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Saturday, July 4, 2009

Learning Guitar - Simple Tips to Help You Play Even Better

By Scott Forrester

Learning guitar is a great choice, and while it definitely takes a lot of work, it can also be a lot of fun. Of course sometimes with all the practice you are doing, you may feel that you aren't getting anywhere fast. Well, there are some simple tips out there that can improve your guitar playing skills, whether you are a beginner or even if you have been playing for some time.

If you wish to develop even better skills, then you need to remember to keep your posture when playing. There are a lot of people that don't understand how much of an impact posture has on your guitar playing ability. You need to sit on a chair or even bench which has no arms that make it easy for you to hold a guitar. Also make sure that your back is straight because your posture affects not only the sound but also your back.

Did you know that there is also a proper way to hold the pick? There certainly is, you need to make sure that you hold it just right, which is to say firm, but not incredibly firm.. The only thing you need to do is ensure that you are not going to drop it on accident.

The reason you don't want to grip your pick too hard when you are playing is fatigue. When you hold the guitar pick too firmly your entire arm is going to start getting tired pretty quickly. Go with a grip that is firm, but not too firm, and you'll get a great sound and won't tire out your arm as much.

Of course it also matters whether or not you have chosen the right pick. Yes, there are several different types. There are flat licks, finger picks, and even picks which vary in feel. If you are a beginner then it would probably be best to start out with a flat pick that is soft, but of course later on that choice will be totally up to you.

If you really want to have some fun then you should try learning some arpeggios. You likely have never heard of these, but they are a lot of fun. Not only are they fun, they are important in learning the proper way to play your guitar.

You can't use a guitar pick to play arpeggios. You will need to use your fingers to do this. You use your thumb on the bas note to pick it, then take the index finger on the third string and pluck it. Then you use the middle finger on the second string, and the ring finger on the top string. You have not picked four different notes. Now you have to learn to do this faster. Practice this over and over until you get it. Once you master arpeggios, your playing will really sound nice.

Those are only a few tips. There are many more, though these will definitely help you out so long as you stay in practice. It doesn't matter if you're only learning to play, or if you have been learning for a while, these tips will help you a lot no matter what. - 18780

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Percussion Instruments Through the Ages

By David Zed

While the human voice was unquestionably the first musical instrument known to humanity, archaeologists and anthropologists agree that percussion instruments followed quickly on the heels of this discovery. Percussion was first made with feet and hands, followed by sticks, rocks and whatever else happened to be available. With the invention of tools for use in hunting and agriculture came more advanced drums, as the same cutting tools could be used to turn a hollow log into a slit drum for louder sounds and a set of logs to be cut into a primitive ancestor of the modern drum kit.

As time moved on, so is the evolution of percussion instruments. In the early 10th century, it was known that most tribes in Africa use sorts of percussions such as djembe, macaras used in Latin America, karimbas in Asia and seed rattles in Australia for their recreational and worship rituals and sometimes used in sending signals.

Many of the percussion instruments were familiar with in the western world come from the Balkans, the Levant and elsewhere in the near east. European percussion instruments advanced with the import of drums and other instruments brought back by returning crusaders in the 11th to 13th centuries.

Percussion instruments vary widely in their function within musical ensembles depending on their construction and size; they may produce a strictly percussive sound or have a tonal effect which can be a melodic element. Usually working alongside lower pitched brass and stringed instruments, percussion forms the rhythmic backbone of a composition in performance.

Bass and percussion form the rhythm section in most forms of popular music; this stands in contrast with the majority of orchestral and chamber music composed before the 20th century, where percussion instruments are for the most part confined to a supporting role. In modern works, however, percussion instruments are occasionally allowed to get their fair share of the listeners attention.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, more percussion instruments (like the cymbals or triangles) came to being and frequently, again moderately and cautiously played in general. The massive uses of percussion instruments become more recurrent in the 20th century, on classical music.

Although not always the center of attention, percussion instruments are indispensible to almost every modern musical genre. Military and marching bands use percussion to provide the rhythm not only for the music being performed, but for the pace of marching soldiers. Jazz is in the minds of many synonymous with the sound of the ride cymbal, the brushed snare drum and the hi-hat " and its hard to imagine rock music in any style without percussion. From rhythm and blues to heavy metal, hip hop, country and other genres, percussion is the backbone of popular music.

Some musical groups perform compositions which are written solely for percussion instruments. The versatility of percussion instruments is such that there are instruments which can provide melodic and harmonic voices as well as those which simply provide a beat. Watching one of these percussion ensembles in action is something which is truly amazing to see. - 18780

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Learn To Play Guitar DVD: Learn With No Weaker Sides

By Jonathan Crummey

It seems strange to me how many incorrect assumptions and teachings there are about becoming a better guitarist. Here is one thing that is NOT true.

You know what everyone says, "Teaching yourself is the best way to be original". This is so obviously false its hard to believe that anyone could actually believe it - yet some people still do. Don't fall into the trap of thinking this is the best way to learn.

The point is athletes with great abilities have them usually in one area. For example, Michael Jorden (arguably the world's greatest basketball player of all time) was not very successful when he tried to play baseball (or golf for that matter). Think about athletes in the olympics, they are specialists. They have found their natural ability and developed it to its greatest potential, but that natural ability is usually limited to one skill.

