January 4th, 2010
One word came to mind while exiting the House of Blues Sunday night after the Arctic Monkeys sold-out show: underwhelming.
OK, this may in part be a reaction to the critical and commercial wave the group’s been riding since 2005. In England, the Arctic Monkeys, as they’re known, pack arenas and walk away with adoring reviews like the one published last month in the Telegraph, which said the group was “metamorphosing into something legendary.” Superlatives spilled all over the page.
Whoa. Sure, there are worthy Arctic Monkeys bits - quasi-anthems with edge and lovely psychedelic splashes. But the idea that these Monkeys equal the mid-’90s Britpop heyday of Oasis, Blur and Pulp - as many critics believe - is an overstatement. Frankly, their 80-minute set made me miss those days.
Arctic Monkeys singer-guitarist Alex Turner is a fetching bloke, but not an engaging frontman. Few of the lyrics, some clever and twisted, made it through the sound mix.
The band, a quartet augmented by touring keyboardist John Ashton, was tight, shuffling styles and tempos. But for all the musicianship, you never got the feeling an envelope was being pushed. Whatever the implied agitation or chaos - many thrusts and surges - it seemed carefully controlled. The band itself was wooden.
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October 28th, 2009
Property management services offer individuals operational services in commercial real estate, residential real estate, and even industrial based real estate. Many property owners are now electing to implement the use of these services due to the advantages that they offer. If you are one that engages in one or more types of real estate, you may find that these services make your transactions and business run more smoothly. Here are 4 advantages to using a property management company like Simarc.
1. The first advantage to implementing the use of property management services is that it allows you more free time to focus on other aspects of your business because the firm that you hire takes direct responsibility for acting between you, as well as your tenants. Many who are involved in real estate endeavors find that they lack the time, and even the expertise to deal directly with those who sublet from them. These services make this issue one of the past.
2. The next benefit to allowing services that focus on property management conduct business for you is that they work to reduce the expenses that you have as a landlord, and optimize your earnings. As a result, the service firm can actually work to increase the actual value of the property that you have.
3. When dealing in real estate, it is essential to learn all of the county, state, and even the federal laws surrounding the property that you have, as well as the rentals that take place on that property. When choosing property management services, you can work knowing that you are adhering to those laws as they are extremely knowledgeable in this particular area.
4. The next advantage to dealing directly with property management services is that the staff works to ensure that the property is well maintained and cared for. They know and understand the overall importance of attracting individuals to your estate. They will work diligently to ensure that when interested tenants stumble upon your property, they find it extremely attractive.
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September 12th, 2009
Children that take to music shouldn’t avoid to enroll in piano lessons, or the craft of a personal liking, and learn it. A qualified music school in Chicago likely has talented instructors who can show you learn how to play in many types of music, instruments and genres. An eager musician mustn’t walk terribly far to find a Chicago music school with friendly and professional guitar or piano instructors.
We’llstart with the obvious: piano lessons. There’s little question, the piano is a wildly popular musical device (I also highly endorse the accordion). They are celebrated for their flexibility. A talented guitar teacher would guide you through an entirely rocking song that’s worthy of the effort! Unlike the average lukewarm guitar lessons, youthful Chicago music schools are the trendy groundbreaking way to learn the skill by playing your favorite songs.
Who cares maybe you only recently picked it up or you’ve yearned to find a grove in music all your life–Lakeview Chicago guitar lessons will help musicians learn all the terrific songsbetter than ever. There’s piano lessons in Chicago, Parent and Son singing lessons, preschool piano lessons for children and even accoustic guitar lessons. It never fails, legions may assert that you learn your the fundamentals like guitar scales and musical timing as a prerequesite to fun violin songs you hold dear. You can ask them to shut up, because most music schools start at $25,
Others are taking it easy with an entirely another feel. Basically there are lots of new overtures! However, the most valuable matter to note is that vocal lessons, and music classes of any genre should be enjoyed. Music is expression and that’s the secret. Voice classes are here to stay.
