Get to Know the Yamaha Electronic Drum Set
If you’d like to play drums with a modern twist then consider investing in an electronic drum set. To keep this article simple, we’ve looked at only Yamaha drums, which are a favorite of one of our editors.
(Please note – we have no relationship with the maker of Yamaha drums).
DTX 500 Series – The Heart of the Beat
Beat is one of the most critical elements when playing drums, and if it’s something you’re absolutely in love with then you’re sure to fall head over heels for the DTX550K. It comes with the all-new Yamaha ten-inch DTX-PAD that’s equipped with a TCS head for the whole set and a DTX500 Drum Trigger Module that’s been updated with more sound options and made compatible with the DTX-PAD.
Other components of the DTX550K include a real-hi-hat trigger, snare, and stand.
READ MORE
Music Business: Memphis Music Foundation
What is your name and position?: Elizabeth Cawein, Communications Coordinator for Memphis Music Foundation
What is your band/or company name?: Memphis Music Foundation
What tips do you have to help musicians develop a social media following? : At the Memphis Music Foundation we work with artists through our core program, the Memphis Music Resource Center.
Membership is free, and from the time the artists join we conduct a full artist assessment with them to determine where they are, where they need to be and what the next steps are to get them there.
One of the big pieces of that puzzle for everyone we see is social media. Social tools like Facebook and Twitter are the best way for our artists to market themselves because they are free tools that allow an artist to reach their fans exactly where they are. My approach when working with an artist is to first teach them how to use Twitter, and then to teach them how to grow a Twitter following and move those people not only to Facebook, but to action. READ MORE
Guitar Music Theory versus Can I Just Play?
Usually, someone picks up a guitar because some guitar lick caught their attention, and they want to learn to play “just like famous guitarist’s name.” As their interest in the instrument grows, the lick is not enough to satisfy an expanding passion, and a dedicated guitarist is stuck asking, “What’s next?”
This is where the debate arises: some guitarists say, “learn guitar theory, take some lessons,” others say, “you don’t need theory to be a guitarist, just keep playing.” A mix of the two is probably the best way to go at this point in your guitar playing world.
Regardless of the type of guitar you play, having some understanding of music theory and chord progressions are helpful in jam sessions, putting together a band and for expanding your playing options. Many colleges and community colleges offer low cost music theory courses, and there are some great books designed specifically for guitarists that give excellent overviews of music theory, while still being clear and understandable to someone with little or no formal music exposure.
READ MORE
Acoustic Guitar or Nylon Stringed Guitars?
In the U.S, most guitarists learn on steel string acoustic guitars or electric guitars. However, in recent years, nylon string classical guitars have garnered a great deal of attention from guitar makers.
Steel stringed guitars are great because they are easy to find at almost any guitar shop, music shop, pawn shops and even on craigslist.com. Most allow you to either finger pick, strum, or use a pick without damaging the top, due to them usually having pickguards. They are powerful instruments that have a sturdiness that is harder to come by in nylon stringed guitars. As a vocal accompaniment instrument, a steel stringed guitar is many players’ choice. The guitar can sing above even the strongest singing voice. READ MORE
So we asked readers about how they have used social media – Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. – to promote music. Here is the first response in the series:
READ MORE
