Guitar Playing - The Fret Tapping Technique

The basic technique for fret tapping is relatively easy to develop. Fret tapping is based on the hammering - on and the pulling - off of notes - both techniques have been at the heart of rock and roll guitar music for many years.

Once the basics have been mastered, fret tapping equips a guitarist to play impressively and sound like a professional.

He can use this method of playing in almost any song or instrumental piece and it will sound awesome. He should play it with a very fast tempo which will make the sound crisp and clear.

Hammering on a note means you impact with your left hand finger striking or "hammering" the string and then pushing it down to make contact with the fret. This causes the note to sound.

To execute a pull - off, instead of lifting the finger directly off the string, the finger is moved slightly across the string in a downward direction just before being lifted off the string.

The right hand hammer - on, also causes a note to sound exactly the same way as a right hand hammer - on. Although there are many different approaches, most guitarists using this technique prefer to rest their right hand thumb on the edge of the fretboard to provide a steady anchor for the hand.

As the right hand moves up and down the fretboard to reach different frets, the thumb simply slides along the fretboard.

The right hand pull off technique differs from the left hand version only in that the slight movement of the finger across the string as it is lifted off is in an upwards rather than in a downwards direction.

For other approaches to fret tapping, it is also possible to use the technique in chord playing. This is done by playing two notes on the same string.

First hold down any chord, preferably near the top of the guitar where the nut is when you first try this technique.

The basic idea behind this is to play a right hand hammer - on and pull - off with the right hand finger on each string in turn.

By executing the hammer - on and pull- off twelve frets above the fret for each note of the chord, you will be playing the same notes that are present in the chord, also the notes one octave higher.

If you are playing a G chord and fingering the first string at the third fret and hammering - on and pulling - off at the fifteenth fret the hammer on sound will sound the higher G note and the pull - off will sound the G one octave lower.

Right hand tapping opens a whole new world of playing for the guitarist in that it increases the melodic possibilities of the guitar.

There is fantastic information about these techniques further down if you wish to get serious about your guitar playing, then read on.

Click below now for more great tapping techniques.

guitar fret tapping

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Class of 2014 Hall Of Fame nominations for Nirvana and Deep Purple

Nirvana, Kiss, The Replacements, Yes and Deep Purple have each been nominated for next year’s Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.

The other nominations for the class of 2014 include Hall & Oates, the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Chic, Peter Gabriel, LL Cool J, N.W.A., Link Wray, the Meters, Linda Ronstadt, Cat Stevens and The Zombies. The top voted acts will be inducted in April at a ceremony in New York City.

2014 is the first year in which Nirvana have been eligible for entry with their debut single Love Buzz being released in 1988.

Once again the public will play a key role in deciding who will inducted into the Hall Of Fame as they vote alongside the artists, historians and music industry insiders of the Rock Hall voting body. From now until December 10, fans can vote on RollingStone.com for the nominees they’d like to see inducted. The top five acts will comprise a “fan’s ballot” that will count as one of the more than 600 ballots that determine the class of 2014.

source: classicrockmagazine.com

Dee Snider to Be Honored at Revolver/Guitar World Rock & Roll Roast

Get ready for a raucous night of comedy, charity and chaos!

Revolver and Guitar World are proud to announce the 2nd annual Rock & Roll Roast comedy series with honoree Dee Snider. The event, sponsored by Epiphone and Monster Energy Drink, will take place at The Grove in Anaheim, California, on Thursday, January 24, 2013, and will air live on AXS TV at midnight ET / 9 p.m. PT.

A portion of all proceeds will benefit MusiCares, a nonprofit organization of The Recording Academy that provides emergency financial assistance and addiction recovery resources to music people in need. Snider was recently named one of the 100 greatest living rock stars by Revolver.

