Hammond Music

Archive for August, 2009

Picking the best guitar for beginners can be hard but the primary things to look at are cost, reliability and versatility. By these standards, the Squier Stratocaster is easily the best guitar for beginners.

Produced by Fender, the Squier Stratocaster is great value for the money and it can be easily found at any music store or online for under $230. A new guitar learner doesn’t require an expensive guitar to start with and you can always purchase a better guitar once you have developed your guitar playing skills.

One of the things I like most about the Squier is how durable it is. The Fender brand means that as long as you take care of the instrument it should last for awhile with relatively few problems. For instance, I have heard that the strap buttons can come loose after a few months but this is easily fixed and the fact that this is the biggest problem the Squier faces with wear is a testament to its dependability.

Of course, price and reliability mean little if the guitar isn’t versatile enough. New guitar players should have a capable guitar on which to try all different genres of music. The Squier Strat gives the beginner all of these capabilities and although it is unable to match the thrills of more advanced guitars, it gives beginners a solid foundation for learning to play the guitar.

When shopping for this guitar, don’t confuse the Squier Stratocaster with the Fender Stratocaster or the Squier Affinity Strat. The Affinity is a more budget guitar and it shows while the Fender Stratocaster is the more expensive model ($350). The Squier Stratocaster is in the middle of these two models and is the best value for the a new guitarist.

On balance, the Squier Stratocaster is the best guitar for beginners. Its cost, durability and flexibility make it the perfect choice for anyone just starting to learn the guitar.  Go to your local music store and see if you can pick one up.  Pair it up with a good guitar course and you will definitely love it.

One of the more important guitar techniques is choosing and discovering out how to use a pick. The use of a pick (or plectrum) is essential especially if you’re going to be practicing a lot of jazz, rock or bluegrass as these musical styles wear out your fingernails faster than other guitar styles.

In addition to protecting your nails, utilizing a pick will produce a crisper sound and introduce you to new styles of play. However, it’s important to select the right pick before getting started.

A beginning guitarist will want to start out with an average sized, plastic pick. Usually shaped like an isosceles triangle, the standard pick is made of plastic and varies in thickness and flexibility based on what it’s used for.

A beginner will want to start with a less flexible pick because it’s easier to handle. This will make the process of learning to strum easier as there will be less resistance from the pick.

Some guitarists utilize a thumb pick that improves volume but lowers the sound clarity. These are for more advanced players and should be experimented with once the guitarist already understands the basics of the regular guitar pick.

Once you’ve chosen a medium-sized, plastic pick that feels right to you, it’s time to discover how to hold and use the plectrum. The pick is ordinarily held between the thumb and first finger but can also be held between the thumb and second finger or with all three. This depends on personal feel so take some time to experiment and decide on one configuration before you move on.

Once you’ve figured out your way to hold the pick, you can practice the motion of picking. It’s a motion of the wrist so done make big movements with your arm but instead focus on short, efficient strokes that alternate up and down.

As you get more comfortable with the pick you can play around with other picking techniques. Learning the individual methods is a more advanced part of learning the guitar but learning to choose the correct pick and how to hold it is one of the guitar basics that every beginning guitar player should know.

