Asturias (Leyenda) Guitar Tutorial#1 [First Section; Note-By-Note; Free Tabs&Notation]

Introduction

Asturias (Leyenda) by the Spanish composer Isaac Albeniz in 1892 has become an iconic guitar piece synonymous with Spain and it contains many of the idiomatic flavours of flamenco. Ironically it was written for piano yet it is the guitar transcriptions that has bought the piece to international attention. The piece has firmly entrenched itself in the classical guitar repertoire and is considered to be one of the standard concert pieces that all guitarists will learn and play at some point in their career.

Key Points:

• The original piece was written for piano in the key of G minor
• The guitar transcription is in the key of E minor (a minor 3rd lower than the original)
• Whilst not a flamenco piece per se it shares some characteristics such as rasguedos, intense rhythmic and harmonic content consistent with the sound of flamenco and is likened to the Bulería of Andalusia
• Marcato and Stacatto indications throughout reflect the rapid footwork of a flamenco dancer

Performance Notes For The Entire Piece:

• Stay relaxed especially in the opening stanzas with the picking hand
• Use P I M and P I A right-hand picking for various sections in the opening stanza
• Try to utilise 'full planting' in the right for the rapid triplet lines in the A section
• Make maximum use of dynamics and remember that sforzando is common in this piece and essential to bringing the vibrancy to life
• Don't take too many liberties with the timing in the A section. Bulería is a dance and as such rubato is frowned upon
• The B and Capo sections can be played more freely and loosely with respect to rhythm. 

Here are the links to tutorials 2 & 3:

Tutorial 2

Tutorial 3

Conclusion:

My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my Youtube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

Fractal Audio AX8: Power Amp Tube Tutorial [EL34; 6L6; KT66; KT88; Ideal...

Fractal AX8 Power Amp Tubes Rundown!

The Fractal Audio AX8 has a face-melting 12 power amp tubes to choose from! Things can get pretty confusing in the amp block pages so this tutorial is designed to help you wrap your head around the complexities with the Power Amp page in the Fractal AX8.

Video Timings:

Question 1: What do tubes do? 0:44
Question 2: What are triodes, tetrodes, and pentodes? 1:00
Homage to John Ambrose Fleming (The inventor of tubes) 2:20
Question 3: Which power amp tube types are in the AX8? 2:39

Inside The AX8 Power Amp Page

In total the AX8 has over 80 different amp block parameters and within those parameters options such as preamp and power tube selection options add to the sometimes overwhelming number of choices. Here are the power tubes types that you can choose from inside the AX8 amp block:

• 6AQ5 (EL90)
• 6L6/5881
• 6V6
• 300B
• 6550
• 6973 (1965 Falco)
• EL34/6CA7
• EL84/6BQ5
• Ideal Pentode and Ideal Tetrode (Jazz 120)* use if you're using an external preamp
• KT66 (Dr. Zs Route 66) Herbie Amps
• KT88 (Spawn Nitro)

Fractal Audio AX8: Amp Block (GEQ Page) Tutorial#2 [All Parameters On Th...

Graphic EQ Tips, Tricks, & Explanations

This is my first tutorial that features me playing the guitar to highlight and show how adjusting eq and changing types and bands can effect your sound using the GEQ page inside the Fractal AX8 amp block. I'd often shied away from doing this because I wanted to leave it up to my viewers and readers to experiment with their own sounds rather than being influenced by my sounds.

I've kept the preset extremely simple using just two blocks - amp and cabinet. No effects - nothing! In this way you can hear the affect that eq has on shaping the sound without it being clouded with delay and reverb and whatever else. 

The GEQ Page

The GEQ page is located in the amp block just below the Basic page option (see my 'Basic Page' tutorial). The GEQ block contains the following parameters:

Parameter 1: EQ Type

Parameter 2: EQ Location

EQ Type

There are several types of EQ available:

• 3 band console. Mimics the 3 sweep eq knobs on a standard miser
• 3, 4, and 5 band passive. Emulates the old analog eq pedals of the past
• 5 band Mark. Based on the eq section of the Mesa Boogie Mark series of amplifiers
• 5, 7, and 8 band Constant Q. Constant eq type probably based on the Rane series of equalisers
• 5, 7, and 8 band Variable Q. EQ using bandwith that varies in width according to boost/cut levels

The picture below is a wonderful graphic illustration explaining the differences between Constant Q and Variable Q.

