Music Independence
Tuning Your Guitar The Right Way
Author: buzz42, 16/05
By Mike Selvon
Proper maintenance is important to any technical piece of equipment, all the way from vehicles down to instruments that you play. The guitar is no exception. One of the things that you must do on a regular basis is to tune the strings on your guitar.
Without doing this, they can stretch and the sound will be distorted. Tuning your guitar every so often will help prevent you from looking like an idiot in front of your friends whenever you are trying to impress them with your musical skills.
There is a standard, as there always seems to be, involved in guitar tuning and it is conveniently labeled the standard guitar tuning method. The standard involves tuning the strings from the thickest to the thinnest. The order should be E, A, D, G, B, E.
This method is the easiest methods because it is the easiest for tuning the most amounts of scales and chords. The way to start this method is with the E string. The E string is the thickest, and the least likely to fall short of tuning.
The A string is the next string that you should tune. The way to adjust the A string is to place your finger on the fret, pick the fifth and sixth strings while adjusting the fifth string tuning peg until the two notes sound the same. The D string comes next in line.
The way to find the proper D string note is to find the A string that is located just behind the fifth fret. You then turn the fourth string to that note. Tune your G string to the note that rings when you put the first finger on your left hand just behind the fifth fret.
The B string should sound like when your first finger of your left hand is placed behind the forth fret. You should recognize that the tuning of the B string is the only one in the method that uses the fourth fret and not the fifth. Last is the E string which is where you place the first finger of, you guessed it, your left hand behind the fifth fret on the B string.
There are other ways to tune your guitar, but they can get more complicated. You can use an online guitar tuner. You can customize these tuners or you can use the standard method in order to hear how the note is supposed to sound. There are many sites that you can visit in order to find an online tuner, but when you find a site that you like, you should bookmark it in your favorites so that you can easily find it the next time.
If you don't have a keen ear attuned to different pitches, you might want to invest in an electric tuner. With this device you can look at a tuning monitor to see how off-tune each string on your guitar is. Then, by following the needle on the display, you can tune each string on your guitar according to the reading given on the electric tuner.
Even if you do have a trained ear, electric tuners can come in handy if you're trying to tune your equipment just before a gig. Noises and other distractions can keep your ear from creating just the right sound on your guitar strings.
If you're experienced enough, you can tune your guitar by using piano notes. This is quite difficult to do though, especially if you're not trained in tuning your guitar with this method. Experts and musicians who have been performing for years can also tune their instruments though harmonies and octaves, but this might only confuse the beginning guitar player.
If you're unsure about your tuning abilities, it is best to just stick with the other methods, such as an electric tuner, to make sure that your strings are tuned to just the right pitch.
Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our guitar portal for more great tips on guitar tuning the right way.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Selvon
http://EzineArticles.com/?Tuning-Your-Guitar-The-Right-Way&id=560672
The 5 Benefits of a Music Education
Author: buzz42, 14/05
By Stephen Chua
Music education classes can enrich the life of an adult or child in many ways. Children who learn a musical instrument or sing usually perform better on test scores at school.
Here are a few reasons why music education is beneficial to both adults and children
1) Build self-confidence while having fun.
For those who have music education classes in school, learning an instrument and playing in a band can be lots of fun. Children as young as eight or nine can be taught how to play a variety of instruments. Bands usually have concerts on a regular basis where the children can play for their parents and others in the school. Adults with music background can form their own bands and perform in public places. Performing to a public audience is a great way to build self-confidence for both adults and children alike.
2) Team work and friendship
Learning about the value of notes, time signatures, and exits and entrances will help them to be a member of a team. Each member of a band or ensemble must work together to produce a well-coordinated piece of music. Besides teamwork, they can make friends very easily. This is especially beneficial for children and other adults who want to be more sociable. Together, they can explore many different types of music and learn to play different musical instruments.
3) Better analytical skill
A good music education can help improve the analytical skills of adults and children. For children and students, music plays a significant role in improving their math and thinking skills in many cases. For most people, they use only the left side of the brain to analyze and solve problems. However, a music education can help develop the right side of the brain. The effect is that children or adult are able to solve problems in a shorter time and using better solution.
