Best CCR Songs - And Why

The band Creedence Clearwater Revival was only together for five years (1967-72) yet they left an impression on popular music that will never be forgotten. John Fogerty's brilliant songwriting harked back to the Golden Era of Rock and blended it uniquely with Roots Music at a time when Psychedelic Rock bands like The Byrds were popular in his native California.

Recently I was listening to the Greatest Hits of CCR and thought how fresh and exciting their music still sounds. Although I can honestly say that I love every one of their songs and could listen to their music on repeat all day long, four songs stand out which I believe guaranteed their legacy in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Here are the songs I came up with:

1. Proud Mary rates as one of my favorite CCR songs. It is essential listening for any true fan of American music. The intro, in the words of John, 'sounded just like the (paddle) wheel at the back of a boat', while the opening line 'Left a good job in the city' sums up what many hard working urbanites fantasize doing; throwing in the towel to live a simple life away from the bustle and fumes of the city. This is CCR at its best.

2. Bad Moon Rising, with its apocalyptic sentiment and lively tempo, rates as one of the best CCR songs. It's simple lyrics and catchy chorus make it unforgettable. It is easy to see why it was one of their most successful singles back in 1969, from the album 'Green River'.

3. Fortunate Son is a classic Creedence song. Those opening bars instantly bring to mind the discontent of people for the Vietnam War that seemed to have no end and no purpose. It seethes with hatred for the political elite and I'm sure that many a soldier or protesting civilian heard those lyrics 'it ain't me' sung in that angry defiant voice and felt understood.

4.Lodi is a clever song that traces the hard luck of touring musician who finds himself stuck in Lodi, a small backwater farming town near where John Fogerty lived in Berkley, California. Every musician that has ever felt the sting of playing to disinterested people and not making enough money to make ends meet can sympathize with this song. This song has a soul and depth that make it outstanding.

Even if you don't agree with my choice of the best CCR songs, you have to agree they lived up to their name by reviving Rock and blending it with Roots music in a way not heard before. For that they will always be remembered in the history of popular music.

If you like Creedence Clearwater Revival then you will love Stewart Maclennan. His album 'Maybe For A While' is a great collection of songs cut from the same American musical cloth.

Download the single FREE from Stewart's album 'Maybe For A While' HERE

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The Violin: A Review of Five Electric Violins Part One

In this article I intend to take you through an honest review of five electric violins I have played recently with a view to purchasing. This is my own personal choice and I was looking at features that were important to me about an instrument. These were, price, sound, playability, X factor. Playability means the overall feel of the violin to play and includes string action, weight and comfort. The X factor is something which will illogically want you to buy or not to buy.

The first violin I am reviewing is the Harley Benton HBV 400.

Price. £140.00 5 out of 5

Sound. OK 3 out of 5

Weight and comfort. Heavy 2 out of 5

String action. Not too bad 2.5 out of 5

X Factor 2 out of 5

The Harley Benton is a cheap violin which for the price is good value. As with all cheap electric violins, the problem is the pick-up which at high volume gives you a "hiss;" this can be resolved by using good amplification. The instrument is too heavy and difficult to play for long periods because of this. My conclusion is that it is good value for the little money you pay.

The Stag electric violin.

Price. Under £100.00 5 out of 5

Sound. Not great. 3 out of 5

Weight and comfort adequate. 3 out of 5

String action. Not too bad. 2.5 out of 5

X factor 1 out of 5

I didn't like this violin though I admit that for the price it is good value. The bow was cheap and nasty, and the headphones which came with it poor. I got the feeling that the electronics were not built to last, but the sound if played through a decent sound system was adequate. My conclusion is that you pay for what you get.

The NS Design Wav4

Price. Between £450.00 to £470.00 5 out of 5

Sound. Beautiful. 5 out of 5

Weight and comfort. Unusual at first but you get used to it. 5 out of 5

String action. Adjustable. 5 out of 5

X factor 5 out of 5

I didn't fall in love with this violin by accident, though it looks odd, and takes some getting used to. After playing it for about half an hour I was hooked. Close your eyes and it feels like a normal electric. With adjustable string action you can get the strings in a position to suit what you need. it sounds like an acoustic violin so if that is what you are looking for, then this is the violin for you. My conclusion. Great value.

The Yamaha SV130

Price. Around £ 550.00 5 out of 5

Sound. Very good. 4 out of 5

Weight and comfort. Good 5 out of 5

String action. As you would expect from a Yamaha. 5 out of 5

X factor. 4 out of 5. Don't ask me why; it's an x factor

This is an excellent violin, and like all Yamaha products is well-built. Great sound, action and feel. As an entry-level "good" violin it is up there with the best. Used as a practice tool with headphones, you even get reverberation with three different settings. My conclusion. This is a great instrument.

The fender FV1

Price. £ 500.00 5 out of 5

Sound. 5 out of 5

Weight and comfort. Brilliant. 5 out of 5

String action. It's a fender; enough said. 5 out of 5

X factor. I love it. 5 out of 5.

This is great value for the money, and plays and sounds like a dream. As with all fender products you are assured of quality. Looks like a "real" violin and tone controls are sensitive to your needs. My conclusion. Get one.

So which one am I going to purchase? Still deciding between the NS Design and the Fender. Will probably flick a coin, but order the NS Design.

If you love violins, you will love this site.

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Tips To Make Your Own Rap Beats

A good beat created will make a beginner to achieve good heights in the field of rap music. Choosing of beats plays an important role in making our own rap beats. The first and foremost requirement of choosing is that the beginner should fully understand his style of music and he/she should also know whether the selected rhythm will support his/her style.

Identifying the Style: The instruments selected for creating might sound better when heard alone and the voice of the artist might also sound better alone, but these two should give a better result when combined together. Here comes the role of the style of the music. If the producers make a hip hop beat that will suit their style, they will be able to attain good popularity. It is better for the beginners to identify their style rather than adopting the style of other musicians. To identify the same, the beginners should listen to rhythms composed by others professionals and should add his flavor to the rhythm wherever possible. Identifying of the style will be useful to the beginners to stand alone in the crowd of musicians.

Making the music and selecting the instruments: The musician should then select the appropriate musical instruments that will best suit his style. But, it might be difficult and expensive for the beginners to find the different instruments and recording studio for practicing the style. Here comes the role of internet; different websites sell cheap and good quality instruments and rhythms for helping the beginners to shine in their desired field.

Demo CD: Once the beginner has understood his style and rap beat and musical instruments suitable for his style, he might record the beat produced by him on a Demo CD and he can play these CDs in front of the professionals in the music field and get their suggestions and tips regarding improvising. The beginners can also register in the Future Producers Forum, from which he can get the advice of the experts.

Producing in a comfortable environment: Once the beginner has acquired the advice of the experts, he/she should start improvising the beat produced. He/she should start music production in a comfortable environment without any disturbance. He/she should start composing hip hop beats with the base line. Once he/she has decided the base line, the other instruments and beats might be added accordingly to produce the final result. He/she should take his/her own time in composing the music; the composing should not be made in a hurry.

Jine Lamper is a professional writer and publisher. Writes articles on several subjects including music. So many of people looking for some hip hop beats online. Makehitmusic offers different types of beats, rap beats, instrumental music and much more for free. Want to know more about unique hip hop beats, please visit our website.

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Review: Dot To Dot Festival - Manchester

Since its humble beginnings seven years ago, Dot To Dot Festival has gone from strength to strength and has served up sets from bands that have gone on to see incredible success. In the past, this has meant shows from the likes of Mumford & Sons, Florence & the Machine and The XX - but this month it focused back on some lesser-known acts hoping to break through in the same way.

Taking place across three cities - Bristol, Nottingham and Manchester - the event has a pretty ambitious mission statement. In Manchester alone, it uses seven different stages at venues like The Ritz, Sound Control, The Deaf Institute, Zoo and Joshua Brooks, but while this is probably something of a challenge for the organisers' in terms of business liability insurance, the backing of sponsors Fred Perry probably provides some small comfort.

The festival got off to a mild start with a set by Milk Maid over at Zoo that gently rocked the crowd into a frenzy and lead nicely into a half hour show over at the HMV Ritz from Bastille that had a fantastic turnout for so early in the day and revved things up a notch - getting everyone in the mood for more. More soon came thanks to the wonderful Lucy Rose, who's warm and fuzzy acoustics proved to be a huge hit. Her new single Lines could well be the song that takes her closer to mainstream success, but at this point it would probably be a good idea to catch her while she is at her hottest.

Things were already starting to kick off elsewhere with The Dunwells and Jake Bugg at Zoo, Eyes on Film and Last Dinosaur at Joshua Brooks, The Night and Hyde & Beast at The Deaf Institute and all manner of shenanigans across the three stages over at the fantastic new Sound Control - a former guitar shop that has fast become one of the most interesting venues in the city. However, the temptation to stay within the walls of the fabulous HMV Ritz to see the very much buizzed about Dog is Dead was too much and proved not to be a disappointment.

After a quick bit of tucker over at Oddest - a lovely little Oxford Rd bar with a fine selection of ales - it was time to get into the evening of the festival. The highlights of the night, which ran into the very early hours indeed, had to be the always entertaining The Drums at The Ritz, the incredible Lulu James over at Joshua Brookes and finally Islet at the Sound Control live lounge. It has to be said, that as the music shifted the latter hours at the club, things may have gotten a little blurry for some of us - but after a day like this I think it's fair to say we deserved it.

