Atlanta, Georgia, is well-known for many reasons. There have been some influential people born there, not the least of which was Martin Luther King. Spike Lee also calls it home. It has given us its fair share of musicians and singers as well. Gladys Knight and Brenda Lee were both born in Atlanta, and Otis …
The power of radio cannot be denied. Many had thought that the era of the internet and streaming would bring an end to radio in the traditional sense. It did, but only to have it become something so much bigger. If you’re a car audio enthusiast and like a bit of variety, you’ve probably heard …
Art Music is a term that has been around for quite a while. Yet, if you were to ask someone what Art Music means, most people would probably answer that they don’t know. For most people, music is an art form. So, why would you have a genre of music called Art Music? Well, that’s the …
Having a good vocal range is just one of the things that makes a good singer. However, it isn’t all about just range; there are other factors involved. Therefore, if I am going to be analyzing Ariana Grande’s vocal range, I need to put it into context somewhat. What Is A Good Vocal Range? Well, …
MIDI is essential for every home composer and desktop maestro out there. It allows you to play and produce instruments of every kind imaginable from the comfort of your own studio. All you need is a controller and a good bit of software to get you started. Some of this software can get expensive. But …
The 7 Best Free MIDI Keyboard Software for Every Platform in 2023 Read More »
Open mic nights are a superb way to practice your craft and have some fun at the same time. Most major towns and cities have a good selection of venues to choose from. But, before I take a closer look at the best ways to find open mic nights near you, let’s look at what …
The 2000s was a time of much growth in global commercialism. This was thanks in no small part to the impact of the internet. This resulted in the way we think, interact and share things changing beyond all recognition. One could argue… The internet’s biggest benefactor in terms of pop culture was music. It provided …
Education is always an important thing. Especially when it comes to a career. In a work situation where complex technical knowledge is required, being able to study those techniques closely will be vital. Music production is something that has grown out of all recognition in the last twenty years. Once the domain of the privileged …
Don’t underestimate how important it is to have the best DJ table to ensure your gear is secure at all times. DJ decks and equipment cost a small fortune, so you can’t afford to break them in an accident because your table wasn’t of decent quality. DJ table prices are relatively low when compared to …
If you are a modern DJ worth your salt, Pioneer is a brand that sparks emotion deep in your soul. And, if not, I have to question if you have a soul to start with. Joking aside… When it comes to innovative and market-leading digital DJ decks, Pioneer is in a league of its own. They …
It is without question that New Orleans was the birthplace of Jazz as we know it. And it is still a major center where there are dozens of jazz clubs, restaurants, and bars to visit. But you could also say that New York City is the center of what is now the Jazz scene in …
Can you feel the temperature creeping up? Whenever summer is on the way, it brings with it another season – festival season! Summer is festival time, bringing people together to dance, party, and enjoy music together. But what should you wear? Music festival style is as much about practicality as it is about fashion. To …
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The days of having vast collections of vinyl, tape, or even CDs and thousands of files on your hard drive are over. The advent of streaming has changed the way we access and view music forever. Streaming is a giant music library in the sky, one that we all can access and share no matter …
Autotune is often discussed by music industry professionals and casual listeners alike. People often claim that a singer sounds overly processed or manipulated, but what does that mean? So, let’s find out what is Autotune? And why so many singers use it. The History of Autotune Autotune was first introduced by Antares Audio Technologies in 1997. …
We all think we know the answer when asked the question. What is tempo in music? But, do we really know? In something so familiar as tempo, there might be a bit more than we realize. For instance, there is probably more description and words we must learn for music exams in Tempo than in …
The DSP is at the very heart of the majority of today’s audio equipment. And not just audio equipment. It turns up in some of the most surprising places. But, it isn’t a new thing; it has been around for quite a few years. But what is a DSP? And does DSP change audio for the better? …
You will sometimes hear people confuse pitch with a note, but they are not the same thing. It can be confusing because a note is a pitch. So, let’s start by defining what a note is, and then we can answer, “What is pitch in music?” What Is A Note? A note is a pitch …
We pick up guitars or basses, sit down at our pianos or keyboards, and start hammering away, trying to learn the instrument. Most of us don’t give a minute’s thought to musical theory or if it is important. When someone happens to ask, “What is form in music?” the majority won’t know or even care. …