4) Stress Reduction
Music has widely been regarded as an effective mean to reduce stress. In fact, this is one of the reasons that make music education so popular. Many people actually feel calmer and cheerful when playing music, including children. However, heavy metal or rock music tends to have a reverse effect on many people and it is generally not suitable as a mean for stress reduction.
5) Turn music into a career
For those who have an immense love of music, they can turn it into a full time career. There are many types of jobs that are related to music. They include music teachers, professional singers or bands, conductors and many others.
Today, more and more parents are also encouraging their young children to take up music lessons. If there is no music education program offered at school, they will send their children for private lessons. This can be beneficial but in a different way. Instead of being part of a band, music students will have to learn to rely on themselves when playing their instruments. Many children tend to take piano lessons or guitar lessons because these are instruments that can be played alone or with a group. In fact, these instruments are also very popular with adults. Regardless of the instruments, a good music education will leave a positive effect on both children and adults for many years to come.
Stephen Chua is the webmaster of EducationForLifeNow.com, a popular website that provides tips, advice and resources to music education, online education and education grants.. Visit http://EducationForLifeNow.com today and receive a free report 'Your Guide To Grants and Student Loans'
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Chua
http://EzineArticles.com/?The-5-Benefits-of-a-Music-Education&id=562051
Sell your own music
Author: buzz42, 12/05
Possibly the most powerful tool in your collection when it comes to selling your bands music is the band website.It should be a visual delight reflecting the band and it's style but it should also be clean, easy to read and very simple to navigate. The reason being is that you want the visitor to stay at your site until they find your shop.
But setting this up from scratch can be hard to impossible to do.
Globally Local have put together an entire collection of resources on the subject of making your own site. Globally Local Online brings you everything you need to get started and that includes the hosting and the domain names.
They have advice on planning your site, creating it and questions you should ask your web designer to name but a few of the good points.
They have an entire subsection dedicated to the subject of getting your site ready to be indexed most commonly known as SEO.
All I Want For Christmas - Is a Freddie King Guitar!
Author: buzz42, 19/04
by ProfitweaverI must have been about 16 or 17. I was a guitar nut by then. I couldn't play much, but I was a fan; a big fan of guitars. Any music on TV was carefully screened to see if any serious guitar players were involved. I was into rock music, but I had enough understanding of the genre to know that most of the stuff I loved to listen to had evolved from the blues.
One of the pre-requisites of my blues education was a late night program in the UK, called the Old Grey Whistle Test, I am ashamed to say that although most of the music (I now know) was great, I turned my nose up at most of it. I could just about tolerate a keyboard or piano, but brass instruments were most definitely for pansies. You couldn't get more removed from rock and roll than a trumpet or a trombone!
I digress.
One night, I saw that the OGWT roster had someone called Freddie King on. I had heard of him, because I had heard of most people. I may have barely scraped through my traditional education, but at my Rock n Roll studies, I was definitely an A grade student.
So, Freddie King was on offer, and I felt I had to give the man an airing. So I tuned in. A big man our Freddie. He was introduced, and after a brief pause, started cooking with an instrumental number called Boogie Funk.
I was awe struck.
I loved it. This guy was something else.
Over the months (and years) that followed, I searched every record store I knew for Freddie King albums, seeking out this tune; Boogie Funk. And could I find it? No. I bought several albums of Freddie's, and was always disappointed because it was not on any of them. I thought I had misheard the name of the track, so I looked for anything that might have been that track, and was always disappointed. Freddie King, sadly, became a disappointment.
Roll forward over 30 years.
Freddie King is no longer with us. He died a few short years after the TV show I saw. But I have never forgotten that one single performance.
I was in a music store in Bristol (near where I live), looking for a Christmas present for my wife. This is a bit of a ritual for me now. I go and brave the crowds at the Mall, looking for something for my, wife, and end up in a music store. It happens every year. As luck would have it, I had found something for my better half, and was just looking at the shelves to see if there was anything from my youth, when I came upon the DVD section. I like the DVD's more than the CD's to be honest. Live performances of artists long lost to me are one of the shining lights of the modern age.
