Easy Guitar Songs Anyone Can Learn to Play

The latest blog post from Jeremy Bednarsh:

When it comes to playing guitar, it is not hard to gain impressive skills. In the world of pop music you need only learn just four simple chords and you can play an astounding number of songs. Or, if you prefer to start with some fingerpicking, there are some recognizable tunes that you can master in just a few short hours.

Here are a few of the best simple songs to memorize and add to your campfire repertoire.

Songs Using C, D, Em, and G

If you are able to master the chords C, D, Em, and G, you will have opened yourself up to a surprising amount of popular music, everything from Taylor Swift to Led Zepplin. A few good options for your first song include crowd favorites Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire and Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama, which both have a G, C, D chord progression. Another great option is Van Morrisson’s Brown Eyed Girl or Greenday’s Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) which surprisingly both follow a G, C, D, Em chord progression.

Check out this list for more songs with these four simple chords. Along with these classics there are many contemporary pop and hip-hop songs that can be fun, and sometimes funny, to play on the guitar that follow very simple chord progressions. Ultimate Guitar has chords for thousands of popular songs.

Simple Tabs

Playing a guitar by picking individual strings instead of strumming can make you look quite impressive to any audience. First, you will need to learn to read a guitar tablature. Once you have that down, a few easy songs to start with include Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes, Come As You Are by Nirvana, and Beat It by Michael Jackson. Check out how to play these and other songs here.

When you gain the ability to read a tablature, you are opened up to any song in the world. From there, it just takes lots of practice and dedication.

Once you have a few simple songs under you belt, try moving on to more difficult songs and learn more chords. Here is a list of songs that would be good to try next. Don’t forget to practice and build up your calluses. Before you know it, you’ll be nailing your own creations.

from Jeremy Bednarsh | Guitars https://ift.tt/2Ai9i60

5 Tips for Budding Guitar Players

The latest blog post from Jeremy Bednarsh:

Learning how to play the guitar can be rewarding and lead to a lifetime of musical enjoyment. Beginning players should focus on some things that will help them master the technique. Here are five tips for young guitar players.

Finger Dexterity
Learning to navigate the fretboard and master difficult chords, especially barre chords, requires good finger dexterity. Young guitar players should work on a few suggested finger stretching exercises, as well as simple techniques to build finger strength.

Study the Notes and Chords
While there are numerous stories of people learning to play guitar by ear, it is extremely helpful to study sheet music and chord charts. Understanding how the songs are composed and memorizing finger diagrams for chords, will help to expand the number of songs a player can enjoy.

Slow Down
Another important tip for young guitar players is to avoid trying to play too fast. While learning to shift from one note or chord to the next quickly is important, finger technique is a higher priority. Beginners benefit from slowing down their changes and concentrating on getting the finger placement correct.

Keep the Beat
Learning to play by using the correct beat of a song is one of the hardest things young guitar players try to master. To help keep the beat, young players need to learn how to use a metronome. Once a beginner learns some basics about reading guitar music, it will be simple to input the correct beat for any song using a metronome.

Practice, Practice and Practice More
Even the greatest guitar players in the world practice for hours every day. While a novice guitar player may not aspire to reach such a worldly level, learning to play guitar style requires practice; lots of practice.

The finger memory skills needed to play guitar benefit from continuous repetition. It is best to set a practice schedule and stick to it. An excellent way to avoid boredom from repetitive scales is to incorporate popular guitar riffs into the practice session. Riffs are short notes and chord changes that build finger dexterity, plus they help the student learn short segments from their favorite songs.

These are five suggestions to help the young guitar player get off on the right foot when learning to play the guitar. Finger work and an appreciation of how to read sheet music are essential. The best players started slow and studied the beat. However, one thing is for certain, every great guitar player practiced and then practiced some more.

from Jeremy Bednarsh | Guitars https://ift.tt/2LLWeaO

3 Acoustic Guitars for Beginner Adults

The latest blog post from Jeremy Bednarsh:

So you’ve found time in your busy work schedule to indulge in a new hobby and you’ve chosen guitar. Learning guitar does not have to come at an early age, and many guitar players successfully learn in adulthood. The cliche “practice makes perfect” fits every instrument– the more you play, the more your skills will increase.

