String Musical Instrument

String Musical Instrument

Humans discovered a long time ago that music could be made from vibrating strings. A string musical instrument such as the lute or mandolin was the means by which traveling minstrels would entertain the crowd. Even today, there is interest in these early forms. Rock star Sting has recently released an album of 16th century lute music and American band REM has often featured a mandolin. The Rod Stewart hit, Maggie May also featured the distinctive sound of the mandolin.

Every culture has produced their forerunner of the modern guitar. Africa and Asia have several versions of string musical instrument, often with only three strings. In America, the banjo became popular in country and folk music. The guitar was used for jazz and blues before becoming the backbone of rock and roll. Western rock music has also incorporated the Sitar, an instrument used in Indian music, first heard in a pop song performed by The Beatles with Norwegian Wood.

Many of the greatest pieces of classical music have been written for a string orchestra or string quartet. The violin, viola and cello are wonderful for solo string musical instrument compositions and to blend together. These are the bowed instruments; the violin is sometimes plucked with a technique called pizzicato. The double bass is very versatile and can be found in jazz bands, orchestras and for rockabilly groups. The violin too is versatile and often used in rock and folk music. The fiddle is a staple of Irish, jigs and reels. Jazz violinists such as Darryl Way and Jean Luc Ponty are very accomplished performers. Jimmy Page, flamboyant guitarist from Led Zeppelin, even took a bow to his electric guitar to produce an experimental sound. Most string instruments can be fitted with electric pickups to amplify the sound, to fit in with any genre.

Technically speaking, keyboard instruments such as the piano, clavichord and harpsichord are categorized as a string musical instrument as they have strings, which are struck by hammers. The piano however, is sometimes classed as a percussion instrument.

Whatever genre all these instruments are employed in, they bring a range of sound that is unequalled. A fiddle can make you want to get up and dance and a cello solo can make you reach for the tissues. Music is very often programmed these days with instruments being simulated through a computer, but there is nothing to equal the sound of a live violin in an echoing hall.

Australian Artists

Australian Artists

When I was a teenager I was a huge fan of the eighties hair bands. I can admit that comfortably because I have no interest in them any longer. I know there are a lot of people that are my age that still listen to these bands, but I am not one of them. As far as I am concerned that scene was played out a long time ago, and I would rather listen to Lawrence Welk than to list to hair metal. There are still a few songs that I like, but it is very rare that I hear one. Right now my taste in music is more international. All of the people I listen to right now are Australian artists.

There are only two Australian artists that I listen to really, but they are all that I will put in my CD player. My husband watches VH1 a lot, and it makes me want to pound my head up against a brick wall. I have to admit that he is normal though. A lot of people have their tastes in music from when they were younger and they listen to that when they can. I have to give him credit though, he is into a lot of new stuff, and he listens to a good mix of both. For me though, it’s just my two Australian artists that I listen to when I have the chance.

One of the Australian artists I listen to is one who is famous for something else. His name is Greg Page and I think he has the best voice I have ever heard. When I listen to him sing I come as close to swooning as I would allow. He is better known as the Yellow Wiggle, though he has retired from that endeavor recently due to health issues. Because he is one of my favorite Australian artists I do hope he will continue with his solo endeavors in the future. I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have him to listen to each day.

The other of my favorite Australian artists is a woman named Lisa Chappell. Most people probably have never heard of her, but I first show her as an actor. When she left the show she was on I was sad to see her go, but I soon found out that she has put out her own CD. I have to admit while I don’t listen to it as much as I listen to Greg Page, I do like to put it in once in a while. She’s very mellow, and there are many days when I need just that. Though both of my favorites right now are Australian artists does not mean I don’t appreciate other music from other places. That is just where I am right now, and I could not be happier.