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March 16th, 2009
Keeping your guitar tuned is THE first step in sounding hot and professional. Tune-up perfectly and THEN play is the order of the day. Tuning tip number one starts right here. Get yourself a decent and well made guitar that naturally stays in tune without constant tweaking. No matter how much you perfect the art of guitar tuning, a cheap instrument will seriously hamper your efforts.
No matter how well you play your latest lick or arpeggio, it won’t sound hot unless your in perfect Guitar Tune Nirvana either! Conclusion: Invest in a good or even great guitar and your halfway there regarding guitar-tuning dilemmas.
To start off, here are 2 simple but BIG tuning tips for any type of six-stringer:
After every sweaty, no-holds barred, gig or rehearsal, CLEAN YOUR STRINGS! It may sound painfully obvious, but this is the biggest guitar tuning problem and string-killer of them all. Some people, including yours truly, can rust and destroy a set of strings overnight, by gigging with them and not cleaning the chemicals and sweat off, immediately afterwards. When this happens, tuning can be almost impossible.
So cleaning your strings is step one to guitar tuning nirvana. This simple precaution lengthens their lifespan, maintains tone AND tuning. Use a lint-free cloth, wrap it under and around each string, one at a time, and wipe up and down, with a slight pressure, cleaning the complete surface.
Use pure alcohol on the cloth if necessary, you can buy a small bottle of Isopropyl Alcohol in the chemists. Squeaky clean!
WARNING: Be careful with this stuff it’s poisonous if taken internally!
Be careful not to run your fingers along the string too, it cuts deep and hurts like hell! I tie the cloth around the neck afterwards (they tend to mysteriously disappear for some strange reason just when needed), and make it a regular habit.
Unless you’re an experienced player, DO NOT PUT NEW STRINGS ON YOUR GUITAR BEFORE A GIG! … hi John ;-). If you must, try and allow about 30-45 Minutes to fit, stretch and warm them and yourself up.
If you have ever played a guitar which sounds fine in the lower regions but goes out of tune as you move up the neck, the answer could well be dirty or kaput strings. If you change them and the problem goes away, then you know. If it doesn’t go away, it could be the guitar intonation. Get a good and trusted guitar-tech to check it for you.
When you put new strings on (if you have a Floating Bridge, do them one at a time, DO NOT take all the old ones off at once), tune them up to concert pitch, then spend about 20 minutes stretching them by hand. Left hand holds everything down at the nut, place 4 fingers of your right hand underneath one string, and slowly pull it out until you feel the tension and gently sort of bounce it forward and backwards, and S-T-R-E-T-C-H…and loosen…and S-T-R-E-T-C-H…and loos…
Slide your hand position up the neck along the string, pull it out at various points and so on, covering the entire length from nut to bridge. Then retune it and do it all again. The first few times the string tuning will drop by as much as an octave. After a few stretch/tune ups you’ll notice it doesn’t drop anymore. If you let this stretching happen naturally, it can take a week or so until the guitar strings stop jumping out of tune every 2 seconds. Your guitar will be as fit as a fiddle.
So adhering to these two simple but effective steps will improve any guitars tuning and even playability. Once you get into the habit of cleaning and stretching your guitar strings and it becomes second nature, you can turn your attention to other important playing points without having to tune up every few minutes. It’s well worth the effort.
Next we look at some Fender Stratocaster whammy bar tips, Lee Chang specials to avoid, and how a humble home pencil can save your guitar life :).
***
David O’Toole is a guitar player, music fan, and musician from Ireland. He is the webmaster at the UniGTR+ Center and editor at the BellaOnline Musician Site
A keen player and experienced guitar teacher, he is also the author of the popular standard, lefthand, reverse guitar, and piano / keyboard series of Basic Chord Families — Not just another random selection of 1000s of chords, but the key to fast learning and playing 1000s of songs with under 60 chords!
This article may be freely reproduced as is, provided it is keep it intact, and that the above resource box is maintained - thank you.
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March 5th, 2009
Starting a sheet music collection is easy, once you’ve decided what you want to collect. Sheet music is inexpensive and relatively easy to find. You can find music at yard sales, antique shows and on the internet. Only music that is very scarce or rare is expensive. Most pieces can be found at a price between three and twenty five dollars. Extremely rare sheet music can carry a price of up to a thousand dollars, but few pieces fall into this category. You will find music in any color graphic or subject matter you are looking for.
