Musical Instruments

Laptops dominate DJ booths around the world. Many DJs perform without turntables and often without CD decks. The computer adds a new dimension to the art form, turning DJs into true musical...

The benefits of playing and practicing music are well documented. Scientifically, it can stimulate brain function at any age. Psychologically, it gives you an opportunity to express yourself, and...

There are different types of slides one can go to when playing guitar, and each will give you different results. Knowing how to perform these different types of slides is to your advantage. ...

Reeds for saxophones can be expensive and they are delicate, but if you follow some easy steps your reeds should last longer, play better and cost you less money.

To prepare a violin bow, you'll want to tighten your bow and use violin rosin to wax it. Learn to properly prepare your violin bow with advice from an experienced violinist in this free video on...

Forming a clarinet embouchure (mouth-shape) is easy. You can do it in 4 easy steps. In front of a mirror- 1- Pull your lips in over your teeth, pretending like you have no teeth. Keep your chin...

Gongs are large percussive instruments from southeast Asia that produce deep vibrations that emanate from the gong's center when struck. Various sounds may be created by striking the gong with...

There are so many acoustic guitar sizes, wood combinations, body shapes, ... the list goes on and on. How to choose? I will help guide you in your search.

The alto saxophone is a popular instrument choice for beginning musicians and famous artists alike, and alto sax players today are frequently included in many different genres and styles of music....

After the harmonium was invented in France nearly 200 years ago, it migrated with British citizens to India, where it gained fame. The instrument seemed to suit the Indian people and became a...

If you quit piano after your first 2 lessons as a child, do not fret. You can learn to play songs on the piano as an adult with no experience.

People can learn how to play basic lines and chords on a Dobro guitar and what equipment they need to create the classic bluegrass Dobro sound. A basic familiarity with guitars is required.

Enya's song, "May It Be," famous for its inclusion in Peter Jackson's "Fellowship of the Ring" movie, is an easy piece to learn for the recorder. It requires some transposition to adapt the song...

The mouthpiece of a clarinet includes a small strip of wood called a reed that a player attaches in order to make music. When the player blows through the mouthpiece, the reed vibrates, producing...

Playing a fretless bass allows the bassist to make minor tone shifts that are not possible on a fretted bass. Musical techniques like vibrato and legato are easier to use. This allows for an often...

When I purchased my Fender Strat and amplifier, it was nice. It wasn't Jimi Hendrix, but it was low priced and fun... to begin with.

The purpose of a drum rack is to save drum set space and to allow maximum resonance from your drums. Drum racks save space by eliminating the need for cymbal stands, tom-tom hardware, bass drum...

Double bass drum playing doesn't have to be difficult or painful. Learn the following time-tested techniques and you will be playing faster and easier than ever before.

A melodica is free-reed instrument and is like a combination of an accordion and a harmonica. You can blow through an attached mouthpiece or an extended tube and play notes on the keyboard keys to...

The cello has four strings, each crafted to be tuned to a different note. The lowest note is a C two octaves below middle C; next is G, which is a fifth above C, then D, then A two notes below...

Brass instruments are wind instruments that are often made of both brass and nickel. Although most brass instruments were originally intended to accompany sacred vocal ensembles, their versatility...

A trumpet mute is a device that is placed into or in front of the bell of a trumpet to change the pitch or timbre of the sound or to add a special effect.

Learning to play guitar licks is a useful skill for any guitarist, even those who play original music. Learning how other guitarists write songs can help inspire your own music. In addition, it's...

With the right combination of components, you can make a guitar amplifier that suits your needs better than any on the market. Not only will building your own guitar amplifier save you money, it...

The guiro is a percussion instrument made from a hollowed-out gourd. It has two holes cut into one side and parallel grooves carved horizontally along the opposite side. It is played by rubbing a...

The drums can be one of the most difficult instruments to play if you are a beginner, but it you follow some simple steps it'll be easier than you can imagine. A rock beat is the most common drum...

It is important to know how to buy a used piano, no matter what type of piano you plan on buying. Whether you are looking to buy a used grand piano, used baby grand piano or used upright piano,...

Beginning guitar players can learn to play like Zakk Wylde with an aggressive guitar lick played on the A minor pentatonic scale. Find out which four notes to play in this riff with help from a...

Any guitar player can use palm muting techniques on the A minor pentatonic scale to achieve an aggressive sound. Find out how to do palm muting techniques on the strings where they leave the...

Wiring your guitar isn't something you need to be a pro guitar tech to do, but you must be willing to put some work in. After you know how, you'll be able to swap out pickups and do your own...

This guitar chord progression using slash chords has a descending base line, and it uses the chords D, A and A/C sharp. Find out how to master this progression with helpful tips from an...

This guitar chord progression using a constant arpeggio pattern uses a G minor 7 chord, an F chord at the eighth fret, a B flat/D chord, an E flat chord at the sixth fret, a C chord at the third...

Zildjian cymbals have been a staple of percussion instruments for centuries and have gained immense popularity in the modern music industry. Due to changes in manufacturing techniques, vintage...

When first purchased, many guitars are vary rarely set up to a person's playing preference or style. One important adjustment that you can do to make playing the guitar more comfortable and...

Fender, Gibson and other top guitar manufacturers provide vintage replicas with old-school tones. While some musicians prefer to keep these classic tones housed within their shiny new exteriors,...

When setting up and playing a double bass pedal, an even, consistent stroke is required between both pedals to achieve the proper sound. If you are having trouble achieving a steady rhythm with a...

Reading piano music requires reading from left to right and recognizing the symbols that represent notes. Read piano music with tips from a pianist, singer and songwriter in this free video on...

The G harmonic violin scale has a harmonic minor and a dark but warm sound to it. Play the violin in the key of G minor with tips and advice from an experienced musician and violinist in this free...

The xylophone is a member of the keyboard percussion family of instruments that includes many instruments. The marimba, glockenspiel and vibraphone are also part of this family, and all of these...

Many drummers spend years fumbling with drum keys and heads, trying to get a good tone from their drums. Unlike string instruments that can be tuned by changing the tension of a string in one...

Handmade acoustic guitars represent the pinnacle of craftsmanship in stringed instruments. They are painstakingly crafted by artisans whose craft dates back centuries, and they sound like...

Playing the clarinet can be difficult and knowing how to put it together is just as confusing. Assemble a clarinet and hold it correctly with the tips and advice from an experienced musician in...

There are several ways to tune a guitar by ear depending on whether the guitar is in tune with itself or with another instrument. Tune a guitar by ear with tips from a guitar instructor in this...

The lower violin strings are thicker than the others. Learn how to improve your bowing technique on lower strings in this free violin lesson from a professional violinist.

There are dozens of ways to play a G major guitar chord and even more ways to play harmony notes up and down the guitar neck. Learn one specific way to play in the key of G major from a guitar...

Use a cleaning cloth to clean and polish the outside of the trumpet. Learn more about cleaning trumpets from a trumpet expert in this free music lesson video.

With minimal musical knowledge, anyone can learn the basics of handbells. Each person is responsible for ringing at least one bell that plays a distinct note. Together, a choir of bell ringers...

While most of us enjoy learning chords, scales and our favorite songs on the guitar, it can also be helpful to learn how to fix our strings if the need arises. Knowing the basics of string removal...

The harp is a beautiful instrument with a long and storied heritage. Harps or instruments very similar to harps are found in almost every culture, from the ancient Greeks to the Celts. Harps can...

Snare drums get their signature sound with the help of thin, spiraling wires, called snares, that are stretched tightly across the bottom head of the drum. Without these snares, a snare drum would...