

Music | By Catherine Harvey @ Friday, 18th July 2008 @ 5:23 PM

Music downloads for mp3 players without copy restrictions are now being supplied by US digital music service, Rhapsody. Tunes from Universal, EMI, Sony and Warner will be available through this service. Rhapsody have joined Napster and Amazon in offering the music download service to customers in recent months. Owned by MTV, Rhapsody used to charge between thirteen and fifteen dollars for a subscription service that offered unlimited music downloads but are now offering the service to kee... more...

Music | By David Horne @ Friday, 18th July 2008 @ 12:46 PM

The internet has revolutionised the music industry and how music is sold and distributed online. We are all aware of the issues facing illegal music downloads and the heavy impact it has on bands to generate payment for their music. But we are talking about the best ways for you to sell your music and generate publicity for your band. With the increase in internet usage throughout the world and the easy availability of internet based tools and software, you can now record a professional s... more...

Music | By Chris Campbell @ Friday, 18th July 2008 @ 10:49 AM

Let's start with a few little reasons why Bob Marley needs to be a part of your own personal visual scape. They're not big earth shattering reasons, just a few little nudges every day to make life a little better. Rebellion and questioning authority are healthy doses of what we need everyday. Especially those of us who are follow the rules kind of people. Present company excluded of course, or I wouldn't even be writing this. Bob Marley, and musicians in general are goo... more...

Music | By Daniel Lehrman @ Friday, 18th July 2008 @ 5:03 AM

A strange thought came to my mind the other day as I was replacing a truss rod in a super cheap Chinese made guitar. In the process of softening the glue used to put the fingerboard on the neck itself I wondered if every company used the correct glues. To get at a truss rod, in most cases one would remove the neck itself. Necks are either bolted or screwed on, or they are actually glued to the body of the guitar. This one was a screw on neck so I took off the strings and unsrewed it. ... more...