Professional Music Equipment

Why should we care about how our guitar is strung?  Is there a proper and improper way?  You bet there is!  Proper stringing will give a longer natural sustain and generally make you sound better.  There are no effects pedals that can reproduce clean natural sustain, so this makes the stringing more important.  Although after you have this sustain, you can play with your effects pedals all you want.

Many guitarists don’t wind enough of the string onto the tuning peg or they wind too much, which is a common mistake in stringing a guitar.  The greater the angle between the nut (the top part of the guitar) and the tuning peg, the better the sustaining qualities of the string, and your strings will not go out of tune as fast.  If you wind too much string, the strings will tend to slip out of tune easier. You want to have just the right amount.

When buying guitar strings, always try and get the same gauge, as changing the gauge may require truss rod adjustments and could mean problems with intonation.

Below are six simple steps to follow for stringing your guitar.

1:  Take all the strings out of the package and lay them out from the thickest to the thinnest.

2:  Turn the tuning peg until the hole is in line with the neck.

3:  Starting with the thickest string (low “e”), thread the string through the bottom part of the guitar (bridge). Various guitars have different ways of doing this, but it is usually very obvious where the strings go.

4:  Thread the string through the hole in the tuning peg until it is tight; then back the string up about 3 inches so that it loosens.

5:  Grab the loose part of the string with one hand and with the other hand start turning the tuning peg. Make sure as you turn the peg that the string is winding downward, and don’t let it flip over itself.  As you turn the peg, hold the string tightly away from the guitar to insure that it wraps tightly, with no slack. This will stop the string from going out of tune as you’re playing. When the string is getting tight against the fret board, you can let go and continue slowly turning the peg a little bit more.  The goal is to get about 2 1/2 to 3 full winds on each string.

6:  Repeat the process (from thickest to thinnest) with all other strings, but decrease the amount of slack a little bit with each new string.

Happy strumming and picking!  We hope we’ve been helpful.  Oh, and we mustn’t forget to remind you to keep an extra set of guitar strings with you for those times when you get too carried away and pop one in two.

You’ll find tons of other guitar tips and free information from our friends at PlayGuitar.com, and Professional Music Equipment can fulfill your musical instrument needs. 

Learning to play fiddle is not a simple task, and requires a great amount of sincerity, dedication, patience and positive energy. Learning any musical instrument requires these qualities, but your determination can concur all! An added advantage of having basic knowledge of music will help you learn more quickly.  Knowing things like sheet music notations, key, clef, tempo and others will help with your flow of learning to play the notes. Don’t get disheartened, even if you are a newbie to music, as there is always a chance to learn anything.  Remember that a fiddle can also be known as a violin, lira, cello, double bass, or any other stringed instrument that is played with a bow.

Like making new friends, you need to take time to get to know your instrument’s parts and how it works.  Once you get to know and understand it, you’re ready to learn to play.

There are many professional instructors available to help you to play fiddle.  If you are not able to find one physically, there is a wide range of options available on the internet. The internet services may be available for free or for a price.  You can search the internet to select one according to your needs, and in few short weeks with constant practice and determination you will be able to win the hearts of friends with your fiddling.

Come to find out, any bow-stroked, stringed musical instrument may be informally called a fiddle.  Players often affectionately refer to their violins or other members of the violin family as  “my fiddle”.   Fiddle has a more generalized meaning than violin, wherein violin refers to a specific instrument,  while fiddle may be used to refer to a violin or any member of a general category of similar stringed instruments played with a horsehair bow such as the Hardanger fiddle, the Apache Tzii’edo’ a ‘tl, the Byzantine lira, the Welsh crwth, the Chinese erhu, the cello in the context of a Scottish violin & cello duo (“wee fiddle and big fiddle”), the double bass (“bull fiddle” or “bass fiddle”), and so on.

Next time, I’ll be blogging a little about learning to play the fiddle.  In the meantime, please feel free to visit our store, Professional Music Equipment.

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Musical Equipment Savings

Strapped for cash? It has become clearly apparent that musical instruments and equipment can be expensive. Regardless, you can still find excellent, affordable musical products. There are some places out there that really do put you, the consumer and musician first. Playing musical instruments as a major stress reliever is practically mandatory for people like us, and we have found a couple of ways to save some money on the things that allow us to do what we love without cutting out all of our luxuries. Keep reading for more information on how you can get the equipment that you want for less.

