Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Learn To Play Guitar - Use DVD to Learn How to Fretboard Notes and Charts

If learning how to play the guitar is your goal, you will find that DVD’s are some of the best training tools available. You can learn how to position your fingers on the fretboard, how to play different notes, and get additional practice training all from the convenience of your own home. Buying this DVD will give you complete control over how much time you can study and practice, what is the best time for you to learn, and what you can wear as you will be learning from the comforts of your home.

Are you interested in buying a DVD to learn the finger movements on the fretboard? You will find a large selection of DVD’s on how to fretboard on the sights listed below.

Amazon

Amazon is one of the largest retailers in the world and is a great place to shop for a learn to fretboard DVD. Their selection is one of the largest and most comprehensive selections to choose from, and they have very competitive prices.

While you are on Amazon, you may also want to research how to select the right guitar, information on the best practice routines and other guitar related information.


Burley Music Entertainment

Burley’s offers a two-disc DVD that is a complete beginning to learning guitar. This set is a high quality audio, video and animated educational experience, as it provides private education for beginner guitarist and takes you through to the advance level of playing and then into singing if you desire to go that far.

. Their plan is designed to develop your skills and knowledge and contains 24 lessons. Using a DVD to learn fretboard will allow you an opportunity to stop the lesson and repeat exercises at any point in the learning process. For many people this feature is invaluable.

Buying this two-disc DVD set will also get you virtual metronomes, virtual tuners, chord charts, guitar positioning maps, and their online e-book which includes 8 weeks of suggested practice material that will guide you as your skills improve.

The objective is to have the best guitar instructions in a DVD format so it’s easy and convenient as possible for you to learn how to play the guitar. If you find that you need assistance, most of the DVD's for learning how to play guitar will also provide a 24 hour support number.

Monday, October 27, 2008

The rise and rise of 50 Cent

50 Cent - In Da Club

By joining forces with hip-hop masterminds Eminem and Dr. Dre, 50 Cent burst onto the rap music scene with enormous force, backed by his aggressive lyrics and violent nature. His debut album shot straight to number one and sold 1.5 million copies in its first week and a half of release, the highest ever for a debut.

The hype surrounding 50's highly anticipated debut album lead to 50 Cent-mania. Anything rap-related these days has 50's face, thuggish voice, or the hook from "In Da Club" plastered all over it. It seemed as if 50 miraculously emerged from the streets as an overnight sensation. 50 has appeared on the cover of major magazines everywhere including Rolling Stone and XXL. His first release, "In Da Club", shot straight to the number one slot on radio and music video stations across the nation.

50 Cent's history as a drug dealer on the streets of New York, and the fact that he survived being shot 9 times in a gang-related attack in 2000 give him a level of authenticity that few other hip-hop artists with pretentions to being "gangsters" can match. The girls, guns, cars and bling that feature in each of the 50 Cent music videos, along with a series of games for Playstation and XBox featuring 50 as a vigilante style killer have all helped to cement a violent, thuggish image. But his street cred also stems from his success as an acclaimed lyricist, featured on various mix tapes in his early days on the hip hop scene. Most of these mix tapes circulated throughout the streets of New York City. And as the story goes, 50's raps on these mix tapes is what hooked Eminem's attention, which led to his $1 million signing to Shady Records and Dre's Aftermath Records, in turn leading to the release of Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. Watch 50 Cent videos online to get a taste of this international hip hop superstar.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Learn to Play Guitar using Fretboard Notes and Charts

The guitar is one of the more fascinating instruments to learn to play and is normally featured in most bands. Developing your skills and creativity will expand with the many hours of playing notes on the fretboard and learning new songs. Expert guitar players enhance the sound and quality of most bands.

Seeing a talented guitar player’s hand movements while they are performing may cause to think and wonder. I wonder if that could be me? Yes, you too can play like that!

Learning how to play notes on the fretboard is one of your first task to accomplish. If you are a true beginner, you will start with learning how to position your hands while holding a guitar, then learning to play notes on the fretboard will increase your finger strength and flexibility. Learning fretboard notes is an essential part of learning to play the guitar, and understanding the fretboard charts will allow you to move beyond playing open chords.

Professional Instructions

There are many options available to learn how to read, understand and play notes on the fretboard. If you are looking for the best results, the recommendation is to hire a professional to guide your progress and teach you the proper way to play correctly. By starting with an instructor you will be able to concentrate on practicing finger positions with a second pair of eyes there for support. Your instructor will correct your mistakes as well as give you additional tips to help your learning process. These additional tips will help improve your musical knowledge and give you a better understanding of what you are working to accomplish.

There are many ways to find a great instructor and there are many great players that are poor instructors so give some serious thought as to what it takes for you to learn new skills and then match your learning style to the instructor. Discuss your goals with the instructor and ask for their input on how you should proceed.

Initially you will learn how to position your fingers on the fretboard and what note corresponds to each position. Committing these charts to memory and learning to read notes will improve your guitar playing skills tremendously. This basic step will require a lot of practice to learn finger control and proper note sounds before you can progress to the next stage of learning to play guitar.

You will be surprised to find how easy it is to play the guitar after you have learned to play the proper notes and can read music. You will amaze yourself and others with the many songs you will learn to play and with the notes and chords that you have picked up along the way.

You can share your excitement and enthusiasm with others as you learn to play the guitar. Teaching them to play will also help you to learn more and boost your skills!

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Learn To Play The Classical Guitar

Are you willing to commit your time and energy to learning how to play the classical guitar? If you are, your dreams will come true after you learn, understand and build your musical skills. Understanding and learning how to play notes on the fretboard is one of the basic fundamentals to playing the classical guitar.

Getting Started

Now that you are ready to learn how to play the classical guitar, let’s look at how this guitar is different from the others. It is one of the more popular guitars to learn how to play and is better known as an acoustic guitar. The classical guitar can be used to express great creativity and satisfaction.

The classical guitar is distinguished by the following characteristics: it is an acoustic instrument; it has six strings and some classical guitars have 8 or more strings to expand the bass range, the strings are made from nylon and the classical fretboard is normally flat. Originally, the classical guitar was thought to be suited for bars and pubs and now it is referred to as the “little symphony” because brings depth of passion and expression to classical music.

Learning the Strings

The next step when learning to play the classical guitar is to learn the strings. Having a wider neck permits for the string spacing to facilitate quality notes as the strings can be plucked individually. When practicing the frets, remember these few tips. When there is a number other than zero, you are to use your fingers to press down in the space before the fret of that string and then play that string. A zero means an open string and that translates into not holding down any frets. This may sound confusing but look at the fretboard and place your fingers before strumming to hear the notes.

Keeping beat and tuning is very important when you are playing the classical guitar. You should make sure that your guitar is tuned to match the song. It may be tricky to tune at first, but as you practice and tune your ears to the notes tuning your guitar will soon become second nature.

Remember that most tabs do not show rhythm, therefore you may need to listen and hear how it is played before joining in. When you find a few numbers on top of each other, realize that this is an indication of a chord. Fret all of those numbers at once and then strum the strings that the chord is a part of.

Does this sounds challenging? Well it is if you have never played guitar before, but with a little understanding and practice you will playing scales and on your way to making music. Each practice will bring you closer to the new skill that will provide pleasure for the rest of your life.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Does Learning How To Play The Guitar Interest You?

Will learning how to play the guitar add value to your life? You will not be bored a second as there are many things you will need to learn and practice to develop the skills necessary to play the guitar.

Before you begin playing songs, there will be many hours of practice devoted to learning finger positions to play the proper notes and in learning to transition between the right notes. Learning at a fast pace demands closer attention to the small details to prevent picking up improper techniques.

