So, like, I'm this guy. And like, I do stuff...
Chemist, musician, artist, programmer, coach, husband, dad, uncle, etc.
So yeah.
Advice-wise? There are no stupid questions, just stupid people.
Website: Not My Site!
E-mail: sporkopolis2001@yahoo.com
Gender: Male
Occupation: Chemist
Age: 32
Member Since: October 16, 2003
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My humbucker keeps falling out. Ok, so I've tightened the screws a million times. I've got new parts in, I've changed screws, I've done everything you can think of. I'll do all this and after a few weeks of playing (some wear and tear) the screws loosen and the thing starts to fall out again.
Anything you can suggest?
Thanks. (link)
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Are the screws going straight into the wood of the body, or are they in a plastic mount? If in the wood, and you don't plan on swappig them out any time soon - you could try a very tiny amount of white elmer's glue. The only other thing I can think of is trying a screw with a different threading - but the last thing you want to do is strip out more wood or plastic, so you'd have to be careful if you do that route - the glue is at least easy to reverse if it doesn't seem to be working. The glue might work on plastic, but metal on plastic won't hold as well as metal on wood.
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So what exactly do you recommend? i am taking the "i'm recording a song" approach so what exactly should i be looking for and how much do you think it will cost? (link)
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I personally have a Beyer Dynamic microphone - very solid and proven in controlled and live situations. Being that I started singing because no one else would, I'm not a "properly trained" vocalist so I don't have a lot of true "vocalist" equipment, but the microphone is very good and I've had several sound engineers thrilled to see someone using that microphone (favourites of theirs, evidently).
Shure makes some excellent mics, Audio Technica, AKG... they'll all have something in the $50 range... you might check major music sellers like Sam Ash (www.samash.com) and see what they list on their website - I see a Shure karaoke mic for $40, and a more rugged one for $60 (PG58 model number).
You'll want to look for a cardiod microphone, for certain.
Also, if you can, go to a store like Sam Ash - many that sell microphones will have rooms set up where you can try microphones out - when doing this, try each mic on more than one system to make sure you get an idea of what the mic does vs. how the amplifiers are making it sound.
I really think you should be able to get a solid mic around the $50 range. The soundcard issue is another story, but I currently don't record direct to my computer - I use either a 4-track recorder, or borrow a friend's digital multitrack deck.
The SoundBlaster Live! 24 external or some of the SoundBlaster Audigy cards (yeah, they call the external boards "cards") would probably suit your need for sound input. Again, check with people who are more current on those than I am for sure - I don't want you to think I'm some sort of recording guru - definitely the self-admitted hack at it - I just record to get my song ideas down so I can develop them further.
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at a local music store, they display their saxophones on a wall. they have some sort of wall mount thing going on. i have searched google and ebay for saxophone wall mounts, but i can't find anything. i'm looking to hang up my two alto saxophones. my question is... have any of you ever seen a saxophone wall mount and where could i buy them? (link)
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the wall mount fixtures are usually used only in stores for display purposes - I don't recall any of the saxophonists I know having wall mounts - a bunch of us do have the floor mount stands - in fact, I have the one that holds a sax and flute at the same time, very handy when swapping back and forth.
Honestly, when you have your sax out all the time, it tends to tarnish faster, and collects a LOT of dust - wall mounts, while they may seem pretty and shows off the instrument - it adds a ton of cleaning, it really increases the amount of upkeep to maintain your sax in excellent condition.
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I'm brand new at playing guitar. I just got my guitar about 2 hrs ago. My first lesson is next week. I want to get a basic foundation for it so I dont have to waste a lesson. Is there any website that shows me the notes and some of the important basics? (link)
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I've pointed many people to my column on music - http://www.advicenators.com/column.php?u=MFS&t=14
I've listed quite a few times some resources (OLGA, Harmony Central, etc) that new guitarists can use, as well as lots of other advice and discussions on music in general.
If you have any specific questions on playing, feel free to ask me a private question to my inbox or email me at sporkopolis2001@yahoo.com
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does anyone know what this song is called and who its by ?
A singer in a smokey room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on (link)
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Don't Stop Believing by Journey, from the 1981 Album "Escape"
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this is sort of a few questions tied into one.websites would be great.thanks!
1.i have a fender squier guitar,and i need new strings.what are some cheap,good quality strings?
2.im just starting to play, and trying to teach myself,so are theyr any books you would recommend to help me learn?
