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Effectively Using Overture/Yahoo To Get Website Visitors

Effectively Using Overture/Yahoo To Get Website Visitors Overture or now known as Yahoo because of Yahoo’s takeover, was the original inventor of the use of the P4P or Pay for Performance. Overture saw that the internet was fast becoming the easiest and most convenient way to shop, and advertising was going to hit at an all time high because of the many businesses in the arena. To get a person to go to a site than others, it needs to be very visible. Providing ads that could direct potential consumers and costumers to their site would allow them to have an increase in traffic as well as sales. Yahoo provides a service that can put a site or company’s ad in their sites that can be shown when certain keywords are inputted. Yahoo offers a chance for any company to increase their traffic by using their services. With more people being aware of your site, there would be more traffic and visitors to your site given the chance to view your pages as well as your products. With even a small percentage of successful sales, with a high traffic volume this could still be a substantial figure for your company. Getting a consistent substantial flow of website visitors is every company’s goal. Many methods are devised and utilized to ensure that there would be more people to boost the sales and to be aware of the existence of such a product or service. Website visitors are potentially the life blood of your internet based business. Yahoo/Overture utilizes the same principle as Google’s Adwords. In fact, they are very similar to each other that they use keyword and keyword phrase searches and to determine which ads to show per search. When a person types in a keyword or keyword phrase to search for anything, the search engines gives out the results in a page. Then at the right side of the page, you will see selected ads that have paid for their ads to be viewed with certain keywords and keyword phrases searched. For example, Lets say you run a car parts retail/wholesale site. You choose keywords that can prompt or trigger your ads to be shown in the page when a keyword is searched. When a search engine user types in Honda Accord, your ad may come up if you have designated that as one of your keywords. You don’t need to fully optimize your site with Search Engine Optimization methods and techniques. While some labor so hard to make their site one of the high ranking sites per keyword search, you get the chance to be on the top of the list or at least in the first page of a search result increasing your chance to be clicked on. With that, you drive traffic and website visitors to your site a lot faster. You will have to pony up some cash when using this service though. There are different ways Yahoo/Overture will charge you. It may be in the number of Keywords or Keyword phrases your ad uses or in the many times your ad is clicked on. Others offer many other services like having your ad show up not only in the search engine pages but also with some third party sites. Third party sites support ads that have the same theme or niche as them. With more areas your ad is shown, you increase the chances of people knowing about your site or product. With more website visitors you increase the sales of your site which makes your investment with your ads a wise one. With so many competitions in the internet based businesses, it is necessary to take a huge leap forward from the pack by advertising. Yahoo/Overture will be a great place to start. Many have utilized their services and have reaped the rewards of this decision. It’s a marketing strategy that will increase your website visitors as well as increase your sales resulting to profit. It takes money to make money, while there are some methods that are basically low cost or free, using a marketing service such as what Yahoo/Overture offers will provide results faster and on a larger scale. Many businesses have learned this the hard way, don’t be counted with them.

Being The Captain Of The Boat: Leadership Development And Why You Need It

Being The Captain Of The Boat: Leadership Development And Why You Need It When you become a leader, whether it be that of a small team or a large company, the prospect is always daunting. Leadership is always a large responsibility and it can be a crushing burden if not handled properly. History is littered with leaders who weren't able to handle the pressure. Thankfully, we've learned a few things from history – which is where leadership development programs come in. Being a good leader is not a trait that's spread out in the human population. It's kind of like being a good soccer player or a good player. Some people have the natural talent to be a leader. Some people need a little push in the right direction. The problem with being suddenly handed the big chair is that, unless you've had previous experience, you might not know which of the two are you. Which is why most employers initiate leadership development programs for those who are in a management position. You might be confident enough in your leadership abilities but those higher-up have to make sure that you are doing the best that you can at the job. The following are two reasons why leadership development programs are good for you: a) Better self-assessment – Most of the time we're often blind to our own faults. A cursory self-examination will always come up with the result that you may not be perfect but you're not that bad. That's a completely wrong way to do it. When evaluating yourself, you need to be your own worst critic. This is mostly because most other people are not as forgiving of your own faults. Having a faulty high opinion of oneself is a recipe for disaster – everyone's heard of the arrogant boss or supervisor. You should identify your personal shortcomings before your subordinates do and do something about them. Leadership development programs have a strict self-assessment portion that helps you do this. Additionally, the professional counselors who run these programs can help open your eyes to any troublesome personality traits or habits that you may have. b)A more aware learning experience – Most leaders learn on-the-job. It's not exactly optimal but sometimes the best way to learn something is to experience it. These learning experiences are often problems at work. The problem with experiencing crises it is sometimes we don't think of it as a learning experience and just pass it off as being part of the job. They do not care to examine deeper into the problem. This is why they do the same mistakes that resulted in the situation in the first place. Leadership development programs usually give you a better handle on these incidents. A more positive outlook and an inquisitive mind are what these programs encourage and they often result in leaders who know how to identify roots of problems and eliminate them at that level. There are, of course, several other reasons why you should join leadership development programs but these two are the primary ones. Enter one as soon as possible and prepare to learn to become a better leader.

