I'm a beginner guitar player and i'm trying to delve into the world of music in a completely different way. I have a great understanding of music theory, but i am just learning the chords on the guitar. I NEED HELP!
Proud Mary was the second song my son learnt on acoustic. Creedence Clearwater Revivals' version though.
I am taking beginner Salsa Dancing classes. And my instructor always says to find the beat before I start my dance steps. He listens to the music and counts 1-2-3 5-6-7. And once he starts counting I can get my steps right and I can do the basic salsa steps in the 1-2-3 5-6-7 time frame. But when he's not counting aloud, I can't really find the the beat on my own and I just dancing without waiting for the one 1.
In the music there is so much going on. What is my instructor listening for when he picks up the count? Is he listening to the bass or the drums? There some to be a multitude of percussion instruments in the music and I have no idea what to listen for to find the beat. He always points out the "double beat", saying that thats one. But I can't really hear a double beat or know what a double beat is for that matter.
And just to be clear, I don't know anything about music theory on anything like that 
Does any one have any words of wisdom?
Finding the beat is always the hardest part as a beginner. Salsa music is syncopated so the music doesn't always emphasise the beat in the way most Europeans and North Americans are used to.
The fastest way is to listen day and night and eventually it will sink in. Even when you can find the beat, listening to the music a lot will improve your dancing as you learn to interpret the music with your dance moves.
Normally you can hear the cowbell on the 1 and the 3. Since you haven't mentioned anything else I assume you are learning to dance on1. In that case listen for the cowbell.
The clave is the root of all salsa music and it is a great way to find the beat too, but often you really can't hear it well among all the instruments except in traditional son or rumba. The "1" of the clave is on the 1 and the "3" of the clave is on the 4 (good for dancing contratiempo, i.e on 2,3,4 6,7,8)
The clave you will hear in music from New York, Puerto Rico, Colombia and Venezuela is son clave. The link below plays a basic son clave. 1-2-3 1-2
http://www.timba.com/artists/charangahabanera/mp3/ClDeb/cd_audio_03.m3u
Cuban salsa uses a lot of clave from afro-cuban rumba so you will probably hear more rumba clave than son clave, but both are present. In this case there is a slight delay on the "3-side" of the clave. the third strike falls on 4 and half rather than 4 so people often confuse the 2-side and 3-side of the rumba clave here is an example of 3:2 rumba clave. It sounds like the first 2 hits go together and the last three but actually it is still 1-2-3 1-2
http://www.timba.com/artists/charangahabanera/mp3/ClDeb/cd_audio_04.m3u
When you have time to kill in front of the computer watch salsa dance videos and try to see if you can see how the feet match the ryhthm, but mostly listen and dance and listen and dance and listen and dance and eventually it will sink in. Practice makes perfect. So practice outside of salsa class. Find someone else in the class who wants to practice and work on it together.
I prefer dancing Cuban Style salsa so I don't know much about good links to "regular" salsa dancing but here is a good one for Cuban dancing. The point of this is not the moves (cubans rotate when they dance, they don't dane insa straight line) but watch how as the music changes, like when the heavy synth comes in and the percussion drops out, they change what they are doing. They either dance afro-cuabn rumba or tembleque (trembling) and then go back to turn patterns. When you have listened and listened and listened to the music you will also "feel" the changes in the music and your interpretation of the dance will get better
http://youtube.com/watch?v=-30RzT2wn64
I have just recently started guitar……i need some tips on what to practice to become a better soloist and better guitarits……..i would also like to learn some awesome sounding chord transitions………many people say "get a teacher" but i cant afford the costly lessons so i have the desire to teach my self…….is music theory good to learn? do i practice scales?
Mastering CHORDS and SCALES is the key to being a great guitar player. Learn as many chords as you can…start with simple chords (D, A, E, and their minors) and then work up to harder chords and Bar chords (F, B, Bminor, etc.) Also, know all the ways to play each chords…there are many ways to play each chord on the neck of the guitar…learn 'em.
In terms of chord progressions…my favorite is the "4-5-minor 6". In terms of chords, that would be F-G-Aminor (in the key of C), C-D-Em (in the key of G) and Bflat-C-Dminor (in dropped-D) just to name a few keys. Songs that use this are of coarse Stairway to Heaven (during the heavy part), Until the Day I Die (SOTY), Pachuca Sunrise (Minus the Bear) and a million other songs. It's just cool I think.
