TRACK OF THE MONTH / december 2018: Heat Wave by Music Orange

Heat Wave: TRACK OF THE MONTH / december 2018*

This month..."Heat Wave" is a perfect name for a tune that kicks off with the warmth of a vintage electric guitar riff. But it's the feverish groove that gets the temperature rising with cowbells, congas, shakers and timbales. Everything about this jam sizzles - the heated horn section, the peppery backing vocals, and a bass-line that bounces around like it's dancing barefoot on hot cement.

Find this one filed under ALT lATIN...SKA in The Music Orange Library Online (MOLO).

In the Studio: Adding Some Timbales, Without the Timbales. by Music Orange

Studio tip: When you don't have timbales at the studio, you can use a hand drum instead! Take a sneak peek as Hecdog works on finishing a new track for the Music Orange Library Online (MOLO).

You can check out the finished track, "Heat Wave" in our Music Orange Library Online (MOLO) under the 'Alt Latin...Ska' genre.

TRACK OF THE MONTH / november 2018: Deluxe by Music Orange

Deluxe: TRACK OF THE MONTH / november 2018*

This month...The trill of the piano keys, the slightly stuttered beats, the cooing synth notes, and the deep tranquil tones of a cello -- all this comes together to create a very soothing listen. Another quality that helps make "Deluxe" so relaxing is the balance between traditional instruments and electronic production.

Find this one filed under INDIE...ALTPOP in The Music Orange Library Online (MOLO).

A Handy Guide to Stringed Instrument Tunings by Music Orange

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BARITONE GUITAR

Common: B-E-A-D-F#-B

Also: A-D-G-C-E-A and C-F-A#-D#-G-C

BASS

4-string: E-A-D-G

5-string: B-E-A-D-G

6-string: B-E-A-D-G-C

DOBRO, LAPSTEEL

G-B-D-G-B-D

GUITAR: STANDARD TUNINGS

6-string: E-A-D-G-B-E

7-string: B-E-A-D-G-B-E

GUITAR: OPEN TUNINGS

Open A: E-A-C#-E-A-E or E-A-E-A-C♯-E

Open B: B-F♯-B-F♯-B-D♯

Open C: C-G-C-G-C-E

Open C6: C-A-C-G-C-E

Open D: D-A-D-F♯-A-D. To make playing minor chords easier, tune the F# to F instead.

Open E: Use open D tuning and capo the second fret

Open F: F-A-C-F-C-F

Open G: D-G-D-G-B-D - To sound like Keith Richards, remove the lowest string or tune to G–G–D–G–B–D

GUITAR: DROP TUNINGS

Drop B: B-F#-B-E-G#-C#

Drop D: D-A-D-G-B-E

Drop C: C-G-C-F-A-D

Double Drop D: D-A-D-G-B-D

GUITAR: SOME OTHER TUNINGS

DADGAD or Celtic: D-A-D-G-A-D

DADADD: D-A-D-A-D-D

Standard D: D-G-C-F-A-D

Nashville: This is just standard tuning, but replace the E-A-D-G strings with lighter gauges (you can get them from a 12-string set) and tune these strings an octave up.

Nick Drake: C-G-C-F-C-E - Capo on the second fret

MANDOLIN

G-D-A-E

TENOR GUITAR

Standard: C-G-D-A

Chicago Tuning: D-G-B-E

Guitar Tuning: A-D-G-B

Irish: G-D-A-E 

UKULELE

Soprano or concert: G-C-E-A, usually with the 4th string G tuned an octave higher so that it’s a major second below the A string.

Tenor: G-C-E-A, usually with the 4th string G tuned so that it’s a major ninth below the A string.

Baritone: D-G-B-E

TRACK OF THE MONTH / october 2018: Night Music by Music Orange

Night Music: TRACK OF THE MONTH / october 2018*

This month...What is it about “Night Music” that begs for loosening that necktie or stepping out of those heels? Maybe it’s the glassy piano notes that trickle into the song like ice cubes in a tumbler. Or it could be the atmospheric swells of the string section, playing a relaxing melody. Then again, perhaps it’s the sublime textures of the brushed snare drums. Whatever it is, “Night Music” is equally relaxing and elegant.

And you can find it in the COCKTAIL...TV RETRO section of The Music Orange Library Online (MOLO).

Our Favorite Gear: Skreddy Echo by Music Orange

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The Skreddy Echo by Skreddy Pedals has been getting a lot of use around the studios lately. Designed to sound like an old Echoplex, you can get everything from authentic sounding vintage slapback to weird shimmering delays. We've been using it on everything from guitars to keyboards and this thing really shines.

TRACK OF THE MONTH / september 2018: Midnight Run by Music Orange

Midnight Run: TRACK OF THE MONTH / september 2018*

This month...You can just tell that "Midnight Run" is going to set an uplifting tone, right from the opening electric guitar riffs and elevating beats. The synthesizers come in with neon tones, sounding like the 1980s never went away - fans of the golden age of synths will feel right at home. The robotic vocals help transform the tune into a timeless party anthem.

Find this one filed under DANCE...ELECTRONICA in The Music Orange Library Online (MOLO).

TRACK OF THE MONTH / august 2018: Weekend by Music Orange

Weekend: TRACK OF THE MONTH / august 2018*

This month...The aptly titled "Weekend" opens with the bouncy notes of keyboards played to approximate a carnival calliope. It almost sounds vintage until some similarly playful beats start popping like kettle corn. This cool contrast of timeless tones and fresh rhythms is balanced by a vocal melody that gives "Weekend" its youthful exuberance.

Find this one filed under DANCE...ELECTRONIC in The Music Orange Library Online (MOLO).

TRACK OF THE MONTH / july 2018: Let’s Have a Good Time by Music Orange

Let’s Have a Good Time: TRACK OF THE MONTH / july 2018*

This month...Can a song sound simultaneously classic and fresh? It sure can if you’re listening to “Let’s Have a Good Time.” This festive tune blends a shiny modern mix with a vintage sounding electric guitar playing a catchy, upbeat riff alongside percussive handclaps. But when the drum kit and horns join the party, you’ll want to go-go dance all night long.

Find this one filed under RETRO ROCK & POP in The Music Orange Library Online (MOLO).

Check It Out: Spitfire's 2018 Reverb World Cup by Music Orange

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The guys from Spitfire Audio posted their 2018 "Reverb World Cup" where they do a blind listening test on various software and hardware reverbs. The least expensive is the $50 Valhalla reverb plugin; the most expensive is the $16,000 TC Electronic TC6000 hardware unit. The list of reverbs they compare is by no means complete so do not look at this as a recommendation on what reverb to buy, but the exercise is still worth watching. The results are not as straightforward as you'd expect. Check it out here.

TRACK OF THE MONTH / june 2018: Leave It on the Floor by Music Orange

Leave It on the Floor: TRACK OF THE MONTH / june 2018*

This month..."Leave It on the Floor" opens with the bombastic stomp of a drummer that sounds inspired by '70s glam rock and modern day alternative radio. When the electric guitar comes in blasting distorted riffs, things get twice as groovy, but it's the syncopated handclaps that will make you want to grow your hair long and shake it to the beat. The lead guitar pipes in like a David Bowie song, reminding us all that Ziggy played guitar. Find this jam in the ALTERNATIVE section of The Music Orange Library Online (MOLO).

Music Orange Produces the Hotwire Jingle by Music Orange

 

If you’re like us, you sing along with the Hotwire tag whenever you hear it. Imagine our excitement when FCB West asked us to produce the classic Hotwire jingle for their new campaign! 🎶“H-o-t-w-i-r-e, Hotwire dot com” 🎶