Author: Dfg

  • Modes of the Major Scale Explained

    Modes of the Major Scale Explained

     

    I know a lot of guitarists have trouble coming to understand the modes of the major scale, I know it took me quite a while to come to grips with it so I thought I’d share some of my knowledge on the topic.

    After I attempt to explain the mystery that is modes I’ll leave the thread in the hands of musicians and music lovers alike to contribute their two cents on the matter,
    feel free to use this thread to ask questions about modes or music theory in general. Here goes nothing:

    There are 7 modes to the major scale, in order they are:

    1.Ionian (the major scale)
    2.Dorian (minor sounding mode, characteristic note is the maj 6th)
    3.Phrygian (minor sounding mode, characteristic note is the flat 2nd)
    4.Lydian (major sounding mode, characteristic note is the augmented 4th)
    5.Mixylodian (major sounding mode, characteristic note is the flat 7th)
    6.Aeolian (natural minor scale – flat 3rd, flat 6th, flat 7th)
    7.Locrian (very unstable sounding mode, it’s characteristic notes are the flat 2nd and flat 5th)

    A cheesy mnemonic to help you remember the order is:
    I Don’t Particularly Like Modes A Lot

    Let’s take a look at the C major scale (ionian), the notes in this scale are CDEFGABC, if we play the C major scale and instead of focusing the tonality on C (the root note) we focus on the second note of the scale (D) then we have a completely different sounding scale – the D dorian scale – which looks like this: DEFGABCD, we are still playing the same notes of the C major scale but we are getting a completely different sound by concentrating on the D as the root note instead of the C. This is how modes are constructed, if we concentrate on the 3rd note of the C major scale (E) then we have an E phrygian scale – EFGABCDE – and so on… in this sense it’s best to think of the modes as an anagram of the major scale (change the letters around and the word has a completely different meaning, in this case change the root note around and the sound/mood changes radically) A good analogy to describe how modes work can be found in conversation, by emphasizing certain words in a sentence the meaning behind the sentence is changed. The best example of this i can think of is found in an episode of Seinfeld ‘The Mom And Pop Store’:

    ELAINE: Well, I talked to Tim Whatley…
    JERRY: Yeah…
    ELAINE: And I asked him, “Should Jerry bring anything?”
    JERRY: So…?
    ELAINE: Mmmm…and he said, “Why would Jerry bring anything?”
    JERRY: Alright, but let me ask you this question.
    ELAINE: What?
    JERRY: Which word did he emphasize? Did he say, “Why would Jerry bring anything?” or, “Why would Jerry bring anything?” You emphasize “Jerry” or “bring.”
    ELAINE: I think he emphasized “would.”

    I know this sounds confusing, I just read through it and it looks like a bit of a mess, so i made some diagrams to make the learning process a whole lot easier:

    http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8…majorscale.jpg

     

    This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1858×616.


    http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/8…leallmodes.png

    Now putting modes into practice is a different beast altogether, it is a tool used by jazz guitarists mainly to colour their solos based on the chord progression. For example, in a typical jazz chord progression of II V I in the key of C major the chord progression would be Dm7 G7 Cmaj7.

    Seeing as how the key of the progression is C major a guitarist could choose to simply play the C major scale (C Ionian Mode) over the entire progression, but if you decide to emphasis the D note instead of the C note whilst the Dm7 chord is playing and the G note while the G7 chord is playing and finally the C note while the Cmaj7 chord is playing, you would be playing the exact same C major scale throughout but you will be using three different modes of the same scale (D Dorian, G Mixolydian and C Ionian) over their respected chords in the progression.

    This would mean that you have endless soloing moods to tap into, both major and minor by using the same scale. Here’s a good video to showcase a guitarist using modes of the C major scale to create different moods.

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    Notice how Frank Gambale is playing the C major throughout the song, but by emphasizing different notes of the scale he creates different moods? The intro sounds almost triumphant, the chorus is very major sounding, and the solo is very minor and bluesy!

    Anyway enough of me, happy playing!

    Discuss – http://totse.info/bbs/showthread.php?t=2243

  • How to Turn your Ubuntu Machine Into a Webserver

    How to Turn your Ubuntu Machine Into a Webserver

    Turning your existing Ubuntu installation really couldn’t be simpler, and if you’re looking to get into web design or development then this might help.

    1. Installing Apache

    Apache is webserver software which will allow you to host all your files on your computer, letting you or anyone else view them in a web browser. To install Apache, run this command…

    sudo apt-get install apache2

    2. Installing php

    Assuming you will be wanting to work with php when designing your site, you’re also going to have to install php. This step isn’t necessary if you’re not looking to use php, but I’d recommend doing it anyway, just in case you might need it in the future.

    sudo apt-get install php5

    3. Accessing your www directory

    Your www directory is where you will place all of your webpages and directories. This folder can be accessed by browsing to the following location…

    /var/www

    4. Opening up port 80 (HTTP) to allow others to view your site

    If you would like other people to view your site, you will have to allow incoming requests on your HTTP port. Go into your router’s configuration pages, and add an exception to the firewall. The way you do this is different for most routers, so read the manual before doing it.