Roastmaster Penn Jillette and other metal-loving luminaries such as last year’s honoree Zakk Wylde, Anthrax’s Scott Ian, Lita Ford, WWE legend Mick Foley and That Metal Show host Eddie Trunk, as well as comedy and roast veterans Jim Norton, Craig Gass, Jim Florentine and more will all take aim at the Twisted Sister frontman and reality TV icon, best known for his outspoken personality, his golden locks and his appearances on The Celebrity Apprentice.

Jose Mangin (of Sirius/XM and Headbanger’s Ball fame) will also be on hand to serve as the evening’s official DJ.

Roastee Snider commented, “Roasters, remember: P.A.M.F. Payback’s A Mutha F**ker!” Rock & Roll Roast Executive Producer Josh Bernstein added, “They say you only roast the ones you love, but with Dee Snider, we’ll be making an exception.”



Beyond being the iconic lead singer of ’80s sensation Twisted Sister, Snider has starred in several reality TV shows (The Celebrity Apprentice, Gone Country, MTV’s Rock the Cradle, A&E’s Growing Up Twisted) and frequently hosts programs on MTV Networks along with his own long-running nationally syndicated radio show House of Hair.

Never setting his limits, Dee has taken on the role of film producer, actor, voiceover artist, political advocate and, most recently, Broadway star with his run in the hit musical Rock of Ages. His autobiography, Shut Up and Give Me the Mic, was released in the summer of 2012, and Dee returns to the small screen in March 2013 as part of the cast of All-Star Celebrity Apprentice.

This show will kick off on the opening night of the 2013 NAMM Show in Anaheim. This live charity event is not open to the public, but if you want to attend and learn more about being a sponsor for this once-in-a-lifetime event benefiting a great charity and cause, visit rockandrollroast.com for more information and sponsorship opportunities.

AXS TV Concerts can be found online at www.axs.tv, on Facebook at facebook.com/axstvconcerts and on Twitter at twitter.com/axstv.

For more information, visit rockandrollroast.com.

source: revolvermag.com

Gwen Stefani Joins Gavin Rossdale for 'Glycerine' Duet

KROQ’s Almost Acoustic Christmas is a sentimental occasion for Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale, since it's the show where he met wife Gwen Stefani 17 years ago. And when Rolling Stone spoke with Rossdale backstage at Almost Acoustic Christmas in 2011, he immediately got nostalgic, reminiscing about the dressing room where the two met.

So, last night, at the end of two years of touring, back at Almost Acoustic Christmas, the rock & roll husband and wife celebrated their history at the event by performing together. Rossdale, on stage with just a guitar, started in on "Glycerine," singing the song’s first verse alone. Then an unannounced Stefani walked onstage to join in on the second verse, drawing an insane response from the crowd.

After the show, Rossdale told Rolling Stone that the initial idea for a duet was Stefani's, and it left a stunned Rossdale speechless. "She actually asked me about this and I was so surprised, I didn’t say anything for two days," he said. "She said, ‘Maybe we should do a song together.’ And I couldn’t answer her."

After Rossdale got over his shock, the two worked out the logistics and ultimately settled on "Glycerine" rather than Bush’s "The Afterlife," which Rossdale said is Stefani's favorite song. Performing the song alone together was his idea. "I thought it would be so powerful, the two of us on stage like that, that’s what we went for," he said. Rossdale was very pleased with the result; asked how "Glycerine" sounded with Stefani on the song, he laughed and said "So much better."

For Rossdale, it was the cap to a special evening. "This is the culmination of two years of work, and then to finish it off playing here, in this venue, this full circle thing, it was an incredible night."

source: rollingstone.com

Rolling Stones Is a Rock and Roll Band

Rolling Stone is a British Rock & Roll band that started in 1962 in London. The group comprised Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts. The band is now on its 50th year in Rock and Roll. To date, the band has produced 92 singles, 29 studio albums, 10 live performances, and still counting. Of the original lineup, only Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Charlie Watts remained. The band stays active until today. The group does concert tours, and continuously reviving past hit songs with Ronnie Wood and Darryl Jones in the lineup.

