The Red Violin

Mounted in high lavish style, from the opening strains to coda, The Red Violin pays homage to the careful uses of color and composition without bothering to support these qualities with any real substance. Oh, it's a class act on the surface all the way, while failing on nearly every other level to convince. The story tells the story, revealing precious little else. The 17th-century Cremonese instrument-maker Niccolo Bussotti finishes his final violin with a curious red varnish, the secret of which spans the film, yet will come as a surprise only to the very sleepy. The odd voyage of this unique violin through history is then explored from one episode to the next, from child prodigy to gypsies to Victorian virtuoso to a clandestine enclave of art lovers in Shanghai during the Cultural Revolution. This is all framed by the violin's rediscovery in present day by instrument appraiser Charles Morritz (Samuel L. Jackson), for whom the perfect instrument strikes a resonant chord. The main scheme of the film, an object connecting a number of seemingly disparate stories, has been used many times, most notably in Max Ophuls's La Ronde. But while this approach is employed elsewhere to cause one scene to reverberate against another, The Red Violin is content to leave each episode thematically unconnected with any of the others. On the decorative level, the film may satisfy many viewers with its sensuous attention to tone and detail, as well as its eclectic and expertly performed score. But as narrative it is very slight. Just pierce the pretty crust of this puff pastry and gaze in wonder at the pocket of air within. --Jim Gay
Customer Review: The Red Violin DVD
I received a new copy of The Red Violin. It arrived in a timely manner and was in, the as discribed condition.
Customer Review: MY REVIEW OF THE RED VIOLIN
I thought the film was great. I play the violin myself, & have come across some Stradavarii, & Guanarius in my time,& know what it is like to have such a find. It is not always possible to trace the history of not only an instrument,but the many other items that have come down to us from times long ago. So it was wonderful being able to see something as important as a violin being traced.Except for the injection of spiritism, the showing of nudity,sexual promiscuity,& the suggestion of one engaging in such conduct,which I did not think had any place in such a film,except for these things, I enjoyed the film itself,very much. The 1st time I watched it I was not really watching it, I was busy on the computer, so it was more like listening to it, & looking up every once in a while.The 2nd time, when I really watched it, I was shocked at the above items, & when I could tell they were coming, I skipped over it by pushing the forward button 'til I was sure I had passed those scenes.

There are many things you can do to prevent problems from the start. You know the old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Having made an investment for such a beautiful guitar youd be mad not to invest in a relatively cheap system for keeping the humidity of your guitar constant, like a guitar humidifier case for example.

He's been involved in playing guitar (mainly classical) for longer than he cares to remember and has also taught the instrument for many years. He is teacher trained, having a Diploma of Education (Majoring in music)

When guitars are built they are usually in an environment where the relative humidity of the room is kept constant, roughly around 50%.

Trevor Maurice is an Australian, living in beautiful seaside Maroubra, in the eastern suburbs of Sydney.

I would recommend keeping your house, or wherever you keep your instrument, at a constant temperature and humidity all year round.

An interesting example of anecdotal evidence of problems with humidity I've heard is with Ramirez guitars.

Another thing to invest in is a "hygrometer", which is an instrument that will keep track of humidity, or lack of it in your guitar case. As mentioned above, some guitar cases are made with these things as standard.

Because they're made in Spain where the humidity is often above the 50% mark and are shipped to areas where the humidity is much lower with dry winter conditions, they can easily develop cracks and slits throughout the guitar.

Problems with humidity can lead to heartbreak for the classical (or other) guitarist. Excessive humidity or dryness can ruin an instrument probably quicker than you think.

To be safe you ideally should keep your instrument around this mark though they are generally regarded as safe between 40%-70% as the upper and lower margins. Below or above this can be drastic for your instrument!

Guitar Humidification

If you follow these few simple rules and keep an eye out for changes in temperature and humidity conditions it shouldn't be hard to keep your instrument in good order.

You must always be aware of what conditions you are leaving your instrument, whether inside a guitar case or within a room or in the open. They should NEVER be left in the sun for any length of time.

The damage caused by too much humidity or of drying out your instrument can range from cracks, splits and shrinkage to warping and even snapping of the wood.

Next I would get a humidifier for my guitar case, whether one sold commercially which releases moisture slowly and attaches to the inside of your case, or a home-made one which could consist of a wet cloth (be careful not to let it touch your instrument as it may damage the wood).

Epiphone Limited Edition Les Paul Custom, Silverburst

With the same vaunted visual vibe of the original, this Epiphone Limited Edition Les Paul has all the fixins 5-ply top, back, and headstock binding bound rosewood fretboard split diamond mother-of-pearl headstock inlay and 4-ply pickguard. And its got something special a brilliant silverburst finish set off by chrome hardware. Dual humbuckers on an alder top with mahogany back and set neck....

3. Finger placing is important

Bass playing is usually note-oriented and not chord-oriented. This means that single notes are hit more often in bass playing and this scheme is the essential element of bass playing. One should be familiar with the tunings and the notes in a regular guitar to be able to decently play the bass guitar.

The main thing about bass guitars is that they are tuned like ordinary guitars. The difference is that most regular bass guitars only have four strings which are far thicker than ordinary ones. This kind of strings allows the bass guitar to go very deep in terms of tone.

