My Verbosity

For most people listening to a song on the radio or a CD from their favorite band, the most prevalent string instrument they will hear is the lead guitar. And as with most bands, it is the lead guitarist that is usually given the helm when it comes to performing the melody of the song.

But aside from the lead guitar, there is usually another guitar playing in the background. Not easily heard, but without it, a song will never be the same. It's the bass guitar. And when it comes to bass guitars, Yamaha bass guitars are usually among the top choices.

Like its position in a band, Yamaha bass guitars play an important role in Yamaha's family of guitars. They are just as popular as Yamaha's other guitars, and one can expect Yamaha's reputation of durability, performance, and affordability, to be seen in the bass guitars.

Yamaha electric bass guitars are divided into a number of series. There's the BB series, the RBX series, the TRB series, the BEX series, the E series, and the GigMaker series. They feature unique styling, both visually and acoustically, and can be used by all kinds of artists from all kinds of genres; from rock, to heavy metal, to jazz, to R&B, and all others.

Yamaha's 100+ years of musical heritage is further extended by these guitars (see Yamaha Electronic Drums). In fact, Yamaha bass electric bass guitars are so special, that many artists have worked with Yamaha to produce unique signature series guitars according to their own specifications, even producing a Yamaha 5 string bass guitar that is totally unique and one of a kind.

But Yamaha bass guitars are not just for the best professionals. They are durable and affordable enough to be used by beginners and casual musicians who just love to play. Beginners need not fear about putting the guitar out of tune if they begin practicing, nor do they need to fear the price. Many Yamaha bass guitars are within reach of the average consumer, allowing almost everyone to be able to have, and play, these finely tuned instruments.

So whether you're a pro, or an amateur, or even a frustrated bass guitarist, the Yamaha bass guitar may be for you.

Singing at a karaoke bar can be a daunting experience but it doesn’t have to be impossible. Sometimes despite our better judgement, we just have an urge to get up on stage and share our favourite song with the world. If you’ve been bitten by the karaoke bug, there are a few things to consider before getting up on stage. After all you probably want to do a good job, and these tips will allow you to do just that.

When you are in any karaoke bar, it’s important to be polite as possible and to follow karaoke etiquette whenever possible. So that means no laughing at other people who might be having bad performances. You should always pay full attention to whoever is on the stage, and you will surely appreciate it when they return the favour. When it finally comes time for you to get up and use that karaoke machine you want to choose a song that is easy to sing. Make sure never to pick a song that you are unfamiliar with or else you’re asking for trouble. It’s always a good idea to pick a song you know intimately, and you might even want to memorize the words beforehand.

If you become too nervous for your own good, consider singing with a friend. A duet is always a karaoke bar favourite and it makes everything less scary when you have a support system on stage. You could also get all of your friends to come up on the stage with you. Just be careful not to let the group too out of control as this will probably upset other karaoke goers in the room. Above all else, have fun while taking the audience into consideration because singing on a karaoke machine is a delicate balance of singing for yourself but being aware of your surroundings. If you put on a good show then you’re more likely to have fun while the audience will be cheering for you to sing another song.

If you want to improve you guitar playing a lot then at some point you should learn to play the blues guitar. The blues music founded in the cotton fields of Mississippi has given rise to so many more styles of music through the evolution of the guitar. Getting to learn blues guitar lessons will improve your playing, no matter what type of music that you play.

How do I find a tutor?
The kind of blues guitar lesson that you will be able to get depends a lot on the time and money that you have available. If you have a lot of both then you should certainly look for a local tutor. They will be able to watch you play and offer you a course tailored exactly to your requirements. There are, however, plenty of online courses that can help you through video lessons if this suits your budget and requirements better.

Should I play along to backing tracks?
Absolutely. Backing tracks are an excellent way to learn. The blues is a lot about how you feel the music in your heart, so you want to play as much as possible and learn your own signature style. Backing tracks remove the lead guitar part so that you can play this yourself and offer you a great way to learn.

Do I need an expensive guitar?
No you don’t. Very cheap guitars can have poor action (the distance between the strings and the fret board) that makes it hard for learners. Also the cheaper guitars tend to go out of tune a lot more often. A mid-prized guitar from a reputable brand will be more than adequate for beginners. Remember that you really need your own guitar so that you can practice as much as possible.

As you can see, learning the blues guitar is a great thing to do and you should certainly, whether you are a beginner or not, get some lessons in this great genre of music.

It can be difficult being a left handed bass player. Not only do they have a smaller selection of instruments than their right handed counterparts, but most music, charts and tablature is designed for a right handed audience. It gets even tougher when looking for a left handed acoustic electric bass. There are fewer left handed acoustic instruments in general, and even more so for the left handed acoustic electric bass.

