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Saturday, June 6, 2009

Learning to Play the Piano by Ear

By Michelle Edward

Is everything you have learned as far as playing piano been correct? Think about the following information, and compare it to what you have learned is the latest as far as playing a piano.

Think on this information...

Do you want to be capable of playing your piano without the assistance of sheets of music?

Or make music with just humming along with the tune?

Have you always wanted to play but your visual senses make it quite impossible?

Haven't you realized that if you can hum a tune, then you are capable of playing that tune?

Quite a few musicians that are professionals, didn't use instructors or any manuals to begin their careers. They learned by listening to a tone and then playing to the specific beat that the music had. No notes on a paper, or teachers helping.

1. Assemble your things. Of course you'll need a piano or a keyboard, whatever it is that's available. You have to have at least three available fingers, just in case others have been decapitated or just got lost. Be sure you have a lot of time to practice. Oh, and tune your piano first.

2. Remember that the piano is an instrument that is comprised of 88 keys. Along these are 12 straight notes. The first white key is the A - note, next white note is B, C, D, E, F, G.

Then after the last white G - note, the next white note again becomes the A - note, then the repetition begins. This sequence is repeated until the last white note is done for about 7 times. That would include the black notes that represent flats and sharps.

3. The C note is also known as the Home Key. To trace the C note, it is the white key on the left side of two black keys. If you're still amazed, stare at your piano. You'll notice that at the middle part is the C - note. Thus, that would be the first major chord.

If what you know about playing the piano is out dated, how is this going to control you decisions and actions? Be sure to not ignore important information on playing the piano.

The right thumb is number 1 due to it going on C in the middle. From here you have to count the keys that go to the right. This include the black keys too.

When you have counted till 5, that would serve as the 2nd note in C chord. Place your middle finger there. From counting to number 5, count till 8, that will be your final note. Put your pinkie on it.

Sound it all together and you'll hear quite an impressive cycle.

4 - Memorize the above sequence to use in your playing...1, and 5, and 8 to count. You can do with any note as a starting point, as long as you count right, be sure to count those sharps and flats.

These types of chords are your basis for playing. You can also select a sharp to start you chord on. Then you are playing a sharp type chord.

5 - You will understand what close listening and counting will do for your playing through enough practice.

As an example, when the number 5 in the chord goes down by 1 key then you are on number 4 key. This makes the major chord turn into a minor chord.

In the event that you are playing the C chord, you just have to slide your finger just one key over to the left to make a C minor chord.

The benefits of good listening you will start knowing different tones. You will also be capable of hearing variations in a tune. This is true as long as you hearing is good enough.

Pieces of advice:

Don't just do your practicing in the middle of your piano. Many keys are available for you to select.

Don't limit yourself in using one or two fingers. Through practice, you could use all fingers including both hands.

Practice enough.

This article's coverage of the information is as complete as it can be today. But you should always leave open the possibility that future research could uncover new facts. - 18424

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My Music Memories: My Time With U2 Concerts

By Ian Sawyer

The time was 1987, when I was 15 years old, my father took me to see U2 at, what was then, Foxboro Stadium. It was the Joshua Tree Tour, in support of their Grammy winning album that would go on to catapult them to the top of the rock 'n roll food chain. I was old enough to appreciate the vibrant synergy of the audience and the incredible hold the band had over so many people. But I was too young to fully commit to each song, and took away more of the awe of being amongst 50,000 people than the awe of being in the presence of Bono, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., and Adam Clayton. I remember squinting to see Bono, in a cowboy hat and an arm sling (he had separated his shoulder the night before in New York) because he was so far away. For days after the show, I wore my concert t-shirt with pride even though it was too big for me and hung lifelessly off my bony frame. My friends, and even some strangers, would praise me in the hallway, impressed that I had actually seen U2 live. One year later, the t-shirt would be worn through and reduced to a dust rag.

By the time U2 returned to Foxboro in August of 1992, supporting Achtung Baby!, I had just turned 20. Things had certainly changed. While I wasn't technically of drinking age, I will admit that the pre-show tailgating before the concert was one of the most glorious times I'd ever had in a parking lotuntil then, at least. The show itself, featuring an immense stage, inspired set list, and compelling onstage antics, would go down in the history books as one the most over-the-top and impressive live concert events ever. To say that the crowd was into it is like saying a starving man is into filet mignon. It was awesome. Highlights of the Zoo TV Tour included a stage so tall that blinking air-traffic lights were required, a gorgeous belly dancer seducing Bono during "Mysterious Ways," and Bono phoning the White House to talk to President Bush between songs. In retrospect, the entire production was one long highlight.

