Homemade Pedalboard

If you want to make a Homemade Pedalboard, it is simple. A pedalboard really comes down to a piece of wood, some pedals and some cables. The pedals go on the wood, and the cables connect it all together. If your playing in your bedroom and you just need something nice to keep your organized with, you should be able to get it together for about $100. This includes a power adapter daisy chain, and a custom cable kit.

You can purchase a pre-cut piece of wood at your local hardware store for about $10. Just get whatever is the cheapest, but don't get particle board. Gather your pedals and arrange them on the board in a way that feels comfortable. Be sure to keep in mind the effect order, and which effects you want to come before others. get an idea of the final layout and make sure that all of your effects will fit on the board (if they don't, you will need to purchase a bigger board).

I typically start by attaching a cabinet handle to the top of the board for easy transport. These handles can also be purchased from a hardware store for about $3. Measure to the center of the board and make a mark. Then measure the handle from screw hole to screw hole and divide that measurement in half. Use that number to measure outward from your center mark going both left and right and make two more marks in the respective positions. Then cross reference these marks from the edge of the board to make sure that the handle won't be crooked. I usually measure ½" from the edge to each mark and make a cross. Finally, make sure that the final X marks line up with the screw holes in the handle before drilling the holes. Drill straight through the X's and thread the screws for the handle through and into the handle. If the holes are slightly off, you can drill back through them, rotating the drill in a slight circular motion to enlarge the holes (be very carful and gentle when you do this because the drill bit can break).

After you get the handle installed, it's time to install the pedals. I use bike chain links to install my pedals, so I don't have to worry about Velcro sticking to the wood. Take your pedals and remove all the feet, place a bike chain link down, and put the feet back. After you screw everything tight, you can flip the pedals over and screw them down. I usually place all the pedals down first, make small marks where the screws will go, and then drill small pilot holes. Do this for all of the pedals at the same time. Then, cut and fit all of your patch cables and make sure that they will with where your pedals will go.

Now wire up all the pedals and screw them down one by one. After your finished, attach the power adapter daisy chain to all the pedals that need power. Use zip ties to bundle all of the excess cabling together and make everything look nice and your ready to rock!

Isaac Slape is a writer who specializes in do it yourself guides for musicians. Check out his latest website at DIY Pedalboard where he goes through all the ins and outs of making a pedalboard from scratch, including an article on how to make a homemade pedalboard.

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Proper Breath Support on a Wind Instrument

As with tone production, breath support requires use of the muscles. In order to use the proper muscles, a student will need to "practice" using them. This comes through playing long tones, scales, and long passages that help develop abdominal muscles. In addition, students will get a better sense of "how" to use the proper muscles by playing louder than what they are used to (in the beginning). This forces the muscles to work and not be lazy. Wimpy muscles produce wimpy tone.

What I usually have students do is play a scale as loud as loud as possible with a good tone. Most of the time, I have to ask to play louder. This often produces shocked looks. What students often consider loud (forte) is really only medium soft to medium loud at most! They do notice that when asked to play even louder, the abdominal muscles are working harder. At this point, most students begin to understand use of the proper muscles. However, going home and practicing in the same manner can be a difficult task. Therefore, no student leaves a lesson or rehearsal without being able to reproduce a good quality forte sound without being prompted.

In actuality, it takes more air pressure to play soft than it does loud. Wind players struggle with learning how to play well softly. On the other hand, it's easier to start by playing loud FIRST and learn to gradually get softer (via long tones). Only when a student can produce a consistent forte sound with good tone, do I begin the process of having the decrescendo on a single note (keeping the tone good). Students must understand which muscles to use and how to use them BEFORE pianissimo (soft) playing will sound good.

P.S.I. stands for "pounds per square inch." The muscles that are used to support the airstream require a high enough "P.S.I." to keep the air spinning fast enough which in turn, supports the tone. Think of a garden hose that's hooked up to a power washer. That stream of water could hurt someone! But, its intensity is often enough to clean a brick wall. Imagine how a higher P.S.I. of air could support tone quality? The higher the air P.S.I, the better supported the tone is. This then creates better tone quality.

The muscles that are used for supporting the air include ALL of the abdominal muscles (front, side, and back). Think of "abs of steel" like they use for workout sessions. These are the same muscles used in playing a wind instrument. For help in understanding how to work on proper breathing, listed below are some pointers.

Practice lying down on your back and singing. Feel what muscles are working. These are the same muscles used with proper breathing and tone production on a wind instrument.
Another fun practice technique is to hiss with pressure for as long as possible (but don't pass out!). Create resistance and when you think the air is gone, push a little more. Do this as a breathing warm-up to remind your body what muscles need to be worked out.
Do you run? If so, practice breathing in for four counts, then breathe out for four counts, while running. The footsteps can act as a metronome. If four counts are too quick, change to either 5 or 6 counts. This can also be done with walking.
When working out in a gym, concentrate on exercises that specifically work the abdominal muscles.
While playing your instrument, see how long you can play without taking a breath. When you feel the air is almost gone, push a little more. Then, breathe in from the bottom (gut) area and practice keeping the shoulders down.
Play slow, slurred scales FORTE! Make the abdominal muscles work! Keep the sound as full as possible for the entire scale, start to finish. Then, do the same with other scales.

These exercises are a few of my favorites and really do help students comprehend what's required for proper breathing. Practice really does make perfect when it comes to breath support.

Happy Practicing!