So I was browsing through the DVD's and what did I see? Yes, you've guessed, some archives of the OGWT. I wasn't even thinking of Freddie King, but on one of the DVD's, there was Freddie, listed in the credits for, yes, Boogie Funk. I nearly wet myself. Do you ever get moments of pure excitement and anticipation? I did in the shop. Needless to say, I bought the DVD, and rushed home.
Freddie King's performance was almost exactly how I remembered it. The excitement was the same, the energy was the same. I had discovered a window to my adolescence. Freddie played a Gibson ES 335 guitar (I think) and played a pivotal blues boogie. Just for me.
Freddie, I am sorry that I lost you for all those years. You were lost, but never forgotten. And now you are back, I am yours again for ever; a fan again!
Charlie Cory is an Internet entrepreneur, who happens to love guitars too! Writing is a business, writing about guitars is just plain fun. Watching Freddie King was like watching a blues whirlwind. Fast and powerful, but beautiful at the same time. Freddie King Gibson ES335
Article Source: ActiveAuthors.com
Show Off Your Musical Talent by Entering a Songwriting Contest
Author: buzz42, 18/04
by Chris RobertsonHave you ever aspired to be a great writer or songwriter? Whether a writer of novels, songs or short stories, do you dream of writing materials to be read by others who admire your talent? Maybe you'd like to write poems to express your feelings on paper. Have you ever dreamed of being a writer of songs to be sung by famous artists?
Songwriting comes from deep within and the lyrics are usually the expression of someone's true feelings. If you have a desire and can express yourself in writing, then you have the making of a songwriter. Whether you're a happy person and can express that happiness into a song, or a romantic person with the capability of writing a beautiful love song, your unique talents can shine through in a song. You can achieve your goals with the vast opportunities available in the music industry.
Numerous Ways to Get Your Songwriting Talent Noticed
One way to get noticed is to use your talent by entering a lyrics contest. Many are available now on the Internet. One unique songwriting contest in particular allows you to enter in a lyric and compete for a spot in which an actual song is in the making to help fight the battle against cancer. The song is called "Oceans of Love" and plans are underway to have it recorded by a well-known recording artist once all the lyrics have been chosen.
Some lyrics contests might allow you to enter lyrics and music you've written while others might allow you to enter the lyrics of the song without music.
If you have lyrics and a great tune but no sheet music, there are many programs available online today that will write the sheet music to your song for you with minimal effort. You'll just enter the key notes into the songwriting software and the program actually writes the notes for the sheet music.
Also, you can ask a musician you know and trust to put music to your words. Don't give up just because you don't have the music. Your song could be a hit if you strive to get it recognized.
A Wide Variety of Music
Whether you're into country music, contemporary Christian, gospel, or pop, the music industry offers opportunities for everyone. If you prefer alternative blues, jazz and everything in between, there's a place for you among the music stars. The possibilities of entering into different types of songwriting contests are endless, especially if you have access to the Internet. This is a great way to get started. What do you have to lose?
Don't Wait. Just Go For It!!
Whatever your dreams and aspirations may be and however you decide to achieve them, there is a world out there waiting for your talent. No one will ever know you possess the talent unless you reveal it.
You can get your talent noticed. Think of all the people who have talent but are afraid to venture out for fear of being rejected. There are many very talented people who will always wonder, "What could have been?" Don't let life pass you by. Take a chance and at least explore the songwriting possibilities that are awaiting you.
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies. For tips/information, click here: songwriting contest
Visit Majon's Music directory.
Article Source: ACME Articles | Free Article Directory
What To Do Immediately After Getting Radio Airplay
Author: buzz42, 04/04
So, let's say that you have successfully managed to get a few radio stations playing your music. What's your next step?So, let's say that you have successfully managed to get a few radio stations playing your music. What's your next step?
Are you simply waiting on the charts to come in each week in order to learn if your single is moving up (or down)?
If you would like to get a bit more yardage out of your airplay, here are two ways to, not only capitalize on your current airplay, but to also (possibly) move up radio charts even faster.
1. Station IDs
I venture to say that most musicians who are promoting themselves probably never consider asking the stations that are playing their music in regular rotation for an opportunity to do a station ID.
