Musical Instruments

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...

Bagpipes are instruments with enclosed reeds that make music by the constant flow of air fed over the reeds from a bag. Bagpipes are Scottish and Irish in origin and produce a unique, very Celtic...

The guitar is probably the most popular instrument to learn to play today. At one time learning to play a guitar meant paying for lessons, but since so many people play guitar now it is pretty...

Tuning a French horn can be complicated, because there are essentially 14 different horns within a single instrument. Understand the art of keeping a French horn in tune with help from an...

The French horn is a brass instrument that is often heard in movies, symphony orchestras, radio and television, and it has evolved over the centuries into its modern form. Understand the basics of...

Bass guitar is the foundation of a band. It is one of the key instruments, along with drums and piano, that make up the band's rhythm section. While some beginning bass players opt to go to an...

Alternating strings when playing bass guitar is all about the picking hand and the ability to switch between the index and middle finger quickly. Discover exercises for stretching the fingers with...

The bass guitar is typically coupled with a drum set to be used as a rhythm instrument, so it's important to understand how to read rhythm. Learn about reading quarter notes, half notes and more...

In order to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on bass guitar, it's important to learn how to play A, C, G and F notes. Find out how to play entire songs on bass guitars with help from a bass guitar...

In order to play bass guitar, it's important to learn how to read either tablature or bass clef. Find out how a bass clef is composed of notes within lines and spaces with help from a bass guitar...

In order to play a B note on a bass guitar, use the second finger on the second fret to hold down the A string. Learn about playing notes on a bass guitar with help from a bass guitar instructor...

In order to play a C note on a bass guitar, use the second finger on the third fret of the A string. Find out how there's nothing between B and C with help from a bass guitar instructor in this...

When reading a bass clef on tablature, it's important to memorize what the strings mean and the order of notes. Find out how to read bass clef with help from a bass guitar instructor in this free...

In order to play a G note on the bass guitar, use the third finger on the third fret to hold down the E string. Discover the importance of arching fingers when holding down notes with help from a...

In standard tuning for bass guitar, the top, lowest-sounding string will be an E, with subsequent notes being A, D and G, respectively. Learn about the names of strings as open notes with help...

When sitting to play a bass guitar, there is a curve in the guitar's body that is meant to rest on the right leg, while a foot rest can also be used. Learn about using a strap for extra support...

When learning how to play bass guitar, it's important to have an understanding of how the guitar works before moving on to techniques, theory and playing songs. Find out what is involved in...

One of the best ways to practice guitar playing is with finger exercises, as it is extremely important to have strong hands and fingers when playing guitar. Find out how to do finger exercises...

When strumming a guitar, the key is to tie together strumming patterns and be able to play them in succession over and over. Discover how to make transitions to other chords while maintaining a...

When playing lead guitar, there are a number of techniques that can be used, including pick scratching, tapping techniques and harmonics. Discover how to use pinch harmonics in lead guitar playing...

In order to play guitar faster, simply practice in order to strengthen the hands and fingers. Learn about finger exercises and picking techniques that can help to strengthen the hands for guitar...

After playing guitar for a few years, it's important to work on different chord shapes and lead guitar playing. Add more expression to guitar playing techniques with help from an electric guitar...

In order to improve guitar vibrato, pull on the strings, wiggle the hand when holding the note and use a vibrato arm. Use vibrato to add more emotion to guitar playing with help from an electric...

When buying a beginner's guitar, it's important to take comfort, playability and price into consideration. Find out why buying an acoustic guitar may not always be the best way to learn guitar...

Sweep picking on a guitar is a type of rake technique that involves dragging a pick across the strings in order to accent a note. Discover how to use a sweep pick in lead guitar playing with help...

There are many different types of guitar bodies with different shapes, but the shape doesn't really have anything to do with the sound the guitar produces. Find out how heavier guitars can create...

One common alternative guitar tuning is drop D tuning, in which the low E string is dropped a full step to create a D note. Add a rich sound to a D chord with help from an electric guitar...

A guitar effects pedal can create many different sounds, and two commonly used pedals are delay pedals and wah-wah pedals. Learn about using a wah-wah pedal in lead guitar playing with help from...

In order to make a guitar scream, use a technique called pinch harmonics, which takes advantage of a little gain and an interrupted string vibration to create a high-pitched sound. Find out how to...

In order to start playing the harp, it's important to learn how to sit properly and how to support the harp. Discover where to put the legs and hands when playing a harp with help from a harp...

A harp is a musical instrument that has been around for years, and it is a stringed instrument often found in symphonies and orchestras. Learn about the structure of a harp and how it produces...

A harp is a stringed instrument that creates sound through vibrations in strings that are connected to a sound board. Discover how a harp's sound board projects sound into the open with help from...

Harps are made using wood and metal parts, and the person who makes the harp starts with a sound board, which is a flat piece of solid wood. Discover the complexity of crafting the harmonic curve...

Everyday warm-up exercises for trumpet players involve starting on the low C and playing long tones to loosen up the muscles. Discover the importance of making a steady, well-produced sound with a...

The parts of the trumpet include the mouthpiece, the lead pipe, the mouthpiece receiver, the tuning slide, the valves, the water key and the bell. Learn about the parts of the bell, such as the...

A trumpet mute is placed in the bell to change the sound of the instrument, specifically the timbre when dealing with the trumpet. Make sure a trumpet mute doesn't stuff up the bottom end of the...

The acoustic bass is a cross between an electric bass and an acoustic guitar, held and played like an electric bass though it produces sound the same way as an acoustic guitar. Play an acoustic...

Tune a bass guitar by hand by tuning the E string first, using a piano or a guitar, and then tuning the other three strings to the corresponding notes on the E string. Find out how to match pitch...

To begin violin lessons, start by finding a good instructor to avoid picking up bad habits. Buy a quality violin to begin playing this instrument with this free video from a professional violinist.

To play the violin, be patient, find a good violin instructor and play a tune with the left hand. Use the right hand to make a warm tone when playing the violin with this free video from a...

When buying a trombone, ask an instructor for brand recommendations; start with a student model and work up from there. Buy a trombone with the tips in this free music-education video on music...

When learning how to play the trumpet, find out about the different parts such as the mouthpiece, then learn basic notes from a beginning book or an instructor. Get started playing the trumpet in...

When playing a mandolin arpeggio position, start with the index finger. Play the fourth position of a mandolin arpeggio with the expert music training tips in this free video from a mandolin...

When cross picking a forward roll on the mandolin, play each of the strings in order. Cross pick a forward roll on the mandolin with the expert music training tips in this free video from a...