Tools You Need
Beyond your instrument, and a deep commitment to learn, two tools are vital:
1) software that will slow the sample recordings without changing the pitch of the music, and
2) a metronome
1) software that will slow the sample recordings without changing the pitch of the music, and
2) a metronome
FREE Software to slow down music
VLC is the easiest slow down software to use. It's free. It works on both PC and MAC
1. Download https://www.videolan.org/vlc/ and install
2. Click on "View" in the pull down menu and select "Status Bar"
3. In the bottom right corner you'll see a box with the entry 1.00 x. Left click on that box. A slider opens. There you may speed up or slow down the audio without changing the pitch of the music.
VLC software supports many audio file formats. It's useful well beyond this course.
There are many software products on the market that will do the same thing as VLC. These range in cost from about $40 to $80. Most have features that provide more functionality than VLC. Some will also transpose music without distorting it. However, for the purpose of learning the tunes presented in this course, VLC is sufficient.
If you are an Apple-Use and work with ABC notation, take a look at Tunebook SD. http://www.jhlabs.com/tunebook/ This is an all-in-one application. This app works on iPhones and iPads. If you find the ABC’s for a tune you’re interested in, you can import it, convert it to standard notation, listen to it, slow it down or speed it up without changing the pitch, and transpose it. And save it in the app. You can also use it to transcribe a tune into ABC and to compose. Tunebook SD costs about $2.
VLC is the easiest slow down software to use. It's free. It works on both PC and MAC
1. Download https://www.videolan.org/vlc/ and install
2. Click on "View" in the pull down menu and select "Status Bar"
3. In the bottom right corner you'll see a box with the entry 1.00 x. Left click on that box. A slider opens. There you may speed up or slow down the audio without changing the pitch of the music.
VLC software supports many audio file formats. It's useful well beyond this course.
There are many software products on the market that will do the same thing as VLC. These range in cost from about $40 to $80. Most have features that provide more functionality than VLC. Some will also transpose music without distorting it. However, for the purpose of learning the tunes presented in this course, VLC is sufficient.
If you are an Apple-Use and work with ABC notation, take a look at Tunebook SD. http://www.jhlabs.com/tunebook/ This is an all-in-one application. This app works on iPhones and iPads. If you find the ABC’s for a tune you’re interested in, you can import it, convert it to standard notation, listen to it, slow it down or speed it up without changing the pitch, and transpose it. And save it in the app. You can also use it to transcribe a tune into ABC and to compose. Tunebook SD costs about $2.
Metronome
Everyone NEEDS a metronome. We are all afflicted with some degree of “dysclockxia”. A metronome is a proven treatment. Buy and use a metronome in your practicing. The market place is filled with extraordinary electronic metronomes at widely varying prices and capabilities. Focus on the metronome part of the device. Don’t add a lot of functionality you won't likely use. Read the user reviews to ensure the device has plenty of volume.
A review of twenty-one metronomes is available at this link:
https://www.cmuse.org/best-metronome/
A free, online metronome is available at this link:
https://jamnerd.com/metronome
Everyone NEEDS a metronome. We are all afflicted with some degree of “dysclockxia”. A metronome is a proven treatment. Buy and use a metronome in your practicing. The market place is filled with extraordinary electronic metronomes at widely varying prices and capabilities. Focus on the metronome part of the device. Don’t add a lot of functionality you won't likely use. Read the user reviews to ensure the device has plenty of volume.
A review of twenty-one metronomes is available at this link:
https://www.cmuse.org/best-metronome/
A free, online metronome is available at this link:
https://jamnerd.com/metronome