Violin For Beginners: How to Get Started on the Violin

People who wish to learn the violin rarely understand how tough it is to master. Perhaps you have played a guitar or ukulele and think, "Hey, what could be so hard about a violin?" That's a common misconception. Playing the violin for beginners can seem daunting no matter how much or little musical experience they have.

With a guitar, even if you play the wrong note, it will still more than likely come out in the same pitch, so it at least sounds okay. Not so with a violin. Plucking is very different from "bowing" or running the bow hairs across the strings. The sound can be crystal clear and in perfect tone, or it may sound like fingernails on a blackboard. Learning to "bow" a violin adds another element of difficulty to the mix.

If you are great in physics, the explanation is easier to comprehend. For the rest of us, picture in your mind a slow motion camera. A hand plucks the guitar string and the string forms an arc that expands, like a wave, then straightens back into position. That makes a "ping" sound. This is called the vibration mode or resonance tone. The tighter the string is, then the ping becomes a higher pitched tone, right? That's the amplitude. It adds a harmonic element to the several arc vibrations until the string settles back down and the energy is dissipated. Agreed, we are talking milliseconds here, if that. With the guitar, you can change the amplitude by how you pluck, and with what like a finger, fingernail or pix, and also by where you pluck at different places on the fingerboard. But the tonal quality still remains about the same. Not so with gliding a bow over the strings.

When you glide the bow hairs over the violin string it makes an elongated oval-like vibration, not a linear wave like the guitar. Why? It is because as the string vibrates it is continuing to come in contact with the bow which is applying force or friction. Again we are talking milliseconds at most, but even with the naked eye you can see the string vibrate. Hermann Van Helmholtz discovered almost 150 years ago that, unlike the guitar string's arc, the violin string makes a V, then an inverted V in a more elongated back and forth motion. If the bow doesn't make a firm contact, the V becomes skewed and the sound becomes a screech.

What this all means is that the playing the violin for beginner students consists of more than learning where to put your fingers. It also is about how much pressure to apply to the glide of the bow hairs and how far to glide the bow forwards and back. It also depends on the amount of rosin that has been applied to the bow hairs, which of course is transferred to the strings. Getting those factors down correctly takes practice, a lot more than plucking a guitar.

So be patient and allow yourself time to get these techniques of applying rosin, then bowing the strings down to a being natural thing for you to do. And remember, even the masters hit a screech every now and then.

My name is Benjy Portnoy, and ViolinLessonsNow.com is a website that I set up to help people learn how to play violin. I first picked up the violin in third grade (many years ago), and it helped spurred my endless love for all types of music ever since.

In making this site, I'm hoping to share that spark and passion for music with players of all ages. The goal of this site is to help anybody - female or male, young or old to learn more about this seminal instrument and start down the path of becoming a solid player with good habits. Get great tools and free tips on learning the violin, including a no-cost, 7-day mini-course: http://www.violinlessonsnow.com/violin-for-the-beginner/

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7 Secrets for Beginners of Seagull S6

That Seagull S6 is just a beginner's guitar is a great understatement. Seagull, a Canadian guitar maker, has been crafting one of the world's best guitars since the 1980s. Of the various guitar models Seagull has made, Seagull S6 has succeeded in making a name of its own in the music industry by winning several awards. It is currently one of a few acoustic guitars which keep getting rave reviews from guitar users all over. Here are seven reasons why:

1. Tone. Seagull S6 produces a warm, melodious tone that sounds even better than those produced by some other prestigious and high-priced guitar brands. Its beautiful sound can be attributed to the careful crafting of this guitar. To be able to produce a rich sound, the makers of Seagull S6 use only the best wood for its body and materials for the accessories. From the nut and saddle up to the strings, the guitar is a display of excellent craftsmanship. The result is an unforgettable sound quality which beginners and professionals would find soothing to the ear.

2. Sturdiness. The secret to the quality of Seagull's guitars is the superiority of the wood used. Most guitars, especially the medium to low-end sides, use plain plywood for its tops. Seagull guitars are trademarked for its solid Cedar tops and black cherry colored-laminated back. Unlike those which use plywood as its base, the cedar in Seagull guitars gives it sturdiness that withstands the test of time.

3. Aging. The Seagull S6 only gets better as it ages. The secret behind it-the materials used. A guitar with solid top generally produces a better quality sound than a plywood top guitar. Solid tops improve over time and over use. This process is called aging. The more it is played, the more it improves and gives a rich sound.

4. Comfort in Handling. The typical Dreadnought design of the Seagull S6 allows for efficient handling. It has the right size and make which users find attractive. Even if the player is sitting down or standing up, its curvy and easy to clutch features let the user hold the guitar with ease.

5. Nut and Saddle. The nut and saddle of the guitar hold the strings firmly in place. Seagull S6 uses a hybrid plastic called Tusq for its nut and saddle. More and more manufacturers are currently turning to Tusq because it not only supports the strings but also enhances the guitar's tone.