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Historical Sites Of Newport Beach

Historical Sites Of Newport Beach All along Newport Beach there are several historic sites that are worth checking out. Many of them were around back in the early 1900's, which is great to see for anyone who wants to see what the past was like or to learn more about the history behind Newport Beach. Balboa Pavilion Located at 400 Main Street, the Balboa Pavilion is the first landmark for Newport Beach. Built in 1905, the pavilion was the end of the line for the Red Car of the Pacific Electric. Now days, the Balboa Pavilion hosts a variety of shops, a chartering company, and even a restaurant. McFadden's Wharf Completed in 1889, the wharf began the decade for Newport as a shipping port. Built by James and Robert McFadden, the wharf was a great way to ship lumber from Northern California to those who settled here. Old Landing The Old Landing is located at Highway 101 & Dover Drive. Established in 1870, the Old Landing was designated to be a new port by the McFaddens, who went on to establish a shipping service in the area of Newort. Now, there's a bridge and highway on an area of teh site. The remaining area of the Old Landing is vacant.

Crystal Cove State Park

Crystal Cove State Park The Crystal Cove State Park, located in Newport Beach, provides you with 3.5 miles of beach and over 2,000 acres of undeveloped woodland, which is perfect for horseback riding and hiking. Offshore, the waters are designed to be an underwater park. Popular for mountain bikers inland, and scuba diving underwater, Crystal Cove beach is a great attraction for swimmers and surfers. There are also sandy coves and nifty tidepools to explore. Offering you sand, rocky reefs, ridges, canyons, and a lot to do with your time, Crystal Cove ensures that you never find yourself looking for something to do. The park also features a couple miles of Pacific coastline, wooded canyons, open bluffs, and plenty of water. Giving Newport Beach more room for opportunity, the park continues to be great for swimming, surfing, or enjoying the sun. During the winter months, Crystal Cove State Park Rangers offer nature hikes. This makes winter fun, for anyone who visits the park. Offering you plenty to do and see year round, Crystal Cove State Park adds more reason to visit or return to Newport Beach.

Why Waterproofing Your Basement is Important

Why Waterproofing Your Basement is Important It is necessary for the basement of your home or your commercial building to be waterproof at all times. Damp, leaking, or flooded basement is a usual nightmare of any homeowner or building owner. The reason is quite obvious. It is a hassle if such problems occur especially during rainy or winter season. When it rains, the basement is usually an area in your place where rainfall is accumulated. During or after winter, melted glacier or snow could accumulate and flood your basement. Needless to say, waterproofing is the answer to any flooding basement nightmare. You should make sure your home or commercial building would not have such a problem in the future. Even if that part of your property is not a pressing problem today, there is a possibility that it would encounter moisture or leaking issues sometime. You should always be on guard to make sure you would not be plagued by that hassle. You could prevent the inevitable. Prevention is still the cheapest and surest measure to spare you from any significant cost in the coming months or years. As a general rule, basement waterproofing should be ensured especially during the construction of your home or building. Older homes or buildings could be sealed using tar-based solvents to prevent the problem. But you could never always rely on that. This is because such materials almost always last just about 10 years. The tar-based solvents eventually dry and then crack after that period so that water would seep through. If you have purchased a home or a building with tar-based solvents used in the basement for waterproofing, you should take note of the construction date. From that date, you could count up to 10 years so you would know when you could possibly expect the problem. If you are constructing a new home or commercial building today, you should not resort to using such material for waterproofing your basement. Instead, you should require a membrane layer that is comprised of polymerized asphalt. This is a modern technology that would surely provide you with a longer lasting solution for any potential flooding problem in the basement for a much longer time. If cracking would occur in your wall, which could be inevitable, polymerized asphalt membrane would stretch across any crack to effectively and reliably maintain integrity of waterproofing. If such membrane is not present, there could still be several other alternatives that could be of great help. One of them is the use of a French drain system. A French drain system is buried strategically along leaking perimeter walls right below your basement floor. The drain comprises of a perforated plastic pipe connected to a functional sump pump. That pipe should be covered with cement to avoid weep holes, which would collect water that could seep into and through the walls of the basement. This way, waterproofing of your basement would be ensured for a long time. You would be spared from any problem that may arise from heavy rains or even flooding in your area.

