Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Buy Wedgie WPH001 Wedgie Pick Holder, Single Packaged


I always loose my picks and whoever made this thing is a genius! I totally love it. I'd be cool if it had vibrant colors but anyways this thing is perfect.Get more detail about Wedgie WPH001 Wedgie Pick Holder, Single Packaged.

Purchase Benny Greb The Language of Drumming


Benny's approach to music and drumming is revolutionary. He plays the drums unlike any person I've ever watched, and I've been at this for over 30 years! Exercises range from very simple to very complex. The performances are AMAZING! He makes his drum set sound like an entire drum circle. I would love to study with this guy in person.Get more detail about Benny Greb The Language of Drumming.

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Shop For Boss DD-7 Digital Delay Pedal


This pedal is awesome. Not only does the DD-7 offer standard dealy and echo it also has reverse delay, modulation, and loop functions. It's capable of looping up to 40 seconds of play which is a wonderful tool for writing two and three part harmonies or working out timing. This pedal is amazing and I highly recomend it for any guitar player. Most of my pedals are Boss because they only build their equipment to industrial strength and standards. This means their stuff is made to last. No flimsy plastics, cheap rubber, or faulty components or parts will cut it in Boss's supieror product line.Get more detail about Boss DD-7 Digital Delay Pedal.

Behind the Glass - Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft the Hits (Softcover) (Book)


So well done I read it twice. Highly detailed technical descriptions of how well-known music producers choose and employ their equipment and deal with the people they represent. Generous margins; better bound than many hardbound books. Well worth the money.Get more detail about Behind the Glass - Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft the Hits (Softcover) (Book).

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Songwriting: Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure: Tools and Techniques for Writing Better Lyrics (Songwriting Guides) Review


I learned much more than I thought was possible to learn. Great, clear explanations yet very in-depth. Book provides plenty of appropriate exercises which are good for beginner or advanced. My skills grew practically with every page of the book. Note: DO the exercises! They are difficult at first but you really build creative muscle and feel like you understand lyric writing inside out. Also, the examples are mainstream yet interesting and not at all cheezy. Some books with cheezy examples really make it a chore to learn. This book has smart cool examples. In summary, awesome. So far the best of about 8 songwriting books I own.Get more detail about Songwriting: Essential Guide to Lyric Form and Structure: Tools and Techniques for Writing Better Lyrics (Songwriting Guides).

First Lessons in Bach - Book 1: Piano Solo (Piano Method) Top Quality


B"H
Everything was perfect! The product arrived promptly, in perfect shape, and the price was the lowest I've seen anywhere.
Great in every way; I'd definitely buy from them again!Get more detail about First Lessons in Bach - Book 1: Piano Solo (Piano Method).

Friday, August 27, 2010

How To Write Songs On Guitar - Revised (Book) This instant


Everyone is entitled to their opinion, however much it may be at variance with reality. Rooksby's entire series of books reminds me of nothing so much as my time studying composition at the Juilliard School. Their undergraduate theory course (Literature and Materials of Music) mirrors Rooksby's game plan and "secret wish" for us as evolving musicians. As opposed to those who somehow miss the point and say his method is just a bunch of chords or progressions, Rooksby's entire thesis is that music is NOT these surface features that he goes to great lengths to describe. To my mind, Rooksby's wish for us as his students is for us to "get to work" and to use these stock features (chords, progressions) as launching pads for our own analysis of music's mysterious and personal qualities. At Juilliard, we were not taught theory per se, but rather, we were given pieces of music to analyze (polyphonic and homophonic) to come into class to discuss. Nobody told us what the piece "meant" and nobody told us "how the story ends". We were trained to become independent thinkers, and make up our own minds. Again, whatever the naysayers may believe in their musical heart of hearts to the contrary, Rikky Rooksby is a master teacher who states very clearly that music is either all surface and recycled parts and pieces, OR, it is an endless mystery, literally having no end (as there are infinite harmonics in nature). He also states clearly that the game of music is not in the obviously repeated surface structures, but in the way that each individual musician can IMPRINT on music structures their own spirit and personality. John Lennon's barre chords were his and nobody elses, just as Beethoven's middle c was unlike any other musician's middle c (even though it was). With his encyclopedic foundation of structures leading to a workable process of personal analysis of the songs we love (Rikky's plan for us as his students), Rooksby's intent is not to dwell smugly on music's obvious lacks (7-12 notes in Western music, the limited range of human hearing, etc), but to ponder and muse upon the mystery of how those lacks can turn into so much genuine gold. "Just think", Rikky seems to be saying..."there are endless new songs waiting for us to write". Just think...endless new songs.Get more detail about How To Write Songs On Guitar - Revised (Book).

