Oct 4, 2010

What You Need To Know Before Learning Guitar

You might be reading this article because you have decided that you want to start learning the guitar, or that someone you know has decided to. Playing guitar is very rewarding and it does look pretty easy to do when you watch other people play. The truth is that it is not that hard to play guitar, if you are ready to accept one thing. It takes time, practice and dedication to learn. Don't expect to pick up the guitar and instantly become Jimi Hendrix - it never works like that.
The best way to start to learn is to get some lessons from a qualified teacher but sometimes this can be a problem in itself. You need to make sure that they have lots of experience, have got a properly recognised qualification (in teaching guitar) and have the interests of the student at heart, not a desire to make money from you.
The problem with some guitar tutors is that they only teach one style or method. Classical as opposed to chords for example. If you have an idea of what kind of music you would like to play, before you look for a teacher, you will be better prepared to choose the right one. Most new players would like to learn how to play chords, rather than fingerpicking melodies. Or perhaps the student would like to learn how to read and write music, so they can start producing their own songs? Most kids want to be able to play rock music and blistering solos until their parents ears bleed. But what ever your motivation is to play the guitar, finding the right teacher for the job is very important and can make or break the learning process.
Some people might decide that getting a guitar teacher is a little beyond them when they start and choose to teach themselves. This is very possible and can be very rewarding. In fact, some of the best guitarists in the world are self-taught - so there is your evidence that it works. There are plenty of websites and resources on the Internet that a student can learn from. Some contain video instruction, whilst others will give you the chords to play along to your favorite songs. Have a look around and see what you can find - there is something for everybody.
There are also plenty of books available to someone who is learning the guitar. Unless the player is a child, I would recommend getting a book that has well-known songs in, rather than small melodies that are played on one or two strings. If you know the songs, which will most likely be simple songs by The Beatles or folk style ballads, it will make playing that much more enjoyable, especially if you are an older student.

Making Money, Making Music

Music, money and fame! That is the goal of nearly every musician. 'Making money, making music' is a kind of dream to most aspiring musicians. Most musicians possess the 'music' part quite inherently. However, at some point of time in the life of every musician, they look forward to making money with their music.
Some would consider a 'formal' career made in the music industry while others would take it in any way they can get it. Once a person finds something he/she enjoys doing, he/she inevitably wants to make money by exploiting that talent.
The activity hardly becomes a job and more of a game. Music and money go hand in hand which most musicians are not aware of.
Musicians seem to be some special breed. They would do anything to keep away from the serious business world. Any young musician believes that he/she would join some music band, write a few songs and obtain a free recording contract.
But, one does not need to be a rockstar or even a superstar to make money from music. Creating small jingles for businesses or advertisements is an excellent option for making money from music.
Then why the stigma? That's the kind of lifestyle thrown at musicians from music videos. Any self-sufficient musician who is passionate about his/her craft would always be researching about their contemporaries or some other popular artists.
These budding musicians are well aware about what is going on in the music arena. This is a very important to be kept in mind if a person is eager to make money by making music.
Unfortunately this is the situation in which all independent musicians are exposed to.
The most depressing part is that there are some great independent musicians who lose their wish to play music at all if they fail to get any recording contract. 
This is just not the end.
In reality real money could be made by the musician at times he/she steps out of the realm of the recording contract. By making small jingles for business organizations or some advertisement, these budding musicians can earn a lot.
Freelancing makes a lot of money than having a fixed job, especially at the time of looking for a job.

Playing Through the Blues Review - Has It Been the Real Thing?

