Samba music is very heterogeneous and it's intricate to define. It is the outcome of a long simmering mix of separate tradition from the portuguese songs, african rhythms, and the fast paced indian ceremony approaching worldwide influences. In the start it was played only with drums and other bass beat instruments, but later the acoustic guitar and the small brazilian guitar cavaquinho was added.
The basic movement involves a straight body and a bending of one knee at a time. The feet move very slightly - only a few inches at a time. The rhythm is 2/4, with 3 steps per measure. It can be thought of as a step-ball-change. It can be described calling it and-a-one, and-a-two, then back to one. The basic movement is the same to either side, where one foot moves to the outside lifting up just before the first beat, lifting on the "and-a" and replacing itself on the floor on the one beat (i. The right leg moves slightly to the right) and this leg is kept straight. The other foot moves slightly towards the front, and closer to the first foot.
The expression samba music is in brazil often associated with the carnival music in rio and to a small extent also sao paulo. There exist many variegated types of samba music rhythms and samba dances. Samba is on the whole a musical composition made with binary and syncopated rhythms. In addition to the basic samba rhythm, all categories of samba rhythms are usually mixed together.
Samba music is very diverse and it's difficult to define. It is the result of a long simmering mix of heritage from the portuguese songs, african rhythms, and the fast paced indian ceremony meeting global influences. In the beginning it was played only with drums and other bass beat instruments, but later the acoustic guitar and the small brazilian guitar cavaquinho was added. There exist many different types of samba rhythms and samba dances. Samba is on the whole a musical composition made with a syncopated and binary rhythm. In addition to this basic samba rhythm, all types of samba are put together. It is important to understand that what we in north america and europe call samba is often an umbrella-term that covers several different forms of samba like samba samba-reggae, afro, bloc, maracatu, baio etc. The phrase "samba" is in brazil often associated with the carnival in rio and to a lesser extent also sao paulo. Samba can be vigorous and harmonious at the same time. The oldest form of samba is partido alto.
Samba music is in 2/4 time (in two) with a high bass drum beat on the first beat, a lower foundation beat on the second beat, and highly syncopated rhythms played over the top. A bateria plays the rhythmical part, while melody instruments and singers play the tunes. The biggest and best known samba schools are located in the popular districts of rio de janeiro: imperatriz leopoldinense, mangueira, beija flor, portela, and viradouro. Samba can be performed by a single guitarist or a mob and there are a variety of. Or sub-styles. These include: batucada, maracatu, afoxè, samba reggae, forrè, pagode, samba de roda, samba cancao, and bossa nova. Samba is a way of life in brazil, and is gaining huge popularity throughout the world. The simple definition of batucada would be a percussion jam session, but that doesn't begin to describe the awesome power a tight ensemble is capable of producing. Percussion is the bare bones of samba, but the larger bateria (percussion group) ensembles within the samba schools make breathtakingly complex walls of sound.
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Saturday, May 23, 2009
Samba music is very heterogeneous
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Guitar chords
That are playable with only the basic chords you'll learn on this page. ""to make it easy for you to see the guitar chord fingering,i put the guitar chord pictures next to the charts. Finger the chords with the top of your fingers and look out you don't touch adjacent strings. A little bit about guitar chord names:. Chords are named according to letters going from a to g.
Guitar chords is a freeware windows software.
Guitar chords is a free software, with over 40000 basic and advance guitar chords. - any computer capable of running a current version of the microsoft windows operating system (windows 98 or 98 se, windows me, windows nt 4 (with service pack 5 or 6 installed), windows 2000 (with service pack 1 or 2 installed), windows xp, windows vista).
I am looking at making my own music some day, and for a person who is learning on his own and wading out into deeper waters it provides a nice sense of direction. Your classification of chords in terms of what they sound like and why they sound as they do is very helpful. Read more testimonials for guitar chords here. When you get your copy of guitar chords, you're getting more than just one publication — you're getting ongoing support to help you understand harmony and chords.
I am looking at making my own music some day, and for aperson who is learning on his own and wading out intodeeper waters it provides a nice sense of direction. Your classification of chords in terms of what theysound like and why they sound asthey do is very helpful. “so are the ‘when to use what'directions. Your stuff hasa practical focus, without being too long-winded ortheoretical. It provides practical, helpfulguidelines. “in the chapter popular chord progressionsthere. Is an amazingamount of rich information. Also, it was great ofyou to mention the links to other sites.
Guitar chords is to number the strings as before, but each string is represented by a vertical line. These vertical lines have several horizontal lines running across them, which denote the frets on your guitar. Again, an o means to play an open string, and an x means to omit the string when strumming. However, this method uses a solid circle to show which strings should be depressed, and where. It should be clear from the chord diagram which form of tablature is being used. Many times, the strings will be labeled e a d g b e. This will tell you whether the strings are notated vertically or horizontally. Click here to read the rest of the article at howtodothings.
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Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Your Personal Tone Generator

A guide to getting a sound and trouble shooting
A good sound starts from the fingers, through the pick-up to the guitar and out. If you don’t start there, you’re spinning in circles and end up with a transparent (fuzzy) sound without body and response. “Your fingers are your tone generators”. Not the amps or pedals. Those are tools to augment your expression. That’s what guitar lessons teach you, not teaching you a song without teaching you, and guiding you in technique.
And, if you learn a thing or two about trouble shooting “on the fly”, you’ll go down the line to find the problem with your rig. The same goes for finding your sound. When establishing your sound you start with your technique, through the pick-up on down to the amp. With trouble shooting on stage, you should start with the amp and go down the line back to you, which make’s sense. Since you’ve established your rig set up. As you’re trying to fix what was working, you back track.
