Sales Crowd

By Jermaine Griggs

 When it comes to playing piano, or any instrument for that matter, there are proven guidelines you can follow to minimize mistakes and speed up the process.

While this article mainly focuses on playing an instrument without sheet music (”by ear”), there are rules here that will be beneficial to all types of players.

Tip #1: Understand how music works

One of the biggest myths is that you don’t have to understand music to play by ear. You just play. That is the furthest from the truth.

While there are a lot of “gifted” and talented musicians out there that have no idea what they are playing (…they just play by “listening”), this is not the way you want to be. At least if you can help it.

Believe it or not, understanding how scales are formed and how they create chords and progressions is one of the most important things you can learn.

(By the way, major scales are a series of seven unique notes played one after the other. They are the basis of what we call “major keys” and everything is based on them. Chords, on the other hand, are three or more notes played at the same time. These are the combined sounds you hear in songs. And chord progressions are no more than chords going from one to the other — a series of chords played one after the other).

Scales basically create chords. Chords create progressions. And progressions ultimately create the songs you hear! Understanding “how” and “why” is the difference between an average musician and a professional musician.

Tip #2: Master the patterns rather than memorizing stuff

I always get asked, “How do you memorize thousands of songs?”

The answer is I don’t. I understand patterns.

A couple dozen songs may follow the same exact patterns — so to a regular person, they think I know 36 songs but all I’m doing is playing the same pattern. Yes, the song may be in a different key (there are 12 keys but once you understand scales and patterns, you can instantly play ONE song in all TWELVE keys very easily). The song may have a different melody, but at the end of the day, it will almost always share the same chords and patterns as many other songs.

Tip #3: Learn to listen

Playing by ear is not reserved for geniuses. It’s all about listening.

Do you hear tones going up? or down? Does a chord sound happy (perhaps it’s a major chord) or sad and serious (minor chord). Maybe it’s a scary sound… spooky (diminished chord). How about a blues feel… very soulful-like (dominant chord).

See? All these chords have feelings attached to them. Those that play seamlessly what they hear and feel have simply learned how to unlock their ears.

Tip #4: Become a pro at recognizing intervals

“Intervals,” in music, are distances between notes. As simple as that.

There are very small intervals out there like unison, seconds, and thirds and there are larger ones like fifths, sixths, and sevenths. These intervals actually help to name the chords that we play. When you say the name, “major chord,” you’re actually referring to a particular interval in that chord that gives the chord its main sound quality. The same applies to minor and other chords.

There are different kinds of intervals: melodic and harmonic.

Melodic intervals are distances between single notes, played one after the other. Like “melodies.”

Harmonic intervals are distances between notes played at the same time (i.e. - “chords”).

Songs contain both melody and harmony so becoming a pro at recognizing both types of intervals allow you to hear the stuff songs are made of! And if you can do that, then it’s just a matter of putting this interval with that interval and you get chords and progressions.

Tip #5: Practice and get some real-world experience

You can study, study, study all you want but it won’t do you any good if you don’t put what you learn into action. Of course, this sounds a little cliche but it’s the truth.

Practice doesn’t make perfect.

Perfect practice makes perfect. Make sure to practice the right stuff. I’ve learned in music (and practically in life) that:

1) You can do things right

2) You can do the right things

There’s a difference. You can do things right… the WRONG things, right. Focus on the right things and do THEM right and you’ll get better, fast. My blog gives you a lot of things to practice (scales, modes, chords, progressions, harmonization techniques, etc.).

In the area of speed and finger independence, Hanon are great exercises. Focus on the right things and do them as best as you can, and you can’t go wrong.

Well, there you have it! My five personal tips to getting started the right way. Follow them and you will succeed!

Jermaine Griggs is the founder of HearandPlay.com and the author of the best-selling, “Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear” home study course.

If you want to learn music in an easy-to-understand, ‘no fancy words allowed’ way, you’ll love these piano lessons.

Your Online Source To Beating The Crowds While Shopping

Rock Music - History and Facts Revealed
By Sayid Aksa

 Rock music is often associated with heavy instrumentation, reverberating through a sound system, and played by hyperactive musicians wearing all-black garb. This kind of music has enjoyed over half a century of popularity with its strong beat and catchy melody.

Rock music started in the 1940s and the 1950s as a fusion of rhythm and blues, gospel music, and country music. Originally known as rock and roll, as branded by disc jockey Alan Feed from Ohio, rock music combined influences resulted in simple blues-based style that was fast and danceable.

Instrumentation for rock music often include electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, and keyboards. Others add to their line-up reed instruments like the saxophone and the French horn. String instruments like the mandolin and the sitar are occasionally seen in the realm of rock music. Of all these instrumentations, it is the guitar that is considered to be the star of the show. Guitars come as solid electric, hollow electric or acoustic.

The electric guitar was played rock and roll style by early rock legends Chuck Berry, Link Wray and Scotty Moore. Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan played a fusion of blues and rock. As multitrack recording was developed by Les Paul along with electronic sound treatment by Joe Meek, it was not long after when rock music artists like Jackie Breston and Bill Haley came out with their first rock and roll records. Breston released his record Rocket 88 under recording label Sun Records. And then several years after, Haleys Rock Around the Clock was launched and topped the charts of Billboard magazine in terms of record sales and airtime plays. Sun Records also produced rock and roll king Elvis Presleys first single labelled Thats All Right (Mama). Shake, Rattle & Roll of Big Joe Turner was also topping the Billboard R&B charts during this time.

