Building Guitar Scales

Guitar scales are important "tools" musicians use to understand chords, increase speed, develop a good ear, play licks and riffs, transpose keys, improvise, and play lead guitar. As you can see, scales are pretty important and they can help you gain a better understanding of your instrument!

There are many different types of guitar scales...

... but this lesson will focus on the C Major Scale, which is foundational to an understanding of music in general.

Like the A Minor Scale in the previous lesson, C Major uses NATURAL notes (tones). The difference being that you will now start on the letter C (instead of A) and move up alphabetically until you again reach the letter C. But before you begin, let me explain a few more things about guitar scales and how they work.

There are 8 degrees (or tones) in a Major Scale:

C D E F G A B C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Notice that the letter name of the 8th degree is C, the same letter name as the 1st degree. The 8th degree of a scale is called an OCTAVE, which simply means eight. The 1st degree is called the ROOT or TONIC and it establishes the Key Note (name) of the scale. The distance from one tone to the next is called an INTERVAL.

Major scales always follow a consistant pattern of whole steps and half-steps. Here is the pattern of a Major Scale:

W W 1/2 W W W 1/2

You can see this pattern clearly on the guitar when you play the scale up the neck using only one string.

E|--------------------------------------------
B|--1----3----5--6----8----10----12--13------
G|--------------------------------------------
D|--------------------------------------------
A|--------------------------------------------
E|--------------------------------------------

Using your first finger, play the C MAJOR SCALE by following the tablature and moving up the neck along the 2nd string. Notice the series of WHOLE STEPS AND HALF-STEPS as you move up the neck toward the 13th fret. If you play it correctly you will hear the familiar sound:

Do Re Me Fa So La Ti Do

Remember to use just your first finger as you move along the string up to the 13th fret.

Now play the scale in FIRST POSITION. Remember that "first position" means you will only play notes within the first 4 frets of the guitar. Begin at the ROOT and ascend to the OCTAVE, moving across the strings. It will be harder to see the whole steps and half-steps, but it"s still very easy to do.

Now, starting at the Octave, go down the scale until you reach the Root.

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From the C Major scale we can make a C Major chord.

Major chords have a positive, happy sound when compared to the sad or dramatic sound of minor chords.

An easy way to practice the C Major chord is to start on Am, then move to C and back to Am again. Notice on the chord grids below how the 1st and 2nd fingers are on the same frets and strings for both chords!

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EXERCISE:

1. Strum Am.

2. Stretch your 3rd finger over to the 5th string on the 3rd fret. Do not move your other fingers!

3. Strum C.

4. Move your 3rd finger back to the 3rd string on the 2nd fret.

5. Strum Am.

Once you feel comfortable moving from Am to C, add the Em chord to the sequence. Try the following chord progression:

ECONOMY OF MOTION- Be sure to leave your 2nd finger down when you move from one chord to the next!

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LESSON OBJECTIVE:

1. To learn how to build guitar scales by starting with and memorizing the C Major Scale.

2. Memorize the pattern of whole steps and half-steps needed to make a Major Scale.

3. Be able to associate and play each chord with the correct fingering on the fretboard.

PRACTICE:

1. Play the C Major Scale Ascending. Strum the C Major Chord. Play the C Major Scale Descending. Strum the C Major Chord again.

2. Practice the chord progressions given in this lesson until you are able to change from one chord to the next easily.

3. Review previous lessons if necessary.

Well, that sums it up for this lesson about Guitar Scales. Continue to practice the A Minor scale given in lesson 4 along with the C Major scale. They will help you will become very familiar with where the natural notes in first position are on your guitar.

The Importance of Rhythm

This lesson will cover the importance of rhythm. You don't need to read music to be able to play the guitar, but having an understanding of note values can be very helpful.

There have been several occasions when I've acquired a new student who expressed trouble keeping a regular steady beat even after playing guitar for several years. In order to do this a person needs to understand how to count or feel the beats within a measured length of time. That is the essence of rhythm.

In this lesson you will learn about note values and how to count them while playing an A minor scale.

Notes and rests are common symbols used to describe a duration of time in music. The time is measured with beats. This is how the rhythm is established.

At some point in your life you have probably experienced tapping your foot to a song you were listening to. Without realizing it, you were feeling the pulse and keeping time with the rhythm by counting beats! One important thing to be aware of is the fact that

music is primarily an intuitive process and preceeds the WRITTEN form.

Someone creates a piece of music from within themselves and later puts it down on paper as a way of remembering or sharing it with others. You want to develop this ability to FEEL the rhythm of the music intuitively within yourself.

However, understanding some of the symbols within the written form can help you to achieve a good sense of ryhthm.

Each of the following note symbols has a name related to the number of beats it receives:

Whole Note - receives 4 beats. Half Note - receives 2 beats. Quarter Note - receives 1 beat. Eighth Note - receives 1/2 a beat.