Be Sure to Shop Around:

There are a few musical instrument stores online that offer lower prices simply because they want to promote an affordable ability to keep the art alive and well…to all economic groups and cultures. These sites don’t generally get involved in “paid advertising” in order to keep prices that much lower. They just work a little harder at getting the search engines to rank them high enough to be seen on the first page of the search results. One such online store is Professional Music Equipment, also known as PME Outlet

Same Day Music and zZounds offer essentially the same products. Their prices are usually consistent, but many times you will find a significant difference in prices between the two stores for the same product. Guitar Trader shares the same catalog as Pro Sound and Stage Lighting. This is just another place to keep an eye on and as you shop for the best prices online.

Most people don’t realize that Musician’s Friend is owned by Guitar Center. Musician’s Friend is one of the top online musical instrument stores, but not always with the best pricing. Guitar Center also owns Music 123 and Woodwind & Brasswind. Although each store has a somewhat different selection, all of these online stores offer nearly the same catalog but not the same prices. One of the sales representatives of one of the companies said that even though they have the same owner, each musical instrument website operates independently. Friendly competition between themselves is encouraged, so you’ll regularly see item prices vary by website and specials offered.

Shopping Online:

As online shopping has grown in popularity, online stores are giving traditional stores increased competition. With lower overhead costs than a traditional store, an online merchant can pass these “savings” on to customers by offering lower prices than most local music stores. The majority of online merchants will usually offer a great return policy. This allows you to test equipment without the fear of being “ripped off”. Some offer price comparisons and free shipping. You just have to be prepared to look for that “steal” of a price. With a little time and effort we can all find the right price for the musical supplies that we need, and remember, buying online is your best bet.

There are two types of accordions. Chromatic accordions have buttons or keys and Diatonic accordions are always button. Let me tell you the differences.

Chromatic Accordions can be piano keyboard or button and can play all notes. They play the same note whether pulling or pushing on the bellows and can have a larger range of notes. Chromatic button accordions can have the most range of all, as it can have a full range of notes in the left hand for accompaniment. Chromatic accordions come in many sizes, described by the number of bass buttons. They are heavier than most diatonic accordions and are more expensive than most diatonics (both due to the number of reeds and complexity of parts). The chromatics will usually produce more variety of sound and can be used to play most styles of music effectively.

Diatonic Accordions are always button accordions and play only the notes in the key of the instrument. They can have more than one row of buttons to cover different keys and play different notes when you push and pull the bellows. Diatonic accordions have limited notes available in the left hand and are usually lighter, smaller, and less expensive than chromatic accordions. The diatonic accordion is sometimes designed to be specific to a particular type of music, such as Irish, Cajun, or Tex-Mex.

Neither accordion is “better” than the other. For versatility, the chromatic usually rates highest, but if you are playing a specific type of music like traditional Irish or Zydeco/Cajun, a traditional diatonic will give the best sound for that specific music.

No one accordion is harder to learn than the other, but if you already play a piano keyboard, a chromatic accordion would be an easier transition. If you play harmonica, the diatonic accordion may make more sense.

Remember our last post about the conga drums quinto, segundo or conga, and tumbadora? Well, throughout Cuba, the Spanish name tumbadora is the common term used for what the English speaking refer to as congas. In Cuba, the word conga is mainly used when describing drums that are played during Carnaval, an event similar to the Mardi Gras celebration in the United States.

Played with both hands using the palms and fingertips, congas produce a wide variety of sounds that are described as: open or muffled tone, slap, open or muffled slap, bass tone, fingers, or palm. The open tone stroke is played using four fingers, striking close to the rim of the drumhead which produces a clear, distinct sound. The muffled tone stroke, is also made using four fingers, but then involves keeping the fingers against the drumhead to muffle the sound produced. For a low, more muted sound, opt for the bass tone stroke using the full palm of the hand to strike the drumhead. Experts recommend learning how to invoke the many different sounds before mastering hand coordination, and then finally concentrating on the rhythm aspect of playing conga drums.