EQ Location

Two locations are available:

• Pre P.A
• Post P.A

These locations designate where the EQ encounters the signal - either between the Preamp and Power amp (Pre P.A) or at the Power amp Output (Post P.A)

EQ Jargon

• Flat. Slider is set at 0 (neither boosted nor cut)
• Band. (shortened term for bandwith or the range of frequencies that a given slider controls)
• Q or Q factor. The range of frequencies within a band)
• Boost. Amplitude increase above flat up to +12dB  
• Cut. Amplitude decrease below flat down to -12dB

EQ Tips

• Cut rather than Boost
• Choose passive for an 'old school' eq sound reminiscent of Jimmy Page
• Think of Constant Q as a rifle that allows you to aim at a specific frequency without affecting the surrounding frequencies too much. Good for precision.
• Think of Variable Q as a shotgun that allows you to aim at a specific frequency but with a more pronounced effect on the surrounding frequencies. Great for 'smoother' subtle eq responses

Conclusion

A lot of my information is gathered from many hours of research across various sites but in all honesty the lions share of what I know comes from two sources - practical experimentation with the product itself; and the Fractal Audio Wiki forums. So if you want to dig a little or a lot deeper than my videos or blogs the Wiki forum would be a great place to start...and of course just plug in your AX8 if you have one and go for it! 

Here's a link to my entire Fractal Audio AX8 Tutorials Playlist! Be sure to check it out for great information on working with your Fractal AX8.

Fractal Audio AX8 Tutorials

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - J. S. Bach "4K Guitar Tutorial#1" [Note-By...

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - J. S. Bach "4K Guitar Tutorial#1

A note-by-note guitar lesson teaching you how to play this iconic piece of music by Bach. This piece has become almost obligatory at wedding services throughout the world and is synonymous with non-secular music, hymns and services. The most famous recording for guitar is probably the internationally acclaimed guitarist Christopher Parkening.

In the first guitar tutorial for Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring I cover every note for the first section before the temporary modulation. You will receive close up views of the left and right hands and be able to follow along with my tablature/sheet music if required. Great quality Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring guitar lessons are few and far between. My lesson is very comprehensive and it is filmed using 4K resolution for an outstanding visual experience. 

Performance Breakdown:

In my tutorial I offer suggestions for performance and as with many of my other instructional videos I provide tabs/notation combined with timing instructions in the 'Description' area of the YouTube video page. This feature will help you to quickly find any given set of 4 bars without the necessity to scroll through the video trying to find where you were before or a particular bar to learn.

• Sustained bass notes where possible
• Strict rhythm throughout
• A constant tone with minimal shifting away from the normal right hand position

My Guitar Tutorials Playlist on Youtube:

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring Tutorial#2

Conclusion:

My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my YouTube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

Adelita - Francisco Tarrega "Guitar Tutoria In 4K!" [Note-By-Note; Free ...

Adelita by Francisco Tarrega (Tutorial)

Hi fellow guitar slingers! Here is my highly anticipated tutorial for one of Franciso Tarrega's most beautiful yet simple pieces of idiomatic Spanish guitar music. Tarrega was born in Spain on the 21st of November, 1852 and died on the 15th of December, 1909. During his life he wrote a prolific number of pieces for the guitar and was heavily responsible for developing an extensive repertoire for the instrument and leading significant advances in guitar technique and pedagogy. 

Performance Breakdown:

In my tutorial I offer suggestions for performance and as with many of my other instructional videos I provide tabs/notation combined with timing instructions in the 'Description' area of the YouTube video page. This feature will help you to quickly find any given set of 4 bars without the necessity to scroll through the video trying to find where you were before or a particular bar to learn.

• Pull-offs throughout in the first section melody
• Rest strokes to accentuate the melody in both sections
• Key of E minor then to the tonic major - E major
• Use sul tasto and rubato to bring the piece alive

My Guitar Tutorials Playlist on Youtube:

Guitar Tutorials

Conclusion:

My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my Youtube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

Kung Fu Panda - Oogway Ascends Guitar: Acoustic Guitar Tutorial # 1[Free...

My Most Popular Arrangement EVER!