Glaesel GL-3909 Paganini Rosin Immediately


It's rosin, it works well (for a beginner like me, at the very least), and it's inexpensive. There isn't much more someone such as myself can add. If you're new to the violin, you couldn't go wrong with this.Get more detail about Glaesel GL-3909 Paganini Rosin.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Principles of Orchestration Buy Now


I had first ordered "Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade: Get to Know Classical Masterpieces by Hans-Gunter Heumann", thinking I was getting the full score. It was not. This is the full score and I intend to study it in conjunction with "Principles of Orchestration by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov", as I'd like to see, in detail, how he voiced his instruments and what kind of orchestral instructions the score contains.Get more detail about Principles of Orchestration.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Hercules GSP38WB A/G Guitar Hanger Wood Decide Now


if the head of your guitar is not symmetrical, then this one is for you because it twists by itself to completely and securely hold the guitar in place. That is KEY!
if your guitar head is symmetrical in shape, then the mechanism stays horizontal which is what you want.
you never know what guitar you may have and end up hanging there, so this is perfect.
Very Good quality, got here FAST, definitely cheaper than at brick/mortar store.
You need to find a stud to put in the two screws, but you knew that.
The fingers automatically open and close to secure guitar. Very easy, very safe for guitar. Guitar lays about 10 inches from the wall, very nice, very happy.
no issues at all.
you can't go wrong with this one.Get more detail about Hercules GSP38WB A/G Guitar Hanger Wood.

Ultimate GS100 Support Genesis 100 Guitar Stand Right now


I bought this guitar stand for my teenage daughter, but it is living in my den. The stand is not getting hard use, but it seems quite sturdy and well made and looks fine in the den. The stand is easy to use and it is also easy for her to fold up and take with her. I find it to be a good value for the price and would recommend it.Get more detail about Ultimate GS100 Support Genesis 100 Guitar Stand.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Save BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Stomp Box Pedal for Guitars, Basses and Keyboards


Ok, seriously, I'm going to buy like as many of these pedals as Amazon has for $60 each. Then I'm going to turn both knobs all the way clockwise and turn the switch on and put it inside a slightly larger metal black box, on which I'm going to stencil 'God-like Tone Sculptor', and in smaller letters, 'warning: tone may melt faces and crush skulls instantaneously'. The box will have no controls of any kind, just an input and an output. Then I'm going to sell these at boutique music stores for $300 each.*

Only $60 to instantly sound this good? I would certainly pay $300 for this box. BBE is crazy to sell it at this low price!! HURRY AND BUY ONE OF THESE AT THIS PRICE BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T BUY IT RIGHT NOW YOU'LL HAVE TO BUY MY 'GOD-LIKE TONE SCULPTOR' FOR $300 TO SOUND THIS GOOD!

*legal told me to say that this is just a joke.Get more detail about BBE Sonic Stomp Sonic Maximizer Stomp Box Pedal for Guitars, Basses and Keyboards.