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Several Problems and Solutions about Waterproofing Basements

Several Problems and Solutions about Waterproofing Basements Are you being plagued by a damp or wet basement in your home? You are not alone. This problem is very common especially to houses with basements. The cause of the problem could be minor and obvious. Through simple waterproofing techniques, it could easily be corrected. There are common causes of basement leaking problems as well as there are simple solutions. Here are some of them. Problem: Possible source of flooding or seepage in the basement could not be identified. Solution: It would be easy to determine the source of water in your basement. Attach a small square of aluminum foil using a tape into the wall where there is dampness. Seal all sides of the square and make it airtight as possible. After a day or two, remove the foil. If the side that faces the wall is moist, there is seepage in the wall. If moisture is on the other side, there is just a minor problem of condensation in the room. Problem: There is clogged, defective, or even nonexistent downspout and gutter that allow roof water to create puddles or wet the surrounding soil against or near basements walls. The water may enter through openings or cracks in the masonry. Solution: You should immediately install downspouts and gutters wherever needed. You should make sure they are free from debris. If twigs and leaves in the nearby trees are collected in the gutter, you should put a basket-shaped wire strainer over your downspout outlet or you could put a screen across the gutter length. Try to repair downspouts and gutters as soon as there is a need to do so. Use a concrete gutter or use a splash block to lead the water away to avoid concentration of water right at the discharge point. You could also consider extending the downspouts from the rain gutters away from the exterior of the foundation. There is also an option to pipe roof water underground to storm drain, surface outlet, or dry well about 15 feet or more from your house. Problem: There is dense shrubbery and other vegetations around the walls of the basement, which prevent proper ventilation. Solution: To remedy this problem, trim heavy growth of shrubbery to enable the soil to get more sunlight so it could dry faster. When digging up plantings, remove pieces of mortar, masonry, or other materials that are buried near the house following excavation of the basement. Problem: Any unprotected basement window well is acting like cisterns when there is a heavy storm. Water is permitted to seep in below the windows and around window frames. Solution: Protect the windows or parts of windows below grade using metal or masonry window wells. The bottoms should consist of gravel to facilitate good drainage. You could also use clear plastic bubbles to cover the whole window well. You should realize that waterproofing your basement need not be tedious and costly. You should first strive to identify the cause of the problem so you could find and adopt simple and practical solutions to remedy the situation.

Protecting Your Asset: Commercial Waterproofing Waterproofing is an aspect that should not be ignored in construction of commercial buildings. Moisture and humidity could cause serious damage to any property, over the long period of time. Water and moisture could seep into the crack of the walls and floors, a serious threat to the stability of the structure. A commercial building should be properly monitored over time to determine if there are water seepage and moisture problem occurring after construction. Property managers and owners would often hire commercial waterproofing professionals to inspect if the property is still waterproof. Waterproofing inspectors would check different aspects of commercial inspection like detecting leaks and recommending repairs for it. Inspectors should not recommend “easy fixes” which could eventually cause more serious problems in the future. They would also recommend the proper sealants that would be suitable for the building’s condition and even color. Structural problems are not the only dangers of water seepage, moisture and humidity. These conditions could cause molds and mildew to grow. Such growth could be detrimental to the health of the residents or workers in the building. Severe mold and mildew growth could sometimes cause the building to close down for treatment. Rain and storms are not the only elements that a commercial building should be prepared for. Internal air condensation and water leaks could also contribute to the building’s moisture accumulation. Using permeable or poor materials and badly sealed structures are also factors. There are different kinds of commercial waterproofing which building owners and managers could take advantage of. • Waterproofing surfaces using sealants, paints, coating plates, epoxic materials, polymer, silicone, plastic and metal coats. • Waterproofing products which are already part of the concrete or could be mixed with to improve its resistance against moisture • There are also waterproofing materials that would help the structure to deal with changing temperature like emulsions and asphalts which are water or solvent-based. • Interior waterproofing systems that would remove water which is accumulated inside. A French drain could be used to channel the water out of the building which would be eventually pumped out of the building through a sump pump. Internal waterproofing to keep water out like insulation or membranes applied on walls and floors. When hiring a commercial waterproofing provider, the first thing that you should do is check the credentials of the provider. Check previous clients and if they were satisfied with the work. There are different building codes which could cover building waterproofing. It is important that these codes are followed, you could check previous contractors if they were able to meet these requirements. Before signing any kind of contract, make sure that the system they would be installing or recommending to you would actually improve the building condition. There are some providers who would recommend low-priced alternative but they actually cause more harm that provide a solution. Waterproofing protects your property, whether it is residential or commercial, as long as you will be making the necessary steps in choosing the right system for your needs and condition.

