Every so often a new video game hits the market and changes the landscape forever. Guitar Hero did it a few years ago, the first Call of Duty did the same thing about four years ago and just these past few months Rocksmith is in the process of doing it again.
Rocksmith is the evolution of games such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero. Except this time you’re using a real instrument to play rather then just a guitar shaped controller with five buttons.
The basics of Rocksmith are similar to guitar hero. There’s a series of numbers and colors on the screen which correspond to your actual guitar. You must play the proper notes, power chords and chords on your real electric guitar that match what’s happening on the screen.
Of course, what you’re actually doing is learning to play a simple version of the actual song and training your fingers how to play the guitar.
Beyond just a video game Rocksmith has included some musical education aspects as well. You’ll be able to participate in added mini games to learn power chords, regular chords and even scales.
While I don’t think these mini games are as powerful for beginners as online guitar lessons would be, they do teach you the basics rather then just not ever letting you know what you’re doing in the game.
My gut feeling is that Rocksmith will not be as popular as Rock Band or Guitar Hero. Why? Simply put it’s going to be more difficult to play. While thousands of people wish they were able to play guitar and not just rock out with Guitar Hero, they aren’t really willing to put the work in that’s needed to really learn the instrument.
You do need an electric guitar to play the game, but there are bundles available that include a low cost Gibson electric guitar.
The game is available for the PS3 and Xbox consoles right now. No word has been mentioned about a Wii version.
So you’ve watched all your friends get up on stage and sing in front of total strangers. You’ve always wanted to do it yourself, but it’s something that terrifies you. But there’s something deep inside that is calling you to the stage, and you can’t ignore it any more. You’ve got an internal battle raging between nervousness and wanting to experience true karaoke in front of a crowd. If you’re ready to tackle your fears and finally give it a shot, you’re in for a great time. You’re about to be rewarded with an adrenaline-pumping experience that makes you a part of the entertainment. Unlike listening to music or watching a movie, this is one of the only forms of entertainment that actually makes you a part of the show. For 5 minutes, everyone’s focus will be on you, and you get to be a star!
Be Brave – it’s important to remember that feeling nervous is natural and anxiety is a regular part of karaoke. Even singers who have been doing it for a long time experience a certain level of stage fright now and again. Anticipation is probably the most nerve-racking thing you’ll have to deal with, but finally delivering your performance is an incredible relief. In fact, you’ll feel a huge difference between before and after getting up on stage. The thrill and excitement is totally worth it.
Pick a Good Song – if you’re getting up on stage for the very first time, it’s important to be armed with a great song. There are various things you need to take into account such as how easy a song is to sing in addition to how popular it might be. Above all else, choose something that you know well so that you don’t have to spend every minute staring at the lyric display. In case of an emergency, it’s always nice to know that you have memorized the lyrics beforehand.
Prepare – being prepared helps to cut down the nerves tremendously and practicing will help your performance. There are many ways to bolster your first performance, and every little step helps. You can prepare yourself by going to the bar beforehand and making sure that you are familiar with the layout. You can ask for tips from other singers or talk to the karaoke DJ as well. If you’re still dealing with nerves, then try visualization as a technique to calm yourself down while preparing you for your first performance.
Have Fun – it’s important not to put too much pressure on yourself or take the event to seriously. Obviously you don’t want to waste your time up on stage, but you have to remember that karaoke is all about fun. This isn’t your job and you are trying to win a recording contract. It’s just a hobby and a chance for you to experience something different. So revel in the moment and enjoy yourself because it really doesn’t last all that long. Put everything you have into your performance and you’ll have the crowd jumping up and down.
Duets – if you’re too nervous to get up on stage by yourself, a duet is a nice option that takes a lot of the pressure off you. You can either staying with a veteran who can help you along or maybe another newcomer who needs support as well. When duets art done properly, they can be hits of the night because they sound great. And at the very least, you can rest assured that you don’t have to stand up there all by yourself.