Discount Wittner Quartz Metronome


No bells, no whistles, no volume control (it's fairly loud --some may want to lay it face down on a pillow, although the volume is just right for me). This metronome by Wittner does exactly what a metronome is supposed to do, and it's simple to use -- just turn the dial directly to the beats-per-minute you want. At first I thought it unwise to order such a low priced item (relative to some of the other metronomes), thinking instead I should pay more for some other brand in hopes of getting something more likely to "keep on working" (like the Ever-ready bunny). I'm very glad, however, that I went with this Wittner. It seems very well made, has little if anything to quit working because of only one (manually controlled) moving part (the dial) -- other than the metal leg that handily lifts out to act as a stand on which to tilt the metronome back at about a 50 degree angle. The blinking light on the face of the instrument, however, is as another reviewer mentioned -- too dim to be of much use unless you are nearby and looking right at it. As far as rating the Wittner, I give the unit four stars only, not because of the not-so-bright light, but because the sound the metronome emits is similar to that of two wooden blocks "clacking" together, and I would have preferred the "clicking" sound of the old metronomes of the past with which I was familiar as a young boy when I started out on the piano fifty years ago. Otherwise, it seems to be a five star item.Get more detail about Wittner Quartz Metronome.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Cheapest Dunlop 220 Chromed Steel Guitar Slide


This item is exactly as described. It's just not quite as heavy as I need, but it's my fault for not checking first. Price is excellent, though.Get more detail about Dunlop 220 Chromed Steel Guitar Slide.

Cheap The Big Book of Staff Paper (Manuscript Paper)


This staff paper has the same quality as the paper in the ringed binders you get at walmart. So far I've only written a singe four part chorale and I'm, impressed. Yet it is a good idea to use mechanical pencils (because when normal pencils get dull, the markings are bad quality, yet that's with all paper). The only bad thing is that there is no room on the left to name staves and instruments.Get more detail about The Big Book of Staff Paper (Manuscript Paper).

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Purchase Solo Jazz Piano: The Linear Approach (Berklee Guide)


When a book is focused on teaching jazz piano you would expect it to be able to rest easily on a piano or a music stand in order to be read. Unfortunately the binding is such that the book is always closing and the pages never stay open. The first time I used it I tried to "open the book" just a little bit so that the pages would stay open and I wouldn't have to hold them. Much to my surprise, the very first time I LIGHTLY folded the pages back, the pages fell out of the binding completely! It was like snapping a dried twig. Now I have a broken book with pages falling out of it.

Bottom line: Content is decent, but the binding is horrendous and renders the book useless.Get more detail about Solo Jazz Piano: The Linear Approach (Berklee Guide).

Order Alfred's Basic Piano Library: Prep Course Solo Level A


I would call myself a beginner piano teacher, as I play the piano myself but have had no instruction as to how to teach others to play. I now have four beginner students, whom I have been teaching for a little over a year.

I love the Alfred method. The four books: technic, lesson, solo/recital, and theory all seem to really work well together. The songs coordinate with each other, so for each new concept taught in the lesson books, the student has a warm-up, a solo piece, and some theory work to back it up. I find this to be very effective. It gives the students a chance to see several examples of each concept, and practice each new concept in different ways until they achieve perfection with it. It also really walks the teacher through each concept very clearly, giving definitions for musical terms and clear instructions for which songs go together. I feel like the order in which concepts are taught also makes a lot of sense.

Overall, it's a good method for a teacher who doesn't know a whole lot about HOW to teach another person to play the piano!

I currently have some of my students on this level (Prep Course), and others on the regular beginner levels. I love how all of the different levels are interchangeable, so gifted students can advance more quickly, and students who need a little extra reinforcement can stay on the lower levels. The map for how this all works is on the back of all of the books, which you can see on the book preview. So many great things about Alfred!Get more detail about Alfred's Basic Piano Library: Prep Course Solo Level A.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Library of Easy Piano Classics (Library of Series) Immediately


If you appreciate the great classic melodies, but your skill level is not up to the task of the originals, buy this book. With faithful harmonies, but never scored with more than two flats or sharps (and most in the keys of C,G, and F), this book gives you a chance to play the music you love.
Much appreciated also is the spiral binding, so the book stays open to whatever you are playing. It's a great buy.Get more detail about Library of Easy Piano Classics (Library of Series).