3.also are there any accessories or anything i'd need to play?(besides an amp, because i have one already)
thanks!! (link)
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1) I recommend D'Addario strings. They are usually quite affordable, have good tone and last a good long while. I use them almost exclusively.
2) I am very much self-taught, and I didn't use books, per se. I could already read music from playing saxophone, and had taught myself to play by ear. I would really recommend just going to a site like www.olga.net and pick tablature to a song you like and try to teach yourself. By choosing something you know, you already know what it sounds like, and the tab can give you a boost.
Harmony Central (http://www.harmony-central.com/) has some good learning references as well.
3) Accessories? Naw... unless you're jumping straight into slide guitar... maybe a capo at the most for a few songs that might require them.
As always, I encourage you to check out my column under the music heading - I've answered many similar music/guitar related questions in the past. http://www.advicenators.com/column.php?u=MFS&t=14
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14/f
Heyy there, my name is Ali. I'm interesting in purchasing a guitar. I love to sing so I thought they'd go hand in hand. I've wanted to play for a while, but I've been too busy. But now I've cleared parts of my schedule to learn how. I'm going to be taking lessons first .. but I need advice. What kind of guitar should I start out with? Something not too pricey please! Something acoustic not electric.
The place I would probably be buying it from would be: http://www.lucamusic.com/acoustic_guitars.htm
But if you know of any other places in that area that sells guitars please tell me!
(link)
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If you check out some of my past answers, I've talked about guitars many times for people just starting out: http://www.advicenators.com/column.php?u=MFS&t=14
The guitars in the link you showed are probably not going to be cheap - Martin, Takamine, Alvarez, and Taylor are all top-notch makers of acoustic guitars. Martins can be priced well into the thousands of dollars.
If you do check out my column on music - you'll see that I rant and rave about making sure you pick a guitar that feels comforatable to you - this is very important... if it feels wrong in your hands, you should probably not choose that guitar.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to pop me a direct question.
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Any tips for novice drummers (good books)? I have a basic 5-piece set but no china cymbal, I think it's called. Is that normal? Also, would a wire brush be important? Thanks much in advance! (link)
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China cymbals are cheap and not usually part of a standard kit. They have little resonnance and sound a bit like smashing a metal trash-can lid.
Brushes are very important, but it will really depend on the style you wish to play - they are essential to studying jazz, and even in rock, if you hit a slower or somber song - sticks just won't feel right and the more gentle swooshing and patting of brushes will fit better.
Cymbals - typically, you'll have a hi-hat, which are really expensice, a ride and a crash. And even then, the crash isn't nearly as important as a good sounding ride cymbal and a proper hi-hat.
Books for learning music never seemed important to me... I've learned more by listening to songs, listening to other musicians, and just playing.
Also - my friend, who plays drums (and has for... well... a long time now - we've played together since high school) recently got "a bundle of sticks"... they are bundles of smaller dowel-like rods, banded together to be about the total thickness of drum sticks. However, they aren't as harsh has sticks, but are way more forceful than brushes. He found that they were great for our rehearsals last year. Definitely worth looking into to keep from driving others (and yourself) mad. ;)
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Im a girl, so i already know i'll suck more at guitar then guys. But, i'd like to start getting into guitars because music is one of my passions. I have long slender fingers so will that be an advantage when playing guitar? Okay well my question is, i want to play the song "vermilion pt. 2" on guitar, and I think its acoustic. I looked up the tabs. It said acoustic i think. Well anyways i was looking up acoustic guitars on google, and i also looked up electric guitars. And acoustic guitars are ugly! So, whats the difference between acoustic and electric guitars? Electric looks easier, but i dont know much when it comes to guitar. Please let me know as much info as possible, from experience would be even better. Im a beginner (only played like a couple times and sucked). Thanks so much this is something i wanna get into. THANKS (link)
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Why do guys play better than girls?
They don't.
While it might not be quite your style, familiarize yourself with the likes of Nancy Wilson of Heart or Lita Ford of the Runnaways and her own metal band.
Having larger hands / longer fingers is always a boon to a prospective guitarist.
As for the differnce between an acoustic and an electric... well... one is acoustic and the other is electric... :P Seriously, though - the actoustic doesn't use pickups to generate its sound - the sound is that of the strings and the vibrations resonating inside the hollow body of the instrument. Yes, acoustics can be amplified by internal pickups or microphones.
