Kinnaird Bagpipes - Tuning your Bagpipes with a KORG tuner

September 2008

 

Featured Article

 

Tuning Your Bagpipes with the Korg Chromatic Tuner

Tuning your pipes can be difficult- the drones must be precisely tuned to each other and also to the chanter. Each note of the chanter must be pitched so that it properly harmonizes with the constant background sound of the drones. This tuning can be done with a well trained ear, but if you're lacking one of those, a chromatic tuner can be used.

Tuning the Chanter
Sound the low A on your chanter and note where it is tuning on the meter. Adjust the calibration buttons until your low A reads "0" on the meter. The green tuning light will come on when your meter is in tune with low A. Use the meter notes and offsets from "0" in the following table to tune the other notes of the chanter. Ensure that the meter is reading the correct "note" which will show up in the top right corner of the tuner. Notes "C" and "F" show up as "C#" and "F#" on the tuner. The first column is the Note. Second column is the ratio to Low A. Third column is the Meter Note. Fourth column is the Meter Offset.

Low G_________7/8 ___G____-31
Low A__________ 1____A____ 0
B_____________ 9/8___B____+4
C_____________5/4___C___ -14
D_____________4/3___D____ -2
E_____________3/2___E ____+2
F_____________5/3___F#___-16
High G_________7/4___G___-31
High A_________2/1___A_____0
Tenor Drone____1/2____A____0
Bass Drone_____1/4___A_____0

If the top hand is sharp compared to the bottom hand, lift the reed slightly out of the chanter to bring the pitch of the top hand down. Add some hemp to the reed if necessary. If the top hand is flat to the bottom hand sink the reed further into the chanter. This will bring up the pitch of the top hand relative to the bottom hand. To flatten individual notes, add a piece of tape to cover the top of the first open hole on the chanter. Sharpening individual notes requires modification to the chanter reed or chanter and should only be done by experienced players.

Tuning the Drones
The drones are tuned to the low A on the pipe chanter. Sound low A on your chanter and adjust the calibration button until the meter reads "0". Adjust the tuning on each of your drones until they are reading "0" on the meter also.

Sincerely, Rauncie Kinnaird Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net Phone: 306-249-2939 Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

Kinnaird Bagpipes - Healthy Piping!

June 2008

 

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Healthy Piping!

Playing the bagpipes is a great way to build up your lung capacity and is great for the cardiovascular system, but have you ever wondered what you might be breathing in?

Not only is moisture control important for maintaining a steady & reliable instrument, but it can also prevent the appearance of pathogens. Moisture can build up in many areas of the pipes, becoming a breeding ground for fungi and bacteria.

Being an organic substance, animal hide bags tend to be great breeding grounds for bacteria. Moisture from the piper's mouth and lungs builds up over time inside the bag causing bacteria and fungi to grow. Some bag dressings can address this issue, but not completely eliminate it. In fact, some dressings act as culture mediums for the bacteria.

Pipe bags are not the only issue. Moisture can build up on the reeds and in the drones. As the piper breathes, they may inhale any spores that have collected in the pipes. This can lead to lung infections and diseases, pneumonia, even brain diseases. Some early warning signs to look for are changes in ability to breathe and play, or voice fatigue.

New technology has greatly reduced these issues. Synthetic pipe bags, synthetic reeds and moisture control systems all help to reduce the amount of moisture build up in an effort to keep the pipes clean and pathogen free. Synthetic bags do not absorb moisture like hide bags do and do not require seasoning, which greatly reduces the opportunity for fungi and bacterial growth. Synthetic drone reeds also reduce moisture build up, unlike cane reeds which can absorb moisture. Best of all, moisture control systems are designed specifically to reduce the amount of moisture inside the bag. They come in a variety of designs from a basic water trap to a desiccant filled canister system. Their use will keep your pipes safe to play.

Always make sure you keep your pipes clean and dry them out whenever you get the chance. Happy, and healthy piping!

 

Sincerely,   Rauncie Kinnaird Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net Phone: 306-249-2939 Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

Kinnaird Bagpipes The Bagpipe Tree-

February 2008

 

Looking for a specific bagpipe tune? The Encyclopedia of Tunes is a complete listing of 22,300 tunes from 328 pipe music books. It can save you time and energy when you're trying to find the right tune!

 

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The Bagpipe Tree

The Mpingo tree, also called the African Blackwood, is a member of the Rosewood family that grows in the Miombo woodlands of Africa. It has a high density, great durability, and natural oils that seal the surface of the wood, making it great for musical instruments like the bagpipes.

These trees often grow naturally knotted and twisted. To use them for musical instruments, they must be straight and without defects. Less than 2% of all the wood harvested can be used for this purpose! It takes about 70 years for the Mpingo tree to reach maturity followed by 3 years of processing before it can be used to make an instrument.

The middle of the wood is black and so hard that it can blunt an axe and must be drilled before screwing or nailing it. The wood is very resistant and the roots support bacteria that increase soil fertility.

As Tanzania's national tree, it is the most valuable tree harvested and also the most expensive, requiring special equipment to harvest. These trees are currently at risk of being wiped out. There has been a shortage over the last 20 years due to weather, political instability and economics. In many places, the trees are illegally cut down or burned to clear the area for farming and livestock. Burning kills the younger trees and leaves the older trees deformed and diseased.

There are efforts in place to save the "bagpipe tree" and create a sustainable supply for the future. Reaching these goals will not only increase the amount of trees legally harvested, but will also reduce poverty in the area, help to rebuild the forests, conserve water, reduce soil erosion and, keep the music playing!

All of the Blackwood we use comes from a supplier that purchases wood from a government approved seller whose trees are legally harvested and documented. The wood is only supplied to musical instrument companies.

The government of Tanzania is trying to cut back on the amount of tree smuggling by scanning and conducting physical searches of cargo shipments. There are increasing efforts to monitor the legal trade of African Blackwood and police the illegal trade. All of these factors add to the cost of the wood. Most reputable Bagpipe manufacturers use wood from legally harvested trees. Ask us about fair trade bagpipes!

Sincerely, Rauncie Kinnaird Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net Phone: 306-249-2939 Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

Kinnaird Bagpipes - Trouble Shooting Kinnaird Drone Reeds

July 2008

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Trouble Shooting Kinnaird Drone Reeds

We get calls and emails regularly from people who need help with the Kinnaird Drone Reeds. This article addresses some of the most commonly asked questions.