I had been working hard on my Adventures In VHS book for weeks and decided I needed to get away from my desk and check out some live music. Dot To Dot 2012 was the perfect tonic to get me recharged. Bring on 2013!

Noel Mellor is the author of an upcoming book and supporting podcast entitled Adventures In VHS. You can read more about him and check out his various projects by visiting his online home, Film Rant.

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Differences Amongst Used Pianos

Buying previously used items has advantages and disadvantages. Depending on the nature of the item there are circumstances where acquiring a used one is not an option, and other cases where it is a wise investment. For large mechanical devices there are many reasons why buying a used model can be advantageous. Cars depreciate by a considerable amount the minute they are driven off the lot, and conversely many heavy-duty machines will run for decades if properly maintained. When well build equipment is used properly and regularly serviced it will perform just as well as new equipment.

Pianos are mechanical devices that will vary greatly in quality between manufacturers, and these large musical instruments are similar to cars in a number of ways. There are thousands of moving parts that all work in unison to perform a specific function, and there are many different ways to get from point A to point B as some ride in the lap of luxury and some take the bus. The overall design of the vehicle, the nature of the components and the manufacturing process separate luxury vehicles from entry-level sedans, though both will get you to where you need to be. The same can be said about pianos, in that a factory build instrument comprised of the cheapest available parts will allow you to play music, but it won't sound as good as it's luxury counterparts.

Furthermore it won't perform like its well-crafted counterparts or last nearly as long. Again, as with cars, you need to be very careful when buying a used piano. These big-ticket items last for years and you may have no idea how the previous owner treated it, or how the salesperson 'fixed it up' just a day before you arrived. However when you are looking at a used Steinway piano, you can rest assured that this heavy-duty piece of equipment is in top performance shape and you have nothing to fear. If only buying used cars was this easy.

Steinway & Sons pianos are hand built pieces of art constructed with years of craftsmanship and dedication to the art of creating world-class instruments. There is a level of excellence that one expects when they sit in front of a Steinway, no matter what decade or century it was build in. Owners who appreciate the excellence of these instruments (as they have decided to own one) know the importance of regular maintenance. It is fair to say that the 'average' household piano probably gets tuned once every 5 years. Owners of Steinway pianos generally have their instruments services annually, and maintenance comprises three basic steps to maintain the sound and feel of the piano. Tuning brings the piano back to pitch; voicing affects the piano's tone or quality of sound; and regulation is the process of adjusting the action mechanism, which affects the touch of the piano.

Simply put, nothing else sounds like a Steinway and their used models will often outperform other companies' new models. Various Steinway Piano Galleries carry an assortment of used models that you can go physically see and hear in person, as they offer excellent opportunities to invest in one of these prestigious instruments. Whether you are looking for a used vintage piece or simply hoping to have an instrument to pass on through generations, know that when you acquire a used Steinway piano there is only incredible sound to look forward to.

Stop by Steinwaypianogallery.ca to see what a high quality and magnificent instrument looks like. You should also check out http://steinwaypianogallery.ca/used-steinway-piano to see which vintage and used pianos are available.

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Fender Guitars - A Standard Of Quality

The legacy of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation began in 1938, when a man named Leonidas Fender became a fan of musical instruments and started to work as a radio repair technician. After doing some business ventures and enhancing his skills, Fender finally released his first Tweed Amp in 1948 which led to a never ending rock and roll home era. His first instrument became a hit, and he continued working to bring more of his creations into the market. Soon, Fender's company became highly famous and his instruments set new standards of quality. The Telecaster was one of Fender guitars; it had a Spanish design and was the very first of its kind. The creations of Fender can even be considered as inventions, as many instruments created by him were totally different from any previous versions of their class.

Buying Fender Guitars

If you want to have high performing guitars at a low cost, used Fender guitars are the perfect choice. There are three models that perform really well and can be bought for a decent price. The very first option is the Stratocaster. It can be considered as an old fashioned vintage vibe, which matches American standards. This model can be bought in good condition for around six hundred dollars or even less, but if you want a cheaper Stratocaster, then go for Squier Stratocaster which can be bought for around $200. The Squier is made in China or Malaysia, and it doesn't have the perfect sound like the standard version, but it is great for beginners. In case you are looking for a model with brighter sound, then choose a Telecaster. This guitar also comes in a couple of different varieties such as the Telecaster Standard and the costlier Telecaster American Standard. Salient features of the Telecaster are: Signature S-1 switching system traditional physical radius complementing pickups

Modern Day Fender Guitars

The founder of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation became ill and was not able to run the company efficiently by 1965, and sold his beloved company for $13 million dollars to CBS. CBS owned the company till 1985, and then it was sold to the employees. Today, Fender still equipments are still considered as a standard in music world and several famous stars like Jimmie Hendrix, Dave Murray, Tom Morello, Hank Marvin, and Eric Clapton have used guitars made by the company. The employees of the firm have put lot of effort to increase revenues and bring new models into the market, and there seems to be no ending to the success of this company.

If you would like to know about other fender guitars. Please visit my website at http://gretschreview.com/

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Singers' Auditions - What Do They Mean?

Singers' auditions can be fun and exciting or they can be brutal. But until you become a household name, auditions are inevitable in a number of wide ranging situations. Some auditions may have little more consequence other than to provide an outlet for a singer to hone those all-important audition skills. Others, like auditioning for work, can be important if you and your band want to eat next week. Auditions for nationally-broadcast competitions or for a major record label can be career making (or breaking).

But what do singers' auditions really mean? You should try not to take the outcome of auditions too seriously. Those who have been on both sides of the judges table know that many, many factors influence the outcome of all singers' auditions. If you lose, it doesn't necessarily mean you didn't sing well or had a bad hair day. It simply means you weren't the one they were looking for. If you were, they would have hired you or immediately moved you forward to the next round. And, if you do win or get the gig, it doesn't mean you're the next Aretha; it just means that you were what they were looking for that day. Period.

Take a moment to put yourself in the shoes of the person auditioning you as a contestant on American Idol, or to sing in their club, or for a record deal from a major record label. Then ask yourself; what is it that they want? Here are three auditions situations with different issues in play. Typically, these venues are not looking for the same things in a singer, therefore each must be skewed its own singular way.

Contestant for American Idol and AI-type competitions

American Idol's choices indicate that they appear to be casting for a show. They audition so many singers that they can easily cobble together a diverse, well-balanced cast. So, if you are the wild and crazy girl with the weird hairdo type and they've already got 15 others of the same type, you're out of luck. American Idol is in the entertainment business and not necessarily in the A&R business of grooming young singers -- which is their right. So relax and just do your best knowing that Fate plays a large role in this behemoth competition. Oh, and you night want to brush up your high notes and elaborate vocal fills too.

Nightclubs and honkytonks

During singers' auditions for booking club dates, they are not necessarily looking for the best singers either; they are looking for someone who can sell beer. That's about it. Or at a more pricey venue, it would be wine and cocktails. If a singer can convince the club owner he or she can sell drinks, they'll get the job. Solution? For the honkytonks, present to them a high-energy, audience-engaging, rowdy show and you will do well. For fine dining and cocktails, you may want to show that you can keep your music from interfering with romance or business talk.

Record Deals

These are probably the most intimidating singers' auditions of all. At some point during the negotiations you are going to be asked to sit in an office and sing with just a guitar or a piano in front of people you are asking to gamble at least half a million dollars on your career. That's scary! But again, how can you know what they are looking for?

You might know which other artists are on the roster at the label, but you don't necessarily know how the label is planning to round out their roster and who else they may have committed to. So, if they are looking for a Latin act and you are from Norway, don't be surprised if you walk away empty-handed.

Should you do singers' auditions? Of course, if only for the practice. But don't judge yourself too harshly if you don't succeed. or get, what we in the South call "The Big Head." if you do succeed. You simply may or may not be what they're looking for this time. But, take heart, it's a big ocean and there are still a lot of fish out there.

Nashville vocal coach Renee Grant-Williams helped make stars out of many top artists: Tim McGraw, Martina McBride, Dixie Chicks, Miley Cyrus, Huey Lewis, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Jason Aldean, Christina Aguilera...

Click Here to receive her free weekly Vocal Video Lessons and PDF of "Answers to Singers' 7 Most Important Questions."

Author of "Voice Power" AMACOM (NY). She offers insider's information via on-line lessons at cybervoicestudio.com.

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Songwriting - How Your Listeners Perceive Your Song Titles

Your song's title is essential a headline for your song. If someone sees a list of your songs' titles before they hear your music, the titles are an opportunity to create intrigue to make a potential listener want to hear your song.

For example, let's say you were looking at a list of song titles and you saw these two:

I Love You

Three Things You Never Knew About Me

Which of these two songs would you be more likely to listen to just based on the title alone? Right, the second one. "Three Things You Never Knew About Me" creates an intrigue because there's a curiosity arousing element to it. You'll find yourself wondering what those three things are. Then you'll listen to the song to find out.

"I Love You," on the other hand is an overused idea that leaves nothing to the imagination. As a title alone, it gives you no reason to want to hear it.

On the flip side, if someone hears your song before they know what the title is, the title is their opportunity to be able to find your song, if they like it. A lot of times listeners will hear a song they like, then go to a search engine and look for the phrase they think is the title. Listeners will assume the title is the phrase that repeats the most often, or is in the most highlighted position of your song. With that in mind, make it easy for people to find your songs when you decide on your title.