6. High string action. Like other fine guitars, the makers of Seagull also tailored their strings to provide high performance. Guitar players would find it easy to tune the guitar easier.

7. Affordability. Who would resist the sheer affordability of a good sounding and sturdy guitar like the Seagull S6? For less than $500, anyone can own this guitar already. What is more, you get good value for every dollar you spent because you not only get a guitar, you get the best guitar.

So, if you are a beginner and you are looking for your first guitar, Seagull S6 is the guitar that will give you ease in playing, professional sound quality, and value for your money all at the same time for Seagull S6.

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Great Guitar Chords For Beginners - The C Chord

Many people want to learn how to play guitar but might think that all of those strings and frets are just too much to tackle. Fear not, because with just a few easy guitar chords for beginners, you can be playing many of your favorite songs in a very short amount of time!

Today we're going to discuss the open C chord which is one of the standard guitar chords for any player. Just for review, if you are a beginner, here is the basic layout of the guitar.

Every standard guitar has six strings on it and they are tuned usually (or standard tuning) to the corresponding notes:

E, A, D, G, B, E

Along with normal music notation, you can also use a numbering system known as guitar tabs that will assist you in seeing the finger placements for your chords.

Each guitar string has a number associated with it beginning from the highest sounding string to lowest. The high E string is normally recognized as the #1 string. So the order of string numbers looks like this:

#1 = E (high), #2 = B, #3 = G, #4 = D, #5 = A, #6 - E (low)

Now that we've got our string numbers dialed in, let's start working on playing our open C chord. Here is the most common way to play this chord.

Step 1 - Place your first finger on string #2 (B) on the first fret.Step 2 - Place your middle finger on string #4 (D) on the second fret.Step 3 - Place your ring finger on string #5 (A) on the third fret.

With all three fingers in place, give your guitar a strum. Congratulations! You're playing an open C chord.

It may take a little bending from your fingers to make the curl around the neck of the guitar but keep working on it and you will find it getting easier and easier.

The open C chord is one of the great guitar chords for beginners because it has such a warm and rich sound. Many songs begin with this chord (i.e. Dust In The Wind) so if you continue to practice playing it, you will have a great starting point to launch into other chords that are right near by.

Here are some bonus tips on playing the C chord that will have you impressing all of your friends!

Tip #1 - Start by playing the C chord and then remove your ring finger from the 5th string. You are now playing an A minor 7 chord that makes the sound more haunting and moody. Go back to playing the full C chord and you will notice the sound becoming brighter again. It's a nice contrast.

Tip #2 - Start by playing the C chord and this time take your pinky finger and place in on string #4 (G) on the third fret right next to your ring finger. It makes the chord sound a bit higher as you have just played a C sus (suspended) chord. Now take your pinky finger off and you will be playing the C chord again.

Practicing those fingering moves from the C chord to the Am7 chord to the Csus chord will allow to begin to build a great foundation of chords to work with. As with any guitar chords for beginners, practice will make you a much stronger player. Good luck and enjoy playing!

Scott has been playing guitar for the past 30 years and enjoys sharing the love of playing the guitar with others. If you would like to learn how to sound great playing the guitar, enjoy these free guitar lessons.

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How to Practice the Violin - Essential Steps for Adult Beginners

Every time you lovingly unpack your violin from its case - tighten up the bow, tune the strings - you are taking one more step towards your goal. Whether you are aiming to be the next Paganini, or just wanting to take it as far as you can, learning to play the violin is a journey filled with joy and despair, pain and pleasure.

Your mental attitude is most important. As an adult you are more aware of your inadequacies and limitations than a child, but try to see the long view, and know that each day you are progressing one tiny little step more.

The first important decision is to find a good teacher - one who is sympathetic to your goals. Ideally your teacher should also be a good musician, who can demonstrate instead of just explaining what you need to do.

Your teacher should be able to give you guidelines on how to practice. I should like to add a few thoughts to help you on your way.

First, you need to practice every day. Even if you only have a few minutes to spare, just do it! My teacher, Dr. Suzuki, said "You only need practice on the days that you eat," (I like the 'only'). Find a regular time in your day and schedule it in. Make it as much a routine as cleaning your teeth in the morning.

Second, you need to repeat. Repetition is the name of the game. If you repeat an exercise, a scale, a phrase, a piece a couple of times, you are not going to learn very much. However, if you repeat 10, 20, 100 times, you are really going to know how to do it. But be careful. Make sure you know exactly how you are supposed to do it. If you repeat a mistake 100 times, you are going to know very well how to do it - wrong!

Third, you need to copy. Copy your teacher, how she stands, holds her bow, her violin position, left hand position, where is her head?... Go to concerts, and carefully watch professional violinists, their positions, postures, etc. There are hundreds of videos of violinists on YouTube. Pick your favourite musician, and piece.

