The Garage Band - 4 Reasons to Get Back Together By Roy Horne

Remember when you and your high school or college buds had that rocking band that never went farther than a few frat parties and a gig at the local pizzeria? Here are four good reasons to make that call and get the group back together.

First, YouTube. That's right. You can have your very own video played worldwide now without the hassle of the media giants. You all remember that one song that you played the best. Get together and make a recording. You can even set up in a garage and record audio and video and put it out like that. Mix in some old photos of ya'll playing when you were young and call all the friends and family to have a look. It does not have to be perfect. You can decide the quality and expense.

Second, you need to play. There is no age limit to music. When you played football in high school and played the last game of your high school season, you know how you felt. You knew that you may play some flag football at the park but you would never put on full pads and play real football again. Man that hurt. It still hurts. Music does not have to be that way. If you guys are still in close proximity, then get together and play.

Third, people are really nostalgic. You will find people are very forgiving and not over critical of a band playing the songs of their high school days. Throw a party. Rent a hall or call the local VFW, just get out and invite a lot of friends and play for the people. Practice the old sets and even learn some new old songs.

Fourth, you need the fun. You have survived this long, raised a family, worked your tail off. Now have some fun with something that no one can take away from you. Get the guys together and have a blast.

Roy Gene Horne is a songwriter, musician, performer with over 30 years professional experience. He has written hundreds of songs, recorded, performed, booked, managed, and fronted his own band for all of those years. He has a created a website to help the aspiring muscian/songwriter and offers resources which will enhance and teach music and the business of music as well. He invites you to visit. http://www.royhorne.ws and you can visit him on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/rghorne

How Video Guitar Lessons Can Save You 2 Hours a Week By Kyle Richey

The other day I was in Wal-Mart fiddling around the $5 discount DVD rack when it hit me like a ton of bricks.

It's amazing how cheap video products have become.

Ten years ago it use to cost you $10 for a VHS (remember those things?) with a video quality that suffered after multiple viewings and took five minutes to rewind after watching.

Technology has really improved since and now every product on the market usually offers some type of DVD with their product.

Take the music world for example. Music videos are now sold with special edition CD's, live concerts are video taped and distributed, and even special documentaries on the band or the tour are produced.

But video is not just limited to popular bands.

Music instructional material is really tapping into video.

Video guitar lessons have become especially popular of late. Why not? These cheap instructional DVD's are sold at a flat rate that is competitive with the amount of information and lessons you would receive from a private lesson.

Video guitar lessons truly can save you an average of two hours a week.

• Relevant information that gets straight to the point

• Exceptional instructors with a ton of experience

• Brilliant camera shots get you right into the action

Who would have thought that DVD's would ever reach video guitar lessons?

But they have and they work!

Video guitar lessons will save you time because they provide the information here and now. The messages are relevant and provide clear steps to perform exactly like the instructor on the video.

Many would compare the video guitar lessons to a visual book. You basically progress through chapters of lessons each filled with specific challenges and techniques.

You'll also save time learning from the instructors featured on video guitar lessons. Many of these individuals are professional guitar players with years of experience. If you were to pay for their services through a private lesson it would likely cost a fortune.

Video guitar lessons will allow you to save further time by learning from a visual source that gets right into the action. Check out some of these instructional DVD's. The camera angles and shots get a close up of the strings and guitar neck which allows you to learn like never before.

You could get the same angles from a private instructor but you might make the teacher a little uncomfortable considering you would sit only a couple of feet apart from him or her.

Video guitar lessons have essentially brought the private lesson experience into your own home.

Who doesn't like the thought of waking up, warming up a cup of coffee, and sitting down in your pajamas in front of the TV while you play guitar?

Okay maybe that's a little far fetched, but in the world of video guitar lessons, nothing is out of question.

Anyone looking to save both time and money with video guitar lessons? Check the internet for a variety of products and offers or learn to play guitar online. The web has an abundance of information and resources that every guitar player should take advantage of.

Where to Get Violin Instructions Online and What to Look For By Richard Rowley

Getting Violin instructions online is now easier than ever before. Millions of people are learning music and a variety of instruments via the internet and with great success. The web and its online tuition programs are offering a unique angle, excellent value for money and some cool bonuses too.

Where do you find the best instruction?
As a musician myself I would personally go for a program online that may be a bit harder to find but that has some unique features. I love programs that are taught by a world class soloist. I mean whats the point of learning from any old Uncle Joe when you could have lessons with Nigel Kennedy or Paganini - if he were still alive of course. Find one that enables you to experience rare and world class teaching. Why not head to some online violin or musician forums and chat to some people. Forums are easy to find, just google it. They are free to register and inside it might be easy to ask around for some recommendations of good fiddle lessons!

So what should you be looking for?

Here are some of my top tips to tick off:

A lot of lessons - at least 6 months worth. You want value right?

Videos as well as books and music to download. Watch, read, listen is key.

On computer metronome to keep you in time.

Support Forums so you can chat with other students on the same course.

Backing tracks so you can enjoy playing with a group, band, quartet or orchestra.

And don't forget the all important guarantee. You want this in case the lessons just don't gel with you. Sometimes this can happen and you want to be able to get your money back so then there is no risk involved.

Online violin instructions are great fun and offer a very unique experience. Grab an offer that has some of the above and you are going to learn a lot and get great value for money.