1. Double Toning- The reed is not getting enough air pressure. The most likely reason is that the reed is set up too strong. Move the bridle towards the vibrating end of the reed to make it easier. Another issue may be air restriction to the stock. There may be a build up of seasoning in the bottom of the stock or a drone valve or enhancer may be too restrictive. Remove the valve or enhancer to see if it solves the problem. Check their instructions to adjust them so that they take less pressure to open. Canister systems can also cause restrictions. Check that all hoses are not kinked or leaking and that the canister is not too close to the bag restricting airflow.

2. Squealing- The reed tongue could be too short. Lengthening the tongue should fix it. If not, there may be some debris underneath the tongue. Clean under the tongue by inserting a dollar bill or business card under the tongue and dragging it out the side, while applying gentle pressure to the top of the tongue. You can also remove the tongue and clean the tongue and bed of the reed with warm soapy water.

3. Drones Shutting Off- Often the reeds are set up too easy or there is excess moisture. If the reeds are too easy, move the bridle away from the vibrating end of the tongue to make them stronger. If the reed is fine when you start, but shuts down after playing for a while, it is likely a moisture issue. Insert a dollar bill or business card underneath the tongue to absorb some of the moisture. You can also remove the nose cone and put a pipe cleaner up the bore of the reed & in the end of the nose cone. Dry out the bores with a cotton brush. Moisture control systems are great solutions and come in a variety of styles.

4. Make sure that your reeds are installed correctly. Many issues are due to improper set up. Full set up instructions for Kinnaird drone reeds and their replacement parts can be found on the FAQs portion of our website.

These are just a few of the most commonly asked questions. For more information, refer to the FAQs portion of the website. If you still can not find an answer to your problem, don't hesitate to call or email us!

Sincerely, Rauncie Kinnaird Kinnaird Bagpipes

 

Email: r.k@sasktel.net Phone: 306-249-2939 Website: http://www.kinnairdbagpipes.com

Musical Success: Gibson Guitars

When you mention a particular product and speak about the top of the line, one specific brand within that product line usually comes to mind. For example, if you talk about top of the line in the car industry, one may think or mention the brand of Cadillac, Lexus, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, etc.

In addition, if you were to talk about music you might think of a Steinway, Baldwin, Stradivarius, etc. Specifically, if you were to talk about the top of the line in the guitar world, one of the names that probably would be mentioned would be Gibson Guitars.

The History Of Gibson Guitars

The founder of the Gibson Guitar company was Orville Gibson. However, the first manufactured stringed instruments by Orville Gibson weren’t guitars but mandolins. Eventually, though, the production of mandolins gave way to the production of guitars and the Gibson Mandolin Guitar Manufacturing Company was born in 1902. Soon, the production of guitars became the mainstay and Gibson introduced numerous innovative guitar designs.

Eventually, the electric guitar came on the scene. In fact, the Gibson Guitar Company released the first Electric Spanish model. The claim to fame of this model is that it is being credited as the first electric guitar successfully built for commercial use.

Another successful line of Gibson Guitars was the Gibson Les Paul. This particular model of Gibson Guitar was released in 1954. Other guitarists who have helped to popularize the Gibson Guitar have been Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and Pete Green.

The Categorizing Of Gibson Guitars

In 1970, Gibson Guitars decided upon a tactic to help protect their name and the guitars that were manufactured. That solution was to stamp an eight digit serial number on their product.

Specifically, the eight digit number is stamped on the underside of the headstock of the guitar. In addition, the serial number is significant. That significance is that the number corresponds to the date that the instrument was manufactured, the location indicating where the guitar was made and the run number. Specifically, the first and fifth number represent the year, the second, third and fourth number represent the day of the year of manufacturing and the sixth number represents the locale of manufacturing. Finally, the last two digits, of the eight digit serial number, represent the run number.

Types Of Gibson Guitars

In addition to electric guitars, there are other types of Gibson Guitars. Those types include acoustic guitars, bass and bluegrass style guitars.

Amplifiers - More Power!

Amplifiers

The best way to make your music sound louder and bolder than it actually is, would be to use an amplifier. Small bands in local bars as well as huge rock stars filling up arenas rely on them to get their sound out to the crowd. Amplifiers are also available to purchase for your home entertainment theatre system or can be added to your car’s sound system. Depending on the different features, the amplifier you purchase will determine the quality of sound it produces.

There are many well known brands of amplifiers and you can find advertisements for them in music magazines. Guitar amplifiers are often endorsed by big stars in the music industry, because the manufacturer knows a person is more likely to buy what their idols are using. Usually amplifiers that are endorsed in this way are more expensive to buy because the company has to cover advertising costs.

Before you purchase your amplifier you will need to do some research to find one that will function in a way that will meet your needs. The amount of sound output that is projected from an amplifier is known as "gain". You will also need to evaluate the bandwidth that is offered for it. When the frequency is too high, it will cause the amplifier to vibrate, however, they make filters which will help solve this problem.

Another important thing to remember is the overall level of sound output it will produce. During band practice most people have the volume turned to a lower setting but when it comes time to perform, you can turn it up to a higher level. You want the amplifiers that you use to be linear in nature as well. This will help keep the sound clearer and not sound distorted at higher output levels.

Usually any amplifier you purchase for your music instrument will need to be plugged into it. If you purchase a newer amplifier model you should be able to find one that does not need to be plugged in. When you buy one for your home, all you will need to do is attach it to your home theater entertainment system. Many of the newer models of stereos for homes and cars already come with an amplifier built right into them.

Some music stores will have an area where you can test out an amplifier. People that play an electric guitar should bring it to the store when shopping for amplifiers. Before going to the music store you should check to see if you can bring your particular instrument, so you can test to see how it will sound with different types of electronic amplifiers.

MP3 Audio Book Download Selections Economical And Varied

audio books on CD

Books open up completely new worlds of wonder and entertainment to readers and provide fuel to the imagination and information to educate and expand a person's understanding and appreciation on a myriad of topics. In this busy world, not everyone has the luxury of being able to sit down and delve into a book on a regular basis, but there are many such people who can find a few minutes each day to enjoy an MP3 audio book download.

There have been audio books, which used to be referred to as "books on tape," for a number of years. It has been reported that the first recording of a book was done all the way back in the 1930s when audio recording equipment could still be considered to be in its infancy. Today, the most convenient, the most widely available, and the most cost effective option for enjoying the modern version of a book on tape is with an MP3 audio book.

As MP3 players have become so incredibly popular and have gotten more affordable, the MP3 audio book download selections have increased dramatically. Nowadays it might be easier to find an MP3 version of an audio book than it would be to find the same work on a CD or on a cassette tape, both of which went through phases of being the most popular format for audio books on some type of portable media.

