This is a piano video tutorial on how to play Lollipop by Lil Wayne. It shows you each part step by step. I hope you find this useful.

This is a piano video tutorial on how to play Stronger by Kanye West/Daft Punk. It’s a little grainy, but does a pretty decent job at showing you the keys. I hope you find this useful.

This is a piano video tutorial on how to play the strings on Scott Storch’s Lean Back – Fat Joe. It shows you the correct way using the pitch bend wheel. I hope you find this useful.

Here’s another video by Warbeats on how to do it using Fruity Loops Studio.

This is a piano video tutorial on how to play 50 Cent & the Game – How we do. I hope you find this useful.

By Jay Bailey

Learning music production from home is one of the most enjoyable things to do as a producer, you get to make your mistakes without any body knowing, you get to experiment without anybody seeing your tricks and techniques… music production is truly amazing. Suddenly in the past 5 years there has been a massive raise in the way music production is seen in the educational eyes and college and university courses have been popping up like hot cakes all over the world.

But is a college or university course in music production what you really need?

I think not, everything you can learn in music production you can learn from a single website that I found while browsing the internet a few months back. After studying a 3 year Degree in ‘Commercial Music’ I took on this course online and realized that everything I had been sitting down studying for 3 years was available in a program that takes a few months to do in your own time from home.

The topics range from music production, music strategies, pop music culture, hip hop, music entrepreneurship and so much more. The creative side is so down to you to be honest, only you can push you and to be honest.. 3 years of studying a degree like myself is not going to do any different than a short course can do for you in a few months. You need to take action for yourself.

You need to become an Entrepreneur in this day in age, being your own boss. Knowledge is the key to any Entrepreneur, so make sure you get your knowledge and know how up!

Visit the website – http://www.musicproducerpro.net

Gook luck in becoming that Entrepreneur.

By vmusicbook Inc 

Hip-hop music has become one of the most popular styles of music in United States of America. It consists of two components such as rapping and record scratching. These two components when combined with break dancing and graffiti develop the important elements of hip-hop music. If you wish to enter in the field of hip-hop beat production, you need to understand more about hip-hop music.

Hip-Hop beat production

Modern hip-hop beat production utilizes sequencers, samplers, turntables, synthesizers, drum machines and live instrumentation. Hip-hop production may involve a drum beat, a bassline, sampled music or originally sequenced loops. Beat and vocals are two basic parts of typical hip-hop song. Sampling and beats are the basic elements for producing the hip-hop music.

Sampling

Sampling is an integral part of hip-hop bit production. Samples are taken from the records and imported into the sequencers or samplers. Producers generally opt for creating totally original recordings using the computer-generated beats. Re-record or overdub the sampled part with the live musician is another solution.

Beats

The drum beat is another important element of hip-hop beat production. It is very essential to understand the beats to know the hip-hop construction. Beats include the following-

• MIDI Drum patterns or audio drum loops which include the complete drum tracks

• A Bassline (MIDI sequence)

• Dubs and snips (samples that accent and give character)

• Supporting orchestration (could be synch pads, horns, string sections)

The beat can be short or long and it is 8 bars in its shortest form. If long, it may consist of different parts for the chorus and verse and may add introduction, break and ending.

The vocal tracks in the hip-hop song consist of

• Main vocal-main vocalist performs the rap

• Second vocal- a guest vocal or second vocal that takes a verse

• Background vocals-created to offer a sense of participation by a whole group

• Overdubbed vocals-the main vocal may be doubled, tripled or quadrupled during the chorus and other parts

Recording

For hip-hop beat production, a multi-track recorder is typically used for recording. Nowadays, digital ADAT tape recorders have become popular. Use of a PC as a multi-track recorder with or without outboard can be good alternative. Professional producers generally prefer the condenser microphone for studio recording because of their high quality and wide-range response. The dynamic microphone is a primary alternative to expensive condenser microphone.

Samplers

Hardware samplers have been involved in hip-hop beat production. Samplers outfitted with pads such as MV8000 and MPC can be conveniently used. Software samplers such as Kontakt 2, Halion, Gigastudio, Battery are quite good and can provide more flexibility if your computer is capable to run inside a sequencer. A control pad surface like the Akai MPD16 can be used to provide some hardware control over your software.

Synthesizers

Synthesizers are frequently used for hip-hop beat production. They are used for basslines, melody, for sound synthesis and as percussive stabs. In addition to the analog synthesizer, old FM synths such as cheap Casios, the DX7 and its offspring and other digital synths can be useful for hip-hop elements.

www.vmusicbook.com sells an e-book, which provides solutions for most issues that unsigned musicians experience.

