Chris Pirillo » guitar http://chris.pirillo.com News and Reviews! Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:46:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 © chris@pirillo.com () chris@pirillo.com() Geek, Internet Entrepreneur, Hardware Addict, Software Junkie, Book Author, Once TV Show Host, Technology Enthusiast, Shameless Self-Promoter, Tech Conference Coordinator, Early Adopter, Idea Evangelist, Tech Support Blogger, Bootstrapper, Media Personality, Technology Consultant, Thicker Quicker Picker Upper. chris@pirillo.com No no http://chris.pirillo.com/wp-content/plugins/podpress/images/powered_by_podpress.jpgChris Pirillohttp://chris.pirillo.com 144 144 Music123 Couponshttp://chris.pirillo.com/music123-coupons/ http://chris.pirillo.com/music123-coupons/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:15:43 +0000 coupons http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=14627 Music123 Coupons is a post from Chris Pirillo

Find Coupons for over 1100 Stores

8 Tips For Buying a Guitar Online
By Keith Dean

Today’s younger generation may have a hard time believing this, but there really was a time when cell phones, PC’s, pagers, texting, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and the Internet, didn’t exist! Back in those pre-historic times, buying a guitar was a much simpler affair. It was also much more limited.

You typically had to go to the local music store to find something you liked, or look for a used guitar in the newspaper classifieds.

Nowadays, a guitar purchase normally begins with a Google search. In an instant, you’re faced with a couple million pages of dealers, stats, figures, prices, opinions, reviews, forums and ceaseless babble.

Then the next several hours (days…weeks…months) are spent sifting through this endless mountain of information. Prices are compared, reviews are read, forums are monitored, specs are memorized.

And the fact is, having all this information available to make an informed decision is a really good thing. Back in the day, all we had to go on was the “feel” of the guitar when we put it in our hands, and the sound it made when we played it.

But wait a minute…aren’t those pretty important issues when buying a guitar?

Keep in mind that, by nature, every guitar is unique. If you take ten guitars of the same model, made in the same factory, on the same day – each one is going to “feel” a little different. Each one will have its own individual response to your hands as you play it. This simple fact should not be ignored when choosing your new axe.

Here are some things to consider when shopping for a guitar online.

1. Do the research. Exercise some due diligence. Check out the reviews and forums. Compare pricing.

2. Consider the style of music you are playing and look at guitars that are suitable for that style. If you’re playing heavy grunge metal, a hollow body ES-335 might not be your best option, even though it “looks” cool.

3. Go to some music stores and actually “lay hands” on the guitar you are leaning toward. There is no substitute for seeing how it feels when you play it.

4. If you do find a guitar in a music store that is a perfect fit, one that feels “just right”, remember that you may never find another one of the same model that fits or plays that well.

Consider buying it from the store before it gets away. Music stores have had to become very competitive with their online counterparts, so take some ads from online dealers and see if the store will match or beat, the price. Also, don’t neglect the value of in-store service, it may even be worth paying a few more dollars for this one aspect alone.

5. Carefully research the online dealer’s return policy. Most have a liberal amount of time to check out a guitar before returning it. But also look closely at any re-stocking fees that may eat into your wallet.

6. Check the guitar out thoroughly when it arrives. Look for scratches, nicks and dings. Yours may very well be a guitar that has already been returned once before. Make sure all the paperwork and warranty info is included.

7. Research the dealer. There are a number of well known, reputable online dealers out there – such as Musicians Friend, Same Day Music, Music123 etc. – but there are some shady characters out there as well. Let the buyer beware!

8. Don’t look back. Once you have purchased the guitar of your dreams – the one that melts like butter in your hands – resist the urge to look around for a better deal. You can drive yourself crazy thinking you got screwed because some other dealer ran a sale on your guitar and you could’ve saved five bucks somewhere else. It’s not worth it. Spend your time playing guitar!

Shopping for a guitar today is much more interesting than it was “back in the day” – even though you might get frazzled with information overload.

But keep one important thing in mind. Even though all this information is available at your finger tips, the only way to truly decide on a guitar is with your finger tips!