Del Hungerford is a professional musician and educator in the Pacific Northwest. She's been a member of professional orchestras and chamber ensembles as well as teaching in the public schools. Currently, she teaches education courses and clarinet lessons at the university level. She holds a D.M.A. in clarinet from the University of Washington. For more information on Del's musical activities, check out her blog: http://delhungerfordmusicstudio.blogspot.com/

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Music's Power Couples

Ah, love - it makes the world go round, it has been said. And music, on the other hand, "hath charms to soothe the savage breast." So what happens when you put these two powerful forces together? We have something the world loves to see - a musical power couple.

Here are some of the most notable power couples of music, in no particular order:

1. Yoko Ono and John Lennon. This is so classic, it hardly needs explaining. John Lennon is a music icon who will remain the stuff of legends for as long as rock 'n' roll exists in this world. Yoko Ono is an artist and musician in her own right; she was also the woman that John Lennon so publicly adored and gave his heart to.

Ono was Lennon's soul mate, his faithful companion in his last years, his biggest fan. She was by Lennon's side that fateful day he was assassinated. She has since kept the fires of Lennon's crusades burning. If ever there was a musical power couple that we will hear about forever, it is this one.

2. Sonny and Cher. Here is another classic team-up, though sadly, it didn't last. Sonny Bono and Cherilyn LaPiere met in 1962, when Sonny was working at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood. They were married in 1964 and put out two songs in the same year, but their stardom did not come until 1965, when their single "I Got You Baby" catapulted to number 1. This was followed by several more hits, and Sonny and Cher became a household name.

Unfortunately, their married life wasn't as successful as their professional one. In 1974, after several years of domestic turbulence, they divorced on less-than-amicable terms. In 1998, Sonny died in a ski accident. But Cher lives on and still shines in her own terms, albeit less brightly than before. Perhaps, it is because the world really cannot imagine Cher without Sonny. For us, it will always be "Sonny and Cher."

3. Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony. If you've ever seen J-Lo and Mark Anthony perform a song together, you won't find it hard to imagine the kind of chemistry the two of them could have. This couple sizzles on stage. They seem to light each other's fire. If only marriage could look like this in the four walls of the domestic abode, probably nobody would ever get divorce.

But the stage is not the home, and performance is not the same as everyday reality. In 2011, after a seven-year marriage, the couple announced their separation. This, however, does not mean they do not perform together on stage anymore, so even if they are no longer a couple in real life, they still remain an amazing power couple in the music industry.

4. Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber. If there's anything more interesting to watch than love, it is young love. Justin Bieber, born in 1994, released his first full-length album My World 2.0 in 2010. By 2011, he was already the recipient of the several awards, including Artist of the Year from the American Music Awards and Top New Artist from the Billboard Music Awards.

It was also in 2011 that his romantic relationship with Selena Gomez was revealed. Gomez, who has been in show business since she was seven, has starred in several films, won several music awards of her own, and was designated UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2008.

Of course, the two are not married; still, they are arguably the most watched music power couple of 2012.

5. Beyoncé and Jay-Z. They have worked together on several songs, such as "'03 Bonnie & Clyde" in 2002, "Crazy in Love" in 2003, and "Déjà Vu" in 2006; most of these became huge hits. They have each won several music awards. In 2006, Time magazine listed them as the Most Powerful Couple in their 100 Most Influential People list. In 2008, they were married. And in 2012, Beyoncé gave birth to their first child, Blue Ivy.

They are, undoubtedly, the music industry's most powerful couple today. We can only hope they continue making good music together for a long, long time.

CD Packaging by Keyproduction.co.uk

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How to Choose the Right Wedding Music

Weddings are among the most special events in a person's life. Planning for it can be daunting a task because of the countless choices. One of the most crucial parts of the wedding preparation is choosing the right music. In this article, let us lay down the different types of wedding music to help you decide which one to choose.

String quartets are popular among weddings because of their versatility. This type of music is great in providing ceremonial accompaniment and is perfect for the reception as well. A great string quartet is able to shape the mood of your event, making this type of music great in providing zest or balance, whichever is needed. You may also go for a string trio or duo.

The wedding guitarist is one of the most potent forms of music for matrimonial celebrations. This type of music is very flexible and can accommodate both classical and modern music that are popular among young couples. A great guitarist can even make your guests sing along with his tune, adding a livelier atmosphere to your event.

Harps go very well with weddings. They add a fairy tale touch into the event and are great in enhancing the solemn atmosphere of weddings. The harp is a favorite among weddings, as they do not draw too much attention, allowing guests to talk about the event uninterrupted.

The magical flute is another great alternative as well. It is great as a stand-alone wedding music, but is even better when accompanied with other forms such as the classical guitar or harp. The mesmerizing music of the flute adds an enchanting feel to any wedding, making it popular among romantic couples.

If you want to add style and class to your wedding, the saxophone is the type of music you should go for. The powerful melodies from this instrument add a very elegant touch into the event. Having the saxophone in your wedding will certainly make an impression among your guests.

The live band has become a wide favorite in the recent years. They provide not just the usual wedding music; they are a great form of entertainment as well. Having a popular band in your wedding is a great way to jack up your guests into their party mode, which could make the reception extend for a couple more hours. This is a great choice if you have a young crowd as guests.

A good organist provides a splendid atmosphere in church weddings. The music coming from a church organ is very distinct in enveloping the event with solemnity. This form of music is very popular among traditional families.

Choosing a wedding music boils down to individual preference in the end. However, if you still cannot quite decide which one to choose, why not have all of your favorites together? Even tell your guests about it prior to the event. This will certainly build up more anticipation about your upcoming wedding.