The notes are placed on five horizontal lines called a staff. Two vertical bar lines define the space in between known as a measure.

As you can see, the example above uses quarter notes. Count each one individually, just as if you were counting four coins: 1 2 3 4.

Because we are using four beats to a measure we can replace the quarter notes with either two half-notes or one whole note.

Continuing with our analogy of money, a half-note is similar to a half-dollar, and a whole note is similar to a one dollar bill. In other words.

4 quarters = 4 beats
2 halves = 4 beats
1 whole = 4 beats

It all adds up the same!

Today, most guitar music is accompanied by tablature. This is a method which uses numbers and letters instead of notes to indicate how the music is played.

Tablature is an easy way for most students to learn how to play the guitar. I use it very often myself. Unfortunately, tablature doesn't always include the rhythm structure of the song. This means you won't be able to play the piece correctly unless you have heard it or someone shows you the rhythm.

The best way for learning a song in written form is by using a combination of the two. Tablature that includes standard notation will also enable you to learn the rhythm if you know how to interpret the note values and count the beats!

Below is an example of tablature and notation combined. The notes above are written on the five lines of a staff indicating the rhythm. There are four quarter notes in each measure, so be sure to count 1 2 3 4 in all four measures.

The six lines of the tablature represent the six strings of the guitar. The bottom line equals the low sixth string, the top line equals the first string.

The numbers on the lines represent the fret you will play. Use the 1st finger when playing the first fret, 2nd finger, second fret, 3rd finger, third fret, and 4th finger, fourth fret.

PLAY THE TABLATURE EXERCISE:

1. Start by playing the open A (5th string). The next note to play is B on the second fret, then C on the third fret. All three notes (A, B, C) are on the same string.

2. Continue up to the open D on the 4th string, playing each fret indicated, then go to the 3rd string.

3. Play the open G and then A on the second fret. Now go back down, reversing the order.

This is the Musical Alphabet A B C D E F G A, which is also an A minor scale. Notice as the notes go up on the staff you are also moving forward in the alphabet as well as higher in sound. Likewise, as the notes go down the staff you are moving backward in the alphabet and lower in sound.

From this scale we can make an A Minor Chord. A chord is simply a combination of 3 or more tones (or notes) played simultaneously. All chords are built from scales.

The numbers on the chord grid in between the staff and the tablature represent your fingers. This tells you what fingers to use to make an A minor chord.

The whole notes on the staff above tell you to strum the chord once, then count to four while sustaining the sound.

The tablature beneath shows the frets your fingers should be on. Any letter from the Musical Alphabet with a small m next to it represents a MINOR CHORD.

Play the A minor scale again, this time adding the A minor chord at the end. Count a rhythm of 4 beats per measure. Strum the A minor chord one time and let the sound continue as you count the 4 beats of a whole note.

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Another chord that is easy to play and also works nicely with Am, is Em.

Notice how the 2nd finger is on the fourth string for each chord.

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EXERCISE:
1. Strum Am.

2. While keeping your 2nd finger down, move to Em and strum the chord.

3. Move back to Am and strum the chord while keeping your 2nd finger down.

IMPORTANT:

Keeping your 2nd finger down while practicing this rhythm exercise will help you to remember the chord shapes. You will also be applying a principle known among guitarists as "economy of motion". In other words, less is more! You don't want to slow yourself down with unnecessary motion.

LESSON OBJECTIVE:

To understand how to count a common 4 beat rhythm using the tablature, chord grids and basic note values described in this lesson. To learn the A minor scale along with the Am and Em chords.

PRACTICE:

Play the A minor scale forward and back everyday, using whole notes, half-notes and quarter notes.

Play the chord exercise after the scale. In a short time you should begin to feel comfortable with the fingering. Memorize where each letter of the scale is as you play.

NOTE VALUES - For more rhythm practice, play through this entire page of note values. When you are playing eighth and sixteenth notes, use an alternating down-up strum for each note.

Tuning the Guitar

Tuning the guitar is easy once you understand how the fretboard works. But, even if you don't have a clue about the fretboard, it's still a very simple process.

Today there are many electronic and digital devices available to help you with tuning your guitar. I use the Korg TM-40 because it has both a tuner and a metronome. It comes in handy when I’m teaching and I also like to use the metronome during my own practice sessions. It can also be a great asset to have when playing with a group of other musicians because it makes tuning up a breeze. So you might want to consider adding one to your gig bag.

The method I'm going to show you today, however, will teach you how to LISTEN to the tones of your guitar. This is an important area to develop if you wish to become a better musician.

To begin with let's review some guitar basics. Remember that the strings are identified like this:

LETTER> E A D G B E
STRING> 6 5 4 3 2 1

These letters represent the natural open tones (sound) of each string and they move forward alphabetically as you ascend (move up) the neck. Each letter is the distance of one whole step from the other except B/C and E/F. These two pairs are always a half-step apart (see lesson on Introducing The Fretboard for further review).