Over 40, 50, 60? For Free Video Guitar Lessons designed for Active Adults go to www.adultguitarlessons.com/amember/free_lessons-1225ez.php

Keith Dean is founder of www.AdultGuitarLessons.com and a 30 veteran of stage and studio. He toured extensively as a road musician throughout the US and Europe, was a former lead guitarist for Jason Aldean, and has shared stages with Little Big Town, Wild Rose, Winger, Confederate Railroad and more. He is a published songwriter, owned and operated a successful music store, and has instructed numerous students in guitar.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Dean class=”related_post”>

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  • Calvin Klein Jeans Coupons
  • TheNerds Coupons
  • Abes of Maine Coupons
  • WestMarine Coupons
  • Speedo Coupons
    • ]]>     Music123 Coupons is a post from Chris Pirillo

    Find Coupons for over 1100 Stores

    8 Tips For Buying a Guitar Online
    By Keith Dean

    Today’s younger generation may have a hard time believing this, but there really was a time when cell phones, PC’s, pagers, texting, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and the Internet, didn’t exist! Back in those pre-historic times, buying a guitar was a much simpler affair. It was also much more limited.

    You typically had to go to the local music store to find something you liked, or look for a used guitar in the newspaper classifieds.

    Nowadays, a guitar purchase normally begins with a Google search. In an instant, you’re faced with a couple million pages of dealers, stats, figures, prices, opinions, reviews, forums and ceaseless babble.

    Then the next several hours (days…weeks…months) are spent sifting through this endless mountain of information. Prices are compared, reviews are read, forums are monitored, specs are memorized.

    And the fact is, having all this information available to make an informed decision is a really good thing. Back in the day, all we had to go on was the “feel” of the guitar when we put it in our hands, and the sound it made when we played it.

    But wait a minute…aren’t those pretty important issues when buying a guitar?

    Keep in mind that, by nature, every guitar is unique. If you take ten guitars of the same model, made in the same factory, on the same day – each one is going to “feel” a little different. Each one will have its own individual response to your hands as you play it. This simple fact should not be ignored when choosing your new axe.

    Here are some things to consider when shopping for a guitar online.

    1. Do the research. Exercise some due diligence. Check out the reviews and forums. Compare pricing.

    2. Consider the style of music you are playing and look at guitars that are suitable for that style. If you’re playing heavy grunge metal, a hollow body ES-335 might not be your best option, even though it “looks” cool.

    3. Go to some music stores and actually “lay hands” on the guitar you are leaning toward. There is no substitute for seeing how it feels when you play it.

    4. If you do find a guitar in a music store that is a perfect fit, one that feels “just right”, remember that you may never find another one of the same model that fits or plays that well.

    Consider buying it from the store before it gets away. Music stores have had to become very competitive with their online counterparts, so take some ads from online dealers and see if the store will match or beat, the price. Also, don’t neglect the value of in-store service, it may even be worth paying a few more dollars for this one aspect alone.

    5. Carefully research the online dealer’s return policy. Most have a liberal amount of time to check out a guitar before returning it. But also look closely at any re-stocking fees that may eat into your wallet.

    6. Check the guitar out thoroughly when it arrives. Look for scratches, nicks and dings. Yours may very well be a guitar that has already been returned once before. Make sure all the paperwork and warranty info is included.

    7. Research the dealer. There are a number of well known, reputable online dealers out there – such as Musicians Friend, Same Day Music, Music123 etc. – but there are some shady characters out there as well. Let the buyer beware!

    8. Don’t look back. Once you have purchased the guitar of your dreams – the one that melts like butter in your hands – resist the urge to look around for a better deal. You can drive yourself crazy thinking you got screwed because some other dealer ran a sale on your guitar and you could’ve saved five bucks somewhere else. It’s not worth it. Spend your time playing guitar!

    Shopping for a guitar today is much more interesting than it was “back in the day” – even though you might get frazzled with information overload.

    But keep one important thing in mind. Even though all this information is available at your finger tips, the only way to truly decide on a guitar is with your finger tips!

    Over 40, 50, 60? For Free Video Guitar Lessons designed for Active Adults go to www.adultguitarlessons.com/amember/free_lessons-1225ez.php

    Keith Dean is founder of www.AdultGuitarLessons.com and a 30 veteran of stage and studio. He toured extensively as a road musician throughout the US and Europe, was a former lead guitarist for Jason Aldean, and has shared stages with Little Big Town, Wild Rose, Winger, Confederate Railroad and more. He is a published songwriter, owned and operated a successful music store, and has instructed numerous students in guitar.

    Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Dean class=”related_post”>

  • Deep Discount Coupons
  • Target.com Coupons
  • Wrapables Coupons
  • Origins Coupons
  • Steve Madden Coupons
  • Calvin Klein Jeans Coupons
  • TheNerds Coupons
  • Abes of Maine Coupons
  • WestMarine Coupons
  • Speedo Coupons
    • ]]>     http://chris.pirillo.com/music123-coupons/feed/ 1     Makana: The Real Guitar Herohttp://chris.pirillo.com/makana-the-real-guitar-hero/ http://chris.pirillo.com/makana-the-real-guitar-hero/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:40:24 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/?p=14166 Makana: The Real Guitar Hero is a post from Chris Pirillo


    Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

    Thanks to my connections in Hawaii, I was able to meet, interview, and watch Makana. If you’ve never heard of him before, I’m guessing this song will hook you for life.

    A student of the late slack key master Sonny Chillingworth, Makana has been playing for audiences since he was 13 years old. Starting at Duke’s Canoe Club in 1993, Makana has traveled to festivals and venues around the world from Japan to England, across the United States and always at home in Hawaii. Makana’s gift of music resonates the feeling of Aloha, infusing elements of folk, rock, blues, jazz, bluegrass, rage and with roots in the tradition of slack key, his sound is truly unique and powerful. He has opened and played with artists all over the World, including Santana and Sting!

    When I interviewed him, Makana couldn’t help but laugh at the way his name comes up in a Google search. Please don’t confuse him with that place in Hawaii, ok? They’re nowhere near the same!

    Makana has been playing slack key for 20 years now, which is amazing. Slack key guitar is a style, such as Flamenco or Blues. It is Hawaii style… they slack the strings, and loosen the keys so the guitar is tuned to a chord. The guitar is holding the chord for him. He can then have a chord, a rhythm and a melody going all at the same time… making it sound like a symphony of sorts.

    Makana says that when he first started playing, it was something that was fun and people loved to listen to. He never thought to the future, or dreamed he would have the career that he does. He’s opened at concerts such as No Doubt and Jason Mraz. He takes the roots of Hawaiian music, and goes far beyond it. It’s more universal than the traditional slack key.

    The new CD comes out on August 18th, titled Venus & the Sky Turn to Clay: the Instrumental World Of Makana. It’s a completely original album, full of beautiful guitar solos… electric, acoustic and even 12-string. An interesting note: the title of the album is written from right to left on the CD (instead of the traditional left to right) since that is the way that Venus rotates.

    You can find Makana all over the web, including on Twitter and Facebook.

    If you’re not a fan after listening to this song and watching the interview, then you must be sleeping under a rock. Makana is not only a very talented musician – he’s also a great guy.

    Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code:

    ]]>     Makana: The Real Guitar Hero is a post from Chris Pirillo


    Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

    Thanks to my connections in Hawaii, I was able to meet, interview, and watch Makana. If you’ve never heard of him before, I’m guessing this song will hook you for life.

    A student of the late slack key master Sonny Chillingworth, Makana has been playing for audiences since he was 13 years old. Starting at Duke’s Canoe Club in 1993, Makana has traveled to festivals and venues around the world from Japan to England, across the United States and always at home in Hawaii. Makana’s gift of music resonates the feeling of Aloha, infusing elements of folk, rock, blues, jazz, bluegrass, rage and with roots in the tradition of slack key, his sound is truly unique and powerful. He has opened and played with artists all over the World, including Santana and Sting!

    When I interviewed him, Makana couldn’t help but laugh at the way his name comes up in a Google search. Please don’t confuse him with that place in Hawaii, ok? They’re nowhere near the same!

    Makana has been playing slack key for 20 years now, which is amazing. Slack key guitar is a style, such as Flamenco or Blues. It is Hawaii style… they slack the strings, and loosen the keys so the guitar is tuned to a chord. The guitar is holding the chord for him. He can then have a chord, a rhythm and a melody going all at the same time… making it sound like a symphony of sorts.

    Makana says that when he first started playing, it was something that was fun and people loved to listen to. He never thought to the future, or dreamed he would have the career that he does. He’s opened at concerts such as No Doubt and Jason Mraz. He takes the roots of Hawaiian music, and goes far beyond it. It’s more universal than the traditional slack key.

    The new CD comes out on August 18th, titled Venus & the Sky Turn to Clay: the Instrumental World Of Makana. It’s a completely original album, full of beautiful guitar solos… electric, acoustic and even 12-string. An interesting note: the title of the album is written from right to left on the CD (instead of the traditional left to right) since that is the way that Venus rotates.

    You can find Makana all over the web, including on Twitter and Facebook.

