Friday, May 18, 2012

Faith Hill Songs Are My Guilty Pleasure

I am a big Faith Hill fan, and when I say that Faith Hill songs are my guilty pleasure, I mean it in the nicest way. If I were a woman or girl and said that I really enjoy Faith Hill songs, that would be one thing. The reason I describe them as a "guilty pleasure" is because I am a rather burly man who works as a probation officer and wrestled in high school. It is not something that I would freely admit to most people, but if I am being honest, I am really a big fan!

Growing up in Texas, I have been exposed to a lot of country music, and it is not at all uncommon to hear Faith Hill songs on the radio. Before I knew who she was, I liked the way she sang and would often find myself singing along with her songs. Then I saw her picture, and realized how beautiful she was, and I was hooked even more. I distinctly remember in high school when we still used CD players, I would have all of the socially acceptable CDs in my field house locker and then in the back would have my Faith Hill CDs.

I am not sure what it is exactly about her music. Maybe it is the way that she sings or the way that her songs seem to be filled with so much meaning, but I have always been a fan. I remember in my own family, who I am not ashamed to admit anything to, I would always ask for the latest Faith Hill CD when it came out and, while I certainly loved a number of other songs, mainly from the heavy metal and hip-hop genres, I also listed to Faith Hill songs on a regular basis.

On one occasion, me and several of my friends were sitting around discussing guilty pleasures. I had one friend tell me that he owned the movie "Spice World" and would watch it on occasion with his little sister, and I had another friend tell me that he had asked for an Easy Bake Oven one year for Christmas, got it, and baked cookies for his entire family. I thought for sure admitting to being a fan of Faith Hill songs would be acceptable, so I decided to share. I guess I should have kept my mouth shut, because I was derided pretty hard.

The fact of the matter is, however, I don't care. I love Faith Hill songs and always will. It is a proud part of my personal music collection and I have a number of her songs on my iPod. I love her music, and I don't care who knows it!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Guitar Beginners

If you are beginning to learn your first musical instrument, things can be pretty tough. There are millions of guitar beginners out there probably, but few of them actually gets to the point where they can play competently. For every five guitar beginners, only one gets the point where they can comfortably play in front of a group of people. Why is this? The hardest part in learning a musical instrument is when you are just starting.

Being a guitar beginner, you don't have very much invested in it so far. All you have bought is a beginning guitar, a couple guitar books, and maybe a few lessons. Because it is something that you have never done before, it is easy to get discouraged. Nevertheless, persevere guitar beginners! The rewards of playing this exciting and dynamic instruments are too numerous to mention.

I never realized how many obstacles guitar beginners faced until I started taking beginning guitar lessons.  You see, I first began to learn the guitar when I was five years old. I don't really remember what it was like to be an acoustic guitar beginner.

When I started playing, I was using a good guitar. Many guitar beginners buy starter level guitars that cost between $50 and $150 dollars, but I think this is a mistake. The better the instrument, the more likely you are to succeed with it. You will like the way it sounds, like the way it feels, and like the way it looks. It will make it easier for you to sit down and practice every day, and you will get better more quickly. Although guitar beginners risk something by buying a nice guitar, I think it is really worth it. Who knows how far a good instrument will take you!

Of course, the guitar tabs beginners use are an important part of learning to play the guitar. Even if you are taking beginners guitar lessons, playing songs from bands that you like is a good way to go. There are so many simple rock 'n roll songs that, almost from the beginning, you will be able to pick out one or two. This gives guitar beginners confidence, seeing that they can already play some of their favorite tunes. Even if you can't play them well at first, keep at it. Within a few weeks, you should be able to manage some of the more basic rhythm guitarist classics. After that, the sky is the limit!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

The Difference Between a Piano Keyboard and a Midi Keyboard

If you really love to play music, you’ve probably dabbled with a piano keyboard at some point, and if you really love to compose music, then maybe you’ve considered experimenting with a midi keyboard. Of course, playing and composing music aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive interests, and many musicians enjoy both aspects. However, it’s important to understand the difference between piano keyboards and midi keyboards so that you can get the most out of using both devices. While they may look similar, a piano keyboard and a midi keyboard actually serve quite different functions that will make use of different skills.

A piano keyboard is very much like having an actual piano at your disposal. You can play it the same way you’d play a grand piano, though the number of keys on a piano keyboard can be less depending on the price. But a piano keyboard is electronically enhanced, and therefore you can have many other instruments at your disposal as well. You can produce the sound of many other instruments by simply playing the keyboard. Many piano keyboards also come with automated chords and beats so that you can create a full-scale song. However, the limitation of a piano keyboard is that often you can’t record what you’re playing. The piano keyboard is good for a recreational music session, but not for a recording session.

A midi keyboard isn’t so much a keyboard as it is a controller. The midi keyboard does function like an instrument in that you can play it like the piano, but rather than playing the midi keyboard itself, you are inputting representations of notes. Midi keyboards are used in conjunction with a computer program to be the most effective. You can record what you input and use it to compose a song by putting together the different sounds and melodies you record. A midi keyboard is ideal for song composing, but not as ideal as a piano keyboard for recreational play.

So if you’re just looking to jam, then a piano keyboard is more suitable to your needs. If you’re looking to create and file compositions, then a midi keyboard is the better choice. Still, sometimes the functions of both devices can overlap—for example, jamming on a piano keyboard might give you some ideas for writing a song, and midi keyboards can be used in performance in a concert. It’s really up to your needs as a musician and where your creativity takes you.