Five years would go by before U2 returned to Foxboro, and I made sure I was there. The Popmart Tour, supporting a combination of POP and Zooropa came to town in July of 1997, and I was 25-a pretty good year all around. I was newly single, had a good job, and was living in the Boston area. I had already seen the band in Philadelphia on the same tour and was as big a fan as you could find back then. While many people consider POP and Zooropa to be less than stellar albums, at least by U2 standards, I've always found them quite enjoyable. Similarly, the Popmart Tour was considered, by some, to be weird and self-indulgent-a far cry from the successes of Zoo TV. The infamous giant lemon-shaped disco mirror ball, and the enormous yellow arch (suggesting half of the McDonald's golden arches) were meant to reflect the album's themes regarding pop culture and commercialism-elements that were lost on many concertgoers. However, I was a big fan of the set list and the techno-heavy nuances they brought to their songs, new and old.

In the 4 years between Zooropa and U2's next studio album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, the band shrugged off the flawed character-driven cultural study of the Popmart era and embraced their more personal lyric writing roots. Songs like "Beautiful Day" and "Walk On" were inspiring and uplifting. Appropriately named the Elevation Tour, U2 took the opportunity to leave outdoor stadiums behind, playing strictly arenas. Inside, U2's heart-shaped stage and cutting edge surround sound system were a welcome departure from the overwhelming grandeur of past tours. The Elevation Tour was more intimate, and more accessible for fans. I caught a couple shows at Boston's Fleet Center in June of 2001. Having an Irish-based affection for Boston, U2 pulls out all the stops when in town, and I am always proud to be present at a U2 concert in my hometown.

Not much changed from the Elevation Tour to U2's next tour. Again taking place in arenas, the Vertigo Tour came to Boston's Fleet Center in December of 2005 in support of How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. The heart-shaped stage was now a giant circle, and a vast curtain of high-tech light bulbs surrounded the stage, making a floor-to-ceiling see-through screen. The stage was nearly centered in the arena and fans enjoyed seating pretty much all around the stage, upping the intimacy factor. The show I attended was one of the best sounding concerts I have ever been to and, as usual, the crowd was hanging on every guitar riff and vocal chorus.

Recently U2 released No Line On The Horizon and is in the midst of warming up for their next world tour. On September 20, I'll be attending U2 360 in Foxboro. Early stage design research suggests that U2 will be playing in the middle of stadiums on a huge, circular, rotating stage. Reports claim that every seat in the place will afford fans a totally immersive experience. While ticket prices border on outrageous for high quality seats, I feel I owe it to myself to be as close to the band as possible since I've supported them on every tour since 1987. For almost 30 years U2 have provided me with a lifelong soundtrack that's gotten me though the best and worst of days. It's likely that this will be the last time I'll have this opportunity to enjoy the tailgating, the crowd, the stage, the lights, and, above all, the music. Hopefully it will feel more like a thank you than a goodbye. - 18424

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Flashing an XBOX 360

By Daniel Thompson

Your XBox 360 is one of the most powerful and versatile gaming systems ever made. Not only can you play all of your favorite games on this console, but you can also go online for interactive game play, enjoy music and movies and much more besides. Even though the XBox 360 offers a lot of functionality to gamers, there are some limitations imposed by the default settings in these gaming systems.

The main limitation that generates much concern among gamers is the inability to play backup games and other custom games including hacked and homebrew ones. This is a common protection that older consoles utilized to reduce piracy rates and encourage users to buy the original games. Just like how people did it with the other consoles, people took the matter to their own hands and devised methods to bypass these security checks.

Modding is one way which a lot of people get around these limitations in their game systems. To mod your XBox 360, you need to buy a mod chip and install it in your system; it's a procedure that most people with a little technical inclination can do with relative ease. Modding is usually a pretty straightforward thing, but it can sometimes be hard to get your hands on a mod chip and incorrectly installed, modding can damage your system or even render it useless. Since you need to open the console to do this, it's a process which a lot of people approach with some trepidation.

Flashing works a little bit differently and although it still requires you to open up the console, no soldering is required. Flashing works by hacking the firmware that controls the components and alters it in such a way that backup games can be played without the need of modding. While many would think that people would do this for illegal matters, playing backup copies is useful for avoid scratches on your original discs.

You will need an Xbox opening kit. These are not expensive and can be easily obtained. Once you have this kit opening the console will present no problems. To flash means that you switch the DVD connector with the computer?s SATA port. You will use a firmware tool to flash it using a disc. Sometimes there is no SATA port. This is when you can try using a PCI SATA card on the condition that it has the VIA 6421 chipset. If it does not, it probably will not work.