    If you’re not a fan after listening to this song and watching the interview, then you must be sleeping under a rock. Makana is not only a very talented musician – he’s also a great guy.

    Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code:

    ]]>     http://chris.pirillo.com/makana-the-real-guitar-hero/feed/ 2     Top Five Reasons you Should Play a Real Guitar Instead of Guitar Herohttp://chris.pirillo.com/top-five-reasons-you-should-play-a-real-guitar-instead-of-guitar-hero/ http://chris.pirillo.com/top-five-reasons-you-should-play-a-real-guitar-instead-of-guitar-hero/#comments Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:11:08 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/03/25/top-five-reasons-you-should-play-a-real-guitar-instead-of-guitar-hero/ Top Five Reasons you Should Play a Real Guitar Instead of Guitar Hero is a post from Chris Pirillo

    Nik recently wrote in to remind us that while playing Guitar Hero is fun, it still is just a game. Here are his reasons for why you should learn to play a real guitar… instead of pretending to on a game.

    • First and foremost, playing a real instrument is much “cooler” than playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band. Which one is better to impress people with… being able to play the drum part to Tom Sawyer on Expert level in Rock Band, or being able to do it in real life? You’re not going to be impressing anyone with your digital-rubber- pad-hitting skills. While Rock Band can somewhat teach you how to develop rhythm and coordination, it can’t do much beyond that.
    • Does being able to beat a really hard song on Expert level accomplish anything other than giving you bragging rights? No, it doesn’t. While playing a real guitar seems to accomplish about the same, you have to look a bit deeper. Playing Guitar Hero involves you pressing buttons whenever a colored square comes up on your TV screen. Playing real guitar requires much more concentration and skill. Besides that, it is also very intellectual in the sense that it has you thinking a lot more. Guitar Hero is based on reaction time. Real guitar is about actually learning a song instead of relying on colored squares.
    • It’s not like playing a real instrument is all that hard. If people would put the same amount of time and effort into learning a real instrument as they did practicing Guitar Hero, they would become good and have fun in no time. Sure it seems harder, but all you have to do is put your mind to it.
    • You could actually buy a guitar package complete with books to teach yourself how to play guitar for around the same price as the Guitar Hero package. So why not pick up a real guitar and learn something useful? In the process, you’ll be able to learn a new language… the language of music! Once you can read music, you’ll be able to learn to play any other instrument that exists.
    • For my final point, I’d just like to say this: why pretend to do something when you could do the real thing? Go and buy a guitar or a drum set, practice really hard, try and meet some other people who play instruments, and form a real band! Then, instead of sitting in your basement tapping some plastic buttons, you can take the stage and play REAL music for a REAL audience! You never know how far you can go if you put your mind to it!

    Check out these great deals on guitars and Guitar Hero:

    ]]>     Top Five Reasons you Should Play a Real Guitar Instead of Guitar Hero is a post from Chris Pirillo

    Nik recently wrote in to remind us that while playing Guitar Hero is fun, it still is just a game. Here are his reasons for why you should learn to play a real guitar… instead of pretending to on a game.

    • First and foremost, playing a real instrument is much “cooler” than playing Guitar Hero or Rock Band. Which one is better to impress people with… being able to play the drum part to Tom Sawyer on Expert level in Rock Band, or being able to do it in real life? You’re not going to be impressing anyone with your digital-rubber- pad-hitting skills. While Rock Band can somewhat teach you how to develop rhythm and coordination, it can’t do much beyond that.
    • Does being able to beat a really hard song on Expert level accomplish anything other than giving you bragging rights? No, it doesn’t. While playing a real guitar seems to accomplish about the same, you have to look a bit deeper. Playing Guitar Hero involves you pressing buttons whenever a colored square comes up on your TV screen. Playing real guitar requires much more concentration and skill. Besides that, it is also very intellectual in the sense that it has you thinking a lot more. Guitar Hero is based on reaction time. Real guitar is about actually learning a song instead of relying on colored squares.
    • It’s not like playing a real instrument is all that hard. If people would put the same amount of time and effort into learning a real instrument as they did practicing Guitar Hero, they would become good and have fun in no time. Sure it seems harder, but all you have to do is put your mind to it.
    • You could actually buy a guitar package complete with books to teach yourself how to play guitar for around the same price as the Guitar Hero package. So why not pick up a real guitar and learn something useful? In the process, you’ll be able to learn a new language… the language of music! Once you can read music, you’ll be able to learn to play any other instrument that exists.
    • For my final point, I’d just like to say this: why pretend to do something when you could do the real thing? Go and buy a guitar or a drum set, practice really hard, try and meet some other people who play instruments, and form a real band! Then, instead of sitting in your basement tapping some plastic buttons, you can take the stage and play REAL music for a REAL audience! You never know how far you can go if you put your mind to it!

