Jazz music is a very popular genre of music and is actually a very important kind of American classical music. Some believe that jazz originated in the early twentieth century in South America. But there is no question that the early development of jazz took place in the United States and was greatly influenced by blues music. Blues was especially popular among African Americans in the first half of the 20th century in the rural south and in cities such as New Orleans, St. Louis and Chicago. (more…)

Old Italian violins are generally revered as the “holy grail” in the violin world. This is due, in part at least, to the early Italian luthiers who forever forged a place in the instrument’s history with their master craftsmanship and devotion to this lovely instrument. In this article, we’ll take a brief look at three of the highly regarded, early Italian violin makers from the Cremona school. (more…)

My nephew can play the guitar and very often looks the net for guitar sheet music. Though there is much sheet music that is simply off base, there are many times when what you find is delightful and the music is beautiful. I’d recommend whenever possible buying the sheet music from the source, meaning the guy or gal who wrote the music, you might not be buying the correct tab. If you really are accomplished on the guitar, you’ll have better results if you know how to feel the music and pick out the notes. (more…)

The concept of binaural sound healing music involves embedding two different frequencies into a piece of music. Each frequency is fed separately into the left and right ear through the use of headphones. These frequencies are specially created to be in perfect harmonious tune with the music’s key. The brain then synthesizes the difference of the two frequencies, entraining it into one of three major brain waves: alpha, delta, or theta. The theory behind this process is that this achieves synchronicity of the left and right cerebral hemispheres through the corpus callosum, the fibrous network that connects these two hemispheres. (more…)

What is your favorite music? Rock? Folk music? Jazz? The Classics? Rap? Music is universal; loved by virtually everyone, although many are unaware of the ways in which these diverse styles are similar. Are you aware, for instance, that almost all of the musical types mentioned above can be played with an electro acoustic guitar? (more…)

Guitars play an important song in modern music. In rock and pop, guitars have become expected fixtures. Electric guitars have soared in popularity since the early twentieth century. Musicians such as Jimmy Hendrix and Carlos Santana also helped escalate the popular appeal of the sound of electric guitars. (more…)

Occasionally, one may find a used electric guitar equipped with an odd bar dangling from its bridge. This bar is called a tremolo or “whammy” bar. There are also other names for this device, such as vibrato arm or wang bar.

Actually, you will find many electric guitars with the tremelo bar feature at any Guitar Center store. While new models are popular, vintage used electric guitars with intact original equipment are the most valuable.

During the late 1940’s and 1950’s, this device was introduced and developed for guitar players. The tremelo arm or bar is still produced on certain electric guitar models today. The intent of the guitar tremelo bar is to create a vibrato effect.

Vibrato is the correct term for the pitch variation used by guitar players, but tremolo (actually a variance in volume), was introduced in amplification technology first and thus guitar players continue to use the misnomer tremolo for pitch variation.

Two styles of this device are the most popular and both devices work very simply. The strings are fastened to the guitar via the tailpiece. The strings are run across the top of the bridge. Within this bridge and tailpiece combination are springs that allow the bridge to move or “float”. One style uses a rotating tube in conjunction with the springs. The other style operates the springs and bridge synchronously.

The pitch of any note played with the guitar can be changed by moving the articulated arm in either direction. The springs are used to move the bridge either up or down to tighten or loosen the string’s tension. In this way, the vibrato sound can be effected if the action is replicated either in a slow or rapid fashion.

The first musicians to use the tremelo bar include Leo Fender and Lonnie Mack, whose song “Wham!” might be responsible for the term “whammy” bar. Later users of this device include Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck. The tremelo bar has been used in new and innovative ways more recently by Steve Vai and Eddie Van Halen.

I encourage you to go to a guitar center and try a used electric guitar with a tremelo bar. They are fun to play and you’ll be quite surprised with the many variations of sounds that you can produce. Nothing beats tremelo bars on used electric guitars!

Browse hundreds of used electric guitars at The-Guitar-Center.net. Featuring the net’s widest selection of electric guitars from names like Fender, Gibson, Gretch, Martin, Ibanez, and many more! [This article may be freely reprinted provided all links are kept in place.]

- Daniel Wright

Among the most popular old violins are those from the original German luthiers. Some of these more famous makers are Jacob Stainer, Matthias Klotz, Sebastion Klotz, and Leopold Widhalm. This article will take a brief look at the lives of these three German luthiers and their contributions to the world of violins.

The man who is most often considered the greatest of all the German violin makers was Jacob Stainer who was born in 1621. It is very likely that Stainer worked with someone from the Amati violin family, because the varnish he used on his violins was very similar to that used by the Amatis. Stainer was able to achieve a fantastic tone in his violins, probably helped by the fact that he was a competent violinist in his own right. Unfortunately, in 1669 Stainer was arrested for heresy which he would not refute. After spending time in jail, he found his fortunes gone and his family impoverished. Unable to raise himself from this situation, Stainer developed mental difficulties and died in 1683.