If you happen to enjoy yourself, then home karaoke is the next logical step. Live singing and home karaoke have a symbiotic relationship that helps to perpetuate one another. It’s hard to tell which one is more popular, but each offers its own benefits. All you need is a quality karaoke machine where it should be incredibly easy to find these days with options that will blow you away. Modern technology offers you iPod compatibility, video recording, and online play it takes things to a whole new level. You can also simplify things with a good set of wireless headphones for TV and enjoy some private singing all by yourself as well. The options are limitless and if you happen to enjoy this hobby, you’ll have a great way to entertain yourself and good friends.
USB Turntables have been up there with the bestselling new gadgets of the 21st century, they were a real masterstroke too, each track on one of your vinyl records is worth at least $0.69, a decent USB turntable can cost as little as $40, so if you have a record collection of 100 albums – each with 10 tracks on – you would be making a very tidy profit!
Whilst USB vinyl converters have taken the limelight, exactly the same principle applies to USB Cassette Converters. You have music in an old format, which you probably don’t play, why not convert it all to MP3 and save yourself hundreds of dollars? Some USB cassette converters double up as portable cassette players too, such as the Ion Audio USB Portable Tape-to-MP3 player which has been featured in the article Best USB Cassette Converter.
In fact, the Ion Audio USB Portable Tape-to-MP3 player has many more benefits then one would automatically assume, asides from the headphones (enabling you to listen to tapes) and the USB cable (enabling you to convert cassettes to MP3 format), it also comes complete with EZ Tape Converter software for direct integration with iTunes, whilst an audio output unit enables you to play cassettes in your car stereo, directly to your hi-fi, or directly to a pair of speakers. Follow the link to find out much more!
I have always believed that everyone requires at least one major stress buster. In my case, as a change from writing about topics such as the best autoresponder, I write about music and food. Here is one of my occasional music blogs.
Flamenco guitars are traditionally made out of wood with sycamore or rosewood being used for the back and sides while the top is made of spruce. This accounts for the distinctive color and also makes Flamenco guitars lighter than classical guitars. Volume is very important for flamenco guitarists so that they can be heard over the sound of the shoes with nails that are worn by flamenco dancers. Often to obtain increased volume, hard woods are used to make the back and sides with softer wood being used for the top.
Unlike classical guitars, a Flamenco guitar has a plastic plate which protects the body of the guitar from the constant tapping of the fingers which is essential to flamenco technique. However, in due course, a guitar that is frequently used sustains damage to the top. The space between the strings and the fingerboard is lower than that of a classical guitar. As a result, the Flamenco guitarists can achieve greater finger speed with less fatigue.
A high quality Flamenco guitar has a quick response with less sustain than a classical guitar. This helps the guitarists to produce a quick cascade of notes with a degree of clarity that may not always be available on a classical guitar. Musicians like the percussive and bright sound of the Flamenco guitar and it is sometimes used by guitarists will perform jazz and Latin music. Some musicians also believe that the guitar is best suited for performing Baroque and Renaissance classical music.
Flamenco guitar playing techniques differ considerably from classical guitar. For instance, Flamenco guitarists cross their legs and hold the guitar parallel to the floor. This helps in their playing techniques because the guitar supports the right arm at the elbow rather than the forearm.
From classics like Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” to present day favorites like Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You”, there are hundreds of fun and traditional Christmas songs to choose from. Check out this list of the best Christmas songs, and choose your favorites to listen to as the kids tear into their Christmas gifts.
1. Jackson 5- I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - This classic from the iconic Jackson 5 was first released in 1970. Though they weren’t the first to sing the song (Jimmy Boyd did the original recording back in 1952), the Jackson 5 version was definitely more popular.
2. Bobby Helms- Jingle Bell Rock - First released in 1957, this famous Christmas song was composed by Joseph Beal and James Boothe and became an instant classic for the holiday season, being played by stores and radios across America during Christmas.
3. Dr. Elmo- “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer” - Having sold more than 10 million copies since the release in 1979, this song is requested more than any other holiday melody over the past 20 years.
4. Brenda Lee- Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree - Although this song was first released in 1958, and again in ’59, it wasn’t until 1960 when Brenda Lee became more well-known as a singer that the fun melody finally began to sell well. During the 1960 Christmas season, it hit #14 on the Billboard pop chart and quickly became a seasonal favorite.
