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Guitar Tips, Music Industry

Top 5 Pop Songs to Learn on Guitar

April 20, 2015 admin Leave a comment

Pop music has a bit of a bad reputation when it comes to music genres these days. The cheesy songs about love and heartbreak by manufactured bands have dragged down our love for pop music.

But you should remember that the word pop originates from the world popular, which means pop music doesn’t need to be tacky to be good.

In fact, many pop songs are great songs to play when you arelearning to play the guitar. Here are five great pop songs you want to know how to play.

1. Crazy by Gnarles Barkley

This song was a huge hit a few years back and it’s a wonderful song to play on the guitar. The acoustic rendition gives you plenty of room for increasing and decreasing the tempo to your liking.

You can play the song in the normal E tune.

The chords you’ll need are: Am, G, Dm, E, E7 and A. The chord changes aren’t anything too difficult, although there are a few fast ones, so you’ll need a bit of practice.

2. Rollin in the Deep by Adele

Adele’s songs are definitely a good pick for guitar practice, not only because they aren’t anything too difficult to play, but also because the tunes are most likely familiar to you. Most of the hits also make fantastic acoustic versions.

Rollin in the Deep is a good choice. The chords are simple. For the verses they are: C, G and Bb. For pre-chorus: Ab, Bb, Gm and G7. For chorus: Cm, Bb and Ab.

Now although the chords are straightforward, the rhythm is very unique. You will definitely benefit from counting while you play, especially at the start.

3.Torn by Natalie Imbruglia

This old classic from the 90s makes a lovely guitar song. You’ll definitely impress a few friends with this pick.

Once again, the chords are quite basic, but the rhythm is something you will probably need to practice. Try playing it a little slower at the start if you are having problems keeping up with the chord changes.

The chords used include: Am, Bb, C, Dm, F and Gm.

4. I’m Yours by Jason Mraz

When it comes to pop songs that are simple to play on the guitar, you just need to pick up a Jason Mraz album and you have tons of options. This singer songwriter is famous for great guitar songs, with most songs already arranged for a guitar.

I’m Yours was a big hit a few years back and if you have any weddings coming up, you can charm the couple by playing this song!

The chords used in most versions are: C, G, Am and F.

5.Price Tag by Jessie J

This pop tune from Jessie J is a quirky song to play. It makes a fun acoustic arrangement to play and you are sure to get your friends singing along if you play this.

The rhythm in Price Tag is much easier to Rollin in the Deep and even Torn, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to master.

The chords used in the acoustic version are: C, Em, Am and F.

The above pop songs will restore your faith in pop music. The songs are also fun to play on the guitar, so get practicing!

History, Music Industry

5 Ways Spanish Music Influenced the World

April 16, 2015 admin Leave a comment

Contemporary popular music has transcended all national boundaries, with different types of music being performed and listened to in all corners of the world. Each culture also adds their own little tweaks and twists to the music, constantly creating new sounds and influences.

Spanish music has deeply influenced the popular music we listen to today. From the Macarena moves to La Bamba’s hot sounds – we’ve all listened, sang, and danced to these tunes.

So what are the five ways Spanish music has influenced the world?

1. The Rhythm

Spanish music has a unique sound to it. It most often uses the standard four-four beat, but in a very different way to most of world’s music.

The standard four-four timing typically goes simply like this: one-two-three-four. It is the basic beat structure behind country and even rock music. It’s also one of the first things you should start to use when you are learning to play a new instrument, for instance.

But Spanish music has added its own twist to this tempo. There’s an extra half beat between the third and fourth beat. It you are counting, it sounds more like this: one-two-three-and-four. Perhaps even easier way to recognise it is by going: one-two-cha-cha-cha. Olé!

2. The Instruments

There is no denying it; music wouldn’t be the same if it weren’t for the Spanish guitar. It is probably among the most well known guitars in the world and has influenced a number of contemporary guitarists.

Spanish music has of course added other instruments to world music, like the timbales, castanets and tambourines, but the guitar has definitely shaped the world the most.

3. The Style

Spanish music has given the world much more style. Not just in terms of adding dance/music styles like samba and rumba to our vocabulary, but giving a bit more elegance and sass to our everyday life.

Just look at a Julio Iglesias or Gloria Estefan perform a song and you’ll feel the style. It’s the passion and the love towards the music they perform; everyone can feel it.