This saves time and controls moods, besides the over all situation’s under control. Then, if and when you need to use a stage tech, you’ll have a template in which to explain what it is you require from the person “you” hire. There’s nothing more frustrating than hiring someone, that has no idea what it is you need or want. Imagine working for someone without a clue. A band leader who expects you to read his mind? Communication starts with a plan.
Good luck and sound good, where ever your muse takes you, find a clue.
Stay in touch for a more in depth study of the elusive art of tone. Whose tone is good? Someday maybe I’ll be able to dial in someone else’s tone and tell you for sure what the deal is!!! RIGHT……. It’s all subjective!
Peace, Mike Tafoya
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Thursday, May 7, 2009
5 Reasons to Learn Music Theory
If you thought music theory was a waste of time and not necessary to further your musical goals, then read these following 5 reasons why this is not true.
1.Read sheet music: Being able to play from any piece of sheet music. Well it may be hard to play BUT you can read it!
2.Be able to transpose: Say you are playing a piece from the sheet music you can now read but you think it sounds too high or too low, or just not right. Well now you can move it into a new key and play at a better singing.
3.Be able to modulate: You will be able to, with a few quick moves of the fingers, move your music into a new key with a succession of notes so pleasing to the ear it will bring a smile to your listeners faces.
4.It will increase your skill in improvising: Enough said.
5.Knowing music theory will help you recreate the sounds you enjoy in your favorite songs. Those fabulous chord progressions. The parts that give a song that certain sound. Gospel, Contemporary etc.
To learn music theory you don’t have to become a scholar on the subject. Just at least learn the basics. Getting a good music theory book and spending a few minutes a day reading from it and doing any included exercises can jump start your music playing.
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Monday, May 4, 2009
Important Tips on Piano Lessons
Music is a very important part of our lives. Not much more than our ears, please - is an integral part of human development.
Several years ago, there was an experiment conducted by scientists at the University of California at Irvine in 1993. (published in Nature) had college students listen to Mozart Sonata for two Pianos in D Major, a relaxation tape or silence. Immediately following these sessions, students took a test of spatial reasoning (the ability to put puzzles) and student performance improved dramatically after listening. The reason is because music and spatial abilities share the same pathways in the brain.
Another experiment was carried out subsequently by researchers at the Appalachian State University and the researchers were successful and the connection of music to promote the "brain power".
Giving pre-school children (ages 3-4 years. Antiguos) training for 8 months. The children were divided into 4 groups: keyboard lessons, singing lessons, computer classes and no experience. After 8 months of this treatment, children were tested on their ability to put together puzzles (spatial-temporal reasoning) and recognize shapes (spatial reasoning recognition) and the results were amazing! They realized that only children who had taken the keyboard has the experience improvement in spatial-temporal test. (Children do not yet show any change in spatial recognition.)
Another interesting observation I made is the connection between the medical profession and the profession of music - a vast majority of MD's are classically trained musicians! I found a lot and have asked them the same question - how to make the connection between the doctor and the music - and the response I've had is that they are very complicated and require a little focus and mathematical thinking in many directions than once. Is achieved by many years of training in either and / or in both fields, for the same reason - to enhance each other. So for them - the similarity in brain function and focus is clear and useful for physicians and musicals. It will be interesting to see the results of further study in this area. Currently, there is no conclusive scientific proof of the relationship between doctor and Musical.
Now - 5 Tips for piano lessons!
1) Interest:
Evaluate your child's interest. Is this something she likes - or is your dream? The child must show genuine interest in music and a keyboard to their learning experience to be a pleasant and successful. If they are not interested - you wonder why even be pursued? Is it because you have an inner desire that? It is never too late to start! Subscribe to piano lessons for yourself, if that is the case. I have students of all ages - some played when they were children then quit. Since you are older, and only regret that promised a new day of selection. Then there are others who always had the desire but not the opportunity and are now retired with time on their hands. They have become a piano virtuoso! I give you these examples to give you beautiful hope and a push - psssst! It is never too late! The student must be genuinely interested.
2) Instrument:
It's good to start piano lessons at an electronic keyboard. Over time, the student knows in which direction they would like to take the piano lessons. If only for personal enjoyment, it's good to stay with a keyboard.
If training for classical piano - then the student should be changed to an acoustic piano. In my experience as a piano teacher, I realized that a spinet piano (those with low back), unless it is given as a gift, should not be purchased. It would be better to buy a "Vertical", which is a Baby Grand Piano, but instead of the strings are horizontal to vertical. The reason is that the action of the keys is technically much better for the student by the hand and is substantially better sound to the ear.
3) Teacher:
Questions and get feedback from others about their teachers. Check the background of the teacher. Where does education, how long they have been teaching, where to teach, what are your surroundings like? Ask students how current teachers are patient and how they feel during the lesson. You must have a very good idea about how to master the current students are progressing. The master of the mix with your child's personality. Remember, this is a choice! At school children have to adapt to the teacher has been assigned to them, and that is good. They learn to get along with different personalities, but a piano is the extra-curricular activity and be nice to look forward.
4) Schedule:
Children can be easily surpassed by far in their calendar. As adults - we have experienced ourselves and the overhead is so counterproductive! It is highly advisable to limit the activities so that children not be pulled in too many directions.
Once the activities have been chosen, I found my own children and students to write a daily schedule, everything is done and there is no excuse to forget to practice.
5) Dedication:
Once a program is in place, practice the piano will become part of the daily routine. After awhile, the student will not be so "concerned" about time, but they want to achieve the objectives set by the teacher. The student needs time for the ship to go to the mechanics of music. Encourage them to listen to a wide range of styles and gender to develop their own taste in music. At an early stage, can be embedded in a dedicated student to participate in recitals, talent shows and Worship Services. It takes diligence and commitment - even to sacrifice a beautiful piano craftsmanship.
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