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To the casual onlooker, the banjo is one of those instruments we seem to take for granted, even without knowing too much about it. And, sometimes, when we look at one, we don’t notice the subtle differences in design. For instance, how many strings does a banjo have? An Essential Instrument In Some Genres In […]

When I first got into Djing, it was all about love, respect, and music. But it didn’t take long to understand that there was money to be made. And I now constantly get asked the question, “How much money do DJs make?’ And my reply is… how long is a piece of string? From the

In some respects, the tuba and the sousaphone can be classed as the same. By that, I mean that they have things in common. But, there are also significant differences. We are going to take a look at both and perform a comparative analysis of the Sousaphone vs Tuba. What Do They Have In Common?

This is a subject that is open to discussion as to its importance. Did Elvis write any songs? Add to that, did any of those early rock n rollers? I will come back to that a little later. But, who was this man dubbed by some “The King of Rock N Roll”? He must have

Olivia Rodrigo catapulted herself into the music scene’s bright spotlight in January of 2021 with her debut single, “Drivers License.” This song caught our attention with its tale of broken hearts and bittersweet victories and went on to win seven major music awards.  These include a Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance and two MTV

There can be little doubt that, in terms of just singers, the girls have the edge over the boys. The boys might make up the majority of the rock and other bands. But, for stand-alone singers, the girls excel. But, trying to decide on the best female singers I have ever heard gives me a

Rock concerts can get wild. Hundreds or even thousands of sweaty bodies writhing and moving together can seem untamed, even orgiastic. In truth, though, it’s usually just people communing together, enjoying being wrapped up in the moment and each other’s company. So, it’s no real surprise when people start making similar hand gestures. But, just

Ever wonder how some unknown rapper managed to get a rap feature cameo on their track from your favorite MC? They paid for it, that’s how. And you can, too, if you have the cash and know where to go. The price for getting a famous rapper on your track might not be as expensive as

If you have been moseying around life thinking Hip Hop and Rap are the same things, you’ve still got a lot of learning to do, my son. But haven’t we all? So, don’t feel so down about your lack of knowledge of urban culture and the finite differences in musical genres. You can’t know everything

Now there is a question that will bring forth a range of theories and ideas. Some will agree in some respects; others will vary. The question, “Who invented music?” is actually almost impossible to answer. We can, though, determine to a certain extent who invented what we call music, as it is written down today.

This a question that at one time would not even have been considered but is now a little tricky to answer. Some people consider the role of the DJ in using vinyl to be over. New inventions constantly change the workplace and the practical digital opportunities they offer. But, for those that still love vinyl,

You do read some interesting comments about certain subjects on the internet. Music does not escape these people who think they are at the center of the universe. In Pop Culture? I read recently that the idea of the “forbidden riff” emanated from a film called “Wayne’s World.” There is a scene in the film

Sound cards are still important to PC builders and those who want excellent audio. But, they are not as essential as they once were. It was necessary to buy a sound card when building a PC from scratch. Today, however, there are many ways around that with external audio interfaces and other similar devices like

The 21st century is a great time to be alive if you’re a music lover. Since the dawn of the internet and music-sharing services, hearing your favorite tunes has become easier than ever.  Anyone with a smartphone and an internet connection can gain access to countless new songs and artists within no time at all

It’s only when you start to consider listing the best jazz pianists of all time that you realize how enormous the task really is. I’m sure there will be pianists that I don’t list who you think should have been included. Furthermore, I actually hope there is, and you disagree somewhat with my list and

Modern car owners have no problem using their smartphones to listen to music or favorite podcast. But, if your car wasn’t built in the last ten years or so, there’s a good chance that it won’t have the luxury of Bluetooth or the ability to plug your phone in through an AUX (auxiliary) cable. Luckily

Jamaica is part of the group of islands known as the West Indies. Over the years, it has seen more than its fair share of an influx of musical traditions and styles. Its location is close to, and in some cases part of, Latin America. Certain influences from there and the various colonizations that occurred

Starting as a producer can be a daunting and very tricky task. How do you figure out how to produce great songs with no experience? Well, if you’re a beginner… The best place to get started is by making your own beats. This is a skill in and of itself, and if you get good at