Fourth, you need to listen. Listen to your teacher, how she plays, her phrasing, tone quality, vibrato etc... Listen to CDs. Try to decide whether the phrase starts with an up bow or a down bow. Are they playing at the tip or the point, or in the middle of the bow? Can you guess what string they are playing on? Immerse yourself in the world of violin music.

My last recommendation is to have fun. To play a musical instrument is to be able to communicate in a universal language. There are no language barriers. Music is its own language. Try to find a friend who is at the same level as you, or better still, slightly more advanced, and play duets together.

To sum up: practice every day, repeat, copy, listen, enjoy.

The old adage is right. "Practice Makes Perfect"

Elizabeth Arnott is English, and has lived in Mexico for the past ten years. In London she was a Suzuki Violin Teacher for 25 years, and taught a range of students from age 3 to adult. She now lives in Merida, Yucatan, plays violin in the Orquesta Sinfonica de Yucatan, and has a few private students.

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Guitar Chords For Beginners - The Awesome D Chord!

Did you ever want to learn how to play the guitar? If your answer is yes then you're in luck as learning guitar chords for beginners is not that difficult.

I've been playing guitar for the past 30 years and although technology has made it easy to watch online guitar lessons, it's up to you to put in the time to learn the chords as well as the music theory behind the chords if you wish.

For this article, we will be focusing on the D chord as well as some other guitar chords for beginners that will help form the foundation of many of the songs that you will end up playing.

Your guitar has 6 strings on it and is normally tuned to the following notes:

E, A, D, G, B, E

There are also guitar tabs that can help you learn to play beginner chords. For reference they number the strings as well as show you where your fingers should be placed to form the chord.

The guitar strings are normally numbered from highest to lowest meaning the last string on your guitar (the high E string) is know as the #1 string. So the numbering orders is as follows:

#6 - E (low)
#5 = A
#4 = D
#3 = G
#2 = B
#1 = E (high)

So without going into too much detail regarding music theory for now, some of the most common guitar chords for beginners are known as "open chords" because of their fingering style. When it comes to playing the D chord, the most common way to play it is as follows:

Step 1 - Place your first finger on string #3 (G) on the second fret.
Step 2 - Place your middle finger on string #1 (E high) on the second fret.
Step 3 - Place your ring finger on string #2 (B) on the third fret.

Congratulations! You just played an open D chord. You may want to work on bending your fingers, especially your ring finger, so that the tips of all of your fingers press firmly down onto the fret board to make the chord sound clean when you strum it. When it comes to guitar chords for beginners, if you practice and have some patience, you will see results come very quickly!

The D chord has a really nice and bright sound to it. Learn to play this chord well and you will be on your way to many well known songs that start off with this chord (i.e. Sweet Home Alabama).

Here's a few extra tips on the D chord that will have you sounding like a pro in no time.

Tip #1 - Play the D chord and while strumming or picking, place your little finger (pinky) on string #1 (E) on the third fret and then take it off again. Sounds cool doesn't it! You are playing what is called a D Sus (Sus = suspended) chord when you add your little finger to the mix.

Tip #2 - Play the D chord and this time remove your middle finger from string #1 (E) on the second fret and strum a few times and then put it back on again. When you remove your finger you are now playing what is known as a D5 chord. I love this chord as it has a darker feel compared the the open D chord itself.

So work on playing the open D chord as well as the D Sus and the D5 and you will begin to see lots of opportunities to make some great melodies happen!

Scott has been playing guitar for the past 30 years and enjoys sharing the love of playing the guitar with others. If you would like to learn how to sound great playing the guitar, enjoy these free guitar lessons.

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Piano Lessons for Beginners - Online Piano Lessons Make It Convenient To Learn The Piano

Music is loved by almost everyone. While some like to play musical instruments, others like to sing, dance or go to karaoke bars. When it comes to learning a musical instrument, many people choose the piano. There are various ways by which one can find out more details on piano lessons for beginners. Each method presents its own benefits and drawbacks. An effective and convenient way to learn the piano is to choose the option of online piano lessons.

In the traditional variety of piano lessons one has to play this instrument by ear. It also means playing after reading notes from a book on piano lessons for beginners. The musical notes can be selected and played on the piano. Listening to the intervals is an important aspect to understand the melody better. The chords can also be played to get the player's chord voicing. Generally, there are three aspects to playing the piano by ear. These are melody, chords and chord voicing. During the initial phase of learning this may seem a little bit difficult, but after becoming familiar with the process one can do it easily. With private lessons good results can be obtained, even though this option may prove costly. There are music schools where one can learn the piano lessons. These classes can be attended after the day's work or school. The drawback in this method is that the person has to deal with traffic congestion, class cancellations and bad weather.

The popularity of latest methods of learning the piano has been on the rise. These options include learning the piano lessons using DVDs or CDs. A person can learn to play the piano easily after going through online courses. There are various websites that offer this type of learning. These days some music teachers also offer their own lessons. The learner can choose the pace of learning which allows lots of flexibility. This method may pose a problem only when the Internet connection is interrupted. To overcome this type of problem one can choose the DVD option. Piano learning software can also be downloaded and used offline to learn the lessons. This type of software is available for new as well as advanced students. There is no need to face the traffic congestion and personally attend a music coaching center. From the comfort of home one can learn to play the piano.