What are the steps in learning how to play the guitar fast? Read the details below:

Buy a Guitar

This is the first step if you are starting out and you may require help unless you have completed your research and are confident in your selection. Getting help in choosing your first guitar will facilitate a quicker learning process. Having the proper equipment will allow you to concentrate on your lessons and practicing to play the guitar.

You’ll want to find one that fits comfortably in your hands, that feels and looks good. The guitar fit is critical as you must be comfortable with the guitar in your hands as you spend many hours practicing while learning to play the guitar.

Starting Point

If you would like to learn to play the guitar fast, using instructional DVDs will come in handy even if you are taking private lessons. You will be able to instantly see the correct placement of your hands, how to read music, how to build finger strength and flexibility all from the comfort of your home. This means that you can practice at home while using the DVD’s as guides to follow. This will allow for more practice and quicker progress in learning the proper way to play the guitar.

A song book is required to practice with and it does not matter if you are learning to play an acoustic or electric guitar. Most often you will start with a beginner’s book that has easier songs in the beginning and will become more challenging as you progress through the book.

If you are still interested in learning how to play the guitar fast, then be prepared to practice anywhere from 1 to 10 hours per day in order to become proficient in learning, listening, and repeating the correct movements until they are second nature to you. You will hear a difference in the quality of your notes as you build confidence by playing those notes over and over as you practice.

When you are ready to test your skills, after learning to play all of the songs in the beginners song book, you will want to practice playing different songs with other musicians to see how well you can blend in with other instruments.

Learning how to play the guitar fast may be challenging but you will enjoy every minute of it when you hear the results you have accomplished in such a short period of time.

Time is wasting…. Are you ready to start today?

Thursday, October 23, 2008

All About Vintage Guitar Gear

As a guitar player, you crave the vintage tone you hear on old recordings. Sure, much of this tone is due to the skill of the player, but there is also a element of gear involved. The tone you hear is produced by high quality, vintage guitars and tube amps. Vintage gear isn't magic, of course, but but its does have a character that todays gear often misses.

To get good vintage tone, you'll need a good vintage guitar. While a brand new Gibson electric guitar might still sound great, a vintage one will be even better. Of course, you pay for this tone. Vintage guitars are not cheap! However, with their high quality, aged wood, hand wound pickups, and high quallity construction, vintage guitars are worth it for many.

Merely having a vintage guitar is no enough, though. To get the full sound, you'll want to get a vintage tube amp. Tube amps, vintage or otherwise, have always had a warmer, smoother, more natural sounding tone than solid state amps. Coupled with a nice vintage guitar, a tube amp will really sing.

Of course, if you're buying vintage gear, you're not going to be able head over to your local music store and start picking up amps and guitars. Rather, you'll have to shop online or at specialty stores. If you're looking to buy vintage guitars online (or any other brand), there are many places to go that offer a wide selection. Again, you'll pay for this, but for many it's worth it.

So, you see how vintage gear can help get you amazing tone. While nothing replaces skill when it comes to making great music, having the right vintage gear can help take your sound to the next level. Get out there today, and find your dream tone with vintage guitar gear. Your ears will certainly thank you.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Learn Acoustic Guitar – Play like The Best Players

If you are thinking of playing in the league with the best acoustic guitar players then there are some considerations that you should understand. Playing at this level will require dedication and practice as you learn to play the acoustic guitar. You will need to learn to read and write music to help you learn to accompany other instruments in playing different songs.

When learning how to play the acoustic guitar from professional instructors or with interactive software, you will learn many short cuts that will enhance your playing abilities. Using interactive software to analyze the notes you are playing will help you make immediate changes in your finger placements to correctly play the notes.

Selecting the right acoustic guitar will also play a role in learning to play. Purchasing a quality guitar to play is one of the best investments you can make when learning to play the guitar. Starting with the proper equipment will allow you to focus on learning to play and not on maintaining equipment. You will be able to concentrate on your lessons and not worry about your guitar.
Constant improvement and practice are necessary to become known as one of the best acoustic guitar players.

Tips On Learning The Best

While some people have a better ear for music than others, it is always recommended to learn how to read music when learning how to play guitar. Learning this skill will allow you to play your guitar with different instruments without having to search for what key they are playing. Most guitar players initially learn how to play tabs and may often have problems when playing with other instruments that are using notations like a horn or piano player.

When selecting an instructor to learn how to play acoustic guitar, you will be searching for someone that have a proven record of successfully teaching others. Look for an instructor that is friendly but yet firm as your goal is to learn to play the guitar.

When you find a perfect match, begin at once to start your guitar learning program. Start today with your training program for learning how to play the acoustic guitar.

Monday, October 20, 2008

How To Get Started With Bass Guitar

Want to play the bass? This is a great idea on your part! Of course, the bass isn't quite as widely played as the 6-string, it is just as much fun to play, if not more. The bass player forms a bridge between the rhythm section and the rest of the band. Without a bass player, bands tend to sound thin, so your job is certainly important.

So, how do you get started playing the bass guitar? First, you'll need a bass. The most popular style of bass are the Fender bass guitars. Fender makes two main types of basses, the J-Bass and the P-Bass. These each sound quite different, but that is beyond the scope of this article. Give them a listen first. There are also fancier types of basses out there, such as fretless bass guitars, but let's not worry about those right now.

You will also need a bass amplifier. These amplifiers make it possible to hear what you are playing. When you're first starting out, you'll want what is known as a practice amp, which is a small amp designed to be used at low volumes. They are, however, too quiet to be heard over a drum kit, so you'll need a larger amp once you start performing.

Once you have your gear, you're going to want to get some lessons. Taking lessons as a beginning player will really help get you on the right track, and help get good habits locked in early on. A good teacher will help you with all parts of your playing, from technique to tone. Lessons may seem pricy, but they are worth it.

So, I hope this gives you a quick idea about what it takes to learn to play the bass guitar.  Getting better takes time, but its all worth it in the end. It's not an easy instrument, but once you become proficient, it is very rewarding to play.

Software - Learn to Play Guitar

The advancement of interactive software programs allows you to learn to play the guitar. Learning to play the guitar with software gives you the advantage of practicing and being corrected on how to play the proper notes at the same time. Anyone can download the software to learn how to play guitar because a lot of homes have at least one computer. Self confidence and discipline are very improtant when learning to play the guitar correctly using software. The software learning methods are not for those requiring someone to guide you through each lessons before attempting to practice on your own.

How Does It Work

The guitar learning software will instruct you on hand and finger placement, the proper handling of a guitar and how to move your hands on the fretboard to play each note. As you know, assuming this is not your first article on how to play guitar,in order to play guitar you will need to use both hands. If you are strumming the guitar with one hand, the other hand should be used to place pressure on the fretboard spots corresponding with the notes your are playing. Constant practice of fretboard finger placement is insrumental in being able to consistently play the proper notes and chords. Fretboard finger exercise practice will improve your ability in playing a series of notes without hesitation. Immediate feedback in correcting missing notes is one of the benefits of using interactive software to learn how to play guitar. You will be allowed to progress to the next lesson if you have duplicated the proper notes.

The Right Software for You

The software is readily available on the internet and can be found by reading reviews and recommendations in the guitar forums. Before we start our search let’s look at what type of software will work best for you. Answering the following questions will help in choosing the right software:

1. Are you considering learning to play the guitar or are you ready to learn?
2. Are you self-motivated and willing to complete the learning process on your own?
3. Does your schedule allow time for guitar practice?
4. What level of competence would you like to achieve?
5. What budget are you starting with to learn how to play guitar

If you pick up any sort of guitar magazine, you'll definitely find some famous guitarist advertising guitar learning software. Comparing software with like benefits will help in finding the best fit for you. Finding satisfactory software will just be a matter of matching your learning style with features and benefits of the software.

