Japanese pentatonic
From the history of blues: from plantations to the studio
The blues, like everything with stunning success, has been an underground music trend for decades. It is understandable, because the White Society could not accept the music of African-Americans working on plantations, and even listen to them was shameful. Such music was considered radical and even calling for violence. The hypocrisy of society took place only in the 20s of the last century. The history of blues, like its creators, is negative and depressive. And, just like longing, the blues is simple to genius. Many performers engaged in heavy physical labor until death, they were vagabonds, and had odd jobs. Continue reading
Self-taught accordion playing
The 21st century is in the courtyard, and the vocal harmonica, like many years ago, pleases us with its iridescent, provocative tunes. And the lingering melody performed in harmony will not leave indifferent any listener. Self-study of playing the accordion is available to anyone who loves its sound and really wants to play music on this instrument. For fans, several methods of mastering the harmony have entrenched. And so the first thing you need to decide at the initial stage of training is what methodology to adhere to. FIRST WAY – LEARNING FROM HANDS On watching videos of lessons from experienced masters, observing their play from the side, and relying on your ear for music, the first way to learn how to play an accordion is actually built. It consists in that, bypassing the stage of studying musical notation, begin immediately to play the instrument. Continue reading
Japanese Folk Music: National Instruments and Genres
Japanese folk music is a rather distinctive phenomenon due to the isolation of the islands of the Rising Sun and the careful attitude of the people who inhabit them to their culture. Let us first consider some Japanese folk musical instruments, and then the genres characteristic of the musical culture of this country. JAPANESE FOLK MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Shamisen is one of the most famous musical instruments in Japan, it is one of the analogues of the lute. Shamisen is a plucked three-stringed instrument. It arose from sanshin, which in turn came from Chinese sansyan (both the origin is interesting and the etymology of the names is entertaining). Shamisen is revered today in the Japanese islands: for example, playing this instrument is often used in the traditional Japanese theater – Bunraku and Kabuki. Shamisen training is included in maiko, a program to teach the art of being a geisha. Continue reading
