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Top 5 Music Events Happening in December

If you are looking to get away from Christmas music, December offers plenty of great concerts to enjoy. There are also plenty of events to get you into the festive mood. Here’s a selection of the top 5 events taking place in December.

Lily Allen – December 12, 02 Academy Brixton, London

The great pop singer Lily Allen is back touring after a break and her concerts are always fun occasions to attend. The provocative star will offer plenty to old fans, but if you’ve never heard her before, you should also go fall in love with her quirky music!

The concert is going to provide you with catchy pop tunes and you’ll be able to dance along to old and new hits. It’s a great concert to lift your spirits and you’ll be sure to go home with a big smile on your face.

Ticketmaster still has a few tickets available for around £40 (including fees), but make sure you get yours soon or you might miss out on a fun night.

Chris Rea – December 20, Eventim Apollo, London

If you are looking for some sleek guitar tunes, then Chris Rea at the Eventim Apollo should be your December pick. This established singer-songwriter will provide you plenty of hits from his long, illustrious career.

The great thing about Rea’s music is that you’ll get to explore different music genres from classic blues to great rock. Tickets are still available for both the stage level as well as the upper circle. Prices range from £40 to the more expensive £316 for stall tickets.

Wireless Presents: RE:WIRED, December 8-12, Various Locations

December is perfect for partying and to quench your thirst for some funky party music, the Wireless Presents: RE:WIRED festival concert will be a great place to be. You can experience the live show:

  • December 8th in Bristol
  • December 10th in Manchester
  • December 11th in London
  • December 12th in Birmingham

The line-up is set to offer plenty of energy with acts like Little Simz and Patrick Nazemi. You can still find tickets at LiveNation.co.uk from as little as £13, so it is a perfect way to treat yourself before Christmas.

Bad Ass Brass – December 4, The Forge, London

Although the London Jazz festival ends at the end of November, the jazz doesn’t stop in the capital city. Bad Ass Brass band is performing at the Forge at the start of December and the show will be a great way to get your monthly jazz fix.

If you are into funky saxophone solos and sweet big band sounds, then this gig is definitely worth checking out. It’s a great idea for a fun night out with friends or why not come with your date. You can find tickets online from £12.

Andrea Bocelli – December 18, Echo Arena, Liverpool

Finally, if you don’t mind a bit of lovely festive music, then the Andrea Bocelli concert at the Echo Arena in Liverpool is the best place to be in December. Bocelli has a voice like no other and his hit repertoire is truly impressive.

The concert will also feature special performances by Lindsey Stirling and Lucy Kay. You can purchase tickets from £50 to £130. It’ll be a great concert to attend and will definitely get you in the mood for the festivities.

December will see plenty of amazing concerts and events, but the above are definitely some of the best in their specific genres. If the above music events inspire you, then why not check out our online music lessons as well! Perhaps, you’ll end up on the list in a few years time.

paolo nutini

Top 5 Music Events Happening in November

The months leading up to Christmas are perfect time for music lovers. There are plenty of fantastic gigs and music events taking place from big concerts to charismatic small gigs. If you are looking for something fun to do in these last two weeks of November, then here are five music events you should keep in mind.

1. Mastadon, November, Various Locations

Plenty of bands are touring excessively in November and one of the gigs you should go see is Mastadon. This metal band will guarantee to provide you with awesome guitar tunes and memorable hits.

You can find tickets to the concerts from Ticketmaster. The band is performing on various UK locations throughout November. For instance, Mastadon is in Belfast on November 20th, in Manchester on November 24th and in London on November 28th.

2. Linkin Park, November 23-24, 02, London

Linkin Park has been making music for a number of years now and you can see them performing at the O2 once again. The band has just released their sixth studio album The Hunting Party and you’ll get to hear a mixture of new songs as well as the old classic hits.

If you like a bit of electric tunes mixed with raw guitar sounds, then this gig might be the right one for you. You’ll most likely end up going home with a sore throat and loads of fun memories.

3. Celtic Woman, November 23, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London

If you are looking for something a bit different, then Celtic Woman concert is always worth visiting. The group is performing in London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane at the end of November and you can still find tickets to the event.

The production has everything you could wish from a fun night out. You’ll get to enjoy bagpipes and dancers, with the full live band and choir being the perfect way to kick-start your festive season. Celtic Woman will also perform all the biggest hits from The Call to Danny Boy.

4. Dirty Dozen, November 21, Brooklyn Bowl, O2, London

Good old-fashioned brass bands are hard to find these days, but luckily, you can enjoy Dirty Dozen in November if you are into this type of music. The band is performing at O2’s Brooklyn Bowl, so you’ll also get to snack on delicious foods and enjoy a few cocktails while you jam with the guys.

The music is definitely a great mixture of jazz, blues and big band. You can enjoy funky saxophone sounds and amazing raspy vocals. If you want to have a good night out, then Dirty Dozen’s gig is definitely worth checking out.

5. Le Guess Who? November 20-24, Utrecht, the Netherlands

Finally, if you can take a few days off and go travelling, then you should head down to the Le Guess Who? festival in the Netherlands. It is a perfect music festival that features different genres from rock to indie music.