Cristopher Laguna Abanil is a freelance writer for the Classical Guitar Agency, a website dedicated in helping people find a great wedding guitarist and musicians anywhere in the UK and Ireland.

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How Do You Handle Rejection?

Even the thickest skinned people among us don't enjoy being told no. And if you're involved with any creative pursuits rejection is a regular feature of the landscape. So, what do you do if you're an aspiring artist, to try and minimize any damage to your psyche? After all, being creative in most cases tends to rely on you being in your "happy place" or a good frame of mind, in order to maximize your creativity.

I'm not a psycho-therapist or anything like that, but I have a fair amount of experience with rejection. Some people may tell you that you simply need to toughen up. Develop that thick skin, and just realize that rejection comes with the territory. I certainly can't argue with that, but some of us are bound to be more sensitive than others when being told no.

It's often difficult not to take things personally when what you are putting forth ultimately is very personal. It's your creativity, something from within you, which you offer up to the world. But in the end, one does have to take a step back and realize that whether the end result is a CD, a sculpture, a film, or some other performance art; your creativity becomes a product or content available for consumption. And as such it's subject to review, criticism or praise.

As simple as this may sound, the first thing to wrap your mind around is that everyone won't love what you do. Acceptance of this fact in no way means that you lack confidence or that you aren't the greatest artist ever. It's just reality. Think about this for a moment: In the United States we get very excited when a singer/musician sells 1 million units. And you know what? A million units are great! Whether we're talking widgets, cans of soup, or CD's. But now, apply a bit of perspective to that selling 1 million units. The United States is a country of more than 300 million people. Looked at another way, you could say that over 299 million people didn't care to buy the product.

Does that mean that the product was unworthy? I suppose that's a subjective question and can move into a number of areas. My real point is that we should understand that our creativity more than likely won't be universally loved. Even the "successful" artists don't achieve universal acceptance, so we should keep that in mind when being told no.

The thing that should become more important, especially if you're an independent artist, is to focus on identifying your potential audience, and discovering the people who say "yes" among them. As you discover more people that say "yes" you'll begin to realize that those who say "no" don't control your destiny. They are entitled to their opinion, but instead of being overly concerned about those who say "no", you'll find that you're better served by focusing on those who say "yes".

This may not necessarily take the sting out of being rejected, but the people who don't appreciate your creativity have done you the favor of removing themselves from your search for those who do.

And when you strip away all of the cool sounds and fancy beats, it's important that there's still a song there. A melody that can be sang, and words with meaning.

So, if you care about great songs, let Leemanuel become part of the soundtrack of your life.

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How To Play The Guitar Right From The Start With The 3 D's

If you want to learn how to play the guitar there are a few things that you need to consider right from the start. As a beginner guitarist you need to have certain things and do certain things if you want to learn how to play the guitar with the least amount of frustration.

Just like the "Karate Kid" guy found out when he wanted to learn karate the right way, a beginner needs to have the desire, discipline and dedication to learn. Desire, discipline and dedication - the 3 D's. Those three words pack a lot of punch. If you want to learn anything, you have to want it badly enough to do whatever it takes to get it and you have to keep at it until you get whatever it was you were wanting to learn. The 3 D's are what you need inside you to learn anything.

Desire, Discipline and Dedication

These are the qualities any beginner guitar player needs to learn to play.

When you see a professional guitarist playing you probably get inspired to play guitar yourself because they make it look so easy and they make their guitars sound so good. You probably don't even think about what it took for them to get that good. But, in order for the pros to play that great they had to really desire it and have the discipline to study and practice and they had to have the dedication to stick with it until they mastered it.

Beginner guitarists usually just want to grab a guitar and start playing and expecting to sound like the pros. Unfortunately, it isn't that easy. Beginners can get disappointed and discouraged when they discover they can't get the same sounds out of their guitar as the professionals do. It is; however, inspirational to remember that the pros were all once exactly where you are now - at the beginning.

So, exactly how do the 3 D's apply to you, the beginning guitarist?

Well, learning guitar requires that you have, not only the desire to learn how to play the guitar, but the discipline to study your lessons regularly (everyday) and to practice regularly (everyday) and the dedication to follow it through, even when it seems pointless or you'd rather do something else, until you too, are at the playing level you want to get to.

Even if you don't want to be a professional guitarist, you should still consider how intense your desire, discipline and dedication to learning guitar is so your goals and expectations do not exceed the effort you are willing to put in and cause you frustration and aggravation.

I can't give you the desire, discipline or dedication to learn but I can show you a birds-eye-view of guitar playing and steer you in the right direction: Find a lot more helpful Guitar Lesson Information here. While you're there, check out the free special report on Learning the Guitar Fretboard to get a jumpstart on your guitar lessons.

If you are new to guitar playing or have tried to learn the guitar before but gave up, be assured that it is NOT impossible to learn. You just need a little guidance. Learn more about How To Play The Guitar by clicking the link.

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The History of the Djembe Drum - Your Questions Answered

The djembe drum is one of West Africa's most popular instruments and is growing in popularity all over the world. This traditional instrument is becoming more mainstream, with more and more schools encouraging their pupils to play. Learn all about the history of this drum here:

Where Does the Djembe Drum Come From?

Pronounced 'jem-bay', the drum originates from the Mali Empire of West Africa and is steeped in cultural history. The djembe was originally used in ceremonial and religious services and for motivating warriors into battle.