The Rolling Stones band sounds are certified timeless, popular still across five generations of fans worldwide. Their song entitled I Can't Get No Satisfaction was an international sensation in mid '60's. Today, it is still being enjoyed by fans around the world regardless of age. The band sold more than 200 million albums worldwide and was consistently on the top of U.S. and U.K. Billboards from 1960, 1970, 1980 and in 1989; the band was officially installed to the American Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2002, the band made it again to the top with its album entitled Forty Licks at No 2 in the Chart. The album includes their old songs. Having reached the top 2 is a proof of Rolling Stones band's classic musical artistry that is recognized by millions of fans around the world. The band is number 4 in the list of 100 Greatest Artist of All Time by the Rolling Stone's Magazine. In 2004, UK installed them to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. They have also the Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Rolling Stones band's big tour from August 2005 to August 2007 sold over 4,500, 000 tickets, earning them a gross of $550,000,000. On 2010, In Exiles on Main St. reclaimed its position as top 1 in UK Billboard after almost 38 years.

Recognized the best band's songs are: I Can't Get No Satisfaction, Jumping Jack Flash, Brown Sugar, It's All Over Now, Give Me Shelter, Angie, Start Me Up, You Can't Always Get What You Want, Paint it Black. The list is not in particular order.

Their top albums are: Aftermath, Between Buttons, Sticky Fingers, Exiles on Main St., Emotional Rescue, Goats Head Soup, It's Only Rock & Roll, Some Girls, Steel Wheels, Dirty Work, Forty Licks, and live album, Live Licks.

Buy band tees at ShirtHunt.com! Love Rolling Stones? Get cool Rolling Stones T-shirts here! Low prices!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Blue

Music news - The magazines that shaped the music industry

Music news as we know it today developed out of the early magazines that caught onto the growth of the popular music industry early on in the 20th Century. Melody Maker was one of the first, introducing itself in 1926 (around the same time that the first electric guitars and amplifiers began to emerge) and targeting musicians. However, as music became more and more popular the music magazines of the day began to target the general public and the introduction of new, rival magazines hit the shelves.

The 1950s is when the real battle started with Melody Maker going head to head with the new kids in town, the NME, an amalgamation of previous titles Musical Express and Accordion Weekly by new owner and music promoter Maurice Kinn. Previously more interested in jazz, Melody Maker was a late convert to the advent of rock and roll, but as the sixties swung in favour of bands like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, the ground was set for big readership figures for both publications.

The 1960s also saw the coming of more politicised voices to the publication of music news with the launch of the Berkley Barb in 1965 and Rolling Stone in 1967. Criticism of the Vietnamese war, the publication of Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and the counterculture revolution of the 1960s sat next to The Beatles, Jimmy Hendrix and Jim Morrison cover stories.

This political edge to music publication didn’t reach the British music news until the late 1970s with the dawning of the age of punk. However, the early 70s saw the introduction of a new rival, Sounds, which quickly became one of the three music weekly magazines to generate good levels of readership. It’s edge came from its ability to see the credibility of new musical movements like Punk early on.

The 1980s would see a mixed bag of journalism in the music industry, with the hip-hop wars affecting the NME and a more populist standpoint reigning at Melody Maker until its intellectual renaissance in 1986. However, it would be the 90s that would see the story of modern British music journalism come to a head. The rise of Britpop and the introduction & success of monthly magazines Q (1986) and Mojo (1993) left Melody Maker without a clear audience or direction, and so in 2000 is ceased publication, merging with its long time rival NME, while Sounds bit the dust nearly a decade earlier in 1991.

The 2000s were left to NME and despite its ropey start to the decade, it would eventually find its footing again with bands like White Stripes, The Strokes and The Libertines. However, with readership dropping fast to just over a tenth of its hey-day 300,000 circulation, publications like NME have pumped significant investment into their online music news to compensate.

With the arrival of a new decade, it’s hard to say that any of the remaining music magazines are doing anything particularly trailblazing, but then neither is the music industry as a whole. With the nation locked into the X-Factor culture, genuinely credible new music often finds it difficult to break out of the underground world that it too often resides. The death of Top of the Pops in 2006 meant that the only music to be played on terrestrial television in the UK during prime time viewing was based around one talent contest or another. With circulation figures so low, maybe it’s time for the icons of music news to take back what they have spent decades helping to create.