Wee Sing Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies Best Quality


I didn't realize that the nursery rhymes came in a story with a narrator talking much of the time. I'm not a huge fan of listening to the story parts. I wish it had the option to just listen to the nursery rhymes. The lullabies are on the second half of the cd. I put it in iTunes and made a playlist of just the lullabies so I can put it on repeat and not hear the narrator.Get more detail about Wee Sing Nursery Rhymes and Lullabies.

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Digitech PS0913B Power Supply for JHE, XAS-BM, JamMan, Whammy, EX7, GNX1, RP100-350, RPx400, BP200, Vocal 300, Vx400, EXH, VL2, VL4, HarmonyMan, TimeBender Get it now!


I have had my RP250 for a couple of years. I had no problems with the power supply until this week.

The cord became loose where the cord goes into the power supply adapter box(that plugs into the wall). I went to power up my RP250 and it flashed liked it was coming on, but ultimately had no power. I jiggled the cord (lightly) and found it to be coming loose at the box.

I have been careful with the RP250 and with the power supply. I guess I could have accidentally pulled on the cord too hard but I don't think so.

So now I'm out the extra money for a new power supply and it seems to be a bit expensive, especially considering how much I paid for the RP250 just a couple of years ago.

But, I don't have much choice. It needs power to work, and this will do that.

Digitech should consider providing a more robust (better built) power supply.Get more detail about Digitech PS0913B Power Supply for JHE, XAS-BM, JamMan, Whammy, EX7, GNX1, RP100-350, RPx400, BP200, Vocal 300, Vx400, EXH, VL2, VL4, HarmonyMan, TimeBender.

Korg OT-120 Wide 8 Octave Chromatic Orchestral Tuner Buy Now


The Korg OT-120 tuner is an excellent tuner for all band instruments. It picks up the sound of the instruments easily, even with some background noise, and delivers an accurate reading very quickly. It is easy to see the real needle and the pitch playing feature works nicely, although it is not quite as loud as my old Korg tuner. This has made the Korg tuner ideal for my concert bands, jazz bands and individual trumpet lessons. Get a great deal from Amazon!Get more detail about Korg OT-120 Wide 8 Octave Chromatic Orchestral Tuner.

Friday, August 13, 2010

HOSA CFS-607 6-Pack of Traditional Metal Headshell Jumpers for FX Pedals Order Now


Just received these and I'm sending them back. They just do not plug in fully to all pedals I own. They work fine in Boss, Electro Harmonix, and directly into either of my two amps, but just will not plug in fully, or receive a signal through Sansamp, Biyang or Catalinbread boutique pedals. The groove between the tip and the shaft is definitely about 1/8 inch wider on these than all other 1/4 cables or patchcords I have. I suspect this wideness causes them to not be able to click in fully on some jacks.Get more detail about HOSA CFS-607 6-Pack of Traditional Metal Headshell Jumpers for FX Pedals.

Fender 351 Premium Celluloid Guitar Picks, 12 Pack, Black Moto, Medium Decide Now


This is getting a four from me solely for the packaging. I was apprehensive seeing the reviews about how these were shipped in a large box after I order the picks. However, I got mine yesterday in a brown envelope they couldn't fall out of, and all picks were accounted for. The only reason I am not giving this a five is I have no used the picks yet, but they are guitart picks I wouldn't assume there can be anything that flawed with them. Hope this helps ease anyone's mind for the shipping on this product!Get more detail about Fender 351 Premium Celluloid Guitar Picks, 12 Pack, Black Moto, Medium.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Lowest Price Arias for Soprano, Volume 2: G. Schirmer Opera Anthology


Overall I was pleased with the product I ordered. The only thing I wasn't pleased with was what they shipped it in. The box they shipped it in was barely big enough and tore part of the book. Thankfully it's not a very big tear. Otherwise the service was great.Get more detail about Arias for Soprano, Volume 2: G. Schirmer Opera Anthology.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Low Price Van Halen - Live Without a Net


If Van Halen isn't the best American rock band ever, they certainly deserve to be in the pantheon of rock "gods", in the top 10.

The band changed massively from David Lee Roth to Sammy Hagar, changing from top 40 stuff to more metal related tones. Ironic that they dumped an egotistical expletive deleted for someone, in the end, even worse. But musically, Sammy Hagar was great; his scratchy voice and surprisingly sound guitar playing filled the last gap in the band, bringing it to top level.