Yamaha FG800

($)

The Yamaha FG800 is one of every guitar expert’s go-to. The FG series of Yamaha are great guitars for those just starting out. If the 5G800 isn’t your style, you could look at any of the FG guitars. It’s a durable guitar with great sound that any beginner can, and will, enjoy. If you aren’t sure how well you’ll like learning guitar, this is an easy guitar to pick up or put down. The wood material in this guitar sounds better with age, so your guitar playing skills will only get better too. It’s great for beginners and experts alike!

Martin DX2MAE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Mahogany

($$)

A full-sized, solid mahogany acoustic-electric guitar is what every dedicated guitarist needs for their first guitar. Keep in mind this is no guitar for those who will pick it up here and there. The Martin DX2MAE Dreadnought is for serious learnings looking for a lifelong hobby. This is a project series X guitar that’s ready for your living room and open-mic nights at every beck and call. This Martin is definitely on the higher end of beginner guitars and typically comes with a hard case to withstand road trips so you can play anywhere. You can certainly find this same basic guitar in other wood finishes that will give you a slightly different sound. Every guitar player truly must listen to the sound of the wood and find one that inspires them.

Taylor 114ce

($$$)

This guitar is one with an impressive shape. The cutaway acoustic-electric is a blended wood guitar with walnut back and sides and a solid Sitka spruce top. The Grand Auditorium has an incredible all-around sound good for strumming, fingerpicking, and even flatpicking. The Taylor 114ce is great for beginners to go from just learning to an impressive expert in no time. With the custom Taylor neck, you’ll be able to play and learn more easily. This guitar is designed to fit the true needs of guitar players looking for great sound, a great guitar, and fun, easy playing.

from Jeremy Bednarsh Car Enthusiast http://ift.tt/2FlUUaI

Top Cars for 2018

The latest blog post from Jeremy Bednarsh:

As 2017 comes to an end, it’s human nature to begin thinking about updating your life with new year’s resolutions, latest technology, and even a new car. After sifting through an immense amount of 2018 model reviews, here’s a top pick list for cars in 2018.

Toyota Camry/Camry Hybrid

The Toyota Camry, as well as the Camry Hybrid, are widely popular cars and have been since the beginning of their existence. While the Camry isn’t a sports car, it’s perfect for everyday driving in a comfortably controlled vehicle. In this model’s update, the battery pack was moved from the trunk to under the seats, giving it easier handling.

As we all know, hybrids are great cars in terms of sustainable milage. The Camry Hybrid averages 44-51 mpg city and 47-53 mpg highway. Overall, this should be 2018’s go-to for a versatile sedan.

Kia Stinger

Changing the game of sport sedans, Kia launched it’s new and improved model– the Stinger. As Kia’s fastest 0-60 mph in just 4.7 seconds the Stinger GT is taking sports cars to a luxurious level. The interior technology was designed to impress with a voice-recognition bluetooth system and a stunning touch screen display.

Chevrolet Volt

For a new-age, sleek sedan, the Chevrolet Volt takes first place. This car has a 1.5L high-efficiency engine and two electric motors. With full power, this car is expected to average over 1,100 miles between electric and gas tank fill-ups. Running on a fully electric charge, this model then generates electricity using a gas-powered generator once the electric battery charge runs out.

Hyundai Sonata

Upgraded from the 2017 model is the 2018 Hyundai Sonata. The Sonata makes for an affordable car that provides a smooth, safe ride through blind spot protection and other bells and whistles. The relaxed, wrapped leather interior will put you at ease for a comfortable ride wherever you go.

Volvo XC90

If you’re looking for an SUV that provides mid-sized luxury compared to a top notch luxury sedan, the Volvo XC90 is a great choice. With advanced safety and driver’s assistance, this is you’re all around perfect family vehicle. The small engine of the XC90 packs big power into a 4-cylinder. An interesting feature of this car is it’s air suspension. When the car is parked, you can lower the rear, or even the entire vehicle for easier loading.

Whether you prefer to ride in style or simply get the best bang for your buck, this well-rounded list is bound to have a car that suits you in 2018.

from Jeremy Bednarsh Car Enthusiast http://ift.tt/2Am69li

Paul and Dave

The latest blog post from Jeremy Bednarsh:

Before I was born, four young Liverpudlians took both sides of the Atlantic by storm, ticking off the “British Invasion” that helped changed the face of popular music. In my early teens, another band, this one from Seattle, similarly shook the airwaves with a new, revolutionary sound that set the standard for rock music of the 90s. But that was a long time ago; both bands have since broken up and seen their members die before their time, have

Paul and George — Paul McCartney playing with George Harrison, when both of them were members of the Beatles.

fruitful solo careers, or in some cases a combination of both. I’m of course talking about the Beatles and Nirvana.