Learn Guitar Easy

Given today’s economic climate, one has to strike better deals with lower costs.This includes investing in your music.If you’re interested in acquiring a guitar or adding more to your present collection, buying a pre-owned guitar is a good investment. You may want to guarantee that you’re getting value for your money by buying an expensive and brand new guitar.You should realize, however, that the same model could be bought at a much cheaper price if it was previously owned. The dilemma that you now have to solve is whether or not buying a used guitar was worth the cash spent on it.Buying a second hand guitar is no joke.Researching solves all kinds of problems if you need it.Oftentimes, most beginners often do not know how to haggle with sellers who usually raise the price of a guitar, whether it be brand new or not.Which is why, again, research will always save you some money when trying to invest in second hand guitars. For instance you’ve found a second-hand guitar through a friend or the classified ads, or probably a friend of a friend knows someone who wants to sell you a guitar.You have to think on it for a bit before agreeing to anything, of course.Purchasing an old guitar is a serious matter when you’re pinching pennies. You should not be daunted by the task of inquiring about the instrument.It would be quite beneficial for you to ask the vendor about what material the guitar is made of, or what type of guitar it is.If you did your research, you should know this already.Usually, you can look for price quotes on that type of guitar and see if other people like it or not elsewhere.This gives you the upper hand in terms of knowing the real pros and cons of the guitar, as compared to the sales talk. Don’t neglect to inquire about its history.Inquire if it has been dropped or carelessly handled so that you can immediately have it repaired.You would not want to find cracks only after you had already purchased it.Also check for the guitar’s age.This is how you determine if it has been maintained properly.With a bit of luck, its former owner has properly maintained the guitar. You should check the guitar in two methods when you inspect it.Take a few steps back and see if there are any obvious dents, then up close.If you don’t spot anything wrong with the entire thing, then good for you!A small number of scratches is alright.But even a few signs of rust on any part of the guitar already a signal for you not to buy it.It’s a sign that the guitar has not been well-taken cared for and will not function well for a long time. You have to check if there is anything wrong with the neck of the guitar.Look at it as if you were holding a gun.Be sure that it looks straight from that point of view.Check the bottom, where it meets the body of the guitar itself.Are there any glue bits sticking out? Does it have any cracks? If there are, that’s a bad sign.You must also examine the guitar’s action.Make sure there is an equal distance between all the strings, and that none of them are drooping.It would be better if the strings are close, so it is easier to press on them.If they touch the board though, that’s one more red flag. When the guitar has passed all these inspections, it’s time to play it. Make sure the right pitch comes from every string.The actual tuning can be dealt with later on, but the most important thing to remember are the positions of the strings and how well it corresponds to the appropriate note and pitch.If the intonation of the guitar is messed up, you have to spend on having it fixed by a guitar technician.You can test this by playing a chord; the E shape bar chord is usually the way to go when you’re testing it on each fret.Take note if it can keep its pitch until the bridge of the guitar. If you wish to purchase an electric guitar, be sure to have an amp on hand, whether it is yours or the seller’s.You can use the remainder of this guide to check it as well. Pump up the volume a bit and try playing.Alternate loud and soft volumes to check the tone.Try out all the switches so you can see if they all work as they were intended to.Be wary of strange sounds coming from the guitar.You can examine this by strumming a chord and also experimenting with the sound controls.Strange noises means the guitar is quite old and will need a bit of repair a lot over the years.But if they say the guitar is a bit new, don’t buy it. However, just because you are happy with the sound of the guitar does not mean that the rigorous testing process is over.You must see for yourself how the same brand new model sounds, and compare it with the used guitar you are planning to buy.Ask someone for help at your local music store.If the sounds are very different, then start your search anew.Lack of experience in playing guitars should not be a hindrance for you!This is about testing the quality of the guitar you want and not a public performance of skill. It is advisable for you to keep in mind all the tips this guide has offered you before buying a used guitar.Don’t hesitate to bring a friend who knows much about guitars if you feel you are still quite unsure.Buying a guitar is not as easy or cheap as buying a new pair of jeans or a new top, but the effort you put into it will benefit you in the future.

So you always wanted to learn how to sing harmony? The guidelines given in this article will help you on how to sing harmony. If you thought that singing was difficult wait till you start harmonizing. Since it involves synchronizing your voice with another singer you will have to work really hard to sound right. Also you cannot push mistakes made while harmonizing under the carpet because they are glaringly obvious. The following exercises will help you to harmonize. 

Harmonizing is by far one of the most rewarding styles of singing. When you harmonize your voice with that of another singer the cumulative effect is a very rich tone. You will have to work hard and be very patient to learn to blend our voice with that of another singer. You will have to start by recognizing harmony. Begin by listening to your favorite song. You have to pay attention to the melody and the instruments. 

Listen for instruments that are being blended with the melody. You will have to train your ear to pick up these sounds since they will not be very conspicuous. 

The next step after you recognize the harmony is to try it yourself by matching your voice with the instruments. Now this is where things may start getting a little difficult. So take the help of a musical instrument like a piano. 