One Cost-Effective and Practical Waterproofing

Tip Most of homeowners’ problems about water seepage could be attributed to inevitable seasonal conditions. Rapid runoff as well as the frozen ground’s disability to properly and effectively absorb water could leave only one site for that water to go. Unfortunately, it would be right through your walls. Spring and fall rainy seasons typically are peak times when unlikely water seepage is experienced. Homeowners could easily associate water seepage problems with costly drainage and excavation. However, are you aware that with just about $500, you could actually complete a waterproofing project? You do not need to always look at those expensive drainage and excavations whenever you need to remedy water seepage problems at your walls. You could eliminate the problem through high-quality masonry waterproof paint. When you look for an effective product or material to eliminate water seepage in your wall, remember that a waterproofer would do, instead of a water sealer. Obviously, there are significant differences between the two. Water sealers are only repelling water. They would not actually stop water penetration through the walls. On the other hand, waterproofers penetrate the surface of walls and bond to the masonry. This way, they could serve as integral barriers that would completely arrest or stop water seepage. Take note that waterproofers are not like ordinary paints, which merely adhere to wall surfaces so that oncoming water pressure could easily force them off. If there is a wet basement wall, you should take it as a sign of a much larger problem. Remember that water coming through could come from several types of possible sources like blocked drainage pipes, improper grading, leaky gutters or downspouts, or ruts that could direct runoff at the ground toward the building foundations. You should immediately seek to correct the problem or else you would be facing much greater risks and hassles in the coming days. Corrections should be combined with proper application of high-quality waterproofing paint, which is still the most effective way for prevention of water on masonry surfaces. At the same time, it is also necessary to determine if condensation or seepage is the actual source of problem regarding wet walls. You could find it out by a simple test. To do so, dry a small portion or area of your affected wall using a hair dryer or a cloth. Then, tape a piece of about a foot-square aluminum foil securely and tightly to the just-dried interior basement wall. Leave it there for a day or for several days. When you remove the foil, take note which side is wet. If the side facing the room is wet, condensation is the problem. To remedy the situation, you may use a dehumidifier for waterproofing the room. If the side facing the wall is wet, take it as a confirmation that seepage is present. However, you should also be aware that both problems could possibly happen at the same time. If that is the case, you may find and hire budget waterproofing services that are offered in your area. http://facebook.com/ebooklasting1

Helpful Tips for Waterproofing Your Basement

Helpful Tips for Waterproofing Your Basement You may find the need to seek waterproofing services for your basement. There could be pressing and alarming problems that should not be neglected like presence of moisture, leaking, and flooding especially during the wet season. Here are several tips that could help you waterproof your basement more effectively. The rain gutters must be regularly cleaned to get rid of withered leaves and other debris. You should do so at least once in a year. Downspouts must direct water runoff to a discharge point from the roof for at least just several feel away from the foundation of your home. You may opt to use a splash block and put it at the end of the downspout to prevent soil erosion. Do not bury downspout lines unless you could empty them out during daylight. Purchase and install a reliable humidifier so you could lower your basement’s natural humidity level. Be sure the humidifier you buy is of proper size for your own basement. You may ask for a drain hose attachment to eliminate the need to empty the collected water on a daily basis. Choose a unit with a good built-in de-icer. Take note that a dehumidifier is a refrigeration coil that could freeze up and eventually stop working. Always keep the windows and the doors to your basement properly closed, all year round. Opened windows and doors could allow entry of extra humidity into the basement, which would logically cause condensation. If you are able to do so, you may also rave because your dehumidifier would surely run less. You may opt to use waterproofing sealers and paints. There are many ideal waterproofing sealers and paints that are available in the market today. Such materials could work well to resolve minor problems like dampness on floors and walls. Make sure you pay particular attention to preparation instructions from the manufacturers of such products. However, be reminded that interior waterproof sealers and paints could not alleviate the possible sources of your basement leaking problem. There is a need to constantly and regularly check the basement walls for any presence of cracks or gaps, which could facilitate entry of unlikely moisture into the basement. It is always best to find such cracks while they are still small and less in number than to find them when the walls are almost on the brink of collapse. You may fill such gaps or cracks with waterproof compounds to prevent any unnecessary entry of moisture. There are many products that could serve the purpose at your local hardware shop. Lastly, seek professional intervention when there is an imminent need. The basement waterproofing contractor could offer several solutions to any basement leakage problem you may have. Helpful methods could include installation of drain tile, outside excavation, installation of interior drainage systems, parging of walls, and application of epoxy cove systems. Remember that prevention is still the best approach to any basement leaking problem. If you have done all your best but the problem could still not be corrected, have a professional handle your waterproofing requirement at once.