The process and the cost of delivering the product to the customer are greatly facilitated by being able to offer MP3 versions of their titles. With audio books on CD, or on the "old fashioned" cassette tape, the publisher has to pay up front for the production costs of putting the recording of the books onto those physical mediums. Not only is that an out of pocket expense, but there is no assurance that once the tape or CD audiobook inventory is made that it will be in demand by the public.

But if a publisher can offer their works in the form of an MP3 audio book, then they have the opportunity to test the market and get a read on how popular a particular audio book on CD might be before they ever have to invest a dollar to produce hard copies of their audio book offerings. If a particular title doesn't sell as well as hoped, then they have gotten valuable market data with very low overhead and if it does sell well enough to justify going into production to burn the audio book CDs, then they will have an idea of how many to produce as a first run.

Another advantage to the publisher is that they do not have to worry about needing warehouse space to store the inventory of CD audio book titles, nor do they have to deal with distribution to retailers, or shipping to customers. Publishers of MP3 audio book download recordings can also sell direct to the customer from their website and cut out the expense of the "middle man" as well.

At first glance it can seem that all of the benefits of producing MP3 audio book download titles belong to the publishers. However, consumers also benefit by being able to buy the audio books at a lower cost and having a much greater selection in titles that are also available as audio book downloads. In some cases, publishers even offer readers who buy the hardcover version of a book a free audiobook of the title as well.

Free Music iPod Downloads – How To Download Music Off The Internet

Free music iPod downloads can be easily attainable if you acquire it with legality through sites that are authorized to download iPod music.

With a lot of fraud and swindles on different online websites these days promising quality music downloads, it is necessary that you consider searching for a reputable download site.

This should not only be free from viruses and spyware but also of popups. This can be tough but all will be worthwhile when you’ve finally settled for the best.

You also need not believe on different hypes and advertisements that are too good to be true. A lot of P2P sites offer free download but you should be careful of choosing for the appropriate ones. Keep in mind that P2P sites are a hacker’s hub and accessibility is much easier and so, taking extra precautions is imperative.

P2P networks frequently have viruses and spyware posing as legit music download files but can wreck havoc on your computer when downloaded and played.

Moreover, to come up with free music iPod downloads you need to have extensive research to different sites that will give you quality songs whilst enjoying your music downloads.

There are a lot of forums that will help you decide and choose only the best for your iPod and making full consideration of these reviews and personal affirmations is necessary.

Remember that when you try to download music, you also need to be sentient that not all downloads come with quality and safe ones. Always ensure the secure transfer of files from these sites to your database.

Another alternative to download free ipod music is to join a music download membership site. These sites allows you to download unlimited free ipod music for a one time fee.

Discover the best to get free music iPod downloads. Learn how to get free music downloads for iPod.

How To Learn Electric Guitar Quick

Learn Electric Guitar

Methods To Learn Electric Guitar Quick

Tips for Getting the Most Value From Your Lessons :

Wish to learn electric guitar Now? Well, it is unquestionably a fun choice. After all, it’s absolutely a powerful instrument. The el- guitar actually is a superior instrument in most types of music nowadays except for dance and tehcno music, and even these kinds of music was maybe originally written on guitar. It is a flexible instrument, providing different tones, sound qualities, and volumes. If you have decided that you want to learn how to work this impressive instrument that has turned so best-selling in the last hundred years, there are some things you’ll need to think of. Here are some top hints to help you get the most from your electric guitar lessons that will help you to a greater extent promptly work the el- guitar.

First: Know Your Guitar
First off,most of all, it is really essential that you know the guitar you are playing if you want to learn electric guitar and get the most out of your lessons. Take some time to play around with the guitar to get used to the feel of it and how it is to play and get a good feeling of it. Play around with all the controls and the knobs to get a feel for how everything works. Learn to mix your sounds and just take some time to really get to know your guitar. If you know your guitar well, you’ll get a whole lot more out of your electric guitar lessons and you’ll become a greater guitar player as well.

Second: Be Sure You Have a Strong Amp
Buying a working amplifier is going to be equally serious if you want to learn electric guitar and get as much as possible from every singel lesson. Although a great guitar is important, if you have a no-good amplifier, you are going to deal with bad sound. When you’re picking out an amplifier, make sure that you you enjoy the sound before you make up your mind to drive it home. Test it with the guitar you use or is getting as well. Also, you may want to look for an amp that already has a distortion option in it that you can turn on and off. This is great, and especially if you were not able to get the effect box for your electric guitar.

Third: Get Time to Listen to Other Guitar Musicians
Listening to others play the electric guitar is a great way that you can get as much as possible from your lessons when you want to learn electric guitar. Listen to the classics and to some of the best electric guitarists in the world to get an understadning of how you want to sound. You can learn a whole lot just hearing some of the tunes and different riffs that come from various electric guitars.

Last: Practise Makes Perfect
Some of the most crucial matters to remember is that practice makes perfect. You simply can't expect to have a few lessons and all of a sudden learn electric guitar. It’s necessary to take some time to really learn the instrument, but if you commit yourself to it and practice on a daily basis, you can absolutely learn more rapidly. With practise, you’ll be playing songs in no time, and if you keep the exercise up, there is no limit as to what you can do with your new learned knowledge and lessons. To Learn more about How To Learn Guitar go here.

Free MP3 Audio Book Downloads Are Used The Most With iPod Owners

audio book player

There are numerous people who express surprise when they learn that audio books have been available ever since the 1930s, even though they were not widely available until many years later. Now, some eighty years since that time, more and more people are listening to what used to be called "books on tape." However, in this digital age, audio books are not often found on tape. MP3s are more popular. Even more popular are free MP3 audio book downloads that allow people to put the recording on their computer or iPod, without spending a nickel.

Even though audio books had been available for a number of years, they really gained in popularity in the late 1970s when the Sony Walkman became so popular. This small cassette tape player made it possible for people to easily take recorded material with them in a convenient way that had never before been popular. Then, about a decade later, the compact disc was introduced and suddenly the newest and best music and audio books on CD became more popular. While you can still buy an audio book on CD today, most people prefer to get their audio books in MP3 format.

There is no doubt that a little searching will produce a wide array of free MP3 audio book downloads from a number of websites. However, it is pretty unlikely that if you are looking for a brand new audio book release of a recent bestselling book that you'll find it as a free download. Those new and popular titles will be available for sale though, and many via a download after purchase.