This is definitely one of the most beautiful OST (Original Soundtrack) songs that you are ever likely to hear. Hans Zimmerman brings his composition genius to the fore with this stunning orchestral work for the movie "Kung Fu Panda" released in 2008 by Dreamworks. It is also my most popular transcription on YouTube with thousands of people viewing this tutorial and my video of me playing it at the kitchen table when I was living in Bali, Indonesia. 

This song is heard when Oogway is explaining the illusion of control to Master Shifu near the old peach tree.  Although it is written for full orchestra and what sounds like an erhu it sits extremely well on the guitar. Surprisingly enough it is in a wonderful key for guitar - D minor and it happens to be relatively easy. It took me an afternoon to figure it out and several months to finally get around to subscribing it. I felt ongoing guilt because I had promised my YouTube subscribers that they'd receive tabs/notation if they subscribed...8 months later...and I'd finally transcribed it.

This transcription has proven to be one of my most popular YouTube videos so in March of 2016 I did my first ever YouTube tutorial showing people how to play it the way that I play it. 

Performance Notes:

The song uses the second most common guitar tuning known as Drop D and it is in the key of D minor. Here is the tuning:

6 - D

5 - A

4 - D

3 - G

2 - B

1 - E 

It starts out with a slightly unusual D minor arpeggio and then moves around the guitar using a few particularly beautiful artificial harmonics. Don't worry about those just keep practising and you'll get the hang of it.

I hope you enjoy listening to my transcription and if you happen to be a guitar player or know someone that plays the guitar that would like to play this song please send them to the video.

My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my Youtube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

Scarlett Johansson - "Trust In Me" from The Jungle Book: Acoustic/Classi...

Trust In Me - Classical Guitar 

Here's my acoustic/classical guitar arrangement of Kaa's song "Trust In Me" as sung by Scarlett Johannson in the Disney remake of The Jungle Book. To be honest I couldn't even remember this song from the original movie. I was really young when I saw the movie so thanks to YouTube I found a snippet of the actual version from the movie.

My transcription is not the transcription that Scarlett Johansson sings in the new movie. Selena Gomez also did a version of this in 2010.

My transcription is actually based on the original movie version but of course the new version and the old versions are almost identical except for a key change and a different solo toward the end of the song. You may note that in the video I wore my snakeskin themed hoodie - I thought it was a nice touch considering the movie content. Do you agree? I also end the video with a "Hssssssss". For some reason I just felt I had to do that - don't ask me why. In this video I have transcribed a combination of the orchestral parts combined with the singing. Here is a link to my tutorial:

Trust In Me - Tutorial

My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my Youtube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

UP Theme Song "Married Life": Acoustic/ClassicalGuitar Tutorial#1 "Kevin...

UP Movie Theme - "Married Life" by Michael Giacchino is such a beautiful yet haunting piece of music. Giacchino somehow perfectly captures the exuberance of youth, the joy of a loving relationship, goals realised and unrealised, age, and finally death, all within a single piece of music only several minutes long.

I cannot take any credit for this transcription as I learned this transcription from Kevin Nash's YouTube video. Here's the link:

Theme from Up - Classical guitar

I can however take credit for being one of the few (if not the only) people to have made an accurate transcription of his work into both notation and tablature. A few tablature examples were floating around but I found them to be extremely difficult to follow and often riddled with mistakes. I hope that my transcription is accurate to 99.9%.  This is the first of three tutorials for the theme song.

Here are links to the other 2 tutorials:

Tutorial 2

Tutorial 3

My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my Youtube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

"Final Fantasy X" End Theme Part 1: Original Guitar Arrangement [Free Ta...

Hi everyone. Final Fantasy X from the Final Fantasy series was a killer game with a killer soundtrack. Here is the first section of the ending music to the game.

 The original music was written by Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, and Junya Nakano. The most famous song is probably 'Suteki Da Ne' sung by RIKKI. It was originally released on the Playstation 2 platform in 2001 and in 2014 it was released for Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita as 'Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster'.

Transcribing this was a real joy. I checked out a few online piano transcriptions but they were mostly wrong so I ended up listening closely and transcribing it as well as I could. 

My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my Youtube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

Minuet In G - J. S. Bach "Guitar Tutorial In 4K!" [Note By Note; Free T...