4.The Romance

‘Besame Mucho’, ‘Como Yo the Amo’ and ‘Historia de un Amor’ are just some of the romantic Spanish love songs we all love. There is just something amazingly poetic about the Spanish language and the rhythm. It’s slow, yet upbeat and you can’t help but feel the warm southern winds in your hair and a longing to your loved one when you listen to Spanish music.

The key to the romance is how Spanish music uses the minor scale to its advantage. The minor scale adds that mysterious element to the songs, making even rock songs like ‘Black Magic Woman’ by Carlos Santana sound sexy and romantic.

5. The Moves

Need we mention anything more than ‘Macarena’? Spanish music, with its energetic rhythms and sexy sounds, has forced us to move! When you hear a Spanishinspired song like ‘Alejandro’ by Lada Gaga, you can’t but help feel your leg start twitching a little.

Not to mention rumba, samba, salsa, flamenco and the list goes on!

So put on some Spanish music or pick up your guitar and add a bit of spice to your day! Viva la music!

History, Music Industry

5 Cool Facts About the Fender Factory

April 14, 2015 admin Leave a comment

If you had to name famous guitar makers, Fender would probably be at the top of your list. When you look at the list of guitarists who have played Fender guitars, you can see why we all love and cherish its guitar models. Guitar greats like Jimi Hendrix and Ritchie Blackmore have helped to establish the brand as one of the most loved of all times.

Fender’s iconic guitar model, Stratocaster, celebrated its 60^th anniversary last year and the Fender Visitor Center in the US commemorated the occasion by displaying some unique early incarnations of the instrument. But the collection of famous guitars isn’t the only cool fact about the Fender factory. Here are five other great facts you should know.

1.You Can Build Your Own Guitar

The amazing part about the Visitor Center is the fact that you could build your own guitar! Think in terms of Build-A-Bear shop but for guitars. There is quite a bit of optimisation available as well, as you can pick from different neck, body and coil options, for instance.

Fender made in Corona, California. Image courtesy of Wendkuni, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.

2. Still the Main Manufacturing Plant

Considering that manufacturing in the world has mainly moved from the Western nations to countries with cheaper labour, such as China and other Asian countries, it is surprising to hear how the Fender guitars are still mainly manufactured under the Californian sun.

The company also takes great pride in the artisan work that goes behind every single guitar they make. The factory in California employs around 300 to 400 people who are all passionate about the work they do.

Eric Johnson Stratocaster model.Image courtesy of Jarod Carruthers, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.

3.You Can See the Actual Process

If you’ve ever wondered how guitars are made, the Fender Factory will answer your questions. The place runs a regular tour (although it is a good idea to book in advance) where you can see the artisans crafting Fender guitars.

It is quite a process from picking the right wood pieces and working the metal parts to create the unique Fender sound. If you can’t make the tour, below is a great Youtube video from the Corona factory.

4. Special Guitars

The Factory also has a special display of the most famous guitars, with the displayed items changing occasionally. Last year, you had the opportunity to see a special Stratocasters display with guitars played by famous guitarists.

The Fender Visitor Center also has one of the first Stratocasters on display. The guitar is currently valued at $100,000, so you don’t want to be playing that without a good insurance.

Graffiti of the legendary Jimi Hendrix, one of the most well known guitaristto have rocked Fender guitars. Image courtesy of Doran, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.

5. Cool Californian Location

The Fender Visitor Center is located in Corona, California and there is nothing cooler than the Californian sun combined with some amazing guitar riffs. If you are ever in need of a crazy holiday location, then you definitely want to pay Corona a visit. There’s even a creepy Coffin Creek Haunted Village to entertain – or perhaps haunt – you!

It is great to know that craftsmanship is still valued. Guitar music is as much about the feeling as it is about skill and picking a guitar that’s been crafted with love adds that extra bit of something to your playing. Fender has been making amazing guitars that produce some of the coolest guitar riffs and we hope they will be in the business for a long time!

Guitar Tips

How to Practice Without Your Guitar

April 10, 2015 admin Leave a comment

It’s easy to think you can only improve your guitar skills by playing the actual guitar, but don’t get depressed if you are taken away from your instrument for a while! You can do a number of things to develop your skills without actually playing the instrument.

Read About Music Theory

It might sound a bit obvious, but tons of guitar players don’t actually pay attention to music theory. Although you can master the guitar without knowing much about theory, you will make learning a lot easier and faster with knowledge about the concepts.