In some instances, an author, or their publisher, will offer a free MP3 audio book version of the work to customers who purchase the printed hardcover book. This can be a valuable incentive to the customer and also an effective advertising and marketing strategy that is particularly helpful when a brand new author is trying to gain a name and reputation.

Many times, an independent author who does not have their own publisher will build a website to promote a new book that they have written and will offer the free MP3 audio book as a bonus when the customer buys their printed book or their e-book. This can also be a good way to drive up sales or to launch a new website because people are always attracted to the potential to get something for free and most people consider an audio book download to have a lot of value, especially if it is on a topic about which they are interested.

There are a number of websites these days that have vast libraries of MP3 audio book downloads that cover just about any topic that have ever been written about. Some of these sites are membership websites and when you register as a free member or purchase a paid membership to their site, many will provide their new members with free MP3 audio book selections as a part of their membership.

Another source for many free MP3 audio book titles that you can download is the public library system. In addition, there are websites that have collected vast volumes of works that are now in the public domain and are freely available for people to download. Some of these sites request a donation to help offset their costs of providing this amazing treasury of e-books and audio books on MP3.

My Search of How to Learn to Play Guitar from Home

When I first bought my guitar the majority of my time was spent browsing the web searching for videos and tutorials that were free to show me how to play guitar. When I first started learning it was an adventure I was learning everything from scratch so each new chord or technique I learned was bringing me closer to being able to play a full song.

How ever after a couple of months of exhausting all of the free materials available online. It was at this I point I thought I was going to have to find more detailed instruction if I was to become a better guitar player.

A friend of mine had been taking guitar lessons from a local instructor in our town, the down side was it cost $20 bucks for each lesson, and there was only one less a week. The price seemed a lot to me, and I was interested in learning to play faster. I had time and was eager to learn and once a week wasn't going to cater to that.

So I decided there must be some paid options online I could explore. I started doing my research to try and find out more about the guitar lesson products that were out there for people like me to learn from home.

The best one I found was after reading a Learn and master guitar review. This dvd course seemed to be the Cadillac of learn guitar programs, and it was priced competitively for how much content it gave you.

I decided not to jump in right away, I kept doing some more research. I came across numerous guitar member sites, ebooks, and download courses none of which seemed to interest me as much.

It didn't matter how many sites I read and message boards I went to it always seemed to come back to that Learn and master guitar review. I decided it was worth a try, they had a money back guarantee so if I wasn't satisfied with the course after I got it I'd request a refund.

It took only about a week for my copy of Learn and Master guitar to get here and right out of the box I was impressed. The packaging, the practice book, everything looked very professional. I popped in the first dvd to get a look at the lessons and the video quality was awesome.

I have been using Learn & Master guitar now for a few months and my technique and guitar playing has progressed a lot. Without it I can only think I'd be stuck playing just a handful of chords and and feeling frustrated that I just shouldn't play guitar.

What Are The 3 biggest Problems With Learning the Guitar Online?

There is a lot to be said for using online and downloadable guitar lessons instead of paying for an instructor. You save money, can learn at your own pace and it’s all right there – but at what cost? The following 3 problems can mean the difference between becoming a guitar legend quickly and inexpensively or giving up frustrated having wasted lots of time and money.

Sure it’s very possible to become very good and quickly be able to work out your favourite songs, jam long with friends and impress people at parties, but only if you know how to use your time effectively and have a system to keep you focused, motivated and on the right track.

If you're going to go this route you can definitely save money – but you can also waste time and end up starting over with a proper instructor to fill in the gaps which costs more down the line in time and money.

To effectively and quickly learn the guitar online you need more than just the material. You are going the self taught route with digital self training manuals – it's going to be a steeper journey, but very rewarding if you do it properly.

These are the 3 main problems with learning the guitar online that you need to be aware of before you commit and what you can do about them:

Learning and playing the guitar is a very individual process and it’s very hard to find a 1-size-fits-all online or downloadable solution that can cater for your specific needs. At the beginning this isn’t such an issue but as you get better and advance it is. Be prepared to try and map out a journey and course of your own to guide your learning

Structured learning – following on from the above point it’s important to have a specific direction to structure your learning around and be able to break it down into manageable steps that culminate toward where you want to go. Find songs and pieces you want to be able to play and give yourself timescales of when you want to be able to play them buy. Do this for beginner, intermediate and advanced stages.

Lack of motivation and focus – by far the worst problem, particularly at the beginning. Practicing and getting your fingers and hands into shape takes time, patience and motivation. Motivate yourself by always reminding yourself of what you want to achieve with your guitar playing. Make sure you listen to your idols a lot and watch videos of them playing.

Remember they were exactly where you are today and got to where they are through practice, repetition and unwavering motivation. It works if you keep at it so keep reminding yourself why you’re doing this by listening and watching your big motivators.

Remember – going it alone is cheaper and steeper but with the right mindset you can do it, it will be hard but more than worth it when you’re surrounded by adoring fans and admirers! For some more detailed tips on how to structure your learning and stay motivated check out this page on How To Download Guitar Lessons and Fast Track Your Learning in 5 Easy Steps where I go into some specifics of how to get the very best out of downloadable guitar lesson content to become a great guitarist in the shortest time.

Peter Webber is a semi-professional guitarist who has been playing for nearly 20 years now. He is the owner and author of http://www.beginner-guitar-lessons.com a site dedicated to helping those looking to learn the guitar using just online and downloadable resources.

How to Stop Fretbuzz on an Electric Guitar

Fret buzz is one of the most frustrating problems you can have when you first learn to play the guitar. Part of the problem is that there are so many possible causes, some of which are easily fixed, and others, less so. It makes sense then, to first of all try and identify what's causing the problem and eliminate easily fixed causes first.

The first thing to check, if your guitar is electric, like, say a Gibson or Epiphone Les Paul, is that it's the guitar itself that is buzzing and not the electrics. Unplug your guitar from the amp and check if the buzz is still there. Now check that the strings are seated properly in the nut (at the top of the neck) and the bridge. On old guitars, the nut, especially if its plastic, can get worn down and cause fret buzz.

If none of that is causing the problem, hold the guitar up to eye level and look across the strings, level with the pick-ups. Are the pick-ups touching the strings? If so, that could also cause buzzing.

Next, check your strings. If they're grubby or have a film of sweat on them, that could be causing buzzing. Clean them with a damp cloth, or use a specialist cleaning product like GHC Fast Fret. The fretboard itself can also get grubby. Sweat and dirt builds up over time on the fretboard and next to the frets themselves. Clean that too, preferably with a cleaner designed for the job. If not, a damp cloth is better than nothing.