Electics don't require the hollow sound chamber of the acoustic - they use magnetic coil pickups to convert the vibration of the strings into electic current which is then conveyed through an amplifier to create the full sound.
Acoustic and electic, as far as learning to play goes, are very similar - an acoustic might have a higher string tension, making them feel harsh with the steel strings used on both instruments.
I generally recommend a classical guitar for starters - yeah, the sound is not what you're looking for, but the neck is flat, the strings are nylon (much easier on the fingers at first) and the strings are spaced further apart than on electics and acoustics.
That said, if you want the electric sound, you're only going to be happy with an electric - just remember that when you have an electric that a shitty amplifier will make a great guitar sound like ass - but a great amplifier can make a shitty guitar sound decent.
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i have an acoustic guitar. its probably about 6 years old and its out of tune. i love acoustic music! and i would love to learn how to play it. i have no idea how to read music though. can someone tell me how, internet sites, etc.
thanks! (link)
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I've answered similar questions in the past, if you care to paruse my column under the music heading:
http://www.advicenators.com/column.php?u=MFS&t=14
Also, check out Harmony Central: http://www.harmony-central.com/
The on-line guitar chord generator:
http://www.gootar.com/folder/guitar.html
And if you check out this page, you'll find links to lessons and other assorted goodies.
You can do quick-n-dirty google searches for "guitar chords", "guitar tuning", "acoustic guitar technique", and smimilar things to see what you find - and quite often, you'll find some good stuff.
And as always, I highly recommend finding a book on the guitar techniques of Andres Segovia - he developed many exercises and drills to get your fingers doing the right things while playing - he was a master of the classical guitar (nylon-string acoustic, basically) and transcribed many classical pieces from violin to guitar. His techniques are invaluable in any genre, be it classical, jazz, rock, metal (most really good metal guitarist study lots of classical anyway), etc.
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how long are average guitar straps? like for a yamaha..? (link)
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Straps are adjustable, but when totally elongated, they are typically around 60 inches long (from tip to tip).
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If you write your own lyrics, and you don't play a musical instrument, how do you make original music at home? Are there any sites? This is appreciated if you could answer this by tonight.
Thanks lovelies! (link)
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The issue is that to "write music" pretty much requires that you play an instrument or know theory and can compose. Working with sequencers is sort of like composing, but you don't actually play anything and the form of theory is different and often preconstructed elements from a library (which is really not learning music at all).
You have, however, forgotten about another "instrument"... it is your voice.
There's no reason why you can't compose vocally - and eventually record what you've come up with for the sake of having it a duplicatable format. If you develop something you're particularly proud of, you would be able to share that recorded bit with others who you could collaborate with to further construct the music of a song.
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Hey can any of yall show me some good web sites to learn how to play drums? I'm asking for a drum set for christmas and i wanna leanr hwo to play. (link)
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Honestly, I can't imagine a website would be a very good way to teach someone drums. I mean, you might be able to see descriptions of some patterns, but it won't really help you to play. Best bet is to actually sit behind a set and play some simple patters. Generally start with alternating snare / bass drum while playing straight 4s on the hi-hat. (boom - thud - boom - thud, all while hitting the hi-hat every time). After you have that down with quarter notes, you play eigth notes on the hi-hat while continuing the alternating snare/bass, with the snare on 1,3 and the bass on 2,4.
Also, if you really are getting a kit, make sure you ask for a metronome as well to keep tempo (assuming you don't already have one).
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what does Bb mean in keyboard tabs? What chord is it? (link)
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Bb is B-flat. The major triad is Bb, D, F
Bb7 is Bb, D, F, Ab
BbM7 is Bb, D, F, B
Bbsus4 is Bb, Eb, F
etc etc etc
whenever you see a little "b", that's the easiest way to indicate a flat symbol.
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What are some good german rock/pop music? (link)
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Scorpions
Helloween
Amon Duul II
Can
Tangerine Dream
KMFDM
Nico (Velvet Underground)
Steril
H-Blockx
Nargaroth
(these were ones I knew of off the top of my head)
you can find more at http://www.scaruffi.com/history/german.html
(I verified several of the bands that I thought were German by using this site - and also found that 2 bands I thought were German were not)
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ok so i have a yamaha acoustic guitar and i really want to put my tray on it but there is no like, idont know what they are called...strap holders? (the little things that you put the hole on that start around to keep it on) so what im wondering is-is there any way to put them on/have them put on and how much will it cost?
thanks ahead of it all♥ (link)
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Those little metal things seem to go by a plethora of names. Attaching them to an acoustic is not something I'd toy around with - doing it wrong could easily destroy the guitar. Acoustics can be very tempermental and/or fragile instruments when it comes to drilling into them. Solid-body electrics are by far more forgiving.
