Monthly ArchiveNovember 2006
Music Reviews
The Music of Middle Earth - an Analysis on the Use of Music in the Film: "the Lord of the Rings: the Fellowship of the Ring"
Stuart Heimdal asked:
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was the first movie in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, based on the popular fantasy books written by J.R. R. Tolkein. The movie was a blockbuster hit at both the box office and at the Oscars. The story, in and of itself, is creative, captivating and magical. But even a wonderful story can flop when put onto the big screen. Cinematography, special effects, visual effects and the quality of acting all play an important part in making a story “live” for an audience. Music also plays a vital part in making a movie successful. Music can make us feel that we are in another place and time. It captures our emotions by creating an ambiance of happiness, sadness, tension, fear or excitement. Music helps suspend our disbelief about the fantasy of the story. It helps us identify with distinct characters, places and cultures. The music of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, does all of these things. Through music, composer Howard Shore successfully takes us to Middle Earth.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring takes us to another time and place. Howard Shore’s music tells us that we have left our world before we’ve seen even the first frame of the film. As the screen fades from black into the New Line Cinema icon, we hear music. The music has an Eastern sound, using woodwind instruments from Africa and East India. The sound is quaint and mysterious. It gives us the feeling of being in a far away land and contributes to the suspension of disbelief that helps the audience subconsciously consent to be taken to a place with which they are not familiar.
The mystical music that we hear during the first few moments of the film is soon joined by a voice – the voice of the Elf queen Galadriel, of Lothlorien. This music that we hear is the theme of Lothlorien. Every time that we see or hear of Lothlorien or Galadriel, we hear a version of this theme.
Peter Jackson, director of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, understood the importance of a musical score in a movie. He said, “The music score to any film, obviously, is very important because it guides your emotions when you’re watching the film. The actors can do their job, the director can do (his) job in terms of creating a certain mood and emotion, but using music is so strong and evoking of what you should be feeling at any given time.”
Jackson continued, “I wanted the music (of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring) to reflect Tolkien. I wanted the music to also bring the world of Middle Earth to life.”
Howard Shore the composer said, “Tolkien spent fourteen years writing The Lord of the Rings. And now you’re writing a musical image, creating a musical mirror, if you will, to his writing. And I mention this so often - even in other discussions - and I feel like Frodo. I did feel like that. Like I have this amazing journey to take, and I had the ring in my vest pocket and ‘You were chosen, now you’re going to write the music to Lord of the Rings. And, you have to do it.”
Peter Jackson added this regarding the huge task that Howard Shore had in composing the music for the The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, “It’s doing two jobs at once. It’s underscoring the film. It’s providing an emotional link - a bridge between the movie and the audience - and it’s drawing the audience in. But it’s doing it in such a way that it’s also telling you a lot about the cultures of this world.”
Therefore, every major place, race and character in this movie has a musical theme attached to it. This film has a large number of characters, cultures and races. The distinct races, geography, trees, nature, and the earth itself were a big part of Tolkein’s story. It would have been very easy for the audience to become confused trying to distinguish between the many peoples and places of Middle Earth. Giving each of these elements a musical theme makes them live as individual characters, all contributing to the essence of Middle Earth.
The Shire, for example, is the place where the Hobbits live. The Hobbits are a peaceful people and they live a quiet life. Any sort of adventure is a scandal. They are an agrarian society and live as part of the land. Even their homes are burrows in the ground. Howard Shore uses music to “describe” Hobbits and the Shire to the audience. Their theme is very light and cheerful. A slide flute accompanied by a full orchestra give a Celtic or Irish feel. This accomplishes the feeling of another time, but brings the audience a little closer to home and gives a feeling of comfort. A solo violin carries the melody for a while until the full string section finishes the theme, but whenever the Shire is mentioned or referred to in the movie the score refers us back to the slide flute.
The Fellowship, made up of people and creatures from different races, has its own distinct theme. “As the two Hobbits leave Hobbiton and set out on their own, you hear the first statement of the Fellowship theme in the corn field, because it’s essentially the first time that the Fellowship is formed,” said Mr. Shore.