Playing the bass guitar differs primarily from playing a regular guitar because it entails an emphasis on the beat of the music. One can compare the bass guitar into a drum or percussion set that is made into a guitar. Beats are very important in playing bass guitar because this type of guitar gives depth and timing to any song.

Take a regular guitar (which is tuned from the thickest to the lowest string- E - A - D - G - B - E) and exclude the two thinnest strings at the bottom and what is left is basically a bass guitar with thinner strings.

Another important thing to develop in bass playing is the strength of both hand's fingers. The bass guitar is a sturdy and solid musical instrument, strength is needed to play it.

1. Feel the beat

Playing the guitar, however, is no joke. It requires a lot of patience and practice. For some people, they would rather study playing the bass guitar than the regular guitar. Here are some tips on learning to play the bass guitar.

If one grasps the notes of a regular guitar through his ears, a bass player grabs the notes of a bass guitar through his chest. The bass guitar pounds on the heart and gives it feelings through the depth of the music.

Hitting the bass guitar fret board with the left-hand fingers is very important since it is a major factor that will determine the wholeness of each note. Try to place the fingers such that they are close to the fret on the right. The right hand should also be practiced so as to give bass guitar playing a holistic approach.

4. Strengthen your grip

2. Learn the notes (single chords) on a regular guitar

In playing the bass guitar, one should always take one lesson at a time. Bass playing requires repetition and there's no sense in hurrying the learning process. One should feel the notes through his soul and through his heart and become one with the bass guitar.

Playing the guitar is one popular pastime nowadays. For some people, it is also a way of expressing themselves and elevates the hobby into an art form or sometimes, science.

Farleys Pocket Tones Guitar tuner

You'll always be in perfect tune with this handy, durable and compact device that can be carried in your pocket or purse, used on a key chain, or kept in your instrument case. Accurate tones are crucial to the very best sound and now it can be yours at the touch of a button, plus it can help you train your ear for perfect pitch as well. It is the perfect answer for an immediate tone, that's always on hand. AG13 batteries included. Measures approximately 2.75" H x 1.5" W Product dimensions (imperial): 2.75 inch H x 1.5 inch W Product dimensions (metric): 69.85 mm H x 38.10 mm W

2 - Make sure it's what you want, don't rush the decision. Do as much research as possible before buying it that way you make an informed decision and you won't be angry you wasted your money. Research includes trying it IN PERSON. You have to try the product in person! While reviews and video reviews are great, it doesn't capture the audio the way it'll sound in person.

(c) Look at the size of the frets, do you want jumbo frets (make bending easier) or regular? The height of the frets is also important.

4 - Amps... this is where a lot of your overall tone may come from. You HAVE TO try these out yourself! Never buy an amp you haven't tried out, plain and simple. Since everyone's taste is different I can't really give you any tips than that. Like I prefer tube amps for rock/blues type music but some people are satisfied with solid-state or modeling.

(b) The pickup configuration, do you want two humbuckers? A humbucker and a single coil? Three humbuckers? Three single coils? There's tons of configurations and depends on the style of music you're playing, so you'll have to figure out what you want on your own (sorry!).

We all want new or more guitar gear even if we already have more than enough... we don't know why it happens, we just roll with it. Below I'm just going to list several things you may want to do before buying a specific type of gear.

1 - Check used! For some reason buying used gear gets a bad rep and I don't understand why. It can save you literally hundreds of dollars and you can go see the product for yourself and make sure it's in acceptable condition (if you're dealing locally). Great places to search for used guitar gear locally are Craigslist (of course) and a similar site, Kijiji. Also check local papers and maybe stop at those garage sales on your lunch break.

(d) How does the neck feel? Do you like it thinner like a Wizard II (found on Ibanez RG models) or thick and chunky like a Les Paul?

(e) How does she sound ACOUSTICALLY (not plugged in!)? I find the majority of great guitars sound fantastic both plugged in and out.

3 - When looking for a guitar there's a few things to consider.

Tips When Buying Guitar Gear

And that's just scratching the surface! As you get more experience you'll realize there are certain things you like/dislike and you'll notice them immediately while testing gear, but when you're just starting out it's a shot in the dark. Hopefully this article shed some light in that dark corner and now it's clear as day.

(g) Find a body shape / finish you like that has met all your requirements and rock out!

(a) Do you want a fixed bridge or do you want a floating tremolo (or "whammy bar" as some may call it)?

Violin Wall Chart by Martin Norgaard

This wonderful Violin Wall Chart by Martin Norgaard will inspire and motivate students and teachers alike! It comes rolled and is published my Mel Bay Publications.

Acoustic Guitar Flatpicking Tips for Faster, Cleaner, Crisper Playing

6. Play the G Chord, not as it is commonly played, but like this:
Put your THIRD finger behind the third fret of the sixth string, your
SECOND finger behind the second fret of the fifth string, and MR.
PINKIE behind the third fret of the first string. THE FIRST FINGER
WILL NOT EVEN BE USED IN THE CHORD! This will allow you to switch
to the C chord with much more speed that ever before. And when you
switch to the C chord, you have the option of leaving your pinkie
behind the third fret of the high E string, which gives the C chord
an entirely new dimension. Then leave it on the same way and go
right back to G. Most importantly, playing the G this way leaves
your first finger and other fingers in an ideal position to go
quickly into lead licks. It may seem difficult to learn, but once
you learn, you'll never go back!