Keep in mind that there isn't always a way to attach those knobs. However, you can get a strap and use a shoe string to tie one end to the headstock, and rig a sling to rest the butt of the guitar in, which would work. I believe they make straps with a sling on them, particularly for classical guitars, since classicals are made to be played sitting down.
The knobs themselves are very cheap. I picked up a spare set for $5. To have a guitar tech or luthier install them would probably not cost too much and they could do it quickly. No more than $20 (in my estimate) to install them (that would include the price to buy them, too).
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how much are guitar lessons? (link)
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It depends on the experience of your teacher and what you want to get out of the lessons - as well as how long the lessons are. Also, group lessons vs. individual lessons will factor in.
A more experienced teacher will cost you more than a new teacher. Long lessons will cost more than short ones. Individual lessons are more expensive than group ones.
I've seen some teachers as cheap as $10/hour. I've seen some that cost over ten times that.
All I can suggest is that you shop around. Find out what rates seem to be in your area (I guarantee that lessons will cost differently from city to city). Make sure you not only get rates, but talk to the teachers - ask them about their lessons, their methods... doing this will also give you a taste of their personality - hard to take a lesson from someone you can't stand.
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I just got my electric guitar and I need to find a way to make my room sound proof so little noise will be heard outside. I have one dor and thats my only problem. How to make it sound proof.. Any sugestions?? (link)
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Are you seeking to sound proof or sound deaden your room? In sound proofing, you would have to install slate, stone, tiling or something hard in your walls, then cover that with sound absorbing materials. I'll run under the assumption that doing this is beyond your means.
Sound deadening / sound dampening your room would be much easier. While I don't suggest you line your walls with insulation (as that is not cheap and will make your room really hot), you can get lots of pillows, blankets, put up curtains, and elevate your amp up off the floor. Hang a thick blanket over your door while you play to keep sound from passing through the door. Temporarially put something over any vent in your room to keep sound from travelling down ventillation shafts. Just look for places where sound could easily "escape" and do simple things to hinder the sound form exiting the room.
Anything soft will absorb sound, and that's the easiest thing to do.
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ARGH.
So I'm trying to learn guitar, but I can barely stretch a comfortable octave on the piano.
Are there any finger stretching exercises I could do to get my fingers to...you know, like, work? Lol...
I find myself using my middle finger a lot (right now I'm just working on memorizing which notes are where), so the other fingers don't really get a whole lot of streching.
I had a friend laugh out loud when he watched me play Moonlight Sonata 'cause my thumb and pinky fingers were like straight lines trying to stretch the octave.
So yeah. Small hands, wanna play guitar (electric, not acoustic...not even gonna try that), need finger stretches.
No chatspeak, please!
-Siren =) (link)
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My suggestions:
You CAN get a smaller scale guitar - there are 3/4 scale guitars, "0" scale guitars, etc... it might be worth your while to look into some of these "alternate" scales to better fit your hands.
You can work on increasing your finger dexterity, but you can't really get your hand to grow. You can increase the spread between fingers as well as hand strength and flexibility in getting your hands into some more complex/awkward chord fingerings.
You might consider any exercize that forces you to play repettitive large intervals, or to find alternate ways to get the same interval with less span (such as F to C... why go from the 1st fret on the low E string to the 9th fret, when you can play C on the 3rd fret on the A string?)
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Has anybody on here had any experince with Everly guitar stings? (Specifically Acoustic phosphor bronze ------ .012 -.053) Are these strings durable? Have a nice tone quality? Overall? I'd like to have some opinions on these strings.
Thanks =) (link)
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I have not tried Everly strings... but hey Tom Petty endorses them...
I actually just talked to 3 different guitarists I know... and not a single one of them have used Everly strings. Perhaps they just don't want to sound like the Everly Brothers... ;)
Think of it this way - guitar strings get replaced rather often... so if they are reasonably priced, why not buy a set and give them a shot. If you think they suck, you won't ever have to buy their strings again... if you love them, you just became a new customer.
Personally, I'm a D'Addario guy (though I still miss my Darco's on bass - I should have bought 100 sets back when they were still made).
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