Despite the similarities listed above, the sound and attitude of the Beatles and Nirvana couldn’t possibly be more different. And the solo projects of their respective former members are pretty different as well; the albums “The Colour And The Shape” and “All Things Must Pass” don’t have an awful lot in common with each other.

When Nirvana alumnus Dave Grohl teased a “mystery collaborator” singing backup for his band the Foo Fighters’ new album, “Concrete and Gold”, people were curious who this was. When he first announced the news, he remained tight-lipped as to their identity, and didn’t expect anybody to figure out, merely saying that they’d “been around a long time”. While the hints are certainly there, and the surprise “mystery collaborator’s” identity has yet to be confirmed, it looks like Sir Paul McCartney will be playing drums on one track for the upcoming album.

Paul McCartney isn’t the only high-profile name attached to this album: Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman, Inara George of the Bird And The Bee, and Allison Mosshart of the Kills have all been confirmed to be in the upcoming album. Yet the identity of this mystery backup singer remains to be seen, even if Paul McCartney could be a possibility. If I had to guess, it would be somebody who started out in the 60s, whose a type of music is highly different from Foo Fighters. While Paul McCartney does fit the bill, we won’t know for sure until the new album is released on September 15th.

from Jeremy Bednarsh Car Enthusiast http://ift.tt/2unZiQu

Fyre Up in Flames

The latest blog post from Jeremy Bednarsh:

Shortly after Woodstock made American pop culture history, the Grateful Dead tried to recapture that magic with the Altamont Free Concert in California. The event, despite attempts at becoming “Woodstock West”, was anything but, and everything that could go wrong sure enough did. Attendees got antsy, and the ill-advised attempt to use Hell’s Angels as security for the event and then pay them in beer proved a recipe for disaster; violence broke out, at least four people died and scores more were injured. The Rolling Stones couldn’t get through their setlist because of fights breaking out in the audience, and the Grateful Dead, meant to headline the entire event, ended up canceling. Nearly 50 years later, it’s gone down as one of music’s darkest moments.

They say history repeats itself, and sure enough the Internet is currently ablaze with talk of rapper Ja Rule’s ill-planned and ultimately disastrous music festival, Fyre. The heavily hyped event, with tickets that cost tens of thousands (and packages as high as $100,000), was guaranteed to be a paradise, with gorgeous beaches, gourmet meals, luxury lodgings and more on the small Bahamian island Exuma. Yet the reality was anything but; about a week ago tweets began emerging revealing just what the event had become: flimsy shelter tents, boxed lunches, near-total disorganizations, long waits for flights back to the mainland, and just general chaos. In the same way that the Altamont Free Concert went down in history as a tragic black mark in rock n’ roll’s history, the Fyre Festival has been hailed by one former employee as “incompetence on an almost inconceivable scale”.

Blame originally fell on festival producer Ja Rule and various celebrity endorsers such as Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner, who were baid thousands to promote the festival online. Yet he wasn’t involved in the day-to-day as his partner, 26-year-old tech entrepreneur Billy McFarland, as well as the self-proclaimed “market genius” behind marketing the event, 24 year-old Grant Margolin. According to two different production professionals who had worked with the festival, McFarland was warned time and time again that the event couldn’t come off as desired in the necessary time frame. Yet McFarland ignored the warnings and fired everybody who pointed them out, to evidently disastrous results. When faced with these warnings, McFarland and Margolin reportedly would just write them off and repeatedly say “we’re gonna be legends”. While they have become “legends”, it’s hardly in the way they had anticipated.

Sure enough, Fyre is currently facing numerous lawsuits filed in federal court yesterday. Attendees are seeking damages for “negligence, fraud, and violations of consumer protection statuses”, among other charges. How they will emerge from the situation remains to be seen, yet without a doubt Fyre will go down in history as one of the greatest disasters in music history.

from Jeremy Bednarsh Car Enthusiast http://ift.tt/2qMNxRU

What VR Means For Music

The latest blog post from Jeremy Bednarsh:

When it comes to virtual reality, it’s amazing how far we’ve gone in a relatively short amount of time. As I’m still trying to figure out Guitar Hero, the concept of holographic concerts has taken off. And while I’m still trying to understand holographic concerts, they’re taking that even further with virtual reality. Last year, the remaining members of Queen collaborated with Google Play and Enosis VR to create a 360-degree virtual reality take on the groundbreaking video for their 1975 hit Bohemian Rhapsody. This animated clip has been credited with fueling the boom in pop videos in the upcoming decade.