These are, I believe, the most important basics. If you would like
to read more details about these techniques and other valuable
acoustic guitar information, plus some danged good recipes, read some of my other articles on this website.

Whether you pick bluegrass, fiddle tunes, and old-time music on a
guitar like I do, or other styles of music, here are some good
basics to learn that will get you on the road to playing fast,
clean, crisp lead on an acoustic guitar:

2. Be sure to grip the pick firmly so that your thumb and index
finger cover most of the area of the pick. Choke up on that pick!
You don't want to play little wimpy licks!

1. The first thing you need to do is start with a pick that is
thick enough! Use at least a medium pick--usually about .73-.81mm.
This may seem difficult at first, but it is absolutely necessary,
so that you'll get strong, snappy notes that really make a
statement.

4. On the left hand (or the hand that works the fretboard): Keep
those fingernails trimmed well! You need to be able to press the
strings down with the least amount of effort in order to be a good
picker--and long fingernails throw a monkey wrench into the works.

Copyright 2007 Lee Griffith. All rights reserved.

7. If you want to be a fast and clean flatpicker, one of the
smartest things you can do is to practice using a metronome. You
might say, "I don't have a metronome." Well, I will not allow you
to use that as an excuse--because you can now go to an online
metronome any time you wish, and it doesn't cost you a cent! Just
go to:

3. DO NOT rest the palm or wrist of your picking hand on the bridge
or on the top of your guitar. Your hand needs to float freely so
that you can keep the edge of the pick at pretty much a 90 degree
angle from the strings. Keep your pinky or ring finger (or both)
stiff so that one of these fingers glides LOOSELY over the top as a
reference. This will definitely seem awkward if you are not used to
it, but it is a must if you're going to be a good acoustic guitar
picker!

Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar Wall Hook Decor

Elixir Medium Nanoweb Acoustic Guitar Strings

Elixir® Strings with ultra thin NANOWEB? coating have the bright tone and punch of non-coated strings and feel like traditional strings. Elixir® Strings are coated in a unique way to protect wound strings from your DNA and other contaminants. A flexible, strong, yet micro-thin polymer tube defends the Critical Zone of Tone from invading enemies. Nothing (including the coating) gets between the windings. The result? Strings that sound and feel their best three to five times longer than ordinary strings. Gauges: .013; .017; .026w; .035w; .045w; .056w
Customer Review: they work well
1. they hold a tone for a little bit longer 2. takes longer to corrode 3. they are really shiney 4. still dont know wtf a nanoweb is they look nice and sound well. thats all you really need to know.
Customer Review: The best strings around
After trying out a few different types of strings for my Taylor, I decided the Taylor company had the right idea after all- nothing beats Elixirs. I figure the price is reasonable because not only do they last far longer than any other strings, they also feel a lot better on your fingers. I prefer the nanowebs to the polywebs because they're slicker and the top layer on the polywebs shreds/feathers a bit over the soundhole sometimes. Overall, definitely worth it.

Drum Machines

Drum machines are popular electronic music machines consisting of digital signal processing circuits and memory. These are widely used as the backbeat for all types of music such as pop, jazz, salsa, funk and hip-hop. Structurally similar to a small box, a drum machine has a number of small buttons that enables the player to create many different sounds and beats.

Drum machines duplicate the sound of drums and other percussion instruments for any type of live musical programs and recording. You can record your patch for later use or modify the existing patch by adding your own sounds. Drum machines also support many inputs and outputs. Modern machines serve as sequencers with sample playback or synthesizer component that can reproduce the drum timbres and the sound of traditional percussion instruments. Some models have pressure sensitive pads for finger drumming. Each pad is assigned unique sounds such as bass, snare, low-tom, cymbal crash, hi-tom, etc. The LED screen on the machine pad displays the selected patches or the tracks. If your machine has some advanced features like MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) connectivity, you can easily program it with other MIDI devices or a computer.

Some of the main advantages of drum machines include easy programming and provisions for faster beats. Moreover, they are convenient and portable and simulate a variety of sounds. The technical features may vary from one model to another.

Lazy Susan Turntables

Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty Electric Guitar

The classic "tuxedo" look and world famous features that has made the Les Paul Custom a hit since 1954, plus an additional 3rd humbucker, are now available in a great price range, with the Epiphone Black Beauty.
Customer Review: I love this Guitar, best I've ever owned!
I played in a cover band for many years, before I started writing my own music, so I needed a guitar that had the versatility to switch from Heavy Metal to Blues and back to Alternative Rock with a twist of Electronica. The Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty was perfect for this need. The three pick ups make it versatile enough to play anything you want and it still sounds amazing. Its made in Gibson's Epiphone Factory in Quindao, China, but don't let this put you off, the craftmanship to top notch and is head and shoulders above guitars in the same price range built in America. Probably because the expansive work force in China under the training and direction of American master guitarists allows Epiphone to devote more time to making the best guitars possible. I highly recommend this guitar to everyone from beginners to advanced players. It looks even better in real life and sounds twice as good as it looks.
Customer Review: Awesome
I bought this guitar a while back now and it LOOKS awesome, really cool, it plays really well too i like to play like classisc rock and stuff like Led Zepplin, Guns n Roses and then theres stuff like Lenny Kravitz, Muse ETC and it handles them well. The only thing i was concerned about is the Treb and Rhythm Swith it was a bit wobblie..... but its ok hasnt gone wrong yet :D.