As one can see, each and every method of learning to play piano lessons for beginners poses its own advantages and disadvantages. It is not possible to learn the piano playing in a single day. It is a continuous process that requires constant practice and effort on the part of the learner. Almost every method involved in learning to play the piano is covered in online piano lessons. This makes it easy to select the right method. Once the appropriate method has been selected, it becomes easier to master the techniques and skills required to play the piano.

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Guitar For Beginners - Play The Guitar The Right Way - Never Give Up

We've all been there before... at the beginning. We all asked the same questions. For example, what should one learn first? Should we learn guitar chords, guitar scales, or songs?

The answer to the questions posed above is, it depends! I know this sounds vague, but hang in there with me for a second or two.

You'll need to build strength and endurance on the guitar. Trust me, without learning these fundamental elements on the guitar, you might as well become an accountant, doctor, or lawyer (please, not a lawyer).

Most great guitarists started out by learning simple songs. With a little help from your friends (other guitarists), you'll learn some of your favorite songs (riffs and all). This is a great way (and very normal) to begin to build strength and endurance on the guitar. The truth be known, this is what most of us did in the beginning... we wood-shedded! This is absolutely normal and natural.

Why would anyone jump into an advanced guitar course as a beginner? Answer... .not many! The advanced stuff could literally kill the enthusiasm for a beginner. Why? Too much theory, mechanical development, and not enough FUN. That's right... FUN! It's essential to have fun. Fun is learning to play songs that your peers are playing. Once one spends good quality FUN time, the rest (knowledge of theory, application, etc.), will eventually catch up to you (or not). The desire to progress as a player will hit you like a ton of bricks or you'll be satisfied as an individual who knows a bunch of songs and commercial licks. The choice is always yours to make.

The choice to excel on the guitar is as much mental as it is physical. Personally, I think the mental part is more important than the physical (at least in the beginning).

In the beginning, have FUN, FUN, FUN,. That's what it's all about folks, fun!

Most professional guitarists will tell you (hopefully), that their good old days were spent on the front porch playing guitar with their friends (learning songs, figuring out solos, etc.). For those who pursue a professional career in music, the guitar becomes a way-of-life (very serious stuff folks). Why get ahead of yourself? Have fun in the early years.

I understand that you, along with most beginning guitarists, want to shred the guitar like a finely tuned chain saw. However, remember that willingness without action equals fantasy. Don't kid yourself. Shredding is an art. It requires mechanical ability that develops over time. Hard work and practice is the answer. Facility on the guitar is everything!

In the beginning stages of learning to play the guitar it's important to start with basic techniques. Learning how to properly hold a guitar pick, building hand and wrist strength, timing and tempo are all essential elements. Learning simple songs will deliver those elements. Learning how to play chords and chord progressions, in tempo, is another essential element of learning to play the guitar.

Whether one's goal is to become an accomplished guitarist or to simply play a few songs, the common thread between the two types of players is practice. If one commits to quality practice, one will progress. It's really that simple. Either way, it starts with one's passion for the guitar.

©2011 Michael E. Fletcher. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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How to Buy a Violin for Beginners - 3 Easy Steps

Finding out how to buy a violin for beginners does not need to be difficult but it can take time. The violin is a hard instrument to learn and play well and it can lead to many beginners giving up quickly, which is something that you have to think about before you decide to go out and buy your own instrument and opt to spend hundreds of dollars on one.

1. How Much Are You Willing To Spend?

The first thing that you need to consider when looking for how to buy a violin for beginners is your budget. You could spend around 800 dollars for a new, high quality violin but you do not need to spend this amount. It is possible to buy a second-hand violin for less than 200 dollars and this is something that you should consider if you are worried about your or the person that you are buying it for not staying on with playing the instrument.

2. Have You Checked eBay?

There are always people looking to sell their violins and eBay is one of the best places to find some that are high quality but low in price. You want to check the seller reviews before you agree to bid and you will need to stick to your budget because you will also need to consider any fixes that you may need to make.

3. What Size Do You Need?

Violins come in three different sizes, which is perfect for children. However, it could cost you a lot of money to buy the violins as your child grows. You should consider cutting your cost down to only buying a full size violin if you know that you child will continue to play for a long time. If you are unsure, opt for the half or three-quarter size so that you really only need to buy two different violins and your child will get a lot of use out of them.

You will need to ensure that when looking for how to buy a violin for beginners that you budget for any extras that you will need. Not all violins will come with a case and a bow, so you should find out whether you will need to buy these. You will also need to bear in mind the need for rosin and extra strings for your musical instrument and add the cost of these to the amount of money that you are willing to spend.

