Mary asks…
k who knows about those rhythm machines u can play guitar to and stuff?
i play guitar and wud be more inspired if i had a beat in the background so i was gonna buy one.
but i dont know anything about them
(Boss Dr Rhythm DR-770 Drum Machine)<<—does it plug into a stereo or does it have one????
ConnieManuel answers:
I think you may want to first try computer software. It’s cheaper and generally easier to work with.
If you have a mac, try out GarageBand which comes with it.
Not only can you lay down drum tracks, but you can add other instruments as well. You can 1) record them via a line-in, 2) Record or compose them with midi, or 3) use pre-made loops that come with it.
For whipping up jam tracks, I love putting down some drum loops then making midi tracks on top of it for things like bass, keyboard/piano, chimes, etc.
If you use Windows, I can’t give you a recommendation offhand, but there is certainly a wide variety of software to try out.
Ruth asks…
Guitar! 10 poitns best answer!?
okay so im just learning guitar. but although i have a part-time job i need money for my car insurence and gas, and taking my girlfriend out on dates. soooo, with that being said, i have to use to brothers wal-mart boughten guitar to practice on which total sucks. I know how to read tabs, i dont know any cords. i dont know the strings “letters” as in EAGBE or w/e it is i know the thickest string is 6 and the smallest is 1 so i read guitar tabs that way. I know the tabs for the intro to “one” by metallica “sweet dreams” by manson and “enter sandman” by metallica. I am currently focused on “enter sandman” at the moment, and the only amp i can use for now is a karaoke machine. So i cant really distort the guitar. but is there any tips for now that would be of use? Like i know it goes open on 6th string 7th on 5th string 5th on 4 string then 6 on 6th string then 5 on 6th string then 7 on 5th string then repeat…any tips or help guys? thanks a bunch i use my tabs from ultimate guitar tabs.com and youtube haha
ConnieManuel answers:
Man, I’m not going to mellow it for you, so the biggest thing here is: practice, practice, practice. A cliche, perhaps, but it is true! You also need some music theory, most importantly: SCALES, basis of HARMONY (how to construct chords), RHYTHM (get a cheap metronome, play to a song, or jam with friends). And of course, you need to learn OPEN CHORDS (those whose fingerings lie in the first 4 frets of your guitar, the ones closest to the headstock). Research also about BARRE CHORDS.
It is good you start with tabs, but don’t just stay there. At the very least, try your earnest to learn the notes on the fretboard. You can start with the lowest, thickest string (E), and just burn each NATURAL NOTE in your mind. What is a natural note? It is simply the one represented by a letter, and just a letter (A, B, C, D, E, F and G). There are notes in between, but you should figure that out later.
For a head start, let me tell you where those notes are on the lowest E string:
E= open string (no fretting)
F= First fret (counting from the nut of your guitar towards the body)
G = Third fret
A = Fifth fret
B = Seventh fret
C = Eighth fret
D = Tenth fret
E = twelfth fret (yes, again it is an E, but an OCTAVE higher)
When you know those notes and their position by heart, go to the next string. Or try to learn notes by fret. When you get to SCALE FORMS, you’ll realize that these are often done throughout no more than 4 to 5 frets (up and down).
Oh, and remember something: when you get to the twelfth fret (usually has two dots embedded on the fretboard), the notes start all over again (all one octave higher), so you don’t have to learn that part of the fretboard.
Other basic skills also include the ability to TUNE your guitar. You can get an electronic tuner (it commonly has both an input for an electric guitar, and a mic for an acoustic guitar), or you can look up for ways to relatively tune the guitar to its lower string (the most usual technique).
Why should you learn scales and theory, you may ask? Well, as far as I’m concerned, it will create a difference between a mediocre guitarist that only knows tabs (and nothing else, thus being basically unable to write songs) and single notes and an excellent, versatile guitarist who can play all sorts of songs, create his own, enrich his music with different sounds.
OK, puff. I’ve written quite a few things here. What I want you to realize is that it takes time and dedication to learn. Just try not to practice with a boring scheme, and vary between theory (scales, chords, etc) and practice (mostly, songs you are learning). Maybe you can get a book with fingering and picking techniques too. It’s important that you polish your skills when fretting notes and chords, as well as when strumming with your right hand.
I agree also with watching videos online. They can teach you stuff, and keep you motivated. Also think about what you want to achieve in the short and long run. You could find it useful to think of some famous guitarist whom you respect and like, and think of getting as close as possible to his or her skills. Or picture yourself in a band, in gigs, even with a would-be CD you recorded in your hands. Whatever it takes to make you feel good about picking your instrument up every day.
Good luck. And just search the web. It has loads of info. I’d suggest lessons also, but that needs some budgeting.
P.S. If you don’t understand a term I’ve just mentioned, write it down, and search it online and read a bit about it. I tried to put most technicalities in upper caps for you to find easily.