Choosing winning software will help you meet the goals you set for yourself when you decided to learn to play the guitar. Music is the result of learning how to play the guitar correctly!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Nashville's Best Songwriter Stage - The Bluebird Cafe

It's off the tourist-beaten track, and it's a place to gather for sincere listening, so the staff doesn't tolerate conversations during the live performances.  If you've heard of the Bluebird Cafe but have not been there youself, you may be shocked at how small it is.

Nearly buried in a characterless strip of shops beside Hillsboro Road in Green Hills, with a scarcely obvious sign, the Bluebird Cafe is a lilliputian hole in the wall cafe and saloon, where four artists sing from the middle of the room, in the round. It's a very free and easy, up close and personal scene, in which to experience some of Music City's up and coming and accomplished musicians.

Actually, the musician in the round setting began years ago at the Bluebird.  Writers Fred Knobloch (Used to Blue and Meanwhile), and Don Schlitz (The Gambler and Forever and Ever, Amen), purportedly after an evening of drinking, determined to install four seats facing each other in the middle of the cafe, kill the lights, and just take in what materializes. This setting turned out to operate so well, that you're likely to see it at most songwriter's get-togethers close to Nashville.

The Bluebird has not solely become noted as Nashville's most well thought of spot to enjoy artists, but it has been the starting chance for lots of acknowledged country musicians, beginning back in 1983 when Kathy Mattea got a record contract after playing at the Bluebird for merely a short time. Once that happened, the Bluebird turned into one of the most competitive venues to play.  And this phenomenon would prove to recur over and over, as some of the Bluebird's artist regulars proceeded to obtain record agreements, and musician after songwriter attained popularity in the one and the same way. (There have been too many popular musicians "born" at the Bluebird to list all of them here, but do you remember Garth Brooks? - Yes, indeed, he got his start at the Bluebird, as well,also.)

The Bluebird Cafe hosts two performances each evening, and reservations are advised, which you can set up online (likely the best fashion) or by telephone. But if you didn't make reservations and wish to travel out there at the last minute, you really should go for it - the folks there will do everything possible to seat you at the performance. The Bluebird certainly should be on any visitor's list of Nashville attractions to visit.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Features of the Popular XM Radio

Christian music

XM Radio provides over 150 programs that include music, sports and entertainment, traffic and weather channels.

The music area has the largest number of channels. Here are 68 music channels that you can enjoy and where you can listen to your favorite music whether is from the 60s, the 90s or it’s the new released music. There are music-by-the-decade channels that include the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s songs which are mostly pop/rock outlets, the Top 20 channel, Love Songs, Movie Soundtracks, Show Tunes, MTV, VH1, and a Global hits channel. For those you prefer new camp rock music there is the Unsigned channel and the XMU channel. The last one can be compared to a college station. If you are a jazz fan, XM offers you live music from the Blue Note club and the B.B. King Club in New York City.

There are entertainment shows on XM radio hosted by Tom Perry, Snoop Dog or Quincy Jones. Comedy shows may be found on the High Voltage channel where shock jocks Opie and Anthony do their job now uncensored. In totally, XM has three comedy channels including a family comedy channel. Beside these, there are more radio channels like Playboy Radio and Public Radio hosted by Bob Edwards which includes a line of NPR shows that you can enjoy whenever you like.

If you are a sports fanatic you can choose from a good variety of channel dedicated to sports that are provided by XM radio. This includes college football and basketball, NASCAR and Major League Baseball. You can easily listen to the Bowl Championship Series to find out which team is going to the next level, the NCAA Division I football champion.

With a subscription from XM, you will have 38 channels of sports, news and talk channels. For example, ABC News & Talk, BBC World Service, CNBC, Court TV, C-Span, CNN, CNN Headline News, Discovery Channel, E Entertainment, two ESPN channels, Fox News, NASCAR Racing are a few talk station to which you can listen. Local weather and traffic channels are provided too and in totally, they are 22 channels.

Sound clearance depends on the subscription you have. If you have satellite radio from XM, the sound has more quality than the one from Sirius, but still you can’t say that is the same as a CD. You can say that the sound is somewhere between the sound of a CD and AM radio. Hopefully, in the years that will come, the sound quality will improve.

As this technology appeared so did a new line of hardware that can match people’s desires.
And XM has new things to offer like the Delphi XM MyFi which is a small receiver, actually the smallest in the world that can include up to five yours of XM content to which you can listen anywhere you like. Another is the Delphi SkyFi2 which has a TiVo-like 30-Minute Replay feature so, you can rewind, push the pause button or just play it forward to hear Christian music, news or anything else you stored on the it. This equipments are also produced by Sony, Alpine, Pioneer and of course others.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Learn to Sing Instantly!

Have you always wanted to know how to sing? Have you ever wondered how those singing sensations on reality shows learned how to belt it out? Or how tenors can wow a crowd with their powerful voices? Do your friends love teasing you during karaoke nights?

Singing is a gift. With correct training and technique, though, it could be learned. For whatever a person does, one of the most important thing is to have the determination to work for it. If you really want to sing, you should have enough determination and want as well. Besides that, here are some other things that could help you become a singing sensation in no time:

The Mentor

To learn to sing, you need to look for mentors who could give feedback. And because singing is a kind of performance art, you should get feedback from a listener. If you really wanna be a singer, you gotta have a voice coach. In American Idol, Simon Cowell is blunt about telling a person's vocal standing. Believing in your own talent goes a long way but a mentor could pave that way to be smoother for you. A coach is important to help you determine the quality of your voice, the accuracy of your tone, and your voice range.  The coach would guide you through as you formally start your singing training. You could go to church or school choirs with regular practices and trainings.  It would be fun and helpful to sing with a group and it would make learning be more holistic.

Breathe

An important part of singing is breathing.  Before vocalization, try to do some exercises, like putting your palm onto your sternum, where rib cages meet, which is the bottom of the lungs. Observe consciously how your breath, how your lungs expand and contract. Learning how to breathe properly while singing is a bare essential. It could help you learn how to belt and control your voice.  You may also try holding your breath for seconds to see how well you could take control of this very important skill. Take note that there are some songs that have long lines where you shouldn't stop to breathe, and short, abrupt pauses.

Know the notes

Doing your practices with the notes is best done with a group or a choir. It compels you to really listen to your voice and your tone. It helps you find out trouble spots and areas of improvement. There are many drills that could help the singer learn breathing techniques in singing.  This could also be done alone; but really, the best way to go about this is to work with a group of people. If you play the piano, you may want to use it to check your tones. Practice your tone by imitating the sounds of basic keys on the piano. Increase and decrease your pitch sequentially to check how you're doing. You'll know you're on the right track if you hit the right notes.

Pronunciation

Singing is not only about rhythm and flow, but also about words. Proper pronunciation of words in singing helps a lot.  Since words are composed of constant succession of vowels between consonants, you might as well focus on working on vowels first in practicing pronunciation at every pitch. We do have to take into account, though, that different peoples have different ways of pronouncing and singing. Always listen to the way singers sing their songs, no matter how pop a singer is or how different he or she is from your taste. Modelling someone is one of the best ways to help you work on a song.

Knowing your voice, choosing songs

We have heard it a million times, and we will say it again here. Knowing your voice means knowing which song fits you.  A lot of singers, especially the ones starting up, tend to choose songs that do not fit their range. A coach or a choir can direct you to the type of song that would best work for your voice. Voices find their songs as much as songs find their voices. Your voice could've improved, but your choice of song might be wrong.  The choice of song is not merely a matter of taste. You could use it to show your vocal power.  Our voices have character too. The right song can make your voice sound like a pro.

Enjoy

A lot of guides tell you what to do and what not to do. People tend to forget to say, enjoy and don't be afraid to be passionate. Singing is, firstly, a form of self-expression. What's important is that you enjoy yourself, whether or not you're just beginning to learn to sing or you've been singing all your life.  Practices need not be a chore and may be done in a million ways; like karaoke or singing in the shower. Singing frees the soul and should mainly be enjoyed. 