Here is my first guitar tutorial shot using 4K resolution and it's awesome! Close ups look very clear and it is super easy to see both hands in high detail. This makes for a superior and immersive learning experience.  I used a Panasonic Lumix G7 with a Takstar SGC-598 microphone attached to the top of the camera. Here's a couple of links to each of those products:

Takstar SGC-598 Review

Panasonic Lumix G7 Field Test

Minuet In G is a beautiful yet simple piece written by Johann Sebastian Bach around 300 years ago. I first learned this song back in high school (I won't mention how many years ago that was). I think I learned it just a couple of years after Bach wrote it...

In this tutorial I show you how to play the first half of the song including fingering for both hands, rhythm, and expressive touches like sul tasto, ponticello, rubato and more to help you really bring this lovely piece to life!

My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my Youtube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

Fractal Audio AX8 Amp Block (Basic Page) Tutorial#1 [All Parameters On T...

AMP MODELLING GONE CRAY CRAY!!!

Every now and again something comes along in the world that just blows your mind. The Fractal Audio AX8 Amp section is one of those things. I consider my mind blown - well and truly. Up until February 2016 I had been using a Boss GT10 and several stand alone Boss pedals in my rig. 

Amps:

Total: 249 

(1 new amp based on Metallica's amp has just been added: USA MKII C++ (June 16, 2016))

The sheer number and variety of amps that are inside this little box of joy is difficult to comprehend. From the rare and elusive Dumbles, to the ubiquitous Vox, Marshalls, and Mesa Boogies of legend are all represented here in IR captured glory. 

To Tweak Or Not To Tweak?

The Boss from memory has about 3 amp models and no tweaking of any of the parameters inside those modelled amps - none - zero - nada - zilch. The AX8 has 249 and 7 pages full of tweakable parameters on each of those pages. I think I counted over 80 parameters from standard stuff like Master Volume and Gain to obscure stuff like Supply Sag and Negative Feedback. 

This is stuff of legend and it is designed to either just plug n and destroy your neighbours roses or keep things on the low and tweak parameters till you can't tweak no more. Here are the 7 pages:

1. Basic
2. GEQ
3. Preamp
4. Power Amp
5. Power Supply
6. Speaker
7. Dynamics

Each of these pages has at least 3 or 4 parameters that can be adjusted. Some of them can be controlled via external expression pedals or control pedals and now since the new 3.50 firmware update (June 16, 2016) an onboard switch can be assigned to control these parameters too although obviously it is restricted to on/off switching and not real time control of frequency modulation, gain, trim and so on. 

Here's a link to one of my other YouTube videos that shows you 12 ways to adjust the amp gain in the AX8. It's awesome so you'd better check it out. Nothing turns us on more than gain.

12 Ways To Adjust Amp Gain In The AX8

Go forth now and tweaketh they ampeth!

Asturias (Leyenda) Guitar Tutorial#3 [Final Section; Note-By-Note; Free ...

Asturias (Leyenda) Tutorial no. 3

History:

Asturias (Leyenda) by the Spanish composer Isaac Albeniz in 1892 has become an iconic guitar piece synonymous with Spain and it contains many of the idiomatic flavours of flamenco. Ironically it was written for piano yet it is the guitar transcriptions that has bought the piece to international attention. The piece has firmly entrenched itself in the classical guitar repertoire and is considered to be one of the standard concert pieces that all guitarists will learn and play at some point in their career.

Key Points:

• The original piece was written for piano in the key of G minor
• The guitar transcription is in the key of E minor (a minor 3rd lower than the original)
• Whilst not a flamenco piece per se it shares some characteristics such as rasguedos, intense rhythmic and harmonic content consistent with the sound of flamenco and is likened to the Bulería of Andalusia
• Marcato and Stacatto indications throughout reflect the rapid footwork of a flamenco dancer

Performance Notes For The Entire Piece:

• Stay relaxed especially in the opening stanzas with the picking hand
• Make maximum use of dynamics and remember that sforzando is common in this piece and essential to bringing the vibrancy to life
• Use tonal variations from ponticello to sul tasto throughout
• Don't take too many liberties with the timing in the A section. Bulería is a dance and as such rubato is frowned upon
• The B and Capo sections can be played more freely and loosely with respect to rhythm. 

Here is my link to tutorial 2:

Tutorial 2

My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my Youtube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

Ultimate Guitar/Pedalboard/Amp Shop In Hong Kong! UNI-SOUND [Interview;H...

