Musical Instruments

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...

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.

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...

The advent of virtual software instruments has changed the playing field in the world of music. When it comes to virtual keyboards, whether they're synthesizers, organs, or pianos, there is no...

Synthesizers use filters and envelopes to alter the sound characteristics of a waveform generated by an oscillator. A filter is a signal processor that removes, enhances or notches individual...

The Jaw Harp (aka the Jew's Harp, mouth harp, trump, etc.) is one of the oldest instruments in existence. It has been around since at least the 3rd century, but is most traditionally known as a...

The basset horn and alto clarinet are similar instruments, so much so that they can replace each other in musical groups. However, there are some distinct differences.

Changing strings on an Epiphone Firebird is not terribly different from most guitars. It does have a few distinct features that are important to know. New strings on a guitar give new life to it's...

Whammy bars are very easy to put on your guitar, and can be done either by snapping them into place or using a screwdriver. Put a whammy bar on your guitar with help from a guitarist in this free...

A whammy bar is something that will change the pitch of the chords that were just played. Use a whammy bar properly with tips from a guitarist in this free video on the electric guitar.

When learning to play guitar tabs, it's important to know the letters of each string on the guitar. Learn to play guitar tabs with advice from a guitarist in this free video on the electric guitar.

To play an acoustic/electric guitar through an amp, you'll need to connect your guitar to the amp with a cable. Discover how to play an acoustic/electric guitar from a guitarist in this free video...

When tuning a guitar to D flat, you'll want to tune it two half steps below E. Play your guitar in D flat tuning with help from a guitarist in this free video on guitar tuning.

Most guitars are played in the tune of E, also known as standard tuning. Make sure your guitar is in tune with tips from a guitarist in this free video on guitar tuning.

To tune a guitar in B, you must tune it two and a half steps lower than the standard E tuning. Find out how to tune your guitar to B with help from a guitarist in this free video on guitar tuning.

Tuning a guitar can be done by ear or with an electronic tuner. Make sure your guitar is in tune with help from a guitarist in this free video on the electric guitar.

To write songs using guitar chords, it's usually best to follow some sort of structure. Learn to write songs using chords with tips from a guitarist in this free video on guitars.

The size of an upright bass makes it a challenging but fun instrument for beginning students. Young students in particular may experience difficulty due to their small hands. Choosing between a...

Moving a piano from one home to another is no easy task, as demonstrated by Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in a 1930s movie short that, unsurprisingly, ended in disaster. It is essential to remove...

Changing nylon guitar strings is a bit more challenging for the beginner than changing steel strings. The lack of secured ends, difficulty in bending nylon string material, and extended stretching...

Solo guitar music can bring joy to your ears in any genre. Solo guitarists who don't sing, such as the popular rocker Joe Satriani, make an art of writing instrumentals using the guitar as the...

The ocarina is a simple wind instrument. Ocarinas can be made from wood, ceramic, glass or a number of other materials. They can have four holes, five holes or more. Ocarinas are keyed to produce...

Improvised instruments are the heart of a bluegrass jug band. Along with a washboard, a set of spoons and a jug, a pie pan banjo provides the metallic twang that gives the band character. You...

Recovering from surgery is no fun, especially when you can't do the things you love (or can't do them without pain). Rotator cuff surgery is a major procedure with a months-long recovery process....

The saxophone can play smooth jazz, concert band pieces or solos over an orchestra. The four major types of saxophones (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone) increase the amount of people who can...

Antique bathtub prices have remained constant over the last 20 years. Old tubs sell at salvage yards for between $300 and $700, based on condition, size and desirability. In places where these...