West Africa's most popular drum is still used as a way of uniting communities all over the world. The djembe is also used as a form of entertainment across many cultures and communities. The traditional instrument is now hugely popular all over the world, not just in Africa.

Why Is This Type of Drum So Popular?

The djembe has become so popular for a number of reasons, firstly that it is so easy to play. Unlike standard drum kits, the handheld drum is played by tapping out a rhythm with the hands. This means that everyone from adults to children can learn the drum quickly and easily.

The drums unique sound is also extremely popular with music fans, as are the other skills that can be acquired by learning to play a drum. These include: hand to eye coordination, responsibility, musicality and confidence.

Djembe drums also make great children's musical instruments, and are increasingly popular with schools and extra-curricular classes and activities. The percussion instrument is a great addition to any school orchestra to add rhythm.

What Are The Different Types of Djembe?

There are numerous different types of djembe drums available, ranging in size and material. Traditional wooden djembes produce an authentic African sound, while the Fibreglass alternatives have a thinner sound. The fibreglass drums are also more lightweight and easy to transport.

Djembe drums also come in a range of sizes. Small, handheld djembes are great for children and carnival performances. The larger models of djembe drum are best suited to playing in drumming circles and large orchestras although djembe straps are available to make them portable.

The djembe drum has an extremely interesting and cultural history that everyone will enjoy discovering from the traditional construction of it and its importance in the African communities. By playing the instrument, you can discover for yourself just why this djembe has now become one of the most popular drums worldwide.

Djembe Drum Shop stocks a whole host of West Africa drums and instruments including djembe's, percussion shakers and accessories. Contact them today.

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5 Technique Hacks: A Cheat Sheet For Piano Or Keyboard Beginners

When learning any musical instrument there are always tricks and hacks for beginners to push your skills forward.

It isn't always necessary to plug away at endless amounts of theory worksheets and books to become a competent keyboard or piano player.

If you want to learn keyboard or piano but don't want to have the pressure of learning all the theory you can quickly turn your passion and love of music into a success by learning practical hacks so you progress in a shorter period of time.

Many famous musicians and artists have taught themselves to play by ear, and have gone on to have very successful music careers.

Playing without sheet music as a guide will also bring out your creativity and allow you to stamp your own style and identity on any song.

If you want to take a few shortcuts then follow the simple guide below for success in becoming a keyboard or piano star:

If you are undecided about what way to learn keyboard or piano and you just want a quick and fun method then it is best to learn to 'play by ear'. There are many courses that will support you in learning this way, and you will benefit tremendously being taught in this style.
If you want to learn some theory then just practice the basics. This should be enough to take you on to being a decent keyboard or piano player. By the basics I mean memorizing where all the notes are positioned on the keyboard or piano so you can find notes within seconds when learning a new song.
Did you know that practicing in short bursts of 15 minute sessions every day is far more beneficial to practicing for long periods? This is great news for beginners who might not have much free time to learn.
When learning your first full song break it down into small sections and work on it hands separately initially, then put it hands together once you are comfortable.
Rhythm is one of the hardest things to grasp along with co-ordination when learning, so make it your goal to focus on this as soon as you start to learn. For example, when you have worked out the rhythm, notes and structure of a song then play along to a metronome or drum beat. Keep it at a slow consistent rhythm to start with and gradually increase the speed until you reach the original timing of the song.

How to perform piano and keyboard: Sing & Play Keyboard

How to fast-track your piano and keyboard playing as a beginner: Piano & Keyboard Melodies

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A Comparison of Fender and Gibson Electric Guitars

An electric guitar uses electronic signals in accordance with the vibration of its own steel cords to produce a musical tone. In general electric guitars are not loud. They commonly have six strings. However, there are also some types which have up to twelve strings. They are available in different shapes, sizes, designs and qualities. They are used in many music styles such as, rock and roll, pop, country and so much more. You can play any kind of music by an electric guitar. It produces variety of sounds.

There are different types of electric guitars. Here is a comparison of the most commonly used ones called Fender and Gibson.

Fenders give medium and slightly brighter tone. They make cleaner sound and tone as well. The best way to describe the sound they give is bell-like tone. They have lighter body woods commonly called ash and alder which help them to give bright and clear sound. There are two most popular fender guitar types. They are called Stratocaster and Telecaster. Fenders are easily customized and simpler to play. That is one of the reasons why they are loved by many professional guitar players. They usually are used to play classic rock and blues music.

Gibson electric guitars offer darker tone and thick, warm, crunchy sound. They have a mellower tone. They use mainly a denser wood called mahogany for their bodies. They are often loved by many guitar players. There are around seven types of Gibson guitars. However the most commonly used are Les Paul, Spanish Guitar and Midtown. They are usually used to play hard rock type of music.

As a general rule, electric guitars are for professional guitar players. If you are a beginner, it is good you begin with playing acoustic guitars. However, if you are a professional, both Fender and Gibson have their own different tones and qualities. They are used to play different types of music. You can choose one of them depending on the type of music you play and your personal tastes. If you are playing hard rock and love warm and crunchy tone, then your choice will be Gibson. If you are playing classic rock or blues and like bright and clear tone, you may prefer Fenders. In addition, if you want to buy one or both of them, both Fender and Gibson have custom shops, derivatives and classics of each model.

Order your Fender or Gibson electric guitars right now from our store at affordable prices.

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A Short Biography of Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole

Israel Ka'ano'i Kamakawiwo'ole was a singer and musician who was born at Kuakini Hospital in Honolulu. His early life was spent in Palolo Valley located in O'ahu, Hawaii. He lived here till the time he was 10 and then moved to Makaha with his family.