One way to find out if your title is obvious is to play your song for a few friends -- but don't tell them the name of your song. If your friends can guess the name of your songs just by hearing it, you probably have a good, strong, finable title. If they don't know, it's probably won't be that easy to find. Doing this can only help you get more people listening to your music.

To learn more, download my free EBook here: http://www.SuccessForYourSongs.com/freeoffer/

Anthony Ceseri is the owner of http://www.successforyoursongs.com/, a website dedicated to the growth and development of songwriters of all skill levels. Anthony's writings appear as examples in the book "Songwriting Without Boundaries: Lyric Writing Exercises For Finding Your Voice" by Pat Pattison, an acclaimed lyric writing professor at Berklee College of Music.

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4 Keys to Learning Piano

Learning the piano is a very difficult task. If you want to be able to play some of the great classical works, it may take you several years before you can even attempt those pieces. With that said, you can still get a lot of enjoyment out of the instrument, even if you are beginning to play. This article will go through 4 major keys to learning the instrument in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

Get a Good Teacher

A lot of people think they can learn without a teacher. While this may be the case, you can develop some really bad habits and you will probably learn very inefficiently if you do not get a teacher. A teacher will be able to keep you on track, keep you honest and disciplined, and help prevent you from getting injuries. Make sure you do some serious vetting before you get a teacher too. The quality range of teachers is pretty big, so make sure you do some research on your potential teachers before you take any lessons.

Be Patient

Learning the piano takes time. You need to know this going into it so you don't get dismayed. If you are in it for short-term satisfaction, then you have chosen the wrong hobby. There are really no shortcuts with the instrument, so you just need to be patient. If you can keep this in mind, then you will continue to be motivated and you will stay on track.

Use the Right Methods

There are a lot of really ineffective and inefficient practice methods that people use when practicing the piano. Do your research and avoid making those same mistakes. For example, a lot of people just start out practicing hands together with a new piece and then wonder why they can never learn certain pieces very well and/or very quickly. The answer is because their practice methods are really bad. The solution is to go on the Internet and look into what the best practice methods are before you get started. There is no right answer, but there are definitely a lot of wrong answers. Make sure you do your research and you will help yourself practice much more efficiently.

Know Your Limitations

It is very tempting to try to learn pieces that are above your abilities. The best way to get better is to try to play pieces that are slightly out of reach. This will force you out of your comfort zone and make you learn new techniques. If you learn pieces that are too hard for you, you will probably get really frustrated and possibly injured. As a result, you should know your limitations and set realistic goals for yourself. Don't try anything that would be too hard to learn.

Daniel Park is a piano practice expert and is the creator of the websites http://learning-piano-chords.com/ and http://how-to-learn-piano-online.blogspot.com/.

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How to Learn the Electric Guitar Online for Free

Learning guitar has never been so easy. With the internet and advancing technology it is becoming easier to learn guitar by the day. All you need is to have a good source of information and to know what kind of information someone your level should know. So how do you find this information?

There are tons of websites out there for guitarists. Many are specifically for beginner guitarists, others are for all levels. Blogs can be a great place to start because they are full of different techniques, chords, and scales that you need to know. This is a great place to start. Blogs are free and are definitely worth looking into. As good of a start as these are, I suggest you have other products to augment your learning. The more sources you have to learn from the better your learning will be.

Something you can see and hear would be a useful augmentation for what you learn visually. When you read a new blog posting on a topic you like, you can take your learning to a new level by watching someone use this technique and hear how it sounds. YouTube is perfect for this. You can search any of the techniques you want to learn more about and you will find plenty of resources to watch. There are tons of great lessons on YouTube.

It is always easier to learn something new with the help of a friend. If you want to learn guitar online, you can meet a fellow beginner guitarist and Skype with them. Show each other what you recently learned. If you both share something new once a week you will have gotten the same benefit as paying the big bucks for private lessons for free. Friendships do pay off. If you don't know where to find a fellow guitar friend try to find a guitar forum. There are many people on guitar forums, which lead us to our next topic.

Do some research and find a guitar forum that interests you. There are all kinds of forums out there. Some are for certain styles, some are based around certain players, and others are for the type of guitar you play. Whichever you decide to join, you can benefit greatly. You can ask questions to fellow guitar players, some of which may be worse or better than yourself. Immersing yourself around other guitarists is a good way to meet new people and come across new ideas. It is also a great way to get your questions answered.

It is possible to learn guitar online for free, but you will get out of it what you put in to it. have fun with your journey of learning the amazing instrument guitar.

You can find many more posts similar to this one at http://www.gitguitar.com/. Drop by and say hi. We would love to see you there!

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A Good Piano Bench Cushion Helps to Practice for Longer Hours

If you have ever been to a concert and seen a pianist perform, it is very easy to get awed with the performance and feel the urge to play the piano yourself. However, what one doesn't realize is how much efforts have gone in to become a player of that quality.

It is very common for pro piano players to put in hours and hours of practice every day. To be able to do that, it is important that they use accessories that make it much easier and comfortable to play the piano for longer durations. A good padded piano bench cushion can really provide that much-needed comfort, required to practice the piano for hours.

Every piano player is taught to maintain a good posture all the time, while playing the piano. This is the basics of playing any music instrument; to make yourself comfortable and to maintain the right posture. Though it is easy to do that for a short duration, when you are supposed to play for hours at a stretch, it is important for the piano bench cushion to offer adequate padding so that one does not feel any sort of stress after a long playing session.

And when one is talking about playing at the highest level, the benches also need to look classy and be of the top most quality. This is where the benches use tufted cushions and fabric of the highest quality. They are available in rich leather, satin as well as other fabric, and are available in rich as well as bright colors. The more expensive piano benches usually do not have storage space in between as they are only used for performances, unlike those that are used at homes.

So is this something that beginning piano players also need to buy? Definitely not! Most benches anyways come with padding and they are good enough to get started. These are the usual piano benches, which in most probability will also come with a storage space. Since you will have lots of learning materials, it acts as a good storage place to store your books and sheets.

However, there are many more reasons why you would want to have some spare piano bench cushions. For most users, these are like their regular pillows and cushions; you want them to look good as well as complement the other things at home. Even for your piano, it does make sense to buy a spare piano bench cushion, not just for looks but also considering the comfort factor.

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Writers Of Christian Songs Should Create A Lyric Explosion!

Writing Christian songs that deliver great content, memorable hook lines and prophetic lyrics that touch the heart and soul should be the aim of every songwriter.

However, the use of the internet, pre-packed music loops, keyboard workstations that do all the work for you and countless other add ons and devices that produce music at the touch of a button, has made us lazy in the song writing process.

All of these resources can bring a new edge to our writing as long as we don't fall into the trap of regurgitating what other people have already worked on.

So switch off the computer, the workstation and the sequencer for a couple of hours and try this exercise. You'll need a A2 or A3 sheet of blank paper. Now use your powers of observation. Take a good look around you and write down what you see. Not everything of course, just the things that capture your imagination. In another one of my 101 songwriting tips, I stress the need to think like an artist. Now do just that. Let the side of your brain that is triggered by visual images be free to think visually.

The brain is recording visual information at the speed of light every moment of the day! As a songwriter you need to educate your senses to collect a photo album of the visual information that will trigger the creative process.

So your environment will speak to you. The places you go, the people you meet, the encounters you have, the commercials you see and hear etc. Write down any creative word describing the experience of your senses - objects, people, scenery, colours, artifacts, possessions, books, magazines, TV pictures, conversations. Write words that describe the visual images that attract you all over your piece of paper then circle the interesting ones, the ones that grab you.

Now here comes the interesting part! Educationalists use Mind Maps to enable people to remember key facts. Especially useful when revising for examinations, test and interviews. Public Speakers also use the technique so that they can dispense with notes, get eye contact with their audience and communicate effectively their core message. However, this principle can also be used in songwriting to explore a theme and develop a song.

So, on a second large piece of paper pick one of the key words that attract you - a word that has the potential to create a visual image in the mind of the hearer, a good 'storyline' word. Write the word in a box in the middle of the sheet then create your Mind Map by drawing lines out from the center box to adjoining boxes where you will start your Lyric Explosion! In each of the new boxes you have created around the central key word, write as many related words as possible. For instance, if your key word is 'storm' then you might use related words like: 'rain', 'thunder', 'weather forecast','howling','gale', 'water,' 'flood' etc. Now extend your Mind Map out further, creating new boxes attached to the secondary boxes.

Write in these 'secondary' words that are related to the key word like: 'rage', 'anger' 'umbrella', 'fear', 'panic'. You see how you are gradually building a visual image with words and importantly, you are not going off subject but staying with the main theme.

The next stage in the process is to start looking for related words that might create verses for your song remembering that as a songwriter you want to tell a story that progresses and develops through the song to a climax at the end using 'hook lines' and a powerful middle eight.

It's not uncommon for writers to sit for hours in front of a blank piece of paper or computer screen! Once you start the 'lyric explosion' exercise, you will be surprised how much comes tumbling out.

Resist switching on that computer! If you really get stuck, use a decent Thesaurus or Dictionary to give you a good spread of word associations for your Mind Map. Persevere and work with the process. Make sure you give yourself the creative time and space you need without interruptions.

Enjoy!

Steve Flashman has written over 150 songs and recorded 100 of them on 10 albums. He has performed in the Royal Albert Hall, the Marquee Club and the Streets of Calcutta. He is an author, broadcaster, writer and vicar!
Songwriting Club

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Tips For Staying Clean and Dry at a Music Festival

With the 2012 music festival season off to a very wet start, and forecast to continue along the same vein, it's worth being prepared for the worst. As the good old saying goes: "there's no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing."

