How to Build a CD Collection

If you love to have a variety of music playing when your friends come over, build a CD collection that features a variety of artists and styles. Consider these methods to expand your taste in music and gather CDs that will feature something for everyone.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Convert your old albums and cassette tapes into compact discs to play on current stereo systems. Buying software to simplify the process will also allow you to buy inexpensive tapes and LPs at flea markets, second hand stores, garage sales and in the clearance bins at discount or record shops (see Resources below).

2. Host swaps with your friends to accumulate CDs by artists that you wouldn't typically buy on your own. Trade your least favorite albums by bands you love or compact discs that you rarely listen to for new ones that your friends are similarly willing to let go. Even if you don't discover a new favorite style, you will expand your collection.

3. Buy an assortment of songs from a music download website and compile them into playlists that you can burn to a CD. You'll not only be able to sample music from a wide variety of artists, but also be able to create numerous compilations in creative themes and combinations.

4. Discover new artists to help you build a diverse collection by asking music store employees to recommend artists and bands in genres that you're unfamiliar with. You can also listen to samples at CD kiosks throughout the store or find bands that have done cover versions of your favorite songs to help introduce you to a different style of music.

Tips & Warnings

• Organize the CD collection you've built with software that will make it easy to catalog, group, browse and find the particular song or artist that you're looking for.

Resources

• Software easily converts albums and tapes to CD.
• Create CDs from music compiled from download sites.
• Find software to organize your collection.