In addition, the gig venues are breath taking, as you can experience live music from clubs to cathedrals! Lonely Planet has also ranked Utrecht as one of the “Unsung Cities” of the world, so you don’t want to miss this fantastic music event. FestTicket.com is currently selling packages to the festival, starting from £24 per person.

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Music’s 10 Most Famous Riffs

You’ve most likely encountered countless riffs in your time, with some of them most likely being stuck to your head for days. Riffs are most often the famous guitar pieces or the melodic parts of the song that act almost like the motif of the song. If you are looking for the most well known riffs, these ten iconic melodies are bound to get you humming along.

Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple

Deep Purple’s Smoke On The Water has to be on top of the riff list. It is hard to find anyone who hasn’t heard this iconic melody, as it regularly plays on sports events and TV shows. Even if you’ve never heard the whole song, you surely have encountered the riff.

If you are a guitar player, then you most likely have played this tune as you were learning the ropes. It is perfect for beginners, since it is simple and takes advantage of the most basic chords.

We Will Rock You – Queen

Although some people would argue that a drum pattern in this Queen song is not technically a riff, it still needs to be on this list. We Will Rock You has such a unique pattern and the melody makes the song powerful and memorable.

The drumming is something everyone must have heard off at some point, as this song is such an iconic song to play at big events. Still looking for proof why the riff or the melody should be on the list? According to Queen Online, the song has played over 3 million times in the US radio and TV since its release, which is more than 18 years of continuous play!

Sweet Child o’ Mine – Guns ‘N’ Roses

Slash from Guns ‘N’ Roses has plenty of famous guitar pieces, but the riff in Sweet Child o’ Mine is perhaps the most famous of them all. The song works well as a combination of different elements. The bass line by McKagan, for instance, cleverly supports the guitar riff.

In a VH1 special, Slash revealed that the guitar riff was actually played as a joke! Quite a joke in turned out to be, since it is one of the most famous riffs on the planet.

Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana

Nirvana was one of the most iconic bands of the 90s and anyone who was a teenager then must recognise this riff immediately. Smells Like Teen Spirit’s guitar riff is another one of those melodies that beginner guitarists should definitely practice.

This iconic song has also been a big influence in songs that came after and countless musicians have since covered the track. In fact, NME blog by Al Horner even argued it is the greatest song of all times.

Satisfaction – Rolling Stones

You can’t compile a list of the most famous riffs without the Rolling Stones classic: Satisfaction. Satisfaction is very fresh and popular song that features in TV ads and sports events.

For Rolling Stones the riff is also important, as it made them big around the world. It is the perfect song for guitar players and you should definitely learn to play it, if you are into guitar music.

Whole Lotta Love – Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin has produced some famous guitar pieces over the years, but Whole Lotta Love is definitely among the greatest. If you are into rock music, then this song is the song to learn.

The great thing about Led Zeppelin and this song is the way it mixes other music genres. Even though the sound is classic rock, you can still hear the jazz influences in this song. No wonder then that it is a riff everyone loves.

Careless Whisper – George Michael

Since we already had a Queen’s drum riff on the list, we should also include another famous melody that isn’t played with a guitar. The saxophone solo in Careless Whisper is another one of those melodies that everyone knows and should therefore be included in this list.

If you are learning to play the saxophone, then this is definitely a melody worth learning. If you didn’t know, the guy behind the saxophone part is Steve Gregory, who has played with many of the greatest musicians and bands of all time.

Johnny B Goode – Chuck Berry

If you go back to the roots of rock ’n’ roll, then you’ll find plenty of great songs and guitar riffs. Chuck Berry’s Johnny B Goode is definitely among the most famous guitar pieces of all time.

The guitar riff is melodic and fun. You are guaranteed to start tapping your feet after you hear this song. The Smithsonian Magazine has a great video of Chuck Berry performing the song live.

Seven Nation Army – The White Stripes

There are new songs as well, which have already cemented their spot in the most famous riff list. The White Stripes’ tune Seven Nation Army is definitely one of them and you can’t go to a sporting event without hearing this song. It’s also a regular song featuring in countless TV ads.

Seven Nation Army is a perfect song to learn to play on the guitar as well. It can teach a lot about chord progression and melody.

Layla – Eric Clapton/Derek & The Dominos

Finally, the classic song Layla is something plenty of people will recognise as soon as it hits the airwaves. The song was the title track in the Derek & the Dominos album, with Clapton and Duane Allman providing the guitar leads to the song.

Layla is one of the most famous guitar pieces and one of the examples of why Clapton is considered as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. It is definitely worth adding Layla to your guitar repertoire.

If you are into learning the above famous riffs, then check out the guitar riff series here at Pro Music Tutor.

Top 5 Mexican Guitar Songs

When you think about Mexican music, you most likely start thinking about mariachi-type guitar music. Yet Mexican guitar music is much more than that and you can find great European influences from the tunes. The songs also offer plenty of opportunities for guitarists to learn new techniques; this is our top 5 list of Mexican guitar songs.