Let's look at the fifth and sixth string as an example:

open|-1-|-2-|-3-|-4-|-5-|
5 = A|---|-B-|-C-|---|-D-|
6 = E|-F-|---|-G-|---|-A-|

Notice that when you arrive on the fifth fret you are on the letter A. This is the same tone as the open A on the fifth string! When you compare the sound of both tones on each string, they should sound the same.

With this in mind, let's get started tuning the guitar!

TUNING TABLATURE

1. Press down and strike the A on the sixth string at the fifth fret.

2. Next, strike the open A on the fifth string.

3. Slowly adjust the fifth string until it matches the sound of the fretted A on the sixth string.

4. Now move to the fifth sting and again press down at the fifth fret. This is D and should sound the same as the open D on the fourth string. Compare and adjust as needed.

5. Move to the fourth string, press down G at the fifth fret. Follow the same proceedure and compare with the open G on the third string.

6. When you arrive at the third string you must move to the FOURTH FRET. This is B (third string, fourth fret). Press down and compare with the open B on the second string. You're almost done!

7. Move back to the FIFTH FRET on the second string. You are now playing an E. Compare this tone with the open E on the first string.

Wah-Lah! You have successfully learned the secret of tuning the guitar by ear!

LESSON OBJECTIVE: To become familiar with tuning the guitar using the method given in this lesson.

PRACTICE: Use this method to help develop your ability to hear the correct pitch of each tone. If you have an electronic or digital tuner, you can use that to check how accurate you are when you've finished. If you continue using this method you should notice an overall improvement in your ability to hear correct pitch after a relatively short tme!

FOR MORE HELP:

LISTEN TO THE SOUND - Does it blend? It should sound like you're hearing the same tone twice even though you're hitting two different strings. If the tones don't sound the same you will adjust the FIFTH STRING by either raisiing or lowering the pitch with the tuning key at the head of the guitar. It is always safer to begin by LOWERING the pitch so that you don't accidently break a string!

TIP: If you have difficulty hearing the correct pitch when tuning the guitar by ear, then you shouldn't be without a guitar tuner. It will make tuning up a lot easier and faster when you're with other musicians too! Below is a graphic of the tuner that I got online at zzounds.com

Korg TM Metro/Tuner

How to Read Guitar Tab

Learning how to read guitar tab is probably one of quickest and easiest ways to start playing the guitar.

I use tablature to introduce music fundamentals to my students who haven't yet learned how to read notation. This gives them a starting point and provides a way for me to communicate and write out their lesson plans.

Here is a simple explanation of how tab works:

If we take the six strings of a guitar and write them

down on paper they will look like this:

E:-------------------- > FIRST STRING
B:-------------------- > SECOND STRING
G:-------------------- > THIRD STRING
D:-------------------- > FOURTH STRING
A:-------------------- > FIFTH STRING
E:-------------------- > SIXTH STRING

Numbers placed on a string indicate which FRET you

will play.

0 = OPEN
1 = 1ST FRET
2 = 2ND FRET
3 = 3RD FRET

(etc.)

Try playing the following tab exercise:

E:|----------------------------------------
B:|----------------------------------------
G:|-------------------------------0---2----
D:|---------------0--------2---3-----------
A:|----0---2---3---------------------------
E:|----------------------------------------

When you are in first position you will use your first finger to play the notes on the first fret, second finger/second fret, third finger/third fret, and so on. Your fingers will correspond with the same number as the fret you are on when you are in first position.

If you shift your hand so that your first finger is playing the notes on the second fret, second finger/third fret, third finger/fourth fret, etc. then you are in second position. Your position on the guitar is always determined by your first finger.

If you play the excercise correctly you will have an A Minor Scale:

A B C D E F G A

LESSON OBJECTIVE:

To learn how to read and use guitar tab to play songs.

PRACTICE:

1. Use what you've learned in this lesson to play these two easy songs

2. Try playing more songs with guitar tab.

LEARN MORE:

Here is some more information to help you understand guitar tablature

"WALK-UP" THE GUITAR FRETBOARD

Assuming that you are right handed, the fingers of your left hand will be used to press the strings down on the guitar fretboard. Your right hand will be used to strum or pick the strings. The fingers of your left hand are numbered like this:

1 = first finger
2 = second finger
3 = third finger
4 = fourth finger

When playing notes on the guitar in FIRST POSITION:

Your FIRST FINGER plays the notes on the Fretboard between the First Fret and the Nut.

Your SECOND FINGER plays the notes between the First Fret and the Second Fret

THIRD FINGER/THIRD FRET

FOURTH FINGER/FOURTH FRET.

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EXERCISE:

1. Strike the first string with the thumb of your right hand. This is the OPEN E string.

2. Now place the first finger of your left hand on the first string behind the first fret. Press down. Strike the string again with the thumb of your right hand.

3. Next, move to the second fret with your second finger and repeat the process. Continue moving up the first string until you have used all four fingers.