When the four Hobbits are on their way to the village of Bree, they are running from the “Nasgul”, or Ring Wraiths. There is very little dialogue during this scene. Our emotions are heightened and we feel the tension of the moment through the musical score. This is accomplished largely through dissonance. Our ears like to hear nice chords. Notes that are close to each other in value sound terrible to us. In the theme of the Ring Wraiths, the chords that clash are used to make us to feel uncomfortable. The movie makers want us to squirm in our seats. They want us to feel fear. The French horns are playing staccato quarter and eighth notes in a building rhythm while the strings are on descending eighth notes that continually clash. Add a men’s choir chanting an Elvish poem and it makes for a very confusing and intense moment.
Then while in the village of Bree, the Hobbits think that they are finally safe. We see images of them sleeping in their beds smiling. The scene then cuts to the Ring Wraiths coming into the village. The dissonant music becomes louder. Cut to the inn keeper’s face in horror as the Wraiths enter his inn. Cut to the peaceful Hobbits in their beds. All the while, dissonant and ancient sounding music is playing loudly. Then silence. As the Wraiths approach the Hobbits in their beds there is silence. This adds to the tension. We hold our breaths. This is a stroke of genius. Knowing when to not have music, or score, is just as important as knowing when to include it.
As soon as the Wraiths discover that they were tricked, however, the angry dissonant Wraith theme returns with a fury to remind us how serious the situation is. Even though the Hobbits are safe for the moment, they will never really be secure or free until they have accomplished their goal. The music reinforces this to the audience, as a version of the Wraith theme plays softer while Frodo watches the Wraiths from across the street from the Inn.
The Ring itself has an interesting theme. The Ring, though an inanimate object, is a character of its own. Its essence is evil and its intent is to deceive and enslave. The theme of the Ring portrays all of that through instrumentation and dissonance. It is appropriate that the main instrument used for the theme of the Ring is the oboe. The oboe is the instrument used to charm a snake out of a basket. It is also often associated with seduction, or allure. The ring certainly personifies that. Frodo, Bilbo, Gollum and many others were seduced, even addicted, to the Ring.
The wizard, Gandalf, goes to visit his superior and mentor, Sauraman, at the tower of Isengard. We believe at first that Sauraman is still a friend to Gandalf.
Once the story reveals that Sauraman has turned to the side of darkness, the musical theme, as well, “tells” us that the tower of Isengard is a place of evil. Howard Shore uses several methods to give that feeling. Dissonance is used to portray a feeling of uneasiness or apprehension.
Also, during the musical theme for the Tower of Isengard, Howard Shore uses an odd way of timing so that we feel off balance. Anytime that we see the tower of Isengard and the forging of weapons, Mr. Shore adds a beat to throw us off and make us feel uncomfortable. We are used to hearing music in common time (or four-four time), with four beats to each measure, and that feels right to us. The industrial sounding theme uses a five-four time which makes us uncomfortable by adding an extra beat to each measure. Also, French horns are used for the main melody, but Howard Shore also relies on the bass drum, tympani and a chime or bell to give the effect of a hammer pounding away down in the depths of the caverns underneath the tower.
Rivendell, a city of the Elves, has a theme of its own. This is a western haven for the Elves. We feel the peace and the beauty of the city, as well as its antiquity, through the music. This is quite different from the theme of Lothlorien. We are made to feel comfortable here at this place.
When the Fellowship leaves Rivendell and sets out on its journey, the theme of the Fellowship is fully revealed. The theme is naturally lyrical, aimed at the brass, but is restrained by a fully mixed and realized string section. The music is heroic and we feel the importance of their quest. We are excited and proud of them for making the decision to destroy the Ring and save Middle Earth.
Later, the Fellowship takes refuge in the Mines of Moria, only to discover that they are trapped inside a Dwarf “tomb”. The theme music of the Mines of Moria features a men’s chorus made up of Polynesian men. Peter Jackson had this to say about the music for the mines of Moria. “We sat around our kitchen table at home talking about the choral arrangement ideas for Moria and I thought it would be really great to weight it fairly heavily toward Polynesian singers. Maury or Pacific Islanders who have again, another worldly quality to their voice.”
“Mines being a Dwarven kingdom would really suit having those male voices. A bit like a Welch mining choir. So, Howard found himself in the town hall with an all-Polynesian male choir.”