The lighting and sound could have been better for this recording; the stage was obviously more set for the concert, where dark and shrill is good, than for the recording, where light and acoustic subtleties are important.

Don't overlook the bass solo at the end of the disk. The bass guitarist turns his instrument into a classical bass fiddle; it is a brief but thrilling moment, over all too soon. To think that this "dude" could be capable of classical music...surprise surprise...Get more detail about Van Halen - Live Without a Net.

Save Planet Waves Micro-Fiber Polish Cloth


This cloth is much thicker than the cloths that come with eyeglasses, which is why it can be used for polishing. It has a nice texture and feel, is well made with stitching around the edges that cheaper cloths lack, and works well for polishing.

It also works nicely to remove smudges and fingerprints from my BlackBerry and iPod Touch, and to clean my glasses and computer screen.

This is a quality cloth that is very useful.Get more detail about Planet Waves Micro-Fiber Polish Cloth.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Discount Absolute Beginners: Alto Saxophone


The Absolute Beginner's book and cd for the saxophone is wonderful. I bought this item for my husband for Christmas and he started using it immediately.
He has been playing for about one year. He played when he was young also. He forgot the scales and how to read music. This book is refreshing his memory and with the CD, he can tell if he is on key. My husband is very satisfied with the book.Get more detail about Absolute Beginners: Alto Saxophone.

Cheapest Dunlop Standard Tortex Picks, 12 Pack, Red, .50mm


So interesting story about these picks--the first time I used them, I didn't like them. They kept slipping out of my hands. It drove me crazy. I eventually went back to my old fender picks that I was used to. After trying these months later, I realized that I wasn't holding the pick the right way. Once I tried this new grip, my playing immediately improved, and the pick felt ever better than my other ones. These are good quality picks and I'd highly recommend them. I just wish they weren't all so damn yellow...Get more detail about Dunlop Standard Tortex Picks, 12 Pack, Red, .50mm.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Cheap String Electric Guitar Wall Hanger with Metal Plate - Black Base


My office/man cave is small (10x12) and I have 2 children under the age of 4. Which means regular stands are not an option. I had been keeping my guitars in cases. It was a pain in the butt dragging the cases out, so I decided to the string swing a shot. Right off the bad I was impressed with construction. I was expecting sloppy welds on a product so cheap ($8 at the local mom & pop). After a week with the first one on the wall and no sign of the hooks drooping I went and picked up 3 more. I've got 2 that are mounted to the studs and 2 that are using the supplied anchors. The anchors are high quality and very large like something you would buy at a hardware store. I hang my two lighter giutars on the ones using the anchors (Strat & SG) and keep my heavier ones (2 LP's) on the hangers mounted to the studs. I wouldn't lose any sleep over putting my Les Paul's in the ones using the anchors, but my basement has very thick/sturdy drywall and I know it will hold. If your drywall/plaster/sheetrock is thin or in poor shape I would only mount to the studs...just to be on the safe side.Get more detail about String Electric Guitar Wall Hanger with Metal Plate - Black Base.

Buying Dunlop Nylon Standard Picks, Grey .60mm


I've been using the .73mm although I have several ranging from the thinnest white pick to the 1mm black one. The .73 I've been using for about 6 months and there is no noticable wear. I would love to know what material they use for these because I've had many picks get grossly misshapen from playing. Dunlops're light and they've got a good amount of grip. I wouldn't go back, silly as it is, I feel like I play much better when I'm using these picks.Get more detail about Dunlop Nylon Standard Picks, Grey .60mm.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Buy Andres Segovia - 20 Studies for the Guitar: Book/CD Pack


First of all, this book is NOT for the absolute beginner, as it contains many of Sor's more difficult etudes. However, the music is laid out well, easy to read, and the accompanying CD is a wonderful addition. The CD makes for wonderful listening all by itself, but is also indispensible for classical guitar students who need to hear the studies played well. I wish all of my other guitar books had an accompanying CD that sounded as beautiful!Get more detail about Andres Segovia - 20 Studies for the Guitar: Book/CD Pack.

