Hot Music & Instruments How-Tos
How To: Play "Sunday Morning" by Maroon 5 on piano
The first Maroon 5 album, Songs About Jane, was an awesomely funky love story, and the songs all sound great on piano and are practically guaranteed to draw potential sexual partners to you. Watch this video to learn how to play the song "Sunday Morning" on piano. It's fairly challenging, so watch out.
How To: Play an easy piano cover of the song "This Love" by Maroon 5
"This Love" is the song that ensured that Maroon 5 would stick around for a while. Their new albums don't stack up too favorably to good old Songs About Jane, and if you're feeling the nostalgia watch this video to learn how to play an easy version of "This Love" on piano.
How To: Play "Dead and Gone" by T.I ft. Justin Timberlake on piano
Justin Timberlake and T.I. are two of the hottest artists around, or at least T.I. would be if he could stay out of the joint. Watch this video to learn how to cover their hit collaboration "Dead and Gone" on piano.
How To: Create the Vangelis piano sound from Blade Runner on a MicroKorg
Vangelis was probably the best-known piano composer of the 1980's, showing everyone what the future of the instrument could be. If you love his work with the Yamaha CS 80 on the Blade Runner soundtrack (and who doesn't) watch this video to learn how to program a patch that emulates it on a MicroKorg.
How To: Program a SAW lead patch on a MicroKorg synthesizer
The SAW lead is the most recognizable sound in hardstyle and hardcore electronic music, sounding like a swarm of bees attacking with the precision of an honor guard. Watch this video to learn how to program a patch for a SAW (or sawtooth) lead on a MicroKorg.
How To: Connect a MIDI keyboard / controller to your PC and use it with FL Studio
FL Studio is a power piece of music-generating software, but it can be kind of cranky about working with peripherals, including MIDI keyboards and controllers. Watch this video for a step-by-step guide to connecting a USB keyboard or controller to FL Studio.
How To: Map a Korg nano series MIDI controller in Ableton Live 7
Ableton Live 7 is so popular mostly because it is easy to use on the fly, but it's still complex like everything else in electronic music. Watch this video to learn how to map a MIDI controller (in this case a Korg nano-series) in Ableton Live 7
How To: Make Korg nanoKontrol transport buttons work in FL Studio 8 or above
FL Studio is one of the biggest names in digital music-making software, and Korg the biggest in physical gear. Unfortunately, FL Studio and the Korg nanoKontrol USB controller don't get along out of the box, and the transport buttons on the Korg won't work with FL Studio. That is, until you perform the steps in this video that will lead to a blessed union of software and hardware.
How To: Play the song "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion from Titanic on piano
"My Heat Will Go On" by Celine Dion made her the biggest artist in the world for a time after the release of Titanic, the film with which it will always be associated. Watch this video to learn how to play the whole song on solo piano, which might be the most romantic thing that you could ever do.
How To: Play the Clint Manselli classic song "Requiem for a Dream" on piano
"Requiem for a Dream" by Clint Manselli is a classic work of modern piano composition, and is the namesake of one of the great modern films. In this video you'll learn how to play this iconic song yourself on piano, with notes superimposed over the demonstrating fingers in the video to make it easier for you.
How To: Play "Everytime We Touch" by Cascada on piano
"Everytime We Touch" by Cascada is one of the all-time classic of mainstream house music, and can still be heard at clubs and parties around the world. If you want to class the song up a bit, watch this video to learn how to play a cover of it on solo piano.
How To: Play "Sally's Song" from The Nightmare Before Christmas on piano
The entire Danny-Elfman-composed soundtrack to The Nightmare Before Christmas is hauntingly beautiful, and "Sally's Song" is no exception (much like her character). In this video you'll learn how to play a solo piano cover of the song, with all the notes conveniently overlaying the fingers in the video. How convenient!
How To: Play a cover of "Everytime" by Britney Spears on piano
It's been a while since most people have really cared about Britney Spears music, but many of her songs really are great pieces of pop. In this video you'll learn how to cover her song "Everytime" on solo piano, making it distinctly classier than it usually is.
