Saturday, July 28, 2012

Acoustic Guitars

The guitar has been around in one form or another for centuries, and the principals behind how it works have been in use forever. The term "acoustic guitar" is a retronym, because all guitars were acoustic. It wasn’t until the invention of the electric guitar that a distinction became necessary. Acoustic refers to a hollow-bodied guitar without electric amplification. Six strings composed of either nylon or steel produce corresponding frequencies of open notes E, A, D, G, B, and E. The top plates of more expensive guitars are made of spruce or cedar, and the back and sides are often made from Brazilian rosewood, maple, or mahogany because these woods are very hard and contribute to a brighter sound. Lower priced guitars typically combine solid tops with laminated backs and sides, and entry level guitars are made entirely of laminated wood. A round hole in the top plate contributes to the sound produced, and the strings of the guitar control the pitch and harmonic content of the tone.

Various combinations of different woods and their quality contribute greatly to the tone of the acoustic guitar, as do design and construction elements. A well made guitar's tone improves over time, and reflects the quality of craftsmanship used in making the instrument. If you’re considering building your own guitar from a kit, you can find it on www.acousticguitar.com; it may be easier than you think. Acoustic Guitar Central is where to find guitar sheet music and the latest from Acoustic Guitar magazine, featuring articles, guitar lessons, guitars and gear, resources for beginners, teachers, discussion forums, video demonstration gallery, subscription services, and even a free newsletter. If you’re a beginner and want the whole package, visit Sam Ash Music at www.samash.com, where you can find acoustic and electric guitar packages for a very reasonable price. Get accessories, strings, music books, software, stands, wireless systems, clothing, and more at low prices. Most orders also qualify for free shipping, which means more for less.

If you’re interested, vintage acoustic guitars are highly sought after not only by collectors but by guitar players who want to own a legend. For example, Gibson guitars are a fine investment whether you’re looking for a modern classic or a true vintage series. For more information, visit Gibson Guitars online at www.gibson.com and check their full line of quality acoustic and electric guitars, accessories, and everything else you need to go with your new toy. For a huge selection of acoustic guitars, including Fender, Martin, Ibanez, Washburn, and more, visit Woodwind & Brasswind Outlet Store online at www.wwbw.com , which features a 45 day return policy, 100% satisfaction, and a “play now pay later” interest-free finance plan. If you just have to have it now, go to www.samedaymusic.com, and check out their huge in-stock selection of acoustic guitars and free 2-day shipping on many products plus guaranteed same day shipment. Play guitar!

Friday, July 27, 2012

Music Podcast RSS Feeds

There are many online music podcast rss feeds to
choose from online. For many of the feed producers, a
podcast feed is a way to distribute non mainstream
music that otherwise would not be able to reach an
audience. These musicians are able to build a following
and share their work from outside of a music culture
that tends to keep out more niche groups. Because the
music industry is oriented towards mass distribution
and marketing, musicians and groups that aren't
believed to command such widespread fandom are kept
out of the market.

Distributing some of their music by podcast rss feeds,
however, lets them grow a small fanbase and attract
listeners who enjoy their work. These musicians may
support themselves by also selling portions of their
work, or may decide to provide all of their work for
free, as some do.

These musicians may, after growing a fanbase who
enjoys their music podcast rss feed, parlay that
popularity into music contracts within the industry. By
proving that they can support a passionate audience
even with their own meager efforts, a company can
sometimes be convinced of the music's viability on a
larger stage. By proving that the musicians can support
a dedicated audience and can keep producing quality
work, the group or individual has a better chance of
successfully getting a contract while maintaining their
independent style.

Music CD-R And Data CD-R

People who are new to computers and duplication, will
sometims confuse CD-R music media with CD-R data
media. While confusing them is easy to do, the
two are different indeed. Even if you have some
experience with computers, confusing them is very
easy to do.

As you may or may not know, there are differences
between music CD-R and data CD-R disks. The obvious
difference is, of course, the name. With one 
named CD-R music and one named CD-R data, you 
know there has to be some type of difference 
between the two.

