Musical Instruments

The power chord is one of the most basic and essential chords for any guitarist to know. This versatile chord can be used in any key and in any genre, but is most often heard in blues and rock...

The pocket trumpet, while not quite small enough to literally fit in your pocket, is small enough to fit inside many glove compartments, yet plays with the same range as a full-sized trumpet. If...

For years, Yamaha has solidified itself as one of the major leaders in the music and keyboarding industry. Its long line of digital pianos and portable keyboards are used not only by hobbyists but...

Bluegrass and Americana musicians once had to make do with whatever instruments were available, or had to create some from scratch with household items, such as blowing into a jug to provide bass...

The Planet Waves Pro-Winder Tuner is a five-in-one guitarist's tool, featuring a string winder, bridge pin puller, string stretcher, string cutter, and chromatic tuner. The unit is designed to...

The name Fender is synonymous with two of the most popular guitars on the market today. The Stratocaster still inspires imitators more than 50 years since it was first released, and the Telecaster...

Nylon string is a safe, harmonic and humane replacement for the gut strings harvested from animals that used to adorn string instruments. Most nylon guitar strings come pre-cut to fit particular...

Whether playing in a band, recording in a studio, or merely playing music as a hobby at home, knowing what instrument you want to purchase is important. Knowing the differences between digital...

Every family of instruments has its own unique means of producing the vibrations necessary for a musical tone. As a member of the brass family, the trumpet's notes are produced through the pitched...

Proper instrument maintenance is an important part of any musician's responsibilities. Brass instruments must be cleaned frequently in order to counteract the effects of gunk buildup from oil,...

Bells are one of the simplest of percussion instruments and the most entertaining to build yourself. Following the common practice of creating "found percussion" instruments using items from...

The traditional piano has 88 keys and covers a range of just over seven octaves. The piano, because it allows players to play chords and melody lines simultaneously, is a popular instrument for...

Writing songs for a guitar can be approached in different ways. Determine the best way for you to write a song for a guitar with advice from an active guitar instructor in this free video on...

Identifying cadences means to find two or more chords in a composition or phrase that convey a feeling of completion. Find out how to identify cadences with tips from an active guitar instructor...

Scales are a great way to develop technique, tone production and learning to synchronize and coordinate the left hand sequence. Discover how to use scales from an active guitar instructor in this...

When learning lead guitar, you'll first need to make sure you're in a key or playing against some cord progressions that belong in a key. Start playing lead guitar with advice from an active...

Guitar picks can be used on any guitar and, it comes down to personal preference on how exactly you hold it. Determine the best way for you to hold a guitar pick with tips from an active guitar...

When tuning a guitar to itself, you'll need either a electronic tuner or a pitchfork. Tune your guitar to itself with guidance from an active guitar instructor in this free video on learning guitar.

Natural harmonics means that the harmonics fall on the guitar's finger board naturally. Learn to play natural harmonics with help from an active guitar instructor in this free video on learning...

In this How to you will learn how to play a C chord on a standard tuned Ukulele. The C is a very easy chord to play and sounds good in many different chord progression or picking patterns

Sounds worth a thousand pictures: Speakers get artistic. Alive and calculating: The HP-12C lives on. Cool stuff worth tracking. And finally … hand signals for the military.

Nearly all banjo heads now are made of Mylar plastic and often painted white. Painting your banjo head can be a great way to make your instrument stand out. You can use a solid color or a design....

Based in San Dimas, California, Charvel is a company that manufactures electric guitars. Charvel instruments are available only through authorized dealers. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation...

No matter what styles and genres of music you enjoy listening to, the power of this universally-loved art form is its ability to communicate ideas and feelings that might otherwise be...

The harmonica is a great instrument for children to start with even from a young age. Harmonicas are affordable and fairly simple to use at the basic level. Learning the harmonica will teach basic...

If you are looking for ways to learn how to play the piano, you should really consider "Rocket Piano" piano lessons. The "Rocket Piano" method is a completely interactive...

Tuning is somewhat of an art, and is obviously among the most important skills to perfect. Whether you own a Gibson or other guitar brand, tuning procedures are identical. Electronic tuners are...

A Les Paul style guitar is one of the easier versions to restring. Unlike the Stratocaster, the Les Paul has everything you need easily accessible on the top of the guitar. Changing the strings is...

The bridge of a violin is the piece of wood that sits on the body of the violin, between the tailpiece and the beginning of the neck. The bridge provides support for the strings and, if not cut...

There are many types of mallets that percussionists need for the variety of instruments they play in a band or an orchestra. Much of the time, each type of mallet is relegated to one specific...

The 1977 movie "Smokey and the Bandit" featured popular movie stars Burt Reynolds and Sally Field. Another actor in the movie is Jerry Reed, who also was an accomplished country music writer,...

The modification of the trombone in order to provide specific functionality has lead to different subtypes, one of which is the trigger trombone.

It's important to clean out the inside of your flute after you finish practicing. The inside of the flute should be completely dry when you put it into the case to avoid the moisture from your...

The mandolin is a member of the lute family, and has been in existence since around 1700. Today, mandolins are used in many types of music, from traditional European music to American folk and...

The Starcaster electric guitar is a model in the classic Fender lineup designed for beginning players. Fender strings are made with a bullet tip for quick installation through the back of the...

Care of 12 string guitars is very similar to that of other guitars. Regular cleaning of the strings and body, storage in moderate humidity environments, and preventing prolonged exposure from...

Japanese electronics manufacturer Casio makes workstation-like keyboards for musician hobbyists and also simple keyboards for children to explore music. The devices can have hundreds of built-in...

Of all of the instruments in the string family, the violin is one of the most beautiful. An antique violin is a rare and lucky find. If the violin you have is damaged, there are steps you can take...

Playing the alto saxophone during a special occasion like a wedding makes for a wonderful memory. Because the Wedding March is a widely recognized melody, it requires proper preparation before an...

The acoustic guitar is once again enjoying a popularity boost. Musicians of every style are embracing the instrument's simple versatility, blending traditional musical values with modern...

Every budding guitarist wonders what the difference is between steel or nylon strings. While there are several distinctions, including the type of guitar on which they are installed, choosing...

Sample CDs are chock-full of sounds that an innovative music producer can use to his advantage. Having a software sampler or sound module makes using these sounds simple. Just pop the CD into the...

A recorder is an instrument in the flute and oboe family that was particularly popular from the medieval to the baroque times and has been revived in the 20th century. They come in all different...

The recorder, a woodwind musical instrument, is prevalent among elementary schools today, as plastic versions of the instrument can be produced with little cost. Perhaps your son or daughter is...

The music scales that are used in Lead Rock music differ from band to band, but predominantly the pentatonic, blues, major and natural minor scales are used. The only thing that really makes them...

A straight slide trombone has a chromatic range of E below the bass clef to B-flat above middle C. The addition of a trigger valve increases the range and flexibility of the instrument.

Playing saxophone is a wonderful hobby and a lot of fun. The more you play the better you get and the more fun you can have. Getting better requires disciplined practice and patience.

Buying a used flute can be a great way to save money, as new flutes are often marked up anywhere between 30 and 40 percent and lose their value the moment they leave the store. To find a used...

A correct embouchure, or the way you hold your lips when playing a musical instrument, is key to your success as a flute player. Many people make critical errors in this phase of learning. An...

MIDI Clock should be distinguished from MIDI Time Code (MTC). MTC is a type of time code, similar to SMPTE. MIDI Time Code is sent in packets of exclusive system data and identifies the location...