At the bridge of Khaza-Dhum, the Fellowship is chased by the Moria Orcs. The Polynesian men’s choir and the tympani drums heighten the tension and excitement of the scene. The members of the Fellowship cross the bridge, but Gandalf stays behind to fight the Balrog. The music crescendos to an all-time forte until Gandalf falls from the bridge. Then very suddenly, the music goes into a very soft and melodic hum with just a single boy singing, lamenting for Gandalf. Under this beautiful theme, the camera shows a montage of the members of the Fellowship reacting to the loss of Gandalf. We see the characters faces and expressions of grief, but it is the music that makes us feel with them. The music “guides” our emotions and we feel as they do.
Later, when the Fellowship enters the forest of Lothlorien, we again hear the theme that was introduced at the beginning of the movie. There is also a twist of tension and mystery to this theme. As the Fellowship creeps through the forest, we sense through the music that they are wary of being in this land of the Elves. We sense that they fear that they will not be welcome.
In Lothlorien, when Boromir speaks of his home in Gondor, we hear a very brief part of the theme of Gondor, offered by a solo French horn, foreshadowing a people that we have not yet seen. The full theme of Gondor, however, is not revealed until the third part of the trilogy.
Critics of the music in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring say that there is just too much music. This simply is not true. This film was successful largely because of the comprehensive score. The extensive music in this film augments what is happening on the screen and enhances the experience for the audience. At every important moment in this film, the music is there to “guide” the audience emotionally. The music also helpes suspend our disbelief in a world that might otherwise seem ridiculous and surreal.
This film has an extensive number of characters, places, cultures and races. It would have been very easy for the audience to become confused. Howard Shore uses music to help the audience distinguish between the different groups and places by giving them their own distinctive themes.
Through the musical score, we know what to feel. We feel fear when the Hobbits are on their way to Bree. We feel sadness when Gandalf falls. We feel tension when Arwen is trying to get Frodo to Rivendell. We celebrate when the Fellowship sets out on their incredible journey. We understand the emotions of the characters and we feel with them. We become part of Middle Earth. And the musical score of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring helps take us there.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was the first movie in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, based on the popular fantasy books written by J.R. R. Tolkein. The movie was a blockbuster hit at both the box office and at the Oscars. The story, in and of itself, is creative, captivating and magical. But even a wonderful story can flop when put onto the big screen. Cinematography, special effects, visual effects and the quality of acting all play an important part in making a story “live” for an audience. Music also plays a vital part in making a movie successful. Music can make us feel that we are in another place and time. It captures our emotions by creating an ambiance of happiness, sadness, tension, fear or excitement. Music helps suspend our disbelief about the fantasy of the story. It helps us identify with distinct characters, places and cultures. The music of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, does all of these things. Through music, composer Howard Shore successfully takes us to Middle Earth.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring takes us to another time and place. Howard Shore’s music tells us that we have left our world before we’ve seen even the first frame of the film. As the screen fades from black into the New Line Cinema icon, we hear music. The music has an Eastern sound, using woodwind instruments from Africa and East India. The sound is quaint and mysterious. It gives us the feeling of being in a far away land and contributes to the suspension of disbelief that helps the audience subconsciously consent to be taken to a place with which they are not familiar.
The mystical music that we hear during the first few moments of the film is soon joined by a voice – the voice of the Elf queen Galadriel, of Lothlorien. This music that we hear is the theme of Lothlorien. Every time that we see or hear of Lothlorien or Galadriel, we hear a version of this theme.
Peter Jackson, director of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, understood the importance of a musical score in a movie. He said, “The music score to any film, obviously, is very important because it guides your emotions when you’re watching the film. The actors can do their job, the director can do (his) job in terms of creating a certain mood and emotion, but using music is so strong and evoking of what you should be feeling at any given time.”
Jackson continued, “I wanted the music (of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring) to reflect Tolkien. I wanted the music to also bring the world of Middle Earth to life.”
Howard Shore the composer said, “Tolkien spent fourteen years writing The Lord of the Rings. And now you’re writing a musical image, creating a musical mirror, if you will, to his writing. And I mention this so often - even in other discussions - and I feel like Frodo. I did feel like that. Like I have this amazing journey to take, and I had the ring in my vest pocket and ‘You were chosen, now you’re going to write the music to Lord of the Rings. And, you have to do it.”