How To: Play "Fade to Black" by Metallica on piano
Solo piano might not seem like the most natural instrument for covering the Metallica heavy metal classic "Fade to Black", but it actually translates quite well. Watch this video to learn how to play a distinctly classier version of the classic metal track.
How To: Play "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton on piano
"Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton is a beautiful, hearbreaking song about his deceased daughter, and can make just about anyone cry when they hear it. It sounds really good on solo piano, and this video will teach you how to play a perfect cover version of it for that instrument.
How To: Play the song "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter on piano
"Bad Day" by Daniel Powter is one of those songs that can turn a person's whole life around if they hear it at the right time. IN this video you'll learn how to play a cover of "Bad Day" on the piano from a really gifted teacher.
How To: Create a Roland TB-303 synth sound with a patch on a MicroKorg
The Roland TB-303 should be a part of every electronic musicians arsenal, but cannot be because of it's scarcity. If you have a MicroKorg, however, you can make a patch that provides a decent approximation of the 303 sound, and this video will teach you how to program it.
How To: Play a church organ sound on a MicroKorg synthesizer / vocoder
Church organs are big, ungainly, expensive instruments. The MicroKorg is comparatively tiny and cheap. Why not use the synthesizer to simulate the organ? Watch this video to learn how to program a patch for a realistic church organ sound on a MicroKorg synth.
How To: Create a funky electric bass part on a MicroKorg synth
You can use a Korg MicroKorg synthesizer / vocoder to play all sorts of electronic music, and you might actually be able to get one without spending your life savings. If you like dirty electric synth bass parts, watch this video and you'll learn how to program one on your MicroKorg.
How To: Use effects and other tricks on the Pioneer DJM-909 DJ mixer
The Pioneer DJM-909 mixer is one of the finest and most expensive DJ mixers on the market. If you can afford one, you're a lucky dog. And if you've gotten one and are wondering just how much you can do with it, watch this video. It will teach you how to use the many effects and other tricks in the mixer to make the best music you can.
How To: Program a Roland TR-808 drum machine
The Roland TR-808 drum machine is one of the most important modern instruments, forming the backbone of both hip-hop and electronic music percussion. If you have gotten your hands on one, you're a lucky devil, but you have a long way to go before you can unlock it's true potential. Watch this video to learn how to program an 808 all the way up to a 64-step beat!
How To: Program a Roland TR-909 drum machine fast
Old drum machines make some of the coolest sounds in modern music, but can be very hard to get used to for beginners. If you're lucky enough to have gotten your hands on a Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer drum machine, watch this video to learn how to program it.
How To: Play "Time to Pretend" by MGMT on piano
MGMT is only two full-lengths old, but their impact on pop music has been massive. "Time to Pretend" has spawned legions of imitators, and for good reason. If you want to play a classy version of it, watch this video to learn how to cover the song on solo piano.
How To: Play "Firelies" by Owl City on the piano (hard version)
"Fireflies" made Owl City a star, and it a stirring piece of modern songwriting. If you have a piano and want to capture the amazing textures of the song in a solo piano cover of it, watch this video to learn how to play it.
How To: Play an easy version of "River Flows in You" by Yiruma on piano
Yiruma has written many of the most beautiful new piano pieces of the last ten years, and is a truly special figure in the world of piano composition. If you're looking for an easy way to access his remarkable work, watch this video to learn how to play an easy arrangement of his classic song "River Flows in You",
How To: Play "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey on piano
"Don't Stop Believing" by Journey has enjoyed a massive resurgence in popularity since it was featured on Family Guy a few years back. You can play it pretty much anywhere and people will like it. Watch this video to learn how to play the classic song on piano, like Steve Perry wants you to.
How To: Program a Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer drum machine
The Roland TR-909 Rhythm Composer is one of the greatest drum machines ever made, and one of the pillars of electronic music. If you're lucky enough to have one and aren't quite sure how it works (they are quite intimidating) watch this video to learn how to make a simple beat really quickly on your lovely 909.
How To: Replace broken tactile switches on a Roland TB-303 to stop double notes etc.
