August can be such a drag of a month. It's extra hot, extra humid and extra slow. You've done everything you've wanted to do this summer, and you can't shake that "What's next?" frame of mind.
Fortunately, RuggedReviews.com is here to help. We have all kinds of music gear that can shake you out of the August doldrums. If it's too hot to go out, why not take up an instrument?
Ukulele is easy and fun -- for the player and listeners. We have reviews of several ukulele models -- including one that looks like a watermelon -- the Kala Watermelon -- and another that plays in near total silence to the world outside your headphones -- the Eleuke Silent Ukulele. We also have a great instructional DVD/Book called "The Complete Ukulele Course for Kids." If you're an absolute beginner to stringed instruments, chords and strumming with rhythm, Ralph Shaw's extremely simple, friendly, and, yes, goofy, instruction will have you playing in no time. Shaw teaches concepts then applies them to actual songs. Once you've mastered a handful of chords, you can find free chords and lyrics all over the Web.
If you're feeling especially ambitious, you might try playing guitar. For the vast majority of us, playing simple songs on guitar takes months, playing them well takes years. Over the past five years, I've been self-teaching using Steve Krenz's superb DVD/Book set called "Learn & Master Guitar." Krenz starts at the very beginning, introducing the parts of the guitar and how to hold it properly, which is critical if you hope to play with any precision. Then he guides you through single note picking and simple chords. If you put in the time and follow his advice to the letter, you will be playing simple songs in no time. The course proceeds at a comfortable pace, introducing advanced chords, barre chords, finger picking, and the elements of specific styles like rock, blues and classical.
I supplemented "Learn & Master Guitar" with excellent books by guitar master Jamie Andreas. Her books take Steve Krenz's type of information and refines it down to individual, precise movements. Her belief is that if you train your muscles precisely how to move when playing the guitar -- she calls it "muscle memory" -- you will build a firm basis for all of your guitar playing. And she's right. Her books really helped me when I hit a wall and wasn't certain what to do when trying finger picking and moving between chords and strumming with the proper rhythm. The DVD version of "The Principles" is very good, too. You might also want to read her masterful "The Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar" before you even pick up the instrument. Her wealth of knowledge and precise approach will spare you the risk of physical injury when you play and give you a firm understanding of the skills needed to advance. I also used her "The Guitar Principles Chords & Rhythm" to learn how to play and sing at the same time.
RuggedReviews.com has reviews on musical instrument, instructional materials and neat gadgets. Take a look HERE and you'll be happily playing the August Boredom Blues away in no time.
