Learning to Play

Which guitar is better for beginners to learn on: Acoustic or Electric? Discover the pros and cons of each and decide which is right for you!

Learn to read chords in standard notation fast and accurately. All it needs is the right mental approach and graded practice material.

Learn how to read and use note durations and timing in modern guitar tablature.

Compare the top acoustic guitar starter packs and choose the best starter kit to inspire a beginner who is ready to learn to play guitar.

Find out how beginners can learn blues guitar by working on basic scales and music theory. The rest comes down to hard work and practice!

Common, everyday items have many functions. Some are even practical for working musicians. Things that may seem useless in the live music performance world can actually come in quite handy. Read on!

Here's how to buy a classical guitar for a child or beginner. This article includes common mistakes, prices, and reviews from years of first-hand experience.

Stop! Don't sing any song without first warming up your voice. Here are some of the most effective vocal warm-ups for singers and vocalists.

Learn the meaning behind some of the most used musical terms. A helpful resource for music students and teachers. Become a better musician by applying musical symbols to your music.

To understand how the vocal cords work, we need a little information on how we produce sound. Watch Steven Tyler's vocal cords and learn about the variation in our body's natural instrument.

Learn the basics of how to write a song on guitar! Even beginners can create a basic song outline and start making their own music today.

Can it be done? Follow these easy steps to find out. Everyone has a singing voice. This tutorial will help you discover yours. It's also a good breathing refresher sequel for those who already sing

Returning and re-learning the piano can be frustrating. These tips will help increase motivation and enjoyment, and prevent burn-out.

I Still Got The Blues For You by Gary Moore guitar lesson. Chords, tab, video. High quality, accurate transcriptions, theory explanations, and video lessons.

These easy, but important, vocal tips promise to change a weak, unconfident, sound into a bigger and better voice.

Build your guitar vocabulary by learning about the terminology and definitions used in playing and discussing electric and acoustic guitar in this basic guide for beginners.

Check out this list of the guitar accessories that are most important for beginners and start building your collection of guitar supplies.

Singers and speakers often acquire throat irritation. This interferes with the voice and interrupts the presentation, audition, recording session and show. Learn how to avoid these throat problems.

Why is the bass guitar so underrated? Are rock bassists just failed guitar players, looking for some other way to get into a band without having to really learn an instrument? Learn why the bass is looked down on, and the true importance of the bass guitar.

People who are inherently comfortable with being in charge are sometimes very good leaders. However, if they don't follow these basic guidelines, even they can often fall short.

I hate my voice! If you're one of the many people who feel this way, you've come to the right place because you're about to learn why you hate your voice and how to fix it.

Performing in a musical can be an exciting and rewarding experience. However, some singers and actors miss this fun and educational opportunity because they fail the audition process. Here is a list of how to prepare for that audition.

Struggling with learning the electronic keyboard? Here are 20 practical ways to improve your keyboard playing skills.

Sight reading for guitarists in 12 fretboard positions - with standard notation, tab reading exercises and audio demos.

Done properly, mouthpiece buzzing can greatly improve your range and sound on the trumpet while helping you discover a more efficient technique. In this article, I will include some buzzing exercises and talk about the potential benefits and also the potential hazards of mouthpiece buzzing.

The best and fastest way to sing better is to choose the right song. Selecting material that fits your voice makes all the difference in how you sound. This article includes tips to help you accomplish this task.

Learn how to cope with fear using these proven strategies. Fear prevents us from moving forward and can rob us of success.

Learn how to make interesting and original solo fingerstyle guitar arrangements of songs. This is a step by step tutorial with audio demo.

A clear and concise explanation of the 3 forms of the minor scale (natural, harmonic and melodic) and their uses in music.

Singing is your birthright. Your body holds every tool needed to produce a clear, beautiful tone. It's time to reverse the notion that good singers are reserved for a fortunate few.

The key to singing with clarity and good diction is learning how to form vowels. Each word you sing contains at least one vowel. Vowels help to carry the sound and takes the voice to a whole new level

Understand the Circle of Fifths, what keys in music are, how they're formed and how they relate to each other in music.

A guide to playing the violin with good posture by understanding the concepts of balance and ease and eliminating unnecessary tension in the body.

