A versatile instrument in the music industry that relies heavily on proper breathing is the trumpet. Learning how to breathe when playing the trumpet is a critical first step. The first thing to realize is that the task of breathing revolves around the proper distribution of tension around the nose, mouth, and torso. The key…
Most people associate blues music with a guitarist with a harmonica in a dingy bar, singing about being down on his luck. That’s one example; however, the original country blues branched out into dozens of subcategories with a mix of textures, instrumentation, and lyrical ideas. Read on to learn about the types of blues music…
As a saxophone player, you have more than likely realized the loudness of your instrument. Due to its high volume, you may struggle to find places to practice it without bothering the people around you. Especially if you live in an apartment, how do you play the saxophone quietly to ensure that you do not…
Are you new to singing? Maybe you have some experience but you’re looking for ways improve. Or maybe you have years of experience behind you and want to hone your craft further. There’s no denying that it’s never been easier or more convenient to find online lessons you can take from the comfort of your…
Jazz guitar is usually synonymous with having a hollow-body archtop guitar, providing a distinct and iconic sound that is integral to the jazz genre. A warm and breathy tone is a must, but so is the ability to utilize different tones to venture out into uncharted territories. Contrary to belief, a solid-body guitar can actually…
An out-of-tune harmonica will ruin that solo you’ve worked so hard to perfect. One note that is less than pitch-perfect is all it takes to ruin an otherwise flawless performance. What can you do about a harmonica that has gone out of tune? You can tune your harmonica by filing down the reed that is…
Whether you’re feeling the rhythm, or you’ve got the blues, sometimes you need a set of sexy R&B chords to express your lovely self. In this guide, we look at multiple R&B chord progressions, explain each, and even highlight a few useful variants to set you up for success. This ought to keep you busy…
R&B music is one of the most popular genres today. Even folks unfamiliar with its history will still recognize the top R&B names today, such as Beyonce, Bruno Mars, or Alicia Keys. R&B began as an expressive musical style in the urban Black communities across America in the 1940s. From there, it evolved to become…
As the song goes “House music is a universal language spoken and understood by all” Chuck Roberts gave us a prayer that perfectly described house music and the culture that surrounds it. From humble beginnings to a worldwide phenomenon, house music is everywhere today. What makes house music amazing and how did it become such…
From its roots in West African tradition to its surfacing in the Bronx and its emergence in pop culture, rap has a deep and vast history. Through its 30 years of evolution, hip-hop and rap continue to endure public debate and critique. Controversy is reasonable, as rappers commonly produce work with profane, misogynistic, and violent…
Playing the trumpet can be a fun hobby for adults or a great way for children to broaden their education and become more musically inclined. Novice trumpet players might not know that all mouthpieces are not created equally. Beginners of all ages need to know how to choose the best trumpet mouthpieces for their specific…
Although jazz utilizes the same 12 notes in music every other genre does, it seems to occupy its own “space” in terms of stylistic properties. It’s quite distinct from, say, rock or country. It’s more than fair to say that the genre of jazz has chord progressions that are either strongly associated with it or…
The roots of rock, soul, and R&B are firmly rooted in gospel music. This influential genre celebrates divinity and the power of Christ through gorgeous harmonies and beautiful vocals. Many of the best gospel songs of all time have been honored and recorded by different artists throughout the years.
Acoustic music has been around for as long as music itself. Many of the most popular artists to this day are acoustic or make acoustic music. If you’ve been curious about acoustic music, we’re here to help. Here’s a quick overview of the genre with some excellent examples and musicians to know.
Reggae music transports a person to the Caribbean, and there’s but one legend who sets the tone. Bob Marley is an icon who reflects the sound of an entire culture. Reggae aficionados have many others to add to that list, but these songs have one thing in common: you can dance to these songs.