Peter Jackson added this regarding the huge task that Howard Shore had in composing the music for the The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, “It’s doing two jobs at once. It’s underscoring the film. It’s providing an emotional link - a bridge between the movie and the audience - and it’s drawing the audience in. But it’s doing it in such a way that it’s also telling you a lot about the cultures of this world.”
Therefore, every major place, race and character in this movie has a musical theme attached to it. This film has a large number of characters, cultures and races. The distinct races, geography, trees, nature, and the earth itself were a big part of Tolkein’s story. It would have been very easy for the audience to become confused trying to distinguish between the many peoples and places of Middle Earth. Giving each of these elements a musical theme makes them live as individual characters, all contributing to the essence of Middle Earth.
The Shire, for example, is the place where the Hobbits live. The Hobbits are a peaceful people and they live a quiet life. Any sort of adventure is a scandal. They are an agrarian society and live as part of the land. Even their homes are burrows in the ground. Howard Shore uses music to “describe” Hobbits and the Shire to the audience. Their theme is very light and cheerful. A slide flute accompanied by a full orchestra give a Celtic or Irish feel. This accomplishes the feeling of another time, but brings the audience a little closer to home and gives a feeling of comfort. A solo violin carries the melody for a while until the full string section finishes the theme, but whenever the Shire is mentioned or referred to in the movie the score refers us back to the slide flute.
The Fellowship, made up of people and creatures from different races, has its own distinct theme. “As the two Hobbits leave Hobbiton and set out on their own, you hear the first statement of the Fellowship theme in the corn field, because it’s essentially the first time that the Fellowship is formed,” said Mr. Shore.
When the four Hobbits are on their way to the village of Bree, they are running from the “Nasgul”, or Ring Wraiths. There is very little dialogue during this scene. Our emotions are heightened and we feel the tension of the moment through the musical score. This is accomplished largely through dissonance. Our ears like to hear nice chords. Notes that are close to each other in value sound terrible to us. In the theme of the Ring Wraiths, the chords that clash are used to make us to feel uncomfortable. The movie makers want us to squirm in our seats. They want us to feel fear. The French horns are playing staccato quarter and eighth notes in a building rhythm while the strings are on descending eighth notes that continually clash. Add a men’s choir chanting an Elvish poem and it makes for a very confusing and intense moment.
Then while in the village of Bree, the Hobbits think that they are finally safe. We see images of them sleeping in their beds smiling. The scene then cuts to the Ring Wraiths coming into the village. The dissonant music becomes louder. Cut to the inn keeper’s face in horror as the Wraiths enter his inn. Cut to the peaceful Hobbits in their beds. All the while, dissonant and ancient sounding music is playing loudly. Then silence. As the Wraiths approach the Hobbits in their beds there is silence. This adds to the tension. We hold our breaths. This is a stroke of genius. Knowing when to not have music, or score, is just as important as knowing when to include it.
As soon as the Wraiths discover that they were tricked, however, the angry dissonant Wraith theme returns with a fury to remind us how serious the situation is. Even though the Hobbits are safe for the moment, they will never really be secure or free until they have accomplished their goal. The music reinforces this to the audience, as a version of the Wraith theme plays softer while Frodo watches the Wraiths from across the street from the Inn.
The Ring itself has an interesting theme. The Ring, though an inanimate object, is a character of its own. Its essence is evil and its intent is to deceive and enslave. The theme of the Ring portrays all of that through instrumentation and dissonance. It is appropriate that the main instrument used for the theme of the Ring is the oboe. The oboe is the instrument used to charm a snake out of a basket. It is also often associated with seduction, or allure. The ring certainly personifies that. Frodo, Bilbo, Gollum and many others were seduced, even addicted, to the Ring.
The wizard, Gandalf, goes to visit his superior and mentor, Sauraman, at the tower of Isengard. We believe at first that Sauraman is still a friend to Gandalf.
Once the story reveals that Sauraman has turned to the side of darkness, the musical theme, as well, “tells” us that the tower of Isengard is a place of evil. Howard Shore uses several methods to give that feeling. Dissonance is used to portray a feeling of uneasiness or apprehension.