Israel's uncle was an established musician and his parents worked at a bar where music legends had performed. So his life was heavily influenced by music. He learned to play ukulele, a guitar like instrument, at the young age of six after listening to his mother, brother and uncle perform. And at the age of 11 he made his first public appearance with his brother Skippy.

Together with his brother Skippy, Israel started his first band; The Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau was the name of the band started by Israel and his older brother Skippy. Jerome Koko, Louis "Moon" Kauakahi and Sam Gray were the other members of the band. They released five albums together, and the first one was released in 1976.

In 1982 the band suffered its first loss with the death of Skippy as a result of a heart attack. This had a huge impact on Israel but the band did not split up and went on to release other albums which became extremely popular.

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole became a solo artist in 1990 and become wildly successful in his solo career.

The list of his solo works include Ka 'Ano'i, which was his first album. His second album was called Facing Future and was released in 1993. In 1995 E Ala E was released, and this was a duet featuring his brother Skippy (made possible by using studio effects). His last album was released in 1996 and was called N Dis Life.

However, he suffered from extreme obesity and died at the young age of 38 due to a respiratory illness which was brought on because of his weight. His death occurred on the 26th of June, 1997 and his funeral was carried out on the 10th of July, 1997. More than 10,000 grieving fans attended the star's funeral and his coffin was laid to rest at the Capitol building located in Honolulu along with the Senator Spark Matsunaga and Governor John A. Burns. He is the third person who has been given this honor. On the 12th of July, 1997, his ashes were scattered into the Pacific from the M'kua beach located in Honolulu.

We provide the best info about Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. For further details please visit the provided link.

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Top Five Male Rhythm and Blues Artists of Today

Since the Harlem Renaissance, male crooners have been making beautiful music with rhythm and soul. With the passing of many of the legendary male R&B singers, it almost feels like male R&B has lost its presence in music. Luckily, in 2012, there are some men that still sing from their souls.

At the top of the list, Terius 'The Dream' Nash, takes the crown for overall musical ability and lyrical content. The Dream is not only a singer, but a producer and songwriter. He has written hits for Rihanna, J. Holiday, Usher, Mariah Carey, Jaime Fox, and the list goes on. His falsetto style of singing and highly favored production nabs him the number one spot.

The second space goes to married heartthrob, Robin Thicke. Originally, he went by only his last name, and those songs had more a soul sound, but since changing his moniker, and combining R&B with pop he has gotten more mainstream success. He has also written songs for Jennifer Hudson, Usher, and Mary J. Blidge. For over a decade, Thicke has been making great music, but only recently has he gotten the notice he deserved from the R&B sector. His voice has become synonymous with romantic slow jams.

Another super-producer makes the list, NeYo, and if his name alone doesn't cause a stir then some of the names he has written for sure will. NeYo has written songs for Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Monica, Mario, Keri Hilson, and Jennifer Hudson. NeYo's transitions from R&B to techno/pop with ease in recent collaborations with Pitbull and Akon. NeYo will have no problem staying relevant.

An underground R&B artist makes our list with his recent feature on Drake's album Take Care. The Weeknd is an underground mix-tape artist from Canada that has an eerily similar voice to the late great King of Pop, Michael Jackson. He covered the King of Pop's hit, 'Dirty Diana', and gave him all the respect that was due. He has three R&B mix-tapes out that will all be performed during his highly anticipated performance at the 2012 Coachella concert.

Last, but certainly not least, Chris Brown makes the cut, as the only R&B male that can break dance better than a b-boy. Brown is not only a talented singer, but a great overall performer. His youth and natural ability are smooth and calculated. Although his smooth lyrics don't always coincide with his actions Browns career in R&B will be long and fruitful.

For more entertainment industry news, and opportunities for models and actors, please visit the InterFACE Talent Blog: http://www.interfacetalent.com/

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What's Behind Jackson Browne's Song "The Pretender"?

It is safe to say the 1970s will be remembered as the decade of the Singer/Songwriter. The list is endless: James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Dan Fogelberg, Gordon Lightfoot, Jim Croce, Carole King, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell (just to name a few.) Each of these artists had a unique style most-likely influenced by Bob Dylan who essentially re-wrote the rules in the 1960's. While other artists were singing about doggies in the window and "beautiful balloons" Dylan grabbed the world by the throat singing about real-life topics: Personal issues. Relationships. The government. War. Peace. Social issues. Injustices. Etc.. This opened the door for Singer/Songwriter Jackson Browne. And once that door was opened, Browne burst through and raised the bar. Jackson Browne's 1976 album The Pretender is simply one of the finest albums ever made by a Singer/Songwriter. In this first of a series of articles about The Pretender we will focus on the title song.

Born Clyde Jackson Browne in 1948 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, Jackson Browne has recorded thirteen studio albums. Each collection is unique in its own right however it is The Pretender that stands above the rest. The album's title song features a full rock band led by an acoustic piano and guest harmony vocalists Graham Nash and David Crosby of Crosby, Stills and Nash fame. "The Pretender" depicts the story of an "everyman" as the opening lyrics reveal: "I'm going to rent myself a house in the shade of the freeway. I'm going to pack my lunch in the morning and go to work each day. And when the evening rolls around, I'll go on home and lay my body down. And when the morning light comes streaming in, I'll get up and do it again. Amen."