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Do-It-Yourself Waterproofing

Do-It-Yourself Waterproofing Like most homeowners, you would probably know already some basic information on waterproofing. Waterproofing, of course, is basically making an area impermeable to or unaffected by water. With today’s needs for more living space, a dry basement can become a very useful area. It can be a recreation room, a rest area, or an extra storeroom. All these would depend on the quality of your basement. You would want it dry, comfortable and without the musty odor most associated with damp and moisture-laden basements. Basement waterproofing By practice, most waterproofing contractors usually create some forms of drainage system in solving a wet basement. Drainage is critical, no doubt, in solving water problems. However, homeowners should also know the limits of waterproofing. The waterproofing methods (interior and exterior systems) have their own advantages and weaknesses. Unregulated industry Interior waterproofing had been criticized due to the unregulated nature of the industry. Many less-than-credible contractors install systems without a thorough knowledge of their actions. These could have been avoided if the job was done with the sealed system of basement waterproofing. Moisture could have been prevented from re-entering the homes, decrease humidity, and avoid mildew and molds. Do it yourself Once your basement leaks, you either call an expensive contractor or do it by yourself. If you have the right materials, do-it-yourself waterproofing can be simple and can save you time and money. Today, there are several different products to help you in doing your waterproofing job. The following are some of them. Crystalline waterproofing For many years, this had been one of the world’s favorites. It is highly effective because it penetrates inside the walls and floors. After some years, the crystals expand and seal it permanently. Aside from being able to withstand very high pressure, it can be applied to any concrete surface. Application is simply mixing it with water with a brush or a roller. Basement dry First, a hole is drilled into the basement floor. Then, a probe is inserted into the hole to detect ground water. Once found, the probe will suck up the water with its pump. The principle is that when water is removed, there is relief from pressure. Consequently, there would be no more problems with water seeping into any crack or weak spots. SquidGee dry This system is for poured concrete and block walls. In block walls, the water is mainly trapped in the block’s holes. The main procedure is drilling the lowermost block layer where water collects. Drilling drains the water into the SquidGee Dry. There is no need to drill all the blocks. The process is just as simple in poured walls. However, these walls are solid, unlike the block walls. The technique is to seal the cracks all the way to the “cold joints” (the meeting edge points of the wall and floor). The bottommost is left unsealed, and water is collected with the SquidGee Dry. Concrete water-proofer This is the cheapest of the alternatives, although the least reliable. The process is easy but time-consuming (dependent on the number of cracks you have to fill). Chisel a U-shaped groove along the crack. Remove the debris and fill the groove with fast-setting hydraulic cement. Finally, apply the cement water-proofer, as directed on the product. All in all, waterproofing is not really that hard to do.

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DIY Waterproofing for your Basement Leaks

DIY Waterproofing for your Basement Leaks Many homeowners encounter the problem of leaking or flooding basement especially during rainy days. It is ideal if a homeowner could easily determine the possible source of water that accumulates in the basement. Before any waterproofing activity, there is a need to first pinpoint the exact source of the problem. If there is any standing water present in the basement, it is most likely to be caused by an internal leak. Take note that a leaking foundation usually does not allow a large amount of water to seep through within a short period. There could be a common source of internal basement leaks. They could be caused by failure of a sump pump or a pipe that is leaking inside your home. It is easy to replace a sump pump. Unplug the unit first. Locate the joint in PVC pipe where it is connected to. Remove the hose clamps and slide the PVC apart. After that, you could take the defective pump to the nearest hardware shop so you could properly and correctly select a new replacement pump or its parts. Basement plumbing leaks could be difficult to find. It could be located in tiny spaces and could require usage of a torch. You may need to hire the services of a professional plumber to avoid any additional damage to your property. Any leak in a pipe could be temporarily stopped through tying a salted rag in or around the site where the leak comes from. You could wrap it with a duct tape. Expect the pipe to rust faster due to the contact with salt. At the same time, it would expand and temporarily quit leaking until you have hired a plumber to fix the problem for good. Seepage from the outside could be caused by any disruption in the flow of water away from the house. You should check all downspouts and gutters for any possible blockage. Make sure the water is not flowing freely. There is a need to apply caulk to any site where concrete meets the outside wall so that water could be prevented from slipping through cracks. Try to channel standing water by digging trench or adding more to the downspout. Repairing any foundation wall with cracks should be left to professional waterproofing service providers. This is because foundation walls are important parts of any building. Improper and inadequate repairs could result to more structural damages to your property. Try to direct water away from those cracks through a simple water diversion technique. Use PVC pipes to drain holes. There is a simple water diversion rule. It should follow a downhill direction. Make sure the pipes are slightly inclined to facilitate flow of water away from your home. There could be a site with lower elevation where the water could be channeled to. If you think the problem has gone out of hand, you should immediately contact a waterproofing professional. Ask for an estimate cost or quote for a specific basement waterproofing project. You may find other professionals who are offering more practical rates if you think the first service provider you have asked for costs gave you an expensive estimate.