Tuppence Magazine delivers music news, film, books, computer games, food & drink, politics, theatre, comedy, art and fashion news & reviews from its entertainment news UK website - dedicated to writing about the best entertainment news online.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com

Pink Floyd Was Instrumental In The Development Of Rock-n-Roll by Braden Aalders

One of the greatest bands in the history of modern music is Pink Floyd. Their unique sound and approach to music making has made them a living legend and has permanently marked their members as some of the most ingenious instrumentalists of all time.

Many bands have emulated the unique sound of Pink Floyd but few have actually attempted to cover any of their songs. Their sound is so distinctive that it is impossible to satisfactorily reproduce.

Sid Barrett

Originally called Tea Set, Sid Barrett initiated Pink Floyd's climb to fame. The band initially consisted of Sid Barrett on vocals and guitar, Roger Waters on bass, Bob Klose on guitar, Nick Mason on drums and wind instrument player Rick Wright.

The band's name was a spontaneous decision. They were playing an event at which there was another band named Tea Set. They quickly thought to combine the names of two successful blues musicians, Pink Anderson and Floyd Council, calling them The Pink Floyd Sound. It was not long until they shortened their name to its now unforgettable version.

Their rise to fame was a pretty standard one for most 1960's rock bands. With songs being written primarily by the band's vocalist, Sid Barrett, the band easily scored gigs at some of London's more prominent nightclubs.

In 1966 they were asked to contribute music to the soundtrack for the movie, "Tonite Let's Make Love in London". Their popularity as an underground band was steadily growing and by the time they released their debut album in 1967 they already had a substantial fan base in England.

Most critics consider "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" one of the greatest debut albums in history. Their popularity grew tremendously as they released their album in the United States and toured with Jimi Hendrix in the late 60's.

The stress of fame and his almost obsessive use of psychedelic drugs, quickly overwhelmed Sid Barrett. By January of 1968, the band added David Gilmour to the band to help with the responsibilities that Barrett's progressive breakdown was making it difficult for him to do.

The band made every attempt to maintain this arrangement but by April of the same year it was obvious that Barrett had deteriorated to the point that the rest of the band decided that it was not working.

Barrett went on to produce two moderately successful albums before he went into seclusion for the last 35 years of his life. At the age of 60, Sid Barrett passed away in 2006.

Roger Waters

With the loss of Sid Barrett, Pink Floyd was facing an internal crisis. He had always been the primary songwriter and vocalist. In the absence of clear leadership, the band began writing communal pieces, with each member contributing something.

This writing style was segmented and not well received especially well by critics, but it still allowed the group to perform well in sales. Their successive album was a collection of experimental works of the individuals compiled into a single album. "Meddle" is the first glimpse Pink Floyd gives the public of their trademark style and thematic records.

As the bands writing and recording progressed, Roger Waters gradually became the primary writer of the group. By the time they release "Dark Side of the Moon" in 1973, Waters had become the driving force behind Pink Floyd, despite the collaborative efforts of the band on most projects.

"Dark Side of the Moon" marked the beginning of three epic albums whose success is still unrivaled.

In 1975, the band released their musical farewell to Sid Barrett in what is arguably the greatest album ever made. "Wish You Were Here" centers around the theme of absence and loneliness.

"The Wall" was released in 1979 and was dominated by Water's writings. His fascination with WWII and the themes of loneliness and isolation that provide this album made it an instant success, catapulting them back to the top of the charts.

This period marked the greatest success for Pink Floyd. Their epically themed albums are amongst the highest earning records in history.

David Gilmour

In December of 1985, Roger Waters announced that he was leaving Pink Floyd, stating that the band had used up its creativity. He expected that to be the end of the band. When it wasn't, a bitter legal battle developed over the use of the name.