In answer to the question: "Who is the pretender?" Browne once said "...it's not me exactly, although sometimes people applaud for me at the moment in the song as if I am, but in truth there is a bit of the Pretender in me, but it's anybody that's sort of lost sight of some of their dreams...and is going through the motions and trying to make a stab at a certain way of life that he sees other people succeeding at..."

"The Pretender" is the closing song on the album of the same name. It is the perfect resolution to a collection of songs dealing with fatherhood, love, relationships, death, careers, despair and hope.

It is not just the lyrics that make this song stand above the rest. It is the combination of a strong melody supported by impeccable musicianship and produced in an almost-pop fashion while allowing the "sensitivity" of a singer/songwriter to still shine through. In addition, the clarity of the recording, song arrangement, harmony vocals and combination of electric and acoustic instruments is what truly makes this "The Pretender" a jewel in Browne's catologue.

Kenn Morr http://www.kennmorr.com/ is an internationally acclaimed Singer/Songwriter, Performer, Producer and Author with six albums to his credit. Originally from Long Island, NY Kenn lives in the foothills of New England's Berkshire Mountains with his wife and two young sons.

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Beginner Guitar Lessons - Expert Tips That Will Help You Bend Strings Like a Professional

One of the things that a lot of guitarists, especially the ones just starting out struggle with is bending strings. In this beginner guitar lesson I will go over some things that will help you if you're struggling. The idea behind the bending string technique is to push the string up so that the current notes bend to a higher note.

It can definitely get a little tricky knowing the how far you have to push the string. Your sense of pitch has to be pretty good to implement this technique correctly because you have to actually hear the pitch to know if you're bending the string correctly. The two most commonly used string bends are the half note bend and the whole note bend

You need to bend the string to equal 2 frets on the guitar. Meanwhile, you must bend the half note bend to equal just 1 fret on the guitar. When I started bending strings I would always just use my finger on the fret that I wanted to bend.

However, the trick to bend the string is to utilize 3 of your fingers. So what you need to do is position your 3rd finger on the fret you are attempting to bend. Put your 1st and 2nd fingers on the frets behind it and use all 3 fingers to apply pressure.

Be sure you put enough pressure with all 3 fingers and not just 1 or 2 fingers. When I started practicing bending strings I would have problems because I would apply pressure with only my 3rd finger.

Bending the note up a couple frets is one bending exercise I like. To do this exercise try to play the 10th fret and then the 12th fret to hear the pitch you are attempting to bend the note to. What you should try to do is pick the note and try to bend it up to the twelfth fret, and bring it back to it's original pitch. The tricky part is to do it while you're fretting the note on the tenth fret of the 2nd string with your 3rd finger.

Remember you must apply pressure with all 3 fingers to successfully finish the bend. If you see the note is dying before you get done with the bend you probably stop putting pressure against the fretboard.

If you want to learn how to bend strings then this quick guitar tutorial will certainly help you. Just keep practicing the exercise I showed you earlier and you should get the hang of it quicker than you thought.

With the right Beginner Guitar Lessons you can learn how to bend strings and anything else you need to learn to be best guitar player you want to be. Check out these Guitar Lessons for Beginners and get more expert tutorials.

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How Hard Work and Constant Training Can Make Your Music Lessons Pay Off

Some people are born with a natural talent for something. We are all good at something, some people are artists and can draw or paint accurately and with a degree of imagination, others are good at sports and physical fitness. If you are good at something that you actually enjoy doing and can make a career out of it this is surely the ultimate goal. By taking music lessons and training from a young age you could set yourself up on the right road within music to do just that. Very few people get to live their dream job. You could make it a reality if you put in the hard work from an early age and dedicate yourself to your craft.

Music Lessons can give you an avenue into your dream career world as a singer or producer. With the modern day obsession with quick fame and money, through national television series such as X Factor and American Idol you could be forgiven for thinking success was all about looks and attitude. Although these are also important parts of someone's package, at first you have to have talent; and to stand out from the ever growing crowd you definitely need the practice. By taking practice and constantly seeking to improve you will naturally improve and become the best you can be, fame and success will follow only if you put in the long hours of hard work.

Music Lessons teach discipline and a will to harness the skill and talent that are inherent within each individual. If you have a natural talent this is not enough to be a success, to make a career and a living out of your attributes. You need more than just natural talent. There are plenty of examples of sports and music stars who have made it ahead of someone with greater natural ability. Take for example Carles Puyol, a world soccer superstar for Barcelona, he never had the best ability in his age groups but trained hard and consistently and will now go down as one of the greats, all due to working on his weaknesses until they were positives.

There is a school of thought that says if you dedicate yourself to 10,000 hours of training and practice within one discipline you will become a genius in that field. Top level athletes' and the very best within the music field often talk in interviews about the hours and hours of practice they had to endure growing up. In the end it starts off as just another boring set of music lessons, eventually you learn to produce this intensity at all times without having to be asked. It makes the difference between being good at something, and becoming one of the best in your chosen career. By practicing time and again your skill becomes second nature, almost a part of your own movement, this is the quality that all seek.

Ray provides professional music lessons with the aim of giving his insight and wisdom to the next generation of artists and musicians, always with the adage of hard work and training paying off in the end. Author always tells his pupils, without dedication you can have all the skill in the world but no way of showing it off.

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Songwriting - How to Write a Love Song

Many of us have asked ourselves the question of how to write a love song, as this is one of the most romantic things you can do for that someone special in your life. Even though writing your first love song appears to be a demanding task, there are many things that can help you turn your innermost feelings into an enchanting love song. All you need to do is read through some how-to articles, and you will find the answers to all the questions you are interested in. Let's start!