I have Monday's off from my 6 nights/week gig in Shenzhen so I have to make the most of it. Surprisingly, Shenzhen doesn't have that many (if any) high quality music instrument stores so I have to take the 45 minute ferry from Shekou across to Hong Kong central if I want to get some decent quality guitar gear. Enter Uni-Sound owned by Brian Chan - a total guitar and guitar gear guru.

Brian is one of the few if not the only stockist of Fractal Audio, Mission, Strymon and a host of other boutique type gear in Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong. What makes this even cooler is that his shop is based in what appears to be an apartment building replete with barred windows and doors on the outside and inside of the building. In the video I make a joke about it feeling like I was walking into a jail. Have a look through the video and you'll see what I mean!

After being buzzed into the shared hallway I made my way to a small door at the end of the hallway covered in logos, knocked on the door, and was politely ushered into guitar nirvana land.

Brian has so much cool gear packed into such a tight space (it is Hong Kong after all) that I almost felt as if I'd walked into the guitar shop version of the Tardis from Doctor Who. After my initial shock I settled into the serious task of finding an expression pedal and control pedal for my Fractal Audio AX8. Brian was the man and produced a shiny new Mission Aero EP-25-PRO and a CAJ mini control box. While he was searching for those items I busied myself by playing both of his customised personal pedalboards. Among other things Brian is also a master pedalboard builder and the fruits of his labour are nestled in front of a fine selection of amplifiers and freely available for those that brave the jail-esque entrance to play and enjoy. 

Brian and I shared a jam and a chat and then sadly it was time for me to head back to Shekou for my gig. I totally recommend checking out Uni-Sound if you're passing through Hong Kong and have some time to head out from the hustle n bustle of the city centre to Diamond Hill. Brian will be moving premises in the next month or so but just like their facebook page and you'll be able to find them easily enough!

Uni-Sound On Facebook

Fractal Audio AX8: 4 Cable Method Tutorial [Physical Setup + AX8 Edit Se...

The Two-Step 4CM Setup For The AX8

Today I'll be teaching you how to setup your Fractal AX8 using the 4CM. The reason that this setup is trickier than other standard setups is twofold - firstly, there is a physical setup that is slightly different from normal; secondly, there is a software or onboard setup that is required which is usually absent in simpler guitar/amp/analog pedal configurations.

Physical Setup

1. Cable 1 - Guitar to IN 1 [Instrument]
2. Cable 2 - OUT 1 L to [MAIN] on the AX8 to your AMP FX RETURN (LOOP)
3. Cable 3 -  IN 2 L [FX RTN] on the AX8 to your AMP FX SEND (LOOP)
4. Cable 4 - OUT 2 L [FX SEND] on the AX8 to your AMP GUITAR INPUT

In the video my Boss GT10 is acting as the amp head. Almost all amps that have an fx loop will look similar to the Boss GT10's fx loop with an 'fx return' and an 'fx send'. The primary difference between setting up regular pedals in an effects loop is that your guitar still goes directly into the front of the amp whereas here your guitar plugs into the AX8 first. In a way it is still similar to plugging into your normal effects pedals that aren't in the loop and then going from the last output of your final pedal into the amp input.

AX8-Edit Setup

1. Insert an FX Loop block into your preset
2. Either remove or turn off the power amp section of your amp block by either disengaging it via the Global setting or setting Supply Sag to zero.
3. Turn off your Cabinet block or remove it entirely

* Note. Presence should be checked and set to 5.00. Disengaging the power amp using Global can cause compression 

Conclusion

A lot of my information is gathered from many hours of research across various sites but in all honesty the lions share of what I know comes from two sources - practical experimentation with the product itself; and the Fractal Audio Wiki forums. So if you want to dig a little or a lot deeper than my videos or blogs the Wiki forum would be a great place to start...and of course just plug in your AX8 if you have one and go for it!

Here's a link to my entire Fractal Audio AX8 Tutorials Playlist! Be sure to check it out for great information on working with your Fractal AX8.

Fractal Audio AX8 Tutorials

JTC June 2016 'Rock the Funk' [Takamine TNV460SC; Joshua Rogers]

Jam Track Central create backing tracks once a month for guitarists to jam over. All they ask is that you video your jam and then post it to YouTube and then post that link on the JTC Facebook page. Doing this not only helps you to improve your chops but it also exposes you to the multitude of great players that share their 'jams' on the page too. 

