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This Stagg harmonica makes a very cheap introduction to the instrument

The harmonica is a nice little instrument – it’s small and pocket sized meaning you can take it with you wherever you go. The harmonica (also called blues harp or mouth organ) is notoriously more difficult to learn than what people generally expect, so it is best to start off with a smaller, cheap model.

Stagg are known for manufacturing high quality instruments and at under a fiver you can’t really go wrong with this model. This little harmonica is tuned in C major and has 10 sound holes. I bought this instrument and headed straight to YouTube where I found loads of free tutorials to get started – once you get the technique it is just a matter of consistent practice to master the harmonica.

This particular model is very portable, looks smart and makes a great gift, either to yourself or friends and family members of all ages!

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Not many guitars transcend beginner to advanced players - the Pacifica offers great value for money

But to offer a balanced review I am going to provide details of the specs of this guitar, along with how it sounds and feels.

The Pacifica 112V model is available in a variety of colours, most notably the natural wood finish. There are two single coil pickups meaning the sound is projected from this guitar very well, and if you run it through an effects pedal you can play pretty much anything from blues to rock. The fretboard is made from rosewood and the neck is maple wood – it even sounds luxurious.

To play, the Yamaha Pacifica is a light weight instrument that can be moved easily. It’s body is slim and easy to hold – it’s also shaped so you can play sitting down easily as well. Most of the time the guitar comes with a whammy bar, which more advanced players use to rapidly bend the strings and create a vibrato effect.

I first got a Pacifica around 6 months after I began learning the play the guitar. Instantly, I could tell the difference between this and the current model I was using (a much cheaper Encore guitar). Not only did the Pacifica sound better, but it boosted my motivation to learn, and to push myself harder. This is what all good instruments do.

The Pacifica is available in a package or sold separately. Expect to pay around £220 for the Pacifica – as an intermediate guitar this is at the very top of it’s game.

This is a simply stunning piece of kit from the understated Roberts brand.

This is a futuristic sound system with a sensitive touch panel control set. The black gloss finish means it suits just about any stylish decor, with minimal being the most appropriate. Ideal for sitting inside a stereo cabinet or mounted unit, this Roberts sound system is compact, and yet packs a real punch.

With two powerful speakers delivering crystal clear audio, there is also a plethora of sound settings for the musical connoisseur. These enable you to alter bass, treble and other settings which are displayed on a graphic equaliser. These options allow you to set it to capitalise on the music you like – listening to jazz and funk? Turn up the treble to give the jingly guitars a boost. Listening to rock? Turn up the bass and feel the drums!

The unit itself comes with a handy remote and an iPod docking port meaning you can easily play your favourite tunes without having to get up to change the CD!

Other basic functions include the reception of FM radio and a built-in radio alarm clock.

“I would highly recommend this music system. The sound is excellent and has a warm quality – it is definitely value for money” – Amazon Customer

This sound system is versatile and ideal for just about any situation:

• Great for parties
• For use outdoors in the summer
• CD, radio, iPod
• Compact enough for any space

If you are looking for a fantastic sound system you could do a LOT worse than this model by Roberts, which produces a great sound, allows you to play music from your iPod device and has a load of basic and advanced features also. Great stuff!

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This mp3 player is a cheaper alternative to more popular brands

These days, the iPod is synonymous with portable music devices, but there was a time when Apple did not totally rule the roost. Mp3 players have always been available and they are generally much cheaper than their iPod counterparts.

Admittedly they’re not as funky but they do the job just as well. This particular model by SanDisk comes with a good amount of space (8gb – around 2,600 songs) and is sized perfectly to be used as your primary portable entertainment device. The keypad is responsive and allows you to flick through tracks easily, while the screen tells you where you are at the time. There is a handy clip at the back meaning the player can be attached to clothing or bags, making it ideal for taking to the gym or going shopping.

The player also receives FM radio so if you want a break from your playlist you can listen in on the weather reports or the latest news. This makes it a versatile little gadget that serves a multitude of purposes.

For people who want music on the go but don’t want to pay over the odds for a shiny Apple product, the SanDisk mp3 player is a sensible and low cost alternative.

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The Creative D100 delivers great quality wireless sound

The future is here! This wireless speaker system by Creative is a fantastic offering, allowing you to listen to music completely without wires in your home. This removes the hassle that wires cause, and if you live in a small space with laptops and TVs in close proximity, the wires can mount up quickly causing stress… and tripping hazards!

The Creative D100 is a solution that delivers crystal clear sound sent from your bluetooth device. This could be your laptop, netbook or mobile device. There are two powerful built-in speakers which produce high quality sound, and the portable device itself runs on batteries or can be powered by the mains. Four AA batteries will deliver 24 hours of music, so this thing does eat up power quickly – but it depends how much you value convenience.

In terms of how it looks, it will fit in with any modern decors. It’s sleek and black, with rounded edges. If you pay close attention to the detail, you will notice that the speaker cloth is set in at the top and bottom making this little system look even sexier.

This is a truly great product from Creative and signals a bright future in home wireless entertainment.

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Relax, effortlessly, with this soothing CD

Lately I have been finding myself rather stressed with all the work that I have on – this is not the only blog that I operate and maintaining them all is something of a task!

As you might expect, I do a lot of writing, and often find that I am distracted by the music that I listen to – my mind is not clear. I started listening to music which was purely instrumental with no lyrics and it has taken me here – to relaxation music.

Effortless Relaxation is great if you are working and need something to soothe your thinking brain. It’s also great if you are just chilling out and not thinking at all!

There are 10 tracks on here – each contains gentle, soothing sounds of orchestral and electronic synth music mixed with the sounds of crashing waves and running water. Really very nice if you just want to feel completely relaxed.

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This is a bit of an odd review to add to the site, but what the hey. Today I am going to promote the Tone Deaf Music pick holder because I believe that everybody should have one, yet not many people do!

Before I bought one of these, my plectrums were literally scattered around my home. Some on my work desk, others on the coffee table. Just last week I found one in my bed. Don’t ask me how – I can’t remember the last time I serenaded my girlfriend in bed! It’s a soar subject okay…

Anyway, my plectrums now have a home. Yours should too – go buy one.

This tutorial DVD teaches you how to play the acoustic guitar with ease

The acoustic guitar is many people’s first port of call when it comes to mastering this incredibly popular instrument. What many beginners don’t often realise is that without some guidance everything you do can be much more difficult than you expected.

Enter this tutorial DVD which takes an accelerated approach to learning, giving you a crash course to learning the acoustic guitar.

The programme sets out a clear and visible progression meaning you can keep track of what you are learning. The tutorials teach you basic chords through to strumming patterns and song structures. Once learnt, the DVD gives you the option of jamming with a band playing along on the DVD.

Once you have learned the basics from this tutorial programme you will have the skills necessary to take on bigger songs and eventually begin writing your own material. Easy!

“I would highly recommend this DVD to any learner” -Mike, Amazon.co.uk

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