IF SOLOS are what you want to focus on…I would recommend you work on a few key points:
1) SCALES - for the actual notes you what to play
2) FINGER EXERCISES - for strength and independence
3) ADVANCED PICKING (up/down picking, pinch harmonics, etc) - for versatility
So first, find some scales online look at the tablature of different scales, major, minor, pentatonic, etc…and learn them, memorize them…and be able to play them across a wide range of keys (A major scale, A minor scale, G major, C major, F#, you get it). Be able to play them with your eyes closed! If someone says "play a solo in G major" you want to be able to get to that G major scale "shape" right away.
Here are some exercises I do to warm up. Starting with my index finger on the first fret of the low E string, I go up four frets on each string, picking each individual note. BUT I use all fours fingers for its respective fret (index finger on 1st fret, middle finger on 2nd, ring finger on 3rd, pinky on 4th)
I do this for each of the six strings, then I move the whole shape up one fret and do the whole exercise again, and again until I reach the 12th fret. I also incorporate variations of this exercise, like starting on the Hi E string…then I will go in reverse, starting with the pinky first (pinky on 4th fret, ring on 3rd, middle on 2nd, index on 1st) picking each note. Between this exercise and running up and down your scales, you will become a lot better and stronger as a soloist.
Once you feel comfortable with your scales and finger exercises, do them again but pick each note with an alternating up and down picking pattern. So, on the first note, pick down like normal and then on the second note, pick up (from the bottom of the string to the top) do this alternating pattern throughout your scales and exercises and it will improve your speed.
You can easily find videos on how to do pinch harmonics, flat picking, finger picking, tapping etc. Learning how to do some of these advanced techniques will give your solos some more personality. Check out Eric Johnson, he's got it down.
These exercises are not very fun, but trust me, if you do these for 30 minutes a day you will see results within a couple of months.
Good Luck.
I didn't start singing until I was 22 years old and I'm 23 right now. I have good timbre, slightly folky sound with a range from A below middle C to G/G# above middle C in mixed voice. I can sing A and up but it either is head voice or very strained belting. My problem is I didn't learn anything about music growing up. I know basics such as notes on the guitar/piano and reading the notes and rhythm on sheet music but that's it. I want a future career in singing but I just feel so disadvantaged with no experience and info. There's so much about chords, control, theory that I need to learn. New melodies take me forever to learn and I can't sing the songs acapella and my rhythm needs work. I plan to hire a music teacher next year but I just feel like professional singing is a pipe dream at this point despite my good timbre and breathing technique. How long will it take for me to get the rest of these things down? How can I keep motivated and hopeful? And not just give up
Well, it all depends on you. Your voice is far from maturing, so you still have plenty of time. A male voice doesn't fully mature until their 50's.
Find a voice trainer. No matter what genre you plan on sining professionally, find a voice trainer. It always helps. They can teach you all the tricks of the trade, if you find a good one. It'll work your voice into the proper techniques, make it sound great, and keep it healthy.
Theory is tough, I'm not going to lie. It's not something that will just happen to you in a few weeks, but it's still not something that is impossible to learn. You can actually learn it all on your own. You can order work books online, or at any music store, and teach yourself. It will take a little time, but don't let it discourage you. You can do it. I'd recommend Ear Training, too.
Just because you were not born with an instrument or theory book in your hand, and could sing Mozart as a Pre-teen, doesn't mean a thing. You're just as likely to make it in the world as they are. Don't let anything get to you. It's not going to be easy, but if it's something you really dream of, then go for it. If you really truly want this out of life, then put forward the work, and you'll succeed.
I am a nurse and I enjoy music very much. My dad began teaching me beginners recorder, with the theory using notes and the music scale, when I was a child. I am very interested in finishing off what he started all these years ago. I am an avid learner, with a great ear for music. Any one who will be able to assist me in my search for a music instructor, is much appreciated, Thanks.
Actually, many music teachers take adult students. I teach them! Also, some colleges and universities teach community classes which introduce adults to different instruments and singing. One thing you might want to do is to call your local Suzuki institute and ask for a referral in the instrument which you would like to learn.