Are you looking for quality violin lessons Singapore? Getting a good and trusted violin teacher has never been easier. Visit our music site now at: http://www.violinlessonsingapore.com/

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Beginners Piano Lessons - How To Make Sure and Solid Progress!

I remember when I started playing piano. Actually, I bought an old electronic keyboard, which I had to smuggle into the house, as my mum did not appreciate any kind of technology. Anyway, I managed to learn a few tunes initially, but could not understand why my progress was so 'sluggish'. Every time I learned a new song, it was like my piano tuition was starting anew. Fortunately, my best mate was in a band, and before I started formal piano lessons, he gave me the following insights into how he started to make sense of it all. It was a great help!

* Playing By Numbers - Every song you play is written in a certain key, of which there are twelve. Each key contains scales, a series of notes laid out in specific intervals. These notes will sound 'right' to the ear when played within their respective key. Now, each scale in each key will contain its one chord, two chord and so on. When I started, I tried to remember every chord I played - but obviously this is hard, without any reasoning behind it. It's much easier to learn the keys that the chords are played in, and the scales that they are based upon. That way, you don't need to memorize every chord, as you can work out from the formula you have learned exactly how each chord is made up

* Playing by ear - this can be quite easy, once you have mastered the previous step. With the knowledge of the twelve keys under your belt, you can simply transpose any song into whatever key you prefer. Learning transposition will actually push you further along your learning curve, as you will also learn how to improvise. I'm not suggesting that you try to avoid also learning how to read sheet music - this will be a key part of your development whichever type of piano lessons you take - but learning playing by ear skills will enable you to almost play along with new music at will. Once you have begun to master this 'natural' way of playing, you'll know you are well on your way

* Get Yourself Out There - this was the part I felt most uncomfortable with, when my friend first suggested it to me. What he meant was for me to 'mingle' with musicians - spend time in their company, go to local gigs, meet band members and find out what makes them tick. By immersing myself in their environment, I would begin to 'feel' like a musician, and almost subconsciously, begin to enhance the learning I gained at home. I was nervous, at first, but once my confidence was up, I actually became a vocalist in a band (using hidden vocal talents I didn't realize I had) before settling into keyboards, once I had become more accomplished.

Of course, the 'boring' old rule also applies, and that is to practice at least a little every day, even if it's just 30 minutes. This will make sure that piano tuition becomes a regular and important part of your life, and more importantly, that you continue to make steady progress. Recognizing this progression is the way that you will keep at it, and ease past the point where you may have thought about giving up. Keep at it!

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Guitar Effects for Beginners - A Guide to Stomp Boxes and Multi-FX (Part 1)

If you're new to the world of the electric guitar you might be curious about how all your inspirational guitar heroes manage to produce the wonderful, and sometimes weird, array of different sounds out of their instruments. Surely they don't achieve them simply by plugging straight into their amp and blasting away?

Well, there are many great guitarists whose setup is as simple as that. But in most cases there's a bit more to it. In this first part I'll go through and explain the main types of effects available.

You may not be familiar with all these terms, but I guarantee if you've been listening to any electric guitar based music from the last 40 years+ you'll have heard some if not all of them at some point.

Distortion and Overdrive

Surely the most widely known type of effect, in fact it's so ubiquitous you might not even think of it as being one. It essentially re-shapes the sound wave received from the guitar, causing it to clip or distort, resulting in a warm fuzzy sound.

You will likely already be familiar with it if you bought an amp with your guitar, as just about all have a "clean" channel (i.e. no fuzzy sound) and an overdriven channel. A "gain" control on these units will allow you to go from anything from mildly distorted, to all out metal mania!

Distorted or overdriven sounds were first popularised in the Sixties by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin, and have been a mainstay of rock music ever since.

Modulation

This covers a range of effects, the most common perhaps being Chorus, Flanger and Phaser.

Chorus works by taking the sound signal from the guitar and splitting it, adding a very slight delay (see Delay and Reverb below), along with frequency changes to the split signal. This can give your sound an orchestral quality, as if you're suddenly multiple guitarists playing the same part! Chorus sometimes gets a bit of a bad rep, probably due to overuse in the Eighties, but it's a great effect if used carefully. One of the most famous examples of it's use is on the opening of Come as you Are by Nirvana.

Flanger effects work on a similar principle as chorus, but the effect is more accentuated. This results in a "ducking and diving" type of sound. A famous example is on the main guitar riff to Spirit of Radio by Rush.

Phaser effects again split the signal and shift the phase of one part of it. The result has similarities to what a flanger does - you can still produce that "ducking and diving" sound, but overall it's a bit more "out there". A famous example is Have a Cigar from the Pink Floyd album Wish You Were Here.

Filters

If I say "Wah-wah" to you here, and you know what I'm talking about in a guitar context straight away (and are not assuming I'm just making baby noises), then you also know what a filter effect is.