    5. Add your webpages, and view them in your browser

    All you need to do now is add pages to your www file. Create a file using a text editor of some kind. My favorite on Linux is Scite, which is very similar to Windows’ Notepad++. To install Scite, run the usual command…

    sudo apt-get install scite

    When you have your index page, browse to your localhost (try this if that doesn’t work) to view your website!

    If you want to show a friend, head over to WhatsmyIP, and send him/her your IP address. He can then put this in his browser, and view your site.

    Enjoy!

    Discuss

  • How to Break a Lock With Liquid Nitrogen or Canned Air

    How to Break a Lock With Liquid Nitrogen or Canned Air

    Locks are made of metal, and metal has one critical weakness; it’s brittle when cold. So brittle in fact that it can be smashed like glass.

    So, all you need to do to remove a lock is to super-cool it. But how? Well you have two options; liquid nitrogen and canned air. The former is more effective.

    Liquid nitrogen can be bought at welding shops. It is very cheap too. With a boiling point of -321*F, liquid nitrogen is VERY cold. All you need to do to obtain some is to walk into a welding shop with a dewer flask such as a thermos. Ask them to fill it up and they will for a few bucks. IMPORTANT! DO NOT screw the cap on tightly! Pressure will build up and the flask will shatter explosively! Simply put the cap on loosely, and the liquid nitrogen should last for about 6 hours in a thermos, or a few days in a large dewer. 5 gallon dewers cost about $120, so it’s not too bad.

    Next chill the lock. This can be done by filling up a METAL can with liquid nitrogen and dunking the lock. It will boil vigorously, just add more lN2 as it evaporates. Eventually it will stop the vigorous boiling and the lock is sufficiently chilled.

    Now take a 20 ounce hammer and hit the lock hard. It may take a few well placed blows but the lock will likely shatter like glass!

    Option two is canned air; the stuff that you buy to clean computers. It contains high pressure 134a (1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane) or the same stuff that’s in your refrigerator/air conditioner. When you tip it over and squeeze the handle it releases liquid 134a at a temperature of -153.94*F. Nowhere near as cold as nitrogen, but it is still cold enough to embrittle cheaper locks. Get a big bottle, then simply chill the lock and smash with a heavy hammer.

    Discuss

  • A Guide To The G-Spot

    A Guide To The G-Spot

    The Gräfenberg Spot, often called the G-Spot, is the bean-shaped area of the vagina that many women report to contain an erogenous zone which when stimulated can lead to high levels of sexual arousal, powerful orgasms and female ejaculation.

    The Gräfenberg Spot is typically located one to three inches up the front (anterior) vaginal wall between the vagina opening and the urethra and is a sensitive area that is part of the female prostate.

    GUIDE TO THE G-SPOT

    Before I start, the g-spot is not an actual spot but its a zone, it is located about 2 inches inside the vagina on the topside, you will know when you have found it when you feel a ribbed bump, is like the roof of your mouth just begin your front teeth.

    Do all women have a G-spot?

    Yes all women are likely to have a G-spot. However, some women respond extremely well to G-spot stimulation while some may dislike the sensation altogether.

    What you must do before stimulating the G-Spot?

    In every case women clitoris should be stimulated first before stimulating the g-spot. When it is wholly stimulated, it will be too sensitive for direct contact. When the clitoris is uncomfortable and dry, you can then move into the g-spot.

    1. Trim your nails short

    Watch out for long or sharp nails. They can cause small cuts or tears in the delicate skin in and around the vagina.

    2. Foreplay, foreplay, foreplay

    It builds sexual arousal and fills the sex organs with blood, making them more responsive. The more you foreplay, the more pleasure you’ll get when you have sex. Without foreplay, touching your G-spot may be uncomfortable or even painful. Orgasm is much more likely after lots of foreplay.

    The Best Positions to Stimulate the G-Spot

    Use the doggy position:

    The woman kneels on all fours in the doggy position, and pushes her hips back. This position really helps with G-spot massage. Pushing your hips back increases pressure in your pelvis. Your legs, hips and bum tighten up and gently squash your vagina and pelvic muscles. Most importantly, this position pushes the G-spot slightly further out into the vagina, making it easier to find and stimulate.
    op 10 Positions for Women’s Orgams:

    These sexual positions, generally, will help a woman reach orgasm faster:

    1. Woman on Top
    2. Reverse Cowgirl
    3. Rear Entry or Doggie Style
    4. Modified Missionary (He’s kneeling with his top half upright)
    5. The Butterfly (Missionary, with the woman’s pelvis tilted up, a pillow under the butt, and her legs in the air.)
    6. Coital Alignment Technique (Start out in missionary position; he edges forward until both partners’ pubic bones meet.)
    7. Standing Facing Each Other
    8. Standing Rear Entry
    9. Sitting Lotus Position
    10. Spooning
    How to Stimulate the G-spot with Techniques

    Videos:
    http://www.pornhub.com/view_video.ph…d9392d54dd7412
    http://www.pornhub.com/view_video.ph…013995719db18e

    The motion you should use is “come over here” gesture with your fingers. Always bear in mind that the g-spot and clitoris are different, which implies that sometimes you will hit it harder than the clitoris. Begin by massaging it smoothly and work your way to a point she finds exciting.