To begin with try harmonizing your voice with a note being played on the piano. It may take you a few rounds to get it right. What you are trying to do here is learn about the different notes that work as a harmony. 

You don’t have to practice with just one note. A good way would be to record yourself. It is also important to listen to your performance. This is a good exercise to learn about how to sing harmony, singing at the proper pitch level and to pick a good note to harmonize. 

Each harmony will create its own mood and this technique is a good way to learn the moods. 

Once you are comfortable with harmonizing, pick a melody from your favorite song and start by singing two or three notes above and below the melody, just slide up and down the notes till you find the harmony and also hear for the different moods created by the different harmonies. 

As a last step, put everything you have learnt to practice and harmonize with another singer as you record yourselves. 

Singing harmony with another talented singer can be a very rewarding and fulfilling experience albeit one that will take diligent practice and hard work. 

If you want more info on the art of harmony singing take a look at The Art Of harmony Singing 

Or 

Visit my Blog Harmony Singing Blog

Singers at various levels of expertise can benefit from online singing lessons. If you are a beginner with a restricted budget you can start with the software assisted online singing lessons. The e-books and instructional videos offer a good medium of learning for accomplished singers who want to augment their skills. 

Online singing lessons are not only affordable but they also offer a very flexible schedule. If you want to check out some of the online programs you can opt for the free singing lessons offered by some of them. 

To get free online singing lessons you can head to youtube or other professional sites that host a multitude of instructional videos or you could visit the sites of professional singers and coaches who offer free introductory lessons. 

Many users also upload instructional material on sites like expertvillage.com. Some sites also let you upload information directly on your ipod. 

The other way is to look for professional instructors who offer free beginner level lessons or at least offer a few introductory sessions for free after registration. Most of these sessions are used for advertisement purposes so they give you a fair idea about the instructional method and style used by the voice coach. 

Most students will find the courses very helpful. But most online singing lessons will require you to work extra hard. The fact that in an online singing session you dont have to perform in front of others may actually help. In the absence of an instructor you may start lagging behind and lose motivation Many students find it difficult to keep themselves motivated without an instructor present to gauge their progress every step of the way. You cannot possibly improve without diligent effort and perseverance. 

The first few lessons will usually include a range check. The range check will help to determine where you stand before the training begins so that you can work on your weak points. Warm-up and tone and pitch improvement exercises will also form a part of many free online singing lessons. Voice quality improvement tips may also be a part of the free online singing lessons. 

If you want to know what goes into professional singing opting for free online singing lessons is a great way to learn. Free online singing lessons will give you the first taste of online lessons and you can base your decision on what you learn in the free sessions. 

For more info on all aspects of learning how to sing go to Guide to Online Singing Lessons 

Or 

Visit my Blog Singing Blog 

There’s been a surge of people learning to play the guitar at home over the past ten years. Pushed by lessons available online and cheaper acoustic guitars then ever before. It’s become easier to learn guitar then ever before and teaching yourself is becoming the trend.

If you don’t use a quality home study dvd courses or online video you risk making some mistakes while learning that will be more difficult to correct down the road. For the remainder of the article I’m going to explain to you the three most noticeable errors new guitar players make. So if you’re a beginner or have been teaching yourself pay close attention, if you’re making or have made any of these mistakes now is the time to fix them.

Thumb on the Neck

Frequently I notice beginners with their thumb popping up over the top E string on the neck. Beginner guitar players should learn proper form and positioning right from the start. Starting out with the wrong habits should be fixed right away because it’s a lot tougher to change it later. Ensuring that your thumb is positioned correctly on the back of the neck allows your fingers to be nimble and move quickly over the neck to make fast chord changes or pick quickly.

Using the Tips of your Fingers

Along with improper hand positioning comes using the fleshy part of your finger tip on the frets rather then just the tip. Why is this important? As you advance to become an intermediate guitar player you’re going to be making more complex chords. Not using your finger tip can lead to blunting other strings and not getting the proper sound from your guitar while strumming.