Here you will find a collection of free play-alongs for alto saxophone. I hope you enjoy playing these saxophone solos and keep checking back for more.

Singing releases endorphins, feel-good chemicals, into your brain. This process works immediately bringing about positive psychological effects. Even if you think you can't carry a tune - sing!

Learn 5 steps to help you teach yourself to play guitar, no lessons required. It isn’t easy, but with a little hard work you can do it!

The Martin D-18 has always been one of the world's most desired acoustic steel string guitars. It is somewhat expensive, so not everyone can afford a D-18, here, here are five alternative guitars.

"Practice, practice, practice!"--But what about practicing *smarter*? This article gives ten useful tips to do just that. Get better, faster!

Impress your friends and yourself and break a wine glass using your voice. Learn how vibrations and resonant frequencies make this possible to do. Step-by-step instructions and videos are included.

Part-writing second-inversion triads is paradoxically both easier and more 'dangerous' than root-position or first-inversion triads. Find out why here--and learn to navigate the tricks and traps with video examples and interactive practice questions!

How can some pianists play so fast and flawless? Strong and flexible fingers, just like a strong and flexible body, provide the strength necessary for speed. Here's how you can build stronger fingers

You’re never too old to learn to play guitar! Here are 10 reasons why your 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond are the perfect time to pick up the instrument.

Get some advice on how to buy the best electric guitar for a beginner and learn what features to look for in your first instrument.

Having an extensive catalog of songs that you know how to play is essential for any successful musician and cover band. These are the songs that just about every band plays at some point, with lyrics.

Maple is one of the traditional tonewoods for acoustic instruments. Right there with maple are rosewood, mahogany, spruce, ebony, and all the varieties of species of those trees. Maple as a tonewood for bodies or backs and sides of a guitar can...

A sore throat or hoarseness can be a sign of vocal strain. Here's how you can protect your voice.

Do you want to know how to play those deep soulful chords with a lot of emotion?

When it comes to difference and difficulty how do you compare bass vs guitar? Which should you start with? Can you switch between them? This article can help you figure it all out.

Discover the best way to learn to guitar, with a focus on scales, chords and songs, as well as music theory. If you want to learn guitar there is nothing stopping you. Here are some top options to get you started!

What's the best method for learning a new piece of piano music? Find out what you should and shouldn't do to get that new piano piece under your belt as quickly as possible.

Improve your guitar practice routine with these eight tips on playing guitar with small hands. Includes alternative guitar technique ideas and original video examples.

The French Horn makes a hugely expressive sound and can play over a wide range. It's huge tone has the ability to blend, yet also sound heroic. In this article we will look at how the French Horn works, it's fingerings, and the different types of French Horn.

Be honest. You want to be doing better. You know you're good, but you know there are some things that you're missing or could be improved upon. You're right. Read on.

Explore the technical works of Wohlfahrt, Kayser, Mazas, Kreutzer, and Rode. Understand how violin etudes and studies benefit the students.

It may start off as a group of people getting together to make some noise, but if you want fans, you've got to come up with a good name for your band.

A standard 3 chord blues progression, reharmonized to form a jazz version. Stormy Monday Substitutions. Chords, tab, video. High quality, accurate transcriptions. In depth theory and videos

Learn to recognise and identify chords and chord progressions in key-based music by ear.

Is there an easy way to remember the order of sharps and flats in music? There is. Read more to find out exactly how to do it.

A well respected vocal coach for Broadway Musicals, Audrey Hunt, shares her easy and exciting method for singing on key by using your breathing system.

Find out if you really need a teacher to learn to play guitar, and why taking lessons may not be the best choice for every newbie guitarist.

Here you will find a collection of free play-alongs for flute. I hope you enjoy playing these flute solos and keep checking back for more.

Have you wondered what your authentic voice would sound like if you had perfect singing technique? How to release your voice and sing better than ever.

Learn some easy fingerstyle accompaniment patterns with clear and concise explanation and charts.

Easy step-by-step instruction to learn how to breathe using the diaphragm (diaphragmatic breathing.) Sing and speak better. Bring more oxygen to your brain functioning neurons. Let's start now.

This chord construction article explains how notes are combined to produce chords. It also includes a chord formula list of all the basic chord types and more.

Here you will find a collection of free play-alongs for trombone. I hope you enjoy playing these trombone solos and keep checking back for more.