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Saxophone

Saxophone The saxophone, more casually referred to as sax, is another member of the large woodwind family. It consists of a cone-shaped tube made of thin metal which is usually brass and at times plated with nickel, silver, or gold. It is played with a mouthpiece that is single-reed just like that of the clarinet. History This magnificent instrument was invented by Adolphe Sax from Belgium. Akin to his father, Charles Joseph Sax, he was an instrument maker. His first successful creation was the saxhorn which was made public some time after he transferred to France. Before focusing on the saxophone, Adolphe sax completed several developments to the bass clarinet. The saxophone was created around 1846. Sax’s primary key work was very basic which made wide intervals quite hard to finger. Because of this, many developers and instrument makers added alternate fingerings and more keys to make playing less difficult. One of the most significant advancements in its key work was that both tone holes can be controlled by the left thumb using one octave key. This is now common to all modern sax. A closer look Learning to play the sax requires to things: knowing how to control the reed and how to properly and smoothly finger the instrument. The portion where you blow into is the mouthpiece which is usually constructed from metal, hard rubber, or styrene plastic. The part that creates the sound is the reed. It is made of cane that serves as a membrane to the mouthpiece opening. While the sax is being played, the reed is caught in between the mouthpiece and the saxophone player’s lip. The ligature, a rubber-like fabric or band of metal, clamps the reed in place which keeps it from going into the mouthpiece. The neck is the tube that holds the mouthpiece through a layer of cork. The other end of the neck is attached to the body of the saxophone. Saxophones are expected to have a lacquer finish which means that it appears to be polished brass. Some are made in silver which gives it a sound that is brighter. Saxophone maintenance The usual sax consists of brass and leather. This indicates that it requires extreme care because brass can easily be dented and leather deteriorates fast if in the wrong environment. Moisture tends to build up in the horn when playing the sax. This will make the leather pads rot and the brass to rust. Make sure that you remove as much moisture as you can every after playing. After playing, you should dismantle the different parts of the saxophone – the mouthpiece and the neck. Use a neck swab to clean the neck. Then, use a cleaning swab, which is chamois leather or silk with foam, for the body of the sax. As for the mouthpiece and reed, wash these in warm running water and rub a mouthpiece brush in the mouthpiece. There are a lot more specific ways to care for your sax but just make sure you store, clean, and play it properly and with care. Common uses The very first popular use of the sax was in military bands. Recently, it was used in big band and concert band music. Even more recent was its participation in symphony orchestra where it drastically boosted its popularity. Besides these, it was associated with blues, rock and roll, and especially jazz.

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Harpsichord The harpsichord is a stringed keyboard instrument.

Sound is produced through plucking strings whenever the respective keys are pressed. Pressing a key raises the designated plectrum on another end. The string is plucked by this and this turns so it does not make contact with the string downwards. History The harpsichord was invented in the Middle Ages. In Italy, harpsichord makers made lightweight versions with little string tension but the harpsichords were made with a heavier construction by the Ruckers family in the late 1500's. This creates a more unique and powerful tone. Flemish instruments were the basis of the harpsichord in the 18th century. The instrument was constructed with double keyboards to control varied string choirs which makes it more musically flexible. The Shudi and Kirkman firms in England manufactured harpsichords that had great sonority and power while German builders added two foot and sixteen foot choir which expanded its repertoire. The harpsichord by German builders was the foundation for the design by modern builders. The harpsichord was overshadowed by the piano in the 18th to 19th century. It was revived in the 20th century using metal frames and heavy strings likened to piano mechanisms. The building methods from the Baroque period became the dominant construction for modern harpsichords. The harpsichord family There are various members of the large harpsichord family – archicembalo, virginals, ottavino, clavicytherium, spinet, folding harpsichord, and the regular harpsichord. The archicembalo had a unique keyboard design and was for the tuning systems of the 16th century. The virginals is a simpler and smaller harpsichord with only a string for every note while the ottavino are similar to virginals but are at four foot pitch. It is sometimes referred to as double virginals. The clavicytherium has its strings and soundboard placed perpendicularly in front of the player just like the upright piano. On the other hand, the spinet has its strings set at a 30 degree angle from the keyboard. The folding harpsichord is the version of the harpsichord that is suitable for travel. The term harpsichord could mean any member of the harpsichord family but it particularly denotes an instrument that has the same shape as a grand piano with a triangular case. At the right, it has short treble strings while at the left are long bass strings. It is longer than the modern piano and has a sharper curve. Structure The harpsichord has 6 main parts – harpsichord interior, lid stick, music desk, casing, keyboard, and lid. The harpsichord’s interior contains the strings that are amplified to produce sound. The lid is the panel that protects the interior from dust while the lid stick is the wooden stick that holds the lid open when the instrument is being played. The music desk provides support for the score. The casing is the overall wooden body that covers the instrument and the keyboard consists of the keys which plucks the strings when pressed. Differentiating the harpsichord from the piano Unlike the piano, the notes in the harpsichord should be played one by one which makes it an instrument subtler than the piano. The harpsichord keyboard has increased curvature. Also contrasting from the piano, the harpsichord does not allow dynamics. If you want to make it louder, you should put in another rank of strings.