Notes on Each String

This last mistake is usually over looked because it’s boring and beginners don’t see any benefit to learning it. Knowing the notes on the neck for each string on the guitar is the first step to becoming a great guitar player. Any one who wants to learn to play guitar should take this on in the first several months, it’s the key skill that will allow you to become great. All great lead guitar players know their way around the guitar neck and every note on each string like the back of their hand.

If you have formed any of these habits yet I’d suggest trying to reverse them now before they become engrained. Learning the correct way is much easier now then trying to undo bad habits in several years.

If Music is your thing then why not build your own website on the topic!

Introducing the World’s FASTEST and EASIEST Custom Website Builder

If you thought that building an Music website was difficult then think again!

Now you can create and build a complete custom Music website with point and click and drag and drop ease in a matter of Minutes with the NEW 90 second website builder software.

There has never been a better time to get that Music online idea up and running, and tell the world all about it.

The software requires NO HTML KNOWLEDGE to use. In fact, it is not even an HTML editor, but an HTML generator. You don’t even have to know there is HTML involved. Just put images, text and other object on your page and your page is ready! You CAN add any existing HTML to your page using the edit page and object HTML tools.

Other traditional programs use a document (word processor) method for layout, where you can not pick up objects and drag them where you want them to go on the web page. With this new software, you can drag and drop the objects anywhere you want. Giving you total control over the layout. You can even put objects on top (or below) other objects!

Traditional HTML editors use Dynamic Page Layout , which means that the first object on the page will also determine the position of the second object. Resizing or moving the first object will affect the complete layout of the page. You can not overlap objects when using Dynamic Page Layout.

The software generates a Fixed Page Layout. All objects have a fixed position which is not affected by other objects. This also allows you to overlap objects and give you much more control over the layout of the page.

But the software can do much more than this. Just add banners, navigation bars, ready-to-use javascripts and many other things that you can’t do using a regular website editor.

So building that Music website could not be easier, go on you know you can do it!

Once you have your website builder software, there is an online resource members area where you can watch step by step videos of how to set up each stage of your first website. We also provide you with some custom made editable templates so you can get started straight away,the members area is full of Internet Marketing advice including  e-books on how to get traffic to your new site and lots more!

Remember YOU are an expert on Music if you are reading this, in that you know more than most people on the subject “Music”

You can see an online video of this softwre in use, and see how you can build your Music website quick time just click the link below!

 http://www.90secondwebsitebuilder.co.uk

It is simply not possible to forge a career as a professional singer without going through singing voice lessons. The recording industry has cut throat competition and the only way for a person to make it here is accumulating all the knowledge that you can regardless of where you are going to use the information; in reality show, in an audition or while making a demo tape; it will be very useful for you. Most viewers have advises to offer to the budding singers on reality TV because they consider themselves better than the participants. Regardless of how talented you are if you don’t have the sound foundation of knowledge to stand on, it will be a rough ride for you. It is imperative to go for singing lessons to develop proper tone, pitch, vocabulary, voice range and breath control. These lessons are beneficial for beginners and accomplished singers alike.

Singing voice lessons are quite expensive. For many beginners the only option is to find free lessons and if you are one of them, here are a few tips to help you. 

If you are serious about learning to sing you may want to join the church choir where you will get free lessons during practice. Since choir leaders are accomplished singers themselves so they can guide on vocal styles and vocalization exercises. It can be safely suggested that a church choir is one of the best places to work on your singing voice. The added advantage is that you will get to mingle about the people of your community while you develop your skills. 

Many professional vocal instructors offer the first few lessons free. A good way to find coaches in your area would be to look on Craiglist or in the local yellow pages. Start by calling them to inquiring if they offer free lessons. As a beginner you may not know where to start but you rapport between student and trainer is essential and you will be able to see if you are comfortable with the coach through the free lessons. 

You may also want to look for singing lessons online. If you are looking for free tutorials and instructional videos there are many sites to choose from. There are also many trainers who offer free online singing voice lessons. Sites like youtube and yahoo videos also have their fair share of instructional videos which may be helpful. If the sheer volume of information confuses you, stick to a few reliable sources. 

You local library may also house a collection of books and videos related to the subject. 