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La Bamba

You’ve most likely heard La Bamba at some point in your life, but might not be aware that it is a great Mexican song. Richie Valens is the great guitarist behind the song and the tune is perfect for beginner guitarists.

The song is upbeat and fun. If you’ve just started playing the guitar, then La Bamba is definitely a great song to practice with. You won’t be using many chords, yet it still teaches you chord progression in a simple and easy way.

Solamente Una Vez

Mexican guitar songs also have plenty of touching songs to play. One of the most famous songs is Solamente Una Vez, which you might know for its English version You Belong to My Heart. Although this song uses chords that are a bit more difficult, it still isn’t anything too difficult to play.

The song is by Agustin Lara and it originally featured in a 1941 film Melodias de America. The song is a so-called bolero song, which refers to a slow tempo Latin music. Lara is one of the most well-known bolero musicians.

Cielito Lindo

Of course, the list should include a traditional mariachi song and Cielito Lindo is one of the most well-known songs of this genre. The song was popularised all the way back in 1882 by Quirino Mendoza y Cortes, but the song has since been recorded by a number of Latin American stars. Interestingly, even a punk band from California has recorded a version of Cielito Lindo.

The tempo and chord progression of the song isn’t impossible to learn, but you might want to give it ago after you’ve practiced with easier tunes first. But Cielito Lindo is definitely a guitar song that offers plenty of room to work with.

Black Guitar

Black Guitar is a Mexican guitar song by the famous Mexican guitarist Oscar Lopez. Again, if you are looking to master this song, you need a bit of practice first, but it is definitely something to try.

Oscar Lopez’ guitar music is full of different influences, which you can hear in Black Guitar as well. It isn’t strictly flamenco music, since there is a hint of jazz and pop music present.

Smooth

You can’t talk about the best Mexican guitar songs without featuring a hit by the great Carlos Santana. When it comes to Mexican guitar music, Santana is definitely at the top. This song is a great guitar song to add to your repertoire and you can even give it a go as you are starting out.

Smooth is a lovely song with fantastic guitar riffs. The song, featuring Rob Thomas from Matchbox 20, is slow and smooth, just like the title implies.

So, these are five of the best Mexican guitar songs out there. If you are inspired by the songs or want to learn more about playing the guitar, then remember to check out our guitar lessons!

What are the Best Amp Settings for Beginners?

If you want to enhance your guitar playing skills and take your sound to the next level, you need to learn how to use guitar amplifiers, commonly called amps, for your benefit. Guitar amps are your best friends and they can help you learn quicker, as well as ensure you get the most out of your guitar.

marshall ampImage Credit: Steve Hardy via Flickr under Creative Commons 2.0

Here’s a guide to help you find the right amp settings, if you’ve just started playing the guitar.

How Do Amps Work?

First, you should understand how guitar amps work in order to use them to your advantage. Even though there are now multitudes of different amps, the basic principles behind it have remained the same. The key steps for creating the sound include the below.

Input and pre-amplification

The pickup of your electric guitar will convert the sound your strings make into electric signals, which in turn are fed to the amplifier. As your amp receives the signal, the amp helps to strengthen the sound to a more usable level.

Tonal modulation

When the electric signals are fed to the amp, there is also a process of tonal modulation going on to make the sound pleasant. You can do tonal modulation with pedals as well, but for a beginner an amp is enough to do this.

Final amplification and output

Finally, as the above happens in the amplifier, there are vacuum tubes or digital processors in the amp, which help to create a number of copies of the signals. Eventually, these will create the final sound that comes out of your speakers.

The Best Amp for Beginners

Before we look at the different settings you can use, it is important that you get the right amp for your needs. Of course, finding the right amp depends on what your aim will be with learning to play the guitar. If you want to play in a band, then you might want to go with a more professional amp, but if you are only learning to play the guitar for fun, you don’t need the biggest and the highest quality amp.

You can check out the Dolphin Music’s guide to amps for suggestions.

Finding the Right Amp Settings

Learning to use the amp correctly will take some time, but just like with learning to play the guitar – the more you practice, the better you’ll become. So, don’t be afraid to try different things and find the settings that make a sound you love.

As you are beginning, you should start with the so-called flat settings. In most amps, the flat setting is when the tone controls are at a 12 o’clock position. For the volume and drive/gain settings, the position is usually at a 6 o’clock position.

You can check what sort of sound your guitar creates with flat settings. Once you’ve learned the flat position, you can start messing with the amp settings and create different type of sounds. Turn the controls (‘lows, mids and highs’) to different positions one at a time, so you can understand the kind of effect it has on the sound.

If you want to make a more heavy metal type of sound with your guitar, you want to turn your pre-gain settings high and have the low and mid settings turned up, with the mids kept relatively low.

For a jazzier sound, you need to turn the lows and mids settings higher and have the highs turned down.

The above tips will help you get started with your guitar playing in no time. The main thing is to keep trying different things and see what other guitarists are doing as well. Check with your guitar tutor to see what settings they recommend and keep practicing!