JTC Jam Of The Month Facebook Page

This June 2016 jam is my fourth jam that I have contributed to the group. I had fun recording and I used my iPhone 6 to capture the sound and video. My guitar is a Takamine TNV460SC that I had bought from a guy in New Zealand that no longer needed it. It was an awesome score as Takamine no longer make these guitars - and it was a top of the line guitar at an extremely reasonable price.

If you get enough likes or if your jam is considered to be one of the most awesome then it will be combined with a couple of other jammers' jams and posted on the official JTC YouTube channel. 

Have fun checking out the jams and don't forget to head to the Facebook page and join if you want to be part of this amazing group of guitarists.

Let your fingers fly!

Asturias (Leyenda) Guitar Tutorial#2 [Middle Section; Note-By-Note;Tabs&...

Asturias (Leyenda) Tutorial no. 2

History:

Asturias (Leyenda) by the Spanish composer Isaac Albeniz in 1892 has become an iconic guitar piece synonymous with Spain and it contains many of the idiomatic flavours of flamenco. Ironically it was written for piano yet it is the guitar transcriptions that has bought the piece to international attention. The piece has firmly entrenched itself in the classical guitar repertoire and is considered to be one of the standard concert pieces that all guitarists will learn and play at some point in their career.

Key Points:

• The original piece was written for piano in the key of G minor
• The guitar transcription is in the key of E minor (a minor 3rd lower than the original)
• Whilst not a flamenco piece per se it shares some characteristics such as rasguedos, intense rhythmic and harmonic content consistent with the sound of flamenco and is likened to the Bulería of Andalusia
• Marcato and Stacatto indications throughout reflect the rapid footwork of a flamenco dancer

Performance Notes For The Entire Piece:

• Stay relaxed especially in the opening stanzas with the picking hand
• Make maximum use of dynamics and remember that sforzando is common in this piece and essential to bringing the vibrancy to life
• Use tonal variations from ponticello to sul tasto throughout
• Don't take too many liberties with the timing in the A section. Bulería is a dance and as such rubato is frowned upon
• The B and Capo sections can be played more freely and loosely with respect to rhythm. 

Here is my link to tutorial 3:

Tutorial 3

My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my Youtube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

Fractal Audio AX8: Ring Modulator Tutorial [History;Parameters;Whammy&Oc...

Ring Modulation!

Ring Modulation inside the AX8 is freaking amazing. There are parameters that let you control the adjustments in real time providing for some way cool pitch shifting/whammy type effects and if you set it up another way you can use it as a sub-octaver. 

Ring modulation was born in the 1940s and is signal processing effect produced by the shape of the diode circuit which is (no surprises here) in the shape of a ring that the original sound flows through. In this effect two signals are used - the original and the carrier signal. By the time the combined signal leaves the effect unit the original sound is barely audible (if at all). What is left is a signal that is rich with harmonic content that is rich in partials and/or harmonic overtones that are produced by the ring circuit.

One of the earliest instruments to use ring modulation was in all likelihood the Melochord by Harald Bode. From that point more musicians and musical groups have included ring modulation in their compositions such as Black Sabbath, King Crimson et al. 

'Whammy Pedal' Emulator Setup:

Frequency Parameter: Assign an expression pedal to this parameter to control the frequency in real time!

'Octave Pedal' Emulator Setup:

Track Parameter: Turn ON

Frequency Parameter: Set at 500Hz

High Cut Parameter: Set at 500Hz

In conclusion:

A lot of my information is gathered from many hours of research across various sites but in all honesty the lions share of what I know comes from two sources - practical experimentation with the product itself; and the Fractal Audio Wiki forums. So if you want to dig a little or a lot deeper than my videos or blogs the Wiki forum would be a great place to start...and of course just plug in your AX8 if you have one and go for it! 

Here's a link to my entire Fractal Audio AX8 Tutorials Playlist! Be sure to check it out for great information on working with your Fractal AX8.

Fractal Audio AX8 Tutorials

Kōkiri - Waiora - Te Puaotanga o te Ao [Track 1] Instrumental Maori Mus...

Waiora 'Under the Piupiu Part 1' [Traditional Maori Instruments & Music ...

