How to Sound Good Singing

   Few of us are born with a natural vocal talent such as Andrew Bocelli; however, this does not mean that we cannot sing. However, each individual on the earth has a unique singing voice, something that they should make the most of and enjoy. Those who are wondering how to sound good singing should practice a few simple techniques to make the most of what they have been blessed with.

   It would be very beneficial to obtain vocal lessons from a voice teacher. Having incorrect techniques can not only hinder your ability to sing well, but can actually do damage to your vocal cords. Even if one can only afford a few starter lessons, this will be money well invested.

Sing every day. It is said that practice makes perfect. The more you sing, the better you will be at it and the stronger your breathing and vocal muscles will be, allowing you to practice techniques more easily as the breathing and control are mastered.

   Ensure proper breathing. To sing right, you will have to breathe right It has been said that eighty percent of singing actually involves breathing, and it is important to do this correctly. When you breathe, the stomach should expand, not the chest. Practice breathing from the stomach while you sing. If you have been breathing wrong, this may take a little practice and determine for it to become a habit.

   You should stand straight and tall. Slouching will only make it harder for you to breathe. When your posture is correct, proper air flow will ensue more easily.

   Find your vocal range and work to increase it. Start where your singing voice is natural and comfortable and do not sacrifice tone for range. As you practice singing and proper breathing techniques, your range will increase greatly, but your sound character will be much better when you stick to those notes within your range.

You Must Warm Up Before You Sing

   Always warm up. Don't just jump in every day and start singing a difficult selection heartily. This is just asking for your voice to be strained. Instead, ask a teacher for some warm up patterns and start with these. Scales are also quite helpful, especially for those who have problems with pitch. They will strengthen the voice and give better control.

If you want to sound good singing, use these tips, but remember to be yourself. You may wish to sound like a Carrie Underwood or Josh Groban, but you should never copy another individual's sound. It is good to have role models, but enjoy who you are and appreciate your originality.

Best Singing Course - 3 Things to Look For

   The wonderful thing about singing is that just about anybody can do it. But only those who have the patience to practice will ever become good singers. If you want to be a good singer you are going to have to practice, and educate yourself about this skill. Here are a few ways that can help you find the best singing course.

Many people believe that singing is a natural talent and that you can either sing, or you can't. This belief discourages many young singers from trying to improve their voice. But with the right software you can become a better singer. Here are a few things that you should look for when you set out to buy the best singing course material.

You want your material to be geared towards you. You might not know it, but there are thousands of different ways that you can go about teaching yourself to sing. You need to find a course that fits your needs. Do you want to learn by ear? Do you want to read music? What genre of music do you want to be able to sing? Do you want a video? Or just audio? All of these questions are going to have to be answered when you look for the best singing course.

No matter what type of program you choose, if you find the best singing course available, it will be sure to have these things.

   A reputable author: Many vocal programs are created by professional singers, or professional song instructors. When you buy your program, make sure to check out their credentials. Most instructors will brag about the big names that they have worked with.

   Appropriate skill level: You need to find a system that you will be able to handle. Singing courses, like all learning material, will come in different difficulty settings. If you are just starting out, make sure to start with something easy. If you are an experienced stage singer, you can look for something more advanced that can help you perfect your vocal talent.

   Get something that you will enjoy: Many people want to sing because they are passionate about singing. Don't destroy this passion with a boring set of music instructional material. Try to find something that is in the genre that you sing. Many programs will even have select songs. Try to find a program that will teach you how to sing all of your personal favorites. The best singing course will educate you, but it will also keep you entertained.

If you need more than one of these programs, you can always go out and hire a personal trainer. This option is a little bit more expensive, but it can also get great results. You need to decide what your goals are before you set out to by an educational program. If you are looking to be the next great pop star, a personal trainer might be a good idea. If you just want to sing karaoke, you are probably going to be OK with internet software programs.