Major Scale Patterns On the Guitar Fretboard

It's good to settle on an effect fingering that works for you and then use it consistently as you practice, but you'll no doubt use other fingerings when you start actually playing music. For example, techniques such as slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs and bends may require you to use your fingers differently.

Memorizing the Patterns

Major scale patterns should be learned one at a time. Visualize the pattern on the fret board and play up and down it until it's completely memorized. It's not necessary to start or end on the root of the scale, but rather just be sure to touch on every note available in a given position.

Play Until Your Fingers Bleed!

Major Scale Fingerings

Contrary to what is often taught, there are no correct or perfect fingerings for major scale patterns. With that being said, there still are some bad habits that should be avoided. Never do something silly like play through a whole pattern with only one or two fingers (unless you want look and sound like a hack). You've got four fingers so you might as well use them. Work on getting three or four fingers involved. Also, don't shift your hand but rather leave it set and then reach with your fingers. You may need to position your thumb behind the neck of the guitar so that you can spread your fingers and play with the tips.

Major Scale Patterns

When learning the major scale, it's necessary to break up the notes into positions or patterns. Usually this is done with five pieces but some players prefer seven. It really doesn't matter whether 5 or 7 patterns are used as long as the whole guitar fretboard is covered. Also, don't think of patterns as separate scales. They're not. They're just the same notes in different positions.

Alternate Your Pick

Don't spend your practice time reinforcing negative habits. For example, plunking through the scale entirely with downstrokes. Instead, be sure to alternate your pick as you rehearse the scale patterns. This is a good way to kill two birds with one stone because you can develop your alternate picking technique while you master the scale patterns.

Guitar players play melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos and bass lines using major scale patterns. The notes of these patterns cover the whole fretboard. To learn the whole scale template, players break it up into smaller pieces. This article will discuss how this is done and address common issues concerning scale patterns, fingering options, alternate picking and transposing to new keys. With this information, you'll be on your way to successfully using and applying major scale patterns, which is necessary in order to develop a strong knowledge of guitar theory.

Guitar Theory Podcast and Major Scales

To find and listen to free audio lessons on the major scale and music theory go to iTunes or TalkShoe.com and search "guitar theory" or "Desi Serna."

As you move across the fretboard try to focus on how a portion of each pattern is reused in the neighboring position. Visualizing how these pieces connect is critical to navigating the fretboard, mixing and matching music elements, and understanding guitar music theory.

Mr. Desi Serna (Google me!)

How Major Scale Patterns Connect

After you have completely memorized a pattern you can move positions and start on the next. With each new pattern you complete, be sure to go back and review the others that came before it. This process should be continued until the whole guitar neck is covered. Then you can practice connecting the patterns in both directions across the neck. For example, connect pattern one to pattern two, two to three, three to four, four to five, and then reverse your direction by connecting pattern five back into pattern four, four into three, three into two, and two into one. There may even be room to continue moving backward by connecting the original pattern one back into pattern five and so on until you reach the open strings. Don't forget that these open string can be used too.

You can find major scale pattern diagrams by going to Google.com and searching "major scale patterns." Many web sites will come up that have pattern illustrations available for free. Major scale patterns are also drawn out in many instructional guitar theory books such as Fretboard Theory and Fretboard Logic.

Scales, Chords, Progressions, and More

Playing Major Scales in Different Keys

Once you use all the patterns to cover the entire fretboard in one key you can transpose and play in a new key by simply shifting everything to a new starting position. Don't let the fret numbers throw you off in the new key. Instead, focus your attention on the pattern shapes and fingerings. Connect all the patterns in a new key until the fretboard runs out or it's not possible to play any higher. Don't forget about the area of the neck before pattern one begins. You may be able to fit in a pattern five there, possibly more. Continue this process until all twelve keys are covered. Then you'll surely have the patterns down pat!

More Guitar Lessons to Come

More guitar lessons will be added soon including great ways to practice and helpful ways to begin applying the major scale to music and songs. This information is needed in order to complete the major scale learning process, and develop a deeper understanding of guitar theory.

Author of Fretboard Theory

To sharpen your picking technique, choke up on the pick, keep your hand planted on the guitar body and alternate continuously without skipping or repeating any strokes. Your right hand should rest just above the string you're picking. As your right hand moves across the strings, it should slide over and rest upon the strings that are not being played in order to keep them quiet.

On The Edge 4 Stroke Gas Powered Party Blender Model 900100

MECC First Lessons Beginning Guitar - Learning Chords / Playing Songs Book/DVD

Have you ever wanted to learn to play the guitar? First Lessons Beginning Guitar is a step-by-step, concise, user-friendly guide to learning chords, strumming, and songs. Music is presented in the keys of G, D, E minor and C with a DVD. The book also features sections on types of guitars, frequently asked questions, how to string a guitar, and musical and guitar-related terminology. It is ideal for beginners of any age.