Now, if you are unfamiliar with what station IDs are, a station ID sounds something like...
"Hi, I'm Kenny Love, and you're listening to WBLS 107.5."
OR...
"Hi, this is Kenny Love, from the band "Burned Out Baby." Whenever I'm in Houston, I tune my dial to KBXX 97.9 FM."
Now, chances are listeners have already heard your music, since you are in rotation, and the station ID will serve to make you a bit more familiar to them while the station also benefits from having a familiar artist's voice identify it.
And, you get the obvious benefit of, potentially, enjoying more station music requests, which translates into more spins and airplay, increased sales, more performances, etc.
And, most stations are glad to coordinate station IDs with artists whose music they are playing. And, if you become really popular with their listeners, stations may even bring you to town on a bill.
2. On-Air Interviews
Here is, yet, another area where most independent artists don't spend enough time pursuing. Yet, on-air interviews can also dramatically increase your exposure, notoriety and sales.
On-air interviews broadcast on stations that are already playing your music allow your listeners to become even more enamored with you and embrace your music while they learn a bit more info such as:
* The background story as it relates to your music overall
* Your personal background
* Your professional background
* The meaning behind certain songs
* Where you are performing
* More, more, more...
And, one of your primary goals during on-air interviews should be to turn the average listener who merely likes your song into a lifelong dedicated buyer of your music who, not only picks up this particular release, but who also eagerly awaits your next release.
To me, the best interviews are the ones that are live and have call-in listeners.
The great thing about on-air radio interviews (whether live or taped) is that, in most cases, you are not required to travel to stations in order to do them, regardless of where stations are located. You can simply do them from the comfort of your home or office.
I have, personally, been interviewed on over one hundred occasions by television, radio and print media, and most of them have been wonderful experiences.
So, by all means, don't allow this opportunity to increase exposure, sales and income exponentially, to slip through the proverbial cracks.
About Author: Kenny Love is president of MuBiz.com, a promotion and media publicity firm for musicians. Get complete details at MySpace.com and at the MuBiz.com website.
Article Source: Article Outlet
The Ethics of Peer-To-Peer Networks
Author: buzz42, 18/03
by Peter NisbetThere is nothing illegal about peer-to-peer networks, and nothing illegal with using them to distribute files. What is illegal is to use these networks and associated software to download material which is protected by copyright.
It is not always obvious what is still copyright protected, though you can be fairly certain that anything recent, such as recent chart hits or new computer games, cannot be legally copied using P2P software. Blockbuster films will also be copyright protected, but there are many films which have been specifically made for free distribution.
There are lots of new artists who use peer to peer networks to get themselves known. There are many computer games which are released on P2P networks to have them tried out prior to fixing the bugs and releasing them for general sale. This is the one aspect of the use of P2P services that makes me think of the morality of such networks rather than the legality.
The reasons for observing copyright restrictions are well known. Copyright is a protection of an artist's work from plagiarism and unauthorized copying. If everyone copied every piece of music or every film from a free online service such as peer-to peer networks, then the originators and the artists would make no money from them. This would result in the breakdown of the entertainment industry, and I can understand that line of reasoning.
So don't get me wrong. I am not proposing that people should be allowed to break the law, and I firmly agree that copyright violation should be illegal and should be punished. My argument is against the movie and music industry and their false morality in campaigning for such high fines for copyright violation by young kids while condoning, and in some cases positively encouraging, lawbreaking, obscene and improper behaviour and illegal drug taking by so called artists who are making them money.
What sickens me is the way many pop stars complain and bleat about us breaking the law, then have another snort on their line. Once they stick to the law they may be qualified to complain about others who do not. Many forget where they came from and how they got to be famous.
Have you ever heard something online that you found interesting? Have you heard a track by an unknown artist that inspired or stimulated you to find out more about the artist? I have. I downloaded something by a young girl called Amy Winehouse about three years ago. It was quite illegal, but I liked it and it prompted me to go out and find more of her work. I found she had an album called ‘Frank', so I bought it – bought it please note, not downloaded it!