People collect sheet music in many ways. Sometimes sheet music is collected by the genre or songs. You could put together a history of music in America with a sheet music collection. You could do this with the entire history of our country or concentrate on one time period or decade. The possibilities are endless - be creative when building your collection! Songs have been written about most important events in our history, including wars, plane crashes and natural disasters. Themes such as love or the evolution of images of women in music are popular themes for sheet music collections. Other collectors focus on one composer or cover artist.
Ragtime music from the early twentieth century is popular with collectors of vintage sheet music. This music is considered the foundation of modern jazz music. A ragtime music collection looks great displayed in a room decorated in the Early American style. And the cover art on rag time sheet music looks great displayed in picture frames on a wall or sofa table.
Music written by famous composers is popular among sheet music collectors. This music is readily available in all music genres. Other collectors focus on rare or vintage sheet music. The value of these documents depends largely on the condition of the sheets. Pieces in mint condition will be more expensive. Most sheet music isn’t found in perfect condition. The spine of the sheet was usually broken to make the score stand up in the music stand. Spills, tears and names written on the covers are common because sheet music was often used at parties.
Sheet music displayed in a family room or bar area makes a great focal point. Even people who don’t collect sheet music use it in a display of other collectibles. Collectors of beer, whisky, golf, military, cigars or trains can find sheet music to accent their collection. A few pieces of sheet music with great cover art enhance a display of other collectibles. Collectors of memorabilia from movies or Broadway productions often look for sheet music written for the production.
Any sheet music that isn’t displayed should be stored properly to preserve the condition. Store each set of sheet music in a plastic baggie like those used for comic book collections. Place those bags in a large plastic storage container to protect them from being ripped or crumpled. Store your containers in a dry place away from sunlight or moisture, which can damage the music.
For more information about sheet music visit www.sheetmusica.com - a site designed to help you find up-to-date bargains and information on any kind of sheet music.
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March 1st, 2009
How many times do you feel that you don’t have what you want in your life? You find that it is in lack, and you feel it is scarce in your presence? You become conscious of it, and as you become conscious of it, you are radiating a vibration of scarcity. The Law of Attraction can be defined as “that which is unto itself, is drawn.” Therefore if you are vibrating scarcity out, you will continue to feel the scarcity in your life and not move toward having what you want, and feeling abundance.
Imagine going for a ride on your bike, and noticing all the lovely houses. Inside, you feel that they are wonderful and you’d never be able to afford those houses. You feel a belief of lack and scarcity. This belief of lack will draw that experience back to you. It’s the Law of Attraction.
Scarcity consciousness may sound like this:
I have no money There is not enough to go around I can’t afford xyz Money is the root of all evil Life sucks I don’t have control I am not worthy of (money, relationships, health etc) It’s all about luck
If you didn’t have a belief in lack, you’d be feeling the opposite and feeling what you do have is great. The Law of Attraction returns it back into your experience and I like to call this the opposite: “Prosperity Consciousness.”
When you consciously choose to focus on the prosperity in your life, you begin to see much more happy and joyous moments being present in your life. You begin to live your life as unlimited. Prosperity consciousness goes something like this:
Knowing and feeling you have enough and all that you desire right now Knowing and feeling there is enough for everyone Taking complete responsibility for what you have created in your life Feeling that change is a good thing Being flexible and open to the changes that life brings you Seeing abundance everywhere Wanting to share and give freely Experiencing peace
If you are focused on and thinking about abundance, prosperity and feeling good, then you will attract more of that. On the other side, if you are carrying around thoughts, beliefs, feelings that are focusing on lack and scarcity, then you will create just that as well.
Many times I talk with people who say, “I am focusing on what I want and what I desire to create in my life - and NOT on scarcity. But, I still am NOT creating what I want in my life.” If you want something and are not getting it, then you are not aligned with it. You are not aligned with it because there is something that is blocking you, and blocking your access to create that “desire”. The number one thing that blocks your vibrational alignment with what you want in your life is your belief in scarcity and lack.