4. After you’ve reached the fourth fret, move to the second string and repeat the exercise. Practice this on each string.

E = 0 |1----|2----|3----|4----
B = 0 |1----|2----|3----|4----
G = 0 |1----|2----|3----|4----
D = 0 |1----|2----|3----|4----
A = 0 |1----|2----|3----|4----
E = 0 |1----|2----|3----|4----

I call this the Walk-Up Exercise and it’s a great way to build strength and coordination skills. It will also help develop the necessary calluses for the fingers of your left hand. In musical terms this exercise is referred to as a CHROMATIC SCALE, which is just another way of saying HALF-STEPS! You should practice it slowly everyday trying to get a clear sound from each fretted note. Be sure to keep the first knuckle (the one closest to the nail of each finger) bent. Push directly down on the string, being careful not to bend it. Your fingernails should be short enough to allow you to push the strings down without interfering.

LESSON OBJECTIVE:

1. Know the difference between half-steps and whole steps on the guitar fretboard.

2. Memorize where half-steps and whole steps occur in the MUSICAL ALPHABET.

3. Use the Chromatic Scale to develop left and right hand coordination skills, finger calluses, and strength.

PRACTICE:

1. Play the Walk Up Exercises on the guitar fretboard everyday. Go Forward and backward. Focus on clarity of tone (sound) with an even tempo (speed).

2. Play through these Speed and Coordination Exercises for extra practice.

LEARN MORE... Test Your Fretboard Knowledge Here

Introducing the Guitar Fretboard

"Learn the entire neck of the guitar, play any chord and any scale!"

Introducing..

The guitar fretboard, or neck, is divided by metal strips called frets. The NUT, is the white plastic strip found at the base of the headstock. The metal strip that is located on the neck just above the NUT, is the FIRST FRET, next is the SECOND FRET, then THIRD, etc... as seen below:

NUT>|-1st-fret->|-2nd-fret->|-3rd-fret->|-4th-fret->|etc...

This pattern continues as you move UP the neck toward the BODY of the guitar. The distance from one fret to the next is a HALF-STEP. When you start on an open note of any string and move UP the neck one fret at a time you will notice the sound of the string getting higher. Likewise, when you move DOWN the neck toward the HEAD of the guitar the sound gets lower. It is important for you to realize that you are moving FORWARD on the guitar fretboard both numerically and alphabetically as the sound gets higher and BACKWARD in the same manner as the sound gets lower.

Let's look at the fifth string (open A) as an example:

FRET -----0-|-1-|-2-|-3-|-4-|-5-|-6-|-7-|-8-|-9-|-10|-
STRING---A-|---|-B-|-C-|---|-D-|---|-E-|-F-|---|-G--|-

As you can also see from the example above, when you move from the open A on the 5th string to B on the 2nd fret, you must SKIP ONE FRET. This distance is referred to as a WHOLE STEP. If you continue up the 5th string you will notice the distance between each letter of the MUSICAL ALPHABET is a whole step EXCEPT:

B|C and E|F

In music these tones, B|C and E|F, are always a HALF-STEP apart. All the other letters are a WHOLE STEP apart.

In the previous lesson you learned that the letters of the MUSICAL ALPHABET are:

A B C D E F G

These letters represent NATURAL tones and correspond to the WHITE keys on a piano.

The frets in between the NATURAL tones relate to the BLACK keys on the piano and are known as SHARPS (#) or FLATS (b).

Whenever a NATURAL tone is raised a half-step it becomes a SHARP tone.

Whenver a NATURAL tone is lowered a half-step it becomes a FLAT tone.

If you begin with the open A on the 5th string for example, and move up the guitar fretboard to the 1st fret you have raised the A NATURAL to an A Sharp.

If you begin with B on the 2nd fret and move down to the 1st fret you have lowered the B NATURAL to Bb.

--0-|--1st--|2nd|
--A-|A#-Bb|-B-|

Now you may be wondering what on earth all this has to do with playing the guitar. Well, NATURALS, SHARPS, and FLATS, are a fundamental part of all music. Knowing how they apply to the guitar fretboard will enhance your understanding of scales, chord structure, reading standard notation, & playing lead guitar.

Choww..

How the Guitar Strings are Identified

Knowing how the guitar strings are identified is foundational to everything else you will learn on the guitar. You will find this first lesson to be very easy and straight-forward, but don't overlook it's importance! With that said, lets begin!

Did you know that you already understand something about playing the guitar? That’s right! Seven simple letters:

A B C D E F G

These seven letters make up the MUSICAL ALPHABET and with them you will learn:

How the Strings are Identified

How the Fretboard Works

How to Read Music

How to Play Chords

It's as simple as ABC!

It's a good idea to become familiar with the various parts of a guitar before we go any further. Take a minute or so right now to examine the graphics below.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR

Here is another graphic showing the parts of an electric guitar.