While it's nice enough being dry and warm at a festival, it's even better if you can combine that with being clean too. Fortunately, the two go hand in hand.

Cover Up

At festivals you risk getting covered in more than just water. Drinks get thrown around, food spills, and other unpredictable incidents occur. If you wear a sturdy, long raincoat, poncho or cagoule, you're protected from it all. Just remember a hood is of utmost importance too. That way you can avoid bringing an umbrella, which is a total festival faux-pas because of the way brollies block other people's view of the stage.

Modern synthetic materials can easily be wiped clean. Just keep a pocket-sized pack of wet wipes with you at all times. Long gone are the days when raincoats weren't fashion forward. And even if your one is slightly outdated, doesn't staying warm and dry sound better than looking fashionable but bedraggled?

Remember Hygiene

Yes, many festivals do offer limited access to showers in this day and age but actually accessing them can be a nightmare because of the queues and lack of hot water. They're also not a particularly pleasant experience as most are just makeshift tents with barely any partitions for privacy.

Arm yourself with wet wipes and the genius modern inventions of dry shampoo and dry shower gel. While they don't give you the same satisfaction a warm shower does at the end of a long day outdoors, it's really much better than nothing. It'll also save you from scaring your parents or housemates upon arriving home!

Keep a stash of wipes with you at all times not just for wiping your rain coat, but also for cleaning your hands from time to time.

Keep Your Feet Toasty

A lot of our body heat is lost through the feet. So one of the keys to keeping your whole body warm is to treat your toes to a nice pair of socks. Since socks are easily transportable and can fit into any bag, take more pairs with you than you think you'll need so you never risk having wet socks.

To stay fashionable out on the fields, team your socks with a pair of festival wellies. These will ensure your feet are kept dry and clean at all times. The durable rubber material means you can wear them in mud as much as you like, and all you'll then need to do is give them a wipe or a scrub when you're back home.

It's thanks to this that welly boots have become an absolute festival essential. And thanks to this that suppliers are now offering welly socks that are the perfect length to be worn with the boots.

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Don't Get Mad At The Commercial Songs Of Today Get Even With Your Songwriting

If you are pursuing a career as a song writer, or even just dabbling for fun, it's easy to listen to a song on the radio, and think... Now that is just crap, there is nothing original about that music. And to a degree, you could be correct.

But, Don't get sucked into that defeatist mentality! There are too many avenues with the technology of today to be original, and still be heard as a songwriter. People want to hear creative, and will search to find it. What you need to focus on is not being cynical.

Take a look at what makes you unique as a musician. Is it the lyrics? Is it the cool twists you take musically? What is your mission? Answer these questions and start driving them home in every song! Motivate people to have an emotion, don't settle for mediocre on a line or guitar lick. Keep twisting it, till you come up with your unique sound.

Check out these time tested and true ways to learn from the commercial songs, and then write songs that are even better!

Everything, AND I MEAN EVERYTHING, leads to the hook. The quicker the better. This is what people remember and sing or try to emulate on their own instruments, SO give it to them.More hooks the better - have a melodic hook, instrument hooks, secondary hooks in the versesEmote the emotion of the song when you are singing don't just sing... Let go!Pain a vivid picture - that means lyrically, melodically, clever twists in chord changes. Keep them on their toesThis one is important, Think about who your target audience is - sure it's OK to think you want to reach everyone, but a good songwriter and musician knows good and well a certain audience will enjoy your music more than others. Don't lose site of that, and it will help keep your music focusedThis ties in with the one above, but Make a list of artists you enjoy in your genre - what elements of their songwriting could you incorporate without imitating verbatumGet to the chorus - I know you have an anthem in you, but don't make a habit of it. For the most part, get to the melodies, and hooksExperiment with creative sounds and pads - Don't be afraid to incorporate a dynamic, that wouldn't normally fit in your chosen genre. Just make sure it makes sense, but experiment. That's the fun of being in music

Think like a radio or tv executive. You don't have to compromise your musical integrity to give them what they want. Because what they want is the same thing you want... Listeners

If your music follows some of these guidelines, you will create listeners and the followers you desire.

No matter what you use or how you use it, the power of songwriting is in having multiple resources. We all want to create good music, heck Great music! Be open to new ideas, new approaches, and watch your music grow. For more cool ideas visit Songwriter's Resource and subscribe to the Songwriter's Resource Blog

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Songwriters - Eliminate Distractions When You Write Songs

Being distracted hacks away at our ability to be creative and get things done. We're in a time when distraction plagues us. We can be all alone in a quiet room, yet emails, text messages, phone calls and social networking sites tug on our attention until we give it to them. And that usually takes about three seconds to happen.

The human mind has an amazing ability to focus on one thing at a time. Multi-tasking is actually very counterproductive, in most cases. In order to create our best work, it's necessary to be in an environment where we can easily focus, without distraction for an extended period of time.

Before you sit down to dedicate time to a song, turn off anything that beeps to get your attention. Close down your cell phone, email, social networking sites and anything else that could take your attention away from your song. Forget about owing it to yourself, you owe it to the song.

The most productive way to work is to take one to two hour blocks of focused time and dedicate them to your song, and your song only. No email, text messages or conversations. After that dedicated period of work time, you'll want to take a break, where you completely unplug from the work you were doing. Lay down, or have something to eat. Get yourself into a clearly defined rhythm of work and play.

I typically structure my work time with two hours of focused work, followed by a half hour break. Then it's back to another two hour work block, and so on. The two hour block is completely focused on my work task at hand. When the break hits, I stop looking at the work completely and let myself unwind. It's important to let yourself have a defined work/break rhythm in this way. You should use a timer when you do this so you don't get lost in the work block, or the period of rest. When the timer hits, immediately stop your work and take a break. Time your breaks as well.

I found myself becoming so much more productive when applying this method. I once decided to take two days to write some newsletters for my website. On Monday, I put in four two-hour work blocks, each with a half-hour break in between them. I did the same thing on Tuesday. In that time I focused only on writing content for my newsletters. After the two days I had ten articles completed. For sending out a weekly newsletter to my email readers, that gave me enough content for two and a half months, all in two days of work, because I focused my efforts. Doing this will let you hit your goals much more easily and efficiently.

Too many times, we don't allow ourselves to focus our time in this black and white manner. Instead, we live in a world of grey, where we say we worked for eight hours, but it's hard to know exactly because a lot of that time was spent on our phones, and on the web and we can't even really quantify how much time we spend on what. I guarantee your productivity will sky rocket if you start implementing this way of thinking and writing songs.

To learn more, download my free EBook here: http://www.SuccessForYourSongs.com/freeoffer/

Anthony Ceseri is the owner of http://www.successforyoursongs.com/, a website dedicated to the growth and development of songwriters of all skill levels. Anthony's writings appear as examples in the book "Songwriting Without Boundaries: Lyric Writing Exercises For Finding Your Voice" by Pat Pattison, an acclaimed lyric writing professor at Berklee College of Music.

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Musicians - How Making Decisions Will Make You a Better Songwriter

Successful people make quick decisions. They don't wait around and ponder things for months, worrying if they're making the right choice. They decide, and if they end up making the wrong choice they process the information and use it as a knowledge base for a future decision. They learn from their mistakes, and turn them into advantages.

People who are only writing a few songs in hopes that they're all great, aren't making decisions quickly. How can they be, if their final result is only a few songs? They'll write a melody, and then change it again and again, because it never feels right. They can't decide on a melody because they're too afraid of writing one that's "wrong." This indecision regarding what melody to use holds them up from writing lyrics, and so on, until they're left with a handful of incomplete songs. I'm not saying you shouldn't rewrite your songs. It's actually a big part of becoming a better songwriter. But you do need to make decisions and move forward, even with your rewrites.

I'll show you two people, and see if you can decide who's more likely to be successful with his music.

Songwriter A comes up with a chord progression for a song. He's unsure if he wants to end the progression on a C or an Am, so he puts the progression aside, hoping the answer will come to him at a later time. A few weeks later he revisits the chord progression. Still unsure about whether to use the C or the Am, he uses both of the chords. He uses the C at the end of the first chord progression and the Am at the end of the second. He gets to use them both.

Now it's time for him to write a melody for the song. He has three ideas for how the melody can go, but he's not sure which one to use. He puts the song a way for another week, hoping the answer will come to him. Again, unable to decide between the three melody ideas, he crams all three of them into the song, so he doesn't have to pick only one.

Three months later the song he's done. He's not even sure if he likes it. Maybe it's because there are too many things happening for one song.

Songwriter B comes up with a chord progression for a song. He's unsure if he wants to end the progression on a C or an Am. He decides to end the progression on the C. He revisits the song the next day and realizes the C sounds good, so he stays with it. He doesn't bother going back to the Am anymore.

He has a few melody ideas. He picks the first one he came up with. He listens back to it the next day after having a little distance from the song, and realizes the second one is the strongest. He changes it and doesn't revisit the melody any more. He knows the current one is strong.

A week later the song is finished. He gets some feedback on it. Some musician friends he trusts made some good suggestions on things that can be improved. Ideas he could even use for future songs, not just this one. He decides to leave his current song as is, and use the newfound ideas as he writes his next song. A week later that one is done.

By looking at these two scenarios, Songwriter B is way more likely to succeed with his approach. He makes decisions quickly, which allows him to get more information, do more work and learn more. Songwriter A is indecisive and as a result lazy. He's not getting much done, and he's not learning from what he's doing.