This type acts like a big tone control on your guitar sound. In the case of Wah-wah it allows you to transition from a muffly sound to a bright, clean sound through the use of a foot pedal. It's a bit like opening the door on a party - when you're standing outside, the door closed, you hear loud music, but it's all a bit muffled. As you open the door the sound becomes brighter and clearer. Party on! A famous use of Wah-wah is on Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix.

An equalizer is a filter that applies permanent changes to the sound signal from your guitar. This will "boost" or "cut" the sound frequencies, allowing you to sculpt a bright or a deeper sound, or something in-between. This can be extremely important if you want to fit in the mix with the overall sound coming from other instruments.

Dynamics

These can really be thought of as problem solvers. All they really do is affect the volume of your guitar signal. At their most basic this can be a volume pedal, allowing you to manually boost or cut the signal during a performance.

A bit more complex is a compressor, which squeezes ("compresses") the signal, boosting quiet notes and smoothing out louder ones, evening out the volume and giving a more fluid sound. It's particularly popular in Metal, when used in conjunction with heavy distortion to get all those nimble-fingered solos clean and clear. It needs to be applied carefully though, too much and you can ruin your overall tone.

A noise gate is a very useful effect that will help get rid of unwanted hiss or hum (e.g. from your guitar pickups) by setting a "gate" at your chosen volume threshold. Anything quieter than the threshold gets removed, anything above remains intact.

Delay and Reverb

You can think of a reverb effect as being like a room simulator. It emulates what happens after a sound occurs in a room, i.e. when it "reverberates" around. You can therefore use it to recreate anything from the sound of playing in a bathroom, to that of a cathedral.

A delay effect adds an echo to your sound, with most units allowing you to modify the number of echo repeats to create a very short or long effect. Like reverb, you can use it to give yourself a very "big" sound, or play along rhythmically to the echoes - U2's guitarist, The Edge, is synonymous with this playing style.

Summary

That rounds out the main type of effects, although it by no means covers everything. There are many other subtypes, but most vary or add to the types explained above. I hope though this at least gives you a good starting point.

In the next article I'll explain the difference between stomp boxes and multi effects units. I'll go through some examples and also focus on some of the more wallet-friendly ones available.

If you're just starting out in rock guitar and want to learn how to play in this style, here's a cool place with some very useful resources: Rock Guitar Power. Learn your riffs, plug in your stomp boxes and make some noise!

Iain is based in Scotland has been playing electric guitar for 20 years. In that time he has tried out a great many amps, stomp boxes and multi-effects units.

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Singing Lessons for Beginners

Many like to sing but are too shy to sing in front of their friends or in public. They do not have the confidence in their singing. They want to sing better but do not know how. They think that they have a poor voice and singing is for the gifted. Harry Lorraine, the world-famous memory expert, says that there is no such thing as a poor memory, only an untrained memory. Similarly, there is no such thing as a poor voice only an untrained voice.

There are many schools of singing which cater to the different genre - country, pop, classical, opera, etc. Different music schools started to proliferate with the popularity of singing competitions like American Idol and Britain's Got Talent. For beginners who are considering taking singing lessons, they are overwhelmed by the large number of music schools or online singing courses offering all kinds of singing lessons. It is important for beginners to know that there is only one natural way to sing.

Singing is nothing more than speaking at different pitches.

Your vocal power is defined by the strength of the muscles in and around the larynx(voice box) and vocal cords, and it is crucial to isolate other muscles. Engaging other muscles will disrupt the fine balance of muscle strength and air, regardless of genre. A good vocal technique should concentrate on training the larynx muscles to do all the vocal cords adjustment.

For those of you who are already taking singing lessons, and if your singing teachers are asking you to focus on "give your tone more support" or "placing your tone forward", you should consider getting a new singing teacher. There are also many traditional singing teachers who over emphasize the importance of diaphragm control, resulting in building too much air in the singer's body. If the vocal cords are not sufficiently robust to withhold the volume of air gushing out from the lungs, the result is a sudden change in tonality and capping the singer's range. Proper breathing is important but it is the result of good vocal production and not the cause of it. And good vocal production comes from good vocal technique.

Beginners should start off on the right footing. Select the correct vocal technique. Not all vocal techniques are created equal. Based on the human anatomy and physiology of vocal production, there is only one safe and natural way to sing.

Speech Level Singing is a revolutionary vocal technique that is founded upon the idea that you should sing as naturally as you speak. This vocal technique is trusted by more than 120 Grammy Award winners. Although Speech Level Singing is a well established vocal technique, there are not many certified Speech Level Singing teachers in Singapore or Asia. Therefore it behooves the beginners to seek out only certified Speech Level Singing teachers. The value of the training is in the feedback from the SLS teachers.

Author's interests range from computer programming to internet marketing to history. He stumbled upon speech level singing by chance. If you want to find out where you can get a speech level singing teacher in Singapore, go to http://www.singaporesingingcoach.com/

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Learning To Play The Drums - A Beginners Guide To Getting Started On The Drums

Have you always wanted to play the drums but didn't know where to begin or where to start? I'm not going to lie to you, drums are not as easy to play as others would make out. But with the right direction and a little natural rhythm you can be playing along to your favourite songs in no time at all!