Blues guitar is a very favorite starting place for beginner guitar player and so I have regularly been asked by a lot of new guitar player if Playing through the Blues does what it sets out to do.
Playing through the Blues was developed by Griff Hamlins, a qualified guitar player as well as instructor of at least 20 years. The program is made for both beginner as well as more advanced guitarist.
The course starts with the basics in guitar chords, scales, finger picking and also legato methods. Explicit goals are actually indicated at the onset of every single session therefore you are aware what you are required to accomplish before you have the sufficient skills to move on to the subsequent lesson. There is a steady advancement via 1 lesson to another. This accumulation in competence on the foundation set formerly makes the learning curve very manageable. The video and spoken instruction manuals helps make it far easier to understand, see as well as hear exactly what the proper tactic must appear and also sound like.The teaching software has a decent level of emphasis on beat playing to help demonstrate the relationship involving the two methods. This sort of guitar teaching system functions extremely well to highlight how you must play so as to draw out the finest as the lead guitar player.
You will not be inundated by music jargons and theories. The jargons as well as concepts if used in Playing through the Blues are explained in succinct language therefore you will not come to feel overwhelmed.. Regardless if you are 12 year old or 60 year old, you will be able to fully grasp and then gain from this online guitar course. The course material is considerable and include guiding your thoughts to think like excellent Blues guitar player such as Eric Clapton in order to get yourself in the right train of thoughts.
This particular guitar teaching software consists of videos of excellent quality and audio materials in addition to written materials and they are really effective in displaying chord/scale partnership in blues guitar. This guitar teaching system also effectively shows exactly how to master blues bends and just about all the unique blues fingerings. Included is additionally a repository of innovative ways for turnaround and licks.
You will also pick up lots of pointers on how you can solo quickly across the entire fretboard, have fun with minor blues, pinch harmonics and hammer-ons. Just like all musical instruments, practise makes perfect. Playing through the Blues will remove a whole lot of the pain and also obstacle regarding learning blues guitar aside and help to make your learning time so much more satisfying. And if you simply schedule 20-30mins each and every day practising along with the particular lesson program developed by Playing through the Blues, you will absolutely grow to be a good blues guitarist.The particular guitar teaching software includes a life time update, therefore this will make sure that you are constantly kept informed on any unique Blues approach. Playing through the Blues definitely set itself apart from other Blues guitar instruction, and so should you want to become the upcoming blues sensation, this is undoubtedly the best place to begin.

Oct 3, 2010

The State of Somali Music

Somali people have a rich musical heritage centered on traditional Somali folklore. Somali songs are usually the product of collaboration between lyricists (midho), songwriters (laxan), and singers (Codka or "voice"). Bands such as Waaberi and Horseed have gained a small following outside of the country. Others, such as Ahmed Cali Cigal and Maryam Mursal, have fused traditional Somali music with rock and roll, bossa nova, jazz, and other modern influences.
However, the current state of Somali Music although hampered by a non existent uncooperative government has managed to flourish fantastically with an array of talented new singers such as Aar Maanta and Farhia Fiska coming to the stage. In addition, legends such as Nimco Yasin and Hassan Aden Samatar are still keeping us entertained. However, there are two issues that need to be addressed in Somali Music and it needs to improved. I hope to discuss these issues in this article whilst providing plausible remedies.
Singers Copying Lyrics
I think we are all aware that lyrics used in the past are being used again but what we are not aware of is its reason. What we seem to do is place blame on the singers themselves. Granted they may partially be to blame but what we have to understand is that there are hundreds of singers and not enough lyricists. We currently have a count of 330 artists at somali-music.com and this isn't by no means a conclusive number. The number of lyrists that we are aware of can be counted on our fingers. The ratio difference is too wide.
Simply put, we need more lyricists and a smoother collaboration process between singers and lyricists.
Somali Music Videos
Another issue is the production of Somali music videos. The majority of Somali Music videos comprises of the singer standing in front of the video camera and swinging from side to side for the duration of the song without any activity. There is no story in the music video, there is no change of scenery except for those computer generated graphics. If we compare Somali music videos to what the rest of the world produces we are far behind.
This is something that the majority (not all) of Somali artists have been doing for a while and this needs to change. Again, we can not say it's the fault of the singers it is more likely that the producers and technical producers not being as advanced technically as we like them to be. Having said this, there is a fantastic array of Somali music videos that are produced and directed well but these are in the minority.
Lack of Resources
It is evident that there is a lack of resources within the Somali Music industry. Many musicians do not see singing as a career. They dabble in it when they can but they do not see it as a full time career for them and this is because there isn't a large enough financial reward and media attention for them to pursue it fully as a career.
Lets put the lack of resources into perspective by comparing the Somali Music industry to the rest of the world. A music video that Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson produced for their song "scream" cost $7M. We can say for sure that this has not happened within the Somali Music industry, in fact the whole industries worth may be less than this. The blame here is with the Somali government or lack of government.
In the past, when a strong Somali state with a government existed, singers looked forward to performing in theaters such as the Chinese built Somali National Theater which gave potential musicians a source of motivation to sing at a respectable place and to become an experienced singer. Dance and vocal training existed for potential singers too. The same can not be said for today's potential musicians and it is evident in some singers dancing technique.
If we look at the past and use Saado Ali Warsame as an example, she is a fantastic dancer and a talented singer and a great basis to compare other Somali artists. If we have a look at some of her videos, we can see she is clearly talented and the video has been choreographed well by trained professionals. Abdi Salaad Beerdilaacshe also shows us his a skilled twist dancer!
It is true that some people are more gifted in dancing and can come naturally however dancing is something that can be learned and improved upon. It would be great to see a little more action and movement in Somali Music videos in terms of dancing. It is feasible to say that better music videos will highlight the singers ability to dance.
Conclusion
Although this article points out flaws in the Somali Music industry it does not in any way intended to be inflammatory. It is simply written from a group of people who admire Somali Musicians and want them to rise to the top. A negative light has been shone on the Somali Music industry, this is not to say its all bad.