Here is an example - You may say, I want to make a million pounds, but internally think, feel, believe, and therefore project that you are not really worthy or smart enough to make a million pounds. With mixed attitudes, wants and beliefs, you are most likely are going to end up where you are at right now. You also may have had the experience of having very mixed and vague results due to much needed clarity.
Your wants and desires must match what you believe to be true - and if they don’t you need to start the work to make this happen. You owe it to yourself! You must learn to pay attention to your larger belief system and know when it is not serving you - and when it is not in alignment with what you want to create for your life.
How to Deal with Scarcity Consciousness
Learn to follow your inner guidance and trust yourself. Choose to come from a place of prosperity and abundance. Consciously reframe your thinking. Take total responsibility for your wins and your negative experiences. Practice extreme self care - prosperity practices for your self worth. Always, without fail, work with the Law of Attraction - ask yourself, “Do I want to create more of this thinking?”, “Do I want to create more of this belief in my life?”, “Do I want to create more of this result?” If not - make the shift and focus on what you do want. I want prosperity. I am prosperity. I am abundance. I am joy. I am grateful for….
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March 1st, 2009
For those just starting out in the music business, you must measure you progress in small steps. Everything in manageable; the largest aspirations can be accomplished by planning and moving forward at your own rate. I’ll tell you my story; maybe you can learn from it.
It is hard to believe that only a year ago I was just getting my toes in the water regarding performing again after a thirty-year hiatus. I had begun a year before that with a single song and quickly adding two others; at the time I was thinking that if I do get to play an open MIC somewhere I would have three songs ready. Small goal indeed; but my first milestone.
I practiced those three songs hundreds of times. My primary goal was to have an acoustic show with lots of humorous songs built in. I waited and watched my song list grow slowly. I search the internet for funny songs. It took a long time to build my list because I utilized a Zen approach to my performance. I was less concerned about performing an accurate rendition of the covers that I was playing, and more concerned about utilizing my particular skills and talents. I wanted to personalize each pieceput my own spin on them. Everyone knows many players who can accurately depict and reproduce the songs that we have heard over and over. My plan was to provide a fresh view of these songs.
The song list grew to ten, twenty, then thirty. I was so proud. I kept multiplying the number of my songs times three minutes to attempt to determine how long I could play for. I slowly moved on from my goal of comedy and headed more toward acoustic rock and blues. My goal was fifty songsI figured that I could play a three hour gig with breaks; milestone number 2.
One year ago I played my first performance, an inconsequential unassuming open MIC at a sandwich shop a few blocks from my home. I had made the promise to myself months before that I would start showing up and playing but it seems there always was a good reason for not showing. One day Carla (my wife) wouldn’t stand for another excuse. She made me go against a wholehearted resistance on my part. I was so glad I did. I showed up with the only piece of musical equipment that I ownedmy trusty old Guild D44, now yellowed with age. I had to borrow Carla’s tiny practice amp to play through. Small beginningsyet a huge milestone number 3 for me. I was so pumped up from the performance that I couldn’t sleep that night.
The sandwich shop turns out was a good performance workshop. The clientele changed every twenty minutes or so, so if I wanted to I could work on a song over and over. No one seemed to take notice of me. There was no pressure to do well. Although I still managed to invent reasons why I couldn’t open MIC there, Carla’s stubbornness was unyielding. I kept playing and kept improving; they liked me there and most nights let me play all evening. I kept buying equipment.