ELECTRIC GUITAR

The basic guitar is equipped with six strings. They are numbered in order from the highest sounding (first), down to the lowest sounding (sixth).

1 = First (high)
2 = Second
3 = Third
4 = Fourth
5 = Fifth
6 = Sixth (low)

Each one is also identified with a letter from the Musical Alphabet:

1 = E
2 = B
3 = G
4 = D
5 = A
6 = E

Here is a simple acrostic which I have my students use to help them memorize the letters associated with each string. Start from the sixth and move up to the first.

--------------------------------------------------1 = Ears--------
------------------------------------------2 = Big------------------
----------------------------------3 = Grow------------------------
--------------------------4 = Dogs--------------------------------
------------------5 = And-----------------------------------------
----------6 = Elephants-------------------------------------------

They are referred to as OPEN tones when played in this manner.

LESSON OBJECTIVE: To memorize the letters and numbers associated with each string.

PRACTICE: Play the open by starting on the sixth string and moving to the first. Say the acrostic out loud as you hear the sound of each tone. Then repeat the process saying just the first letter of each word in the acrostic. After you have memorized the letters associated with each tone in this order, try saying them in reverse by starting on the first and moving back to the sixth.

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

Click here to learn about the different types of guitars and how to hold one.

I hope you enjoyed your first lesson on how to identify the guitar strings. Now you're on your way to learning how to play the guitar!

But you can speed up the entire process and...

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Learn To Play The Guitar in 30 Days...
Click Here Now

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(you'll receive more learning material, including audio and visual aids.)

Or...

Go to the next guitar lesson: INTRODUCING THE FRETBOARD

How To Reduce Feedback

If you've performed live on stage or even a casual jam with your friends at band practice -- one of the most annoying things guitarists have is a thing called FEEDBACK!

If you don't know what feedback is -- it's that terrible high pitched sound that comes from speakers.

It usually happens when you place your microphone too close to the speaker or play your guitar directly in front of the amplifier.

Not only does this damage your ears, but it puts your audience off when they come to hear you play!

Now I'm not an expert on the dynamics of feedback. But I have performed on stage many times and have learnt a few tricks to avoid feedback from occurring...

The first step is to turn down your treble on your amplifier. Too much treble invites feedback so don't have too much treble in your amplifier settings.

The second step is to turn the volume on your guitar up only 3/4. Don't turn your volume up full as this is invites huge feedback! Always leave a little room on your volume, so don't turn it up all the way. Only 3/4 and I guarantee you will reduce feedback at least 80% with this trick.

One other trick is to turn down the gain or distortion on your amp. When you play softly, you can turn your gain or distortion full. But when you start playing with some serious volume, turn your gain only 50%.

You will still get the same sound and distortion, but this is the trick to avoiding feedback from occurring when you play loudly.

Written by ELMORE MUSIC

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Learn the Acoustic or Electric Guitar in 30 days! Highly recommended!

Check out: http://www.guitartips.com.au
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STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN

The Story Behind the Song
By Kathy Unruh

Learn how to play Stairway to Heaven

Stairway to Heaven was the song that everyone wanted to learn when I first started playing the guitar. It was the one song that could define you as a good guitarist among your peers.

Stairway to Heaven was written by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. They began recording in 1970 and the project was slowly brought to completion one year later in 1971 (after the lyrics were added.) Here are some interesting facts about Stairway to Heaven...

• It was performed by Led Zeppelin for the very first time in conjunction with the first concert they gave in Northern Ireland at Belfast's Ulster Hall.

• It is cited as the most played song on FM radio stations in the United States, despite never being released as a single there.

• Stairway to Heaven is one of the most well-known popular songs in rock and roll history, despite the fact that it was never released as a single.

• It is the biggest-selling single piece of sheet music clocking up an average of 15,000 copies yearly.

• It is considered by many to be one of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time.

• The opening chord progression in Stairway to Heaven is nearly identical to the 1968 instrumental "Taurus" by the group Spirit.

Some critics have accused Led Zeppelin of recording a hidden Satanic message in Stairway To Heaven that can be heard when it's played backward. The band has ignored such claims for the most part. Singer/composer Robert Plant replied to a question on this subject by saying:

"To me it's very sad, because 'Stairway To Heaven' was written with every best intention, and as far as reversing tapes and putting messages on the end, that's not my idea of making music."

Swan Song Records also issued the following statement at the time which said:

"Our turntables only play in one direction—forwards."

I personally don't believe there is anything sinister at all about the song Stairway to Heaven. The words are really quite thought provoking. It begins with words about living a life that is only satisfied with material things...

"There's a lady is sure,
all that glitters is gold,
and she's buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows,
if the stores are all closed,
with a word she can get what she came for."

As the song progresses it becomes more reflective and even somewhat spiritual...

"Your head is hummin' and it won't go, in case you don't know,
the piper's calling you to join him.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run,
there's still time to change the road you're on."