    Check out these great deals on guitars and Guitar Hero:

    ]]>     http://chris.pirillo.com/top-five-reasons-you-should-play-a-real-guitar-instead-of-guitar-hero/feed/ 26     How to Start Playing a Musical Instrumenthttp://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-start-playing-a-musical-instrument/ http://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-start-playing-a-musical-instrument/#comments Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:55:56 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/03/19/how-to-start-playing-a-musical-instrument/ How to Start Playing a Musical Instrument is a post from Chris Pirillo

    Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

    SleepyGamer from our live community is a musician. He wants all of us to realize that learning to properly play an instrument takes work and dedication. There are “right” and “wrong” ways to learn. Here are his tips to get you started.

    • When buying an instrument for the first time, don’t buy a really expensive one. It’s a lot smarter to buy something cheap, so that if you decide it’s not for you, you haven’t wasted a ton a money on something that you will never use! If the instrument doesn’t play very well (like a guitar or bass), have the shop assistant set it up for you, they might do this as part of the buying deal, or at a minimal extra fee.
    • Get a teacher. This isn’t necessary, but some people respond to a teacher better than others. Some private teachers offer a free first lesson, so that you can see how you like it and get along with them.
    • Learn at your own pace. There’s no need to blaze ahead and try and start playing things that you just aren’t ready for yet. I remember trying to learn how to sweep pick on guitar after just playing for a few months! It gave me a really bad technique that I had to shake off before learning it properly.
    • Learn songs that you like. If you start to learn songs by artists that you like, you will develop your technique, and it will give you insight into how to compose music for yourself. But remember not to advance along to songs that you aren’t ready for yet, and start off by playing them slowly. This way, when you speed it up to the original speed, your fingers will already know what to play, and will be better prepared for playing it, than if you had started at full speed!
    • Develop your own style. You don’t want to sound exactly like another artist, otherwise people just might say, “Oh, you sound a bit like so and so…” and look past you. Whereas if you sound new and original, you will be more likely to become popular!
    • Don’t get GAS! GAS is Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. This is a terrible disorder that forces your hard earned money out of your wallet, purse or bank account, and converts it into a few pieces of wood that are cleverly stuck together in a nice way, with some metal bits and strings attached!

    Here are some more tips, sent in by saxophonemaniak:

    • Choosing your Instrument When you consider buying an instrument, the most important thing is not to buy what most people consider the easiest or most popular. Choose the instrument that you have heard being played and have always wanted to try. However, such obstacles as price can become something that might stop you from buying an instrument. So, you must consider whether you really want to work on the instrument, or if it is just a hobby. For a hobbyist, there are cheaper models known as “student models”. These instruments are usually less than 600$, but are not as good as professional models. For enthusiasts or people that really want to work on their instrument, you should consider professional models later on. Professional models are usually $800-$40,000, depending on what you want. An important thing to know is that instruments will last a long time, be lots of fun to learn and won’t have to be upgraded within the next year.
    • Lessons? Learning to play an instrument without lessons is definitely possible. You will learn faster and more efficiently with a teacher. A teacher can help you learn difficult techniques that are required to play an instrument. For instance, the trumpet requires the buzzing of the lips to produce sound. A teacher can also supply you with proper learning materials based on your skill level, and slowly make things harder as you progress. Teachers can also show you how music works. If you do not have any experience with music notation, a teacher is required. All in all, if you want to get a good start into learning your instrument without the migraines, get a teacher.
    • Why don’t I sound like Coltrane? (the famous Jazz musician) Usually when you first play your instrument for your friends or family, they will almost 100% of the time will gasp or cringe. Keep in mind they are used to hearing professionals play. They will assume that’s how you will sound at first. Don’t let this get you down. Have them give your instrument a try, so they can see for themselves how hard it is.
    • Ugh Practicing! Possibly the most hated part of learning to play an instrument would be practicing. Nobody likes to do anything repetitive, and that is what practicing is essentially. However, practicing is required to get better at any instrument. To make practicing fun, you have to have a passion for the instrument and want to get better at it. Even sitting down for 15 minutes to play your instrument would be considered practicing. When you practice, you should always warm up with scales, which are basically organized notes. The main thing about practicing is that you should want to do it and not be scared that other people might hear you.
    • Fine Tuning Your Skills Just because you know the fingerings (specific finger positions to change the pitch) or have a good embouchure (mouth position to play instrument)… doesn’t mean you’re finished learning the instrument. There are several things that you must master before you have become a “pro” at the instrument. Such things as Tone ( the sound of your instrument), air control ( how long you can blow into your instrument) or Speed can be important factors that could dramatically change the way you play, if you improve on them. These skills take time though, so much practice is required. These skills are worth the effort.

    Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code:

    ]]>     How to Start Playing a Musical Instrument is a post from Chris Pirillo

    Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

    SleepyGamer from our live community is a musician. He wants all of us to realize that learning to properly play an instrument takes work and dedication. There are “right” and “wrong” ways to learn. Here are his tips to get you started.

    • When buying an instrument for the first time, don’t buy a really expensive one. It’s a lot smarter to buy something cheap, so that if you decide it’s not for you, you haven’t wasted a ton a money on something that you will never use! If the instrument doesn’t play very well (like a guitar or bass), have the shop assistant set it up for you, they might do this as part of the buying deal, or at a minimal extra fee.
    • Get a teacher. This isn’t necessary, but some people respond to a teacher better than others. Some private teachers offer a free first lesson, so that you can see how you like it and get along with them.
    • Learn at your own pace. There’s no need to blaze ahead and try and start playing things that you just aren’t ready for yet. I remember trying to learn how to sweep pick on guitar after just playing for a few months! It gave me a really bad technique that I had to shake off before learning it properly.
    • Learn songs that you like. If you start to learn songs by artists that you like, you will develop your technique, and it will give you insight into how to compose music for yourself. But remember not to advance along to songs that you aren’t ready for yet, and start off by playing them slowly. This way, when you speed it up to the original speed, your fingers will already know what to play, and will be better prepared for playing it, than if you had started at full speed!
    • Develop your own style. You don’t want to sound exactly like another artist, otherwise people just might say, “Oh, you sound a bit like so and so…” and look past you. Whereas if you sound new and original, you will be more likely to become popular!
    • Don’t get GAS! GAS is Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. This is a terrible disorder that forces your hard earned money out of your wallet, purse or bank account, and converts it into a few pieces of wood that are cleverly stuck together in a nice way, with some metal bits and strings attached!

    Here are some more tips, sent in by saxophonemaniak:

    • Choosing your Instrument When you consider buying an instrument, the most important thing is not to buy what most people consider the easiest or most popular. Choose the instrument that you have heard being played and have always wanted to try. However, such obstacles as price can become something that might stop you from buying an instrument. So, you must consider whether you really want to work on the instrument, or if it is just a hobby. For a hobbyist, there are cheaper models known as “student models”. These instruments are usually less than 600$, but are not as good as professional models. For enthusiasts or people that really want to work on their instrument, you should consider professional models later on. Professional models are usually $800-$40,000, depending on what you want. An important thing to know is that instruments will last a long time, be lots of fun to learn and won’t have to be upgraded within the next year.
    • Lessons? Learning to play an instrument without lessons is definitely possible. You will learn faster and more efficiently with a teacher. A teacher can help you learn difficult techniques that are required to play an instrument. For instance, the trumpet requires the buzzing of the lips to produce sound. A teacher can also supply you with proper learning materials based on your skill level, and slowly make things harder as you progress. Teachers can also show you how music works. If you do not have any experience with music notation, a teacher is required. All in all, if you want to get a good start into learning your instrument without the migraines, get a teacher.
    • Why don’t I sound like Coltrane? (the famous Jazz musician) Usually when you first play your instrument for your friends or family, they will almost 100% of the time will gasp or cringe. Keep in mind they are used to hearing professionals play. They will assume that’s how you will sound at first. Don’t let this get you down. Have them give your instrument a try, so they can see for themselves how hard it is.
    • Ugh Practicing! Possibly the most hated part of learning to play an instrument would be practicing. Nobody likes to do anything repetitive, and that is what practicing is essentially. However, practicing is required to get better at any instrument. To make practicing fun, you have to have a passion for the instrument and want to get better at it. Even sitting down for 15 minutes to play your instrument would be considered practicing. When you practice, you should always warm up with scales, which are basically organized notes. The main thing about practicing is that you should want to do it and not be scared that other people might hear you.
    • Fine Tuning Your Skills Just because you know the fingerings (specific finger positions to change the pitch) or have a good embouchure (mouth position to play instrument)… doesn’t mean you’re finished learning the instrument. There are several things that you must master before you have become a “pro” at the instrument. Such things as Tone ( the sound of your instrument), air control ( how long you can blow into your instrument) or Speed can be important factors that could dramatically change the way you play, if you improve on them. These skills take time though, so much practice is required. These skills are worth the effort.