In the beginning of 2005 Carla took me on a whirlwind tour of Open MICs all over Chicagoland. Seven or eight stages in a two week period. I was in heaven. I was beginning to build confidence as a performer. Carla looked on the internet for “gman blues” no one had the name, and she suggested it. I began to perform under that name. Milestone number 4. Having a name, is the beginning of having your own “brand”. My Brand Identiy Statement became: Upbeat Acoustic Rock and Blues
After that first round of open MICs in the competitive world, I continued to open MIC around the city. I played Wednesdays at Ballydoyle Pub, and every third Friday at Sandwich open stage. Ballydoyle had a state-of-the-art Bose sound system, and a professional sound man who recorded the performances. They were a wonderful refinement tool. One of the problems with Ballydoyle however was the excessive number of players. Often I had to wait hours to play. At that time I only drank water because I still was somewhat unsure of myself. One of those times I broke protocol and started drinking “Black and Tans” while waiting for my set. I was feeling pretty good by the time I got on, and asked the house band to play with me. I did some blues songs and I really belted ‘em out. The place went completely nuts. Everyone was rockin’ and yelling out “g-man! Yo da man!” I never felt as good as that moment before onstage. Afterwards everyone was shaking my hand and telling me how good I was. So began the growlin’ thing. I thought that I would never be able to top that moment. I didn’t want to go back the next week, because I knew it would be less. It turned out really well however.
Ballydoyle soundman Rick Sullivan gave me lots of good insight about how and when to back off on the MIC when belting out. He also gave me the suggestion for the Aphex Acoustic Xciter which I wouldn’t’ show up to a gig without. I can’t tell you how many people think that my guitar is the best that they’ve ever heard.
In the spring I had launched my Web Site “gmanblues.com” it was a huge milestone number 5 for me. It was like hanging an “Open for Business” shingle out for me. Things really seemed to be happening. The Web opens many doors, and has many paths to progress on. You should be exploring and leaving your name wherever you go; building your brand recognition.
One Saturday I got a last minute email from Ballydoyle Pub requesting me to play that night the regularly scheduled band couldn’t make it. I didn’t think that I was ready, but Carla insisted that I was. Ballydoyle on a Saturday night was a huge first gig for me. I was apprehensive for several reasons, the main one was that Rick Sullivan couldn’t make it and I didn’t know how to run the Bose. But I showed up with my tiny little PA and showed everyone a good time. This was Milestone number 6paying gig.
I realized that if I could do well there, I could do well anywhere. I began to actively look for gigs. Carla was always there, taking photos, and networking. She was always around to lend a hand, setting up, tearing down, or instantaneously producing a pick when one flew out into the crowd.
It is the end of 2005. There will never be a year like this one for me. I look at all the places I’ve been, and things I’ve done. I look at all this equipment that I have. I think about all the wonderful friends I’ve made along the way. It’s truly amazing.
Well that’s only six milestones you may be thinking. The last was the demo CD.
I performed over 50 times in 2005, from small to large crowds. I’ve grown so much in the year. I will be sharing what I have learned with you as we progress in this series.
Gary “g-man” Wesselhoff is an acoustic blues writer/performer woking the Chicago Metro area. You can contact him at: gman@gmanblues.com
Please Visit my site: http://www.gmanblues.com
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February 26th, 2009
Are you a songwriter and find a tough time writing new songs? It is not easy to write a good one and it is hard to get in the right emotional and creative state in order to make a good song. In addition if you do not put the right melody with the right lyrics it will not work, it will not sell and no one will like it and good luck trying to get a local radio station to play it without you paying them.
I submit to you that when people fall on hard times or are involved in adversity in life that they can draw on the raw emotions of that time to get into a creative state to help them write great songs. Adversity builds character and adversity spurs on creativity.
It is almost as if necessity is the Mother of invention and extreme hardship is the Father of creativity. Can you use the destruction and devastation of an Atlantic tropical hurricane season to help you write a song, which will help people get through life?
Such a song is needed and if you are a good songwriter and you can get in the proper mood you will be able to write that perfect song. Perhaps during the next mandatory evacuation of the next large category or catastrophic hurricane you can tap into that raw emotion.
Perhaps if you fail to evacuate and you stock up and then go without tap water and power for four to six weeks while authorities try to repair the damage, that you can use this time to write a perfect song about hurricanes and adversity. Consider this in 2006.
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February 25th, 2009
Looking for a musical instrument to inspire you?
There are so many beautiful musical instruments around for musicmakers. I have a soft spot for baby instruments - beautifully crafted, easily stored and surprisingly cheap.
These small scale instruments - often called travel instruments, baby instruments or mini instruments - offer intimacy and easy handling to songwriters and musicmakers at the day job, crooners on the back porch and dreamers in small bedrooms!
