The History and Evolution of Ska Music

Feature Article
On October 17, 2018
By Nikolouse
In Music

Music is discovered continuously in the most unusual of places, from bathrooms to your nan’s living room. As a type of music that makes use of all the styles of music, Ska mainly originated in Jamaica. The form primarily comprises of American jazz mixed with R&B. Ska is considered to be punk music but a lot slower with brass and string instruments. Ska is commonly heard on high-powered radio stations and needs an acquired taste. The very purpose behind the style was for dancing. With upbeat tempos and heart-quickening beats, the music is an exciting experience to discover for the novice music lover. A Ska Band Composition The typical instruments in a ska band are bass, drums, guitars, keyboards and horns along with the occasional saxophone, Trombone, and trumpet. Guitars in ska bands are known to hit the 2nd, 3rd and 4th beats in the songs and drum hitting the 2nd and 4th beats. The style of rhythm creates an energetic beat that makes it perfect for dancing. It is upbeat and exciting to be played at parties and social gatherings. What makes Ska music’s beat unique is that it focuses mainly on deep bass. In the 1960s, the music...

Feature Article
On September 18, 2018
By Nikolouse
In Music

Getting married is one of the most important and perfect occasions in a person’s life. Apart from the hundreds of activities planned for the wedding, most people forget about the music that would be played during the entire event until the last minute. Apart from the actual ceremony music, people usually opt for bands to come and play for a cost. However, choosing the right style of music for the type of wedding you wish to conduct, can play a significant part in setting the mood. Once you decide on the style of music for the wedding, finding a band or a DJ to play the music during the reception is easy as sipping champagne. For the Traditional Wedding Traditional weddings have a set program that couples want to follow. The traditions have been set for several generations, and the essence of the culture cannot be diluted with the wrong choice of music. For the actual ceremony, the music choice can be classical pieces that trio string-band can play. The trio string-band can comprise of acoustic guitars or violins and cellos. The entire reverence of the ceremony is usually enhanced and absorbed by the string instruments to create that usual...

Post Tagged with Music Styles for Weddings, Romantic

Feature Article
On September 12, 2018
By Nikolouse
In Music

Jazz, Blues, Funk, RnB and Gospel music and all the styles in between are driven by African American origins. The musical instruments that are used in producing African American music like the Banjo and Drums have been used across several styles, to create the rhythm and beat that is associated with foot-tapping music. Music has a strong ability to connect with people irrespective of their race, colour or creed. You don’t have to know the language of the music to be able to enjoy it. The African American music that was brought to America through the slaves has helped in connecting people all over the world in one voice and one soul. The Impact of Blues Music Only around the 20th century is when blues music gained popularity. The slaves who toiled in the fields sang in the blues style and used them in their church services. The true essence of blues music lies in the message that it carries. Hardships of people in an era that oppressed them were conveyed in the music. Their joys and praises were also an essential part of the style. The beauty of Blues music is that it is an outlet for expressing joy...

Feature Article
On August 29, 2018
By Nikolouse
In Music

African American music made a big impact on the music lovers around the world. A fitting name to describe the genre was Soul. The late 1950s, saw the rise of Soul music artists with the rising popularity of gospel music in the African American churches. The song originates from the times when slavery was predominant in America. The Africans were not allowed to worship, in the churches that the whites went to. Hence, they set up their own churches and same the same songs that the white Americans sang. In fact, they improvised and included a twist to the style with innovative voice modulations. The upbeat tempo they adopted, along with singing and dancing seemed to convey the true meaning of the songs, that were traditionally sang at a very slow tempo. Ray Charles Ray Charles is one of the famous artists, who influenced the type of soul music that was up-tempo. His song “I’ve got a woman” is a version of a gospel song, which is very slow. The gospel version was sung in churches, while the Ray Charles version was developed as a record for the rest of world to enjoy. Ray Charles does the same to a...

Post Tagged with Ray Charles, Soul Music

Feature Article
On August 18, 2018
By Nikolouse
In Music

Some of the greatest songs serve as inspiration for people to start playing the guitar. Watching their favourite guitarist rip across the fret, leaves enthusiasts wanting to be just like their heroes. To any seasoned guitarist, this is perhaps the first step to learning the instrument – the fascination. Even if you have never touched an instrument before, the guitar is a great place to start. However, it is important that you choose the right style of guitar picking to go with the music you like. Each style of music has its own technique when it comes to guitar playing. So, either pick the style of music and learn the guitar technique for it or try the technique and choose the style of music you can play with it. Guitars can also choose between the types of guitars they want to start playing when they start off. Electric guitars and acoustic guitars are the two main types that people choose. The acoustic is a favourite when starting off a guitar course. The Main Lead The main guitarist that you probably have noticed in the music videos are the lead guitarists. They play the lead and are the ones that steal the...

Post Tagged with Guitar Techniques