Unfortunately for electronic music, there are not very many Roland TB-303's in the world and the ones that are here are quite old. Many suffer from broken tactile switches, which can cause them to play double notes and have other problems. Watch this video to learn how you can replace the switches yourself and get your amazing piece of gear working perfectly.
How To: Play an easy version of "Fireflies" by Owl City on piano
Owl City took the torch that The Postal Service lit in 2005 and has run far with it, bringing uplifting electro-pop to the masses. In this video you'll learn how to play an easy piano version of his hit single "Fireflies".
How To: Play "Kiss the Rain" by Yiruma on piano
Yiruma is one of the biggest names in contemporary piano composition. His song "Kiss the Rain" is guaranteed to make any listener reflect honestly on their life in a way that few songs ever have been, and in this video you'll learn how to play the whole thing on piano. It's not easy, but you can do it!
How To: Play the easy song "Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts on piano
Rascal Flatts are one of the biggest groups in country music, and their song "Bless the Broken Road" is a great uplifting ballad. Watch this video to learn how to play this relatively easy song on piano, then go out and play it. It'll probably bring some love you way.
How To: Program Roland TB-303 or TR-909 synthesizers
The Roland TB-303 and TR-909 synths are two of the four most important pieces of gear in the history of electronic music, but every year they get older, more cranky, and further away from our contemporary ideas of what an interface should look like. They can be really hard to figure out how to use, but fortunately for you this video will teach you how to program both instruments and start creating the phat tracks these devices were made to create.
How To: Program a TB-303 synthesizer
The TB-303 is nothing short of legendary on the electronic music scene. It is possible there would be no such thing as house music without it. They are rare and extremely complicated, so if you're lucky enough to have one you should pursue whatever help you can get on playing it properly. Enter this video, which will teach you how to quickly and easily program your 303 and get on your way to making phat old-skool tracks.
How To: Make old-skool house music using drum machines
Do you yearn for the days when house music had a soul and didn't sound like something that combat robots are supposed to dance to? Check out this video. It features a veteran DJ explaining all sorts of techniques for creating old-skool house beats, mostly using amazing 1980's equipment like the Roland TR-808 and 909.
How To: Program a Korg MS-2000 synthesizer to act as a 16-step drum machine
Are you tired of needing seperate synths and drum machines to create your drums and bass / lead lines? If you have a Korg MS-2000 and many other synthesizers, it's possible to program your synth to act like a 16-step drum machine while still being able to play bass and lead lines over the drums. Watch this video to learn how to do it.
How To: Patch a MicroKorg for use with a Micron BANSHEE talkbox
A MicroKorg synth / vocoder combined with a Micron BANSHEE talk box allow you to make a lot of great, funky music without too much equipment. Finding the right patches on the synth that make the talk box sound the best can be tough, so TalkBoxerDX made this video to demonstrate one way to patch the MicroKorg so it will sound awesome with your talk box, be it BANSHEE or otherwise.
How To: Use a shuffle LFO to apply swing and make hotter tracks in Massive
A shuffle LFO (low-frequency oscillator) is a cool effect in many synths that gives bass lines a swing feel to them. In this video you'll learn how to apply a shuffle LFO to any sound that you can access on your computer using NI Massive, a quasi-analog PC synth.
How To: Make dubstep / drum and bass wobble bass with the Massive PC synth
Dubstep and drum and bass have brought the "wobble bass" style of synth beat to the masses, and you'd better learn how to make one if you want to keep your tracks modern. Watch this video to learn all about making dirty wob-wob bass lines using Massive a quasi-analog PC synthesizer.
How To: Play "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison on guitar
Want to master "Brown-Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison? See how it's done with this free video guitar lesson, which presents a complete breakdown of the song and its 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 "Brown-Eyed Girl" on your own guitar, watch this video tab!
How To: Play "La Grange" by ZZ Top on electric guitar
Want to master "La Grange" by ZZ Top? See how it's done with this free video guitar lesson, which presents a complete breakdown of the song and its 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 "La Grange" on your own guitar, watch this video tab!