Left Hand Position, Holding the Pick, Parts of the Guitar, How to Tune Counting, Explanation of Chord Symbols, Strumming G / EZ Form, D7 Chord, Full G Chord Brother John, The Farmer and the Dell, Lonesome Valley, Tom Dooley Hail, Hail, The Gang's All Here Father Abraham, Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight! , The Old Chisholm Trail, Jack of Diamonds C Chord / EZ Form, 3/4 Time Strum Blow Ye Winds, Westerly Oh, Mary, Don't You Weep Full C Chord, D Chord, A7 Chord Blow Away the Morning Dew, Down Up Strum, Sweet Lillie Songs Using D - A7 Chords Bury Me Not On the Lone Prairie, Auld Lang Syne, New River Train, Wild Colonial Boy, Frankie and Johnny E Minor, B7, Am, G7 Hey, Ho, Nobody Home Shady Grove, Shalom Chaverim, Joshua Fought The Battle of Jericho, Wade in the Water, Skip to My Lou Building the F Chord The Ship That Never Returned, Jacob's Ladder, East Virginia Review Key of G, D, Em, C Musical Terms How to String a Guitar Types of Guitars Frequently Asked Questions Glossary of Guitar Terms

I thought I had learnt theory, scales, modes, chords, keys and everything else a lead guitarist should know. Then I realized the truth... I KNEW NOTHING! You see, when you first start playing Guitar or any other instrument, you think your knowledge and skills are placed on a pyramid, and eventually you will get to the very top and you would have mastered the Guitar or whatever you instrument may be. The reality of it all is that this concept couldn't be further from the truth.

I was told a different way of thinking about music, the guitar and ultimately my playing. Not only that, but it really made me think about just what is was I wanted to accomplish with my guitar. What is that one thing I am searching for? The answer didn't come for weeks, and I mean weeks! It frustrated the hell out of me, I had been told this information, but I had no idea what it really meant. So as the weeks past and I continued to slave away for hours on end getting sick of what I was playing something finally clicked, like I finally saw the light it was like I instantly understood everything I was told!

So on my search for playing material I found a secret that most will never know, it's crazy to think that something as simple as knowing what you want and doing a tiny bit everyday will make you the player you always wanted to be without having to slave away locking yourself in your room for hours on end. Remember the pyramid is upside down! So make it clear what you want, and go for it!

The pyramid of knowledge does exist, but not in the way you probably think it does now. The pyramid is actually upside down. You start at the very bottom, the one little point. As you go up the pyramid you finally realize just how little you know and that is when you realize that there is no real thing as 'mastering the guitar' because it is completely impossible. There can be no gauge to compare blues to jazz, classical to rock. There are so many different voicings from a guitar that there is no way you can compare an acoustic guitar to an electric guitar. One you realize this, you can start to define exactly what it is that you want to be able to do on the guitar, whether that means learning a certain part of theory, finger tapping, sweeping or anything else.

Back a few years ago, when I got my new Fender Strat, I was so amped about the fact that I actually had this brand new guitar to play on that I set out in search for literally everything I could find to play. While most people go through a stage like this in their guitar playing, mine was different. The reason for this is because of the information I found. The way I came across this was actually by chance at my local music store. I had a chat to one of the workers there, an older guy, grey hair, heavy smoker, big mustache. Anyway, other than the fact that he looked like he had a lot of experience under his belt, something about him just told me this guy was legit.

Practice Guitar Less, But Get Better Faster

Dirty

Ibanez Artcore AS73 BS Semi Hollowbody Guitar With Case

With a 22-fret set mahogany neck, bound rosewood fretboard and pearl dot inlays, the Ibanez Artcore AS73 Electric Guitar dishes out satin-smooth tone and sweet sustain. The double-cutaway all-maple body is strong, resonant, and with its fantastic burst finish options, very easy on the eyes. Chrome-finished hardware on the Ibanez AS73 ncludes ACH humbuckers, ART1 bridge, and tuners.Ibanez Artcore Semi-Hollow Body Electric AS73BS Features: * Artcore Set-In neck * Mahogany Neck Material * Maple top/ sides/back Body * 22/Large frets * Bound Rosewood Finger Board * ART1 bridge * ACH1 (H) Neck PU * ACH2 (H) Bridge PU * Pearl Dot Inlay * Brown Sunburst Finish * Includes Ibanez Hardshell Case
Customer Review: Unparalleled value for money
I've used my AS73 on hundreds of jazz gigs. Plays great, sounds great, very rugged and dependable, even looks great. I've been playing for nineteen years, and owned Fenders, Gibsons, Yamahas, etc, that I didn't like as much as I love this guitar. You owe it to yourself to try one of these instruments.

Rock Guitar Lick 2- Chuck Berry Style

This lick will fit into just about any rock and roll/uptempo 12 bar blues. Example in A.

E---5-5---------5----5-5-------------B---5-5-7-5H6-5----5-5-7-5H6-----

G---------------------------------7---D--------------------------------------A--------------------------------------

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

Rock Guitar Lick 3- Hendrix Style

I had Hendrix in mind with this example but you can find it being used by countless other guitarists. Example in Am.

E--------5------------8-----8/10------

B-----5-----8/10-------10--------10-

G--7(bend slightly)------------------D---------------------------------------A---------------------------------------E---------------------------------------

Rock Guitar Lick 4- Zakk Wylde Style

A tough lick requiring lots of speed to get it to sound like Zakk, although it sounds cool in its own right also. Cycle it over and over for best effect. Good luck! Example in AM

E--5-3---------3---8-5---------5---10-8------------8--B-------5-3-5-----------8-5-8-------------10-8-10----G----------------------------------------------------------

D----------------------------------------------------------A----------------------------------------------------------

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

Hopefully those 4 rock guitar licks have broadened your horizons a little bit and given you a few ideas to help you develop your own licks and variations. Happy practicing!