See Why This is the Best Singing Course Here. Rock the World and Learn to Sing Here

How to Improve Your Singing Voice

   Each one of us is blessed with an individualized voice. Voices are basically like snowflakes in that each one is completely different from the next. While certain voices may be similar each one is a piece of art unto itself. However, just because you have one voice does not mean that you cannot improve upon it. In fact there are easy ways to learn how to improve your singing voice, and one of the best ways to do this is to utilize an online voice lesson like Singorama.

When thinking of how to improve your singing voice, you will want to focus on a couple of different areas. The first area that you want to focus on is your overall breath control. Basically, if you do not have good breathing technique you are not going to be able to sing well. You will want to focus on perfecting your diaphragmatic breathing. This means that you are breathing from your diaphragm rather than very shallowly from your chest.

   Next you want to work on you basic tone and pitch. Often singers make a big mistake because they tend to swoop up from below a note resting on the bottom half of the pitch. Instead you want to think about landing perfectly on the pitch from above. More often than not if you find yourself on the bottom half of the pitch you are typically not exerting enough energy to sing the pitch. Instead, if you properly attack the note you will stay away from falling flat.

   The way that you form the vowel sounds with your mouth can have a direct effect on what your overall sound is. For example if your vowel placement tends to spread horizontally you may accidentally create a very shrill sound. Instead, you want to think about constantly creating vertically based shapes with your mouth. For example if you need to sing the word reach on a very high note you will want to sing "eh" rather than "ee." That may sound odd to you, but it will result in a more pleasing sound for your audience, and their ears will instantly perceive the fact that you are singing the word reach.

   Lastly, when you are learning how to improve your singing voice you want to improve your overall agility. Good singers can hop from one note to the next without sliding and can also manipulate the dynamic levels of their repertoire.

One of the best ways to work on this is by performing a variety of vocal exercises. Vocal exercises allow you to work on specific aspects of your voice one at a time so they can be incredibly helpful. Singorama is one of the best places for resources to help you work on your voice. Here you will have the resources available to you that you need to improve your overall vocal quality. Check this out http://www.thesingorama.info/

Top Ten Greatest Guitar Players

   When learning another language, experts recommend that you immerse yourself in the language. The same principle applies when learning how to play guitar. Listening to great guitar players can be a source of inspiration, can encourage you to keep practicing, and give you a goal to work toward. The following are the top ten greatest guitar players, listed in no particular order:

1. Jimi Hendrix - At one point, Hendrix couldn't get a break in Nashville, and he ended his backup days with Little Richard in a contract dispute. He quickly realized, however, the value of innovation in playing, as well as in putting on a stage show that fans would remember. Many fans claim he was the greatest guitarist ever to pick up the instrument. At the very least his creative drive, technical ability and such effects as wah-wah and distortion forever transformed the sound of rock and roll. It was his innovation, and his ability to play his guitar in any position with any body part, that consistently places him as one of the top rated guitarists ever.

2. Eric Clapton - Clapton can not only brag that he's considered one of the greatest rock guitarists and one of the greatest blues guitarists, but also that he has drawn huge crowds for his classical guitar concerts. His playing style is smooth, yet precise, and chords almost seem to flow from his fingertips.

3. Robert Johnson - Recorded his songs for the first time on November 23, 1936 in San Antonio, Texas. Although modern guitar players will often complain that Robert Johnson was out of time, out of tune, and you cannot understand his vocals, style of playing was unlike anything else at the time, and set the pace for future generations of blues players. Johnson is also the guitar player often accused of having made the deal at the crossroads, selling his soul to the devil in order to be able to play.

4. Eddie Van Halen - The lightning speed and innovative sounds of Eddie Van Halen's guitar are easily recognizable. They are even more impressive when taking into consideration that he is completely self-taught, having never had any type of lesson. It has often been said, that it is easy for Eddie to be creative in his playing techniques because he was never told how he could or could not play.