Also, during the musical theme for the Tower of Isengard, Howard Shore uses an odd way of timing so that we feel off balance. Anytime that we see the tower of Isengard and the forging of weapons, Mr. Shore adds a beat to throw us off and make us feel uncomfortable. We are used to hearing music in common time (or four-four time), with four beats to each measure, and that feels right to us. The industrial sounding theme uses a five-four time which makes us uncomfortable by adding an extra beat to each measure. Also, French horns are used for the main melody, but Howard Shore also relies on the bass drum, tympani and a chime or bell to give the effect of a hammer pounding away down in the depths of the caverns underneath the tower.
Rivendell, a city of the Elves, has a theme of its own. This is a western haven for the Elves. We feel the peace and the beauty of the city, as well as its antiquity, through the music. This is quite different from the theme of Lothlorien. We are made to feel comfortable here at this place.
When the Fellowship leaves Rivendell and sets out on its journey, the theme of the Fellowship is fully revealed. The theme is naturally lyrical, aimed at the brass, but is restrained by a fully mixed and realized string section. The music is heroic and we feel the importance of their quest. We are excited and proud of them for making the decision to destroy the Ring and save Middle Earth.
Later, the Fellowship takes refuge in the Mines of Moria, only to discover that they are trapped inside a Dwarf “tomb”. The theme music of the Mines of Moria features a men’s chorus made up of Polynesian men. Peter Jackson had this to say about the music for the mines of Moria. “We sat around our kitchen table at home talking about the choral arrangement ideas for Moria and I thought it would be really great to weight it fairly heavily toward Polynesian singers. Maury or Pacific Islanders who have again, another worldly quality to their voice.”
“Mines being a Dwarven kingdom would really suit having those male voices. A bit like a Welch mining choir. So, Howard found himself in the town hall with an all-Polynesian male choir.”
At the bridge of Khaza-Dhum, the Fellowship is chased by the Moria Orcs. The Polynesian men’s choir and the tympani drums heighten the tension and excitement of the scene. The members of the Fellowship cross the bridge, but Gandalf stays behind to fight the Balrog. The music crescendos to an all-time forte until Gandalf falls from the bridge. Then very suddenly, the music goes into a very soft and melodic hum with just a single boy singing, lamenting for Gandalf. Under this beautiful theme, the camera shows a montage of the members of the Fellowship reacting to the loss of Gandalf. We see the characters faces and expressions of grief, but it is the music that makes us feel with them. The music “guides” our emotions and we feel as they do.
Later, when the Fellowship enters the forest of Lothlorien, we again hear the theme that was introduced at the beginning of the movie. There is also a twist of tension and mystery to this theme. As the Fellowship creeps through the forest, we sense through the music that they are wary of being in this land of the Elves. We sense that they fear that they will not be welcome.
In Lothlorien, when Boromir speaks of his home in Gondor, we hear a very brief part of the theme of Gondor, offered by a solo French horn, foreshadowing a people that we have not yet seen. The full theme of Gondor, however, is not revealed until the third part of the trilogy.
Critics of the music in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring say that there is just too much music. This simply is not true. This film was successful largely because of the comprehensive score. The extensive music in this film augments what is happening on the screen and enhances the experience for the audience. At every important moment in this film, the music is there to “guide” the audience emotionally. The music also helpes suspend our disbelief in a world that might otherwise seem ridiculous and surreal.
This film has an extensive number of characters, places, cultures and races. It would have been very easy for the audience to become confused. Howard Shore uses music to help the audience distinguish between the different groups and places by giving them their own distinctive themes.
Through the musical score, we know what to feel. We feel fear when the Hobbits are on their way to Bree. We feel sadness when Gandalf falls. We feel tension when Arwen is trying to get Frodo to Rivendell. We celebrate when the Fellowship sets out on their incredible journey. We understand the emotions of the characters and we feel with them. We become part of Middle Earth. And the musical score of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring helps take us there.
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Music Reviews
What you Really Need to Know About Picking the Best Mp3 Music Download Site
Ray Harris asked:
Now that you’ve purchased that hot new mp3 player, have you thought about what type of mp3 music download site you will use to get your music from? Your options boil down to basically two (2) choices. Legal music download sites or mp3 file sharing programs that facilitate unlimited downloads of music files. But which one is the best option for you? To help you answer that question, this article will explore the pros and cons of getting your favorite music from legal mp3 music sites versus p2p file sharing programs.