The flute

Flute

The flute is the most basic instrument in the woodwind family. It is a reedless wind instrument, otherwise known as an aerophone, which creates sound from the flow of air from an opening. Flutes are often made of wood in Europe while silver is the main flute construction material in the United States. Theobald Boehm invented the modern flute. He created a bowl-shaped head connected to a cylindrical center with large finger holes and open-standing keys. Minor developments have been made after that. Flute Construction Modern flutes are often around twenty-six inches long and 0.75 inches wide. There are two open ends which makes it an open cylinder. It has sixteen openings – eleven are closed by seven fingers, one is closed by the left thumb, and four can be opened or blocked by arranged keys. Flute Categories The flute player blows directly across from the edge of the mouthpiece for most flutes. These are called end-blown. Another basic type is the side-blown flute. The hole in which the player blows is at the side of the tube. One more is the fipple flute which has a duct that maneuvers the air onto the edge. Fipple flutes are easier to play and has a distinct timbre compared to other flutes. Here are the categories of flutes based on origin: 1. Western concert flutes The western concert flute is a descendant of the German flute. It is closed at the top and the embouchure hole is placed near the top. The regular concert flute can play three octaves beginning from middle C which gives it one of the highest pitches in the orchestra besides the piccolo. 2. Chinese flute The Chinese flute, also referred to as di, have many varieties with diverse sizes, number of holes, intonations, and structures. The majority of di are made of bamboo. The distinct characteristic of Chinese flutes is the membrane on one of the holes that vibrates with the air inside. This causes the flute to have an intense and bright sound. 3. Indian bamboo flute This instrument is significant in Indian classical music. Compared to western flutes, the Indian bamboo flute is simpler because they do not have any keys and are made of bamboo. There are two basic kinds of Indian flutes: the Bansuri and the Venu. The Bansuri is an eight-holed flute and has one embouchure hole near the top while the Venu has eight finger holes and requires the cross-fingering technique. 4. Japanese flute Japanese flutes are called fue and these come in varied kinds. Most are made of bamboo and high-pitched. Fue have two varieties. One is the end-blown flute which has a hole on both ends. The other is the transverse flute which is held horizontally with the embouchure hole only near one end. How does the flute work? A rapid jet of air blown by the flute player from the mouthpiece is the source of power for playing the instrument. Inside the flute, the blown air together with the resonances in the air inside causes oscillation and thus vibration. As the air in the flute is vibrating, the energy from the jet of air is converted to sound which comes out of the end and the open holes. Different areas in the flute’s cylindrical body cause the air to vibrate more easily in certain areas. This determines the pitch of the sound produced when certain holes are covered.