If none of that works, you may have to get professional help from a guitar tech. The cause could be a fret that's not level with the others and needs sanding, or a saddle that needs adjustment. It could also be a worn nut that needs to be heightened or replaced, or a truss rod that needs to be adjusted.

Clean the fretboard, replace the strings and make all the checks outlined above. If none of those work, take your guitar to your local guitar store and ask their technician to take a look. It shouldn't cost too much to make the necessary adjustments. While you're there you might want to ask him to do a complete set-up for you. That way you'll know that your guitar is in the best condition it can possibly be.

Free Audio Book Titles Nowadays Are Available From Multiple Sources

audio book player

Having a chance to listen to recorded books that are available in one of many audio formats is a really convenient and helpful way for busy people to enjoy a good book. While books on tape were once quite popular, the audio books on CD or MP3 audio book options are in more demand now. In fact, MP3 audio book titles are gaining in popularity because they are not only cheaper to buy, but there is also a growing number of free audio book MP3s that are available to download to your iPod.

When it comes to listening to audio books on some type of audio book player, it isn't always about not having the time to sit down and read. There are some people who simply prefer to be able to multi-task and listening to audio books instead of holding a book and flipping pages is a better use of their time, in their minds. But regardless of the reason why a person loves to listen to books instead of reading them, a free audio book is always something that is welcomed warmly by any book lover.

An audiobook player is usually a portable device and there are versions to play all three types of the aforementioned audio book formats. Of the three formats, the cassette tape is fading out of the marketplace and it can even be difficult to find "books on tape" these days. But, if you have a good cassette player and prefer this format, then there are free and cheap audio book cassettes available if you ask around.

There are several websites that encourage people to post their items that they no longer want or use so that other people who want them can get them for free. There are many audio book titles available this way, both as audio books on CD and on cassette tape. One of the main purposes of these sites is to keep people from throwing things away so that they don't end up in a landfill. One of the biggest organized groups of this type is FreeCylcle.com and there are many types of items that people are giving away every single day.

Because an MP3 audio book is a completely electronic file, and does not have to be copied onto a physical device, such as a CD or tape, in order to be distributed, this is the least expensive type of recorded books on the market. As a result, there are more free audio book titles to choose from in MP3 audio book format than in the other two formats. The only expense is the MP3 audio book player; yet if you don't mind listening to the audio book on your computer, then you do not even need that.

There are also many websites that offer free audio book MP3s, so you can enjoy recorded books that cover just about every topic you can think of. On some of these sites, you simply search and download MP3 audio book selections as much as you like. Other sites will require you to register before you can download any of their files, and still others offer paid memberships and usually have an even greater selection from which you can choose.

Humbuckers vs Single Coil Pick-ups

Electric guitar pick-ups collect or 'pick-up' the vibrations of guitar strings which induce an alternating current in the coils of copper wire wrapped around poles in the pick-up. That current is then passed through potentiometers which modify volume and tone and through a guitar lead to an amplifier. The amplifier then uses either valves or transistors to convert that current to an audible sound and amplify it.

There are two main types of pick-up, the single coil variety found on guitars like Fender's Stratocaster and Telecaster, and twin coil humbuckers, found in Gibson and Epiphone guitars.

The humbucker was originally developed in the late 1950's by a Gibson employee, Seth Lover, in response to a problem with single coil pick-ups. The problem was that single coil pick-ups tend to be vulnerable to electromagnetic interference which produces an audible hum when amplified. The purpose of Lover's twin coil was to buck the hum, hence the name.

The humbucker has two coils of copper wire each wrapped around six magnetic poles. The coils are reverse wound and reversed in polarity. The effect of this is that the electromagnetic interference induces current in opposite directions in each pick-up and is thus cancelled out. At the same time, the signal from the vibration of the strings is increased. This is known as common-mode rejection. Guitars fitted with humbuckers, such as the Les Paul and SG, usually have one pick-up at the bridge and one at the neck, each with its own volume and tone controls and often a metal plate fitted over the top of the pick-up.

The other key property of twin coil pick-ups is that the two coils resonate at different frequencies and so the humbucker has a broader resonant peak than single-coil pick-ups. This broader resonant peak produces a fatter, warmer tone, one of the hallmarks of the Gibson Les Paul and Epiphone Casino, than the clear bright signature sound of the single coil pick-ups on the Fender Stratocaster.

Mastering Guitar Playing The Easy Way

The roots of today's guitar can be traced back a great many generations with many of the ancient instruments showing characteristics rather like the modern instrument. Although the guitar commonly has six or twelve strings there are others which can have four, five, seven, eight and ten strings. For many decades this musical instrument has played the lead role in the advancement of modern music and even after the invention of electronic keyboards, and virtual instruments, the guitar is the predominant instrument in most styles of music such as rythm and blues.

With so many ways of creating music on home computers you will be surprised to discover that for many years now the popularity of the guitar has been steadily increasing with more and more people aquiring and trying to learn how to play the guitar. While many have the target of being a rock star the larger number just aim to learn how to play well for the enjoyment of it.

The largest number of people learn to play the guitar by purchasing a guitar tuition book. There are a number of publications which include compact discs that make the learning far easier. Such publications commonly show you a selection of simple chords and bar chords as well as power chords and a small collection of simple songs.

A superb way to learn how to play is by purchasing a DVD or, even better, an interactive DVD which will teach you various different styles and techniques. As well as tuition DVDs offering simple lessons it is possible to buy specialist versions which teach you how to play in a similar fashion to a well known guitarist. Commonly these contain a number of pieces by that performer so that you can master their skills.

As well as learning from interactive DVDs on your personal computer it is also possible to get guitar tuition online. Some tutors offer lessons on a personal basis via webcams and downloadable material. Many people know of the computer game "Guitar Hero" and it is also possible get a similar thing online but for real guitars. Line 6 offers an amazing monthly membership scheme which has an increasing list of tunes to jam along to with the guitar track in or muted.

Electric Guitar Vs Acoustic Guitar

The acoustic guitar is available in a number of types but all need a sound box behind the strings to increase the sound of the vibrating strings. Most folk have had sight of a classical guitar and the majority acoustic guitars are of this type, however there are many other types available such as the Resonator.

The electric guitar is the most widely known type but it is available in such a wide variety of designs that you are only limited by your own imagination. There are a few classic designs such as the Gibson Les Paul, Fender Stratocaster (Strat) and Fender Telecaster which are the most famous.However, with digital technology, these three famous guitars and more can be found in another guitar called the Variax which uses digital modeling to create the tone of the Variax to sound almost the same as the original.