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    ]]>     http://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-start-playing-a-musical-instrument/feed/ 33     How to Take Care of your Guitar like a Herohttp://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-take-care-of-your-guitar-like-a-hero/ http://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-take-care-of-your-guitar-like-a-hero/#comments Thu, 10 Jan 2008 00:46:27 +0000 Chris http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/01/09/how-to-take-care-of-your-guitar-like-a-hero/ How to Take Care of your Guitar like a Hero is a post from Chris Pirillo

    Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

    Here is a great top five list sent in by a community member, who says this can also apply to most any musical instrument. It’s very important to take good care of your instruments, as repairs can be very expensive.

    • Store your instrument in a temperature controlled room. Putting your guitar in a room that has constantly changing temperatures and humidity levels can be bad for it. Remember that a guitar is basically just a piece of wood, so it’s sensitive to humidity and the like. The consequence may be as little as the strings getting out of tune, but it may be as severe as the neck of the guitar warping, which is very hard if not impossible to fix.
    • Clean the fretboard regularly. When you play your guitar, dust and dead skin can fall onto the frets which can get stuck in the grooves in the wood. Over time, it builds up and will look very bad. Sweat and other things may build up as well. I’ve seen a guitar which had some sort of black buildup on the frets and it was very disgusting. I would never have played a guitar in such a condition. Buildup like this could potentially block the strings if it gets too high.
    • Change the strings regularly. Changing the strings is just like changing the tires on your car. Would you want to drive around on a very old and worn out set of tires? No, you wouldn’t. While old strings aren’t quite as dangerous, they can rust and potentially snap off and hit you in the face, which is never a pleasant experience. By changing the strings, you will also improve the quality of the sound your guitar will produce. Rock stars don’t change the strings on their guitars before every show just for the fun of it after all! Old strings can get out of tune a lot faster than new ones. Also, make sure you buy the correct gauge of strings. Changing to a gauge that’s significantly higher than the previous one can have negative effects on the neck: such as bending, warping, or even cracks developing in the wood.
    • Invest in a good case and/or stand for your instrument. Buying a cheap case or stand is never a good idea. Why spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a guitar when you’re going to put it into a $10 case which may fall apart as you’re holding it? Your investment may just crash down to the ground. A good stand is also useful. I hadn’t even thought of this until recently when i went out and bought a new stand for my guitar. How the stand is built can have positive or negative effects on the instrument. Things like where the guitar is being supported can affect the guitar negatively. By getting a stand that hangs the guitar from the headstock rather than one that it sits on is better for the neck joint, which is a very sensitive part of the guitar.
    • This one is a bit subjective, but a good thing to do is to invest in guitar cleaners and polishes. The lacquer on an instrument can wear off over time, and it may not wear evenly so you may end up with a strangely painted guitar. Using a guitar cleaner and polish can help prevent this, as well as make your guitar look nicer. Having a clean instrument makes you look more professional.

    Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

    ]]>     How to Take Care of your Guitar like a Hero is a post from Chris Pirillo

    Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

    Here is a great top five list sent in by a community member, who says this can also apply to most any musical instrument. It’s very important to take good care of your instruments, as repairs can be very expensive.