How to Look Major on Minor Money - A Garage Bands Guide to Style

So your garage band is ready for more than YouTube and it's time to do professional recording and photo sessions to get a solid image for touring that booking agents can use in promotion. That' means it's time to work on your band style as well as your music
So how do you up your image and style ante without using a lot of money?
The local Savers thrift store is a treasure trove of good, vintage, stylish clothes that can stretch the visual appeal of the band while also stretching the budget.
Your local vintage shops and thrift stores can have fun, funky, stylish clothes that are inexpensive with plenty of wear still in them. This can be a great place to start for clothes and make a little wardrobe budget go far. Consider incorporating a thrift store run in each of the cities that you play in for greater diversity.
The next style option is to partner with a fashion design student. The fashion design student gets their designs in front of the public or in photos and you get something original to wear to help define the personal style of the band. To find these fashion students visit the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise website or your local community college and university. The fashion department is usually cataloged under the art department. Popular indie music fashion designer Angela Johnson came out of the FIDM school and also teaches at a local community college in Arizona. The style talent is around you, you just need to tap into it.
Social media sites are perfect for finding new style talent also. There are several meetup.com fashion groups, and of course Facebook is full of fashionistas also, just post a request and see what type of style trade you can make.
Your hairstyles can be a signature part of the band and music you become known for. You never know when big rocker hair is going to come back in style, so best get prepared now. Whether you need a cut,color,perm or weave, these services are best left to the professionals.
If you don't have professional budget for these services the beauty schools are a great option. All services are performed by students learning with a professional stylist as an instructor. I suggest you take a photo of your hair vision along to the appointment to help inspire the creativity of the student stylist.
These services are more than half off of what you would pay in a salon.
A little makeup goes along way on stage and in your photo shoots. Your most important step to look great in a photo is to take good care of your skin. Slather on a little lightweight moisturizer with SPF to get things started. Follow with spf lip balm because cracked chapped lips never photograph well. Just before a photoshoot prep your skin by using an oil absorbing matte powder to tone down shine before the flashes start popping. You may want to use the face powder on stage on the sweat level during performance.
Eyeliner, or in some cases it is called guyliner is worth the effort. A smudgy smokey eye photographs beautifully and holds up fairly well on stage under hot lights. Most importantly it "pops" the eye and makes them stand out more. Experiment with different brands of pencils, creme or powdered eyeshadows as eyeliner.
Remember, a little makeup goes along way in a more polished and professional look. You decide your level of cosmetic comfort somewhere between Duran Duran and Twisted Sister.
Congratulations on your budding music career and shaping a style of your own.

