Hot Music & Instruments How-Tos

How To: Play "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney on piano

Playing along with your favorite songs is an enjoyable, and highly effective, way of developing your playing technique. In this piano tutorial, you'll learn how to play "Maybe I'm Amazed" by Paul McCartney. While the lesson is geared toward players of an intermediate skill level, all players can follow along given adequate time and motivation. To get started playing "Maybe I'm Amazed" on your own piano or keyboard, press play!

How To: Play the song "Forgot About Dre" by Dr. Dre and Eminem on piano

Dr. Dre has only ever released two albums, and it's been 11 years since the last one, 2001. But it's lead single "Forgot About Dre" is still a classic, largely because it introduced Eminem to everyone who didn't already know him in '99. This video will teach you how to play the song on piano, complete with long runs and chords that will make your version sounds much better than most of the other ones out there.

How To: Travis pick using G, C, and D chords on guitar

Because of its portability, the acoustic guitar can be wonderful songwriting device. However, having a pocket symphony in your head–or pocket, as it were–does you little good if your hands aren't on board. Fortunately, YouTube user Sawlon is here to help you train your head and hands with his series of free video guitar lessons. In this installment, you'll learn how to play a G-C-D Travis picking progression on acoustic guitar. Remember, the more you practice and the more theory you know, the...

How To: Chuck When Playing You Ukulele

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to chuck when playing the ukulele. The chuck is a different type of strumming technique. It looks like the user is slapping the ukulele. To chuck, users are to slide the fingers quickly down the string. The chuck is used as an extra beat and helps add rhythm to the song that is played. This video provides a visual demonstration and step-by-step instructions for viewers to easily understand and follow along. This video will benefit those viewers who ar...

How To: Play "Street Spirit" by Radiohead on guitar

James, also known as Tbone Wilson, shows you how to play Street Spirit by Radiohead. With an acoustic guitar you begin the intro on A minor, then pick 5, 3, 1, 3, 2, half finger up. On your picking hand you need to hold your pinkie down to contact the hardboard deck of your guitar's face, this makes it easier. Repeat the sequence four times for the intro. Move to the E minor repeating the number sequence twice, then the E minor 7 (repeat sequence twice), first finger is on the second string, ...

How To: Create a techno beat in GarageBand 08

If you like techno music and want to create your own music, this video takes us through the steps of how to do that. Using GarageBand '08, you can create your own techno beat. All you need to do is create a new file in GarageBand at 140 beats per minute. The piano tool will need to be changed to techno kit and can be altered to different octaves moving higher or lower along the scale. You can then record your beats and perfect it for your own custom techno beat, and the best part is you don't...

How To: Tune an ocarina

An ocarina is an ancient instrument similar to a flute. It has an oval-shaped body with four to twelve finger holes and a mouth tube projecting out from the body. This tutorial teaches you how to tune an ocarina. You will need a needle tool, a cutting tool or small sharp knife and a drill bit. With this how to video you will be able to tune your ocarina.

How To: Play "Yellow" by Coldplay on acoustic guitar

Want to play "Yellow" by Coldplay? See how it's done with this free video guitar lesson, which presents a complete breakdown of the song and it chords. While this tutorial is geared toward those who already have some knowledge of the guitar, players of all skill level should be able to follow along given adequate time and effort. For more information, and to get started playing "Yellow" on your own acoustic guitar, take a look!

How To: Play "Amazing Grace" on a five-hole flute

In this two-part flautist's tutorial, you'll learn how to play the "Amazing Grace" hymn on a five-hole flute. tutorialRegardless of your preferred style of music, if you want to be great, you'll need your head and hands on the same page. And there's no better way to get your head and hands on the same page than to practice. Happily, the Internet is awash in video tutorials like this one.

How To: Play "Sparks" by Coldplay on guitar

In this guitar lesson learn how to play the song "Sparks" by groundbreaking recording artist, Coldplay. By tuning the 1st string to a D, and applying the capo on the 6th you'll be on your way to sounding like Chris Martin and the rest of gang in no time! Learn how to play "Sparks" by Coldplay on acoustic guitar with help from this video.

How To: Play the same piano chord different ways

Chord inversions are a great way to use the same series of notes in a chord to get different voicings. For the example in this video use a C-major triad, which contain the notes C, E, G. Playing these three notes in this pattern is called the root inversion. The first inversion is to use the root being C and put the note up one octave. Now the chord is played E, G, and C. The second inversion is two take the E and put that note up one octave. Now the pattern goes G, C, and E. These three inve...

How To: Play "Orange Crush" by R.E.M. on acoustic guitar

To learn to play REM’s “Orange Crush” on the guitar you’ll want to learn the song in two parts. In this video you’ll learn the intro and then the chorus. All you need to know are some basic chords and with a natural strumming pattern you’ll be playing the song in no time. It helps to sing along. You’ll get some hints and tips to get an even better sound.

