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Friday 14 March 2014

New trend in learning music through ebooks

It's totally easy and free now to learn music especially in this day and age where internet is accessible and available everywhere.  YouTube, Google and Facebook among others created a very nice venue for student and music teachers. During my time, it's very difficult to access, learn and visualize music. No MTV, no FM station, no tabs.... totally nothing apart from what cassette you bought or shared to you. Today, you got online radio, you got videos on YouTube and no more cassette only iTunes, iPod, tablets, iPad, android and a lot more electronic devices.

With that said, to those who are semi traditional like me there's still something for us like Kindle, or ebooks where you can read through your electronic devices some books about music. That's why I made this article here because I came across some easy to learn ebook on music i.e. learning the guitar or piano.

Here are some of the titles and available online which is a PDF format meaning you'll need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, laptop, tablet, iPhone, android, iPad, etc. I suppose Kindle already got it because it's an ebook-ready device or it's got an eReader.

1. Master the guitar in 7 days

2. Playing piano (beginners guide to playing the piano)

3. Learn to play piano

4. Teach yourself how to play the guitar overnight

5. Learn 2 play the guitar

6. Learn the guitar (beginners guide to playing the guitar)

                                 7. How to play the guitar like a pro

And last but not the least.... my favourite and top ebook to learn guitar/music is

8. Guitar chords and scales

This one for me is an all year round ebook on guitar and from beginners to advanced guitar players this ebook is really helpful. I enjoyed reading this and having this book as reference as well as practise guide.

Saturday 19 October 2013

How to produce your own song

First is to write your material or plan out if you have a song in mind.  Nowadays, you can book in a recording studio and present your idea about your song and they will help you each step of the way but of course with a certain cost.  What I mean by that is, the studio can help you arrange your song, find a singer if you don't have one, if you're an instrumentalist like myself... they can give you a drummer, a keyboardist, a bassist, a guitarist, etc. if you need one. It's really handy now to make music.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/astral-projection/id718762037?i=718762313
Having said that, when you all ready know what to do with your song/composition then it's time to record.  You have again two choices, either record in the studio or use a laptop just like myself. I initially used my netbook using EnergyXT then now progress to macbook using Garageband.

Let's say for example, like myself, I recorded it via Garageband.  After my finished product, like my song Astral Projection, I sent it to Untapped Talent recording studio in southampton for mastering.  And, Matt did a good job. Im quite happy with how Matt worked on my song.  In case, you wanted your song/composition mixed, the studio can do that for a cleaner and more balanced output.

After your song was already mixed and mastered, it's time now to choose which digital distribution company you're going.  For me, there are three companies I've already tried and that is Reverbnation, TuneCore and CDbaby.  All of which are good and all have pros and cons.  Choose what suits your needs.  Read reviews on these three guys. However, at the moment, I am quite happy with CDbaby.
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/astral-projection/id718762037?i=718762313

While you're undecided yet which digital distribution you're going, it's perfect timing for you to update or make an artist profile/bio and that includes profile picture.  You will need these once you got your distribution company, because you'll be registering and will be filling in your data plus your song/album data. So, by now you have to have title for your song and title of your album.  You also need to have an album art cover.  Song details as well as album details.  Artists that you like or got similar genre of music.  Yes, you need to tell them what sort of genre your music or yourself as an artist belongs to.

Don't forget also to read what are the requirements of the digital distribution company in terms of album artwork, audio format, etc.  You'll need all these.

When all is ready, then it's time to sign up to your chosen company i.e. CDbaby and put in all the data that you have prepared and submit your artwork and audio.  If all goes well and is approved, then just wait for the launching of your album or song.  Meanwhile, start promoting your material via posters, social network (facebook), make a music video (youtube), submit to online radio (CDbaby will email you on this), make blogs about your song or better yet just submit it to CDbaby's blog and lastly, gigs.  Promote and sell your song during gigs.