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Bass Guitar

Bass Guitar The bass guitar, sometimes called bass or electric bass, is a stringed instrument which has a design similar to the guitar. The difference is that it has a longer scale and it is tuned in a deeper pitch. It is primarily played with the fingers or with a plectrum or pick. It also has the same construction and appearance as an electric guitar but it has a longer neck, a larger body, and a longer scale length. The bass guitar could be fretless or fretted but fretted basses are more commonly used. It could either be acoustic bass or electric bass. History The first electric string bass that is also similar to the modern bass was invented by Paul Tutmarc of Washington around 1930. It was a fretted instrument which was constructed to be played horizontally. In the 1940’s, Bud Tutmarc, son of Paul Tutmarc, marketed the bass guitar under the brand name Serenader and advertised it nationwide. Unfortunately, the Tutmarc’s bass guitar did not become popular in the market. At the time of 1950’s, the first electric bass, called Fender Precision Bass, that was in mass production was created by Leo Fender. Its body design was contoured and its edges were beveled. In 1953, the Gibson Guitar Corporation put the electric bass with a violin shape and an expandable end pin on market. These had one humbucker right alongside the neck pocket. Rickenbacker released the model 4000 bass which had a neck-through-body design in 1957. High end bass guitars which have unique designs, onboard electronics, and hand-finished bodies rose in the 1970’s. In the 1980’s, the headless bass wad developed by Ned Steinberger and the Guild Guitar Corporation introduced the use of silicone rubber strings. Recently, bass guitar producers added digital modeling circuits in the instrument. Classic bass guitars Electric bass guitars has lasted for over 70 years and counting. It has grown to be an essential element in modern music. In the years that have passed, the bass guitar’s design had many design changes. Here are a few classic bass guitars. The Hofner was played by Paul McCartney although not expensive or outstandingly made. The Fender Jazz started in 1960 with a slimmer shaped neck and two pickups while the Fender Precision was introduced in 1951 with a slab body and one pickup. The Musicman Stingray arrived in the 1970’s with a humbucker bass pickup while the Gibson Thuderbird came on scene in the 1960’s. The Rickenbacker 4001 came in the early 1950’s and it became the rock bass chosen by many. Playing techniques The different playing techniques include plucking, picking, slap and pop, two-handed tapping, and fretting. How to play If you are still learning to play the guitar, it is best to use a fretted bass guitar because it is easier to accurately hit the notes. First, you need to put your fingers into practice. Relax the hand with which you will play the bass guitar and lift it at an angle of 90 degrees. Lift your fingers one at a time in rapid succession. After that, place the bass guitar on your thigh with the strings away from you. Place your thumb on the E string and the middle and index fingers on the D string. The E string is in the middle of the strings and the D string is two strings down the former. Pluck these consecutively until you are comfortable and accustomed to it. It is easier to start learning one song at a time. Choose a song that requires mostly the basic chords.

#Bass Guitar #music #guitar

Bagpipe

Bagpipe The bagpipe is an aerophone, a musical instrument class, and uses enclosed reeds to vibrate by movement of stored air in a bag. It is more commonly referred by pipers as “pipes”. You might be familiar with the Irish uilleann pipes or the Scottish great highland bagpipe but there are also varieties of bagpipes coming from regions all around the Persian Gulf, Northern Africa, and Europe. Origin The roots of the bagpipes could be dug up to the ancient times. Because any herdsman had all the materials needed which are a reed pipe and sheep or goat skin, bagpipes might have been from a rustic instrument in various cultures. Many historians think that it started in Sumaria and it was also cited in the Holy Bible. A roman historian even recorded that Emperor Nero played the bagpipe. It was specifically stated as “knew how to play the pipe with his mouth and the bag thrust under his arm”. The existence of bagpipes in pre-medieval times is doubtful. Yet visual and textual remains could still possible prove bagpipes in ancient forms. Parts of the bagpipe Bagpipes regularly consist of four parts – a bag, a drone, an air supply, and a chanter. The supply of air comes from blowing into a blowstick or blowpipe. Blowpipes today usually have a non-return valve so that the player does not need to cover the edge of the blowpipe with his or her tongue when inhaling. The bag is a reservoir which holds air and regulates airflow while pumping or breathing take place. This helps the player to uphold constant sound for a moment. Skins of goats, cows, sheep or other local animals are used for the bag’s material. The chanter produces the melody of the bagpipe. It is frequently open-ended which gives the player no easy way to end the pipe’s sound. This gives bagpipes no rests or the legato sound. Bagpipes mostly consist of one or more drones. It is a cylinder-shaped tube with usually a single reed. It has at least two parts and has a sliding joint or bridle which manipulates the pitch. Construction A constant air supply is provided by the bagpipe’s construction. The air flow could be maintained in the chanter and drone pipes through using the left hand to squeeze the bag during breathing periods. In the mouthpiece, there is a circular piece of leather attached to the bag that operates like a one way valve. The flap closes when the player stops blowing air flow and opens when blowing is ongoing. There is a thumb hole and seven finger holes on the chanter. Types of bagpipes The most well-known bagpipe, Great Highland Bagpipe, overshadows many other types of bagpipes. There are bagpipes widely spread throughout Middle East and Europe. Even though there was a drastic decline of the other kinds, there was a revival in more recent times. For example, the Irish piping declined in the mid 1900’s but came back and is still alive today. Other types are the Balkan Gaida, Pastoral pipes, Galician gaita, Breton Biniou, the Aragonese Gaita de boto, Scottish smallpipes, and many more. The main purpose of bagpipes is for dance music. Nowadays, it is suited for monophonic music and solo dances. Modern music played on bagpipes is not ideal as dance music anymore.

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