Music Downloads From Legal MP3 Music Download Sites
Legal mp3 music download sites are an excellent way for you to get the music you want. These online music stores offer CD quality music files that are free of any adware, spyware or viruses. The music has been legally licensed from the record labels that own the copyrights to the songs and albums, so you don’t have to worry about any copyright infringement issues when you download the music. Popular digital music services like Rhapsody and Yahoo! Music Unlimited provide members with monthly membership subscriptions that give you a choice between downloading music to your PC or to your mp3 player. Also, some legal mp3 music download sites such as iTunes Store and Wal-Mart Music Downloads now offer music tracks that are free of any digital rights restrictions.
But as cool as it is to get very high quality, spyware free, DRM free songs or albums that you can play on your PC or your mp3 player, legal music download sites do have a few drawbacks. The biggest drawback is DRM (digital rights management or digital rights restrictions). DRM can limit what you can do with your mp3 music downloads and basically makes you a renter of the music even though you’ve bought it. But as I mentioned previously, online music stores and major recording labels are banding together to bring you music that’s free of digital rights restrictions. Outside of DRM, the biggest drawback is the cost if you pay for your music on a per download basis. However, music download sites like Rhapsody and Yahoo! Music Unlimited offer discounts on purchased music tracks to their membership subscribers. Wal-Mart Music Downloads is also very competitive price wise when compared to iTunes.
MP3 Music Downloads From P2P File Sharing Programs
Thanks to today’s technology, p2p file sharing programs all you to download, upload and share mp3 music files online. Also known as p2p (peer–to-peer), these freeware programs enable you to download music from the shared file folders of other users within the p2p network for free. Getting lighting fast, unlimited downloads of mp3 music can provide you with a naughty thrill (you can get all the music you want for free). But as thrilling as that might be, getting your favorite tunes this way can be a risky proposition.
As you read in the previous paragraph, many p2p file sharing programs are available as freeware downloads. As freeware or shareware, they often come bundled with hidden spyware or adware programs. Additional spyware risks come from the shared files of other users in the p2p network. But with the help of a good spyware remover tool, you can pretty much eliminate this spyware threat. The biggest risk in downloading mp3 music from file sharing programs comes from the exposure to getting sued for copyright infringement. The RIAA aggressively pursues lawsuits against people who use file sharing to download copyrighted music from RIAA members. The recent TorrentSpy ruling doesn’t make things any easier for you to stay under the RIAA’s radar. However, it is possible for you to anonymously download mp3 music from file sharing programs using IP cloaking software or anonymous surfing service.
By now it should be clear that both legal mp3 music download sites and p2p file sharing programs present online music lovers with opportunities and challenges. Which one is right for you? With legal music sites, you have to ask yourself if DRM and the costs are that big of a deal for you to get legitimate, near CD quality music. With p2p file sharing programs, you have to ask yourself if getting unlimited free music is worth the spyware and legal risks. Ultimately the choice of which mp3 music download site boils down to you and the option you feel most comfortable with.
Content for WordPress
Now that you’ve purchased that hot new mp3 player, have you thought about what type of mp3 music download site you will use to get your music from? Your options boil down to basically two (2) choices. Legal music download sites or mp3 file sharing programs that facilitate unlimited downloads of music files. But which one is the best option for you? To help you answer that question, this article will explore the pros and cons of getting your favorite music from legal mp3 music sites versus p2p file sharing programs.
Music Downloads From Legal MP3 Music Download Sites
Legal mp3 music download sites are an excellent way for you to get the music you want. These online music stores offer CD quality music files that are free of any adware, spyware or viruses. The music has been legally licensed from the record labels that own the copyrights to the songs and albums, so you don’t have to worry about any copyright infringement issues when you download the music. Popular digital music services like Rhapsody and Yahoo! Music Unlimited provide members with monthly membership subscriptions that give you a choice between downloading music to your PC or to your mp3 player. Also, some legal mp3 music download sites such as iTunes Store and Wal-Mart Music Downloads now offer music tracks that are free of any digital rights restrictions.