The lower prices of baby instruments suit both professionals wanting a unique sound and beginners wanting a small instrument to play often
How can it be that something smaller is cheaper? From my experience of building model aeroplanes as a kid, ’smaller’ involves so much more effort. (Or was it just the glue?) But much of the baby instrument range is priced low enough to warrant building a little creche of ‘babies’. And that way they can play together when you’re busy.
The size of these travel musical instruments make it possible to have several in your life without clutter
Baby instruments fit discreetly in the corner of your workplace or studio allowing you to take a break and ‘have a blow’. (Imagine lawyers, truckies and childcare workers grabbing a moment to strum their baby mandos or strumsticks to ease tension and bring a little magic into the day!)
Baby instruments are not toys. They have a tangy sound each of their own by nature of the scale and materials used. I love the sweetness and intimacy that these little babies evoke. It’s the musical version of ‘oh she’s so beautiful’ usuually bestowed on little animals and humans!
Baby instruments help save songwriters and arrangers from ‘Writer’s Block’
For songwriters the perfect antedote to ‘writer’s block’ (we’ll talk about that myth another time) is to move between musical instruments to find a new insight and to release the ‘block’. So, widen your soundscape - go into unexplored territory.Often playing an instrument you are NOT proficient at leads you to exciting new places in your musicmaking. And we all know how great a teacher a chord book can be in helping us approximate ease and competence on our instruments!
Choose your baby musical instrument of choice and then something way out of your experience from guitars, basses, ukeleles, accordians, banjos and melodicas! Having a selection of beautiful baby instruments will keep you inspired for ages! And in the digital age of ’small is beautiful’ you’ll get lots of kudos for your socially relevant choice of a baby instrument. Yeah that’s right, you’ll be the point of interest wherever you go with your ‘baby’.
Andrea rieniets works as a singer/songwriter/composer/producer/musical director/community artist in Australia. ‘A rarity amongst Australian musicians.’ Black and White Magazine. Her blog is
Crikeymoses! Tips and tools for Creatives - getting your expression and activism out into the world where you live! Andrea’s gorgeous music can be heard at gorgeousworld.com
‘Intensely tuneful songwriter with a swag of techno savvy’ Rolling Stone
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February 25th, 2009
Precious is the beautiful first single from Depeche Mode and this is the maxi single for
the single release. Overall the remixes all complement the original version of this song
and the strongest ones are Sasha’s Spooky Mix - Edit and Sasha’s Gargantuan Vocal
Mix - Edit. Sasha has done an excellent job remixing this mellow vocal track and made
it very club friendly yet not making it too obnoxiously beat heavy. Although Sasha’s
remixes are quite heavy on the bass the beats are quite nice and the song has taken on
a much more electronic form than it is in it’s original version.
Michael Mayer’s Balearic Mix is yet another mellow remix and has a relaxed feel to it.
It’s mostly a vocal remix with a laidback feel to it.
The Misc. Full Vocal mix is just an extended version/edit of the original track. It
sounds good but I like the original much more as I am used to it. I like my remixes to
sound like remixes and this just does not sound like a remix.
The Misc. Crunch Mix is a little more upbeat than the other remixes but not as upbeat
as the Motor Remix. It’s a fun remix and quite nice to dance to.
The Motor Remix is the one remix on here that has basically increased the bpm’s of the
original version and made it a much more upbeat club friendly track. The mostly
instrumental remix is quite energetic and fierce sounding. Although it’s quite good I
still prefer the Sasha Spooky Mix - Edit over all the remixes on this maxi single.
Overall a good maxi single but not as strong as other maxi’s Depeche Mode have
released in the past.
Seb Jarakian is the owner of Musync http://www.musync.com a music research and
licensing company based in San Francisco California. Seb’s client list includes: Google,
Microsoft XBOX, Esurance, Clorox, VISA and Adidas. Seb also owns and updates Best
Playlists http://www.BestPlaylists.com and Beatzblog http://www.Beatzblog.com - Two
blogs about electronic music and Apple’s iTunes/iPod technologies.
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