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Become a music connoisseur with eHow’s comprehensive collection of music How Tos. Finding lyrics and free music downloads will be easy after checking out How Tos written by eHow’s stable of music experts and fans. Researching bands and artists? Trying to read sheet music so you can join a marching band or orchestra? eHow can help. Learn how to play an instrument, record digital music and attend live concerts and festivals by drawing on eHow’s vast reservoir of musical expertise.

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Articles in Music

How to Play Heavy Metallica Riffs

By Eric J. Seidman

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Metallica, one of the most popular bands of all time, has combined thrash metal with hard rock to develop their own sound. This tutorial will get you on the right track to replicating that sound... more »

How to Play High Notes on the Trumpet

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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The trumpet is one of the more difficult instruments to play and a skill that few can master. One of the hardest parts of playing the trumpet is playing high notes with a fluid and sharp sound. Once you have learned how to play the trumpet, you ... more »

How to Play Jazz Music on the Upright Bass Guitar

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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Jazz is an American pastime that involves a sense of style, creativity and a distinct aura of cool. The upright bass is a perfect example of these classic jazz qualities. However, learning how to play jazz on the upright bass is a bit more ... more »

How to Play Legato on the Piano

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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An important skill in piano playing is learning to play legato. Legato is a musical technique in which you play a group of notes smoothly, without a break or silence between notes. In written music, legato is notated by a curved line, called a ... more »

How to Play Moveable Chords on the Guitar

By svicinanza

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People who are just learning the basics of guitar playing can use these chords to play many of today's popular tunes. These chords allow you to move up and down through the keys with ease... more »

How to Play Open Scales on the Cello

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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One of the first things learned when playing the cello is open scales. Open scales are scales that begin with notes played open on one of the strings. Once you memorize these scales and can play them smoothly and quickly, it is time to move onto ... more »

How to Play Piano Chords From Sheet Music

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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Popular piano music often includes the guitar chords above the melody line. You can use these on the piano for a quick play-through of the song or as a guide to the basic chord structure so that you can improvise. Either way, this article ... more »

How to Play Piano Like Alicia Keys

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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Alicia Keys has risen quickly to platinum level of stardom over the past few years. Her songwriting skills mixed with her incredible piano playing talent make her sound unique and highly creative in a musical world filled with copycat talent. ... more »

How to Play Plectrum Banjo

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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The plectrum banjo differs from the tenor or 5-string in that it is a 4-string instrument with 22 frets and a longer neck than the tenor. This allows the musician to use the first string for more notes, and more lax is used when tuning the first ... more »

How to Play Scales for the Upright Bass Guitar

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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Bass players use a variety of techniques to add interest to their moving bass lines, especially in jazz, funk, rock and blues genres. These techniques involve manipulation of the scale in some way such as using tritones. A tritone is an interval ... more »

How to Play Seventh Chords on Bass Guitar

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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A musician with music theory will be a more versatile bass guitar player. Learning special chord structures is part of expanding your bass guitar knowledge to improve your bass lines in any genre from blues to world music. The seventh chord is a ... more »

How to Play Slap Bass With a Drummer

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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Learning to play slap bass with a drummer is the fastest way to hone your skills as a guitarist. The drum has the steadiest beat of any instrument, and once you've learned the basics, you can branch off into more creative avenues. Grooving is ... more »

How to Play the "Back in Black" Riff

By Eric J. Seidman

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"Back in Black" is one of AC/DC's most popular songs. It combines a catchy sequence of power chords with a very fun solo. The song follows the general AC/DC style of three chords repeated, and was the first song I ever learned how to play on ... more »

How to Play the "Crossroads" Riff

By Eric J. Seidman

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"Crossroads," voted the 10th best guitar solo of all time by "Guitar World," is one of the most popular blues songs of all time. Inspired by an old Robert Johnson song, Eric Clapton's band, Cream, spruced it up and turned it into a classic. This ... more »

How to Play the B Major Scale On Trumpet

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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Practicing and learning scales are two of the most important elements to learning to play the trumpet well. Practice is vital to retaining fingering and tonguing techniques and learning scales allows you to understand everything else that is ... more »

How to Play the Conga

By David Lessem

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Congas have a mellow, warm tone which can find a place in nearly any kind of music. Learning the basics tones used to play the conga is easy. Mastering the instrument is much harder... more »

How to Play the Djembe

By Jim Donovan

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Beginner Djembe Lesson. Get the full DVD at Amazon.com A step by step lesson on how to play the West African Djembe drum. Includes bass, tone, slap, flams and more. You can also get the full 2 hour Rhythmic Foundation : Interactive African ... more »

How to Play the French Horn

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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Few musical instruments sound as distinctive and beautiful as the French horn. However, think carefully before taking up this instrument because it isn't suitable for entertaining your friends or playing at nightclubs. If you do decide to learn ... more »

How to Play the Panflute

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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In Greek mythology, Pan tried to seduce Syrinx, a beautiful nymph. He overtook her on the banks of the River Ladon banks and, as she called to the other nymphs for aid, she was turned to river reed. Pan realized these reeds made a beautiful sound ... more »

How to Play the Root Position of Bb Major on Guitar

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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Guitarists use chords to play more than one note of the same pitch at the same time. Chords are groups of notes played together and are used to optimize the sound of an instrument. A root position is normally the first note of a chord or triad. ... more »

How to Play the Timbales

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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The timbales are two drums with metal shells and skin or plastic heads. They are traditionally a Latin American instrument, often with a few added cowbells, but are now featured in concert and jazz ensembles, as well... more »

How to Play the Trongos

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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The trongos is a water drum made up of three steel drums. The amount of water, along with movement, determines the trongos sound. If you're looking for an interesting percussion instrument, find out more about trongos with these steps... more »

How to Play the Tsabouna

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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For thousands of years on the islands of Greece, musicians have played a wind instrument called the tsabouna. Although it looks similar to bagpipes, a tsabouna lacks the drone pipe. Musicians play this wind instrument made from goatskin at Greek ... more »

How to Play the Tuba

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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An instrument that requires great lung capacity, the tuba is a wind instrument in the brass family. Proper breathing techniques and lip movement control are keys to successful tuba playing. Learn to play the tuba, using basic fundamentals and tips... more »

How to Play the Washboard

By eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor

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The washboard is more often used for laundry than as an instrument. But the washboard is actually quite versatile, especially for folk and country music. Here are a few tips on how to play the washboard as a musical instrument... more »