The key to learning how to sing is not just about knowing the technicalities of singing, breathing right, or reaching the right notes—it's about love and passion for expression, most of all.

Finding MP3 Player Accessories

Chances are that you have one also, as MP3s are incredibly popular around the world. They allow you to play and listen to your music no matter where you are in the world, and makes it incredibly convenient at that. Now if you have an MP3 player, you are going to want to get the right MP3 player accessories so that you can have the best music listening experiences.

Earphones

One of the best MP3 player accessories that you can get is a set of earphones. These will usually be included with your purchase of your MP3 player, but if you want a specific color or brand for instance, then you will need to shop around until you find the MP3 player accessories that you are looking for.

The Creative EP-630 earphones are particularly popular and they allow you to listen to your favorite music in the best quality possible.

Car Transmitter

Another of the best MP3 player accessories and one that you will definitely want to get for yourself is the car transmitter. While you are driving in your car this device allows you to battery up your MP3 player. All you need to do is insert the device into your lighter socket in the car, and then plug it into your MP3 player, and it will start charging.

For people who love their MP3 player, but who are often on the road or traveling and do not have access to an electrical socket this is a very handy device.

Speaker and Headphone Splitter

The last of the most popular MP3 player accessories to be discussed here is the speaker and headphone splitter. This device lets you connect two mini-stereo headphones or speakers to the same jack on your MP3 player, portable cassette, or CD player. This way you get a lot more versatility with your MP3 player and can really make the most of it.

These are just three of the most basic accessories that you can purchase for your MP3, and the best idea will be for you to take a bit of time and check out all the different options that are available to you here. This way you can see what all the different accessories are and choose the ones that you are going to enjoy the most. Remember there are also new accessories coming out all the time.

View more articles at www.ipodaccessories.jsgenterprises.com.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

MP3 Player Speakers: A Better Audio Experience

Though MP3 players do not come with their own speakers and people normally are given to listening to music through earbuds there are several companies that do in fact make MP3 player speakers that you can attach to your MP3 player and get more listening pleasure. MP3 players are indeed revolutionizing the way that people listen to music today and with not having to fumble about for CDs and cassettes they are also more convenient and provide quality music listening pleasure as well.

Sophisticated Units

For those of you who want a different audio experience and are not satisfied with using headphones or earbuds to listen to music, a pair of good MP3 player speakers is just the answer. Fortunately, it is not all that difficult to find a good pair of such speakers and there are a few companies that make very sophisticated units.

You can listen to music from your MP3 player without being glued to your player and so you will certainly get to appreciate the greater convenience it offers to you in allowing you to listen to music loud and clear, with the help of MP3 player speakers.

Certain companies offer tripod MP3 player speakers in which a unit that is shaped like a cylindrical cone opens up just like camera tripods does and this serves as your MP3 player speakers. On each different arm of the tripod’s legs you will find a separate MP3 player speaker – each of which provides crystal clear sound and together they provide you high quality surround sound effect.

The simple fact in regard to using earbuds and headphones is that these can, when used over a long period of time, hurt your ears and also not allow you to concentrate on other tasks. You can move about freely in your home by attaching an external pair of MP3 player speakers and do other things while also enjoying the excellent sound emanating from the good quality speakers.

Typically, MP3 player speakers can be connected to your PC and also attach to docking systems that also recharge the MP3 player. MP3 player speakers are available in smaller sizes and some are even portable.

Portable MP3 player speakers help you to share music with family and friends and they help people to carry their entire collection of music without being bothered about anything. Whether you choose the portable version or the normal MP3 player speakers, you will get to enjoy a different music experience – one that you can share with others. Just make sure that the speakers’ batteries are always charged up so that the speakers don’t die out on you.

View more articles at www.ipodaccessories.jsgenterprises.com.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Creative MP3 Player Speakers: A Bit Expensive, But Trendy And Fashionable

MP3 player speakers are available in a number of different shapes and sizes and Creative is a company that has for a long time offered some very classic designs in their range of Creative MP3 player speakers. In particular, you should be impressed with the I-Trigue speaker series which are really trendy and very fashionable.

Best Quality Of Sound

With Creative MP3 player speakers such as are embodied in the I-Trigue series you can be sure of listening to the best quality sound and the speakers them are a good mix of tradition as well as modern designs. In fact, this particular model of Creative MP3 player speakers is quite similar to another popular brand of MP3 player speakers which is the offering from Altec Lansing.

A typical I-Trigue pair of Creative MP3 player speakers come with audio cable as well as power adapter as well as remote control (wired) and a guide to get you started with this particular pair of speakers. These Creative MP3 player speakers provide excellent bass sound and also have good ability to adjust bass through the remote.

One thing is assured and that is your Creative MP3 player speakers will offer you a good chance to enjoy music of different genres and the reproduction in the high as well as mid-frequency range is truly outstanding. Also, it would not be wrong to say that a pair of Creative MP3 player speakers will certainly prove to be a better buy than buying a pair of Altec Lansing speakers.

These speakers provide crisp as well as clear high and mid notes which is the best part about preferring Creative MP3 player speakers. The bass is abundant and quite powerful and if you are a gamer or movie addict then choosing Creative MP3 player speakers can prove to be the wisest decision you have ever made.

Now that more and more people have become accustomed to listening to music on the go, the demand for MP3 player portable speakers has certainly shot up, especially because CD players are no longer the “in” thing in portable music devices.

You must also evaluate the price of these Creative MP3 player speakers and so, should be prepared to pay a little more than for other standard MP3 player speakers. In fact, you should expect to pay almost double the price of a pair of Altec Lansing speakers; however it is a fair buy and if you can afford the asking price then you should not hesitate in going for a pair of Creative MP3 player speakers.

View more articles at www.ipodaccessories.jsgenterprises.com.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Going With A Cheap Mp3 Player

When it comes to wanting to have quality entertainment, most people automatically assume that they are going to have to spend a big chunk of money. But that simply is not the case because you can learn how to buy cheap mp3 player systems with little trouble.

The thing about these gadgets is that even though they are extremely popular, you can find yourself a cheap mp3 player to get you started. For someone just starting out this is a good way to get started, but of course, the cheap mp3 player is not going to be the system that holds the most amount of songs.

The cheap mp3 player can be found online through different web stores and even in some online auctions. In order to make sure that everything runs smoothly for you, you are probably going to want to make sure that you are going with something new instead of something used. This is just to make sure that your cheap mp3 player does not just end up in the garbage can after a few days. There is no reason why you could not afford a brand new one, being the new ones are so reasonable in price.

The Difference Between Models

When you are buying a cheap mp3 player you have to take into consideration that it is not going to hold as much songs as the more expensive models. While this does not matter to a lot of people, it is still something to be aware of. You will still have plenty of room for all kinds of different songs even with the cheap mp3 player. Even the low-end player will hold a couple hundred songs. You are going to have no choice but to go with a more expensive model if you are the type of person that insists on being able to store thousands upon thousands of songs.

Also, there is the big thing with the brand name, which has a lot to do with the price tag that is put on the cheap mp3 player. Your top of the line models is not going to be the cheapest in price so you will have to expect that. You are going to get more of an off brand player more then likely with the cheap mp3 player, but it will still work just as good. When it comes to the cheap ones, there really is no difference in the quality of the mp3 player.

View more artices at www.mp3.jsgenterprises.com.

Monday, October 13, 2008

What MP3 Player Accessories Do I Need?

Growing every day is the huge variety of available MP3 player accessories. In fact, for just about any situation you can think of where you might use your MP3 player, someone has come up with a unique piece of equipment that will help you get the most from your MP3 files, whether they are music or video. Let's take a look at some of the creative MP3 player accessories that are available, both online and at your favorite local electronics source.