I guess everyone must decide for themselves how they feel about this song. As a guitar teacher, I definitley think it's worth learning because it is a true rock and roll classic.

If you're just beginning to learn guitar, you might find Stairway to Heaven a bit of a challenge to play, but it's not impossible. Those of you who have been playing for awhile shouldn't have any problem. Of course, if your in a band, then this song is a must to know as it is a great crowd pleaser. You will definitely gain recognition and a good response if you can play it well.

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Kathy Unruh is a singer/songwriter and webmaster of ABC Learn Guitar. She has been writing songs and providing guitar lessons to students of all ages for over 25 years.

For free guitar lessons, plus tips and resources on songwriting, recording and creating a music career, please visit: http://www.abclearnguitar.com

Music Promotion

Four Online Promotional Steps
Every Band Needs To Implement

By Lance Trebesch

Today’s artists have a wide range of possibilities to promote themselves, especially online. But that means you must compete with other groups to gain an online presence. There are four key steps in online marketing to gain a successful start with promoting your music on the internet.

1. Submit to Directories

The first step is to submit. Submit to directories, online radios, and online magazines – anywhere that plays or features music. The more places that play your track, the more people will hear and recognize your music. Thousands of people listen to free online radios daily and most of these stations allow artists to submit their music to them. Similarly, directories permit you to add your website with a brief description, which is then added to the directory site. An even better idea is to make a friend submit your site or music for you so you are not always pushing your own music.

You must be careful when submitting to sites, however, because search directories like Google will downgrade you if your incoming links look unnatural. This means that when someone performs a search for your site, it will not show up in the top search results because the search engine is punishing you. Try submitting your site or music to a couple sites weekly with various anchor texts. For example, the words “an awesome rock blog” are the anchor text to the link www.motorcityrocks.com. Also, do not always submit your site with a link pointing to your homepage. Sometimes submit your site with a link to the secondary page of your website to make the links seem more natural.

* Anchor text – visible, descriptive text you click on for a hyperlink.

2. Give Away Music

Secondly, offer your music at no cost. With the plethora of options available to users to download free MP3s, strictly offering your music for purchase hurts your online status. When a listener gets your MP3 for free, he or she has a greater possibility of returning to your site to hear more music by you if they liked what they heard. Only after listening and liking your music will they purchase your album. You have to be sure not to give away too much music, though, because the listener will have no reason to purchase your album if they can find everything for free.

Adding a podcast or MP3 to your sites also allows users to hear your music without paying anything for it. The hardest part in adding music to the site, however, is the recording, so start by focusing on a quality recording of your music. To add music to the site:

• Find a computer with audio input capability and an easy to use audio encoding application. This is easy if your music is on CD, just rip it with iTunes or a similar application. If it is in some other analog or digital (mini-disc) format, it gets a little harder, but applications are freely out there.

• Then with MP3 file in hand, you can upload the file to your web site and link like you would link a web page or other media/image file.

• From there, there are more complicated ways of doing it so it is more "presentable" with a nice embedded player, etc.

3. Make Business Friends

The third step is to build professional online relationships to boost your online presence. You know a lot about music, so comment on it. Look up blogs related to rock music and add meaningful comments to help others reading the blogs. Most of the time the comment box asks for your URL, which is a great way to promote your own website or blog while helping others by posting comments.

Blogger ethics state if one blogger comments or links to another’s site, the other blogger will comment or link back. This is a great way to build an online relationship and promote one another’s music. An additional option, besides just commenting on their blogs, is to help them out somehow. When you find online radio stations to submit your music to, compile a list and send the list to them. They will in return promote your music to thank you for your help.

Besides commenting on blogs, creating a blog can prove very beneficial in online rock music marketing as well.

4. Utilize Social Networks

Connect yourself to tons of different social networking sites. YouTube, Yahoo Video, and Google Video allow you to post different videos onto the site at no cost, like the OKGo video that was fairly inexpensive and still receives views daily. Post all your music videos and add links to your website to these videos.

MyBlogLog allows users to share different sites and build a community based on various interests. You can also add your site to your profile and view who else has your site as their favorite. Although just over a year old, MyBlogLog is quickly gaining popularity, which presents a great way establish yourself early in the community. Similarly, Ning allows you to create a social network for any topic. Joining and commenting on various rock music networks and creating your own network for group provides the best methods to get the most out of Ning.

Finally, joining the additional social network sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and MySpace are all necessary in promoting you or your band. Finding friends and friends of friends can boost you music and be helpful in additional ways. Network as often as possible both online and offline.

These four simple steps provide a great way to start promoting your music online. Remember to submit, give away, and comment. Online marketing is a continuous process you must constantly work on, but it pays off in the end.

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This article was contributed by Lance Trebesch of TicketPrinting.com

Contact: lance@ticketprinting.com

"Jordin Grows Up"

By ANNE MARIE CHANDY

The girl who put Glendale, Arizona, on the map is working hard to earn her keep as the American Idol 6 champ.