Waiora - Celtic Connections 2015

Waiora is a trio of Maori musicians from Aotearoa (New Zealand). The music of Waiora can be loosely categorised as primarily instrumental ethnic music of the Maori people of New Zealand. Fronted by Horomona Horo the trio has performed all over the world bringing their amazing blend of musical influences to listeners from a wide variety of backgrounds. This video shows highlights of their time in Glasgow, Scotland performing as part of the contingent of musicians chosen to represent New Zealand at the Celtic Connections festival in 2015. 

Waiora - Members

Horomona Horo - Taonga Puoro

Korey Atama - Percussion

Joshua Rogers - Guitar

Celtic Connections - The Story...

Celtic Connections is the largest UK-based winter festival of its kind. Since the festivals inception in 1994 it has grown from strength to strength and attracts visitors, agents, and performers from around the world. The festival runs in January of each year and has grown to the point where it has about 2,100 musicians giving over 300 performers to thousands of spectators across several venues scattered throughout Glasgow. In 2015 the festival won the Art and Culture Award at the Inspiring City Awards ceremony organised by the Herald and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce in association with People Make Glasgow.  The awards were created to celebrate the people and organisations that make Glasgow great.

In the video you can see the three of us walking the streets of Glasgow and then preparing for our first show of the festival at Candleriggs. We're also talking with one of the guys from the amazing Scottish band - Breabach. Super nice people with outstanding music.

Check out their music here:

Breabach's Website 

You can also find our debut album on iTunes here:

Te Puaotanga O Te Ao

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Pachelbel Canon in D Guitar Tutorial [Free Tabs/Notation;Note-by-Note; T...

Pachelbel Canon in D Guitar note-by-note tutorial with free tabs and full music notation!

In this 'How to' lesson I'll be covering tuning, chords, left and right hand fingering essentials and much more. 

History

Pachelbel's Canon is the name commonly given to a canon by the German Baroque composer Johann Pachelbel in his Canon and Gigue for 3 violins and basso continuo (German: Kanon und Gigue für 3 Violinen mit Generalbaß) (PWC 37, T. 337, PC 358), sometimes referred to as Canon and Gigue in D or simply Canon in D. Neither the date nor the circumstances of its composition are known, and the oldest surviving manuscript copy of the piece dates from the 19th century.

In 2002, pop music producer Pete Waterman described Canon in D as "almost the godfather of pop music because we've all used that in our own ways for the past 30 years". He also said that Kylie Minogue's 1988 UK Number One hit single "I Should Be So Lucky", which Waterman co-wrote and co-produced, was based on Canon in D. The Farm's 1990 single "All Together Now" has its chord sequence lifted directly from Pachelbel's Canon.

Modern Tributes

The Pet Shop Boys 1993 cover of "Go West" played up that song's resemblance to both Pachelbel's Canon and the Soviet Anthem. Coolio's 1997 "C U When U Get There" is built around a sample of the piece. Other songs that make use of the Pachelbel's Canon chord progression include "Streets of London" by Ralph McTell (1974), "Basket Case" by Green Day (1994) "Don't Look Back in Anger" by Oasis (1996) (though with a variation at the end) and "Graduation (Friends Forever)" by Vitamin C (2000) 

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra's 1998 song "Christmas Canon" is set to the tune of Pachelbel's Canon.

The second half of Brian Eno's album Discreet Music (1975) features "Three Variations on the Canon in D Major by Johann Pachelbel", whose titles were derived from inaccurate French-to-English translations of the liner notes of a version of Pachelbel's Canon.

 Notable guitarists that have covered this piece include Jerry C and FunTwo (albeit theirs were rock versions)

Performance Breakdown:

In my tutorial I offer suggestions for performance and as with many of my other instructional videos I provide tabs/notation combined with timing instructions in the 'Description' area of the YouTube video page. This feature will help you to quickly find any given set of 4 bars without the necessity to scroll through the video trying to find where you were before or a particular bar to learn.

• Drop 'D' tuning (6th string down a tone from E to D)
• Sustained bass notes where possible
• Strict rhythm throughout
• A colourful tone with variation where possible
• 
  

My Guitar Tutorials Playlist on Youtube:

Guitar Tutorials

Conclusion:

My full transcription including tablature and notation is available for free to my Youtube subscribers. So, if you wish to have a copy just subscribe to my channel and leave a comment or send me a message with your email address and I will happily send you my transcription. Be sure to watch my tutorials for the song and have the transcription beside you so that you can learn this wonderful song quickly and easily.

Let your fingers fly!

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