Rock Guitar Lick 1-EVH Style

Cycle this lick to get a cool sound in any uptempo rock or blues solo. Example in key of Am.

E---5-----------5----------------B-----8P5--------8P5-----------G----------8-----------8---------

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

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

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

A rock guitar lick can be the staple of any rock guitarists trickbag. Whether you want to be Steve Vai duelling with a young blues player or Eric Clapton in his 80s rock era, some good quality rock guitar licks can put you head and shoulders above the rest. Ive compiled a few rock guitar licks here that will amaze your friends.

Dirty 2

Yamaha PF-1000 Contemporary Digital Piano

Superb 88-key Graded Hammer Effect keyboard Dynamic Stereo Sampling for genuine piano sound Stereo Sustain samples and Key-off samples for added realism Huge selection of high-quality voices (308 panel + 480 XG + 16 drum kits) 259 professionally arranged accompaniment styles Large LCD with graphical user interface Max. 96-note polyphony PC interface (TO HOST) for computer connection 6 blocks of digital effects (Reverb, Chorus, DSP) Score/lyrics display function and video out jack 16-track sequencer Built-in two-way stereo speakers (30W x 2) Custom 3-foot pedal with half pedal effect Built-in floppy disk drive Keyboard stand and music rest included In Touch with Piano Reality Although loaded with advanced music performance functions, the PF1000 is the first and foremost a fine digital piano. Carefully crafted to emulate the expressive touch and warm sound of an acoustic piano in every way, the PF1000 uses three layers of stereo piano samples, each set at a different velocity. What this means in real terms is that when you touch the keys lightly, you'll hear a soft, delicate piano sound. And as you play harder, the sound not only becomes louder, but also richer with more harmonic overtones, just like on a real piano.

But do bear in mind that if you read solely from tab, you will not be able to join in with other musicians and you won't be able to read music that has been composed for other instruments or written in standard staff notation / sheet music.

Online Guitar Lessons Just Get Better

At the same time, music software has also advanced a pace, which you can easily use in conjunction with your online guitar lessons. Some online guitar lessons include their own software which enables you to slow down a loop or piece of music until you are up to speed. The musical pitch is retained, so your instrument will sound like the instrument your can hear on the video, but playing at a slower speed.

There has never been a better time to go online and learn to play the guitar.

You can also buy this software separately, or you can download other music software which enables you to isolate the guitar chords and bass tabs for any pop/rock song or other genre. Just select a song or music from almost any file format, such as CD or MP3, click "Analyze" and the chords, bass tabs and any hidden tones are revealed. You can then record and make loops or slow the piece down and jam along at a speed that suits you, until you're ready to go faster. You will quickly learn pieces that were just too difficult to get right before, all for the price of a couple of guitar lessons.

And one other thing. When learning to play the guitar, or other instrument, you mustn't overlook the valuable contribution play-along music or accompaniment music will have on your playing skills. CDs are available for hundreds of popular songs and music with the guitar (or other instrument) section deleted ready for you to play your interpretation. All you need is a CD player to have the next best thing to having a real live band playing along with you when you practice. And they will help you to feel more at ease when you first start to play alongside your friends and other musicians. Play-along CDs are also the easiest and least expensive way to make a recording which features you playing your own instrument. You can then, if you wish, submit your music to websites, radio stations or schools.

You can listen to, and compare different online teaching methods before you choose. Some concentrate on one genre, or a specific aspect of playing the guitar, like bass guitar lessons, acoustic guitar lessons, learn guitar chords or jazz or playing the blues or how to play guitar fast like Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Kirk Hammett and other great guiitarists.

For the cost of a couple of guitar lessons with your local teacher, you can download an online guitar lesson for absolute beginners, intermediate or advanced guitar players which will take you on as far as you wish to go, with your hobby or career. And of course you only make one payment. And best of all, you only have to turn on your computer, in a few months, or a year, to go back for a free refresher course. Most come with a money back guarantee.

Online guitar lessons, using new advanced music software technology, are an excellent, and inexpensive learning system for those pupils who do not respond well to one to one lessons, or even find them intimidating.

Uniquely, online guitar lessons simultaneously stimulate our sense of sight, hearing and touch whilst we repeatedly watch, listen and play, in our own time, at our own speed, in our own home, which helps the learning and memory process.

16 Channel 4 Bus Powered Console Mixer

Classical Guitar

Javanese rosewood bridge with 19 frets, nato neck and spruce top

Indonesian mahogany back and sides

Exceptional playability and superb tone

Delivers outstanding level of quality

Open tuning mechanism with chrome-finished hardware

Special handling fees apply


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Buying Music Equipment

Valencia CG-150K 3/4 Size Left Handed w/ Carry Bag and Instructional DVD

Valencia CG-150K 3/4 Short Scale Acoustic Pack Left Handed An Amazing Price On A Left Handed 3/4 Size Guitar Kit! Everything you need in a starter guitar kit: Beautiful Spanish Guitar Styling, usually only found on guitars double this price! Nylon strings. Special Left Handed Bridge and Nut Installed. Classical style open tuners. Natowood fretboard and bridge. Elegant Basswood back and sides.Ornate sound hole binding. Protective carry bag and instructional DVD included ! Overall length 36 1/2". Width of the nut 1 11/16" Scale length 23".