The interactive VR app uses 2D and 3D animations mixed together with motion-captured ballet dancers, immersing the viewer in Freddie Mercury’s “subconscious mind”. Depending on where you look through the VR headset, the narrative alters. The song was remixed and mastered as well to create an interactive audio experience where the sound changes as the viewer turns their head.

These “immersive” technologies, while still relatively new, are transforming what was once little more than a gimmick into a huge industry. Watching something in 360 degrees in a powerful sensation, more so than watching it on your flat computer screen. Even though this technology is still relatively new, and affordable VR headsets only recently came onto the market, the music industry has always been one for experimentation, and it will be interesting to see what they do with this unique technology. VR is already becoming a “visual-centric” music landscape. Take, for example, the film accompanying Beyonce’s Lemonade album and Frank Album’s “visual album” Endless, which suggest a strong future for visual music experiences. As the music industry becomes bigger and bigger, and more competition emerges, it offers a chance to stand out from everybody else.

In addition to really cool music videos, VR offers unique opportunities for live music. Imagine that you want to attend a concert, but it’s sold out; not a problem if you have VR! Live Nation announced last year that they would be teaming up with US bank Citi and NextVR to create a series of VR live events. And while I still love going to Phish concerts, arrays of cameras that capture a 360-degree images from a number of vantage points could offer an experience completely unique from being there in person. It also allows bands to perform live in a shared VR and space, meaning they won’t need to hire expensive venues.

Of course, the question on everybody’s mind is how to make this commercially viable. For example, the American company Vrtify specializes in taking traditional music content and turning it into an immersive experience, paying 70% of its income back to artists. And once the audiences grow, there will be a chance for advertising, membership subscriptions and pay-per-view. Yet before this happens and this technology goes mainstream, the tech behind it needs to improve, and it needs to become more affordable.

If you’d like to learn more, you can click here!

from Jeremy Bednarsh Car Enthusiast http://ift.tt/2kR9FrH

Consumer Reports Top Picks of 2015

The latest blog post from Jeremy Bednarsh:

Buying a car can be difficult, especially for somebody who doesn’t know a lot about cars or is inexperienced. Every year, Consumer Reports and its team of evaluators test and scrutinize virtually every car sold in the US. Out of these many cars, a select few stand above the rest and join the group of vehicles known as “Consumer Reports’ Top Picks”. To become a Top Pick, cars need to excel at the publication’s track tests, offer above-average reliability and perform effectively in either government or industry crash-tests. Here is a list of the Top Picks of 2015:

Subaru Impreza – Best Compact Car: The Impreza caught the eye of Consumer Reports for its great interior, quiet ride, strong handling and ultimate value for money ($21,345 as tested).

Subaru Legacy – Best Midsize Sedan: Like its Impreza sibling, the Legacy was able to best some of the most popular cars in the business, thanks to its quiet and comfortable driving experience, as well as the best ride quality in the segment.

Chevrolet Impala V6 – Best Large Car: According to Consumer Reports, this car is proof that GM can still build a great family car. The car was also praised for its comfortable ride, responsive handling and great value for money ($39,110).

Audi A6 – Best Luxury Sedan: The Audi A6 earned its place on the Top Picks for having one of the finest interiors in the business. The publication was also a big fan of its “nimble” handling, exceptional powertrain and world-class fit and finish.

Toyota Prius – Best Green Car: For 12 years in a row now, the Toyota Prius has been a Top Pick. It’s been praised for a winning combination of affordability, smart packaging, great fuel economy and blue-chip reliability.

Buick Regal – Best Sports Sedan: The German Opel Insignia-based Regal, according to Consumer Reports, strikes a “perfect balance” between comfort and sportiness. its suspension offers great control, while its engines offer strong performances.

Honda Odyssey – Best Minivan: This car both rides and handles better than some family sedans, and it’s pleasant to drive.

Subaru Forester – Best Small SUV: With this car, Subaru is able to combine practicality, safety, fuel economy, value and interior accommodations.