How To: Connect your laptop to your DJ mixer

This video shows you how to connect your laptop to your mixer. First you will need two different sound sources from your laptop to your mixer. This is so that you can use all of your mixer functions on two different channels. The way to do this is to run a 1/8" RCA cable channel 7 from your normal earphone jack to the mixer. Also use a behringer uca202 audio interface to connect to the laptop via USB cord. This provides another earphone jack. Then use a master out cable to connect it to an am...

How To: Change the actives pickups battery on a guitar

The guy in the video starts out explaining that, over time, his guitar has started to sound a little funny. He thought maybe it was a cord or wire shorting out, but it turned out to be the battery. He shows us how to change that battery. You are going to need a Philips head screwdriver and a new nine volt battery. Take off the tremolo plate on the back of the guitar. You'll be able to see the old battery in the body. Gently remove the old battery and replace it with the new. Slide the new bat...

How To: Hack together a working ocarina from a soda can

This musical instrument, coke can ocarina hack is fun & creative (but doesn't really make a nice sounding instrument). Follow these instructions to learn how to make your own coke can ocarina - who knows maybe you can mod this hack into a better sounding instrument. Good luck! Hack together a working ocarina from a soda can.

How To: Mix a Reggaeton beat

Want to mix and scratch like a professional DJ? To be a good DJ you need to understand the concepts of mixing tracks, adding cool effects, and of course you need a good sense of rhythm to line up the beats. This how to video explains how to mix a Reggaeton beat. Reggaeton is a genre of Latin dance music which mixes rap, hip-hop, reggae, and ragga. Salsa and merengue influences can also be heard in some songs. After becoming very popular in Puerto Rican clubs, it began spreading through parts ...

How To: Disassemble an accordion

The reeds, cover pins, keys and the bass are a few of the parts you'll need to identify and disassemble on your accordion. Learn more in this free video series that will show you how to safely and easily remove the different parts of your accordion.

How To: Make a three string guitar out of a cigar box

This video will show viewers how to simply make a 3 string guitar using an empty cigar box, a piece of oak, some string, and a few eyebolts. You start with a 1 by 2 piece of oak which is about 3 feet long. First, you should begin by making some markings along one side of the oak, first at 1/2 an inch and then at 1/4 inch spacing after that. Drawing 3 symmetrical lines where the strings should go, drill holes at the intersections of the lines you have drawn. The holes should be made using a 1/...

How To: Play "Last Christmas" by Wham on piano

Come along with David Yzhaki into the musical world of the piano! Learn easily with his step by step directions how to play "Last Christmas" by Wham! The song consists of only four chords. D6Bm7EmAHow to start to play "Last Christmas": Start with D6 (Right hand F#, A, B, D) (Left Hand D) Switch to Bm7 (Which is basically the same chord, only the baseline changes. )Switch to Em (Right Hand G, B, E) (Left Hand E). Switch to A (Right Hand A, C#, E) (Left Hand E). Switch to F#m/D (Right Hand C#, ...

How To: Play "twinkle, twinkle, little star" on the piano

If you want to play 'Twinkle, Twinkle little Star' on the piano you should first start on the note D. You should play the notes going up the scale to find that next work that matches the tone of when you sing it. When you find it, that interval is a fifth. Then, the song goes back down again in steps. Your melody will work in the scale of the notes that you have just played. There are three parts to the whole song that you should learn. You will use all the notes found in the D Major scale. N...

How To: Tune your harmonica to the key of A

Want to play Canned Heat's "On the Road Again" but your harmonica's in the wrong key? No problem: in this elaborate instructional video you'll learn how to tune your harmonica to the key of A by raising the pitch in draw hole 6. And remember: before attempting to adjust the tuning on your favorite harp, it might be wise to practice pitch adjustments on an old, used, broken or cheap harmonica.

How To: Make a Simple Didgeridoo from PVC

Traditional Aboriginal didgeridoos are made from trees that have been hollowed out by termites. Finishing work to smooth out surfaces and decorate the didgeridoo would soon follow. Lucky for you, you don't have to spend lots of money or find a hollowed out tree to create a didgeridoo!

How To: Mix 80s era music as a DJ

In this tutorial, we learn how to mix an 80s era music as a DJ. There are so many different styles of music from the 80s, start at modern day dance music to see how the beat sounds now from then. A lot of the dance music back in the 80s was off key because it was done by people and not a computer. You will first have to take several hours to construct the mix that you like. Chop and mix the different sounds together, then bring different songs in at different points. For old school, the sound...

Prev Page