With millions of songs and podcasts to choose from, Spotify gives you a lot of reasons to use it, including the great interface, ever-growing variety of content, and sharing features that are getting updated and improved constantly. Another great feature is the ability to view the lyrics of the song you’re listening to on Spotify. Spotify

Do you love Jamaican sounds from the 60s, dance beats from the 1970s UK movement, and also happen to have a liking for the ferocious Punk of the American 90s? Well then, Ska music is probably some of your favorite earcandy. If you haven’t heard of Ska music but happen to love the three above-mentioned

Karaoke backtracks have become a dime a dozen. Furthermore, you can find plenty of free karaoke backtracks on platforms such as YouTube. There are backtracks available on Spotify and other paid services as well. And you can even join the recent retro resurgence crowd and get yourself some classic CD+G discs for your karaoke collection. Unfortunately, there

There are famous centers for jazz in America. Cities where almost the whole basis of the culture was influenced by jazz and its musicians. Washington DC may not be the first city you think of when you think of jazz and jazz clubs. But you may be surprised at what it offers. Jazz arrived in

Atlanta, Georgia, is well-known for many reasons. There have been some influential people born there, not the least of which was Martin Luther King. Spike Lee also calls it home. It has given us its fair share of musicians and singers as well. Gladys Knight and Brenda Lee were both born in Atlanta, and Otis

The power of radio cannot be denied. Many had thought that the era of the internet and streaming would bring an end to radio in the traditional sense. It did, but only to have it become something so much bigger. If you’re a car audio enthusiast and like a bit of variety, you’ve probably heard

Art Music is a term that has been around for quite a while. Yet, if you were to ask someone what Art Music means, most people would probably answer that they don’t know.  For most people, music is an art form. So, why would you have a genre of music called Art Music? Well, that’s the

Having a good vocal range is just one of the things that makes a good singer. However, it isn’t all about just range; there are other factors involved. Therefore, if I am going to be analyzing Ariana Grande’s vocal range, I need to put it into context somewhat. What Is A Good Vocal Range? Well,

MIDI is essential for every home composer and desktop maestro out there. It allows you to play and produce instruments of every kind imaginable from the comfort of your own studio. All you need is a controller and a good bit of software to get you started. Some of this software can get expensive. But

Open mic nights are a superb way to practice your craft and have some fun at the same time. Most major towns and cities have a good selection of venues to choose from.  But, before I take a closer look at the best ways to find open mic nights near you, let’s look at what

The 2000s was a time of much growth in global commercialism. This was thanks in no small part to the impact of the internet. This resulted in the way we think, interact and share things changing beyond all recognition. One could argue…  The internet’s biggest benefactor in terms of pop culture was music. It provided

Education is always an important thing. Especially when it comes to a career. In a work situation where complex technical knowledge is required, being able to study those techniques closely will be vital. Music production is something that has grown out of all recognition in the last twenty years. Once the domain of the privileged

It is without question that New Orleans was the birthplace of Jazz as we know it. And it is still a major center where there are dozens of jazz clubs, restaurants, and bars to visit. But you could also say that New York City is the center of what is now the Jazz scene in

Can you feel the temperature creeping up? Whenever summer is on the way, it brings with it another season – festival season! Summer is festival time, bringing people together to dance, party, and enjoy music together.  But what should you wear? Music festival style is as much about practicality as it is about fashion. To

The days of having vast collections of vinyl, tape, or even CDs and thousands of files on your hard drive are over. The advent of streaming has changed the way we access and view music forever. Streaming is a giant music library in the sky, one that we all can access and share no matter

Autotune is often discussed by music industry professionals and casual listeners alike. People often claim that a singer sounds overly processed or manipulated, but what does that mean? So, let’s find out what is Autotune? And why so many singers use it. The History of Autotune Autotune was first introduced by Antares Audio Technologies in 1997.

We all think we know the answer when asked the question. What is tempo in music? But, do we really know? In something so familiar as tempo, there might be a bit more than we realize. For instance, there is probably more description and words we must learn for music exams in Tempo than in