LEFTY'S MUSIC TOWN
RESOURCES FOR SONGWRITERS, MUSICIANS AND BANDS,
INCLUDING ACCESS TO INDEPENDENT RECORD COMPANIES,
MUSIC MANAGEMENT, MUSIC DISTRIBUTION,
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND EQUIPMENT, MUSICAL INSTRUCTION
Lefty here. I will scour the earth for resources, information
and great buys on instruments and equipment
for you the musician and/or songwriter.
BEFORE YOU GO, BE SURE TO VISIT
LEFTYS GUITAR TOWN
WHERE YOU WILL FIND GREAT PLACES TO SHOP
FOR INSTRUMENTS AND EQUIPMENT, MUSICAL INSTRUCTION,
SHEET MUSIC AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT TO MAKE
YOUR MUSICAL DREAMS COME TRUE!!
So many guitar players do not know the names of the notes on their fretboard. This article explains why it is important to learn your guitar fretboard inside and out.
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Learning The Guitar Fretboard
I never cease to be amazed at the number of guitar players who cannot name the notes on their fretboard. Little do they know that by devoting a little time to unlocking the neck of their guitar they will improve their playing, and enjoyment of the instrument, ten fold!!
During my time at the Guitar Institute in London, and Sandown College Of Performing Arts in Liverpool, I met many guitarists who had been playing for 10, 15 or even 20 years, and yet, unbelievably, couldn't show me where to find an A# on the 2nd string or a B natural on the 5th string. My amazement prompted me to write the "Fretboard Master" ebook.
The "Fretboard Master" ebook contains all you need to know in order to become a master of the fretboard. What do we mean when we say master of the fretboard? Well, it doesn't mean that you will suddenly start sounding like Steve Vai, Segovia or Jimi Hendrix! A fretboard master is somebody who feels comfortable with their guitar, Somebody that can find any note on any string within a second and somebody that can transpose a piece of music on the spot. That is a fretboard master.
Many guitar players are usually only interested in learning hot licks or funky chords. That is good, as long as they also take time out to study the layout of the fretboard. The old saying "The proof is in the pudding," is so true when it comes to stating the importance of fretboard mastery. Once you start familiarising yourself with the notes on the neck of the guitar you will quickly discover how important it is. It will be like somebody has switched on a big musical light that shows you exactly what you have been missing. You will feel like a better player, look like a better player, inevitably sound like a better player and more importantly.....WILL BE a better player!!
Imagine learning a really cool chord progression, a red hot lick or a head turning funky guitar riff. You have spent hours practising it and you are now ready to unleash it on your band members. You play it, and they are all amazed at your stunning technique. They shake your hand, ruffle your hair, maybe even give you a shoulder lift around the rehearsal room. You feel great! Then when the fuss dies down, the bass player asks "Can you play that again in F#?" What? F#? You begin to sweat, your palms itch, your head races. Where's F#? you ask yourself. Too late! The drummer drops you from the shoulder lift and you hit the earth with a bang!! Ouch!! You blew it! You should have learnt your fretboard.
Take a tip from me. Whether you are just starting out or have been playing for a number of years, you need to learn you fretboard. There's no way round it. Do it today and who knows, maybe the next time you learn a cool guitar lick your drummer want drop you on the floor!
The amazing "Fretboard Master" ebook and other great (some rare) guitar books can be found at WWW.Jack-Sky.Com - visit us today! We are based on the banks of the River Mersey in the great city of Liverpool. We are also proud to offer you the world's greatest chord book! Yes, you heard me correctly, the WORLD's greatest chord book. It contains 3 positions of every chord you need to know. Our site is devoted to helping you become the best guitar player you can possibly be. Check us out, we know you will not be disppointed.
WWW.Jack-Sky.Com
Song Writing: To Find Yourself In The Music You Compose - By: Peter Edvinsson
What is songwriting? What is composing? Do you really compose when you write songs or are you just copying?
If song writers make a living on their writing it will put a lot of pressure on them. Some song writers are constantly listening for what's popular and are trying to imitate hooks in songs.
I can see two ways to go as a song writer:
1. Listening to a lot of hit songs and trying to write similar songs. By listening to songs and reading a lot on what's up trying to feel what type of songs will be popular in the near future.
2. Trying to be yourself and just work on creating songs you like yourself in the hope that others will feel the same.
The last method is for me the most rewarding way to go as far as personal growth is concerned. I feel good and happy when I am creative as a song writer and feel that the process involves something about knowing myself better.
In the long run it might also create the best hit songs too. The song Yesterday is just one example of a different hit song.
Writing songs can be a very rewarding activity and the level of originality depends on how you write your music. You can help the creative parts of your brain to be activated or use the more calculating parts or a combination of both.
May I share a few tips from my own song writing experience:
1. Sit down with your guitar or at your piano singing or humming without expecting to create something brilliant. When you allow yourself to wander away a bit from your calculating parts of the brain and into the exciting forests of imagination and creativity you can come up with fantastic things.
2. Limitations can help your creativity. Give yourself some limitations by for example using a chord progression like G Em Am D7. Many songs use this progression but there will be room for more. You can of course use a more odd one like E C C#m G#m.
3. Record yourself playing around humming with your guitar or piano. Listening to what you have come up with a few days later can help you find interesting melodies or hooks to use in your songs.
Sometimes you can feel that you are not able to write songs like the song writers you like but they can't write songs that is you. A comforting thought, isn,t it!
Where in your music is you? Everywhere? Somewhere? Let's take a look at creativity in songwriting and how you can find your own music when you compose.
Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music teacher. Visit his site Capotasto Music and download your free sheet music and learn to play resources at http://www.capotastomusic.com
How To Make a Fortune Teaching Piano (or Guitar, or Drums, or Singing, or…) To Beginners - By: Duane Shinn
“But I’m not in it for the money” you say.
Me neither.
I LOVE music and I LOVE to teach music. I feel sorry for people that go into a field just to make money.
They are missing it.
You’ve got to love what you do to do it well.
So with me, teaching music is a “get to” – not a “got to.”
But if you love people and you love music, what’s the harm in maximizing your income? It’s not the raw pursuit of money – it’s simply multiplying yourself so that your skill can benefit more people, and in so doing, benefit yourself as well.
Why beginners?
Because for every advanced music student, there are 100 beginners. It’s just a matter of numbers. If you want to teach more advanced students (as I do) that’s fine – it all adds up. But beginners are the “low fruit” – you can reach them easily and there is no limit to their numbers.
Every year millions more kids get to the age where their parents start thinking about getting music lessons for them, so your prospect list is constantly getting bigger every day. There are plenty of beginners to go around, so competition is really not an issue at all for a person who loves both people and music.
What about adults?
Every year several million people retire from their jobs and careers, and many are looking to take up hobbies they never had time for before.
So if you are a musician looking to increase your income, look no farther. Get a business card and take out a couple low-cost classified ads in your local paper, or place a small ad in your local Yellow Pages. If you’re a good teacher, you soon won’t need to advertise at all – word of mouth will take over and soon you’ll be teaching other family members and friends, so your expenses will drop to zero as your teaching income rises.
That’s nice work. And – you CAN get it!
Every year millions more kids get to the age where their parents start thinking about getting music lessons for them, so your prospect list is constantly getting bigger every day. There are plenty of beginners to go around, so competition is really not an issue at all for a person who loves both people and music.
Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music courses for adults, including "How To Make Money Teaching Music To Beginners" at http://www.home-business-music.com He is also the author of the popular free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions" with over 60,100 current subscribers available from http://www.playpiano.com
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