    Press on the G-spot
    The man inserts his thumb into her vagina and presses down onto her G-spot. He should be able to feel her G-spot as a bumpy, ridged area about 2 to 3 centimetres in diameter. When a woman is aroused, her G-spot gets larger and protrudes into the vaginal canal.

    Massage the G-spot.
    The man massages her G-spot back and forth, with firm pressure, with the pad of his thumb. The pressure has to firm. The G-spot contains pressure sensitive nerve endings, so only a deep, firm massaging will work. Unlike the clitoris, the G-spot doesn’t respond to light pressure.

    Relax your PC muscle.
    The woman should relax her PC (pubococcygeus) muscle and keep it relaxed. The female PC muscle in women is similar to the male PC muscle. It connects the tail bone to the pubic bone, it can clench, release and push, and it can be used to prevent the passing of urine. You can feel it in action by placing a finger just inside your vagina and squeezing.

    When a woman’s G-spot is being stroked, she may feel like tensing her PC muscle. Don’t do this – she should keep it relaxed. It’s believed that tensing the PC muscle blocks the action of the Female Prostate. Along with firm pressure on the G-spot, this is one of the keys to G-spot orgasm. Relaxing the PC muscle is also the key to female ejaculation.

    ORGASM!!

    Let go of the ‘pee feeling’.

    This is the final piece of the G-spot orgasm puzzle, and also unlocks female ejaculation. As pleasure builds during G-spot massage, a woman will feel the sensation of needing to pee. The key to both G-spot orgasm and female ejaculation is to just let this feeling go. What’s happening is the build up to female ejaculation or squirting. This is a clear odourless liquid emitted from the urethra during G-spot massage. The liquid comes from an organ that surround the urethra known as the female prostate. The female prostate becomes engorged during sexual pleasure and blocks the flow of urine from your bladder, so you can’t pee.

    G-Spot Orgasm

    It may take up to a half an hour of stimulation for her to have a G-spot orgasm, but don’t worry, it’s worth every second.

    When she has a G-spot orgasm, you’ll know. Her vagina will contract violently, so violently, in fact, that it may feel like she’s trying to push your fingers out. G-spot orgasms are also accompanied by uncontrollable panting or moaning and sometimes even female ejaculation.

    Clitoral stimulation can produce multiple orgasms, but they are more common with G-spot stimulation. If she still wants more after the first one, continued stimulation may lead to a second, third, or even a tenth orgasm.

    Multiples or not, many women swear that G-spot orgasms are one of the most satisfying, fulfilling experiences in their entire lives.

    Discuss

  • How To Securely Erase Files On Windows

    How To Securely Erase Files On Windows

    Secure Data Removal

    An Overview

    To the untrained computer user, deleting a file on your computer using the general “highlight and delete” method seems to make the file disappear forever. However, these files can easily be recovered by any kind of file-recovery software, making the deleting process very insecure. If you have any kind of sensitive data on your hard drive and you delete it with this method, your privacy could be at stake!

    So, what do?

    Firstly, download this application.

    “Eraser is an advanced security tool for Windows which allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns.”

    Instead of just normally deleting that sensitive file, give it a Gutmann 35-pass overwrite. This will securely overwrite your file 35 times, effectively zeroing it out as if it never existed. This makes the file completely unrecoverable.

    How To Erase a File

    Install the program, and boot it up. You can have a look through the config settings if you wish to. I usually just close the program after this, and resume computing as normal.

    When you need to securely erase a file….

    Right Click it, and select the “Eraser” option in the right click menu. It should be pretty self explanatory.

    And that’s all there is to it!

    Side Notes…

    Eraser supports the following levels of secure deletion;

    • Gutmann (35 passes)
    • Gutmann (Lite10 passes)
    • US DoD 5220.22-M (8-306./E, C & E) (7 passes)
    • RCMP TSSIT OPS-II (7 passes)
    • Schneier 7 pass (7 passes)
    • German VSITR (7 passes)
    • US DoD 5220.00-M (8-306./E) (3 passes)
    • British HMGIS5 (Enhanced) (3 passes)
    • US Air Force 5020 (3 passes)
    • US Army AR380-19 (3 passes)
    • Russian GOST P50739-95 (2 passes)
    • British HMG IS5 (Baseline) (1 pass)
    • Pseudorandom Data (1 pass)
    • First/last 16KB Erasure