But as cool as it is to get very high quality, spyware free, DRM free songs or albums that you can play on your PC or your mp3 player, legal music download sites do have a few drawbacks. The biggest drawback is DRM (digital rights management or digital rights restrictions). DRM can limit what you can do with your mp3 music downloads and basically makes you a renter of the music even though you’ve bought it. But as I mentioned previously, online music stores and major recording labels are banding together to bring you music that’s free of digital rights restrictions. Outside of DRM, the biggest drawback is the cost if you pay for your music on a per download basis. However, music download sites like Rhapsody and Yahoo! Music Unlimited offer discounts on purchased music tracks to their membership subscribers. Wal-Mart Music Downloads is also very competitive price wise when compared to iTunes.
MP3 Music Downloads From P2P File Sharing Programs
Thanks to today’s technology, p2p file sharing programs all you to download, upload and share mp3 music files online. Also known as p2p (peer–to-peer), these freeware programs enable you to download music from the shared file folders of other users within the p2p network for free. Getting lighting fast, unlimited downloads of mp3 music can provide you with a naughty thrill (you can get all the music you want for free). But as thrilling as that might be, getting your favorite tunes this way can be a risky proposition.
As you read in the previous paragraph, many p2p file sharing programs are available as freeware downloads. As freeware or shareware, they often come bundled with hidden spyware or adware programs. Additional spyware risks come from the shared files of other users in the p2p network. But with the help of a good spyware remover tool, you can pretty much eliminate this spyware threat. The biggest risk in downloading mp3 music from file sharing programs comes from the exposure to getting sued for copyright infringement. The RIAA aggressively pursues lawsuits against people who use file sharing to download copyrighted music from RIAA members. The recent TorrentSpy ruling doesn’t make things any easier for you to stay under the RIAA’s radar. However, it is possible for you to anonymously download mp3 music from file sharing programs using IP cloaking software or anonymous surfing service.
By now it should be clear that both legal mp3 music download sites and p2p file sharing programs present online music lovers with opportunities and challenges. Which one is right for you? With legal music sites, you have to ask yourself if DRM and the costs are that big of a deal for you to get legitimate, near CD quality music. With p2p file sharing programs, you have to ask yourself if getting unlimited free music is worth the spyware and legal risks. Ultimately the choice of which mp3 music download site boils down to you and the option you feel most comfortable with.
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Blues Lessons
Free Blues Guitar Lessons Can Give You the Blues
Jim DeSantis asked:
As an old Rock N Roll guitar player myself, the first thing I found out, when looking for free blues guitar lessons on line was this: I had learned to play guitar based on some really bad habits. My fingering and picking were all wrong from the start. In effect, I didn’t know how to play guitar correctly which made it more difficult to perform blues riffs.
When I first decided to learn to play guitar as a teenager, I was told that the keys in learning how to play guitar successfully were to be able to read music, to learn theory, and practice, practice and even more practice. But, who had the time, energy, and money, to do all that when you are throwing together a garage band? We had one accomplished player in the group who taught the rest of us only the tunes we were going to play at gigs. We learned the rest on our own - by ear!
I was also told to find an instructor who spoke my language and who understood that I needed to start at the beginning. I quickly found out that most guitar teachers are either not very good at teaching or they just can’t resist showing off their prowess. Most guitar teachers simply can’t communicate the basics. I think they forgot what it was like to be in our shoes.
Teaching anything takes a certain kind of personality. Can you remember a favorite school teacher? That teacher stood out from all the others because they knew how to reach you at your level. I can only remember two great teachers. I excelled in their classes. Well, it’s the same with guitar instructors. Most just don’t know how to reach us to teach us.
If you long to learn how to play blues guitar, you have only a handful of really good free online videos, and courses to choose from on the web. But, finding free blues guitar lessons is a frustrating exercise that will eat up hours of time as you dig through all that is being offered. There is just too much bad stuff out there.
So, what’s the next B. B. King to do?
If you have surfed the so-called free programs, you know that most leave you hanging or confused because they assume too much about your level of skill. They throw out technical terms as if we understand about open E tuning, 12 bar blues, tablature, and on and on they lecture. We get buried in theory that only Beethoven could understand. Most of these freebies are not for beginners or if you play other styles of music on guitar. Playing blues guitar has its own unique set of moves and techniques that must be learned on their own.