Get into the habit of making quick and effortless decisions. Do! Don't just ponder forever and never take action. You want there to be thought behind the moves you make in your songs, but make the decisions for those moves and then move forward and make more decisions.

To learn more, download my free EBook here:
http://www.SuccessForYourSongs.com/freeoffer/

Anthony Ceseri is the owner of http://www.successforyoursongs.com/, a website dedicated to the growth and development of songwriters of all skill levels. Anthony's writings appear as examples in the book "Songwriting Without Boundaries: Lyric Writing Exercises For Finding Your Voice" by Pat Pattison, an acclaimed lyric writing professor at Berklee College of Music.

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How to Improve the Singing Voice

Amateur singers may improve the quality of their singing voice if they know what to do about it but first they must understand how their voice box works. This organ that is found in the neck is called the larynx which in turn consists of vocal cords. Individuals who undergo proper singing lessons will know how to make their voice box work to their advantage. Those who take voice lessons will know how to generate the proper sound from their larynx especially after they have learned more about the various muscular postures that are needed in order to produce better sound qualities. Individuals also need to learn how to make their vocal chords vibrate while they are singing correctly.

There are different aspects of singing that amateurs need to understand. The first one is their pitch. Singers may not actually have a very big difference when it comes to the pitch of their voice when they are singing and when they are talking. They may not have much difficulty reaching for high notes if they can keep it within the natural pitch of their voice. Singers do not strain their voices when they are able to do this. The next thing that amateurs need is for them to produce the correct sounds of the lyrics. When they sing, the audience should understand the words.

Individuals who would like to improve their singing have to sing and sing. They have to practice as much as they can until they are able to reach a higher and a lower octave. Doing so would help them widen their range as well. Another important thing to remember is the food and the drinks that people take. They need to drink lots of water but not cold ones and they should try to avoid too much spice on their food as well. Singers may need to get used to the food that they can eat and those that they have to avoid especially if they are preparing for some performances.

Aside from all of these, amateur singers need to improve their breathing by doing various exercises. They may also do their deep breathing exercises before their performance. Singers have to do some warming up as well and they can do this by humming and getting the right scale that they need but they should not strain their vocal cords in the process. These are some of the ways how amateur singers can improve their singing voice. Those who would like to improve their talent in singing have to work at it.

However you sound now, you can sound better and much better than that. Learn how to improve your singing voice. Good vocal exercises is the only way of dramatically improving your voice. Once you begin to do this, you will be amazed at how simple singing really is. How to improve your singing voice easy will give you no worries to learn to sing higher from better to much better.

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Remix Maker Software

For anyone who has ever searched around, there are quite a few sites advertising their remix maker software, or their software to make beats. Some being free, some being paid. I spent countless hours wading through the depths of the internet trying to find something I could use to make half decent beats. The absolute best free software that I found was also one of the more difficult to use. That software is called Buzz. I included it because it is so powerful for those wishing to spend the time to learn it.

Buzz - Free remix maker software
Buzz is a synthesizer remix software which is modular. You can interact with the "modules" and put different pieces together to give you an infinite number of results. For example: if you want to run a drum machine and 3 physical synthesizers through two stereo delays, a compressor, an equalizer and a mixer and your speakers, you can do this very easily (and visually).

Buzz is extremely expandable and has an SDK for developers so they can create new "machines". These are similar to pieces of equipment you would find in a real studio. These would be things like samplers, mixing equipment, DSP effects, and synthesizers. Each machine would have the same functionality and input params that real equipment would have. These machines are all free as well.

It is extremely powerful, but not easy to use. It took me a couple of hours just to figure out the components. That is what prompted me to start looking for similar power but easier to use software.

DubTurbo 2.0 - Paid remix maker software
I fell in love with this software and still use it today. The tutorials that are bundled with this remix maker are so amazingly easy to follow. I was up and running in 10 minutes.

This software features a sequencer (like most others). The sequencer has shortcuts all over the place so that you can navigate the application quickly. The layout of the application is similar to large, much more expensive DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations). This is very helpful if you decide to go with the more advanced DubTurbo VSTi software or something like Fruity Loops.

Key features include:

o 16 Tracks
o attach sounds to keyboard shortcuts
o change patterns and sounds fast with 2 clicks
o easily edit your bars
o thousands of built in sounds
o Record live
o 44.1 kHz exports to .wav

Drum Machine
o each pad can be keyboard assigned.
o easily record your beat
o change up beats quickly
o move around sounds, erase sounds easily

Four Octave sampling keyboard

2 of the 4 octaves are keyboard controlled in order to use the keyboard to play your compositions instead of MIDI. There are tonnes of samples included to use for the keyboard. Bass, stabs, pianos, saxes... you name it.

o four full octave keyboard
o use keyboard or mouse to write notes
o change instruments fast
o independent sample volume controls
o thousands of sounds
o note snapping

DubTurbo VSTi
This is similar to DubTurbo 2.0 however it adds a whole rack of professional remix equipment and is geared more toward the intermediate or advanced remix maker. Great part about this software is the fact that it is the same low price as version 2.0 AND there is a plugin you can buy for either that allows you to SELL your beats to an online community! How cool is that?

I really hope this helps those of you out there looking for some good free/paid remix maker software. I know how hard it is to find software to make beats.

For more great remix maker resources, come over to Remix Maker HQ

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Five Equipment Essentials For Writing Christian Songs

Songwriting is one of the most fulfilling creative exercises anyone can do, because it combines writing skills with musical ability and the gift of being able to hear great melody lines. It also draws together visual and performing arts in a stimulating way because a good song writer will be able to paint pictures with words that capture the imagination of the listener.

However, in order to get started, you need to have the right equipment.

1. Guitar or keyboard.
Although you don't need to be a musician to be a songwriter, the ability to a musical instrument will enable you to be self contained in your song writing. Of course, there is a good argument for writing with a partner who might bring fresh input into the song writing process, so in theory, one might be a musician and the other a lyricist. Undoubtedly there are many examples of highly successful songwriting duos - Bernie Taupin and Elton John are an obvious example, where a lyricist works with a musician and they produce great songs using their complimentary talents. However, if you are not a musician I would highly recommend you learn to play a musical instrument - guitar or keyboard is the place to start. In the process of song writing, most writers will doodle on guitar or keyboard, playing various chord progressions and improvising with word ideas, phrases and melodies until something works for them. Others explore digital sound combinations using computer based recording software. I use a combination of both in my own songwriting.

2. Digital Sequencer.
This is a piece of kit that enables you to record musical information in digital form, the more recent format being MIDI Musical Instrument Digital Format.If you want to create sounds from various instruments - drums, bass, guitars and keyboards, a sequencer will enable you to gather all of this information in a high quality format that can then be transferred into a recording studio for editing and production. Most keyboards these days have sequencers built in. You can also buy them separately as a stand alone unit. This is not an essential item on your equipment list but can be great for recording ideas for your compositions. I still use my on board keyboard sequencer, but also record directly into the recording studio on my laptop. You might want to keep it simple and record your ideas onto a digital hand recorder. It's entirely down to personal choice.

3. A Drum Machine.
This is not an essential piece of kit, but can be helpful for gathering ideas and percussion sounds for your songs. Drum machines were very popular in the 80's, when electronic music was popular. Performing bands often used 'click tracks' in their live performances, playing along with the regimented sound of the drum machine. They went out of fashion for a few years, only to regain their popularity more recently in night clubs, where the analogue sounds of the Roland TR808 for instance, have become popular.

4. Laptop or Desktop
Obviously an essential piece of equipment if you are using software for recording your songs. When I first started as a songwriter, I used a pen and notepad to put down all my ideas. I still do. However, with the software now available on the market, the song writing process can be far more creative and immediate. If you have the luxury of having recording hardware to use, the physicality of using the equipment can enhance creativity. I have used a Roland VS 1680 digital studio to record a lot of my song ideas and this piece of kit produces high quality sounds on 8 tracks so it gives me plenty of scope to explore song compositions including instrumentation, lead vocals and vocal harmonies. This equipment has been around for quite a few years, but still delivers the goods!

5. Digital Hand Recorder
I think this is an essential item that every songwriter needs. I carry a digital recorder with me to record song snippets, creative ideas, melodies, hook lines, lyrics on the move - I then gather this material together for my songwriting sessions. If you prefer, you could use a notebook - but then you won't be able to record melody lines and musical ideas. I use two digital hand recorders to capture song ideas on the move. The Zoom H4 is a high quality piece of kit and has the advantage of having two quarter inch jacket inputs - I use the Philips Voicetracer to record song ideas on the move.

If money is an issue for you and you are not able to purchase the kind of equipment mentioned in this article, it is quite possible to get started simply with a guitar and a notebook to write down your ideas. Some way of recording these ideas is important, especially if you have melody lines flying round in your head! So a simple, a very reasonably priced digital hand recorder, is all you need.

So express your creativity and get that music out there.

Steve Flashman is a singer songwriter, author, broadcaster and public speaker who has performed all over the world. He has recorded over 100 of his songs on ten albums and has a unique approach to writing Christian songs without the usual cliches, predictable phrases and obvious melody lines. He runs a Songwriting Club to support Christian songwriters who want to write cutting edge, prophetic music that can change the world.