The point I am making is that had I not heard her on a peer-to-peer network and downloaded the track, I would not have bought the album and all her work since. OK, she seems a bit of an alkie and perhaps into drugs, but she is a great singer. P2P helped her to get a fan and some sales so why should she want me arrested? Perhaps too many of these egotistical superstars forget who ultimately pays them and who helped them when they were unknowns! Lot's of people have downloaded a track or two then bought a ticket to see the act live.
Who is doing most harm: the superstar junkie keeping the pushers in a job or the school kid downloading a track from his favourite band that he can't find in his local music store? Even if he can find it, he probably can't afford it due the obscene prices being charged in order that the artists can afford their drugs or drinks or whatever.
This is where morality becomes an issue with me. Would the large recording companies not be better cleaning up their own act, and those of the superstars they employ, than targeting kids who are copying tracks from peer-to-peer networks? How can they bleat on about copyright infringements while they pay filthy sex and drug-ridden junkies and gun-totin' grunters to produce the rubbish that is called music nowadays?
Once they stop breaking the law themselves, and inciting others to do so in order to increase sales, I might listen to their whining and misplaced righteousness. Didn't many of these so-called stars use these internet services to advertise themselves until they became known? Why, then, give their approval to the RIAA and its tactics to prosecute school kids for using a service they themselves used to promote.
It would be understandable if the RIAA were prosecuting the big boys who are making fortunes by copying and selling thousands of movies and albums, such as are continually found on eBay or sold in practically every bar in the land. But no, these big guys are ignored. They are too hard to prosecute, so they target the kids for prosecution. Kids whose mums have to struggle to find the money to pay the fines. They can't afford to buy obscenely overpriced CDs for their kids' birthdays so where can they find the money to pay the massive fines ($30,000 - $150,000).
The morality of the movie and music industries is open to question, and we can all see the egotistical brain-dead drug-ridden examples of the people they overpay in the name of so-called entertainment on our screens every day. Once they start observing the law, acting with some decency and begin to set an example to the youth of our world – once they start displaying some morality and become proper role models for our children, then that is when I shall erase my copy of MP3 Rocket or Limewire. In any case I only use them as they should be used: to find out what is new and popular, and if I find something I like I will download it, listen to it, then go out and buy the album. That should not be illegal, yet it is.
If they want people arrested, leave the kids alone and target the consortiums that are making a lot of money by copying and marketing material downloaded from peer-to-peer networks. It's not the law I have issue with, it's the hypocrites who run RIAA and MPAA and also pay their law-breaking artists.
RIAA: Recording Industry Association of America
MPAA: Motion Picture Association of America
Peter's views on the legal and illegal aspects of p2p file sharing are expressed in his website Online Free Movies. He is a graduate research chemist with a great interest in audio-visual file formats and codecs. He promotes p2p software and file copying software on his other site Legal And Free.
Article Directory: Article Dashboard
Build Your Own Musical Instrument: Save Big
Author: buzz42, 02/01
by Remy JirekHave you ever wanted to build your own musical instrument? If so, you are not alone. You have many options when building an instrument. You can build a traditional instrument using parts you've purchased or scrapped from existing instruments. You can take a traditional concept for an instrument and add your own take. Then, of course, you could also take a whole different approach and create an original instrument. This guide is not intended to tell you what to build, it will simply offer some advice on how to go about it.
Getting Started
The very first thing you should do is decide what type of instrument you plan to build. You can choose a woodwind, brass, string, percussion, or electronic instrument. Either way, making that decision is the best first step because that will limit the types of supplies you will need. After deciding what you want to build, you should get a tool kit that matches your preferences. Then, you should look for the types of parts you think you will need.
If you are going to make a simple instrument like a drum, then you won't need to buy many things. However, if you are going for something more complex, like a new style of guitar, you should buy a low cost used guitar to scrap it for parts. Additionally, you should look for low-cost parts in the classifieds section of a newspaper or at a used instrument shop.
Finally, think of this as a learning instrument or starter instrument: a high quality instrument is not as important as a high quality concept. Once you have experience in instrument building, then you can consider using more expensive parts.