Cases and other Carriers for your MP 3

What's one of the best things about MP3 players? Portability, of course! For many people a good, sturdy, great-looking case is one of the most-used MP3 player accessories. Maybe what you're looking for is an armband, so you can take your tunes with you while you're on the go, if you're a jogger, biker, or skateboarder. Another popular option are clips and backpack straps. You can expect to pay from $9.99 for some of the least expensive cases, up to $29.99 or more for the higher-end sport armbands or other carriers.

Speakers

But enjoying your MP3 player isn't always about portability, right? There are lots of great speaker solutions that allow you to get that concert-hall sound right in your living room. Often, these speaker docks will have built-in chargers for your player, and some feature built-in FM radios receivers and other features as well. Many of the most respected names in sound equipment offer speakers for your MP3 player that allow you to listen to your music with impressive depth and volume of sound. Prices can run from the high $20s to $250 and more, depending on the features you need.

Car connections

One of the most creative MP3 player accessories on the market today is a device that allows you to listen to your MP3 files through your car's stereo system. In fact, some auto manufacturers have begun installing MP3 inputs at the factory. But even if your ride didn't come with a built-in MP3 jack, don't despair—plenty of vendors have what you need to hear your favorite music (or watch your video files with sound from your car's audio system) while you're cruising down the road. Many of the most popular MP3 player accessories for the car use the FM receiver in your car system to play files through the stereo. Many of these devices, in fact, are wireless—just plug them into the appropriate input on your MP3 player, tune them to the proper FM band, and you're all set!

Other Cool Stuff

The above list is nowhere near exhaustive. Other MP3 player accessories that can enhance your enjoyment of your system include headphones and ear buds, FM-capture devices that allow you to convert FM radio to MP3 files, universal docks, headphone splitters to permit multiple users to connect headphones to the same MP3 player… and lots more!

 The variety of MP3 player accessories available these days is huge—and growing every day for just about any situation you can think of where you might use your MP3 player. View more articles at www.mp3.jsgenterprises.com.   

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Free Music Downloads For PSP – How To Get Free Music Downloads For The PSP

If you own a PSP, you probably want to put music on it. A Play Station Portable (PSP) has an application that can play music files stored in your memory stick. It supports many audio file types such as mp3, mp4, wma, 3gp and wav.

Your PSP can also play movies, making it a very popular portable media device. If you take a look on the people around you, you can see that they have their own portable media device. You can also see a lot of them using their PSP as their portable media device. This capability of the PSP has been used by their owners to their advantage.

There are many ways to put music files on your PSP. First, if you have a CD containing the songs, you can rip the music with Windows Media Player or you can simply copy and paste it to your PC.

You may also have music files in your PC. If you do, you can get all the music files you want and copy it to your memory stick. Once you´ve copied it, you are now able to play music with your PSP.

If the audio file is not compatible with your PSP player, you can use an music audio converter to convert those music to the various formats that a PSP would accept.

You can easily download an PSP music converter online. Just visit download.com or softpedia and get a freeware PSP music convert software to convert the music files to PSP format.

If you want to get free music downloads for PSP online, I recommend you join a paid PSP music download site. These sites allows you to download unlimited PSP music for a one time fee. Besides free PSP music downloads, you can also download free PSP movies, games as well. The download speeds are faster.

I highly recommend you check these out.

Discover the best site to get free music downloads for PSP. Learn how to get free music downloads for PSP instantly online.

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Learning to Play Guitar by Video

In my three years of trying to play the guitar I learned several ways of getting video lessons on guitar-playing. When I began, my husband bought for me a book and DVD set entitled Simply Guitar.The set helped my very much in my first learning attempts, because the camera angles were adjustable to my view. Since I learn best visually but am not able to afford actual lessons, being able to put on a DVD and strum along is what works for me.The video was much clearer on how to form the chords so I learned them much more quickly than just by looking at chord charts.Perhaps this learning method is peculiar to me because I learn better with visuals. And I can read music so learning guitar-playing only required me to understand the techniques.

Many DVD or video lessons are available on the Internet that are appropriate to various learning paces or skill levels. These boxed sets usually include many hours of lessons for those who have more time on their hands and desire a comprehensive approach to learning to play in the comfort of their homes.Guitar tablature or reading music are often additional features of these video lesson sets, since the features add better understanding of the techniques involved or taught. Total guitar-playing greenhorns can learn best from personal lessons either from individuals or in a music school, with video lessons only a second option.

There are also guitar-playing classes on the Internet, online or by video.Why not see the best guitar lessons online? Jamorama reviews the lessons for your convenience of selection.

Schools and colleges now offer video lessons, even granting credits for certificates as wella s degrees for the really serious aspiring musician who may want to learn the guitar to his skills.Students can get personalized instructions when there are difficulties in this way.But instructors can ask for high tuition fees, and coursework can require much expenditure.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Learn To Play Bass Guitar Online

Bass Guitar Lesson

If you know how to find a C# on your bass, know what a quarter note rest

is, and can read TAB, then you can skip the rest of this and move on.

If not, or if the review will do you good, then read on!  This article will help

you learn to play bass guitar.

A piece of music is composed of a bunch of notes arranged together. These notes are

organized into sets of 12 notes called octaves, and each of these 12

notes has a name. If you sit down at a piano, you'll see that it has

88 keys, 52 white and 36 black, and that each of these keys produces a

different note. The white keys all have one-letter names; the first one on

the left (lowest note) is called A, the next one up is B, and so on. The

seventh white key is called G, and the next white key, the eighth, is also

called A; it begins the second octave. The ninth white key is B, the tenth

C, and so on, until the 52nd and last white note, which is a C..


The black keys are named by their relation to the nearest two white keys,

so each one has two names. First, they may be called "sharp", with the name

of the white key below them: eg, the lowest black key is called A sharp, as

it's immediately above A. There is no black key immediately above B; the second

black note is C#, and so on up the keyboard. Second, black keys may also

be called "flat", with the name of the white key above them: thus, the lowest

black note can also be thought of as B flat, since it's immediately below

the B. Similarly, the black key between D and E can be called either D sharp

or E flat. For now, you can treat the two names as interchangable.  You may be wondering

what does piano have to do with it, I want to learn bass.  The piano was made for music

and is a very good visual example of how music works.  Understanding the piano will

help you understand how your bass guitar is set up and thus music theroy also.

An octave runs from A to G#, 12 notes (7 white keys and 5 black keys)

and then the names repeat for the next octave. Actually, the starting point

doesn't matter: any 12 notes in a row (which will always contain 7 white keys

and 5 black keys) are called an octave.

The strings of a bass are tuned to produce the 4 notes E, A, D, and G

(from thickest string to thinnest). Thus, if you play an E on the piano,

and the open E string on your bass, you'll get the same note (if you choose

the right octave on the piano, that is). Moving up one fret on the string

produces the next highest note. That is, the open A string produces an A

note (hence the name). Fingered at the first fret, it produces an A sharp,

or B flat. Second fret produces a B. Third fret produces C (since there is

no black key above B), fourth fret C sharp, and fifth fret produces D, the

same note as the open D-string. And so on up the fingerboard. With this

knowledge, you should be able to find two or three versions of each note

on your bass. For example, you can get an F at the 1st fret of the E string,

at the 3rd fret of the D string, at the 8th fret of the A string, and at

the 10th fret of the G string. (The 3rd-D note and the 8th-A note are in

the same octave: the 1st-E note is one octave below and the 10th-G note is

one octave above.) Make sure you can find any given note somewhere on your

bass without too much effort, and that you know the names of the notes

produced by playing a given string at a given fret, at least up to the

12th fret.