The suit was eventually settled out of court, and Gilmour and Mason retained the right to use the name "Pink Floyd" as a result.

David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and ultimately Richard Wright continued to write and record albums under the name Pink Floyd. Together they released "A Momentary Lapse of Reason".

While it was not their most successful album, "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" was their greatest. Many critics consider Momentary Lapse to be more of a solo project by Gilmour than a group effort.

The bands next two albums, "Delicate Sound of Thunder" and "The Division Bell", contained significantly more group contributions than their first. They also helped to reestablish Pink Floyd's reputation in the absence of Roger Waters.

Final Act

While the members of Pink Floyd have sporadically reunited to perform, they are commonly considered to be a thing of the past. However, their legion of followers is still a very real, ever-present entity.

A true Pink Floyd fan can argue with endless intensity about the superiority of Pink Floyd to all other bands in music history. The less devoted can at least acknowledge the intense impact that Pink Floyd had on the development of music, specifically Rock and Roll.



Braden Aalders was a child in the seventies, but he still loves his parents' music. Classic Rock Central features the classic rock artists and rock bands that classic rock fans consider to be essential listening. Listen to mp3s of interviews or music, or shop for CD's, books, and more at: http://www.classicrockcentral.com/

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

The Guitar Solo And Rock And Roll

Author: Victor Epand

The image of a lead electric guitarist rocking out on a solo is probably one of the most ubiquitous images associated with the rock and roll industry. Whether you associate rock guitar solos with the afros, fringe and political turmoil of Jimi Hendrix's age or the spandex, makeup and general debauchery of the 1980s, these musical masterpieces are undeniably part of the American rock and roll heritage. Of course, guitar solos can be and are used in any kind of music, and genres like jazz, swing and blues regularly make use of them. But there's nothing quite like the piercing notes from an electric guitar as it makes its presence known on the stage of a rock and roll concert.

Perhaps the reason that guitar solos are so often associated with rock music is the singularly dramatic effect of the performance. The electric guitar is amplified, sometimes to the point of threatening the audience's ear drums, and often played with a technique known as distortion. This technique makes the instrument's sounds fuller and adds harmonic overtones, making for an even more spectacular overall impression. And of course, the other essential component to a good rock and roll guitar solo is an enthusiastic performance. It's all very well for a guitarist to be insanely talented and able to induce incredible music from his instrument, but if he can also manage to thrash around on stage as though having an epileptic fit, so much the better.

As a general rule, the rock guitar solo is a relatively short and purely instrumental portion of a song. In the classic song form that alternates verses with the chorus, the solo often falls between the second chorus and third verse. The other common approach is to place the solo at the end of the song. These solos are usually extended and create a memorable finale to the melody. Songs like Guns N' Roses's "November Rain" and The Eagles's "Hotel California" are examples of the effectiveness of such wrap-up solos. Of course, "Hotel California" is also begun with a guitar solo, albeit a shorter one, so one might say that that particular song is bracketed by guitar solos.

Other famous guitar solos from the rock genre include those in Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven," Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" and Jimi Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower." And let us not forget the song that Michael J. Fox memorably revamped in "Back to the Future," Chuck Berry's immortal "Johnny B. Goode."

It is worth mentioning that in many rock bands, two guitarists actually are actually responsible for the guitar solo(s). The lead guitarist is the one you notice, the one making the incredible music, but the rhythm guitarist is just as important, as he accompanies the lead with chords and riffs. Also occasionally heard are solos by bass guitarists, although these are less popular in rock music than in genres such as heavy metal, jazz, and punk. When they are used in rock music, bass solos are structured and performed in a similar fashion to that of a typical guitar solo, sometimes with the musical accompaniment from the verse or chorus section.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/the-guitar-solo-and-rock-and-roll-558856.html

About the Author:
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, keyboards, sheet music, guitar tab, and home theater audio. You can find the best marketplace at these sites for guitars, electric guitar, guitar solo , sheet music, guitar tabs , and home theater audio systems .