SHE may not have been the favourite to win the American Idol (AI) extravaganza earlier this year, but Jordin Sparks proved she had the guts to create her own destiny. A record 74 million votes were cast in May, heralding Sparks as the youngest AI winner and setting in motion a series of events that would drastically change her world.

Over the phone from New York in a recent interview, she sounds mature. Her answers are not the type you’d expect from a typical American high school student. And indeed, she is not. From July to September, Sparks – along with nine other AI finalists – went on a 56-city tour. She’s managed to record an album in that time as well. And she hopes to graduate along with her classmates soon.

Not bad for someone who only turns 18 in December. But Sparks is not your average teenager. She’s had “success” written all over her for a long while now and she has a long list of accolades to prove it, too – from the Coca-Cola Rising Star 2002 to taking the top spot at Glendale, Arizona’s Youth Fest in 2003, to NBC/PAX America’s Most Talented Kids, 2005.

Her debut album, Jordin Sparks, under the 19 Recordings/Jive Records label, is set for release in the United States on Nov 20.

Jordin Sparks: ‘It ( American Idol) opens so many more doors than just singing – there’s acting, going to Broadway, being able to write songs – you really don’t have to win to be successful. I mean, look at Chris Daughtry.’

“The process was really very crazy,” she says. Because you’re an Idol winner, you have to put out an album in half the time it usually takes. Most people have nine months to a year and we really had, like, five months. So it was really crazy.”

Music: Blown away by genius

By ERROL DE CRUZ

Paul Ponnudorai: Right On Time (Ethnobeat)

Hello everybody, todays article is abaout PAUL Ponnudorai. You know, he was just featured very impressively in the latest issue of Time magazine.

Right On Time is this Malaysian musician’s debut album, recorded and produced in mid-2005 and now re-released and available throughout Southeast Asia.

The 15-track delight of 14 interpretations and one original (the instrumental, Henry Koh’s Lullaby) opens with the gospel number, Joshua Fought The Battle Of Jericho. It’s a rollicking version that showcases both his fretboard virtuosity as well as his wide-ranging vocals, quite an introduction to what the rest of the album is about.

Ponnudorai’s magic is how he interprets the hits because none of them sound like the originals. He doesn’t cover anything and it’s not a do-you-have-any-requests outing. It’s the Malaysian guitarman sounding just like he would at any pub show, minus the irritating, annoying chatter.

Right On Time is unadulterated Paul Ponnudorai at his best, and what you’d need to do is sit down and get blown away by his sheer artistic genius.

What’s amazing about this studio effort produced by European guitarist Enrico Crivellaro is that all 15 tracks are one-take performances. There was no going back to redo a line, no heavy mixing; just Ponnudorai having fun. You could almost hear him say: “Hey, it’s my way or the highway!”

On Right On Time, this Ipoh-born, KL-bred fretboard virtuoso takes you on a journey, not just of the hits of several decades, but of their musical influences, too.

You can hear Jose Feliciano somewhere in there, Chet Atkins in The Theme From The Godfather, Jerry Reed in Sitting On Top Of The World (a live pub recording), a little Joao Gilberto and Carlos Jobim, and some awe-inspiring flamenco-ish strumming, too.

Ponnudorai’s forte is that he can switch grooves in midstream, always keeping you entertained and excited, following him on one of his heavenly-inspired escapades.

Halfway through Speak Softly Love, just as he clicks from a contemporary, predictable reading to a Chet Atkins country-jazz canter, you virtually detect the Ponnudorai glint as the guitarman knows he’s got you grooving along.

Crivellaro’s production is clean, allowing the guitar work to come across very crisp and the rough edges of the artiste’s vocals to cut through naturally.

Don’t feel embarrassed if you suddenly find yourself whooping or applauding after one of Ponnudorai’s solos. That’s the effect the album has on you.

Tracks include Can’t Buy Me Love, Misty, Delta Dawn, One Room Country Shack, Killing Me Softly, House Of The Rising Sun and Five Hundred Miles.

You can buy the CD on www.cdbaby.com/ponnudorai. To legally download, go to www musicnet.com or www.musicishere.com.

A evening with Sean and Spanish tenor

Sean Ghazi.

THE annual Toyota Classics musical showcase is back, with yet another spell-binding orchestral and classical music treat for Malaysian fans.

The Cadaques Orchestra.

The 16th Toyota Classics will take place at 8.30pm in the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) Auditorium, Shah Alam on Nov 18.

This year, Spain's mesmerising Cadaques Orchestra returns, having last performed in 2002.

For the first time, a vocalist will croon evergreen operatic songs as well as modern numbers. The singer will be none other than Sean Ghazi, the star of the recently-concluded P. Ramlee - The Musical.

Sean will be joined by acclaimed Spanish tenor Salvador Carbo.
"This is our first collaboration and I'm really excited about it. I'll be singing one song made popular by Tan Sri P. Ramlee, and that's going to be a surprise," Sean said.