The most popular rhythm for congas is known as the tumbao rhythm which uses a 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2 beat with the first two sets played in muffled tones, and the latter in open tones. Another well known rhythm is called the bolero rhythm using 1-2-3, 1-2, 1-2-3 and uses two congas. This rhythm has most recently been heard in songs such as “Besame Mucho” and “La Puerta”. Many types of modern music, including jazz, Latin jazz, salsa, mambo, and rumba still rely on conga drums to keep the beat and produce a variety of unique sounds.

Some of the most widely known congueros are Desi Arnez, who was the influence behind the naming of a small conga known as the “Ricardo” from his television role, Candido Camero, Giovanni Hidalgo, Arsenio Rodriguez, and Poncho Sanchez.

You can buy your Conga Drum or Tumbadora and many other musical instruments online at PME Outlet. Once you are comfortable playing rhythm patterns on your congas, you can try other drums like the Djembe, Ashiko, or Bongo Drums and enjoy their distinctive sound and styles.

The conga drum is known to have originated in both Cuba and Africa. Often called the Afro-Cuban drum, it is widely used in several countries around the world. Today, congas are a large part of Latin-American music and the players of this instrument are known as congueros. Conga players can use a single drum or several drums, but usually use a set of three differently sized drums known as the Quinto (small higher pitched drum), the Segundo or Conga (medium sized drum), and the Tumbadora (large lowest pitched drum).

Conga drums are tall, narrow, and vary in width from 9 to 14 inches across the drumhead. The size affects the pitch and tone of the drums. The smaller drums are used for playing the melodies, while the larger congas are used for playing lower, deeper rhythms.

Conga drums are typically made of oak, ash, or beech, although the fiberglass congas are gaining popularity as they can be more durable and are usually far less expensive. Many professional congueros who have mastered the techniques, however, still prefer the traditional wooden congas, stating that the sounds produced are warmer and richer than with the newer fiberglass sets. Congas made from oak are said to give a warmer sound along with reducing overtones that are similar to those made when using synthetic materials, while ash wood models tend to produce more resonant tones.

Traditionally, heads made from cowhide were used for the most melodious sound, while in more modern times, water buffalo hide was the preferred material to create crisper, cleaner tones. Today, drumheads are also made from synthetic materials. Typically, buffalo skins are more expensive so other rawhide drumheads are generally found on the less expensive congas. The more durable synthetic heads, which were created to mimic the sounds of natural materials, may be beneficial to the more inexperienced player as they produce a louder, yet brighter tone when played.

Craftsmanship and the best materials are of the utmost importance with any type of musical instrument. The use of quality materials and finely honed skills will produce a better set of drums that are not only easier to tune and play, but will also sound better. Even serious beginners are encouraged to purchase a well-made set of congas that will still be sufficient as their experience grows and their skills increase.

Now that you know the names, sizes with tone varieties, and make options, you’ll be better able to decide upon and choose the conga drums that give a truly desirable tone that is satisfying to you.

You can buy your Conga Drum or Tumbadora and many other musical instruments online at PME Outlet. Be sure to watch for a short article on getting started with rhythms that we’ll be publishing very soon.

Meet the Best Mariachi Instruments

Paracho Elite Guitars are made in the legendary mountain village of Paracho, high in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico. Paracho artisans have been perfecting their craft for over 200 years. Many of the Luthiers are fourth and fifth generation musical instrument makers. These hand crafted, quality made guitars are made from fine selected woods. Each guitar has its’ own unique styling and beautiful inlay craftsmanship. Most importantly, they provide remarkable sound and playability. They include a limited Lifetime Warranty, and are available at PMEoutlet.com.

Classical guitars: Characterized by nylon strings usually plucked by the Guitarist’s fingers. Although traditionally used when playing classical music, they are also used in all kinds of music, such as jazz and folk. Standard tuning is E-A-D-G-B-E.

Bajo Sexto: A 12 string guitar, fused with a bass, used in Mexican music. Used primarily in Norteño music of Northeastern Mexico and across the border in South Texas, known as “Tex-Mex”, “Conjunto” or “Musica Mexicana-Tejuana”. These all feature Paracho Elite’s signature ebony & ivory striped binding. Tuned from highest to lowest strings: E-A-D-G-C-F.