Now, it’s completely up to you to choose which free blues guitar lessons that will suit your level of understanding and skill. At some point you need to choose your favorite learn how to play the blues program and just go for it. This is the trick. Which program will move you along the fastest so that, within a few weeks to a month, you will begin to see and hear the enormous improvements that are taking place in your style of guitar playing?
My quest right now is learning how to play blues slide guitar. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do not only to impress family and friends but to accomplish a lifelong dream I’ve never let die. The sound of a great blues player just does something for me that I can’t explain.
Playing slide blues seems physically easy in one sense. You just drag a slide over the strings and instantly hear the effect. Well, I can tell you that, at first, it can be difficult to get sliding under control to play in tune and keep the accompanying buzzing and rattling sounds from making your cat run for cover! Now, slide guitar doesn’t require left-hand strength the way normal acoustic guitar playing does, but it does require learning the basics and learning the right touch!
Free blues guitar lessons are great to get your juices flowing but, if you really want to learn how to play blues guitar, my advice is to go to your local bookstore or look on line for a course that starts with the basics. You just have to start at the beginning if you want to sound like the great blues players.
Jim DeSantis
As an old Rock N Roll guitar player myself, the first thing I found out, when looking for free blues guitar lessons on line was this: I had learned to play guitar based on some really bad habits. My fingering and picking were all wrong from the start. In effect, I didn’t know how to play guitar correctly which made it more difficult to perform blues riffs.
When I first decided to learn to play guitar as a teenager, I was told that the keys in learning how to play guitar successfully were to be able to read music, to learn theory, and practice, practice and even more practice. But, who had the time, energy, and money, to do all that when you are throwing together a garage band? We had one accomplished player in the group who taught the rest of us only the tunes we were going to play at gigs. We learned the rest on our own - by ear!
I was also told to find an instructor who spoke my language and who understood that I needed to start at the beginning. I quickly found out that most guitar teachers are either not very good at teaching or they just can’t resist showing off their prowess. Most guitar teachers simply can’t communicate the basics. I think they forgot what it was like to be in our shoes.
Teaching anything takes a certain kind of personality. Can you remember a favorite school teacher? That teacher stood out from all the others because they knew how to reach you at your level. I can only remember two great teachers. I excelled in their classes. Well, it’s the same with guitar instructors. Most just don’t know how to reach us to teach us.
If you long to learn how to play blues guitar, you have only a handful of really good free online videos, and courses to choose from on the web. But, finding free blues guitar lessons is a frustrating exercise that will eat up hours of time as you dig through all that is being offered. There is just too much bad stuff out there.
So, what’s the next B. B. King to do?
If you have surfed the so-called free programs, you know that most leave you hanging or confused because they assume too much about your level of skill. They throw out technical terms as if we understand about open E tuning, 12 bar blues, tablature, and on and on they lecture. We get buried in theory that only Beethoven could understand. Most of these freebies are not for beginners or if you play other styles of music on guitar. Playing blues guitar has its own unique set of moves and techniques that must be learned on their own.
Now, it’s completely up to you to choose which free blues guitar lessons that will suit your level of understanding and skill. At some point you need to choose your favorite learn how to play the blues program and just go for it. This is the trick. Which program will move you along the fastest so that, within a few weeks to a month, you will begin to see and hear the enormous improvements that are taking place in your style of guitar playing?
My quest right now is learning how to play blues slide guitar. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do not only to impress family and friends but to accomplish a lifelong dream I’ve never let die. The sound of a great blues player just does something for me that I can’t explain.
Playing slide blues seems physically easy in one sense. You just drag a slide over the strings and instantly hear the effect. Well, I can tell you that, at first, it can be difficult to get sliding under control to play in tune and keep the accompanying buzzing and rattling sounds from making your cat run for cover! Now, slide guitar doesn’t require left-hand strength the way normal acoustic guitar playing does, but it does require learning the basics and learning the right touch!
Free blues guitar lessons are great to get your juices flowing but, if you really want to learn how to play blues guitar, my advice is to go to your local bookstore or look on line for a course that starts with the basics. You just have to start at the beginning if you want to sound like the great blues players.
Jim DeSantis
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