Songwriting Club

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Repetitive Strain Injury in Musicians and Especially Saxophone Players

Sadly musicians have an increased risk of developing repetitive strain injury. Many factors contribute to this including less than ergonomic instrument design, high stress levels when performing and relentless lengthy practice sessions. My first piece of advice to any musician who thinks they've developed repetitive strain injury is don't panic! Whilst this infliction can be physically very painful and mentally crushing, it is a sign from your body that change is required. With the right energy and commitment the healing process can be a time of positive reflection and will only serve to benefit you in the long run.

There are many more problems causing repetitive strain injury in musicians than a short article can cover so I am going to focus on one in particular which I've found prevalent. This is tension in the neck and shoulders. When we're worried about performing, scared of making mistakes or over worked and stressed this often manifests physically as tightness in the shoulders. Over time this puts pressure on the nerves and tendons running down your arms and into your hands. For many musicians with repetitive strain injury, simply removing this tension can go along way to relieving the symptoms. The first step to achieving this is to sit and relax. Focus on breathing in the tension in your shoulders and then letting it go as you breathe out. As you do this, say in your head "my shoulders are relaxed". After practicing this for a few weeks everyday, you can begin to try and maintain the relaxation as you practice. It sounds simple, but you will find a great deal of concentration is required to really focus on letting go of the tension. This process alone can be very therapeutic.

You will probably find the tension comes back soon after you've begun practicing as your attention is diverted back to playing. Don't worry. Simply stop, do the relaxation without your instrument, and then come back to it. It will take time and patience, but after a while you will begin to feel more relaxed whilst playing and start to lessen your risk of repetitive strain injury. Naturally when playing for extended periods you may find the tension begins to come back. Not to worry, as long as you learn to recognise this and act appropriately, you will be able to look after your body.

As previously mentioned, repetitive strain injury in musicians is provoked by a number of factors. This article is a brief introduction and it would be advisable to see a number of medical professionals to gain many points of view. Regardless, it is important to remain as positive and calm as possible in order to achieve recovery.

Making music for me all boils down to the moment on stage when you're tuned in with the band and your audience to create a higher energy visit my website at  http://www.andrewneilhayes.com/ to start your journey

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Love of Music

There is nothing that brings greater peace, happiness, and comfort than music. Listening to the best quality music can change a person's mood instantly, whether you are using it for educational purposes to help improve memory, or for the athlete to get all-energetic for an event, or simply just want to escape to a different world with softer music. But, no matter what the means are, music is what defines us as human beings. Growing up as a kid, I used to love singing to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir almost every day, until my mom got so sick of it that she told me to stop singing to the choir. I never realized that my singing was so bad. Eventually, my love for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir faded away as I got into my teenage years and then I started listening to rap and heavy metal music. Metallica and Tupac were some of my favorite bands and rap artist to listen to.

My parents would never let that type of music in the house, so once I got my first car, I took all my CD collections and jammed out to my music wherever I went to. Then, once I got into college, I had to take Intro to Humanities 101 to fulfill a requirement for my general education course. I abhorred the idea of listening to classical music from the start, because that is one type of music that I stayed away from, I would not even go down the CD aisle where it contain classical music at the store. But, as I took this course, my professor would play classical music in class to get us to understand what it is. After going through a full semester, my thoughts about classical music changed drastically. I also saw the benefits that it can bring when you study a particular subject such as math. It also changed my personality a lot whereas I started to buy more orchestrated music and less rap and heavy metal.

As a father of seven children, I decided to have my kids listen to classical music instead of the type of music that I had listened to. So, I have come up with an idea to help kids love classical music and not abhor it like the way I did. Parents, if you have love for music, make it fun for kids by making it livelier by adding your own rhythm to it but still keeping the same tune. At bedtime, put a radio on your kids' dresser, put in some Mozart, Beethoven, Handel, etc., and let the music do all the rest. Lead by example. Kids will listen to the same type of music as their parents do. Another fun way to inspire kids to listen to classical music is to purchase soundtrack CD's such as Beauty and the Beast or Sleeping Beauty. Theme songs such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Back to the Future, Flight of the Navigator, Last Air Bender, Superman, Indiana Jones, Lord of the Rings, and How to train you dragon are some great examples to introduce your kids to the world of classical music. So, in the end, music does make a big difference in our lives and it also defines us as human beings.

To find out more ways to keep classical music entertaining for your family, go to http://www.squidoo.com/the-love-of-music2

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Defining Bass Guitar Prices

Purchasing a musical instrument can be a considerable financial investment- notably if you are just starting out.

In this article, we are going to help you grasp an awareness of the typical bass guitar prices and in the end help you elect one that suits your finances and playing method.

Setting a Value Limit

Different basses can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. It is suggested that you stray away from the latter if you are a newbie.

Ensure that you become content with this instrument previous to throwing any more cash at it. Most bass guitar prices for a new bassist will be situated somewhere close to $300. Also observe that separate brands and models will range in pricing as well.

Shopping Around

When you have set your financial plan, it is time to shop around for your brand new bass. You should set out at resident specialty stores like Wal-Mart and Target as they handle instruments that are significantly less costly than if you were to acquire them from a neighborhood music store.

If it fits in with your funds then you can obtain your guitar online, directly from the manufacturer itself. The bass guitar prices there will be more high-priced, but you will have a much superior instrument on your hands.

Try Before You Buy

One rationale why it isn't suggested that you obtain your primary bass guitar online is for the reason that you won't have any method to examine it. Even extremely knowledgeable bassists like trying their equipment prior to making any decisive purchases.

Establish how it sounds and uncover whether or not you could imagine yourself playing it for a sustained time. If it has a return policy then you can shop online. This way you can return it and claim a new one if the original bass guitar doesn't satisfy your requirements.

Bring in a Seasoned Bassist

When shopping around for bass guitar prices, bring in somebody who is more experienced than you are. If you are a veteran then you don't need to worry about this. However, for the newbies, having a more knowledgeable performer around will permit you to have a second opinion on what you are buying. They can similarly try it out for you to determine whether or not it is a good deal.

Old opposed to New Bass Guitars

In general, more skilled players should stick to newer guitars and less experienced players should stick to second-hand guitars. If you are barely starting out, a second-hand guitar is a great low-priced platform for learning.

When you grow to be more able and have the finances, you can research getting more sophisticated equipment. These are merely guidelines, and if you have the wherewithal to pay for a new bass guitar by all means, go ahead and do it.

Conclusion

Bass guitar prices will differ from retailer to retailer. If one location doesn't have any guitars that agree with your requirements then move on to the second one. In the long run you will pinpoint one that fits in your plan and playing method.

George Schmingy is an avid musician and writer of musical instrument related materials. To learn more about how bass guitars have evolved please visit => http://www.guitarmusician.com/

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Why Sheet Music For Pop Songs Often Sounds Wrong

So you've learned some piano and get excited to finally begin playing your favorite pop songs. You purchase the sheet music and sit down with great anticipation as you begin to read through the music. Depending on your ability, it could be seconds or minutes later, but eventually you find yourself saying in complete frustration, "Why doesn't this sound right?!?". Don't worry just yet, it might not be you.

You've just uncovered what I believe to be the worst customer service the music publishing industry provides to potential players, that pop piano sheet music is often dumbed down to basic notes for easier playing. The problem is, most times it's too simple, and doesn't quite sound right. Sometimes, if there is a specific piano introduction (like in Adele's "Someone Like You"), that is transcribed fairly accurately, but once you get to the meat of the song, you'll see a lot of basic notes, often simple quarter notes, half notes and even whole notes. One quick listen to the recording and you'll easily notice that the music is more complex than the sheet music suggests. So why write it that way?

I really don't have the answer as to why publishers do this. Perhaps they want the music to be accessible to someone at any skill level. Maybe they think piano players don't practice as much as guitar players (you can often find exact transcriptions of guitar parts). Whatever their reasons are, the music on the page doesn't match up with the recording. So what's a player to do?

The answer lies in understanding the structure of pop music. And I'm using the term pop music to mean anything non classical; rock, country, jazz, etc. If there isn't a specific piano part to play, like there is in some intros, then you will be playing from the song's chord structure. So to play pop styles of music, you'll need to learn how to play chords on piano.

The truth is, even most professional pop music piano players don't get traditional sheet music. They get what's called a lead sheet or chord chart to play from. This is just a list of chords in a song, sometimes with the melody written with it so you can follow along. These types of music notation do exist in the publishing world. They're called fake books, or sometimes real books. Playing this way, with this type of written music is a matter of learning what the chord symbols mean and playing a piano part based on those chords. This is why classically trained piano players often struggle with pop music, because their understanding of chords and their variations is often limited. Learning more about playing piano chords will not only unlock the mystery of pop music, but will give you access to a great deal of music, since the number of possible chords are limited. In fact, you'll find that many of the songs use the same chords. So learning even just a few chords will give you the ability to play a great number of songs.

Brian Lucas is a lifelong musician and 20 year teacher with one simple goal in mind, to teach anyone, even complete beginners, how to play piano. He is the creator of the Target Method, which teaches both how to play chords on piano and how to read music. The course is found at http://www.pianoin8weeks.com/.

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The Violin: How Silent Are Silent Violins, and Should I Buy a Cheap or Expensive One

In this article I am going to discuss, contrast and compare the relative merits of two "silent" violins. What is a silent violin? Well, these are electric violins that come with headphones and enable you to be able to practice without disturbing neighbours and family. Even if you can play an acoustic violin very well, if you are practicing a piece of music and going over it again and again, it can really annoy people in close proximity. Let's face it, the finished product may sound great, but the effort to get there may at times mean your playing is not at its best. My long-suffering family are now very used to me wandering around the house practicing my violin but even they draw a line at me sitting with them watching television whilst learning a violin tune.