What's known is that there are indeed technical
differences in what is embedded in blank music
CDs when compared to blank data CDs. These 
differences center upon bytes that are within
the sub channels of the blank music disks. 

This doesn't affect the quality, as both audio
and data can be duplicated onto both music CD-R
disks and data CD-R disks. You can burn data onto 
music CD-R, and music onto data CD-R media 
without any problems. Keep in mind, whether or
not you get data on a music CD-R will depend
on what type of hardware you use to duplicate
the CD.

If you plan to use a PC to do all of your burning,
it won't matter. A PC doesn't differentiate
between music CD-R and data CD-R. PCs will see
a blank media CD and duplicate information on it
that pertains to the settings you have outlined
in the software you plan to use to burn the CD.

If you plan to use a seperate CD burner, it
may or may not let you burn data or music on
a generic blank or data CD-R. Some hardware
are funny like that, as they only want you to
use blank media with well known brand names
that they have approved of.

If you plan to do most of your CD duplication
on a computer, it really doesn't matter which
type of blank CD-R you use. They will both 
work fine in most cases when you store either
music or data. When storing data, you have a
limit of 700 MB, while music will have a limit
of a little over an hour of tunes.

For your duplication needs, computers are the
ideal way to copy media. You can use equipment
outside of a computer and CD burner, although
you'll need to check the operations manual 
and see what they recommend for media. If you
have a computer or access to one, it can do
wonders in the areas of music and data CD-R
duplication.

MTV

When I was a teenager, it took a lot to peel me away from watching MTV music videos. I loved music, and I couldn’t get enough of the flashy videos and the larger than life musicians that populated them. As time went on though, it became more and more apparent that though the M in MTV stood for music, it wasn’t really their main focus. After a while, I saw less and less music, and more and more game shows. I can’t even watch the station today, though I am aware that I am now out of their target age group.

Today, MTV music isn’t want it used to be, if you can find it at all. Their schedule is full of reality shows and specials, and finding actually music videos is hard to do. Even worse, the MTV music of today seem to be nothing more than noise, though I guess that just makes me old right? Most of it I wouldn’t even label as music, but I am aware that this is just my opinion. I know that those who are younger than me enjoy it; it’s just not for me.

I haven’t thought a lot about MTV music videos in a long time, but I have started to think about it again. My daughter is getting older and even though I hate the thought of it, I know she will outgrow groups like the Wiggles soon enough, and she will be listening to music that is made for older kids. What scares me is that I can’t find any MTV music videos that I would really want her watching. I guess you could call me over protective, but I think kids are growing up way to fast, and I want her to enjoy the freedom of childhood for as long as she can before she is aware of things like sex and trying to act and look older.

The content of most of the MTV music videos makes my skin crawl. Women have come a long way in the past decades, yet you would never know it by watching some of these videos. Self respect seems to have flown out the window, but to be fair, this has always been the case with most of the MTV music videos that have come and gone in the past. I guess it just seems to be getting worse, and the depravity seems to have gotten worse. I don’t want her identifying with these women. I know I can’t keep her from seeing it forever, but I hope I can hold her off long enough to show her how a real woman should live.

Christian Music

A lot of the time, people get caught up with one type of Christian song or another. Maybe it is the gospel music you grew up in, the Christian rock you got into in your teens, or the Christian contemporary that your mom likes to listen to in the car on the way to school. Whatever it is, people can be pretty particular about their Christian music. In some churches, rock 'n roll is right out all together. Other religious organizations shun traditional music, trying to keep a more upbeat and contemporary feel. In my opinion, all of these approaches Are wrongheaded. The whole point is to share music with other believers – music that expresses your values. Whether or not you like a particular kind of Christian song, it is still important to realize that it is coming from the right place.

