Archive for March, 2010
Banjo Starter Packs
When my youngest son endeavored to learn the banjo last year, I honestly knew nothing about the instrument. After going to a local music shop, I decided that purchasing the various components individually would be much too costly and time consuming. After doing some research online, I found a site that carried comprehensive banjo starter packs.
Not only did they come with a quality banjo, but the packs also included a case, strap, beginner’s books and picks. When my son got the package, he was overwhelmed and quickly began learning the instrument.. Although the music was atrocious at first, he rapidly developed his skill and can now play several classic tunes.
The term fiddle is used to describe a wide range of bowed instruments. While the definition of fiddles is somewhat ambiguous, it now usually refers to a violin-type instrument. The earliest versions of the fiddle (bowed instruments) appeared in Asia in roughly 3000 BC.
Today the fiddle is a staple in bluegrass music. Although it closely resembles the violin, the two have a vastly different price range. Typically, the fiddle produces a more twangy and rustic sound than the classical violin.
I remember going to Dairy Queen when I was only five or six years old and getting a cheap harmonica as the prize in my kid’s meal. While harmonicas are often given out as prizes and considered a basic instrument, refining the art takes a great deal of skill. As anyone who has ever tried one can attest, it may be simple to make noise, but making it sound good is another story.
The harmonica is a staple in blues and folk music and features a distinct sound. As a reed instrument, the sound from a harmonica is created by the reeds vibrating when you blow. With one little instrument, you can play a vast range of notes without painstaking tuning.