Learning to Play

Do you, as a music leader, ever ask yourself: What is the best key for congregational singing? What key should hymns be sung in? or, How can I know the best key for unison singing at church? -- Finding the best musical key for group singing can be a challenge, but the challenge can be pleasant and rewarding.

Bending is one of the most expressive techniques on the guitar. Bends can truly make solos soar ... or crash and burn. Hitting the right pitch every time can be a bit tricky, so here's a guide to hit that sweet spot every time.

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

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

Find out how to implement this four-step plan to achieve effective practicing.

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

Learn how to build major scales with correct naming of notes.

When buying your first acoustic guitar, you want to be sure you're getting what you want. In this article we look at the main differences between steel and nylon stringed acoustic guitars.

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!

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.

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

Rhythm is the backbone of all music, yet it tends to get overshadowed by soloing on the guitar. Want to break out of power chord prison and start playing exotic rhythms? Here are three tips to spice things up.

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.

If you've played electric guitar all your life, acoustic can feel like an entirely different instrument at times. It takes a little nuance to get the acoustic sounding stellar, so here's some tips for playing better acoustic guitar.

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 deal with the criticism and negativity that comes with playing guitar in public. Don’t let the haters bring you down!

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

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 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!

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.

A beginner's guide to reading the notes on the grand staff. Great for kids, adults, and anyone interested in learning how to read music!

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.

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.

Learn how to sing quietly or softly. Just follow these simple exercises. Everything you want to know about making your voice sing soft.

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.

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.

Learn how notes are named in music after the first seven letters of the alphabet plus sharp and flat notes.

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!

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

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!

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. :)

Learn everything you need to know about getting started on guitar in this comprehensive guide. Get help choosing your first guitar, advice on lessons and more!

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.

Although the trumpet only has three valves, it can still play a fully chromatic scale. It's an incredibly versatile instrument, but it's not always easy to play. This article explores how to place your fingers on the trumpet so that you can make the most out of this instrument.

The basics of guitar tablature explained - including timing and note durations.

If you want to excel in the cover music scene, it's not always a question of your level of skill, but often just a matter of focusing on the right things that makes a difference. Click in to see them.

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.

Guitar lesson on jazz chords. Theory of jazz chords and their applications, with practical tips.

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

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.

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!

There is a specific system that has proven effective in working as a musician or playing covers in any band. Master these fundamentals and you'll be able to succeed in every gigging situation.

So you want to learn how to play guitar? Well join the club, because people from all over the world want to do exactly what you want to as well. What separates you from the rest? It all comes down to whether you've got motivation and that little...

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!

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.

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

Chords are a musical basic--but what are they, really? Here's a beginner's guide, with written and audio examples.

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.

Want to have better guitar tone without spending any money on expensive equipment? Try out these three techniques to make your guitar sound clearer, richer, and alive. No equipment required.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Learn about the terminology and definitions used in playing and discussing electric and acoustic guitar in this basic vocabulary guide for beginners.

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

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.

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

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

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.

So, you’ve decided that you want to learn how to play the drums. Drums are probably one of the most complex and difficult instruments out there. However, if you are motivated, you can succeed. Here are a few tips for beginner drummers that will help you get started.

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!

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.

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.

Musical improvisation can be both rewarding and intimidating for even the most experienced players. For the beginner, it can seem near impossible to form music out of scales and chords. Here are five tips to keep your ideas fresh.

Just discover '80s metal and want to shred the fretboard like they did? Check out this guide to get your shredding chops in order!

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.

A quick and authoritative guide to buying a classical guitar for a child or beginner. This article includes common mistakes, prices, and reviews from years of first-hand experience.

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...

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

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 chords that you hear by playing along and matching their chord tones.

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

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.

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

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.

This article offers advice for parents of beginning band students to find a great clarinet at the right price. What distinguishes a quality instrument from a beginner piece? Read on to find out.

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.

Synovitis can ruin a piano-player's career. Here's how I (mostly) recovered and got back to the keys, with gentle repertoire suggestions that I enjoy playing.

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!

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

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.

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.

When it comes to difference and difficulty how do you compare bass vs guitar? This article can help you decide which is a better choice for you.

Being in a band can be one of the most rewarding experiences a musician can have. Expressing yourself live or through the sounds of an original recording can be priceless. This article will walk you through how to start a band and what mistakes you should avoid making along the way.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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