Doing that alone won't work well and even if it does eventually work, it will take 10 times aslong! Besides, how will you know if what you are trying to do is original if you don't learn about what has already been done?

Listen to more music. Find more of the same music you already like. There is a lot of music out there that you haven't heard.

People ask, "should I stop playing everything I am used to playing, until I get rid of all my bad habits"? Well, if you have a lot more discipline than I have, go ahead and do that! If you can stand not making music for months, go ahead, but I don't recommend it.

This is critical to setting goals, planning strategy and monitoring the results, etc. When all the enemies of progress start to creep into your mind, you will need to bring your definite purpose to the forefront of your thinking. I have seen procrastination, fear of failure, self doubt, lack of motivation, temporary setbacks, and other negative things bring people with great potential to a halt. Knowing your definite purpose and reminding yourself of it when a negative thought comes into your mind will help you overcome it.

Begin to do all the Foundation Exercises, because they will start to undo the foundation of all your bad habits. Do them every day for perhaps ten minutes. If you are not using my book, get all you can from my essays, and apply those approaches, experiment with them, and elaborate upon them, and adapt them to new situations. - 18780

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Britney Spears Solidifies Her Comeback With Womanizer Single

By Shane Bascome

If you listen to Britney Spears' Womanizer single, you can only have one of these two reactions: either love or hate it. But for this writer, it's definitely not hate--not in a million years.

For years, fans have missed the kind of music only Britney Spears can give. And with the release of Blackout the album, the pop superstar announced to the world that she is back after a couple of tumultuous years. Her comeback was made official by a lackluster (and oftentimes lambasted) performance at the MTV VMAs where she did not appear to be in her element.

Blackout turned out to be her most unsuccessful album in her career. She then released a track from her upcoming album called Womanizer which seemed to have redeemed her from the mess she made at the MTV Awards. The track contained everything that is Britney Spears: funky, interesting, and catchy. It will make you dance and groove. You will experience last-song-syndrome after listening to it.

Even though the lyrics were not as deep as one would expect from someone who's been in the business for a long time, they were relatable. Fans will be able to connect to the song because they understand what it is all about: a womanizer who's been found out by the girl he likes. Womanizer, woman-womanizer You're a womanizer Oh womanizer, Oh you're a womanizer baby You, you, you are You, you, you are Womanizer, womanizer, womanizer. Now that he has been outed, the girl would not let him get even to first base. Nikesha Briscoe and Rapheal Akinyemi did a great job penning the words.

The composers of the song have infused the new trend in pop songs: futuristic sounds and electro-punk feel. It definitely added to the appeal of the song. But it would seem more suitable if the song is devoid of this and concentrated on sticking to the bubblegum pop genre, which is what Britney Spears is famous for.

The record still sounds great nevertheless. One can't deny that this is a hit--a Britney hit. She has her signature all over the record:The lyric, phrasing, the distinctive vocals and tempo.

And even though a music artist should strive for new and better songs, Britney seemed to have taken a couple of steps back with the way this track sounded (she has had earlier songs that showed signs of a more mature artist like the Madonna collaboration). However, it was a good decision to go back to basics. With Womanizer she was able to solidify her position in the pop scene.

Womanizer is a great song. Nothing much can be said, really. If you expect a great song from Britney Spears for her upcoming album, then this one really raised the bar. - 18780

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Download Famous Movies With Merely One Click

By Annie S Russell

It is a magnificent time to be a movie aficionado. For many years the only way to view a recent movie was to go to the movie theater. After that the video stores came out but there you had to go over there and try to get your movie, it was often out of stock and if you didn't get it back on time you had to pay a late fee. Now you can get movies by mail but you still have to wait.

With today's expertise you can instantly download first-rate, full-length movies right at your own home and straight to your own computer. Search for the motion picture, click the button, download and there you have the exact film that you wished for.

There are a couple of different ways that you can use to download. There are actually free of charge sites that are offering illegally copied versions. The harms with these sites are manifold and if you wish to download from them you should know that you do it at your own jeopardy.

The free of charge sites with illegally copied films are breaking copyright laws. This not only puts them at jeopardy, but as a buyer you may also be at threat. There have been customers who have been convicted of copyright violations for downloading illegally copied music. Movies are the same and you could be putting yourself in threat. And the fact is that bootleggers injure everybody, from the artists, to the production companies, to everybody else in the world because it affects the financial system.

The mass of the sites that require a fee will have a special software program that adds up the royalties that are due back to the copyright owner. These sites are above-board and these are the sites that will usually have the greatest collection and the safest measures in place to keep your own computer safe and free from viruses and adwares.

Whenever you download anything at all you need to be apprehensive about the protection of your computer. Viruses can be very detrimental and they can end up costing you a ton of cash, not to mention the probable loss of indispensable data that is on your computer. You should also be apprehensive about adware and malware.

Before you start downloading movies look at a few of the accessible sites. If you want to be able to burn the movie onto a Compact disk so you can watch it on your Television, make sure that you can do that. Look for a good range and check to see if the site offers you information on the time that it takes to download a film.

As you might have alleged, it takes quite a bit longer to download a movie than it does to download a song. You may want to set it up to download before you leave for work in the morning or before you go to bed at night. - 18780

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