Underneath the Bad-Girl Image Lindsay Lohan Is a Talented Recording Artist

Lindsay Lohan Songs aren't played much on the radio today. However America's bad-girl still finds a way to make news on the radio. Today Lindsay Lohan is known less for her singing and acting and more for her partying lifestyle.
Lindsay started her big career in Disney's remake of The Parent Trap. This movie was just a springboard for her career. Soon not only was she starring in movies, but she was also singing on the sound track. The was several years where America's little princess could do no wrong.
Lindsay's teenage years were rough for her. If Lindsay's music video, 'Over' was any indication of her time at home with her family it must have been very traumatic. The music video features her hiding in the bathroom. The video also stars her little sister Ali Lohan praying with a rosary. An actor playing Lindsay's mother and father, Dina and Michael Lohan are shown arguing in the living room. This is all taking place in a department store window with people watching from the street.
In all Lindsay has released 2 albums and another has stalled as of recently. She also has had 8 singles released with a couple making it to the billboard 100.
Lindsay undoubtedly has overcome some very rough emotions in her young life and it is obvious she still has some rough road ahead of her. Often times people do forget how much of a talent is being put to waste. In time hopefully Lindsay Lohan can overcome her addictions and get back to entertaining America the right way.
For more information visit Lindsay Lohan Songs

Oct 2, 2010

Drake - The Famous Name in Rap Music

Music is the ultimate source of entertain for everybody. It's a part of human life nowadays. In fact, music is the medicine for soul. The love for musicians and singers among people is beyond limitless which clearly reflects the popularity of them and their prominence.
There are several music genres. Whenever people talk about rap, a name comes in everybody's mind. That's none other than Drake. Yes, Aubrey Drake Graham is among the leading name in rap music. Who can forget hits like "Thank me later", "So far gone", and his first mixtape "Room for improvement", and many others?
Rise of Drake - The New Rap Star
After his first mixtape (Room for improvement) release in 2006, he has never seen backwards. The response of audience was far more than anybody's wild guess. Although, it was only available through his official MySpace page and his website, but it became instant hit. With this success, the new rising star has ventured into world rap.
Drake - First Unsigned Canadian Rap Star on BET
Soon after "Room for improvement" in 2007, Drake released his next mixtape including a single "Replacement girl" by him that also featured Trey Songz. The video of "Replacement Girl", was featured on BET (Black Entertainment Television). It made him first unsigned Canadian rap star whose video was featured on BET as "New Joint of The Day".
Drake became a popular name among music lovers, right before signing to a major record label. The immense positive response for his two previous mixtapes, Room for Improvement and Replacement Girl, Drake's voice became an easily recognizable voice among music lover.
His popularity was clarified with the release of his next mixtape "So Far Gone" in 2009. Drake again released this mixtape through his blog. The album was available for free download and it witnessed more than 2000 downloads in first two hours of its release. Some of the singles like Successful, and Best I Ever Had were the most popular tracks. After getting immense applaud from underground music lovers, this album also made its way to radio.
Recently, the first official debut album of Drake "Thank me later" was released on June 15, 2010. It was scheduled to release in late 2009, but due to some reasons the release got delayed. With the success (as anticipated) of "Thank me later", Drake became the first hip-hop artist who sold the most record in one week.
However, it is just the beginning. Drake has millions of lovers from all over the world. He has just begun his official journey to music world and his fans are sure he will achieve heights of success and popularity. To enjoy his music, people can download most of his songs from Internet. There are some websites which are offering Drake songs in best quality.
Watch the latest Music Video from your favorite artists for free. Get up to date Celebrity and Music News. Read the lyrics - millions of Drake songs music videos, playlists, charts, photos, artist biographies, latest music releases and a great community. For more information please visit: Drake.