On his role a Ramlee, Sean said: "He is one of my all-time heroes and I worked really hard to be like him on stage," he said.

The actor/singer is happy to participate in Toyota Classics as he has great respect for the orchestra led by conductor Pablo Gonzalez, and Carbo.

Toyota Classics is organised by UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd and is in aid of Rumah Kanak-Kanak Taman Bakti in Kepala Batas, Butterworth; the Klang Handicapped Children's Care Association; the Manjung Handicapped People's Welfare Association in Sitiawan; and Yayasan di-Raja Sultan Mizan of Terengganu.

The home in Butterworth has 168 children and 52 staff. An institution under the Welfare Department, it protects abused and neglected children. It is in need of two vans.

The children's Care Association has 66 children and 30 staff. It is in need of a gymnasium and laundry.

The association in Sitiawan has 945 members and 60 volunteers. It plans to acquire newer and larger premises.

The foundation, established by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin in 2005, plans to revive handicraft around the country, particularly wood-carving and batik.

It is also involved in a nationwide handicraft skills training and entrepreneurship programme.

Since its inception in 1990, Toyota Classics has introduced to Malaysian audiences world-famous orchestras such as the Sapporo Symphonic Orchestra of Japan, the Budapest Operetta Theatre Orchestra of Hungary and the Vienna Volksoper Symphony Orchestra of Austria.

UMW Toyota executive director for strategic planning Aminar Rashid Salleh said over RM4.4 million has been collected from the annual concert for 32 charities around Malaysia.

The concert will be attended by Tuanku Mizan and the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, and the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah.

By : Dennis Chua
Tickets are priced RM70. Call 03-5123-6688.

Right time to stay Kool

(From left) Dennis Thomas, George Brown, Robert 'Kool' Bell and Khalis Bayyan.

Big names are on the bill for a series of concerts in KL beginning next week. SHUIB TAIB gets the rap on a long-time favourite.

SO many big names are part of the Live and Loud KL concerts that even Kool & The Gang are impressed by the illustrious company they will be keeping.

"What? Whitney Houston is going to sing there too? Good God! Wish we could extend our stay but we have commitments planned months before. Still, it's good to know that we're a part of this big music event," said Robert "Kool" Bell in a telephone interview recently.

Famous for hits like Get Down On It, Ladies Night, Celebration and Jungle Boogie, Kool & The Gang will be one of the many international stars at Live and Loud KL's concerts from Nov 23 until Dec 2.

The group is scheduled to perform at Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, alongside James Ingram and Malaysia's Hazami on Nov 27.
Kool & The Gang have performed in Kuala Lumpur before.

"That's right. But that was so many years ago and after all these years, we're looking forward to coming back to Malaysia again. Unfortunately, we won't have that much time to check out interesting places in Kuala Lumpur," said Kool, adding that the band would stop in Jakarta first before coming to Kuala Lumpur, and would continue with performances in Germany and a host of cities in the United States.

Next year, however, the band plans to hold concerts in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong "and all the areas around there".

The band has been around for more than four decades, but only four original members are left: Robert "Kool" Bell, his brother Khalis Bayyan (formerly known as Ronald Bell), their longtime friends Dennis "DT" Thomas and George "Funky" Brown.

Kool attributes good communication between members, including being one with one another, as the reasons the four have stuck together.

"In this business, it's easy to get distracted by all kinds of things but as long as you remain true and loyal to your pals, everything will be all right," said Kool.

The band's brand of music is best described as a mix of jazz, R&B, funk and pop.

Kool & The Gang's story started in the housing projects of Jersey City, New Jersey. They were teenagers, who, aside from listening to Miles Davis albums and James Brown singles for inspiration, also held jamming sessions in basements.

In 1969 they made their first record. Still teenagers and full of confidence, they named that first record after themselves. Their creativity produced a string of loose-but-tight, "fun" records, culminating in the pop chart smash Jungle Boogie.

Kool & The Gang didn't need a singer then: the horns were the lead voice and the fans chanted along. Their songs were featured in films like Rocky and Saturday Night Fever.

Thanks largely to songs like Celebration, Cherish, Jungle Boogie, Summer Madness and Open Sesame, they've earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums.

Kool & The Gang has performed continuously for the past 35 years, longer than any R&B group in history.

With the explosion of hip-hop in the '90s, Kool & the Gang's incredible catalogue of grooves made them DJ favourites, and they were second only to R&B icon James Brown as sources of rap-music samples.

In 2004, the album The Hits Reloaded found the band collaborating with such "new" acts like Lil' Kim, Sean Paul, Ashanti, and Blackstreet, among others. Last year, the band re-entered the Billboard R&B chart with Steppin' Into Love.

What kind of performance can Malaysians expect? "Well, we're going to sing some new stuff but more of the old songs. Basically, we're going to have a party!" said Kool.