Guitarron and Vihuela: The heart beat of Mariachi Music because of it’s soulful deep bass tone and humanic energy. The Guitarron (literally “large guitar” in Spanish) is a very large, deep-bodied Mexican 6-string acoustic bass played in Mariachi bands. One of the largest guitars in the music world, the 6 string Guitarron is 42″ high with a large rounded back that measures 11″ deep. It is tuned to A-D-G-C-E-A. It is often plucked in pairs to produce octaves.
The Vihuela is a small, deep-bodied rhythm guitar similar to the Guitarron. It provides strumming and double-stringed plucking rhythms and chordal accompaniment to the Mariachi ensemble. The Vihuela measures 31″ high and 6-1/4″ deep. It is available with a “Traditional” nylon tie fingerboard or a brass fretted fingerboard. It is tuned A-D-G-B-E, the A, D and G are tuned one octave above a guitar, giving the instrument a ukulele-like quality.

Requintos: The Requinto is a beautiful mariachi guitar with a bright, responsive tone similar to a classical guitar, but with a higher pitch and a traditional body style. The Requinto plays lead in mariachi bands, and is often used to form the “trio romantico” a traditional folkloric style of mariachi music. Often tuned: A-D-G-C-E-A.

Bajo Quintos: A five course version of the bajo sexto appeared in response to players removing the final E course, which they feel produces a much brighter tone.
From highest to lowest string they are tuned: A-D-G-C-F.

Cuatro: Belonging to the “lute” family, this instrument’s graceful baroque body has been revered for decades as the national instrument of Puerto Rico. It is played with a flat pick and sounds like a cross between a 12-string guitar and a mandolin. It has 10 strings in 5 courses. It is tuned from low to high B-E-A-D-G, with the B and E in octaves and A-D-G tuned in unison.

Tres: The Cuban Tres is a guitar-like rhythm instrument with 3 courses of 2 strings each (6 strings in all). It plays a key role in the Cuban “Son” musical style and in many Afro-Cuban inspired bands. It is sometimes referred to as “Cuban Tres Guitar”. From the low pitch to the highest, the principal tuning is in C Major: G-C-E. Today many tresoros are playing a step up: A-D-F# or D Major.

Tiple: A small, unique South American guitar with 12 steel strings arranged in 4 triple courses.
The Tiple is associated mainly with the Andean region of Columbia and is considered the national instrument.
It is typically used when playing Columbian folk music or American Folk or Jazz.

Learning how to play a musical instrument can be the most awesome, gratifying feeling you will ever relish. There are no words to express how you feel when you get to learn how to play any instrument. It becomes an outlet, or just a way to let go and have a good time in doing so. When deciding on a “first instrument”, many people lean toward the guitar more than any other instrument. It is true that a guitar player holds high esteem, but violin players are beginning to have a far greater status.

Recently, more young people than ever before have a desire to learn how to play the violin and most especially, the electric violin. This is partially due I’m sure, to the presence of violin performers from the famous Dave Matthews Band, Charlie Daniels Band, and the like. There were several young violin performers competing on the last season of television’s “America’s Got Talent”, who did quite well.

Personally, I love music and can name quite a few guitar players. I think that most people who love music can name a good number of guitar players too. Guitar players have a great advantage over many other instrument players in that they can play and sing at the same time. All they need is a guitar and a mic. Guitar players always bring a good time with lots of joy, dancing, and generally “turning on” a party.

After deciding which instrument you want to learn, you will need to decide how you want to learn it.

Online programs exist for nearly any type of instrument and are probably the easiest way to learn. You can work at your own pace and not be strapped to a weekly lesson schedule. You can review the material anytime and as many times as you want from the comfort of your own home. You also eliminate the recurring cost of personal instructors.

If you are thinking about learning how to play an instrument, you’ll get the most value for your money through an online program or instruction books with an accompanied DVD versus paying for that private instruction.

Since people can earn college degrees online nowadays, we assuredly know people can learn to play musical instruments online. The current #1 recommended resource for learning the guitar is located at www.youlearnguitar.com.

If your interest in the violin has been sparked, then www.everybodiesonlinebusiness.com has the current #1 rated course for learning the violin.

Still trying to decide on what instrument you want to learn? Browse www.PMEoutlet.com to view your many choices.