Sharon asks…
developing good rhythm?
i play guitar and i can get the notes and im good enough to get by on my rhythm but its not good enough. and considering im focused on being a rhythm guitarist at the moment til i jump to the lead stuff what are some tips on develeping good rhythm.
ConnieManuel answers:
Practice with a metronome or a drum machine.
Sandy asks…
Electric guitar struming rhythm question?
alright iv been playing guitar on and off for a cople of years now i how to play chords,pick prity fast,learn songs etc. but i have heaps of trouble geting the timing right..it seems like im playing it right but wen i record myself it comes out ..ah not smooth.. not kinda flowing. any ideas?
ConnieManuel answers:
Buy a metronome it seems stupid but do it it ill give u a sense of timing.
Listen to lots of music and play along with the songs you are trying to learn.
Take lessons or go to youtube and look up stuff.
Tap your foot when your playing and thats the tempo your playing and it’s like your very own drum machine!! (or use metronome)
You have to feel the music don’t worry about it just play what feels right cuz everyone has rhythm but some people worry so much about playing stuff right that they forget about the rhythm.
David asks…
what are guitar riffs?
ConnieManuel answers:
Riffs are catchy parts played on the guitar in rock music, and often repeated in a song to create an interesting rhythmic element. One of the kings of riff playing is Jimmy Page of Led Zepplin. Also check out some of the amazing rhythm playing of Eddie Van Halen (yes, rhythm playing). Think of the guitar playing in “Funk #49″ by the James Gang. There are of course plenty of more modern bands doing riff playing, like Rage Against the Machine, Green Day, etc. But riff playing started in the late ’60s and early ’70s.
Ken asks…
I am interested in plugging some drum triggers into a drum machine. How do I go about this?
I am interested in plugging some drum triggers into my drum machine, a Boss Dr. Rhythm DR-3. How do I go about this?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Boss-Dr.-Rhythm-DR3?sku=700510
(My drum machine)
ConnieManuel answers:
Welcome to the world of drum triggering!
I think that you’ll find triggering is a great alternative to microphones as it’s cheaper (although there will be a small initial output) and a whole lot easier.
I wasn’t familiar with the model of drum machine that you use, so I checked it out on the link you provided. In order to use a drum machine as a trigger interface, the first thing that you need is input options. Typically, a module used for triggering will have at least five quarter inch inputs. They will use the same type of patch cables that guitar and bass players use to plug their instrument into an amp. The fist problem with your drum machine is that it only has one input, and it’s a MIDI rather than a quarter inch. This doesn’t make it unsuitable for use as a trigger interface, it just means that you’ll have to go through an extra step…but I’ll get to that later.
The first thing you’ll need is triggers. There are many different types on the market in different price ranges. In my opinion, the best are the Ddrum triggers. Check the following link for some different triggers at musiciansfriend.com: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/acoustic-drum-triggers-for-electronic-drum-machines?EC=4777&N=100001+304776
The Ddrum triggers are built to last including a metal casing that clamps on to the rim of the drum. When you clamp it on it isn’t going anywhere, no matter how hard you hit the drum. Check the link and browse a little bit and try to find what you think is best, given your budget.
Each of the triggers will have a quarter inch output that would typically go straight into the drum module, or drum machine. This is where you’ll have to go through an extra step. What you’ll need is a trigger to MIDI interface, such as this one from zzounds.com: http://www.zzounds.com/item–ROLTMC6
What this machine will do is take the information from the triggers (this one has six inputs, for six different drums) and combine it all and output it through a MIDI output that your drum machine can understand. Basically, it consolidates six quarter inch inputs into one MIDI output.
The signal flow works like this:
Run a quarter inch patch cable from each of up to six drums into the trigger to MIDI converter. Run a MIDI cable from the trigger to MIDI converter into you drum machine. Run two quarter inch patch cables from the stereo outs of your drum machine into two different inputs on a mixer or recording device.
There is one more thing worth mentioning…you will probably want to buy a different drum machine pretty soon. I noticed that your machine as a sequencer. Sequencers typically have sub-par sound quality and polyphony. This means that the sounds won’t we as realistic as they could. Also, it only has twelve notes of polyphony which should be enough for many applications, but if you play any fast snare drum rolls or fast tom/bass fills, then notes will start cutting each other off, which would be bad.
You should start looking for a dedicated sound module. (Not a hybrid sound module/sequencer). In fact, if you were to do this now, then you might save yourself some money in the long run. In my opinion, the best module for acoustic triggering is the Alesis DM Pro. Unfortunately it’s been discontinued, but you can find them pretty regularly on ebay for very reasonable prices. It has a multitude of drum sounds that are tunable, so you can find a drum that sounds close to yours and tune it to the same pitch.
I think I’ve given you enough information to make a good decision as to the route you should take.
Good luck, and happy drumming!
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