5. Stevie Ray Vaughan - Born on October 3 1954 , in the Oak Cliff Section of Dallas Texas. Easily one of the most well known modern blues guitarists, Vaughan's music seemed to be pulled from the depths of his soul at times. While his playing was smooth, it was the sheer amount of emotion in every note that drew people to his music.

6. Tony Iommi - For many people, Iommi is considered the first real metal guitar player, using a lot of distortion but keeping it completely controlled. His fiery style is even more impressive because his fingering hand is missing the tips of two fingers, requiring him to use rubber prosthetics when playing.

7. Jeff Beck - Many guitar players consider Jeff Beck to be one of the most well rounded guitarists in the world, able to produce incredible tones with what appears to be very little effort. Despite his ability to create amazing sounds with a great depth of feeling, he is rarely given the credit he deserves.

8. Jimmy Page - Formerly one of the hottest studio players in England, Page not only has the ability to write incredible guitar riffs, but he also has the ability to play them perfectly.

9. Randy Rhoads - Was an American heavy metal guitarist who is best known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne. Rhoads was perfect and precise in every note, but did so with a great depth of feeling. Not only could he play the music, but he could write it also.

10. Joe Satriani - Satriani may well be the next stage in the evolution of guitarists. He has the ability to play music when he is goofing off that many guitar players will never be able match, even after years of practice.

While this is by no means the definitive list of the greatest guitar players, and some would disagree with the names on the list, it is an excellent starting point. By listening to accomplished players, those who are learning to play guitar can find their inspiration.

About The Author My name is Derek Cockrum, and I have been an instructor and professional guitarist for the past 11 years. I established "Guitar Lesson Reviews" to help you, (the beginner and advanced guitarist), discover the top acoustic and electric guitar lessons program available that will teach you how to really take your guitar playing skills to the next level. I have personally reviewed and tested almost every advanced and beginner guitar lessons program out there and have listed my top 3 recommended programs. If you're seriously ready to learn to play guitar like your favorite guitarist, you owe it to yourself to check out "Guitar Lesson Reviews" to find an easy guitar lessons program that offers Acoustic and Electric Guitar Lessons to train you how to play guitar like it was meant to be played. Learn what these Advanced, and Beginner Guitar Lessons can do for you and your guitar playing.

                                                                    

4 Simple Steps For Mastering Guitar Chords

   The guitar is a relatively easy musical instrument to play but it's also not something anyone can just pick up and learn overnight. This six string instrument is one of the oldest musical instruments to retain its basic function and it is played mainly by coaxing the melodies out through the use of guitar chords. Use these easy tips for mastering guitar chords and you'll be playing the guitar confidently in no time.

Use the right chord guide.

   A chord guide may be written by a guitar genius but if you don't understand what it's trying to show you, it simply won't work. When mastering guitar chords, make sure you have the proper understanding of the guitar tab staff. This is the series of horizontal lines representing the 6 strings of the guitar. In a guitar tablature, finger positioning is marked by dots or numbers to indicate which strings and which fret the fingers must be placed on to play a chord. It's also a good idea to learn the different types of symbols that are commonly used in a guitar tab.

Develop muscle memory.

   Mastering guitar chords is as much an exercise of your muscles as it is of your eye and mind. By learning the difference between an E major and an E minor, for example, you will develop the ability to play the right chords regardless of the song. Once you've committed the chords to memory, it will be effortless to change from one chord to the next. It will also help prevent any confusion in how a specific guitar chord is played, particularly if there is only a very slight variation.

Learn 3 chords each time.

   When learning chords, it helps to work hard. As in all things, learning the guitar is only difficult in the beginning, so don't be afraid to challenge yourself. If you play the guitar for an hour each day, try to master 3 chords each time. Start with the easy ones such as A, E, D or G. As you master each of them, gradually add new ones until you've memorized them all.

Try simple changes.