So what's first? Well, some might say that getting a drum kit is pretty important but this just isn't the case. I learnt to play drums on the side of chairs and on cushions before my Dad bought me my first drum kit. Also, you might not be able to afford a drum kit to start off with so what else can you do? Well, you could...

1. Try to become friends or get to know a drummer local to you. Do you have a friend that already plays the drums? It's always good to learn some stuff from somebody you already know and most musicians are more than happy to show a beginner a trick or two. Just ask!

2. If you're lucky enough to still be going to school then does your local school own a drum kit? If so then ask if you can have a play on it sometime, either in break time or after school. This could be a great chance for you to either practice some ideas if you don't have a drum kit at home or just to try out the drums for the first time. Also gives you a chance to experience the full volume of a real drum kit for the first time... BANGBANG!!

Of course, nothing beats (no pun intended) owning your own drum set but don't feel like you can't learn without one. Drums are different to other instruments in that you can learn to play by tapping on any surface. Sure, it's not the same and you will soon reach a wall in your playing but at least you get a chance to learn before making any financial commitment on a drum kit.

Once you've either got a drum kit or are satisfied with your practice equipment/chair situation then the next step has to be...

3. Play along to Music (CD/MP3's). Start with simple songs and just dive in. I'm completely self taught (originally) and just started off by listening carefully to my favourite songs and trying to copy the drum beats. Looking back I made loads or mistakes but I learned from every single one. Each time I made a mistake I would remember it for next time and slowly over time I improved and (to my surprise) became very good, considering I didn't have a teacher for the first 6 years of my playing! Just be brave and start playing, you'll be surprised how quickly you pick things up!

4. Get free drum lessons from online websites and YouTube. There are so many online sources of free education available out there that it would be silly not to take advantage of it.

5. Learn to play at least a few common beginner drum beats and learn to play them in your sleep! You will find that most songs contain just a few basic beats that drummers then chop and change (add and remove notes) to suit the song. One of the most common and basic drum beats can be seen and heard from the Beginner Video Drum Lesson link above (listed as Part 1 - Eighth Note Hi-Hat) This basic drum beat can be heard on countless recordings and is well worth learning... in fact, it's unavoidable if you want to play drums.

You now have a few options open to you depending on where you want to take your drumming.

6. You might like to learn how to read some basic notation. I talk about the benefits of this in one of my articles under the Free Drum Lessons/Article section of my website. This article explains all of the positives and negatives for learning to read music. I'm obviously biased but with good reason, I think learning to read and write music notation is one of the best things you can do for your playing. It's also no coincidence to find out that most other readers also think the same.

7. Get yourself a GOOD drum teacher! Yep, there's no denying that a drum teacher is going to have a huge affect on your playing. Finding a good drum teacher (and it's worth shopping around) will not only make you a better drummer but will improve you quicker and help you to avoid the little pitfalls and dead ends that most self taught drummers (including myself) suffered within those first few years of playing.

Also, it's worth mentioning that a teacher might not always know best. I try to be as humble as possible with my students as we all make mistakes. Sometimes what I think is best for the pupil might not be. I trust that my pupil will speak up when they feel that perhaps a better direction might be more suitable for them. Let your teacher know exactly what you want to learn. If you want to learn just Jazz then say so, it's your money!

This has been just a quick and brief introduction to getting started on the drums and you can find further drum articles relating to this subject on my website. Just take a look around the site and have fun learning!

Please feel free to email me if you wish to ask me any questions at all. I'll be happy to help you in any way I can.

Happy drumming to you!

Rob (Drummer and Self Confessed Drum-Nut)

Robert Litten is a Drummer and Teacher of 20 years experience who now spends his time building and running the webs premier online Video Drum Lesson & Sheet Music website http://www.drumstheword.com/.

Drums The Word - 100's of Free Video Drum Lessons, from Beginners to Advanced. Easily learn how to play drums to your favourite songs!

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You Can Play The Guitar - Tips For Beginners And Revision For The More Accomplished Guitarist

Begin learning as young as possible and practice daily for as long as you can. Always keep clean hands with short nails on your fret hand as this will stop your fingers from slipping off the strings when fretting notes and playing chords.

Teach what you have learned to others who are less accomplished than yourself as this will help build your confidence and help you to keep on taking the next step to success. Play with others who are more accomplished than you. Add what you learn from them to your repertoire to use the next time you teach.

Always use a metronome during practice as this will teach good timing as you are learning and enable you to play alongside others. Good timing is essential and is a good habit to establish right from the start. Listen loads to a wide range of music as this will help you develop your own style. If you like other peoples stuff, don't copy it, that version is already done. Play a version of it with your own characteristics. Unless of course you are copying for a reason such as you are mimicking the original. Be open to music from other countries and other musical instruments as this will help build your guitar playing skills.