This article is aimed at self-learning guitarists wondering whether to learn standard music notation or guitar tablature (tab) or both, or even neither. A look at the pros and cons of each system.

Where do I start? What questions do I ask? What is the cost? How do I know if the vocal teacher is qualified? Help is on the way.

Audio-video lesson and demonstration of harmonic intervals and how to recognise and identify them by ear

Do you have big dreams of playing Eponine in Les Mis or to be able to sing like Taylor Swift, if only you could better your singing voice? Follow these tips to take your singing to the next level. With a little practice, you'll go from amateur to accomplished in no time!

The Suzuki method is enormously popular in the United States and Japan. While the method was originally used to teach violin, many children learn to play piano (and other instruments) with this method. The Suzuki method allows very young children to play music by ear before progressing to sight reading, which allows 3 and 4 year old children to play the piano. Parental involvement is critical to the success of this method!

That is...when you're not playing music. You never want dead air; so it's best to have a practical checklist of things that you should be talking about to keep the show moving along. Here ya go. :)

Half stack, full stack or combo? Learn which guitar amp is best in a band situation, and how to choose the right option for you.

The job of playing music in a cover band involves a never ending responsibility to learn new songs. While these songs may not be new to you, they are ones that you need to know if you play regularly.

Learn how to sing quietly or softly. Just follow these simple exercises. What you need to know to control your voice.

If you have a child who shows an affinity to the piano but is not old enough for formal lessons, the following article will give parents ideas for teaching early piano skills.

Learn how to start playing guitar today! Choose your first instrument, find out if you need to take lessons or learn on your own, and discover online resources to make your journey easier.

Whether your hands are too big or small or your wrist muscles are too weak, some ukulele chords are just plan hard to shape.

Here you will find a collection of free play-alongs for tenor saxophone. I hope you enjoy playing these saxophone solos and keep checking back for more.

Here you will find a collection of free play-alongs for trumpet. I hope you enjoy playing these trumpet solos and keep checking back for more.

You too can learn to play the piano as an adult. Your experiences of life will help and you will persevere with practicing more easily than a child can.

Learn to tune your guitar by ear in a few simple steps. It’s easy, and it can even help you become a better guitar player.

Here are 6 easy tips for improving your present singing voice. Confidence is everything, so you must begin believing in yourself. Until you do this, others will not believe in you either.

Rondo form is a flexible and versatile way to construct a piece of music. Find out how it works and which composers have used it successfully inside this comprehensive guide.

Although the trombone doesn't have any valves like other instruments it can still play a full chromatic scale. The trombone is a fantastic instrument which is at home in many different ensembles. In this article I will show you the slide positions on the trombone and how it works.

Even though all technique is mastered, as a singer if you don't learn this one thing, all else doesn't matter. Learn what is absolutely necessary for all singers. Discover the difference now.

Learn how to build chords belonging to any major key from the notes of its major scale.

Find out how to master arpeggio playing on the piano in any key!

Check out this Gibson Les Paul LPJ Review and learn more about the 2013 and 2014 models of this affordable American-made Les Paul.

Just about anything can go technically wrong at a gig. we don't always see them coming but we can learn how to deal with them and prevent them.

These rehearsal tips will help guitar players understand how to run band practice most efficiently and accomplish their goals.

This page talks about common hand signals for choir directing and the best ways to use those signals.

Guitarists - Learn to read music with this graded tutorial covering the basics of standard music notation for guitar.

Here you will find a collection of free play-alongs for tenor saxophone in Bb. I hope you enjoy playing these sax solos and keep checking back for more.

Hold your tongue! Just make sure this " rudder" for sound is nice and relaxed for better singing and speaking. Learn how to use your tongue for controlling your vocal tone. You'll like the results.

Why you tell yourself you can't sing? Find solutions for correcting your thinking, free your own natural voice, and sing with joy.

Do you need to learn how to read music if you want to play the guitar? Maybe! Find out whether it is the right choice for you.

Find out which instruments are the best choices for kids or adults who are total beginners and want to learn music for the first time.

Discover a few easy shortcuts to help you quickly learn the notes of the guitar fretboard. You can't master the guitar unless you know where to find all the notes!

Find out why it’s important for guitar players to spend time studying music theory and how it can improve their playing.