Some left handed players have taken right handed acoustic instruments and flipped them over, playing them either restrung like a left handed instrument or with inverted strings. This gives a left handed player access to more styles of basses. For good intonation on an acoustic instrument, though, the nut must be re-glued or replaced with a new nut, and the bridge may need to be modified as well. Still, many left handed players have gotten by this way.

Recently a number of shops have arisen which specialize in left handed guitars and basses. Some are famous for selling only left handed instruments. Most of these specialty stores, however, sell both right and left handed instruments but have a sizable section of left handed guitars and basses. Usually they're in a house brand, though often the shops will collect rare left handed instruments from various name brands. Either way, if you're looking for a left handed acoustic electric bass and don't mind using a lesser known brand, you can find a lot of options at these shops.

The final option is to have one custom made. Custom shops will build an instrument to your exact specifications. The trade-off is that the cost of building a custom bass is much higher than production instruments. They're usually not built on CNC machines on an assembly line, and there are no cheap parts unless you specifically ask for them. For the extra cost, you get an instrument with exactly the features you are looking for. Custom instruments is one area in which the left handed player has no disadvantages.

There are many assorted kinds of Cajon Drums, making it difficult to choose the one that best fits your needs or wants for that matter. Nevertheless even with all the alternatives that are obtainable, there are three main Cajon drums that stand out from all of the others. They are as follows: the Laptop Cajon, Box Cajon, and the Conga Cajon. Each drum has very distinct characteristics, having its own unique form, reverberation, and playing technique.

Box Cajon
One of probably the most sought after and recognizable Cajon drums, is the Box Cajon. It’s an instrument that's sat on and usually shaped as a square or rectangle. Made from wood, the Box Cajon drums can have many different looks. The drummer will typically rub his foot up and down the sides to control the stress and noise. This can generate various nice, unique sounds. The front surface of the drum is often thinner than the other sides. With the face being thinner it makes a loud slapping noise when hit. There’s normally a gap on the reverse side, which permits air to escape.

Conga Cajon
The Conga Cajon is used in a unique manor unlike the Box Cajon. Although very different from the Box Cajon, the edges are not struck or played like the box Cajon, but the Conga is simply struck on the top surface portion of the drum. You will discover that this drum has a fantastic sound and can add rhythm and soul to any song.

Laptop Cajon
The Laptop Cajon is different than the other two for the reason that it’s designed to sit in your lap. There are humps in its design to allow the drum be positioned comfortably in your lap while also enhancing the quality of the reverberation as it is being played. Transporting this instrument is a cinch which ensures that it will become a favorite for drummers who tour or travel often with their band.

Now that you know more about the various kinds of Cajon Drums, you can see that every one has its personal distinctive advantages and features. Take the time and study which drum most closely fits your requirements. So what are you waiting on? Order yours as we speak and you too can be a rock star!

Sex, drugs, violence, scantily dressed women and money are not new to hip hop. This classic formula labeled, “Gangster Rap”, shook America to the core in the early to mid 1990's when West Coast artists like “Iced-Tea” and groups like, “NWA” terrified and tantalized mid to upper-class, suburban youth with their violent tales of crime in their neighborhoods. For many of these suburbanites, this was their first-ever glimpse at the impoverished conditions existing in the ghettos of the United States.

When hip hop went “gangster”, it caused major controversy as parents, teachers and even politicians made public statements trying to ban it from getting airplay. Back then, there was a specific style, however, it is still a largely controversial genre of music today. However, today, the genre is no more controversial than heavy metal, rock, or punk music. One particular act named “Yo Gotti” is a gangster rap artist. There's no doubt that the South Carolina native is lyrically talented and good at rapping; but on first glance, it was difficult for me to see how or why he would be popular in the rap game these days. His image is a throwback to the classic gang sets of the 1990's “Thug-Life” era, made famous by the late Tupac Shakur. His music genre of rap is “Dirty South” – which is a style that also became famous last decade.

What makes the artist Yo Gotti so appealing to the fans these days? In an age where rappers are looking to purchase professional sports teams and sit in board meetings, Yo Gotti's “old school” and “keep it real” street approach actually comes off as genuine, fresh, and appealing to a new generation of hip hop youth. Most Yo Gotti lyrics reflect his upbringing in the crime-filled Borderlands Housing Projects. His raps, which he refers to as, “reality music,” illustrate the choices many young men face daily. But they also reflect the reaction to poverty and mayhem when you have the will not only to survive, but to succeed.