So how silent are silent violins? If you put a bridge mute on an acoustic, it doesn't really make it silent but just mutes some of the vibration, thus making it a bit less noisy. An electric violin is basically a piece of wood that gets it sound from a "pick-up" which is then channelled into some form of amplification. If this amplification is a pair of headphones, then all people in the vicinity will hear is the rather squeaky sound of the bow drawing over the strings. To put it another way; it is still annoying to people in the same room, but go into a room on your own, close the door and put on your headphones and you will not disturb anyone. Here are my two choices for silent violins; one cheap and the other more expensive.

The Harley Benton silent violin comes in at about £130.00 and comes complete with case, bow, rosin and headphones. The headphones plug into a separate socket in the violin and because the pick-up is active, you need to insert a battery to play. The violin itself is not too bad but the headphones were cheap and totally useless. I used an expensive pair of my own, and this really improved the sound, though it was still a bit "dead" I eventually fed the violin through some effect pedals and a mixer desk and listened with my headphones plugged into the mixer desk, which gave me a very acceptable sound. The point here is, that I could have done this with any electric violin so I really didn't need one with a specific headphone socket.

The Yamaha SV 130 costs about £500.00, and is a professional instrument, and as always with Yamaha products, has quality stamped right through it. This particular model when using headphones is very quiet and you are able to play at high volume in your headphones whilst people in your house or neighbours will be oblivious to the sound. Because the violin has a built-in reverberation unit the headphone sound is fantastic, so you don't need other effects pedals or mixer desk. The beauty of this violin is that you can take it to a hotel and play at high volume in your bedroom without disturbing anybody.

So should you buy cheap or expensive? In my opinion, if you have the money, always go expensive, because in the end it is better value.

If you love violins, then this site is a must. Full of essential tips, information, sheet music, videos and so much more. Click here

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Your Electric Guitar - How to Set It Up for Best Tone and Playability!

Before you even turn a screw on your guitar, you should gather all tools and materials needed. You will need: small screwdrivers in Phillips (no 1) and flat blade varieties, a socket wrench or Allen wrench in the correct size to fit your particular guitar model for neck adjustment, a small 6" ruler with 1/64" increments and a large flat blade screwdriver to adjust the stop bar height if you have a Gibson style guitar. You will also need a fresh set of strings in the gauge of your choice.

If your guitar is really dirty, now would be a good time to clean it with guitar cleaner/polish. The fingerboard should be cleaned with naphtha (lighter fluid), and #0000 steel wool. If you clean the fingerboard, you should treat the wood with lemon oil to keep it from being too dry. Now it's time to install the new strings, stretch them out, and tune the guitar to standard pitch. Notice I didn't include a straight edge in the tool list, that's because you can use one of the strings for that purpose.

We will begin our adjustments with the neck relief because if the neck isn't correct none of the following setup steps can be done. Fret the low E string at the first fret with your left hand (if you're right handed), and at the same time fret the same string at the twelfth fret with your right hand Thumb. While holding these two positions, reach your index finger of your right hand to the center point of the string and press down. You should have the slightest amount of clearance between the string and the middle fret. If not, back off the neck adjusting nut until you have this small amount of clearance. This will allow you to bend strings without fret buzzes. If on the other hand, there is too much clearance, tighten the adjusting nut 1/4 turn at a time until you have that very slight clearance. Your neck is now adjusted properly and we can proceed with the rest of the set up.

Now, place your small ruler on its end on the twelfth fret, beside the high E string. Adjust the bridge height adjusting screw on the treble side until the ruler reads 3/64" between the bottom of the high E string and the top of the twelfth fret. Repeat this process for the low E string, except set the gap at 5/64". Now the string height or "action" is correct. This is the correct method to set up a Gibson style bridge. If your guitar is a Fender style, with individual string saddles, set up the high E saddle for the 3/64" measurement, and increase it a little as you adjust each saddle across the strings, ending up with 5/64" for the low E saddle, with a smooth curve across the string set.

Now we can set the intonation, so the guitar plays in tune with itself for the entire fingerboard. If you have an electronic tuner, plug the guitar into it and it will make this step much easier and more accurate. With the high E string in tune, fret it at the twelfth fret. Is the octave note sharp in relation to the open string? If so, adjust the string length screw to make the string speaking length slightly longer, until the two notes are in tune with themselves. If the higher note is flatter than the open pitch, adjust the screw to make the string length shorter until the notes match. Repeat this process for all six strings.

Now we are ready to adjust the pickups for best tone and even volume for all six strings. Pickup adjustments are not written in stone and are to a degree a matter of preference. The pickups on the low E side should be adjusted further from the strings than the treble side for the most even volume and to prevent the magnets in the pickups from pulling too much on the strings and causing wolf tones and false harmonics. Begin by fretting the high E string at the last fret and adjust the treble side of the pickup to where it is not quite touching the string. Now repeat this on the low E side, but adjust the pickup slightly lower than the treble side. Perform this procedure for each pickup if there is more than one. Plug the guitar into a suitable amp and play while switching through all pickup positions. If the rhythm pickup seems to overpower the lead pickup, back off the adjusting screws on it slightly to improve the pickup volume balance.

Now enjoy playing your guitar knowing it plays its best and very possibly sounds better than you've ever heard it!

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Guitar Fretboard Notes - Playing The Fretboard Efficiently

All beginners in guitar playing essentially need to be familiar with the guitar's fretboard (alternatively called fingerboard). The fretboard is essentially the neck of the guitar that is divided into numerous segments or frets. Every fret can create a particular pitch due to the careful positioning of the frets. Your knowledge of intervals, note names, string names, layout and others will help prepare your future growth. Your fretboard knowledge can assist you in improvising use of guitar. It will also be of help in sight reading, in understanding guitar chords and a lot more.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Just about anything in life can be mastered and learned thoroughly by regularly practicing. Dedicate specified time for practicing. When you practice, you must have no distractions such as unnecessary phone calls or text messages. If possible, practice inside a room where you can be alone and enjoy the space to yourself. Turn off the television that will also reduce your concentration on your practice exercises.

Start From The Basic

One can hardly learn complex and advanced guitar concepts without first spending considerable time learning the basics. Start by knowing what components make up your fretboard; its strings, its notes, etc. The basic notes you need to learn are the notes included in the major C scale. The first guitar string is the high E-string where the first note is E. F can be found on the first fret; G is on the third fret and so on. The sixth string is also an E.

Specific Note

You should begin mastering the fretboard notes by taking things at a time. Every note is created according to a math formula. This formula will determine how long the string should be so that the necessary pitch will be produced. When you press on the string at a certain fret, it would apparently seem like the string was cut at that length. This is why the placement of the finger right after the fret marker is very important. Applying excessive pressure is also not advisable because it also affects the pitch of the sounds produced.

Start by learning only one note on every string. You could start with the G note. Determine where this particular note on every fret. G note, for example, can be found on the sixth to first strings as follows: 3, 10, 8, 3 and so on.

Note Names

Another important aspect you need to learn about guitar fretboard is the name of the notes found on it. Each fret contains notes whose names you need to memorize. For example, the sixth to the first open strings contain the following notes: E, A, D, G, B and E.

Understanding notes in the chord can be of various benefits to a guitar player. Once you have mastered this, you will be able to fully understand what a tab is. Each time you read musical notations, you will be able to find the notes you ought to play. You will also find out how and where you should move your hands so that bare chords can be played. You will also be ready to move your hands and play efficiently up and down the guitar neck. Communication with other musicians will also become more effective once you have mastered your fretboard.

Guitar Notes Master can be your useful tool in mastering guitar fretboard basics. Mastering Guitar is another resource that will allow you to play the instrument like a professional guitarist.

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For The Tragically Hip, Bobcaygeon Is More Than Just A Single

The Tragically Hip's Bobcaygeon, the song that won them the Juno Award for Single of the Year in 2000, is their most successful single from their seventh studio album, Phantom Power. The title was taken from the name of an obscure town in Ontario.

The song was written by Gordon Downie, the band's lead vocalist and lyricist. Downie, who is a poet in his own right, crafted the song in a way that leaves it open to individual interpretations. The lyrics and the official music video have helped to stir up many an argument regarding the "true meaning" of the song.

For some, choosing Bobcaygeon to be mentioned in the song is just a matter of personal choice for the songwriter who needed a three-syllable name of a town in the lyrics, and who has a history of mentioning specific Canadiana in his songs. However, for others it is significant. It has been said that the song is about a real police officer who lives in Bobcaygeon with a native girl.

Another controversial part is the mentioning of Willie Nelson. Willie Nelson is, of course, a folk and country singer with famous hits like "On the Road Again." It may be interpreted that listening to Willie Nelson's songs has the same effect as the wine, but some believe that Willie Nelson is actually a slang term for marijuana.

The lines that follow are even more thought-provoking which is intensified by the music video. Toronto became the setting of the next events as depicted in the video. The "checkerboard floors" may be in reference to Horseshoe Tavern where The Hip had played in their early days in Toronto. During the 1980's, a band called "The Men They Couldn't Hang" also played in the same area.

Then there is the "Aryan twang." Some believe that it is in reference to fascists in Canada who started some riots in Toronto over a period of time from 1933 to 1993. This belief may have been supported by the music video which depicted violence and the acoustic guitar clearly inscribed with the phrase "This Machine Kills Fascists", shown towards the end of the video.