5. Faith Hill- Where Are You Christmas? - This hauntingly beautiful song was co-written by James Horner and Will Jennings for the 2000 movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (named “Christmas, Why Can’t I Find You?”)and was first sung by Taylor Momsen, who played little Cindy Lou Who in the film remake. But Faith Hill’s longer, different version was then co-written by James Horner, Will Jennings and pop-diva Mariah Carey and renamed “Where Are You Christmas?”
6. Jason Mraz- Winter Wonderland - First released in 2005 on the “Sounds of the Season NBC Holiday Collection”, this popular tune was re-released for iTunes in 2010, and then contributed the track to “A Very Special Christmas” holiday series to benefit the Special Olympics.
7. Mariah Carey- All I Want for Christmas Is You - Still popular even after its first release in 1994, this holiday tune lets the pop diva’s voice range shine. She co-wrote the melody with Walter Afanasieff and performed it live many times over the years.
8. Bing Crosby- Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow - This song was first written and composed in 1945, and Bing Crosby crooned it in 1950. Although there were many others to sing this song before and after Bing, his version is the most popular and still a favorite today.
As a break from stock market investing advice, I often use music as a stress buster. The other day, it struck me that despite their profound influence on modern popular music, the contribution of the Beatles now seems to have been forgotten. I decided therefore to revisit the group and remind myself of their accomplishments.
It has often been said that the history of jazz is the four words “Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker” because their influence was so profound. The Beatles are in a similar position when it comes to rock music. In the beginning, like many other musicians, they imbibed and absorbed the influence of musicians that had preceded them. As they matured musically, they created a new art form that combined isolated characteristics into a coherent whole. This was such a monumental accomplishment that it would be safe to say that no musician who followed them to the present day remained untouched by their influence.
They had many talents of which the most important arguably was the songwriting skills of Lennon and McCartney. Some musical experts consider them to be the greatest songwriters since Schumann a couple of centuries ago. They regarded their song lyrics as serious poetry which is why they are probably the most covered songwriters by other musicians in the history of music. It was once estimated that there are more than 2000 versions of their famous song “Yesterday”. Every song of theirs stands out as unique.
Lennon and McCartney had wonderful singing voices though all four of them could sing to an acceptable level. As a result, complex harmony and multilayered vocals became characteristic of their style. Despite this technical virtuosity, their songs had elements of simplicity that appealed to a much wider audience than rock had traditionally reached. Again, as with their song lyrics, they used their voices in a variety of ways and every song has different arrangements. Unlike other rock musicians who had a slapdash and carefree attitude to song recording, the Beatles had a structured and disciplined approach where no detail was too small.
I think that stringed instruments are one of the best instruments for the sheer beauty of the sound that can be made form either strumming, plucking or bowing. If you had never seen a stringed instrument it would be hard to convey just what they are and what you can achieve.
So when my daughter said she wanted to learn to play the violin, I was partly excited, and also some what worried. You see I know next to nothing about them, the thought of her getting a sound of a violin, without it sounding like she was strangling the cat was beyond me. But I am a firm believer in encouraging children to have a go at anything they want to, as long as it does not hurt them, but I was worried this might be a pain in my ears.
But now she has been learning for a couple of months, and after the first few weeks of her just plucking the strings, she can now use the bow, and make a tune that I can recognise. At the moment she is learning Jingle Bells for Christmas, and I am so proud.
But the thing is we are now faced with a request to buy one as a Christmas gift, And as I said I don’t know anything about them. So I have had to go for a crash course on buying one.
First you have to get the right size, either half, three quarter or full. This is so that the violin can be held comfortably.
A good make is essential for a good sound. For this I have looked at the reviews that others have left.
The bow is just as important as the violin, so I have chosen a god make, and again gone with good reviews.
You will need a robust case for it, which also needs to be lightweight, this will keep it safe when being transported.
You need rosin which is used to make the bow move smoothly over the strings.
You can choose different styles, and colours, we have gone for a pink one.
So as you can see it is not too difficult, I just hope she continues with her lessons no we have bought a violin.