   When you're still in the beginning stages of learning chords, try gradual changes from one chord to the next. This will help "shape" each chord in your head and help you burn it into your muscle memory. Try transitioning from a G to a C to an A to an E and then back again. Once you've developed the hang of it, do the chords at random or add a 7 (such as a G7 and a C7), a sharp minor or major. You'll be surprised at how easy it will be for you to play these chords effortlessly within a short period of time.

Are you looking for the best online guitar lessons? Be sure to visit my site to learn about reading guitar notes and how to play the guitar.

How to Play Guitar Better, Stronger and Faster

   The stage was set, the crowd was roaring, the band was kicking it in the green room waiting for the top of the hour, and I was tuning my guitar and feeling slightly nervous about this duo guitar lick that kicked off our set. One might say I didn't feel quite up to speed.

   When I was learning how to play guitar I was more concerned about looking cool than I was about playing with speed. After all, I was just beginning and hadn't yet developed the skills to play better, stronger and faster. I had some online guitar lessons under my belt just so I could learn how to play guitar chords and be a rhythm guitarist.

   I also could sing a little so I found myself in a band situation fairly early in my music making career. The band was about sounding good and looking like rock stars while we were doing it.

As the years ticked by more and more was expected of me as a player. Unfortunately for me, my rock star look (with my low slung guitar) was hindering my playing ability. And worse yet, I didn't even know it.

   When it was time to kick off the show with me and the other guitarist blazing this power lick...well, let's just say it was interesting. I had practiced the run and had it down, but when I was on stage I couldn't pull it off.

Don't be a slouch!

See, when I learn to play guitar licks I usually was sitting down. I was positioning my body better for playing without my even knowing it. And when I stood, all that good positioning shifted down to where it has hampering my technique.

   All this happened about the time I start college. With all my interest in guitar, it was only natural of me to make music my major. And, since college professors don't view rock music as serious music, or as seriously as they do in some online guitar lessons, I enrolled in the first of my many classical guitar classes.

   It was then, after years of poor positioning I learned the secrets of how to play guitar better, stronger and faster. And at that point, I decided playing better was much cooler than looking good and sounding like a hack.

   I had some hurdles to get over and it would have been much easier if I had learned how to play electric guitar properly in the first place. Here's what I learned:

Get in line...

   Regardless of whether you're finger picking or using a pick, you can greatly increase both your speed and accuracy by having your right wrist, fingers and forearm nearly in line with the strings at the bridge. With your wrist directly above the bridge you can let the strings ring out, or by placing your wrist on the bridge you can play with a palm muting style.

Rolling your wrist towards your thumb allows you to only mute the bass strings, allowing the treble strings to ring purely which is great for the Travis picking stuff.

If you're speed picking, you'll find your wrist perfectly positioned for alternate picking, which is using your pick stroke down-up-down-up regardless of which note or string you're playing on. Even if you skip a string or have a syncopated rhythm, you always play with the down-up-down-up stroke.

Assume the position!

Good clean speed technique applies when learning how to play guitar to your left hand as well. Your thumb shouldn't be draped over the top of the fingerboard when you learn to play guitar in this position, but rather be placed in the center of the back of the neck of the guitar. With this positioning, you'll notice that the palm of your hand doesn't grip the neck. Instead, a loop or U shape is formed by the outline of your thumb and first finger which droops to the floor. While some guitars have necks that look like Louisville Sluggers, they're not baseball bats.

Positioning your thumb in this way takes off some of the pressure work your fingers would otherwise have to do so you'll be more nimble.

   With your thumb in the center of the back of the neck (and pointed towards the headstock), you'll also find that your left wrist is now parallel with the neck. Your fingers will also be parallel with the frets, which will make using your little finger much easier as it won't have to stretch nearly as much.

   Distance is time, meaning the further your fingers have to travel the longer it will take for you to finger the correct note. So, if your little finger is aligned with the fret, you're halfway there.

If you did this while sitting, you can adjust your guitar strap so the guitar is held in the same position when you stand.