Neither the band nor Gordon Downie claim to be anti-fascists, but this song serves well as a statement against social violence. The Hip are experts at writing songs that say something significant but that are not so specific as to rob the listener of their own interpretation.

The Tragically Hip's Bobcaygeon is one of their most successful songs because it seems to encapsulate everything we love about them.

If you like The Hip then you might also check out Evan Clarke. You can hear The Hip's influence in his own brand of Canadian rock.

Click Here to download a copy of his latest single for free.

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Songwriting - How to Develop an Initial Song Idea

Once you have the "big idea" for what your song's going to be about, it's usually a good idea to decide what you want each section of your song to be about to keep your song focused as you develop it. I'll show you what I mean with an example.

Let's say an idea for our song is: It's Amazing What You Can Learn Over a Cup of Coffee. It could be an interesting concept, so let's assume our song structure will be: verse / chorus / verse / chorus / bridge / chorus. From there we'll figure out what each section will do.

We'll start with our choruses, since that'll let us think big picture, and we already have the big idea for our song. This is the easy part. The chorus idea is the same each time, plus it basically comes from the overall idea of our song. So we can start with this:

Verse 1-?

Chorus- It's Amazing What You Can Learn Over a Cup of Coffee

Verse 2-?

Chorus- It's Amazing What You Can Learn Over a Cup of Coffee

Bridge-?

Chorus- It's Amazing What You Can Learn Over a Cup of Coffee

Look at that! We're halfway done with the layout the ideas for each section! Note that I notated the verses as "verse 1" and "verse 2," while the choruses are simply labeled "chorus." This is just to remind me that the verses will not only be different from each other, but they'll be advancing my story, while the chorus information will stay the same.

Now for the hard part. What are the verses going to say? When you're coming up with an idea for each verse, make sure the story advances from verse to verse. If you say the same thing in both verses, it won't be as interesting to your listeners.

I like the idea of learning something intricate over a simple cup of coffee. Let's make this song about a dad talking to his daughter. They're talking because they haven't seen each other in a while and they need to catch up.

As I ponder ideas for my first verse, I like the idea of the daughter dropping excited news on him. I'd like that news to be that she just got her first job out of college and she wants to let him know that he's been her inspiration the whole time. He's her hero and she wants to approach life just like he has.

It's a cool idea, but now that I think about it, that'd be a lot of information for a first verse. Where would I go from there? If that was my first verse, I'd pretty much had dropped the bulk of my information, and might not have anywhere else to go with it.

Sometimes when you think you wrote your first verse, you should try it out as your second verse. Just because you write it first, doesn't mean it has to come first in your story. If I make verse two about the daughter letting her dad know that he's been her inspiration all along, then I can make the first verse about the dad getting filled in on all the little things going on in her life. Things that seem mundane, but since he hasn't spoken to her in a while, he's happy to hear them. Both of those verses would play into the whole "It's amazing what you can learn over a cup of coffee" idea well. So let's go back and check out how our ideas for each section are flowing now:

Verse 1- A dad hasn't seen his daughter for a while, so now he's getting filled in on all the little things going on in her life. They might seem mundane to most, but since he hasn't spoken to her in a while they're big news to him

Chorus- It's Amazing What You Can Learn Over a Cup of Coffee

Verse 2- The daughter reveals that not only does she have her first job out of college, but the dad's been her inspiration the entire time. The dad is brought to tears by this information.

Chorus- It's Amazing What You Can Learn Over a Cup of Coffee

Bridge-?

Chorus- It's Amazing What You Can Learn Over a Cup of Coffee

Okay, so we're getting there. The only section we need a concept for is the bridge. A bridge is typically a departure from what we've heard in a song, previously. It's our chance for a new perspective, instead of simply moving the story forward the same way we did in our verses.

With that in mind, let's use this opportunity to have the daughter learn something from this conversation with her dad. After all, the verses were about the dad learning things from the daughter. Since we have a chance for a new way to look at things in the bridge, we'll let it be the daughter's turn to learn something interesting.

We can have the bridge be about the dad returning his daughter's nice words by letting her know that raising her to be who she's turned out to be is his biggest accomplishment. It'll be a nice "full circle" notion to the song. Plus, now the chorus will refer to what the daughter learned instead of what the dad learned. The phrase "It's Amazing What You Can Learn Over a Cup of Coffee" doesn't specifically apply to the dad, so we can use it to cover what the daughter learns too. That's one reason it's good to leave your choruses fairly open-ended.

So finally, we get to this:

Verse 1- A dad hasn't seen his daughter for a while, so now he's getting filled in on all the little things going on in her life. They might seem mundane to most, but since he hasn't spoken to her in a while they're big news to him

Chorus- It's Amazing What You Can Learn Over a Cup of Coffee (referring to the dad)

Verse 2- The daughter reveals that not only does she have her first job out of college, but the dad's been her inspiration the entire time. The dad is brought to tears by this information.

Chorus- It's Amazing What You Can Learn Over a Cup of Coffee (referring to the dad)

Bridge- The dad reveals to his daughter that she is his biggest accomplishment

Chorus- It's Amazing What You Can Learn Over a Cup of Coffee (referring to the daughter)

Now we have a great roadmap for what our song should do. If you plan out each section's objective in this way before you write your actual lyrics, it'll help keep your ideas focused. You'll be less likely to lose your listeners by writing a convoluted story. This is a great, organized way to get your songs moving in the right direction.

To learn more, download my free EBook here: http://www.SuccessForYourSongs.com/freeoffer/

Anthony Ceseri is the owner of http://www.successforyoursongs.com/, a website dedicated to the growth and development of songwriters of all skill levels. Anthony's writings appear as examples in the book "Songwriting Without Boundaries: Lyric Writing Exercises For Finding Your Voice" by Pat Pattison, an acclaimed lyric writing professor at Berklee College of Music.

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Songwriters - Dispel Your Limiting Beliefs to Achieve What You Want in the Music Business

Songwriting can seem like a tough business to be in, so having the right mindset and a positive attitude is important. A lot of people create limiting beliefs about themselves that hold them back from accomplishing what they really want. Songwriters do it all the time.

A limiting belief is something you believe that holds you back from achieving what you want. The kicker is, they aren't even true. What's so powerful about beliefs is that they're more than just ideas. They're ideas that are supercharged with our emotions. For that reason they can seem impossible to shake, if they're negative, but it's actually not that hard.

An easy way to get rid of your limiting beliefs is to ask yourself: "Was there ever a time when that wasn't true?" You'll be surprised to see that the answer is basically always "yes." Let's look at some common limiting beliefs songwriters have, and how to dispel them.

Limiting Belief: I can't make it in the music business. I don't have any connections. It's all who you know.

The Truth: Now more than ever, independent musicians are creating opportunities for their own success. Tools like social media sites, and home recording studios have made it possible for someone to create and distribute their own music with ease. It's a better time than ever to be approaching music on your own. Sites like Taxi give you direct access to submitting your music to industry professional. It happens constantly that independent musicians make a living within having an "in" in the industry.

Having said that, it's IS good to know people. For that reason, if you don't have connections, then start getting them. Start networking with other musicians. Go to open mics, songwriting conventions, and get involved with songwriting forums, and social media groups online. When you get involved with these things, don't just meet people and tell them what you want. Instead build relationships with them. Your relationship with one person can lead to another and another through mutual friends. Before you know it, you'll have a solid foundation of industry contacts.

Limiting Belief: I'm too old to start making money with my music.

The Truth: People start making money with their music at all different ages. Again, it happens all the time. Susan Boyle was almost fifty when she started getting millions of hits on her YouTube videos. What if she would have told herself she was too old to try?

Do record labels typically look for people in their teens or early twenties to be the face of pop music? A lot of times they do, but becoming a pop star in that sense is not the only road to the music business. Get great at what you do, so you can become irresistible to who you're trying to attract.

Limiting Belief: I'm too young to be a songwriter.

The Truth: I'll hear younger kids say things like "I'm trying to be a songwriter." If you've written a song, you ARE a songwriter. Period. Eliminate that word "trying" from your vocabulary, and simply do. If you think you're too young to make money with your music, there are plenty of precedents that shatter that myth. Just look at the Jackson 5. If you're still concerned about being too young, just wait a while and it'll go away.

Limiting Belief: I can't build a fan base. No one wants to hear my music.

The Truth: Things like email lists and social media sites make it easier than ever to build a fan base and maintain a relationship with your fans. Artists do it all the time. Why would you be different? If you're concerned about your songs no being good enough, an education in songwriting will help you with that. That's why you're reading this article, so don't worry -- you're already on the right track.

Now it's your turn. Make a list of your own personal limiting beliefs and then come up with reasons that they're not true. It'll help you realize you're capable of so much more than you thought. The truth is whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're probably right.

We're only bound by the shackles we put on ourselves. It's up to us to remove them. Start asking yourself these questions and then prove to yourself they're not true. Don't settle for anything less than that.

To learn more, download my free EBook here:
http://www.SuccessForYourSongs.com/freeoffer/

Anthony Ceseri is the owner of http://www.successforyoursongs.com/, a website dedicated to the growth and development of songwriters of all skill levels. Anthony's writings appear as examples in the book "Songwriting Without Boundaries: Lyric Writing Exercises For Finding Your Voice" by Pat Pattison, an acclaimed lyric writing professor at Berklee College of Music.

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