The fusioning of rock music extended into the 1960s and the 1970s, with rock music being combined with folk music to create folk rock, with blues to create blues-rock, and with jazz to create jazz rock. Electrical instrument ambiance was incorporated into rock music to create the carefree psychedelic rock. Influences from soul, funk and latin music were integrated with rock music to pave way for subgenres as soft rock, heavy metal, hard rock, progressive rock, and punk rock.

Rock music took a metallic turn in the 1980s and 1990s with the entry of rock bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Queen, Aerosmith, Kiss, AC/DC and Black Sabbath. Hard rockers heightened the commercialization of rock and roll with albums and concerts being launched all over the country. Arenas and other similar big venues were used as a places to gather crowds and crowds of rock music fans. Live performances in rock concerts had rock fans screaming and going wild over rock bands performing to full performance level complete with stage design and pyrotechnics.

Some of the other developments in rock music are retro style grunge, theatrical glam rock (Lou Reed, Iggy Pop, and the New York Dolls), intense Britpop (John Lennon and the Beatles), indie rock and nu rock (Police, Duran Duran, Eurythmics, and the Culture Club).

Rock music has not been as popular with music critics at some point in time owing to its dark and overly loud metallic sound. But innovations and developments in look, style and sound has slowly developed a following for rock music not only in the young crowd but for the public in general as well. Rock music still manages to chalk up big hits in popular music.

Sayid Aksa is the author of http://musicmars.com

You can watch best rock music videos and other cool music videos from various genres on his site.

Top Five Indie Albums You Must Own Classic & New
By Ian Dougherty

 Do you want to be an indie music fan, but don’t know where to start? Below are some of your core indie albums that every fan should have in his or her collection. Some are classic, others are a little more recent on the music front. Leave a comment if you don’t agree.

The Soft Bulletin’ by The Flaming Lips

Why:

It was the first album to fully harness the band’s commercial spirit

It set the groundwork for their amazing live shows

Songs like ‘Waiting For Superman’, ‘Race For the Prize’ and ‘The Spark that Bled’

They may be better known for their spectacular live shows featuring Wayne Coyne running across the crowd in a giant bubble, fancy dress costumes, glove puppets and much more but this album contains everything that is great about The Flaming Lips.

The introduction to opening track ‘Race for the Prize’ immediately informs you that something special is about to happen, the small count in and then crashing gong immediately gives way to a track that is almost too positive to imagine. Wayne Coyne may sound like Kermit the Frog on acid but as a lyricist and front man he is second to none.

Daydream Nation’ by Sonic Youth

Why:

Possibly the bands most accessible album

The vocal interplay of Kim and Thurston

It retains all the guitar fuzz that Sonic Youth are known and loved for

Tracks like ‘Teenage Riot, ‘Candle’ and ‘Silver Rocket.’

There has been an increase in the ‘Don’t Look Back’ series of gigs where a band plays a classic album from their history. In some cases you have been left wondering why an album was held in such regard that it required to be dragged out again years later but this can’t be said about ‘Daydream Nation.’

Opening track ‘Teenage Riot’ sets the tone with its high tempo and squalor and the noise and confusion doesn’t really give up over the rest of the album. It is not often that all the magazines will have the same opinion on indie rock but there appears to be universal acclaim for ‘Daydream Nation’ and it has captured the true genius of Sonic Youth. At times their albums have been patchy and perhaps too experimental for some ears but on this 1988 release they got it exactly right.

The Queen is Dead’ by The Smiths

Why:

The album features Morrissey at his most humorous

Johnny Marr starting to show his true talent on guitar

Brings together many different styles in one cohesive record

Tracks like ‘I Know its Over, ‘Cemetery Gates’ and ‘There Is A Light That Never Goes out’

For some, The Smiths will be the perfect template of an indie band such was the mix of intelligent lyrics and working class backgrounds. It is fair to say that the majority of the focus falls upon Morrissey but Johnny Marr showcased a sense of jangle guitar that went a long way to influencing the entire Britpop era.

‘The Queen is Dead’ album has a largely humorous streak running through it and it stands as a strong argument to people who say that indie music is all po-faced and afraid to have fun. Morrissey may set himself up as being pretentious at times but tracks like ‘Frankly Mr Shankly’ and ‘Vicar in a tutu’ indicated he could enjoy a laugh with the best of them.

‘Rings Around The World’ by Super Furry Animals

Why:

It was their largest and most ambitious album to date

It brought to light so many of their influences

It has Paul McCartney and John Cale appearing on it

Tracks like ‘Receptacle for the Respectable’ and ‘Juxtapozed Wit U’

Welsh indie wizards the Super Furry Animals have always been regarded as an innovative and adventurous band but this 2001 release showcased the band at their most “out there”. With not much emphasis on their techno past, this album crosses the gap between indie rock and classic 60s Beach Boys effortlessly. They have never quite managed to equal this masterpiece but they have created a great number of albums since.

Funeral’ by Arcade Fire

Why:

The vast array of instruments on show

Really powerful song, emotionally and musically

Fantastic percussion and rhythm sections

Tracks like ‘Wake Up’, ‘Power Out’ and ‘Rebellion (Lies)’

They pulled off one of the hardest tricks in music, namely writing an album about death and change yet making it sound like the most uplifting album of the year. There were a few stand out singles released from this record but collectively it worked tremendously and still stands up to repeated plays today.

Follow up album ‘Neon Bible’ took the band to a higher level and you can see them rivaling U2 and REM in a few years if they continue this upwards trajectory but ‘Funeral’ remains a must hear album for anyone drawn to grandiose statements and classic songs.

Ian Dougherty is a freelance music writer from the UK. Dougherty has written for well known music magazines, Ezines, and websites for over fifteen years. For the latest in indie bands and indi music, visit MadeLoud.com, where bands keep more from each digital music download.

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