The next thing to mention is the way songs are arranged in time. Songs

are divided into measures: a common song length is about 100 measures. Each

measure is a certain number of beats long: in almost all modern music there

are four beats to each measure, although other length measures are also used.

Each note in the song has a given duration, and a note that lasts for four

beats is called a whole note. A note that lasts for two beats is called a

half note, and two half notes are the same length as one whole note. Similarly,

there are quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes. (In England

these notes have different names. I'll be sticking to American usage

throughout this lesson series.) Each quarter note receives one beat, and

the quarter note is the basic building block of time and of rhythm. Eight

eighth notes make up a four-beat measure, as you can see, as do four quarter

notes and 16 sixteenth notes. Measures can contain notes of different lengths,

so that a quarter note, a half note,and two eighth notes also make up one

measure.

Other time durations can be written by "dotting" a note: in standard

notation, one literally writes a dot next to the note. Dotting a note makes

it last half again as long as it normally would. Thus, a quarter note lasts

as long as two 8th notes: a dotted quarter note is 50% longer, so it lasts

as long as three eighth notes. Thus, two quarter notes have the same length

as a dotted quarter note and an eighth note. Similarly, a dotted half note

lasts for the same amount of time as three quarter notes: a dotted half note

and a quarter note together make up one measure.

The last thing to know is that rests, or times when the bass is not playing,

are named the same way: thus, a whole rest means that the bass does not play

for one measure. A quarter rest means that the bass does not play for one

beat, and there are eighth rests and dotted half rests and so on.

One last note: in some jazz and classical music, a note other than the

quarter note is given the one-beat length. Since almost all music is written

with the quarter note getting one beat, I've assumed it is so throughout

the lesson series. However, if you get into more difficult music, you may

run into music where the half-note or the eighth-note is one "beat" long.

Dont worry about this until we need to.

The final this you need to know is how to read TAB. Bass tabulature, or

TAB for short, is a simple method for writing bass music. There are several

different versions of tabulature, but the following features are common to

almost all of them.

Bass tab is written on four-line staves. In text interfaces these are usually

written using dashed characters. Each space corresponds to one string on the

bass: the lowest space corresponds to the E string, the next lowest to the A

string, the next to the D string, and the highest to the G string. A number on

a given space represents a note played at the given fret on the corresponding

string; thus, to indicate playing a G at the third fret on the E string,

one would write:

G------------------------------------

D------------------------------------

A------------------------------------

E----3-------------------------------

Notes are played from the left of the staff to the right; thus, an

ascending G major scale might be written:

G------------------------------------

D-------------------2--4--5----------

A----------2--3--5-------------------

E----3--5----------------------------

Or, using open strings, it might be written like this:

G-------------------------0----------

D----------------0--2--4-------------

A-------0--2--3----------------------

E----3-------------------------------

Chords can be written by writing two numbers in the same vertical bar. Thus

one might write a simple A major chord as:

G-----9------------------------------

D-----11-----------------------------

A-----0------------------------------

E------------------------------------

which means to play an open note on the A string, to play a C# at the 11th

fret on the D string, and an E at the 9th fret on the G string.

Various fingering techniques can be noted in TAB as well. This is done by

writing a single character after the note being fingered. The most common of

these are:

h - hammer-on from previous note

p - pull off from previous note

- slide up to note

b - bend note

S - slap the note with the right-hand thumb (left hand if left-handed)

P - pop the note with the right hand (ditto)

t - tap the note with the right hand (ditto)

H - harmonic

Thus a funky bass line might be written like this:

G---------5P-7h-5p-------------------

D------------------------3b----------

A---0S5-----------3S-5S----5S-5H---

E------------------------------------

A muted note (one that is not fingered cleanly and makes a percussive

sound rather than a clear tone) is written by placing an x on a line

instead of a number:

G------------5--7--------------------

D------------------------------------

A---5--x--x--------5--x--5-----------

E------------------------------------

Similarly, a rest is indicated by writing an r on a line (any line will do):

G------------5--7--------------------

D------------------------------------

A---5--r--r--------5--r--5-----------

E------------------------------------

When it is not obvious which left-hand (right-hand to lefties) finger should

be used to to fret a particular note, this may be indicated by writing a

number under the note, with 1=index finger, 2=middle finger, 3=ring

finger, 4=pinkie finger, and rarely, 5-thumb:

G---------5--7--5--------------------

D------------------------------------

A---0--5-----------------------------

E------------------------------------

1 1 3

It is becoming popular to indicate time in TAB by writing over each note

a letter indicating the time value of the note: s=sixteenth note, e=eighth

note, q=quarter note, h=half note, w=whole note. It is possible to add

dots to this system as is done with normal notes. In addition, vertical bars

are usually used to indicate measure breaks. TAB noted this way might look

like this:

w q s s e q h q. e e e s s e h

G-----|----5--7--5-------|-------------5--7--7-|----

D-----|------------------|-3--3--5--7----------|----

A---0-|-5-----------8--5-|---------------------|-5--

E-----|------------------|---------------------|----

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

What's In A Name? It Spells Hit For Jazzy LG!

What’s In A Name?

 

By JLGP © 2008

 

When it comes to gospel music, most church goers can relate to

The traditional fare with an organ, and a choir, the congregation songs

From the hymn book while the service goes through its typical routine.

Jazzy LG   http://www.soundclick.com/jtreymusicjazzylg has this great

song called ‘What’s in a name?’ which will energize your spirit and touch

your heart, as he brings a unique blend of gospel, r&b, jazz, and hip hop,

into a positive mix that gives honor and glory to the Creator. The song is available

for immediate download. There are a few other ‘jazzy’ pieces of note, ‘Today is the day’, as well

as instrumentals such as ‘Emmanuel’ which pack an equally impressive punch. His lyrical

style is smooth and fresh, and the lyrics are clean and inspiring for all ages.

The artist also has a myspace page, and encourages new friends www.myspace.com/jazzylg

Which is tasteful, as the majority of his top friends are other gospel artists, or very close family

and friends. As mentioned before, there are also instrumentals available for free download. Which, 

considering the high level of quality of his material, a new and upcoming artist stands a great chance

of breaking into the industry. Jazzy also has a few informative blogs on his myspace page, so be sure

to take a look.  

About Jazzy LG

Larry Griggs, also known as Jazzy LG, Originally from Detroit, Michigan,

Grew up around the Motown sound, and is Cousin to Motown Founder, Berry Gordy

He has interacted with musicians and artists from all over the country and

 Notably, in 1987 was producer of one of the premier rap groups

 Texas, called Born Fresh Posse. He has also opened for esteemed

 Legends of hip hop: KRS-ONE, ICE-TEE, and DOUG E. FRESH

There is an album in the works for spring 2009

Monday, October 06, 2008

Kinnaird Bagpipes - The History of Bagpipes

The History of Bagpipes

What would give anyone the idea to put some sticks into an animals stomach and blow on them?? A hornpipe-like instrument was the first of its sort, but it is unclear when the bag was attached. Similar instruments were used in the Middle East long before the birth of Christ. They have been an important aspect of Scottish life since Medieval times.

In 400 BC, Ancient Greeks used bagpipes made with man's best friend. That's right, a dog skin bag with bones for chanters!!! Emperor Nero was said to have played the pipes as Rome burned. Starting in the second millennium, bagpipes start frequenting many artists canvas’ and we began to see more written information as well.

It is also said that the pipes were present at the famed Battle of Bannockburn in Scotland in 1314. For over 1000 years, the pipes have been associated with the Celtic race.

Although the Great Highland Bagpipes are the most common in the world, there are actually over 30 varieties in many different countries. Since their history was first studied in the 18th century, the bagpipes' distinct sound and appearance has become recognizable throughout the world.

 

Bagpipes, did you know?