Also play alongside other musical instruments as soon as you feel confident enough to do so as this will show you how to fit into a band situation and enable you to stand in for someone else at short notice. Do not run before you can walk. Play slowly until you get the hang of a piece then change pace as necessary. If you struggle to play 60 beats per minute, then you are unlikely to be able to play 200 beats per minute well.

Always treat a practice session as a performance as this will stop you from developing bad habits which will lessen your ability to play well in the future. Play your piece with feeling and emotion as this will help others feel your music as well as hear it!!

Don't feel that you have to suppress technique in favour of emotion though; both can be delivered together to your audience. Having great technique and learning (gasp) musical theory can only enhance your ability to play with emotion. You can change or enhance the emotional delivery of a piece simply by changing the style in which it is played.

The secret to achieving anything worthwhile is to never ever give up. Progress may seem slow at times, but what you should do is have a short rest then find other people to play alongside as this will give you renewed energy and encouragement to carry on. Also, time is precious and you already have an investment here so do try to stay with it.

Your hands are you tools and you should make use of the whole of them including your little fingers and palms. Some people find it difficult to use their pinky, but using everything available to you will help you become a better player with personal experience and techniques which you can teach to others. So feel free to do your own thing some of the time. "Repetition is the mother of success" so play every day for as long as you can with regular breaks. Even if all you have the time to do is run through a few scales and chords, it is worth doing. Success happens too when preparation meets with opportunity. Believe in yourself.

Make recordings of you're playing both with others and as a soloist even if you feel there is room for improvement. Also, you can find free baking tracks on the internet which you can use to practice alongside. Please consult a search engine using your search term for this. Be sure to record new ideas when they occur to you. Keep them alive by revising them regularly making a note of each version. Play as regularly as you can to an audience of family and friends as they are likely to be the most willing to listen to you, the most honest, and are usually readily available.

Treat your instruments with respect, always keeping them clean, well polished and tuned. Place in a suitable case after each use. Try your hand at song writing and also writing instrumentals. You may find that you have a natural talent, even if you don't, you will have lots of fun looking back at your creations in years to come. If you ever play to a live audience give it everything you've got, if you make any mistakes just keep going as only your band members are likely to notice and you could put their whole sequence off by stopping and starting.

Make a big effort to play in different ways. E.g. mix up different songs with different styles genres. Play with a pick, play sometimes without. Try different styles of guitars and different kinds too, e.g. play caustic, electro acoustic and electric guitars. Try different sizes and foldable guitars which are useful for playing away. Use slides made from different materials such as glass or mettle. Try them on both open and closed strings. Use different thickness and sizes of picks. Also try them on open tuning and when playing different songs and make up your own little sequence.

All of this will help to make your playing original and captivating. While you are at the beginning of learning of your guitar playing, always place your fingers directly on the fingerboard just above the fret applying even pressure. Later on when you are more accomplished in your skill of playing the guitar you can try placing your fingers directly on the frets as this will produce different sounds and effects.

The 6th string is the thickest one also known as low E and is the one nearest the top of a set of six strings when the guitar is conventionally held by a right-handed player. When you want to hit a high note, however, you go up the fret board (toward the bottom), while lower notes are "down" toward the nut (at the top of the guitar.). This describes a typically right-handed strung /playing position. The strings are in reverse for a left handed player while the terminology remains the same.

Assuming a right-handed playing position, the string at the top as already mentioned is your 6th string and plays note E when open and is the thickest string. At the bottom is the thinnest string also E and is your 1st string. This E plays a high pitch note when played as an open string. Between the two E strings are four further strings. From the bottom up they are B,D,G,D,A. The whole set is E, B, G, D, A, E. A, G, D and A being 2nd 3rd 4th and 5th strings respectively.

A useful mnemonic for remembering this is:-

Elephants And Dogs Got Big Ears

Take the letter from each word and you have the string order from top to bottom starting with low string E. You may like to think of a pneumonic of your own for the reverse, i.e. begging with the thinnest string E.

Don't be a one trick pony, be open to other possibilities and ideas. Be willing to learn about other musical instruments. Learn other things too as this will all contribute to you being a well rounded knowledgeable person with many talents and achievements behind you. Look after your hands well, some people develop hard skin as a result of holding down the guitar strings. You should soften any rough skin with emery boards and with the use of good quality moisturisers. Finally, remember, when playing someone else's music always mix it up a little, e.g. change the tempo, play low notes where they play high ones, play it in a different key. Try adding different notes and mixing different styles together. In other words, make it your own. All of this will help you become an accomplished player in your own right with your own style. So go for it, let's get you playing.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS ARTICLE BY LAURIE LINDOR FROM ELENOR CHE DIGITAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS. LOOK OUT FOR MORE SIMILAR ARTICLES IN THE NEAR FUTURE!!

For more information on learning to play the guitar visit:-

http://www.elenorchedigital.com/playguitar   For further information on all of the above please call Laurie on:
Tel:  0845 021 0935 or mobile 07527 848 020.

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