In the past most folk learned guitar on an acoustic model but the price of electric guitars has fallen so much that it is now possible to purchase a full package, guitar, amplifier, strap and tuition book/CD, for almost the same cost as a quality acoustic.

Remember if you are starting to learn how to play guitar you muststart at the beginning! Far too many kids assume that they can master a guitar classic instantaneously, however, with a small amount of effort and time you may find yourself to be on the first steps to becoming a the next guitar master.

Which Online Guitar Courses Are Right For You?

If you play the guitar or would like to and have spent any time looking on the Internet for guitar lessons, you may well have found it a pretty depressing experience. There's no shortage of lessons and courses out there, it's just that sorting the good ones from the dross seems almost impossible.

Visit the websites of these courses and you'll find paragraph after paragraph of hype, promising you the earth, telling you that if only you buy this course or sign-up for this site, you'll be transformed from guitar zero to guitar hero in a matter of weeks. Worse still, if you try and find honest, hype-free reviews of these products you'll find that most of the sites that turn up in the first few pages of Google's search results for the product name followed by 'review' offer little more than a rehashing of the original sites. Many of these so-called reviewers haven't even tried out the product they claim to review, let alone written a careful and honest appraisal.

The one piece of good news is that nearly all these courses, including the likes of Jamorama, Guitar Scale Mastery, and Riff Master Pro Slow Down, offer a money-back guarantee if you don't like what you get when you buy. But that still leaves you with the task of laboriously buying and downloading one after the other in order to find which one's right for you.

So, what should you do? The first thing is to be honest about your own skill level. There's no point buying a course for advanced players if you're a complete beginner, and vice versa. Next, decide whether you work better from reading something that's written down, or watching a lesson on video. Thirdly, prepare to practice. No matter what they promise, none of these programs will make yo a better guitar player without hours and hours of effort on your part.

To find out which online guitar lessons are right for you, forget about searching Google for reviews. Visit a couple of guitar forums and ask if anyone there has used any of the online lessons you're interested in. Go to Yahoo Answers or AllExperts.com and post a question. And head to Technorati and find some blogs written by guitar players, or better still, teachers, and ask their opinion.

Like improving your playing, these research techniques take time and effort, but the reward is that you won't spend hours downloading courses which don't deliver what they promised and then claiming a refund. It'll be well-worth it in the long run.

10 Tips for Making You a Better Guitar Player

Stuck in a rut and want to take your guitar skills to the next level? Here's ten ways to do it easily and quickly and they won't cost you a penny.

1. Check your posture. It's something that's too often ignored, but posture is very important when you play guitar. You spend hours practicing and playing and most of that time is spent in the same position. Get it wrong and you you could be lining yourself up for all sorts of aches and pains. Also, correct posture helps you form chords and get those difficult to reach finger positions more easily. If you're sitting down, sit upright, don't slouch over the guitar. If you're standing with the guitar on a strap, keep your back straight and shoulders back.

2. Hold the guitar properly. Again this is something that's often overlooked, but it's important. And your right hand is as important as your left when it comes to correct positioning (swap that around if you play left handed). Your right palm shouldn't rest on the guitar, the only time it should make contact is if you're using it to dampen the strings to achieve a specific sound. Otherwise it should be off the guitar. Your left hand should bend at the wrist toward you and should be positioned so that the tips of your fingers can reach every string without obstructing the other strings.

3.Choose a time to practice and stick to it. There's no getting around it, playing guitar, like any other learned skill takes time, effort, and discipline. If you adopt an ad hoc approach to practice, you'll soon get out of the habit. So set aside some time, even if it's only an hour two or three times a week and make that your practice time.

4. Don't just play chords and solos. Your fingertips are the only point of contact between you and the keyboard and so they need to work perfectly. Playing the same chords and solos will allow you to become very good at those chords and solos, but nothing else. Find some guitar exercises on the internet or in a guitar book and do them at the start of each practice session to keep your fingers nimble.

5. Step outside your comfort zone. We all have styles we enjoy playing and chord patterns and solo licks we love, but, as in No. 4 above, only playing those won't help you develop as a guitar player. Make a conscious decision to learn different styles, and new chords. Deliberately stop yourself playing your favourite licks and chords and play new ones instead. You'll be a better player for it.

6. Play with others. No matter how much you practice alone, you won't achieve nearly as much as you will jamming with other players. Bouncing ideas of others, picking up tricks, different ways to play chords and learning new songs are just a few of the products of a good jam. And it makes practicing much more fun.

7. Focus on a goal. We all have days when we can't be bothered practicing. Whether it's because we're tired, hungover, are just lack motivation, the result is the same. It doesn't have to be like that. If you have a goal, something that really motivates you, it's much easier to practice regularly. For example, there;s a new guitar you really want why not print out a picture of it pin it up near where you practice and promise yourself that as soon as you reach your next target, you'll buy the guitar.

8. Get lessons. Teaching yourself, learning from friends, DVDs, books and online guitar tutorials, such as Jamorama is all very well. But there's no substitute (cue Pete Townshend) for one to one tuition. Yes, it's expensive, but you don't need to sign-up for a full-course, just get a few lessons to conquer any recurring problems your having or get yourself over the next hurdle.

9. Keep your guitar in good condition. This is a no-brainer. Keeping your guitar clean, wiping off sweat from the strings and keeping it out of harms way are essential. You should also change strings regularly and give it a complete 'spring clean' every once in a while.

10. Practice more. Because you can never practice too much. However, that doesn't mean you should practice for hours on end without a break. Fatigue sets in and destroys concentration, which leads to mistakes and in turn that causes discouragement. Have a break from the guitar completely at least once and hour, even if it's only for five or ten minutes. You'll be much fresher and practice more productively as a result.

Audio Book Store Sites Bring Customers Lots of Choices

audio book player

As the internet has expanded rapidly over the last several years, the result has been that completely new industries have emerged as others have undergone considerable changes. The digital revolution has changed the way that media is delivered and this, in turn, has given rise to a plethora of audio book store websites that are available these days.

Nowadays, anyone who has an internet connection and a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or a WiFi enabled PDA, has easy and convenient access to a mind-boggling selection of MP3 audio book titles that are available from any number of audio book store websites. With the growth in popularity of audio book downloads and being able to listen to all kinds of books -- from classics, to brand new releases, to obscure niche topics -- as audio recordings, there is no doubt that this is going to be a strong and flourishing industry for the foreseeable future.

