Addressing the Canny Investor

You’ve written a few good songs, made a dollar or two jamming
with a few bands or busking on the corner. Now, you’re no longer
satisfied: dreaming of stardom, you’re hungry for the big time.
The worst thing to do is to hold out for the big break that
never happens: Better to play for the love of music. With no
false hopes and no illusions, start from zero. Somewhere,
there’s an audience for you. Let someone hear you - mother,
daughter, friend, lover - and listen to what they have to say.
Drink in the encouragement and consider their criticism. It’s
all good. Just get someone, anyone, anywhere, anytime to listen
to you. Sing in the dark, sing in the park. Play for friends,
for strangers, for young and for old.

All you need is a song and a crowd; the rest comes easy, one
step at a time. The day will come when you’ll earn a place of
respect. People will notice when you walk into a room. You won’t
hear a pin drop when you begin to play at a local coffee house.
The whole room will “rock” when you plug in and play at your
neighborhood blues cafe.

But, if that’s not enough and you still want to get signed to a
major record. Pet your dog. Kiss your wife or girlfriend
goodbye. You’ll be away for a long, long time playing for people
you don’t know in places you’ve never been before. Your chances
of becoming a rock star are about as good as winning a lottery.
Call it a glass ceiling. Call it a brick wall, mainstream
success is rare.

They say the Beatles started their career playing in strip
joints in Hamburg, Germany. Forty years ago, Hamburg’s infamous
red-light district was where some of the world’s most popular
rock musicians paid their dues. One day Brian Epstein discovered
the Beatles when they packed the Star Club with whores, pimps,
transvestites, sailors and fans of “beat music” swilling alcohol
and dancing until dawn. Epstein saw something in them that no
one else could see. Somehow he knew one day their raw sound
would thrill audiences with a magic that will never return again.

Maybe someone will notice you one day. All you’ve got to is get
the right people interested in what you’re doing and hold that
interest long enough for them to “buy” what you’re doing. The
more interested they are, the longer they stick around, the more
ideas they’ll get for selling what you have to offer.

‘The cream always rises to the top’ doesn’t mean the best rise
to the top. Without at least some marketing savvy, the average
musician won’t make it very far alone no matter how good he is.
Which brings me to my next thought. A performing career isn’t
for most people. Most so-called pro musicians live below the
poverty line spending their daylight hours watching TV in a
dingey downtown apartment waiting for the phone to ring with a
booking for your next paying gig. When you’re a seventeen
year-old drop out, playing bar songs for a crowd of rowdy drunks
might be someone’s idea of a good time but there are better ways
to make a living.

If you want a life, think again. With a strong regional
presence, it’s possible to make a name for yourself as an
artist. If you travel a circuit, and stay around long enough
your audience will grow and your CD sales will climb. If you’re
good, you might become a cult hero or even a regional icon.

Dennis Walsh progressofmusic@hotmail.com

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Not to over simplify Rock N’ Roll but a huge variety of music is based on two patterns: The blues vamp and the power chord. Blues vamps and power chords are just names for rhythmic patterns and chords. Today were looking at the power chords.

What is a Power Chord? Power chords are “movable chords”, meaning we can move their position up or down the neck, to create different power chords. It’s the same shape just starting in a different position. The power chord contains two notes, the root note, and a note called the “fifth”. Power chords are known as “fifth chords” (written C5 or E5, etc). Power chord are not a Major or Minor in tonal quality. The sample below is a power chord in TAB Format.

E————-
B————-
G————-
D————-
A—-3——–
E—-1——–

The first fret on the Low E is an F so this is and F5 Power Chord. In this case you want to play only the two notes on the Low E and A strong.

E————-
B————-
G————-
D————-
A—-7——–
E—-5——–

The fifth fret on the Low E is an A so this is and A5 Power Chord. In this case you want to play only the two notes on the Low E and A strong. Notice this is exactly the same shape as the F5 just move up one step or two frets.

In both of these examples we are looking at power chords with the root note (the one that names the chord) on the Low E or sixth string. The same chord shape can be played with the root note on the A or 5th string.

E————-
B————-
G————-
D—-9——–
A—-7——–
E————-

The 7th fret on the A string is an E so this is and E5 Power Chord. In this case you want to play only the two notes on the A and D string, and mute the note on the Low E with the tip of your finger pressing down on the 7th fret of the A string.

The following Power chords are the same chord but played in different positions on the fret board. Confused?

E————-

B————-
G————-
D—-9——–
A—-7——–
E————-

E————-
B————-
G————-
D————-
A—-2——–
E————-

Don’t be. Play around with these cool little chords. Add some distortion to your amp and play the notes with all down strokes while alternating string mutes. This is the basic techniques used in most hard rock, metal and grunge styles of Rock N’ Roll.

Bill McRea is the publisher of Guitar Warehouse the best place to Buy Guitar and learn Guitar Playing Techniques. Visit our site for over 60 free guitar lessons and our Free eBook on playing guitar.

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Music is said to be the food of the soul. There is nothing more persuasive and pleasing than good music. Soothing music heals the mind. No entertainment is complete without music. Playing of your favorite music and songs instantly changes your tension filled mind to a more relaxed and serene state of mind.

Though people can listen to songs and music on stereo systems and walkmans, however, they do not think twice before lining up for live music concerts the reason - passion. It is the power of passion that attracts them to see the stars perform in person and live. Nothing beats it.

Live music is also preferred at parties and events. Live music entertainment consists of classical music, Jazz, Swing, World music, period music of 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and the 90’s and performed by artists who haven’t made it big. Classical music consists of quintet, quartet, trio, duo and solo. Performances of live music can be given on any instrument as a piano, guitar, keyboard, cello, harpoon, flute, trumpet, saxophone and the jazz set.

Whether it is a birthday party, wedding reception, a private party or a corporate party, live music is a must if you are not hiring a DJ to mix songs for you. Even if there is a DJ, live music is not a bad idea. Almost every city and town in the US has bands that perform live music. The choice of songs and music may be limited with a live music performance, but it is the limited selected songs and music, which makes the band endearing to people. DJs would charge 25% - 50% of what a live music performing band charges. However, the allure of live music is something that is irresistible if one can afford it. Some live music performing bands capture and reproduce the tone of music that were not recorded properly by the unsophisticated recording machines of the 50’s and the 60’s.

A DJ can mix songs to provide you the ultimate music entertainment. What needs to be done though is that you should give the DJ a list of your preferred song long before the event. That gives the DJ time to arrange the CDs for you. The variety of music becomes enhanced when a DJ plays CDs. A sudden request from the guest also may be honored by the DJ and the song may be played. Most DJs come prepared with a number of CDs to meet immediate requests.

The success of any event depends on the music entertainment. If the guests hear the music they enjoy your party will be a success.

Copyright @2006, 4th Media Corporation

You have permission to publish this article electronically free of charge, as long as the bylines and links in the body of the article and the bylines are included.

Natalie Aranda writes on on art and entertainment. Though people can listen to songs and music on stereo systems and walkmans, however, they do not think twice before lining up for live music concerts the reason - passion. It is the power of passion that attracts them to see the stars perform in person and live. Nothing beats it.

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