Toyota Highlander – Best Midsize SUV: This car offers all of the utility and user-friendliness of a minivan in a more “macho” package. Consumer Reports also praised the vehicle for its smart interior packaging and capable handling.

Tesla Model S – Best Overall: For the second year in a row, Consumer Reports has dubbed this is the best car in the world. It remains the highest-rated vehicle in the history of the publication, with an overall road-test score of 99/100.

from Jeremy Bednarsh Car Enthusiast http://ift.tt/1EwzUso

Self-Driving Car Put to Ultimate Test

The latest blog post from Jeremy Bednarsh:

Jeremy Bednarsh Google Car — A self-driving Google Car.

Yesterday, a self-driving car began an historic journey, the first time that an automated car drove across the country. The 3,500-mile trip from California to New York is the longest automated drive to ever be attempted in North America. The car in question is Delphi Automotive PLC’s vehicle. Delphi’s Chief Technology Officer said that the car has already been successfully tested on the streets of both California and Las Vegas, although this cross-country test marks the ultimate test for the car. The vehicle will be challenged under various driving conditions, ranging from changing weather and terrain to potential road hazards, which could never be properly tested in a lab. The car is supposed to be able to navigate 4-way stops, merge onto highways and even move around cyclists and pedestrians, without any driver. A driver shall be present in the car to take over if need be, who can take control of the car immediately in case of emergency.

Experimentation of self-driving cars have been happening since at least the 1920s, although research has begun to accelerate since the 2010s. As of 2013, numerous major automotive manufacturers, including General Motors, Ford, Mercedes Benz, Volkswagen, Audi, Nissan, Toyota, BMW and Volvo, have been testing driverless car systems, with Google’s self-driving cars in many ways capturing the mainstream media. Recently, popular Internet personality Matthew Inman, better known as “The Oatmeal”, rode in a Google car. He described the cars as being extremely timid, although Google can adjust the level of aggression for the car. While Inman spoke highly of the Google car, he ultimately also said that it isn’t yet fully developed, and that it has issues with many of the scenarios that actual drivers face, such as handling yellow lights and four-way stops. Self-driving cars use a mixture of 3D laser-mapping, GPS and radar to analyze and interpret their surrounding. The radar in the car allows it to see through objects, as opposed to relying on line-of-sight. These cars still can’t drive in snow or heavy rain, and there are various complex situations that they can’t process to well, such as passing through a construction zone.

from Jeremy Bednarsh Car Enthusiast http://ift.tt/1C5wpYL

Cheese Ban

The latest blog post from Jeremy Bednarsh:

There are some weird laws out there, no doubt. In North Carolina, singing off-key is illegal, and swearing in front of a corpse is illegal in Georgia. But in anticipation of Sunday’s NFL game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers, the Seattle suburb of Bainbridge Island has created their own bizarre law: they’ve temporarily banned the possession and/or consumption of cheese, since the Packers are known colloquially as the “Cheeseheads”. Sunday’s NFL game is a huge deal, and winning would give the Seahawks the chance to go back to the Super Bowl and maybe even net another trophy for the second year in a row. These are definitely some high stakes, but banning cheese in anticipation of the game? That sounds silly.

Lucky for Seattle cheese lovers, this ban only applies to employees at city hall for today, but city manager Douglas Schulze is prepared for anybody who plans on smuggling in cheese. He’ll be arriving early with a cheese grater, so that if he finds any cheese products, he’ll dispose of them. While this ban only impacts a small number of the town’s residents, it caught the attention of Green Bay fans all the way in Wisconsin, who declared it “insane”, “ridiculous” and “demonic”. Many Packers fans view this as a challenge for their team to really dominate the Seahawks. Some even proposed counter-bans, including a boycott of Seattle-based Starbucks. One Milwaukee radio station started their own campaign “Say No To Seattle”, banning all songs from Seattle-based bands, including Nirvana, Heart and Pearl Jam.

However, preparations for the upcoming game aren’t all about bans. In the Bainbridge Island executive order, Schulze also calls for a “Blue Friday” celebration for all local employees, who are being encouraged to wear Seahawks logo gear, team colors and jerseys. But in case anybody gets carried away, Schulze made it clear that no cheese, or even cheese products, shall be tolerated.

from Jeremy Bednarsh Car Enthusiast http://ift.tt/1E7UiyX