·        The trumpet was the instrument of the Roman cavalry, and the bagpipe was used by the Roman infantry

·        The original pipes in Scotland only had one drone attached. It wasn’t until the1500’s that a second was added, and the 1700’s until the third drone was added.

·        Queen Victoria was the first monarch to have her own personal piper. She requested her own after her trip to Scotland in 1842.

·        The Brazilians call the bagpipe gaita de foles, which is Portuguese for "screams of the tortured monkey".

·        Bagpipes were originally made out of bog oak. Bog oak would have been buried deep in peat bogs, and the wood is hardened and preserved for up to thousands of years due to the bog conditions.

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-249-2939

Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum

Nashville's Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is situated in the business district of Nashville, merely a short walk from the beer joints of Broadway and the famed root of country music, the Ryman Auditorium.

This contemporary $37 million location was exposed to the public in 2001, and the monumental appearance of this singular edifice enlivens the skyline in Nashville's business district amusement area.

The Museum has an incredibly vast assemblage to document C&W music's chronciles, and inside, the crown jewels of the assemblage are presented, illustrating the tale of country music crossing over 100 years.

You'll find collections of authoritative recorded music, uncommon television footage, changing displays, live performances and other public programs, live broadcasts, as well as grabbing a bite at SoBro Grill & Catering and shopping at the Museum Store.

Catching the demonstrations of the Museum educates and stimulates country & western buffs of all ages and experiences, from the newest C&W music fans to those who've enjoyed C&W music for umpteen years.

As you walk through the exhibit halls, you'll watch the procession of country music beginning in the fields and honky-tonks of the south, all the way to the Grand Ole Opry and the giant hits of our country & western sensations today.

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is self-led, so you can view it at your own pace - people usually take 2-3 hours.  The Museum supplies an Audio Tour (70 minutes), narrated by Eddie Stubbs (WSM Radio & Grand Ole Opry announcer), including parts narrated by Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, and Trisha Yearwood.

The Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum presents "Sing Me Back Home" as a permanent presentation spanning two entire floors of the museum, an energizing walk through the history of country music.

Using groundbreaking recordings, objects, photos and TV film, and interactive touchscreen displays, Sing Me Back Home steeps guests in the sound and history of country music, and the lives and voices of its esteemed champions.

As the "Sing Me Back Home" tour comes to its end, you'll walk into the Hall of Fame Rotunda, another lasting exhibit.  This is the sacred location where Country Music Hall of Fame® members are respected with bronze tablets accrediting their initiation into the Hall of Fame.

Time spent at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum is an necessary part of any Nashville vacation. You'll find it is both informative and fun. And with the discernment of the history of Nashville's music you'll gain a finer admiration of Nashville.

Friday, October 03, 2008

Kinnaird Bagpipes - Getting the Most out of Your Pipe Bag and Reeds

November 2007

 

Have you tried the Piper's Pal humidity control system? It can extend the life of your reeds and ease the break in period. Have reeds ready when you need them. Available in 3 styles: Piper's Pal Reed Protector, Piper's Pal (holds 4 reeds), and Piper's Pal Bands (holds 40+ reeds).

 

Featured Article

 

Getting the Most Out of Your Pipe Bag

The pipe bag is one of the most likely areas to leak air. Any air lost through the bag is air that you have to replace, making it harder to play.

Regardless of the bag material, it must be airtight. To check this, plug the chanter and drone stocks with rubber stoppers. Blow up the bag until it is as full as it can get, then squeeze it for 30 seconds. If after 30 seconds, it takes more than 1 breath to fill the bag, it is losing too much air.

Common sources for leaks are the seams, around the stocks, or the stocks themselves. If you can't hear or feel the leak, use a soapy water solution to check. If the leaks are through the seam on a hide bag, a good seasoning may correct it. If the leaks are through the seam on a synthetic bag, it likely needs replacing. Re- tie in the stock for leaks around the stocks on a hide bag. On a synthetic bag, if the leak is between the rubber grommet and the bag, it will have to be replaced. If the leak is between the stock and grommet, you can wrap some plumber's tape around the stock at the top of the grommet, or remove the stock and build up the diameter at the tie in groove with the tape. If the leak is through the stock, there is a crack in the wood. These cracks are most common underneath the stock ferrules, but can also occur lower down. If this is the case, you will need to have the stock repaired by a bagpipe maker/repairer.

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-249-2939

Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

Carbon Fibre Drone Reeds by Kinnaird Bagpipes

December 2006 – Merry Christmas from Kinnaird Bagpipes!

 

Featured Article

 

Kinnaird Carbon Fibre Drone Reeds:

Who is using them?

 

            4 of the top 5 bands at the 2006 World Pipe Band Championships use some combination of Kinnaird Drone Reeds. Youth bands, Legion bands, and many others get a competitive advantage with our reeds!

 

Why are they a superior choice?

Unique curved carbon fibre tongue results in a vibrant rich cane sound. Reeds are simple to set-up: O-ring bridle is used to set the strength of the reed and adjust the tuning position. Adjustment screw allows for fine tuning. Reeds are incredibly steady & require very little maintenance. Available with "Regular" or "Lower Pitch" bass reed. The regular bass suits most older sets of pipes, while the lower pitch bass works very well in newer pipes. If you play an easy reed or struggle with your pipes, consider the "Easy" versions which come set up out of the box easier than our regular reeds. Customization available, please inquire.

 The Kinnaird Carbon Fibre drone reeds are the best made reeds on the market today, and also one of the most expensive. Although the initial cost is higher than some other reeds, the quality and features more than make up for the price in the long term.

First, the sound of the reeds is second to none; they are the most cane-like sound available today. Many top level players are switching to these reeds as the sound is superior and more stable than other reeds. The reeds, once set up, will last considerably longer than plastic tongue reeds since the tongues will not fatigue. We “curve” the tongue instead of bending, which reduces the stress at the tongue just behind the bridle (where the fatigue cracks initiate). We also provide a very high level of customer service. We serialize each and every set of reeds and record all of the manufacturing information. If down the road, a customer needs parts, set-up assistance, or troubleshooting, we can track down the original set-up of the reeds for reference. Finally, the carbon fibre tongues are durable and have proven to stand the kid test where plastic tongue reeds bend. The stiffness of the carbon fibre also helps minimize pitch fluctuation with unsteady blowing.

Compared to other carbon fibre drone reeds, the Kinnaird Carbon Fibre Drone

Reeds are the only ones with a curved tongue. This generates a sound closer to cane than any other reed. The tongues are molded into the proper curve and not heat bent in a jig. This provides improved manufacturing consistency and superior matching of the tenor reeds.

We offer 4 styles of Drone Reeds:

• Regular (suitable for most older pipes)

• Lower Pitch Bass (suitable for most newer pipes such as Naill)

• Regular Easy (We have found this is suitable for very young or old players or those with health problems such as asthma.)

• Lower Pitch Bass Easy

Anyone can order a custom set. We simply need to know if they are seeking regular or easy strength and what pipes they are playing. Finally, we offer exceptional customer service. We ship most orders in 48 hours. At times, custom orders take a bit more time.

 

·        Innovation

·        Quality

·        Service

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Rauncie Kinnaird

Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-249-2939

Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Kinnaird Bagpipes - Tuning your Bagpipes with a KORG tuner

September 2008

 

Featured Article

 

Tuning Your Bagpipes with the Korg Chromatic Tuner

Tuning your pipes can be difficult- the drones must be precisely tuned to each other and also to the chanter. Each note of the chanter must be pitched so that it properly harmonizes with the constant background sound of the drones. This tuning can be done with a well trained ear, but if you're lacking one of those, a chromatic tuner can be used.