Once you have determined who the manufacturer was you can begin. Invariably you will flash using Dosflash or Ixtreme via disc, but this is dependent upon who the manufacturer is.

Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of opening up their Xbox 360 in order to change anything. Nowadays you will be able to find services on the Internet that, for a fee, will allow you to download content that actually unblocks your system for you. These sites even offer additional help and support and are definitely worth a visit if opening up your console yourself seems like a bad idea.

If you want to get around the limitations of your XBox 360, flashing is a good alternative to modding. It's important to keep in mind that neither of these techniques are free of risk and Microsoft discourages these practices. If your flashing goes well though, you'll finally be able to play backup copies of your favorite games and custom games; as long as these are legal in your state, flashing your XBox 360 can be a rewarding experience. - 18424

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The King Can Add Style To Even Your Checkbook

By Alan Plastin

If you find yourself writing a lot of personal checks with plain check designs, and you're a fan of Elvis, then Elvis personal checks might be the thing for you. Now, you can take the King with you wherever you go.

Elvis Aaron Presley is still the King of Rock and Roll. He has sold over one billion records worldwide, even though he never toured outside of the United States. Within the United States, he has received gold, platinum, and even multi-platinum awards for more than 111 different albums.

The King is one of the most recognizable music figures in history and certainly the most recognized name in the industry. Even today the Elvis line of memorabilia and CDs is popular worldwide.

Elvis is still an international phenomenon, even thirty years after his death. He has a host of dedicated fans that were born well after his death and never saw him perform live. Graceland, his former home, is the second most visited house in the United States, after the White House.

Elvis is possibly one of the leading illustrations of the "American Dream" and persists in motivating people today. He was born into a lower class family and was often picked on as a child. He worked hard, however, for not only himself but also his family and when he rose to fame he did not forget his early period. Once he began making ample amounts of money, he was often generous with it and helped out people that he sometimes did not even know.

Even though Elvis is notorious for his magnetism and remarkable handsomeness, he is also accountable for having an effect on several different types of music. With his love of music, Elvis was able to integrate gospel, rockabilly, blues, and country music together, producing a sound that wasn't often available on radio stations. This sound assisted in creating and having some influence on modern day rock, country, R & B, and Rap.

Such a famous man is very easy to recognize and even in places where English is hardly spoken at all the tunes and notes of his most famous songs are known and loved. Things bearing the King's image are some of the most noticeable and familiar items worldwide.

Any true Elvis fan should definitely consider buying Elvis personal checks. His image provides a class and style all of its own, but they can do more than that.

There are many different kinds of Elvis Presley checks available. There is pretty much an image for every fan. A quick search on the Internet will yield checks with the following: Hawaiian Elvis, GI Elvis, '68 Comeback Special Elvis, and even images from some of his most famous movies.

Such personal checks are usually very expensive to get from your bank. But it is now possible to purchase them online where it is easy to find such individualized checks as much as half off the price you would have to pay the bank.

By ordering checks online the customer can also order duplicate checks that have a carbon copy slip for your own records when you write one. They also come with checkbook covers. With a 2 to 3 day wait for delivery you get them as quick or quicker than you would from your bank. - 18424

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Legal iPod Music Downloads - Where To Find

By Davion Wong

Legal iPod music downloads are quite sought after. How do I know? Everyday, many people are looking up terms like "legal iPod music downloads" at Google, trying to find places where they can get these for somewhat lesser than what they are paying at the iTunes website. Mind you, paying $0.99 per song is cheap on its own but if you want to load your 80GB device, it is no joke!

Here is a list of 3 sources where all iPod users can obtain legal iPod music downloads.

1. Mainstream Services

Mainstream music stores like EMusic, Amazon, Napster and Walmart Music can supply your iPod music needs. The only trouble is that they are priced almost the same as iTunes, that is about a dollar per song download. But the advantage is that occasionally, they do offer special deals at cheaper prices.

2. Free Download Site

To be fair, you can find some free websites that offer you quality and legal iPod music downloads. No, we are not referring to copyright music but productions by unknown artists. These hopefuls often upload their own music and song onto public networks such as torrents or YouTube and MetaCafe. It is their free means of publicizing their works. You can get some nice music for your iPod there.

3. Paid Membership Services

These are quite popular these days. For a flat fee, one can sign up as a member and get unlimited access to the legal iPod music downloads there. You will be able to download more than just songs there. From music videos, soundtracks to movies and TV shows, you can practically find them there. They normally offer a term membership meaning to say it is one-year, two-year or even lifetime term membership. Frankly, most users go for the lifetime option since it offers the best value for money.

These are the 3 main types of sites that offer you your music needs. Why not start getting your legal iPod music downloads and load them up on your precious iPod today? - 18424

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