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Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar

Mel Bay First Lessons Flatpicking Guitar Book, CD & DVD

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Buy Music Equipment

DOWN Logo Bar Shot Glass

One of the sharpest shot glasses on the market...the Official DOWN Logo shot glass. A MUST HAVE for any true DOWN, PANTERA, SUPERJOINT, or Phil Anselmo fan!! You will definitely turn heads with this item that features the DOWN logo in a recessed letter style on a genuine glass shot...the effect is awesome. Measures 2 1/2" high X 1 7/8" wide at the rim. The logo is made from 100% metal for unmatched quality and longevity.


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Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar

Yamaha Gigmaker Deluxe Acoustic Guitar Package

Gigmaker deluxe is a great package that includes all the accessories needed to start playing immediately. The package includes an FD01S solid top guitar, gig bag, digital tuner, DVD guitar lessons, strap, strings, and picks.
Customer Review: Great Deal.
Great deal for how much it costs. The customer support at Austin Bazaar is also very good and quick.
Customer Review: GREAT DEAL
I just started playing Guitar and after seaching around the internet i found this steal of a guitar. I paid 179.99 from amazon and it shipped free and seeing as im in Iraq thats awsome. Ayway the guitar is very easy to play action isnt to high and its easy to get a clean sound from, tunning is also no problem usualy the top two strings need to be a little tighter after sitting over night but thats about it. The tuner is very helpful and the dvd while not very exciting does have a great cord dictionary thats very helpful to me. Over all for the money i think this is a awsome package the only peice of the package that isnt awsome is the gig bag and at this price who cares the gig bag they give you is just that a bag no padding or anything of that sort.


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Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar

Epiphone Guitar Basics : Tommy Anthony

If these steps don't work for you, don't give up, just keep going, you may want to professionally record a CD and get your manager to get it sold throughout the country. You can also have your own tour, by hiring out venues and doing a lot of organizing, this can be the best way to get your name out there.

3. Get Your Band Together

1. Practice

Practice as much as you can, practice as often as you can, because every second you spend practicing will put you one second above your competition. Whatever you play, Drums, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Vocals or anything else, just learn every thing you can, no matter what style you like, learn every style, Blues, Flamenco, Rock, Jazz, Metal etc. It is not abnormal for someone to practice upwards of ten hours a day, if you are not committed to this, stop now and decide on something else for a living because being a RockStar is not for you. For those willing to put in the work, read on.

Do You Want to Be a Rockstar?

Once you can afford it, get a manager, put an ad in the Newspaper and you will find one very fast. They will do a lot of work for you so you can concentrate on your music. Get them to promote you and hopefully you can get picked up on a record label.

2. Make Your Music

Remember that people will only listen to music they want to listen to, don't try to change the people, change your music. If it takes you through a few styles of music that is ok, if your ultimate goal is to be a RockStar, you will do whatever it takes to get to that goal, so if that means practicing 10+ hours a day for 10 years, you will do it.

People often think of 'RockStars' as drunken drugged up idiots. This description of a RockStar is correct, but the life style of 'Sex, Drugs and Rock N' Roll' has really just withered down over the years to 'Rock N' Roll'. The reason for this because drugs are now stronger and kill many people before they can be a RockStar, and the STI's are now a lot worse than they were twenty years ago and can kill you now. So if being a RockStar still sounds relevant to you, you need to follow these steps.

If you are just playing an Acoustic Guitar and singing this isn't so important, but for anything else you need to assemble your band. Post ads in local newspapers, on online message boards and go to your local Music store and ask if they have a notice board for you to place an ad on. Ask around and eventually you will find people wanting to play the same style music as yourself.

5. Get a Manager

No matter what style you play, there has to be an audience or else you will never make it, if that means playing a style you don't really like then that is too bad. If you are lucky enough to be able to play the music you like then that is great. The easiest way to make a sound that a lot of people will like (including record labels) is to look at the charts, make a similar sound with a unique flavor and you should have a sound people want to hear.

4. Promote Yourself

No matter how good you actually sound, you need to promote yourself so people can actually hear you. Start by playing a few free gigs and work your way up to paying gigs. Play covers plus your originals so people have a reason to go see you other than taking a chance listening to an all original band. Get a demo CD done, doesn't matter how, just get it recorded, then send it out to Record Labels and sell it at your gigs to help you get your name out. You may also want to send your demo CD out to small radio stations, the biggies won't take a chance with a demo but small stations often do.

Everybody dreams of being a RockStar when they grow up, out of a million, you would be lucky if one of those people become a real RockStar, why? Because they had the determination to make it, unlike all the others they left behind. If you want to be a RockStar, you need determination, flexibility, common sense and of course an amazing musical ability.