The arrival of the home cinema system has brought with it the need for better quality sound systems. It also means that sometimes we might need some extras. Some may want to put their home cinema audio through a separate sound system. If so, they will probably be wondering, what is an HDMI audio extractor? …
Rondo is not a word that many of us use when discussing music. However, it is well-known and was widely used during the Classical and Romantic periods. And is still sometimes used today. So, I decided to take an in-depth look at its form and its structure, and how it works. And ask the question, …
There are three main constituents to a piece of music or a song. They are Rhythm, Harmony, and Melody. And Melody is usually the most recognizable part of music. And if someone came to you and asked you for a tune, you would probably hum the melody line. But what is melody in music? And how …
Ever since Cher dropped “Believe” in 1998, autotune has been in the pop music spotlight. But with singer T-Pain’s extensive use of this voice-altering technology, autotune took off. All through the 2000s, the use of this effect grew and grew. So that now it’s used in almost every pop song you can imagine. And, it’s …
There are plenty of basic elements that make up music. We have pitch, and we have rhythm. They are easy concepts to understand. Easy to explain. But then we have timbre. That is not so easy because it is hard to explain, and any explanation is sometimes shrouded in misconception. So, what is timbre in music? …
Once again, we travel back in time to delve into the Ancient Greek language to discuss an ancient musical term. The term “Monophonic” comes from the combination of two Greek words. ‘Phonic’ which means “about sound,” and ‘Mono’ which means “one or as a single.” In the most basic terms, the definition of monophonic is “one sound.” …
The marimba is a beautiful, mellow-sounding instrument that blends into many different types of compositions. However, to pull off a great marimba sound in your productions, you need to use a VST that actually sounds like a marimba. This can be difficult because soft-toned instruments can be notoriously hard to capture and replicate. That said, …
Best Marimba VSTs – Top 5 Greatest Marimba Plugins of 2023 Read More »
While we probably all had little toy xylophones as kids, those were some pretty poor instruments. However, a ‘real’ xylophone is made from pure, dense materials to give a wonderfully clear, ringing sound and a bright, distinct voice. And that’s exactly what the best xylophone VST should be able to replicate. But it’s not an …
Best Xylophone VST – Top 5 Free and Paid Xylophone Plugins 2023 Read More »
Now, this is a musical term that often causes its fair share of confusion. So, exactly what is a refrain in music? One of the reasons it is often misconstrued is because it applies not only to music. You can have a refrain in a poem, for example. In that case, it would be a …
We often get Greek words in music theory, and here is another one. “Homophonic” describes a particular sort of music we are all familiar with. The word’s meaning can be explained by splitting it into two. “Phonic” means sound or a voice, and “homo” means similar or the same. But we have another word, Texture. …
In the English language, we come across articulation all the time. Consequently, we wouldn’t be able to express ourselves correctly without using it. Yet, it is hard to define it in words, which does seem contradictory. In its most basic form, it means to say or pronounce something so that it can be heard. Also, …
You can say that music is just like a language. Language is descriptive, communicates, and provides information. We articulate in language; we do the same in music. In language, we can talk loudly or quietly depending on what we are trying to express. We do the same in music. But there is a difference Language …
If you are just starting on your musical journey, you will be daunted by all the theory there is to grasp and implement. Some of it is easier to understand than others. Counterpoint is just one part of your theoretical discoveries and for good songwriting, but a vital one. So let’s take a look at what …
A theater is a theater, isn’t it? Well, not quite. There are different types of theaters. So, I’ve decided to take a closer look at one of them in order to answer the question, “What is a proscenium theater?“ Different Configurations Theater configurations can differ, and the proscenium theater is just one. In addition to proscenium …
You’ve likely heard the term “Trap” used a few times over the last few years. It’s by no means a fledgling genre. But, it’s been gaining popularity to the extent that it started showing up on mainstream charts. However, Trap music is not set in stone like other more established genres, for example, Hip-Hop and …
Binary Form is often found in pieces of music from the Baroque period. This was a period when music style and form were developing fast. Following the Renaissance period, it started around 1600. It lasted for about 150 years until what is known as the Classical period. It was the period in music that produced …
Let me make a simple point before we start. It is not possible to decipher the lyrics of some songs. And even for those that we think we can, we are quite often way off the mark. So what exactly is using lyrical interpretation to discover the meaning of a song? Well, one thing it …
Using Lyrical Interpretation to Discover the Meaning of a Song Read More »
