Music

Music industry veteran Ken Cavalier provides the seven guidelines that labels employ when looking to sign a new act to a record deal.

Many composers and musicians use the circle of fifths to create and practice music. The circle of fifths can be manipulated in both directions to produce chord and practice sequences on various...

In this article you will learn basic techniques that will improve articulation. Great for begginners and any level of musician alike these 3 easy to follow steps can help you become a better player.

Let me confess – I love Lupe Fiasco and if he ever has wifey interviews I would overnight my application to him lol. Okay, so enough about my personal crush. I know there are a lot of you that...

Because the strings on an electric bass are thick it can often become tiring to play if you haven't built up enough dexterity and strength in your left hand (or right hand, if you are playing...

Bows for stringed instruments such as violins, violas, cellos and basses vary in size, but all perform the same function. Bows are essentially sticks that the players rub against the instruments'...

Learning the major and minor scales are often the first steps a musician takes to become familiar with their instrument. Although many musicians learn by ear and know little theory, it is highly...

Surf guitar is a classic American art form that never went away. A number of specific techniques make up this distinctive rock idiom, but fortunately none of them are outside the grasp of the...

The Irish tin flute, also known as the "penny whistle," is an instrument that belongs to the wind family of instruments. It originated from the flageolet, a similar instrument that was popular in...

Being a good DJ is a service that can potentially earn you a more than substantial living, whether you spin at school dances or wedding receptions. While much of your business will come from...

American Idol has made karaoke singing part of the cultural tradition of the United States. Originally a Japanese invention, karaoke literally means "empty orchestra." The music is provided by a...

One of the more difficult aspects of picking up a guitar for the first time, especially a bass guitar, is tuning the instrument. While the instrument is certainly playable without it being tuned,...

Playing the banjo can be fun and exciting. Building your own banjo can make it that much more rewarding. You'll gain a better understanding of how your instrument works, and you'll have a better...

Finding the right bow is essential to producing beautiful music on a violin. Many factors determine the quality of a bow, such as its construction, hair type and general condition. Buying a violin...

Proper bowing technique is critical to the success of the performing violinist. Numerous elements factor into effectively using a violin bow, from the angle of your arm to the tightness of the bow...

The benefits of playing and practicing music are well documented. Scientifically, it can stimulate brain function at any age. Psychologically, it gives you an opportunity to express yourself, and...

"Codec" is an abbreviation for coder-decoder--a small computer program that converts audio or video data into a compressed format (MPEG, AVI) so the data does not take up too much space on your...

The violin bow is a critical tool for the violinist. The quality of a bow is determined by a number of factors, including its construction, hair type, age and whether it is damaged. Likewise, the...

The violin is one of the most distinctive and adaptable instruments in the world of music. There is no musical genre the violin has not ventured into; the instrument regularly appears in...

Have you ever heard an amazing song on the radio and just had to find out what its name was so you could listen to it again? If you can remember a phrase or small portion of the lyrics, you just...

When you are learning a piece of music and struggling with the rhythm of the notes, it is helpful to stop and count out the notes. The broader your understanding of music, the easier this...

Rap music is not a fad. It has been a part of the mainstream music scene for over 30 years. In that time, it has come under fire as having a negative effect on children, but that is not entirely...

Most Epiphone electric guitars are wired the same as a Gibson Les Paul or SG style guitar. They feature individual volume potentiometers linked to individual tone potentiometers connected to a...

Some of us treasure our CD collection like Grandpa treasures his vinyl records. While CDs are not as sensitive as vinyl records, they can occasionally crack. Chances are, that CD is no longer of...

An instrumental solo in a song can be highly expressive even though it uses no words. One way to construct solos is to use different scales that fit with the chord structure of the song. It takes...

Putting a whammy bar, or tremolo bar, on a guitar is a simple task that will allow you to bend notes. When a whammy bar is installed on a guitar you can pull the bar toward the neck, thus...

The MPC 2000 is an awesome digital music production device that can process loads of sound samples at one time so that a musician can create entire beats with a single machine. There is a built-in...

Structural notes are the tones in a melodic passage which comprise the basis of the melody. Without them a melody would not be recognizable. Students of music theory learn to identify structural...

Whether the beat of a song is kept on a single snare drum or a full drum set, the sticks a drummer uses can make a lot of difference in the sound. Drummers can experiment to get just the right...

As digital technology becomes more the norm, more people seem to feel nostalgic about collecting vinyl records from their past. Collectors are as passionate about the cover art as they are about...

Vacuum tube amplifier electrical circuits (also known as "valve amplifier" circuits) have been used to amplify alternating current signals since the 1930s. These amplifier circuits are known for...

Building your own neck can be a very challenging, but rewarding experience. By customizing your neck to suit your playing needs, you can not only save money, but personalize your instrument like...

The pentatonic scale is an easy and useful scale for soloing or for constructing a riff around. It is also visual on guitar, making it easier to work within. Thus, a guitar is an ideal instrument...

You don't need to be born with perfect pitch to hear music notes. Learning to hear notes and recognize the names of those notes takes time and practice. It may be that you never develop perfect...

Bow rosin is a vital element of playing the violin. Made from processed pine tar and proprietary ingredients, which differ according to the manufacturer, rosin allows the smooth bow-hair to grip...

People use iPods for everything under the sun. What a lot of people don't do is use them to their advantage. Music is available for download from everywhere, and you can even copy all of your old...

Have you always wanted to have a true multiroom music system in your home? Well now with the new Sonos bundle, setting one up is well within reach! Here's how:

How to find a drummer, how to find a guitarist, how to find a bassist, and how to find a singer... the backbone of the search is in the screening process.

It is frustrating to hear a well-intentioned but unmusical person/choir sing. It is a far worse experience to hear someone sing that IS musical, but evidently has never had the proper coaching....

For a lot of people tuning their guitar by ear is a challenging task. With a little bit of practice it can become second nature. In this guide you will learn an easy method for tuning your guitar...

Well if your going to use that guitar, you're going to have to tune up first! This should make it pretty simple and quick to use a tuner to keep your guitar in standard tuning.

Death growls are commonly used in black metal. Many people complain that growled lyrics are incomprehensible and sound all the same. Usually you can equate death growls with instruments rather...

U2 is extremely popular. Their gigantic shows sell out quickly and they move a lot of albums. However, their massive catalog can seem overwhelming if you haven't followed them regularly. With...

Anyone can write a few lines for a song, but it is a rare (and successful) person who writes lyrics that stick in the mind of the listener. Writing lyrics that people remember is an art and art...

To learn how to play the guitar, you need to primarily, have the interest to learn how to actually play it and another thing, you need to own one so you can learn to play it at your own convenient...

Violin is an instrument associated with elegant classical music. Playing the violin is a talent which can be honed at an early age and could lead you to fame if developed properly. There are a...

Dominant seventh chords are extremely valuable in music since they move down a fifth to “do” or tonic. They are useful as cadences and also in leading to a new key. Learn how to play them easily...

Chanting Sanskrit mantra aligns your entire being with the intention of the mantra. "Om Shree Dhanvantre Namaha" is a powerful mantra for healing. Dhanvantari is the patron saint of...

With the improvement of digital technology comes a reduction in price. Therefore it's becoming ever easier for musicians, podcasters and voice over artists to build their own home recording...

Wondering which gig to go to? If you find it hard to find an interesting gig or concert, you're not alone. Live music is a great way to meet people, enjoy your night and unwind from the week's...