If you want to have a studio in your home for recoding music then of course controlling sound is going to be a big part of what you do. I don’t mean just the sounds of your voice and your instruments. The other side of the coin is stray sounds from outside your recording area and echoes from what you produce.
Have you ever wondered why artists who record in studios are always shown behind a glass window? It is because they are in a sound proof room that is set up to control all the extra noises that can ruin a recording. Have you ever listened to the old 78 records from the thirties and forties? They sound like the recording artists are making their music inside a tin can. This is because the recording engineers had no knowledge of how to control the sound streams and only record the notes that were important to the song.
In the 50′s this changed as professional recording studies started to pop up all over. This also was the start of Rock and Roll and Motown which I don’t think is only by chance. Records finally sounded like the original recordings and people bought them by the millions.
If you are going to set up a studio in your home then sound proofing will be very important. You can start by soundproofing floors and walls of any room you plan to use. For the floor, it is recommended that you use a thick carpet as this will cut down on foot noise and also will stop echoes from bouncing off. For walls the best option is foam. This has millions of very small open voids which trap the excess sound waves and deaden them out.
It is amazing how much better your music will sound if you take the time to set up your room to cancel out any random noises.
One of things I used to love about going to the arcades as a kid was the electronic music they played in the background. It was the old music that used to be on games like Space Invaders or Pac-Man, very simple but very catchy tunes and melodies to calm you or excite you as you played along each level. I loved going to the arcades and playing games like Final Fight and Double Dragon, those days were glorious.
One of the greatest things to come onto the tech market in a long time is the iCade. It turns your iPad into a mini arcade gaming machine and I absolutely love it. You get all the Atari classics like Asteroids and Battlezone and best of all the cheesy music to go with it. If you’re looking to get yourself a retro gaming system at any time in the near future and you own yourself an iPad then I thoroughly recommend buying and iCade, it really will blow your socks off.
The great thing about new technology is that it not only brings new advancements into how we enjoy our free time, entertainment wise butit also seems to be able to pull out of the doldrums older ways of life and spending time and revamping them for today, this is what the ION iCade does. It brings back a feeling of days gone by and allows us to re-live our youth.
If you get yourself down to an old clothes store you might even be able to find an old fluorescent tracksuit and bright coloured headband to wear whilst you and your mates play. Something else that new tech allows us to do and that is create our own music. This is something I will be looking into. With all the new apps coming out, there’s a market for gaming music and with my ear for cheesey music, perhaps i could compose a few classics of my own, something to think about for sure.
If you are looking for some cash to buy some drums or other musical equipment and don’t have time to go through time consuming lengthy procedure of banks to avail loans, approaching cash advance networks to fulfill emergency cash needs is the best solution. There are thousands of cash advance networks in the market currently and growing every day as the market for these kinds of loans, keeps on increasing by the day.
Whether you have good credit record or bad, you can get immediate cash advance loans. You don’t need to go through long procedures followed by banks or other financial institutions following rigid policies. Here, you just need to have an account with bank, a steady job, provide identity proof and be an adult to take this loan.
Make sure you do a good research to find the best deal as information for most of these networks are available online. Compare the interest rates as well as the finance charges which would be imposed on the loan. Also, always remember that since these loans are too expensive to be kept for long time, they are also known as short term loans and make sure you are in position to repay these loans on your next pay day or the one after to the most.
These 1000 loans with bad credit are only meant for emergency situation when you are left with not much choice as they are very expensive where you are charged with around $30 finance charges for every $100 you borrow plus the interest rates which if annualized can become 400% of the principal. Good understanding of your finances helps you in making a well structured repayment strategy which would not let you drown in the debt any further. Also, searching for the best network to take loan from also makes a difference as the rate of interest might be a bit lower and the process might also be much simplified and hassles free.
In fact, the Ion Audio USB Portable Tape-to-MP3 player has many more benefits then one would automatically assume, asides from the headphones (enabling you to listen to tapes) and the USB cable (enabling you to convert cassettes to MP3 format), it also comes complete with EZ Tape Converter software for direct integration with iTunes, whilst an audio output unit enables you to play cassettes in your car stereo, directly to your hi-fi, or directly to a pair of speakers. Follow the link to find out much more!