Dedicate Your Song to the One You Love

If you plan to write an intimate love song, you ought to include the name of your loved one into a song. This will help you express your feelings better, and it will help you focus on the person the song is dedicated to instead of writing about love in general. It is a very common problem with writing songs that you can easily wander off, and if you want any song to be good you need to make the song to the point.

Don't Wait for Magic to Happen

Many people who are writing a love song for the first time start things the wrong way by waiting for an epiphany to help them write the perfect song out of the first try. It is easy to guess that this is not a good idea if you want to create a love song, owing to the fact that a song like this usually cannot be written in one breath, especially if you are a beginner in this field. This being said, try to write down any ideas that might pop into your mind, and eventually you will be able to collect of these thoughts and turn them into a song. Try writing down all the things you love about that someone special; try to answer the question why you love them and maybe let them know you appreciate they are part of your life.

Trim the Lyrics

After you have written an outline of what you want to include in your love song, you should drop everything that seems unnecessary in your piece. When writing down your thoughts and especially feelings it is easy to get carried away and write many unnecessary words, because the feelings are very difficult to put into words. Therefore, try to make your song easy to take in.

Should Your Song Rhyme

There are many different opinions on the topic of whether a love song should rhyme or not, but since this is highly subjective there is not a right or wrong answer. The fact is that rhyme makes songs easier to read and remember, but a song that does not rhyme can be just as beautiful. As long as your words are coming straight from your heart, the song will be just great.

Ana is a freelance writer, and she enjoys writing on any topic.

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Understanding Live Sound

Live sound applies to both the musician and the DJ. The first thing you need to learn about sound is sound itself. What is sound? Sound is nothing more than waves of changing air pressure that cause your eardrums to move. Sound starts with a physical resonant source this could be your vocal cords, a speaker or anything else that makes sound. This vibration causes air to move. And when this moving air hits your eardrum, your eardrum will resonate in proportion with the source.

This is the essence of sound. It takes all three ingredients; a source, a medium to pass it through and something to receive it. OK now let's talk about dispersion. Dispersion is the direction that sound will go, after it has left the source. You'll usually hear the term dispersion in reference to live PA speakers. You know, 90X60, 60X40 and so on. Once sound leaves a piezoelectric or compression driver it needs to be controlled. A horn attached to a driver will do just that. At the base of the horn, is the throat. The throat is a narrow channel that the sound squeezes through. Once the sound leaves the throat, it wants to explosively spread out in all directions. Now it's up to the horn flare to control the angles of dispersion. Some horn designs are better than others though. If you have a 90X60 horn, you would expect that all the frequencies would be dispersed in this pattern. This is not always the case.

The best horn designs that we deal with are waveguides and constant directive or CD horns. These are both designed to disperse all audible frequencies in the specified angles. Waveguides look like round dishes and naturally, they give a cone shaped dispersion. CD horns are what you see in most PA cabinets today. They offer a more horizontal dispersion. Which bring us to phase. Most of you know that when you're wiring a system, it's important to connect positives to positives and negatives to negatives. But what really happens if you don't follow this rule? One speaker will push while the other pulls. The result: phase cancellation! You'll find that some consoles have phase reverse switches on each channel. This is so you can solve phase problems without rewiring.

Think about micing a snare drum on the top and bottom. Even though your cables are wired correctly, since the mics are pointing directly at each other, they're out of phase right from the get go. Flip the phase reverse on the console and your problems solved. A more advanced application. Let's say you have a 60 cycle hum in the system. Take a signal generator set at 60Hz, plug it into a channel, and flip it out of phase so it cancels out the interference. Most of us can tell when sound gets about twice as loud. This a good starting place, but it needs to be more precise. So if you were to break it down into tenths you would have a decibel. The literal translation of "decibel" is tenth of a doubling in volume. Where deci means "tenth of" and bel means "twice as loud". In other words, a10dB increase in sound will seem twice as loud.

Herbert E. Kelly Owner of Crossbones Recording located in Fort Collins,CO and Music and DJ Instructional Media which is a site that offers online music and DJ courses combined with two very unique beat machines and awesome home recording course. So if you or someone you know is looking for online instruction without the cost of time consuming lessons. Please visit my site at http://www.musicanddjinstructionalmedia.com/ I'm always adding new products to this site so visit often it's just a click away.

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Singing Is a Tough Road

In society, singing as a career has become desirable to many, especially among the young. The reason behind this is the fame and fortune associated with singing. Many people in the world take singing as an appealing career but it is more than that. The opportunity for a singing career is always there, but competition amongst thousands of people has killed the persistency and determination of many.

In the first place to become a singer is a risky exercise although some people are born with the talent. If singing to you is a talent then it will manifest its fruits but not unless you realise it. Everybody knows of people who had the ability and were talented as good singers but due to lack of exposure they end up becoming failures. The dream in them is never executed and they finally die with their talent. It is also important to realise that in singing you should strongly believe that you can do great. Fear is known to beat many people who want to become famous singers.

There are some prerequisites into becoming a famous singer. If the facts are observed and respected than great results can seen. First, those who want to become great singers must admire becoming public figures. You can't remain in the village and claim to be great. It is advisable you move out of your home environment and focus on a mission to tell the world what you have. Secondly as much as you would like becoming famous, you need connections. Interacting with other people who have made it is one of the ways to help you in winning the game.