Lars Johann Yngwie Lannerback, better known by his stage name "Yngwie Malmsteen", came bursting on the guitar scene in the early 80s, almost single-handedly inventing the neoclassical shred.  Few guitarists have had the sort of impact he has had on everyone learning electric guitar.

Yngwie states that he never practices.  This is certainly quite disingenuos, and really can only make sense with very narrow definition of "practice".  You certainly can't even begin to approach the proficiency he has on the guitar without many hours of playing.

Pedal tones are a crucial part of Yngwie's trademark Baroque-and-Roll sound.  A pedal tone is a single note, or sometimes a series of notes, that is repeated at a regular interval throughout a melodic phrase.  Depending on whether the pedal tone is a part of the chord being played, it can add consonance or dissonance to the music, adding tension and release and thus adding drama and excitement to a melodic phrase.

Yngwie is widely known for bringing baroque and classical phrases to the electric guitar, however traditional hard rock power chords and blues scale phrases are also an integral part of his sound.  Taking his cues as much from Jimi Hendrix and Ritchie Blackmore as he does from Johann Sebastian Bach and Niccolò Paganini, he is quite able to abandon the harmonic minor scale and throw in some sweet and melodic pentatonic bends when the music calls for it.

Yngwie Malmsteen is one of the freest and yet most idiosyncratic electric guitar players.  He is an accomplished improviser, and thinks nothing of playing even his best-known songs a little bit differently every time.  As such, it is a tough ask to try to play exactly as he does.  However, whatever style of music you play, there is certainly a lot of benefit to be had by studying his approach to the instrument, and taking from it as you see fit.

For those looking to get their first musical keyboard instrument, it can be a daunting task, especially if you go to a music store since they typically have at least a dozen instruments to choose from. Here are a few things to look for to make your decision on which keyboard to buy an easier one.

First understand that there are different types of keyboards designed for specific tasks. For example, a synthesizer is designed for those who want to be able to create new sounds from scratch while an arranger is geared towards those who want to flesh-out musical ideas and hear them with a backing track in real time (among other functions). Some keyboards, particularly workstations, will incorporate several functions into one instrument. Figuring out what you’ll want to use the music keyboard for will narrow down your choices.

Next you’ll want to consider the sounds. All keyboards will have a collection of instrument voices such as orchestral instruments (flute, violin, harp, etc.), different types of guitars, string sounds, and many others. The higher-end models will have higher quality and a wider variety of sound samples. Listen to how they sound through the speakers and even on a pair of headphones so that you can enjoy the sounds when you practice quietly as well. You’ll want to enjoy hearing your instrument as much as you enjoy playing it.

There are other important details to consider. You will find three sizes of keyboards: 61-key, 76-key, and 88-key instruments. If you’re looking to play classical piano or simply want an extended range to play with, the 88 key music keyboard is a must. You’ll also want to feel the keyboard action as every instrument, even among the same manufacturer, employs different technology to simulate the playing action of acoustic pianos. More “specialized" options, which will depend largely on what you want to use the keyboard for, include recording capabilities, polyphony (how many notes can play at once), and built-in styles.

Evidently, the more you know about music keyboards the more informed of a decision you can make when choosing an instrument that will serve you in the short and long term. For additional information on digital keyboard instruments, the Music Keyboards Guide is a good resource to followup with.

Ableton Live is quite the unique piece of music software, allowing the new or seasoned music production vet the ability to create unique music in a very different way from the more traditional digital audio workstations on the market currently.

One of the most unique parts of Ableton Live is the session view, a 2 dimensional matrix of musical information that you can fill in with your own melodic and harmonic ideas.  The functionality is relatively simple once you understand the fundamentals, but the underlying concept is a little bit of a mental leap for people new to looking at music making this way.

The essential idea here is that the vertical columns are individual tracks just like you would find in other software, playing host to whatever instruments and effects you choose to put there.  This can range anywhere from one of Ableton's own instruments like Analog or Operator to one of the tens of thousands of free and paid third party instruments that come in formats like AU and VST.

The horizontal rows, on the other hand, are referred to as "scenes."  Each scene consists of the clip slot on each corresponding vertical track.  This means that each track can potentially have multiple clips of musical information available for playback in scenes or recording into a more traditional left to right arrangement of music notes.

Ableton Live is a bit of a paradox in the music scene.  On the one hand, the layout is incredibly simple and clean, but on the other hand some of the concepts are actually somewhat challenging to understand.  If you would like more help getting into the nitty gritty, there are a number of Ableton Live tutorials available online.  Nicks Tutorials is one such resource, but there are plenty of others that offer fantastic information as well.