Most of the audio book store websites that can be found have an extremely wide selection of topics to choose from. You can download MP3 audio book titles from just about every category, from fiction, to biographies, to business, to self-improvement, to brand new audio book releases from bestselling authors.

One of the reasons why audio books on all kinds of topics have become so popular is that many people consider that time wasted is the same as opportunity wasted. When stuck in a car for an hour or two every day while commuting to and from work, there's a great deal of time that can be put to better use and listening to audio books while commuting can turn the car into a university on wheels. People have been known to make amazing improvements in their lives just by taking advantage of all the learning that they can take advantage of through listening to audio books on the road.

Audio books are great to listen to during a commute, while traveling for business or pleasure, while exercising, or while pursuing hobbies. It is simple and easy to pick up a new audio book any time that you are in need of something new. With audio book downloads that the online audio websites offer, you will instantly have your book to play on your iPod. There is no more waiting for the mailman to deliver the audio book on CD and no longer any need to pay for shipping and handling.

Because you will find so many audio book store websites nowadays, it has become a very intensely competitive niche, which is always great for the consumer. Competition means prices stay lower, selection is greater, and many times the retailers will offer special incentives, such as free audio books with a purchase. With so much to choose from and good terms and prices being offered, it is easy to always have a new audio book to play on your audio book player.

Music Books Online Are A Great Convenience For You

audio book club

For some people, there is just nothing better than having the time to delve into a well-written masterpiece, many of which have been responsible for enlightening and educating people for centuries. In more recent years, people have also enjoyed being able to listen to recordings of books for those occasions when they simply do not have the time to sit down and read. Most recently, people are enjoying ready access to a vast collection of audio books online.

One of the best things about audio books in general is that they give people the chance to avail themselves of the knowledge that is contained within the covers of a treasured tome without having to crack open the cover. In today's fast-paced world, people often don't have the luxury of being able to carve out enough time to read a lengthy novel, no matter how great a masterpiece it might be. But the same busy person can download audio books, load them onto their audio book player, such as an iPod, and listen to the MP3 audio book while they are engaged in other activities.

There are certainly a variety of different activities that people routinely engage in that can also end up being the perfect opportunity to allow audio books online to go to work for them. For many people, the time they spend in the car everyday, either commuting or running errands, can be wasted time unless they take their audio book download, put it on an audio book player and take it along so they can enjoy a good book while they drive.

Driving, commuting on a bus or train, or even commuting on foot or bike, gives people a block of time on a regular basis that is perfect for listening to audio book downloads. At the same time, these same activities do not lend themselves to reading because it is difficult to hold a book and read. But, with audio books that are available on the internet, which are so plentiful and widely available, the commuter can download a new audio book as soon as they finish one and have an unending supply of wonderful material to listen to and enjoy.

There is a vast array of audio books these days and there seems to be more and more websites cropping up with each passing month, which continues to expand the selection that people have. No matter if you want to learn a new language, brush up on negation skills, learn history, or just want to be entertained by a best selling book that has been made available in audio format, the choice is wide open and you can find audio books on virtually any topic.

There is a huge selection of audio books online that are made available through audio book rental websites, audio book club memberships, and audio book retailers. Many people are not aware that there are also numerous free audio books from any number of websites. There are public library websites and public domain websites that have vast collections of audio book downloads of which the public has access to at no charge.

Irish Music - Taking the World by its Special Charm

Ireland has got a rich history dating back to pre-Christian Celtic times. The music of Ireland that has developed through the course of history is also very rich and highly refined. The traditional Irish music has retained its unique appeal throughout the last century and is continuing to do so. Unlike many other traditional forms of music the world over, this could not been overshadowed the immensely popular pop music of the day. On the contrary, it is the Irish music that is casting its influence on contemporary music forms of the day.

 

The music of Ireland has maintained much of its traditional aspects despite emigration taking place over the years and a well developed connection with music imported from Britain and the U.S. having been set up. Instead of being influenced the Irish music has itself influenced various forms of music. The country and roots music in U.S.A. has been influenced by Irish music. Irish music has also been known to have influenced rock music albeit indirectly. The music of Ireland in a modernized form has from time to time been fused with rock and roll, punk rock and other musical styles to give rise to successful musical ventures and creation of globally popular melodies.

 

A slow moving change characterizes the traditional Irish music. These are regarded to be of ancient origin though the actual age of the tunes is nearly impossible to be estimated. This is because of the tremendous variation in the tunes across the parts of the island. Though most of the old songs, tunes and musical modes are rural in origin yet it cannot be said that Ireland has a store of rich folk music only. There is an equally rich Irish contemporary classical music that is popularly available. Most of the modern songs and music seem to come from the cities and towns.

 

There was the tradition of passing down orally or aurally the lyrics and music of Ireland. This was prevalent until quite recently. But now with the writing down and proper exposure of the music they are fast securing a special place in the hearts of music lovers. This was particularly brought about by the people of Ireland who had sailed away from the country to seek a better life. These people who ventured to even places like Australia and America and settled there took along with them the unique melodies of Irish music. Thus, Irish music has been circling around taking the world in its charm.

Scottish Music: Vital and Living Musical Tradition of Scotland

Music has a significant place in the Scottish culture. The music of Scotland has got both traditional as well as modern influences. The traditional music of the country has been able to maintain a special position of its own alongside the immensely popular pop music of the present times. Traditional Scottish music has been influenced by both the Irish and the English traditional music. This has also cast its own influence on the music of the two countries. This stays as a vital and living tradition of Scotland.

 

Bagpipes and other musical instruments of Scottish music

 

Scottish folk music is often associated exclusively with bagpipes. It may be pointed out that though bagpipes have for long been an important part of the Scottish music yet it is not unique or indigenous to Scotland. It had been imported into the country around the fifteenth century. This instrument finds usage in other parts of Europe and elsewhere also. The great Highland Bagpipe is the bagpipe that is the most distinctively Scottish form of bagpipe. Apart from the bagpipe the other musical instruments that are extensively used in Scottish music are the accordion, the fiddle, the guitar, the harp and the tin whistle.

 

Forms of the music of Scotland

 

The folk music of Scotland takes many forms. However, there are no rigid dividing lines between the forms and there are a number of artists who work across boundaries between the folk musical forms conforming to a broad musical tradition. There is a cultural difference between the Gaelic tradition and the Scots tradition of music of Scotland.