Building an Inexpensive Musical Instrument
It is crucial to keep this hobby as affordable as possible. You do not want to commit yourself to too much financially because you may regret it. Additionally, if the instrument you create doesn't work right, then you will lose money on the deal. The cheaper the instrument is that you build, the more money you will have to build a better version of it when you know what you're doing.
Tips and Advice
Here are some general things to keep in mind when designing your instrument. First, make sure your instrument has tuning capabilities; that way you can make true notes without any serious conversion. Second, it might be a good idea to have a keyboard on-hand so you can compare the notes your instrument creates to real musical notes. Third, make sure that your instrument has a practical application - don't build an instrument that you couldn't use in a band or solo performance.
Finally, have a great time. When you take on a hobby like this, your intention should be to have fun and create something that you can call your own. Do not take on instrument building as a hobby if you have any reason to believe that you might not like it, because there are plenty of other things you can do for a hobby. Keep your options, and your mind, open every step of the way.
Finding an inexpensive musical instrument for your young student or yourself can be a fairly easy task with a few simple pointers. For articles, tips and resources that will make it a lark, visit us at: http://www.inexpensivemusicalinstruments.com/
Article Source: Sustainable Living Articles
Sprinkle Some Pepper On Your Musical Meal Through The Use Of Augmented Triads
Author: buzz42, 09/12
By Duane Shinn
Augmented chords are to a piece of music like pepper is to a meal; you would never sit down to a meal of pepper alone, but you might sprinkle a little on your food to liven up the taste a bit. Use augmented chords judiciously and you will find they add real interest to your piano playing.
Augmented triads (triads are 3-note chords) are one of the 4 basic chord types, yet they are used very little compared to major and minor chords.
There are four basic kinds of triads in music:
Major triads: composed of the root, major 3rd, and perfect 5th of a major scale.
Minor triads: composed of the root, minor 3rd, and perfect 5th of a major scale.
Diminished triads: composed of the root, minor 3rd, and diminished 5th of a major scale.
Augmented triads: composed of the root, major 3rd, and augmented 5th of a major scale.
As an example, the C major scale is:
C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
So a C major triad would be:
C, E, G
A minor triad would be:
C, Eb, G
A diminished triad would be:
C, Eb, Gb
An augmented triad would be:
C, E, G#
Most of the songs we know or hear on the radio or TV (or on our IPOD's or other MP3 player) are written in a major key. That means that most of the chords in those songs are major chords -- only 20% or so are minor chords.
The other 10% of songs and musical compositions are written in a minor key, which means that there will be several minor chords within the context of the piece.
So if nearly 100% of all songs contain major and minor chords, what place is there for diminished and augmented triads?
They are the salt and pepper of a musical meal.
In other words, major chords are like the main dish -- the steak, if you will, of a song. Minor chords are like a side dish of corn or broccoli (yuk!) or whatever.
You would never sit down to a meal of just pepper or just salt, would you? Same way here; you use diminished and augmented triads to add spice to your meat and potatoes. We covered diminished triads in an earlier article, so this time we will focus on augmented triads.
Here are the 12 augmented triads:
C aug: C, E, G#
F aug: F, A, C#
G aug: G, B, D#
D aug: D, F#, A#
E aug: E, G#, B# (enharmonic with C)
A aug: A, C#, E# (enharmonic with F)
Db aug: Db, F, A
Eb aug: Eb, G, B
Ab aug: Ab, C, E
Gb aug: Gb, Bb, D
Bb aug: Bb, D, F#
B aug: B, D#, Fx (F double-sharp, which is enharmonic with G)
So like diminished chords, augmented chords are used to add spice to your musical meal. You don't linger on them, but use them as transition chords between a major and another major chord, or between a major and a minor chord, or sometimes even between two minor chords.
As an example, let's say you are playing "Battle Hymn of the Republic" in the key of C and your first chord is C major on the entire first phrase "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord" As you transition to the F chord on the word "trampling", you can insert a C augmented triad on the words "He is". It only lasts one beat, but it adds interest to the song by leading smoothly from the C chord to the F chord.
