I’ve always wanted to include pictures of keys in my blog posts but it’s just too hard to create them each and every time, so I resorted to just plain text…

…Until had this cool idea…

What if I could have someone build me a tool that basically generates piano images with highlighted notes on the fly? All I have to tell it is what notes I want, what color to shade them, and how big to make the image.

Well, that’s what I did! I posted it to one of my programmers and 3 weeks later, it’s a reality!

For example, to make the image above, I don’t have to open one single graphics program. I just copy and paste this code:

<img src='http://www.hearandplaymusic.com/dynamicimage/pianokeys.php?first_octave=C,E,Gs,G&second_octave=C,E,Ab,G&color=99CCFF&size=2' />

*Yes, I know it’s a little techy … but it’s really not that hard! I just ignore everything until I get to “first_octave.” That’s when I type the letters I want in the first octave, separated by commas. I use ‘b’ for flat and ’s’ for sharp but it comes out as the regular b and #. I do the same for the “second_octave.” Then I pick the color using the 6 digit color code of my choice. Finally, I can choose either small (1), medium (2), or big (3). You’re seeing the medium size above.

I’m excited! You guys don’t know what this will do for my music explanations! If you’ve enjoyed plain text so far (which a lot of you have), then imagine having images too!

The reason I’m telling you all these details about how it works is because YOU can use it too! If you have a blog or you’re ever trying to explain something to someone else via e-mail or on a forum, just come to this page, copy my code, change it, and paste it wherever you want! You’ll be good to go! I’m working on a little wizard that will make it easy for anyone to do.

For now, I’ll be the first one to use my little “dynamic piano key” invention!

Here are some cool chords I’ve made with the tool:

F aug 7 (b9)

Here’s the code I used to make it:

<img src='http://www.hearandplaymusic.com/dynamicimage/pianokeys.php?first_octave=F,A&second_octave=Cs,Eb,Gb&color=99CCFF&size=2' /><br />

Here’s one of those “stupid” (that’s good) Jason White / Mike Bereal-sounding chords…

And the code I used…

<img src='http://www.hearandplaymusic.com/dynamicimage/pianokeys.php?first_octave=F,Ab,B&second_octave=D,E,G&color=CCFF99&size=2' />

Here’s the small version…

<img src='http://www.hearandplaymusic.com/dynamicimage/pianokeys.php?first_octave=F,Ab,B&second_octave=D,E,G&color=CCFF99&size=1' />

Look out for these images in future blog posts. I may even go back to the drawing board and make it 3 or 4 octaves. We’ll see!

Copy this code and change it to the notes you want (use small “b” for flat and “s” for sharp… see sample below):

Ab = Ab
G# = Gs (Use s instead of #)

<img src='http://www.hearandplaymusic.com/dynamicimage/pianokeys.php?first_octave=C,E,Gs&second_octave=C,Bb&color=CCFF99&size=1' />

*Be careful with octaves. It tricked me a few times, too! Sometimes, you won’t realize that one of the notes should be in the first octave rather than the second. Then it shows up way at the end and you’re like, “huh?” So make sure you put the right notes in the correct octave.

Until next time—

Yes I’m serious!

I’m talking about a guy who has worked with such "A-listers" as Prince, Herbie Hancock, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie (in fact, he was one of the engineers on the hit song, "We Are the World"). He sent me an e-mail saying he wanted to do something very special for my students.

He has this downloadable course called "Piano Recording Secrets" that normally sells for $29.00. It teaches you how to put everything you learn from me to work —- how to record your music and how to make it sound good!

Get this… he teaches you how to record like a professional without the need for expensive equipment either! He’s made it so easy that anyone can do it.

Now here’s the best part…

Instead of charging $29.00 for this course, he’s offered to give it away for free to our students. He loves what we’re doing over here and wants to do his part to help. (You can watch the video he made just for hearandplay students by clicking here.)

If you’ve ever wanted to record your playing (even if you’re a beginner and want to document your progress), you must take advantage of this free offer! Please don’t miss out. There are no strings attached.