Of course, not all Christian music makes good church music. A lot of the time, tradition is where it is at, as far as church singing goes. After all, there is nothing that beats a resounding chorus of voices signing up to the heavens in choruses of hallelujah. Nonetheless, I have seen some Christian churches that use contemporary music to good effect. A lot of the time, youth services work this way. After all, the best way to reach out to kids is through their music. There is nothing inherently wrong with rock 'n roll, or even rap if it suits the tastes of the younger generation. It is all about reaching out to people to gain new believers.

Music can make great Christian gifts, especially around the holidays. What better way to celebrate Christmas, for example, then with the gift of Christian music? Of course, you should probably not give out Christmas music as a Christmas gift. After all, by the time that they get it, it will be too late to make use of it until the next year.

Christian music can also be great for bringing a family closer together. The most important thing to remember is that the church starts with the family. Finding good music that everyone can sing along to is crucial to bringing a community of believers together. It will also help you bond with your kids. After all, almost all children love to sing, and it is all the better if they can get their parents to join along. Remember to have fun with it!

Classical Music Online

When our classical music radio station on the north coast closed down, I was absolutely devastated. Here I was, in a regional city, and there was no way for me to listen to classic music on the radio in the car. Most cities had two classical stations at least, and at one point Sydney had as well. Don't get me wrong – public radio still played a lot of classical composers, but only during certain programs. Much of the time, I would have to bring my own CDs with me if I wanted to hear classical compositions.

That is why it was so overjoyed when I discovered classical music online. I have never really studied classical music history very much, and I don't know the music that well. All I know is that I like it. That is why it is nice for me to have a DJ to play it for me. I don't really have to think about it. I can just sit back and let the music wash over me. Classical music radio was great for that, but online radio stations are also good.

Of course, even if you are a more knowledgeable classical fan, you can still find what you need online. There are plenty of classical music downloads out there that a lot of my friends take advantage of. This is an especially good way to find the works of new composers. A lot of art music composers are absolutely desperate to find fans nowadays. They are perfectly willing to make their performances available for free in hopes that you will become familiar with their works and want to see them live. They put their classical music online and spread the word as far as they can. The only difficulty is finding out about these artists.

That is where Internet streaming radio comes in. A lot of online Internet Djs make it their business to be extremely knowledgeable about current trends in music and entertainment. They will point you to some of the hottest musicians in whatever genre interests you. A lot of people don't expect classical music online to be so fertile, but it really is. It seems that nowadays whenever a genre loses popularity in the outside world, it finds refuge on the Internet. Classical music online is no exception. Whether you are into the works of the Romantic period, the high classical composers, or more modern art music, you can find it on the Internet.

Online Sheet Music

There are many reasons why you may be looking for online sheet music. What you want to find is probably closer than you think, and you don’t have to go through an extensive search for this stuff when it can be rather hard to find. You may find sheet music in your local music store, but you are going to find the selection there to be very limited. Today, you can find almost any song you want no matter who the artist might be, or even how obscure the song might be. This is for those in bands of all types, and even for professional music instructors.

You may find some free online sheet music if you look around, but your selection will be limited. Some of this stuff will be accurate, but you have to watch out for parts that may not sound right. Some that put this online have the best of intentions, but they may have tried to transcribe it on their own, and there can be mistakes. Usually these mistakes on online sheet music are minor, but can make a huge difference in the music. Luckily, most people can find and fix the mistakes on their own.

Other online sheet music is going to come with a price tag, but when you buy this way, you are usually getting sheet music that is very accurate, and you know it have come from a legal source. If you aren’t sure if the online sheet music you have is legal, search around for the copyright. Remember that even when you buy a set, you may have to pay money to make copies of it. When you are getting online sheet music for use in a band, at a school for example, you have to pay attention to the specifics of what you can do with it and what you cannot.

You may also find online sheet music in a different form. This can be program that can help you get your own sheet music for stuff you wrote on your own, or a song you are trying to figure out so you can play it. You can add your own notes and such to the program and it will attempt to print out the proper sheet music for you. This is exceptionally useful if you write your own music, and you want to write out parts for the rest of your band.