You could also use a C augmented chord in the chorus as you move from the 1st phrase "Glory, glory, hallelujah!" to the second "Glory, glory, hallelujah!" You are moving from a C chord to an F chord, so insert a C+ chord (the symbol for an augmented triad is a + sign) right before you play the F chord.
As you play various songs, look for opportunities to use augmented triads as transition chords. And just like pepper is to a meal of food, so augmented triads are to a musical meal.
Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and music educational materials such as DVD's, CD's, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for adults. A free lesson on augmented chords is available: "Augmented Chords: The Pepper of a Musical Meal!" Duane holds advanced degrees from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. You can sign up for his free 101-week online e-mail newsletter titled "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions" which now has over 70,000 current subscribers worldwide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Duane_Shinn
Add Some Spice To Your Musical Meal By Using Diminished Triads
Author: buzz42, 08/12
By Duane Shinn
Major and minor chords are the meat & potatoes of a musical meal. To add saltiness to the meal, add a few diminished chords.
There are four basic kinds of triads (3-note chords) in music:
Major triads: composed of the root, major 3rd, and perfect 5th of a major scale.
Minor triads: composed of the root, minor 3rd, and perfect 5th of a major scale.
Diminished triads: composed of the root, minor 3rd, and diminished 5th of a major scale.
Augmented triads: composed of the root, major 3rd, and augmented 5th of a major scale.
As an example, the C major scale is: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C
So a C major triad would be: C, E, G
A minor triad would be: C, Eb, G
A diminished triad would be: C, Eb, Gb
An augmented triad would be: C, E, G#
About 90% of the songs we know or hear on the radio or TV (or on our IPOD's or other MP3 player) are written in a major key. That means that most of the chords in those songs are major chords -- only 20% or so are minor chords.
The other 10% of songs and musical compositions are written in a minor key, which means that there will be several minor chords within the context of the piece.
So if nearly 100% of all songs contain major and minor chords, what place is there for diminished and augmented triads?
They are the salt and pepper of a musical meal.
In other words, major chords are like the main dish -- the steak, if you will, of a song. Minor chords are like a side dish of corn or broccoli (yuk!) or whatever.
You would never sit down to a meal of just pepper or just salt, would you? Same way here; you use diminished and augmented triads to add spice to your meat and potatoes.
So here are the 12 diminished triads:
C dim: C, Eb, Gb
F dim: F, Ab, Cb
G dim: G, Bb, Db
D dim: D, F, Ab
E dim: E, G, Bb
A dim: A, C, Eb
Db dim: Db, Fb, Abb (same as G)(By the way, Db dim is enharmonic with C# dim)
Eb dim: Eb, Gb, Bbb (same as A) (Eb dim is enharmonic with D# dim)
Ab dim: Ab, Cb, Ebb (same as D) (Ab dim is enharmonic with G# dim)
Gb dim: Gb, Bb, Dbb (same as C) (Gb dim is enharmonic with F# dim)
Bb dim: Bb, Db, Fb (Bb dim is enharmonic with A# dim)
B dim: B, D, F
So diminished chords are used to add spice to your musical meal. You don't linger on them, but use them as transition chords between a major and another major chord, or between a major and a minor chord, or sometimes even between two minor chords.
For example, let's say you are playing "Amazing Grace" in the key of F and your first chord is F major on the words "Amazing grace". As you transition to the Dm chord on the word "sweet", you can insert a C# diminished triad on the word "how". It only lasts one beat, but it adds interest to the song.
As you play various songs, look for opportunities to use diminished triads as transition chords. And just like salt is to a meal, so diminished triads are to a musical meal, so spice up your playing a bit through the judicious use of diminished triads.
Duane Shinn is the author of over 500 music books and music educational materials such as DVD's, CD's, musical games for kids, chord charts, musical software, and piano lesson instructional courses for adults. A free lesson on diminished chords is available: Diminished Chords: The Salt Of a Musical Meal!" Duane holds advanced degrees from Southern Oregon University and was the founder of Piano University in Southern Oregon. You can sign up for his free 101-lesson online e-mail newsletter titled "Amazing Secrets Of Exciting Piano Chords & Sizzling Chord Progressions" which now has over 70,000 current subscribers worldwide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Duane_Shinn
