Musical Instruments

How to Play Acoustic Guitar Chords

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When learning to play the guitar, one of the first things learned is chords. A chord is a collection of tones played at the same time to sound harmonious. There are several major ones to begin with when learning to play the guitar... more »

How to Play Advanced Bass Guitar Harmonics

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A "harmonic" is ideally a pure tone consisting of a single frequency. A natural harmonic is produced only from an unfretted (open) string, but other types include artificial, tap and touch harmonics. The following steps will show how to play ... more »

How to Play African Drums

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The African drums are sacred and symbolic instruments that people play for ceremonial rituals and at dances and celebrations. Authentic drums are beautiful works of art that you can play to make lively and original beats with a simple technique ... more »

How to Play Air Guitar

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Air guitar is the easiest instrument to take up because everyone has one. If you've never played air guitar before, all you need is some good music to listen to and a little imagination... more »

How to Play Allegro 1 on Classical Guitar

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Mauro Giuliani, born in 1780 in Italy, was a well-known guitar virtuoso and composer by the time he was 20 years old. Students of the classical guitar become acquainted with Giuliani early in their education because he composed a set of 120 ... more »

How to Play Altissimo Notes on Clarinet

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Altissimo notes are the highest notes a clarinet can produce. To play altissimo notes, you must learn to control the airflow and the pressure you put on the reed, known as embrochure. The embrochure needs to be held firmly in your mouth, but not ... more »

How to Play Amazing Grace on the Bagpipes

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No tune is more associated with an instrument than Amazing Grace played on the bagpipes. There is something about the combination that never fails to move the listener. Playing the song is challenging, thanks to the complexity of the instrument... more »

How to Play an A Major Chord on the Piano

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The key to learning how to play an A major chord, or triad, is finding the first, third and fifth notes of the A major scale and playing them simultaneously. When playing major chords in the root position, first inversion and second inversion, ... more »

How to Play an A Major Scale on the Piano

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The A major scale consists of three black keys indicated in the key signature by F#, C# and G#. To smoothly play the A major scale on the piano or any scale containing sharps or flats, you must keep your hands in the proper position. Flat fingers ... more »

How to Play an Analog Synth

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The first synths created and used by popular musicians were comprised of analog circuits. Analog signals run continuously, while digital technology changes the original components into a binary code and then puts them back together. Many ... more »

How to Play an Enitre Song on a Bossa Nova Guitar

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Bossa nova evolved from the samba, and is most often played on the acoustic guitar accompanied by a vocalist. The bossa nova guitar style is influenced by jazz. The laid back sound and mellow vocals make bossa nova a popular genre for relaxation. ... more »

How to Play Arpeggios for Tenor Saxophone

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Arpeggio is derived from an Italian word meaning "to play the harp." It's nothing more than the notes of a chord played one at a time instead of all at once. Arpeggios are more than a substitute for a chord, they are a major part of music ... more »

How to Play B Flat Major on the Piano

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B flat major isn't the most used key on a piano but it is important to know and can be especially helpful when playing with B flat wind instruments such as a clarinet or trumpet. Here is how you construct a basic B flat major chord, which is the ... more »

How to Play B Major and B Minor on the Piano

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The five sharps contained in the B major scale make it one many pianists choose to exclude. Learning the scale and playing in the key of B, though, will improve your piano skills, and you may find it really isn't as difficult as it seems. Here is ... more »

How to Play Bagpipe Grace Notes

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Playing grace notes on a bagpipe is most often done to emphasize important notes in the melody. Since grace notes are short and are not a part of the regular melody of a song, they can also be used to separate notes when several of the same notes ... more »

How to Play Bagpipes

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The bagpipe is a very unusual musical instrument that creates a distinctive yet beautiful sound. Bagpipes are traditionally from Scotland and date back to the 26th century. When learning to play the bagpipe, start with a shuttle pipe, which is a ... more »

How to Play Banjo Chords

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Getting the chords right is one of most basic and fundamental parts of banjo playing, but for many it can also be the most difficult. Clear instruction and lots of practice are the best tools for overcoming any problems and mastering those chords... more »

How to Play Baritone Guitar

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The deep resonating music of the old spaghetti western was a signature of the baritone guitar. Originally introduced by the Danelectro company in the late 1950s, bands today have rediscovered the quality of the low tones that just can't be ... more »

How to Play Basic Chords on the Mandolin

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One of the first things to try after picking up the mandolin is basic scales. There are 3 basic scales discussed below that are best to begin with, the D, G and A chords. Once you have memorized and perfected the scales, you are ready to move ... more »

How to Play Basic Chords on the Piano

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Learning to play basic chords on the piano elevates your playing to a new level, allowing you to move beyond elementary song playing and into more advanced piano music. You'll understand the depth this provides to your songs as you begin to play ... more »

How to Play Basic Notes on the Fiddle

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You're not fiddling away your time if you learn to play the fiddle. You can learn to play anything from county to blues to jazz to classical music. Before running up and down the strings, though, learn to walk by playing basic notes on the ... more »

How to Play Bass Guitar With a Metronome

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As a rhythm instrument, the bass guitar requires attention to pacing. Playing with a metronome is a great way to get used to keeping pace, whether you're preparing to play with a band or doing some recording. Use the metronome to guarantee that ... more »

How to Play Bass on the Accordion

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The accordion is an interesting instrument: the play is "split" into two halves. A series of bass notes played with the left hand on buttons, and a keyboard played by the right hand. You also have to know how to manipulate the instrument to ... more »

How to Play Beginner Electric Guitar

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If you're switching from an acoustical guitar to an electric one, you'll find the level of difficulty to be much lower. The main difference is the strength that you need to press the frets. If you've never had guitar experience before, you still ... more »

How to Play Beginner Guitar Chords

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It only takes a few chords to start sounding like a pro on the guitar. Almost every guitar player starts out by learning the following chords. It takes a bit of practice to get your fingers in the right places and to press hard enough with each ... more »

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