Well, I take that back. The only thing is that he can’t give this away to the whole world so he’s limiting it to about 79 students. If you miss out, I apologize on behalf of Khaliq in advance. Here’s what you have to do to get it:

Just go to his order form and enter this coupon code: PRS4H&P

This will take $29 off the order, making it 100% free! In no time, you’ll be learning how to start recording professionally in the comfort of your own home! Oh, it’s downloadable so you’ll start learning right away!

With how the web has evolved, there’s no reason why you can’t get your music out there for others to hear. Why not? Everyone else is!

Click here to get your free Piano Recording Secrets course now!

Note: You must enter coupon code to get the $29 off
 (which makes it 100% free): PRS4H&P

But you have no idea how these top musicians get such a full, phat sound, outside of the brilliantly-voiced chords they concoct.

Well, here’s some tools that will get you one step closer.

1) Roland MKS-20 (more information)

Roland actually stopped producing this device in the 80’s or 90’s but it hasn’t stopped some of the world’s greatest musicians from grabbing one in the local pennysaver, recycler, craigslist, or on ebay.

You won’t always find them on ebay but here’s a trick to make sure you know when one is posted right away.

1) Search for “Roland MKS-20″

2) If you find results, great! If you get 0 results, don’t worry. Scroll down to the bottom and find the “RSS” button. This stands for “Really Simple Syndication.” It’s been the hottest thing for the past couple of years!

In fact, you can subscribe to your favorite blogs, podcasts, and online radios show via RSS. Of course, you should be subscribed to my blog … cough cough cough.

But what you do is either click RSS and subscribe via your browser or you can right-click on the RSS button and copy the link. This will enable you to add it to your favorite RSS reader (if you’re using one) or you can add it to your favorite online portal’s homepage like google, yahoo, msn, bloglines, etc. And whenever that search comes up in Ebay, you’ll be notified within seconds.

Basically, the idea with RSS is that you don’t have to remember to revisit some of your favorite sites that constantly post new information. You can subscribe and get their latest updates syndicated to you automatically. This has totally changed the web because search results (like on ebay or yahoo), breaking news, tips (like from this blog), audio shows, video shows, and just about anything you can think of, can now be subscribed to with a click of a button. I’m personally subscribed to over 100 different sites and services and get updates everyday, free of spam.

(Click here for 10 reasons to subscribe to this blog via RSS… my shameless plug).

3) Search for other things like “MKS-20″ or “Roland Module” and follow the same steps.

Other modules used by the pros:

Roland JV-1080 (more information)

Roland P-330 (little brother/sister to the MKS-20 / more information)

I hope you find this post helpful! Until next time.

You’re probably familiar with Van Basco Karaoke, which takes your midi file and displays it on a piano screen. It’s great for learning how to play any song, if there’s a midi file available for it on the net. You just load your midi program through Van Basco and voila, the notes are displayed on your screen in a little graphical piano. You can even slow stuff down and transpose to any key of your choice.

(screen shot of van basco karaoke’s virtual piano)

But what I want to talk about is MidiJam, which takes midi visualization to a whole new level! It actually takes the actual instruments that are in the midi file and shows them playing REAL notes.

So the piano plays the actual piano notes that are being heard in the midi file. If there is a bass present, you’ll see the bass plucking real notes too. Same with drums, horns, strings… ANYTHING!

Download the program and mess around with it. It’s a little old school and not as user-friendly as I’d like but it’s decent. Read the “readme.txt” file. I had a hard time figuring out how to bring a midi file of my choice into the program (…you just actually drag the midi file to the midijam.exe icon but the “readme.txt” file covers all that).

It’s cool! I was impressed.

Oops, one last thing. You can then go to Freemidi.org and download as many free midi files as you want (there’s other directories out there too, just google “midi directory”). Then you can open them in MidiJam and enjoy the midi visualization “on steroids.”

Meanwhile, check out some of these clips of midijam in action that people have posted on youtube.

(since these youtube clips were screen captured, the audio sync isn’t perfect but once you download midijam and run it from your own computer, it syncs perfectly)…

And Chris Pirillo, the guy who introduced me to MidiJam:

Download: MidiJam