This site is one of the most popular Violin Instructions websites around. The teacher is one of the worlds greatest from The Manhattan String Quartet. I'll let you find out who that is!

He has a 100% money back guarantee because he is so confident of his teaching methods and he has 12 months worth of lessons with all of the features you should get with a program.

A rare opportunity to learn from a world renowned player. Click Here

How to Read Guitar Tabs - Guitar Music By Ryan R Huber

Knowing how to read guitar tabs is very important when learning how to play the guitar. Especially since many of the guitar music that you will find online, is written in tablature. Lets say your heard a song that you really want to learn how to play on the guitar, when you search for the music on that song, especially free music, it is written in tabs.

What are Guitar Tabs?
Guitar Tabs or tablature is a notation system that illustrates the strings on a guitar.

How to read guitar tabs?
It is quite simple to read guitar tablature. There are 6 lines, those 6 lines are the guitar strings. The top line is the High E string (or 1st string, skinny string, however else you want to recognize it) and the bottom line is the Low E string ( or 6th string, thick string, however else you want to recognize it). The numbers indicate the fret your finger goes on on that string. A 0 (zero) means open string, string played but no fingers need), a 1 means the 1st fret and a 2 means the 2nd fret and so on.

Example: If the top line has a 3 on it. You play the skinny E string at the 3 fret.

Are Guitar tabs reliable?
A common question asked by many beginners is if guitar tablature is reliable? The simple answer is yes they are, but and yes there is a but, guitar tablature is not as reliable as reading music. Tabs only tell you what to play, they do not however tell you how to play it, like music does. It is important to learn how to read guitar tablature, but it is strongly encouraged by nearly all musicians and teachers to learn how to read music too.

Learning how to read guitar tabs is one thing, but learning how to play the guitar is a completely different issue. I took lessons from a private tutor, but was getting no where and costing me a fortune, so I began to look elsewhere. I even looked at Youtube for lessons on guitar playing, but no one covered everything.

I finally found what I was looking for at GuitarSkillsOnline.info. Complete set of video guitar lessons. I was able to learn and practice when ever I wanted for how ever long I wanted. If I was stuck on something, I would be able to go at my own pace and get through it without costing me more money.

I absolutely love to play the guitar now that I actually know how! If you want to know more about playing the guitar and reading guitar tablature and chords, along with diagram of each, check out my beginner guitar lesson online.

Intermediate Guitar Lessons FAQ - Are You Really Ready? By Kyle Richey

When you first purchase a guitar and begin lessons, usually you are so overwhelmed with new information, techniques, and challenges that you just want to get somewhere. And by that somewhere I mean anywhere but here.

Am I right?

But over time you progress very nicely and pick up on some great new techniques and skills. The basic fundamentals have become common knowledge and you can even play a few songs. Chords are no longer a huge problem and you even feel like you could play a few basic solos.

So the big question is, "When should I advance to intermediate guitar lessons?"

Check out some of the frequently asked questions to help judge how ready you are to take it to the next level.

How long should I play before upgrading to intermediate guitar lessons?

There is a huge variable to this answer. It all depends on how much time and practice you've dedicated to the guitar. While some will pick up the instrument faster than others, most individuals do not learn intermediate lessons until at least one month of practice. Others will take longer but that does not mean you're not as good. It just means that you need repetition. In fact, repetition is the biggest hidden secret towards improvement. Think of it this way, the more repetition on the guitar the better.

What will I learn with intermediate guitar lessons?

A lot of advanced techniques and tricks are preached. You'll most definitely learn the craft of bends and slides. Arpeggios along with "hammer ons" and "pull offs" are also taught. Most of the tricks listed above are used heavily in guitar solos and other lead guitar lessons. Intermediate lessons will also focus on some alternative picking techniques, bass-strum, and other complex rhythms.

What's the best way to learn intermediate guitar lessons?

This question all depends on the individual. There is no true answer. Some individuals prefer the old-school method of hiring a private instructor and learning through that source. The more popular current method is purchasing a self-taught guitar course and learning from the printed materials or a series of DVD's. Others will search online for free material (be warned not all of it's that great) and yet even more will purchase guitar lesson software and learn through an interactive program.

The salesman at the store told me when I purchased my guitar it was great for beginners. Does that mean I need to upgrade to an intermediate or professional guitar?

Not at all. Beginner guitars are labeled "beginner" because they are generally not made out of premium materials or are not made from a prestigious or reputable company. They're defined as "beginner guitars" because they are inexpensive and not because they lack certain characteristics or qualities to play intermediate guitar lessons. You can play with your "beginner" guitar as long as you would like or upgrade to a better guitar after you become professional.

How much time will I need to set aside for intermediate lessons?

The same amount of time as you did for beginner guitar lessons. That is assuming that you practiced on average 30 minutes a day, everyday. Some individuals will dedicate more like 45 to 60 minutes a day once they hit intermediate lessons. It doesn't really matter as long as the practice time is consistent and you spend the entire time truly practicing.

Are you searching for a way to learn how to play acoustic guitar? Several self-taught lessons easily equal the amount of information and knowledge you would learn from a private lesson and are much cheaper. Read this Learn and Master Guitar review to learn more about one of the highest rated self-taught guitar courses.