Tuning the Chanter
Sound the low A on your chanter and note where it is tuning on the meter. Adjust the calibration buttons until your low A reads "0" on the meter. The green tuning light will come on when your meter is in tune with low A. Use the meter notes and offsets from "0" in the following table to tune the other notes of the chanter. Ensure that the meter is reading the correct "note" which will show up in the top right corner of the tuner. Notes "C" and "F" show up as "C#" and "F#" on the tuner. The first column is the Note. Second column is the ratio to Low A. Third column is the Meter Note. Fourth column is the Meter Offset.

Low G_________7/8 ___G____-31
Low A__________ 1____A____ 0
B_____________ 9/8___B____+4
C_____________5/4___C___ -14
D_____________4/3___D____ -2
E_____________3/2___E ____+2
F_____________5/3___F#___-16
High G_________7/4___G___-31
High A_________2/1___A_____0
Tenor Drone____1/2____A____0
Bass Drone_____1/4___A_____0

If the top hand is sharp compared to the bottom hand, lift the reed slightly out of the chanter to bring the pitch of the top hand down. Add some hemp to the reed if necessary. If the top hand is flat to the bottom hand sink the reed further into the chanter. This will bring up the pitch of the top hand relative to the bottom hand. To flatten individual notes, add a piece of tape to cover the top of the first open hole on the chanter. Sharpening individual notes requires modification to the chanter reed or chanter and should only be done by experienced players.

Tuning the Drones
The drones are tuned to the low A on the pipe chanter. Sound low A on your chanter and adjust the calibration button until the meter reads "0". Adjust the tuning on each of your drones until they are reading "0" on the meter also.

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

 

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-249-2939

Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

Kinnaird Bagpipes - The Blackwood Tree

February 2008

 

Looking for a specific bagpipe tune? The Encyclopedia of Tunes is a complete listing of 22,300 tunes from 328 pipe music books. It can save you time and energy when you're trying to find the right tune!

 

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The Bagpipe Tree

The Mpingo tree, also called the African Blackwood, is a member of the Rosewood family that grows in the Miombo woodlands of Africa. It has a high density, great durability, and natural oils that seal the surface of the wood, making it great for musical instruments like the bagpipes.

These trees often grow naturally knotted and twisted. To use them for musical instruments, they must be straight and without defects. Less than 2% of all the wood harvested can be used for this purpose! It takes about 70 years for the Mpingo tree to reach maturity followed by 3 years of processing before it can be used to make an instrument.

The middle of the wood is black and so hard that it can blunt an axe and must be drilled before screwing or nailing it. The wood is very resistant and the roots support bacteria that increase soil fertility.

As Tanzania's national tree, it is the most valuable tree harvested and also the most expensive, requiring special equipment to harvest. These trees are currently at risk of being wiped out. There has been a shortage over the last 20 years due to weather, political instability and economics. In many places, the trees are illegally cut down or burned to clear the area for farming and livestock. Burning kills the younger trees and leaves the older trees deformed and diseased.

There are efforts in place to save the "bagpipe tree" and create a sustainable supply for the future. Reaching these goals will not only increase the amount of trees legally harvested, but will also reduce poverty in the area, help to rebuild the forests, conserve water, reduce soil erosion and, keep the music playing!

All of the Blackwood we use comes from a supplier that purchases wood from a government approved seller whose trees are legally harvested and documented. The wood is only supplied to musical instrument companies.

The government of Tanzania is trying to cut back on the amount of tree smuggling by scanning and conducting physical searches of cargo shipments. There are increasing efforts to monitor the legal trade of African Blackwood and police the illegal trade. All of these factors add to the cost of the wood. Most reputable Bagpipe manufacturers use wood from legally harvested trees. Ask us about fair trade bagpipes!

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-249-2939

Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

What Is The Comparison Between Abridged Vs Unabridged Audio Book

MP3 audio book downloads

There is no doubt that audio books on CD and in MP3 format are very popular these days. People love to make good use of their time by listening to "books on tape," which would be more appropriately called "books on iPod" in this age of handy digital devices. When shopping for an audio book many people encounter listings for both an abridged and an unabridged audio book version and are not always clear about what the difference is.

There are many people who don't realized that they might want to look for the unabridged audio book version when they were buying a new audio book, but had simply bought whatever was featured or listed as the most popular for that particular title. In fact, a very good percentage of all audio books on the shelves of bookstores or available as audio book downloads are actually the abridged version and many people purchase them without even realizing that fact. Still, the question remains, what is the real difference between the two types of audio books on sale?

The unabridged audio book version contains every last word from the book, just as it was released in print. An abridged audio book version will have been edited to one extent or another. In some cases, this editing is either done by the author or under their supervision. In other instances, a publisher who purchased the rights to the book has free reign to edit the work at their discretion.

What this means is that an abridged work, whether in the form of a printed book, an electronic ebook, or an audio book on CD or MP3, does not contain the complete and original work of the author. An unabridged audio book, on the other hand, will be read by the author or by a voice-over artist and every single word in the volume will be recorded as the audio book. Therefore, the unabridged version will be as close to the original message and intent of the author as one can possibly get without inviting the author over for a personal reading.

This may bring up the question, why would anyone buy anything except an unabridged audio book? There are many reasons for this, but the primary reason is to make the recording shorter. This allows the listener to listen to the audio book in less time and when dealing with very long tomes, this can be a great benefit if time is short and if the listener simply wants to be able to get the gist or the highlights of the book by listening to a shortened audio version.

One reason people seek out the shorter, abridged versions of audio books on CD is so that they can use them as a review of material that they have already read. This can be helpful to students preparing for exams, or to a business man preparing for a presentation based on a certain book, or even just to enjoy a quick refresher of a favorite novel.

However, there are many people who feel that they might be missing something important that the author was trying to communicate if they only have access to the abridged version. In those cases, an unabridged audio book is the best choice and the listener can relax and enjoy the volume and know that they are getting the full story.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Kinnaird Bagpipes - Trouble Shooting Kinnaird Drone Reeds

July 2008

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Trouble Shooting Kinnaird Drone Reeds

We get calls and emails regularly from people who need help with the Kinnaird Drone Reeds. This article addresses some of the most commonly asked questions.

1. Double Toning- The reed is not getting enough air pressure. The most likely reason is that the reed is set up too strong. Move the bridle towards the vibrating end of the reed to make it easier. Another issue may be air restriction to the stock. There may be a build up of seasoning in the bottom of the stock or a drone valve or enhancer may be too restrictive. Remove the valve or enhancer to see if it solves the problem. Check their instructions to adjust them so that they take less pressure to open. Canister systems can also cause restrictions. Check that all hoses are not kinked or leaking and that the canister is not too close to the bag restricting airflow.

2. Squealing- The reed tongue could be too short. Lengthening the tongue should fix it. If not, there may be some debris underneath the tongue. Clean under the tongue by inserting a dollar bill or business card under the tongue and dragging it out the side, while applying gentle pressure to the top of the tongue. You can also remove the tongue and clean the tongue and bed of the reed with warm soapy water.

3. Drones Shutting Off- Often the reeds are set up too easy or there is excess moisture. If the reeds are too easy, move the bridle away from the vibrating end of the tongue to make them stronger. If the reed is fine when you start, but shuts down after playing for a while, it is likely a moisture issue. Insert a dollar bill or business card underneath the tongue to absorb some of the moisture. You can also remove the nose cone and put a pipe cleaner up the bore of the reed & in the end of the nose cone. Dry out the bores with a cotton brush. Moisture control systems are great solutions and come in a variety of styles.

4. Make sure that your reeds are installed correctly. Many issues are due to improper set up. Full set up instructions for Kinnaird drone reeds and their replacement parts can be found on the FAQs portion of our website.

These are just a few of the most commonly asked questions. For more information, refer to the FAQs portion of the website. If you still can not find an answer to your problem, don't hesitate to call or email us!

Sincerely,

Rauncie Kinnaird

Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net

Phone: 306-249-2939

Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com