VmusicBook was created for those who wish to set up and successfully run an independent music business, especially for the URBAN markets such as Hip-Hop, R&B, Drum & Bass and all other Dance genres including UK Grime.

VmusicBook is one of the first music resources of its kind. It is said to be the most comprehensive and detailed directories sold online giving you direct access to 100s of important contacts.

VmusicBook is an invaluable business tool for unsigned talent looking to turn their talents or skills into a legal business. No matter what you do if it is creative and entertaining then this is without doubt for you.

The VmusicBook was made for unsigned artists and musicians, label owners, music producers, songwriters, engineers and mangers. Get your music or songs into television, films and commercials.

Coutesy of www.vmusicbook.com ©VmusicBook, Inc. 2008

By Ben Ingram

So you want to get into hip-hop/rap/R&B production and you don’t really know how? Well, it’s way easier than you may think. With just a few items, you could be well on your way to being the next Timbaland, Dre, or Alchemist.

So where do you start? First off, you need to make sure you have the right software. A lot of people out there like to sample beats and use other people’s music, but you want to be original. At least in the beginning, because if you are like I was, you probably want to develop your own style. Here is my list of the essential start-up software you need to make beats:

Reason 4.0 – Propellerhead’s Reason is one of the most dynamic pieces of software you can have in your arsenal. It’s relatively inexpensive, yet it allows you to produce nearly any sound you can think of via a vast range of synths, drum machines, and effects. It is very user friendly, and produces a powerful, professional sound. Nearly every major producer has used Reason at one point in his or her career.

Fruity Loops Studio – Many producers use Fruity Loops to create entire productions. What really separates FL from Reason is that it has the ability to become a VST instrument when used with some mixing and recording programs such as Cubase or Pro-Tools. (These are the crème’ de la crème’ – but not necessities when you are just starting out)

Sony ACID Pro – This is a cool application that allows you to manipulate the beats you created in Reason or FL. It is user friendly as well and works great on any system.

That’s pretty much it for making beats. My choice is Reason, but as you try them all out, you may find that you like FL Studio better or a combination of the two. Its all about finding what you are most comfortable with. Now, you have your software and have made a sick beat. Now what? The following is my recommendation for recording & mixing software:

Adobe Audition – This used to be called Cool Edit Pro. It uses a very simple interface in which you are able to load your beat tracks and record your vocal tracks. This can also be great if you want to use live instruments in addition to your beats.

That’s really all you need for software. Something to make the music, and something to record it on. Now, you ask, what about hardware?

Samson CO1 Cardiod Condenser Microphone – This is a great studio mic. It runs about $70 and sounds great. Make sure to get a few cables, boom stand, and wind screen. (about $50) total.

Samson S 48v Phantom Power Supply – You will need this to power your mic. Since studio mics create their own power, the phantom power source is basically the device that harnesses that power and sends it through your mic.

Any MIDI capable keyboard – This is one of the tools you will use with Reason or Fruity Loops to make beats. MIDI will allow you to play the sound files on your keyboard, rather than on your computer. Make sure to also get a MIDI to USB cable so that you can attach it to your sound card.

M Audio Audiophile 2496 Interface – This is your awesome sound card. It runs less than a hundred bucks and allows you to hook up all your gear to your pc.

Samson Resolv 40a Active Studio Monitors – While ordinary stereo speakers will do just fine, these all you to hear exactly how your tracks will sound when played over your mp3 player, radio, or local club.

And that’s it! You have all you need to get started.

Mr. P from the forums has posted a great tutorial on how to play “Make It Rain” produced by Scott Storch. Check out the thread here: http://hiphop-producer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=69

Here are the notes of Make it rain.

Tempo is 74,645

First The Intro

Low Strings

Low Strings Variation

Chorus Horns

Chorus Horns Variation

If this helps you, please go on Youtube and give this video a good rating! Thanks.

If you want to learn how to make beats, check out How to Make a Hip Hop Beat in 30 min.

Sheet music and piano roll (click to enlarge)

Intro

Main beat

If you liked this guide and want to see more, you can request a song you want to see the notes for.

The hiphop-producer.com forum just got relaunched and now has a store offering hip hop drum kit downloads. Downloading these kits does not require cash. You trade forum points for the drum kits. Go here to sign up for the forum.

You earn 1 forum point for each post you make. Each drum kit costs 10 forum points. Currently the store has the following drum kits:

• Dr. Dre
• Scott Storch
• Timbaland
• Swizz Beatz
• Just Blaze
• Kanye West
• G-Unit
• Lil Jon
• Neptunes
• Mobb Deep
• Cash Money
• Tony B

Also, if you want free sounds now, check out 10 Resources For Free Sounds

UPDATE: It looks like lots of forum members have posted great collections of drum kits for download.