    • Store your instrument in a temperature controlled room. Putting your guitar in a room that has constantly changing temperatures and humidity levels can be bad for it. Remember that a guitar is basically just a piece of wood, so it’s sensitive to humidity and the like. The consequence may be as little as the strings getting out of tune, but it may be as severe as the neck of the guitar warping, which is very hard if not impossible to fix.
    • Clean the fretboard regularly. When you play your guitar, dust and dead skin can fall onto the frets which can get stuck in the grooves in the wood. Over time, it builds up and will look very bad. Sweat and other things may build up as well. I’ve seen a guitar which had some sort of black buildup on the frets and it was very disgusting. I would never have played a guitar in such a condition. Buildup like this could potentially block the strings if it gets too high.
    • Change the strings regularly. Changing the strings is just like changing the tires on your car. Would you want to drive around on a very old and worn out set of tires? No, you wouldn’t. While old strings aren’t quite as dangerous, they can rust and potentially snap off and hit you in the face, which is never a pleasant experience. By changing the strings, you will also improve the quality of the sound your guitar will produce. Rock stars don’t change the strings on their guitars before every show just for the fun of it after all! Old strings can get out of tune a lot faster than new ones. Also, make sure you buy the correct gauge of strings. Changing to a gauge that’s significantly higher than the previous one can have negative effects on the neck: such as bending, warping, or even cracks developing in the wood.
    • Invest in a good case and/or stand for your instrument. Buying a cheap case or stand is never a good idea. Why spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a guitar when you’re going to put it into a $10 case which may fall apart as you’re holding it? Your investment may just crash down to the ground. A good stand is also useful. I hadn’t even thought of this until recently when i went out and bought a new stand for my guitar. How the stand is built can have positive or negative effects on the instrument. Things like where the guitar is being supported can affect the guitar negatively. By getting a stand that hangs the guitar from the headstock rather than one that it sits on is better for the neck joint, which is a very sensitive part of the guitar.
    • This one is a bit subjective, but a good thing to do is to invest in guitar cleaners and polishes. The lacquer on an instrument can wear off over time, and it may not wear evenly so you may end up with a strangely painted guitar. Using a guitar cleaner and polish can help prevent this, as well as make your guitar look nicer. Having a clean instrument makes you look more professional.

    Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

    ]]>     http://chris.pirillo.com/how-to-take-care-of-your-guitar-like-a-hero/feed/ 26     How to Handle Remote Tech Support <em>Using <a href="http://www.gotoassist.com/chris">GoToAssist</a> is the easiest way to view and control another person's computer online. Use it to provide instant technical support to family, friends and customers. Start a session with just one click, and instantly connect with the other party. </em> chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMThttp://gotoassist.com/chris/ http://gotoassist.com/chris/ Network Tools for Windows You need these network tools, no matter which operating systems and networks you have to support. <a href="http://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome">SolarWinds ipMonitor</a>: Affordable Network Monitoring for SMBs. Get turnkey network, server and application availability monitoring with SolarWinds ipMonitor v9.0. This easy-to-use, reliable solution for SMBs delivers out-of-the-box availability monitoring so you always know exactly what's up with Active Directory, DNS, Exchange, FTP, Web, IMAP, MS SQL Server, and SMTP. <a href="http://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome">Download your free trial today</a>. Or, try their <a href="http://www.solarwinds.com/products/freetools/">totally free tools</a>! And, through 2/29, save 20% when you purchase <a href="http://store.solarwinds.com/s.nl/sc.16/.f">ipMonitor 9.0</a>. chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMThttp://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome http://support.solarwinds.com/updates/New-Customer.cfm?ProdID=568&campaign=ipmon_DL_lockergnome&CMP=BAC-ipmonDL_lockergnome Get Your Own Web Site Starting at just $3.99/month, web hosting from <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp2">GoDaddy</a> includes 99.9% uptime, 24/7 support and free access to GoDaddy Hosting Connection, THE place to install over 30 FREE applications sure to help you get the most from your hosting plan and Web site. Enter <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp2">code CP2</a> at checkout, and save an additional 10% on any order. <p>Plus, as a friend of Chris Pirillo, enter code <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=chris7">CHRIS7</a>, that's C-H-R-I-S and the number 7, when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at <a href="http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=chris7">GoDaddy.com</a>.</p> chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMThttp://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp1 http://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/default.asp?isc=cp1 VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/13766/rn_a32755/">Parallels</a> or <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/17081/rn_a32755/">VMware</a> (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/17081/rn_a32755/">VMware</a> and/or <a href="http://send.onenetworkdirect.net/z/13766/rn_a32755/">Parallels</a>. chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMThttp://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/19/parallels-or-vmware/ http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/02/19/parallels-or-vmware/ Coupons for Online Shopping <p style="color: red">This feed is fueled by Lockergnome <a href="http://www.lockergnome.com/buy/">Online Shopping and Coupon Codes</a></p> <p> Before you shop next time, see if we have <a href="http://coupons.lockergnome.com/">a coupon</a> first. </p> chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) Partner Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMThttp://coupons.lockergnome.com/ http://coupons.lockergnome.com/