Many music stores also offer free singing voice lessons most of these stores are located in malls and shopping centers so you can just walk in for a free lesson. However, many shops will ask you to register with them and attend classes regularly. 

For more information about learning how to sing, go to Voice Singing Lessons 

Or 

Visit my Blog Singing Voice Lessons Blog

I’m sure you’ll find the following pretty useful and interesting if you have a guitar and have desires to improve your playing. The following are some guitar tips and tricks to help better your guitar playing.

One tip is to not get a ultra inexpensive guitar with a mediocre tone, just in case you’re looking to buy a guitar because you don’t own one already. As they don’t play the best, it’s challenging to move beyond the beginner’s stage and they don’t generally last very long.Look for a guitar which feels decent when you hold it and is easy on the fingers like a classical, nylon string guitar.

Learning how to read guitar tablature can be a huge help if you’re not too good at reading music so no need to fret there.It’s not hard at all to learn and once can read guitar tab, you can learn to play nearly any piece of music.

Try to strum more from your elbow than the wrist, this will help better your technique when learning how to strum a guitar. Most of the strumming motion should come from your elbow and only a little bit from your wrist. Another tip to strum a guitar better is to keep your hands in motion most the time, even when you’re not touching the pick to the strings. Just in case you ever need to rest your palm on the bridge while strumming, the most optimal area to try to strum is as near to the bridge as you can.

Zone in on learning a single specific technique each time, this is another highly recommended guitar playing tip. Your main focus to start with should be to learn and master the basics like hammer-ons, pull-offs, vibratos and bends when learning a solo, don’t attempt to do everything to begin with. Use the A minor pentatonic scale in the 5th fret position to learn these techniques to start with, the string tension and fret spacing are ideal.

Knowing your scales is another suggestion that might make you a better guitarist, learning scales challenges you all over again. It can assist to improve your understanding of the fret board, increase your dexterity, increase your speed and clarity of note because it gives you a new reference point to view how much you’re getting better. Knowing how scales are just repeatable patterns is the secret to learning them, as well as thinking about the note names when you run through them and practice them regularly.

Ask your friends to come and play with you, this will not only loosen you up a bit but you’ll gain more quick skills from each other, learn a couple new pieces of music, and understand how to jam by playing with other people.

Most people who have taken online Voice lessons vouch by their efficacy. Singing is no different from any other skill and it can be improves if you are willing to put in the effort so don’t be disheartened if you think that you are not a natural singer. There are scores of reasons for people to take singing lessons and these include practicing for a professional career or just for the sake of enjoyment. Whatever your reasons online voice lessons may be the prefect solution for you. Online singing lessons have an edge over traditional singing classes in several aspects. 

Online voice lessons are considerably inexpensive as compared to private coaching sessions. The parity in price can be confirmed from the fact that an online voice only costs as much as 2-3 private voice coaching sessions. The progress of internet technology has further increased the efficiency of online voice lessons. Online voice lessons are as effective as private coaching sessions but cost significantly less. 

And there is no need to leave the comforts of your home to learn. So you will save a lot of time and money in travel. 

Another benefit is the fact that you can change the schedule to meet your requirements. You can take the sessions at a time that is most convenient for you and work at a pace that suits you the best. 

Not only are the audio and video lessons of an extremely high grade they are also your to keep and use as and when you see fit. So whether you are in the train or in the car you can continue your learning session. 

Many famous  voice coaches live in different countries and normally it wouldn’t be possible to train with them due to geographical and financial constraints but online voice lessons are the best solution for these problems. 

Not only will you learn with the software you will also be able to record your voice and analyze your mistakes. It is also not unusual to find software that give you the feel of being in a recording studio. 

The best way to improve your performance is through practice and the online coaching software recognizes this so you can download songs to practice or sing karaoke style with it. 

Online sessions are available for people with different proficiency levels and the progression from one level to the next is very gradual. So there is no need to hurry across a level and you can take your time to practice. 

Staring your singing lessons is as easy as downloading the program. 

Most people who want to learn singing consider online voice lessons as their primary choice. 

For more info on learning how to sing go to The Advantages Of Online Voice Lessons 

Or 

Visit my blog Online Voice Lessons Blog