The world is full of great books about music theory and you don’t even need to pay a trip to the local library. Plenty of websites have e-books and blog posts about different music theory concepts and reading these will boost your skills.

Learn the Notes on The Neck

Learning the notes on the neck is quite a hard thing to master, but you can actually improve your knowledge by drawing them on a piece of paper. Simply draw the lines of the guitar neck on a paper and name all the notes you can remember. Go through the notes by writing down all the Es and the Fs and so on, for instance.

To make it just a bit harder, try going through the notes fret by fret, as this is a bit more complicated!

Furthermore, you can practice the finger positions by drawing the guitar’s neck and strings, and then placing your fingers on the right position for playing a certain note. This is a great way to visualise the right chords in your mind, as well as creating the memory for your fingers.

Name the Note

As you develop your skills, you probably want to look into reading sheet music. This is a crucial skill, especially for guitarists who want to play jazz or classical guitar. You can improve your skills by taking any sheet music you can find and simply just naming each note you see. While you name the note, you can also place your fingers on the position you’d have them if you were playing the note in question.

Tap the Rhythms

You can also get better at timing and keeping the right tempo by tapping different rhythms. Simply look at the tab for a specific song, use either a metronome for the basic tempo or tap with your foot, and then just tap the notes at correct times with your hand.

This instantly improves your timing and helps you find the right rhythm when you are playing the guitar.

You should also practice following the rhythm with your foot. When you hear a song, try to start following the tempo with your foot. Not only does this make it easier for you to pick out the tempos in the future, but it also helps you keep in time when you are actually playing the guitar.

It is a good idea to try the above techniques whenever you aren’t able to play the actual guitar. You’ll learn a lot more and make it easier to create the right sound from your memory when you finally play the guitar.

Mixing your guitar lessons with playing and with practices that don’t involve the guitar will greatly enhance your skill set!

Guitar Tips

How to Record Music at Home

April 7, 2015 admin Leave a comment

Modern technology allows almost everyone to record their music – we say almost everyone, as there is a slight difference in just plugging in your karaoke machine and blasting away, and recording in a professional quality.

If you want to learn more about your music and perhaps surprise your friends and family, you should look into recording music at home. After some initial investment, you are going to not only improve your skills but also take your playing to the next level.

The Basics

The first thing is to make sure you have a good computer to use as your main control centre. You don’t need a fancy computer, although a higher spec computer will provide better results. One thing you want to focus on is the amount of plug-ins your computer supports, as you’ll need a few for different elements.

The most basic recording sound path will look like this:

The sound (guitar/saxophone/singing etc.) -> microphone/line in -> audio interface (most computers have built-in soundcards, but you may wish to buy a professional one) -> computer (the program you’ll use to manipulate the sound) -> audio interface -> headphones

The Gear

Now when it comes to getting the gear you’ll need, a lot depends on your budget. Although you can record good quality without spending a fortune, if you have some money to spend and you are serious about recording, you shouldn’t shy away from the pricier equipment.

Quite a number of musicians prefer to use Apple’s computers for music recording, but if you are a PC person, you don’t need to change. The audio interface is definitely going to cost you a bit, but it’ll guarantee a smooth, high-quality sound. You can find great reviews online.

You’ll also need a good microphone to record your sound, whether an instrument or your singing. Again, there are plenty of options available and you might want to consider second-hand products as well.

Finally, you need to find software to manipulate and tweak the sound. If you are using a Mac, then you can start by using GarageBand. This is free software and it’s perfect for getting started, but as you become more serious about recording, you want to find something a bit more professional.

Udemy features an excellent GarageBand tutorial you can use if you do decide to use it.

You can always splash on microphone stands, professional headphones and the like as well, but these aren’t necessary when you are just getting started. Overall, it is a good idea to consider reading some reviews, perhaps even trying out different things at music shops, before you make your purchasing decision.

Start Recording

Once you have your gear set up, you want to take some time getting used to the software. Read the instructions and search for users’ tips for using the specific software.

The best way to learn all the tricks of the specific software is by trying out different things. You don’t need to record a masterpiece on your first try. Just play random chords and test the different settings to see how the system behaves.

As you get more used to using the gear and you feel your playing skills are up to scratch, you can start recording songs of your own!