Musical Instruments

How to Make an Oboe Reed

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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Most instruments will do well with a store purchased reed. Oboe and bassoon players, however, typically make their own reeds since the instruments are so dependent on the players unique mouth position. Making your own reeds is not as hard as you ... more »

How to Make Bongos

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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If you're not very musically inclined, the bongos may be the instrument for you. If you're just looking to have fun and you don't want to pay for a set of bongos, you can make your own. Far easier than the drums, bongos leave the music in your hands... more »

How to Make Homemade Sand Blocks

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If you have children who are musically inclined, and want to make an orchestra where every child can play together (or by themselves), you can do it at very little cost. Perhaps you already have a rain stick. Why not add sand blocks as well? They ... more »

How to Play "Bulls on Parade" by Rage Against the Machine

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After you have been playing electric guitar for awhile, it is time to move onto some intermediate-level songs. Use the tips below to learn the elements of "Bulls on Parade" by Rage Against the Machine. Practice these over and over and soon you ... more »

How to Play a Tin Whistle

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If you love the folksy sound of a good Irish jig and are eager to join in yourself, the tin whistle may be just the thing to get you started. It's one of the simplest of musical instruments, and with a little practice you'll soon have others ... more »

How to Play a Xylophone

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The xylophone is part of the percussion family and is thought to have originated in Indonesia. Comprised of wooden bars of differing lengths going from longer bars to shorter bars, the instrument makes its tones as you hit the bars with wooden or ... more »

How to Play Bass Guitar with Tabs

By NicolasM

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I know it sounds easy...well I guess it depends on the music your playing,but it's not. It takes time and patience... more »

How to Play E Flat Major and E Flat Minor on the Piano

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Learning major and minor chords on the piano is a great way to figure out how to accompany other instruments. You use these simple chords to play along to a band or to your own vocals. Piano players should pay attention to how to find the notes ... more »

How to Play Flamenco Guitar

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Flamenco guitar playing has a strong rhythmic base and requires a physical and energetic demeanor on the part of the player. Played solo or accompanied by a flamenco dancer, this demanding and lively guitar style is easy to learn, but becomes ... more »

How to Play Guitar Like Steve Vai

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Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai attended Berklee School of Music in Boston, then gained fame as a member of Frank Zappa's band in the late '70s. Vai later moved on to a successful solo career and attained guitar legend status as a technical wizard with ... more »

How to Play Pizzicato on the Viola

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Learning to use pizzicato allows the student to become familiar with the sounds of the four strings and concentrate on "left hand" finger placement, pitch change, very simple tunes and a bit of rhythm without the need of using a bow at this point... more »

How to Play the Balalaika

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The balalaika is a triangular-shaped string instrument, popular in Russian folk music. The musical tones embody the character of Russian people with their ease in changing from happy to sad. Peasants poked fun at authority with songs written for ... more »

How to Play the Guitar

By Pomeroy

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Many people would love to learn how to play an instrument, but how? This is not necessarily a lesson in it of it self, but more less what you will find here are practical steps to see you through the process of learning how to play the guitar... more »

How to Play the Trumpet

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Playing the trumpet is a combination of how you move air through the instrument, the way you form your mouth and how you buzz your lips. By varying these skills along and mastering your valve combinations, you learn to control the sounds that ... more »

How to Read Piano Chord Inversions

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Learning how to read piano chord inversions is an important part of learning to read music and play the piano. The better you are at reading music, the better a piano player you will become. Knowing how to read chord inversions will also give you ... more »

How to Repair a Flute

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Depending on your flute, an attempted (and botched) repair may end up costing you more than taking it in to be worked on professionally in the first place. Wooden flutes of little intricacy are easily manipulated by the owner, but more complex ... more »

How to Select a Piano

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Choosing a piano requires a great amount of care, since a piano is a costly instrument. Spend some time looking and evaluating, possibly with the help of an expert friend... more »

How to Set Up Cables for a Pedal Board

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For guitar players interested in a diverse set of sounds, special effects pedals are a critical tool. A collection of pedals for different effects are kept together in "pedal boards." A pedal board is a portable collection, usually in a hard ... more »

How to String a Violin

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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Strings age and wear out whether they're metal or gut. Preventive medicine is the prescription. Do a "transplant" before they give out during a performance... more »

How to Transpose Notes for Alto Saxophone

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Transposing music requires a musician to look at the music and play a different note than the one written in order to harmonize correctly with other instruments in the band. Music for the alto saxophone is already transposed to be in sync with ... more »

How to Use Vibrato Technique for Cello

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Vibrato is a musical technique used in both singing and playing musical instruments to create expression and interest through the pulsating of pitch. This technique is commonly used in string instruments. It is used quite commonly in classical ... more »

How to Adjust a Violin Shoulder Rest

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A shoulder rest helps a violinist hold the violin more firmly and makes the instrument more comfortable to play. It is necessary to make sure that the shoulder rest is properly adjusted so that it is comfortable for the player and properly fits ... more »

How to Alternate Strings on a Bass Guitar

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A large part of bass guitar playing is developing technique. The bass guitar as a rhythm instrument needs rhythmic, tight lines in order to hold the bottom line on musical compositions. There are many ways to train your fingers to use strings ... more »

How to Become a Luthier

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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A luthier is someone who practices lutherie, or the craft of making or repairing string instruments. Lutherie is a centuries-old tradition that's bestowed upon the world many beautiful instruments and saved many others from destruction. Even ... more »

How to Build a Pedal Board

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Pedal boards are an important piece of equipment for guitar players. Building a pedal board gives the guitar player the opportunity to customize every detail, although a few components are essential to every pedal board. From fuzz effects to ... more »

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