Thirdly, you should know that your determination, endurance and commitment are needed. It should ring into your mind that nothing comes easy or on a silver platter in this world. Fourthly note that, above all time is of crucial important to learn music. Fame in singing will not come randomly but it is a deliberate issue. You have to obey the law of gradual growth and advancement. Many famous and successful singers never found themselves singing by instinct. You have to invest time learning the subject. Your understanding on the subject will save you heartache at the end of the day. Fifth as a law of the game, you have to be selective on the subject of your singing career. Remember that a jack of all trades is a master of none. It is good to select particular areas you are good at. Do not try and sing everything.

Lastly, you should know that, there will be enemies to discourage you in pursuit of your vision. Don't let your enemies give you direction. They may want to stop you by backbiting and showing you that you can't make it. Stay with people who support your ambition. If the above suggestions are put into action then you will start seeing changes to what may seem impossible to many.

We provide the best info about I become a famous singer and you become a famous singer. For further details please visit the provided links.

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Greater Vision

One of today's most popular and inspiring Southern Gospel Trios is Greater Vision. Greater Vision had their beginning in 1990. As far as Southern Gospel Trios are concerned, they are the apex of Gospel Music Trios and, deservedly, the most awarded trio in Gospel Music history.

Greater Vision was founded by former Cathedral Quartet members Gerald Wolfe and Mark Trammell along with their good friend Chris Allman. Gerald played the piano and sang Lead, Mark sang the Baritone and Chris sang Tenor and wrote many songs for the group.

In 1993 Mark Trammell left Greater Vision to sing with Gold City. Rodney Griffin, former Baritone singer for the Dixie Melody Boys stepped in to replace Mark. Rodney's prolific songwriting has been recognized and awarded by the Singing News Fan Awards 13 times to date through 2011 and I'm sure there are many more to come.

Jason Waldroup replaced Chris Allman two years later as the group's Tenor. Chris left to pursue the ministry.

For the next 13 years Gerald Wolfe, Rodney Griffin and Jason Waldroup remained as Greater Vision and solidified their status as one of the top Trios in Southern Gospel Music winning a myriad of Singing News Fan Awards both as a group and individuals.

Greater Vision has not had very many personnel changes but over the course of 2 years the Tenor position would change 3 times. Jason Waldroup left the group in 2008 to enter the seminary and train for the ministry. Jacob Kitson, former Tenor singer for Tribute Quartet would take his place but 2 short years later Jacob would leave to go into evangelism and form a new group with his brother Joe.

There was much anticipation as to who would step in and anchor the Tenor position and much to the delight and surprise of Southern Gospel Music fans Chris Allman would return to take the Tenor spot after a 15 year absence.

The reunion of Chris Allman and Rodney Griffin has resulted in some wonderful collaboration as co-writers. Upon the return of Chris Gerald said, "It was as if he'd never left."

Greater Vision would also reach an important milestone in 2010 as they celebrated their 20 year anniversary.

The group has recorded over 30 Albums and over 15 Videos and received multiple Singing News Fan Awards for Favorite Trio, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Favorite Video along with numerous individual awards.

Their latest single as of this writing is "Like I Wish I'd Lived" from the pen of Rodney Griffin off their new CD entitled "The Only Way". It is number 4 on the Singing News for the month of March 2012. I'm sure that you can expect many more chart topping songs from the pens of Rodney and Chris both individually and collectively and from the voices of Greater Vision.

Dr. Clint Kerns has been an active Music director in three different churches spanning a career over 30 years. Dr. Kerns conducts hundreds of Choir Workshops across the country and holds the Doctor of Theology degree and Master of Sacred Music degree. He has played Guitar for over 30 years and has taught guitar for over 20 years.

ChurchChoirMusic.com
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Greatest Rap Songs of All Time

Although many people might criticize today's rap music for all sounding the same, there are still some exceptional rappers who are talented and deserve some recognition from their listeners. If you enjoy rap music, you will enjoy looking through the top five greatest rap songs of all time.

Stan

Stan is written by the one and only, beloved Eminem, and although he is a punk, he has really made a name for himself, as there are not many white men who can pull off rapping and be taken seriously. Eminem has many great hits, but nothing as unique as Stan. This song is psychotic and dark, and comical all at the same time.

Roses

Outkast's music is always completely unique, and they are always coming up with absurd and crazy ways to express themselves. Who wouldn't like to relive a little bit of high school drama with the schools most popular cheerleader? Outkast are real, and these talented soul/rappers tell it like it is, "roses really smell like poo o oo."

D Boyz

The first time I heard this song by none other than Rich Boy I laughed, the second time I had the words down and sang along, the third time I turned the bass up real loud. D Boyz will have you feeling like a thug no matter who you are; it is a great song to turn on while you are driving around real slow, with your base up loud.

Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta

Who doesn't like a traditional tune by the Ghetto Boys every now and again? This is a comical song, with a slow beat playing in the background. Whoever slammed the Ghetto Boys for not being original must have not heard all of their clever antidotes in this classic, if you have not heard Damn It Feels Good to be a Gansta, than you haven't lived.

Stay Fly

If you do not like pop/rap or hardcore/rap, than Three 6 Mafia is somewhere in-between, they have simple, humorous lyrics, fast, catchy beats, and these southern rappers will help you stay fly all year-round.

There are many great rap songs, and it is almost impossible to narrow it down to the best five rap songs of all time. However, if you are interested in rap, and looking for some quality groups to start listening to, than these artists won't let you down.

For more information on the greatest raps songs of all time as well as ever other type of music check out http://www.greatestsongsofall.com/ where you can listen, rate and review songs.

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