Purchase The Virtuoso Pianist in Sixty Exercises for the Piano: Book 1 (Schirmer's Library, Volume 1071)


Although Hanon may appear to be a series of exercises for the classical pianist, don't be fooled. I was turned onto Hanon by Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan, back in the late 80's. He said that every serious player should perform these exercises every day. I must agree. They work your dexterity as well as improve your ability to do keyboard runs, play chords, and smooth out your basic overall fluidity of playing. Whether you play classical or jam in a rock band, spend the few bucks for this book and start practicing.

PS- Don't expect to learn these exercises in a few weeks...It took me a year and I am much better for it!Get more detail about The Virtuoso Pianist in Sixty Exercises for the Piano: Book 1 (Schirmer's Library, Volume 1071).

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Order My First Piano Adventure, Writing Book A (Faber Piano Adventures)


This book is great for teaching a beginner. Some of the songs are geared towards very young children, like around the age of five or so. However, I am teaching a nine year old and she still seems to enjoy the songs and activities!Get more detail about My First Piano Adventure, Writing Book A (Faber Piano Adventures).

Where To Buy Lanikai Soprano Ukulele Polyfoam Case


We own a LU21-P Lanikai pineapple uke, a great little instrument, and needed a protective case to take it traveling. (A gig bag would've fit, but offers zero crush protection.) Alas, there doesn't seem to be ANY case out there that fits a pineapple uke---they're all made for guitar shapes. So we MacGyvered this one. Ten minutes, a sharp knife, and some adhesive is all you need. We pried open the glued-down fabric seams along the guitar-waist indents, sliced off the offending styrofoam, and glued the fabric back in place with E9000 adhesive. Simple, and now it fits!Get more detail about Lanikai Soprano Ukulele Polyfoam Case.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Intellitouch PT10 Mini Clip-On Tuner Review


I have the PT2, which is not backlit, so I bought this one for use in dimly-lit venues. It worked great right out of the box: put in the battery, clipped it onto a standard acoustic guitar headstock, turned it on, and began tuning. The display is big ( 1-1/4" X 1-1/4 "), bright even in a bright room, and when the string is in-tune, the backlit background turns from red to green( like Christmas!). I put on a brand new set of strings, and used it to bring each one up to pitch. I found that plucking the string with your finger and then adjusting makes the tuner "waver" less, probably because fewer overtones are being produced. All of these type of tuners have some degree of hesitancy when reading the string pitch, moreso on some of the strings than others, but I found that this unit locked in on the signal quickly and gave a very accurate reading. I can use a pick to pluck the string as well and this device, after a very brief pause( less than a 10th of a second), gives me a reading or gives me the green. I don't use any of the other features. I also did not use it to tune any other stringed instrument.
The only other comment I have about it is that the on button should have been placed on the top of the unit as you clip it onto the headstock, but I just mount the unit over towards one side, and turn it on and off from the bottom.
I would highly recommend this for a anyone looking to quickly tune-up a guitar in a noisy, dimly-lit room.Get more detail about Intellitouch PT10 Mini Clip-On Tuner.

Dunlop Dual Design Straplok System, Nickel Top Quality


I have both Schaller and Dunlop Straploks. Many years ago, I decided to standardize, and I picked the Schallers. I don't remember why. I put Schallers on all of my guitars, I put the Dunlops on the bass. I regret that decision now. In my view the Dunlops are more dependable. You need to keep on top of the Schallers, check them all the time, because they loosen and come apart. In fact I found a piece from a Schaller on the stage floor last night. It wasn't mine, but it didn't surprise me to find it. The Dunlops have never come apart. I'm going to put Dunlops on my new bass, and eventually all of my guitars will be switched over. I don't want to drop a guitar because I forgot to check the Straplok. Using thread locker on the Schaller install is probably a good idea, it would help, but I think the fundamental design of the Dunlops is better.Get more detail about Dunlop Dual Design Straplok System, Nickel.