Acoustic Electric Bass Guitar

Fender Starcaster® Electric Guitar/Amp Package - FlameTop Finish

Play like a rock star on the Starcaster® by Fender®. This package, perfect for the enthusiastic novice, comes complete with 10 watt amplifier, guitar strap,cable, gig bag, and instructional DVD. The Starcaster® offers the quality you've come to expect from Fender and will certainly provide hours of playing enjoyment.
Customer Review: Be real, this is a good entry guitar
I have this guitar pack and I have to say that the number of negative comments is amazing. I am not sure what people expect for $200.00. No! This is not a $1200.00 dollar American made strat, nor is the $500.00 Mexican made strat. It's a low cost made in China strat. Regardless of where it was made, I found the workmanship to be very acceptable. The guitar is beautiful and the rosewood fretboard is very nice. The whole guitar has a solid feel. My only real complaint is that the center pickup has an unusually low level output. But there is no way I would return this guitar just because of a single pickup. At worst case I'd just have Fender send a replacement. And Yes! As other reviews have noted, the amp hums a little (especially at higher volumes). But, this has more to with the single coil pickups used in the guitar. If you want humbucker pickups, you're going to pay more. Also the amp is just a small 10W practice amp. It works fine for lower volume practicing. I have fallen in love with mine and play it quietly in the evenings to relax from the world. I have a family and very little extra money. I am greatful that Fender has provided these low cost kits. It gives me the opportunity to own and relax with a Fender, something that would be questionable with a better (read more expensive) guitar. And, if the kids develop an interest, I won't cry too much if they add a few scratches to it. Folks need to keep things in perspective. This is a low cost entry level guitar. Understanding those limitations, I highly recommend this kit to anyone just starting out.
Customer Review: Fantastic Package
Do get this from Sams, much cheaper. This is a great deal for the price and the quality is fantastic. I would recommend reading the wikipedia article on the Starcaster by Fender to better understand the type of guitar you are looking at.

Unlimited Downloads

Unlimited Downloads is close with a library of over 95 million files and 7 million users. The bundled software lets you enjoy your downloaded music, video, books and games on your computer. That is nice. Because of its off-line features, the site comes in a very respectable second place.

Where to Download Games, Music and Videos For Zune

Zune Access

We probably should have saved this one for the end, to build suspense! Rated as the "best music resource", by pc magazine, Zune Access is our #1 Zune download site. Over 250 million files that include music, games and movies and providing 100% Zune compatible downloads. Zune Access is definitely the site to beat. You must give it a try.

My Online Downloads

Other than games, videos and music what else would you like? CD covers? DVD covers? Screensaver? Sure, MyOnlineDownloads delivers it all. The interface does not look as slick as the other guys, so we have to dock some points. A very respectable third place finish.

Save yourself the hassle of looking at site after site after site, and check out the ones listed here. You will not be disappointed. Check out my blog, listed below, for full reviews and helpful links.

Zune Video Pro

Songs are great, but what about videos? This is the spot you need to visit if you want video. Features: music, movies, music videos, cartoons and TV shows. Zune's video can be fully enjoyed, but files will be significantly larger to download, which means you will benefit from having a faster internet connection. Fourth place, because a variety is nice to have and if you don't have super quick internet, you might feel a bit of a slow down with your downloads.

Musicalgear

Rogue RG-624 Left Handed Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Natural

The RG-624 Lefty Guitar features a spruce top for a great sound, die-cast tuning machines for precise tuning, inlaid body binding, and world famous Martin strings.

The Renaissance and Beyond

Did you know that when you picked up your acoustic guitar, you're picking up an instrument with 5,000 years of history attached to it? Acoustic guitars are descendants of stringed instruments that were found in a variety of cultures thousands and thousands of years ago. As civilizations merged and the world became smaller, the guitar began taking on a unified shape and style. Since then, there has been a lineal evolution of several hundreds of years of instruments that can be directly compared to today's acoustic guitars.

While in the Middle Ages, the guitar instruments were not terribly popular, being overshadowed by other contemporary instruments, in the Renaissance the guitar began to take a real hold. It was in Italy in 1779 that the first six string guitar was created. Gaetano Vinaccia created this instrument in Naples. Following that, the man known as the "Father of Modern Guitar" made his permanent mark on the course of the guitar and how it would be designed and played.

The instrument that Antonio de Torres created and made popular was the Classical guitar. The acoustic guitar is commonly misinterpreted as being the same as the Classical guitar. This is not true, there are many key differences in the design of these two separate guitars. The most important of which is that the acoustic guitar has steel strings, while the Classical guitar is strung with nylon strings.

The acoustic guitar was actually developed in America from European immigrants. The last major development of the acoustic guitar is the electrical-acoustic guitar. These acoustic guitars can be plugged into an amplifier for increased volume or can be left unplugged and played as is.

The Medieval Period

History of the Acoustic Guitar

The body was also made larger and sturdier still. The acoustic guitar was much better for performing in larger areas as it was increasingly louder than the Classical guitar; the two guitars also produce different ranges and textures of sounds which various styles of music correspond to.

During the Medieval Period of European history, there were several different forms of guitars. These guitars had between three and five strings and were much smaller than the guitars we know today. There were variations of these instruments which had pairs of strings, known as courses. The popular guitars of this period were commonly separated into two groupings. The first, the Guitarra Latina was likely developed from Spain, while the Guitarra Morisca was brought to Spain by the Moorish culture.

The Acoustic Guitar

So next time you pick up an acoustic guitar, remember the history you hold in your hands.

Musicalgear