The violin making was founded in Mittenwald by Matthias Klotz, who was born in 1656. He was largely influenced by Stainer. The ground on his violins has turned a dark color and the varnish is a yellow color. He expired in 1743 at the age of 87. The Klotz had another finest maker of violin in Mittenwald in the form of Sebastian Klotz (1696-1768). His violins were patterned by his son, Joseph Klotz.

Leopold came into the world in Germany a bit after the turn of the eighteenth century. Many people think that he was the most talented violin artisan of the period. The wood, combined with the stain and shape made the instrument unique. He left us at just a bit more than 50 years of age.

All of the instruments created by the German masters of the era go for a tidy sum. If you are looking for an instrument and find one available in your price range, snap it up! You will not be disappointed with the tone or construction. Further, as long as you take care of the instrument, it will surely increase in value over the years.

Ye Old Violin Shop features dozens of German violins, as well as fiddles from Italian, French, and other luthiers. Be sure to visit the new violin forum too!

- Dan Wright

French violins are among some of the most popular old violins today. Among the more famous French luthiers of note were J.B. Vuillaume, Nicolas Lupet, and Charles Francois Gand. Let’s take a brief biographical look at each of these three French and the techniques they used in their craft.

J.B. Vuillame was born in Mirecourt in 1798. He worked with Francois Chanot and also had an association with Pique. Vuillaume soon found that old violins were favored over new ones. Thus, he produced a wonderful copy of a Stradivari violin with its worn appearance and even replicated it down to exact copies of Stradivari labels. Moreover, his copies were varnished with a varnish very similar in color and texture to Stradivarius violins. To further enhance the illusion, Vuillaume traveled throughout Tyrol and Silesia in search of old wood and old furniture of any kind. To this day, some feel the famous “Messiah Strad” that traditionally has been attributed to Antonio Stradivari is actually, truth be known, one of Vuillaume’s copies, pointing out the above as well as well as other evidence including the fact that some of its characteristics are more notably of the French than Italian styles. The mysterious violin’s true identity remains one of the violin world’s most intriguing and controversial enigmas to this day.

Nicolas Lupot was born in 1758 and was called the “French Stradivarius”. Lupot established a workshop in Paris in 1798. He was appointed violin maker to the King in 1815 and to the Conservatoire de Paris in 1816. His French violins imitated Stradivari more minutely than anybody else had or ever has done to date. Lupot died in 1824.

1802 marks the year when Charles Francoise Gand became an apprentice of Nicolas Lupot in Paris, France. Lupot’s violins are works of art, known world-wide for his artistry in the instruments’ flamed wood backs, and his uniquely brilliant and textured finishes. Lupot was uniquely not only a violin craftsman and artisan, but was also known as a good player of the instrument.

Ye Old Violin Shop features dozens of French violins, as well as violins from Italian, German, and other luthiers. Be sure to visit the new violin forum too!

- Daniel Wright

The first name which strikes us when we think of electric guitars is undoubtedly “Fender”. Most every guitarist dreams of owning a Fender guitar. Most of the renowned rock guitarists as well as guitarists of other music genre swear by their Fender guitars. Before we discuss the various types of Fender guitars available, let us take a overview of the Fender musical instruments corporation.

This manufacturer of guitars is located in Arizona. The company shot to fame with the success of its “Stratocaster” and “Telecaster” guitars. Both of these electric guitars have solid bodies. Though there are many popular brands of electric guitars in the world today, the popularity and fan-following of Fender guitars is unmatched.

The most popular Fender guitar to date is the Fender Stratocaster. This is a solid-body electric guitar with a maple neck. The fret board of this guitar is made of maple, rosewood or ebony. This amazing guitar boasts of three single-coil pick-ups. The Fender Stratocaster is a versatile guitar as it allows the player to produce a large variety of tones. This guitar has been associated with music greats like Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and many more guitar legends.

Likewise, another well-known Fender guitar is the “Fender Telecaster”. This electric guitar has two single-coil pick-ups. The Telecaster is popular for its prominent sound quality. Even today, after almost six decades of its birth, the Telecaster continues to impress millions with its crystal clear sound. Many beautiful melodies have been developed on the Fender Telecaster.

In 1950 Fender designed the “Fender Esquire” guitar as part of their line of electric guitars. The Esquire is a solid body guitar with one single-coil pick-up. Even though the Esquire was a fairly simple guitar, audiences were impressed by its perfect tone and melodic sounds.

If you know the type of sound quality you want in a guitar, then it’s not hard to select a Fender guitar to meet your needs. Fender electric guitars are available worldwide, plus there are many online music stores where you can purchase your chosen musical instrument. By buying a Fender electric guitar you’ll be able to create a melodic aura which will captivate your audiences and make your performance a most memorable one.

The Guitar Center showcases dozens of Fender guitars as well as and hundreds of other electric guitars. New musical instruments added every day.

- Daniel Wright