   It might feel uncomfortable when you learn to play guitar positioned like this for the first time after years of improperly holding the guitar. Just relax and don't give up. Try to use this technique whenever you're practicing, using online guitar lessons, or up on the big stage.

Sounding good looks good...

   And as for looking cool...look at it this way...you may look more Steve Howe than Jimmy Page, but sounding bad never makes you look good.

I could go on, and on, and on, but space here is limited. Here's a great resource about how to play guitar that dives deeper into this and includes video examples. Now, go forth and make music!

Basic Guitar Chords

   One of the first challenges faced by the advancing guitar player is learning a core group of basic guitar chords. Why is it so important to learn these basic chords? Chords form the backbone of most rock and pop songs, and provide the harmonic accompaniment to the melody and instrumental solos.

   Rhythm guitar based on basic chords provides many of the most memorable rock riffs... think AC/DC's "Back in Black" or The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again". What's really amazing is that by learning no more than 10 to 15 basic guitar chords, you will be equipped to play thousands of rock and pop songs!

   First let's establish the definition of a chord. A chord is three or more different musical notes played together. In the case of the guitar, this means that at least three strings are strummed or plucked simultaneously to sound three or more notes. Since the guitar has six strings, the maximum numbers of notes in a guitar chord is six. All chords can be placed in one of three groups based on the musical structure of the chord: Major, Minor, or Seventh. Each of these chord groups has its own "sound" or "feel". Major chords sound stable and complete. Minor chords can evoke a more somber or pensive mood, and Seventh chords are jazzy and somewhat incomplete sounding.

   There is no standard list of "basic guitar chords" that every one agrees to. However, there is general agreement that there is a list of somewhere between 8 and 18 basic guitar chords (open string) that every guitarist must know cold. These chords are used in all musical styles from rock and pop to country, jazz, and classical. No matter where you are on your guitar-playing path, you should take the time to learn and master the basic chords. Getting these right will ensure you have the basic tools and skills to learn many songs and increase your playing enjoyment.

So what are the basic guitar chords? Our basic stable includes the major and minor chords from four common musical keys, A,G,C, and D. They are played as "open chords", that is at least one string in the chord is not fretted (pressed down with a finger). Open chords are easier to learn and play than more advanced chords such as Barre chords, or complex chords further up the guitar neck. Our list of basic major and minor chords is:

A Major (or A), A Minor (or Am), C, D, Dm, E, Em, F, G

   These chords can be best learned as chord "families" (by key) that can be combined into great-sounding chord sequences that make up lots of popular songs. Using this chord family approach is much more interesting and useful than just memorizing a bunch of chords in random order!

These chords grouped by chord family (key) are as follows:

A Family (Key of A): A, D, E

D Family (Key of D): D, Em, G, A

G Family (Key of G): G, Am, C, D, Em

C Family (Key of C): C, Dm, Em, F, G

 
Tips for Learning the Basic Chords:

1. Pick a Chord Family and master it. This will give you quick success and let you play great sounding progressions right away.
2. Use a Guitar Chord Chart as a reference tool. A chord chart shows each chord as an easy to read "chord diagram" with exact finger positions. See this example of a chart of basic guitar chords.

3. Find the chords and lyrics for an easy song that is based on the chord family so you can apply your skills. Many great songs are based on only three chords!

4. Ensure each string sounds right. Take care to make sure that each string is sounding clearly, and that only the strings that should be played are played.

5. Practice, practice, practice! Every day, practice continually change from one chord to another until you can do it rapidly. Learn the chord families one at a time.

6. Master all the basic chords first. Only then move on to Barre chords and other more complex chords. First things first!
7. Expand with 7th chords. As a next step you can easily expand on your basic chord knowledge by adding 7th and minor 7th chords based on the nine basic major and minor chords.

8. Have fun using your new skills! Enjoy your musical ability by applying it to learning a small set of 5-10 songs you know really well and can confidently play at any time.

Copyright 2005 Peter Bussey of http://www.guitar-players-toolbox.com
This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article and the resource box are included.