Bass Guitar Chords & Notes

The first electric bass guitar was manufactured in the 1930s but it wasn’t very successful. Fender developed the guitar version of the bass in 1951. If you wanted to be the bass player in a band, it meant lugging one of those huge upright double-basses you see in orchestras, blues bands and jazz bands. Bass Guitar: Introduction Each of the 4 strings on a bass guitar has a name and a number To learn how to play the bass guitar you’ll need to know the notes of the strings. The four strings of a bass guitar are tuned the same…

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An Introduction to the Violin

The History of the Violin The history of the violin runs for centuries and is an instrument that is used in various musical genres like classical, pop, jazz and country. It has been used by renowned composers such as Mozart, Bach, Strauss II and even Elvis Presley! The violin is an instrument with a rich history. It has been around for centuries and will continue to be loved by musicians of all ages alike. The violin comes from the Italian word Violino, which means "little viola". It is also called a fiddle, though some would argue that fiddle can also…

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The 4 Main Types of Saxophones

The 4 Main Types of Saxophones The saxophone is a single-reed instrument and a member of the woodwind instrument family. The saxophone is usually made of brass and played by people all over the world. There are four main different types of saxophones including sopranos, altos, tenors and baritones. All of them are chromatic wind instruments with a single-tone hole and the same fingering. In this article, we'll look at the four main types of saxophones: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone. As you will read each type has its own range of notes and octave compass. The Four main Saxophone…

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The Power of Consistent Guitar Practice

Consistent Guitar Practice Most of us have heard of the power of being consistent in our guitar practice. You know what I mean. Practising something EVERY day until mastered. But do you do this? I know that in the past, I definitely didn’t… When I first started playing, I was a maniac! I had no real structure to my practice. I just put in the hours and hoped that I got better. And I did! But there was a problem. I practised something different almost every day. My practice “schedule” changed from one day to the next. This created two…

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A Guide to Buying an Acoustic Guitar

A Guide to Buying an Acoustic Guitar Knowing how to choose the right acoustic guitar and how to identify a bad one will save you from countless headaches, not to mention finger aches. Acoustic guitar bodies come in basically the same hourglass shape, with some variations, but they do vary in size, colour, wood type, style, and extra features. You can even buy an acoustic guitar so small that it fits into a hiking backpack. Acoustic Guitars come in a very wide range of prices, but when it comes to instruments, in general, you get what you pay for, especially…

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Piano or Keyboard which is better to Learn

Piano or Keyboard which is better to Learn If you are choosing to play the keyboard, learn that it has many advantages over learning how to play the piano. You may think studying one is as easy as the other, but the keyboard as a musical instrument is outstanding in a lot of ways. On a Piano, you just have one sort of musical instrument that you will be able to play and that is the piano. Keyboards permit you to mimic the sounds of a lot of musical instruments. A few Keyboards can mimic the sounds of 100's of…

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Why is music written in different keys?

Why is Music Written in Different Keys? There are definitely times when a song sounds "better" in one key than another. The primary reason this is so is when the key fits the "natural" range of a singer or instrument. Transposed down a fifth into a new key, the song would sound much better when sung by a male singer. I can think of three ways where it makes a difference what key you play a song in. If you are singing the song or are accompanying a singer, the song should be in the key that will best exploit…

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What is an Acoustic-Electric Guitar?

What is an Acoustic-Electric Guitar? All guitars have a number of strings (metal, nylon, or cat-gut) strung along a long neck that’s divided into sections by metal called “frets” and are tuned by tuning pegs at the end of the neck. There are a lot of different shapes, sizes, and colours in guitars but they can all be classified into two basic types: Acoustic Guitar (Acoustic-Electric Guitar) Electric Guitar An acoustic-electric guitar is a combination of an acoustic guitar and an electric guitar. The big difference is in the body area of the guitar. The acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars both…

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Dealing with Bass Drum “Creep”

Dealing with Bass Drum "Creep" Drum creep is a term used to describe the frustrating situation when your bass drum starts sliding further and further away from you with each stroke of your bass drum pedal. The problem seems simple, just set your drum kit up on a rug (even if you have to borrow it from the entry of the bar you're playing at that night). This doesn’t always work, so below I have listed some simple tricks to overcome the problem. 9 Simple tricks to keep your bass drum from creeping forward 1. Drum Matt, Rug or Carpet…

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Playing Comfortably for a Crowd

Playing Comfortably for a Crowd Most people are not comfortable performing in front of people. When I say performing, I mean playing an instrument, or singing, or acting, I mean more than just knowing how to do well at your chosen craft, I mean doing it well and in front of people. It’s the “in front of people” part that gets us every time. How many of us sing well in the shower but then when people are watching we can’t carry a note? This happens all the time and to most people. Here are three tips that will help…

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