 

Scottish music is nowadays offered in many forms. The summer shows are there that are primarily aimed at tourists visiting the Scottish country. Ballads and laments are popular that are usually sung by a lone singer with backing. These may also be played on traditional instruments like the harp, fiddle, accordion or bagpipes. Traditional folk songs are there in Scotland that can be melodic, haunting or rousing in feel. Emerging folk music groups usually seek to perform these and these tend to region specific.

 

Revival of Scottish music in 1960s

 

After a somewhat decline of the folk music in the preceding period Scotland underwent a roots revival in the 1960s. Numerous young Scots had begun to think themselves as being separate from their country’s musical culture. The urge to bring revival became keener upon receiving inspiration from the American traditionalists.  

Audio Book Rental Services Provide A Variety Of Options To The Book Lover

audio book downloads

Whether you have a long commute to deal with every day, a road trip coming up, a period of time when you know you will be waiting in line or wedged into an airplane seat, having an entertaining and engrossing audio book can really help to make the time go faster and more enjoyably. In today's digital age, there are a number of online audio book rental services that can give you access to an enormous selection of audio books on CD, tape, or in digital formats, such as WMAs or MP3s.

There are quite a variety of rental services to be found online. Some of these rental services charge a fee each month, while others have an annual fee that you must pay in order to become a member and have access to their audio books on CD or their audio book downloads, depending on your preference.

The audio book rental companies that offer their books on tape or CD work like the popular video rental company, Netflix. You select the audio books on CD or tape that you want to rent from their extensive listings. You can then prioritize the list of titles you have selected.

Next, the rental service will send the titles that are highest on your priority list if they are available at that time. If you choose a new audio book release that is very popular, then you might not receive it right away even if it is in the first position of chosen audio books on your list. For your first shipment, you will receive the audio books that are highest on your list if they are in stock at the time you set up your account.

When you receive your audio book titles from the rental service, you will also have a postage paid return envelop for each of the audio books so that you can send them back individually, as you are finished with each one. As soon as you send one back, another one will be sent out to you from the audio books on your list. In this way, you will always have at least one audio book on hand to listen to while others are being returned, processed, and while new audio book selections are being sent out to you.

Most of these companies have different subscription levels that you can choose from that will allow you to have anywhere from one audio book to four audio books rented at any one time. The fewer audio books you have at a time, the lower your monthly or yearly fee will be. While the cheapest way to go is to only have one audio book rental at a time, most people prefer to have a subscription that allows them to have at least two audio books available to them. This allows them to have one book rental that they can listen to while the other one is being returned.

For those who are on the road traveling often, who have extended commute times, or more than one family member who will listen to the audio books, then it is better to choose the higher subscription plans that let you have four or more audio book rental titles out at one time. Some of these services will let you change the plan for a month or two so that if you are headed out on vacation you can get additional titles to keep you entertained. Once you are back in town, you can then switch to a lesser plan.

If You Want to Learn Guitar...

If you are interested to learn guitar, you should know that you are doing something really great in your life. Even if you do not end up joining a band or really going anywhere with the whole music thing, if you learn guitar you are gaining a new skill that you can carry with you for the rest of your life and one that will at least be enjoyable.

If you want to learn guitar, there are many wonderful options that you have, and there are a few companies in particular that you are going to want to consider.

ABC Learn Guitar

This is a great choice if you are interested in learning how to play guitar. This company has been around for quite some time now and they feature a well trained and qualified staff who are music enthusiasts and will be able to work with your strong points and help you to become a fabulous guitar player.

They discuss issues such as how the strings are identified, introducing the fretboard, reading guitar tab, tuning the guitar, and the importance of rhythm. All of these are key factors when it comes to learning guitar and becoming a skilled guitar player.

Guitar Player World

This is another fantastic option if you want to learn how to play guitar. Whether you want to learn how to play standard guitar or learn bass, they offer all the information that you need to become incredibly skilled, and in a very short period of time.

They offer everything from software to tips and advice that you can use, all which will be incredibly helpful and assist you in the learning process here.

Learning to play guitar is something that anyone can do, regardless of your beginning skill level and age. Some people think that just because they are grown up there is no point in them learning a new skill like this, but really, why not?

Playing guitar can be very relaxing and a way to express yourself, but does not have to be your career choice. Maybe you could play for some of your close friends and family or if you prefer just practice when you are alone. You will feel instantly better knowing that you have a new talent and you can get really creative with a guitar.

There are also a ton of other instruments that you can learn how to play if you are so inclined.

If you Learn Guitar you are gaining a new fun skill that you can carry with you for the rest of your life. To read more no cost articles on learn guitars visit, http://www.learnguitars.jsgenterprises.com.

Which MP3 Player is Right for You?

If you're trying to decide on an MP3 player and you find yourself a little confused by the huge variety of products and MP3 player accessories on the market--don't worry. You're not alone. The last few years have seen huge growth in the market for these popular, portable music sources. But once you know a little about the various types of devices and their capabilities, you can choose the MP3 player that is right for your use and your budget.

Hard Drive Based Players

The first main type is the hard drive based MP3 player. These are the highest capacity devices, starting at 20 GB of memory and going up from there. A hard drive based player, as the name indicates, contains its own hard drive and can probably hold every song you own. These players also tend to have larger screens, more features, and are easier to use--some even play videos. As you might expect, they also cost more, starting around $200 for the less expensive models, and going up to $400 or more at the top end.

Micro Hard Drive Players

These devices offer some of the features and memory capability of a hard drive MP3 player, but at a slightly lower price and with greater portability. Their miniature hard drives yield decent memory (up to 12 GB), and they still have many features to offer. Recently, these "micro-drive" players have begun to be phased out in favor of the high-capacity flash-based players (below), but good models with lots of features are still available in the $150-$250 price range.

Flash Based Players

Perfect to take jogging, hiking, or anywhere you want to be active, as the flash-based MP3 players have no moving parts. They're also smaller than either of the two other types, and can be pretty inexpensive--some models can be purchased for less than $30. Low memory used to be a problem, but advances in technology have changed this. Now most flash players sport at least 512 MB of memory. The downside of a flash MP3 player is that it tends to be less feature-rich than other types, and it can be a bit more difficult to use. Don't expect to find a flash based MP3 player with more than 8 GB of memory.

MP3 CD Players

Though these are becoming rarer these days, you can still find MP3 players that play data CDs with music on them--and they can play your music CDs, too. You can fit about 10 albums' worth of music (approximately 150 MP3 files) on a 650 MB disk.

If you're trying to decide on an MP3 and you find yourself a little frazzled--don't worry. Check out the above article to find out which MP3 player is correct for you. Browse, http://www.mp3.jsgenterprises.com for more articles on MP3 players.