You Know So Much About Nothing At All

Chords You Can Use

2009-02-27T05:38:00.000-08:00

Consider you want to make a song. And let's just say, the root note is in C (the most common root note ever!!) and we're gonna use major scale. And then, the next question is, what chords i can use to make this song? Okay, im here to save you, dont worry, hehe.

In this post, i will give you the idea, what chords you can use and why you can use them. And what im gonna give you here, is a basic music theory. Hopefully it's enough for you to make some song. Maybe you will encounter some song that out of this rule, but hey...music is not mathematics. You can break the rules, if it's good for you and/or your listeners. But of course if you a complete beginner, it's just save to follow the rules first. Without further sayings, let's begin, shall we?

We continue with the scenario, which is make a song in C major. As we all know, a C major scale is C D E F G A B. There's common rule, that we can use pattern (Major-Minor-Minor-Major-Major-Minor-Diminished) over a major scale. Remember that we use C as our root note, so, the chords you can use is:

C	D	E	F	G	A	B
Major	Minor	Minor	Major	Major	Minor	Diminished

Voila!!! You got the chords now, that is C major, D minor, E minor, F major, G major, A minor and B diminished. Just play around with those chords, and you will get a nice progression from it. If you want to change the root note, find the major notes from it, and apply the major-minor pattern again. It will work for every root note you choose, whether it's G, A or maybe something fishy, like Ab or C#.

You already have the chords, now I will tell you in-depth about why we can use this pattern. We still stand in C major for the sake of simplicity.

Now we take the D minor as a first example. D minor chord, consists of three notes, that is D itself (the first note or I), F (the flat third note or IIIb) and A (the fifth note or V). Those notes, D - F - A, are EXIST on the C major scale. Thats why, D minor resolve well on the song. If we look at the notes of the chords, one by one, we will have this:

E minor : E - G - A
F major : F - A - C
G major : G - B - D
A minor : A - C - E
B diminished : B -D - F

As you can see, all the notes are contained on the C major scale. So that's why the chords will always resolve well with the root note. And this formula, will works on every note.
That's it from me, i hope it help you. Please leave comments or critics or suggestions. Thanks for reading, ROCK ON!!!!!

Fixed/Freeze row header

2009-01-22T02:28:00.000-08:00

For about an hour, me and my boss try to find out, how to fixing/freezing header row in Microsoft Excel. We 'asked' the Help, trial and error, asked other person and looked for the example. And we found NOTHING!!!!!! Then we decided to give up, and continue to another topic.
But, in the next hour, i still wondering, how to do that thing? So, i surf it with search engine (thx 4 google) and i get direct answer just in the first line of the recommended site. I try it, and it works!!!! The funny thing is, the site just explains it just IN 2 STEP!!! This is how it works:

Decide where is the header data that you want to fixed/freeze. for example, i want to freeze ONLY the first
Place your cursor in A2, go to Windows and select Freeze. Or you can click Alt+W+F

See? As simple as that!!! If you want to freeze row and column, you have to place your cursor in a upleft of unfreeze table. For example, i want to freeze Column B and Row 2, then i place the cursor in C3 and do the step 2.

There!!! You dont have to spend an hour, just like me, to figure it out now, since i already wrote it in here, hehehe. Enjoy and cheers

Note:The original site is http://www.devx.com/tips/Tip/35350

Sorting Data With Excel

2009-01-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

It's 2:27 AM now. Got my graveyard shift now. And boss gave me a task. It looks simple yet it's very frustrating since i have to deal with crazy disorganized arrays of data. For example, the first row is a data at 2 Sept 2008 08:02:00 AM. But the next row is data at 1 Sept 2008 23:10:26 PM, then continue with 2 Sept 2008 00:10:27 AM. See the image

By the way, im dealing with sea level height data, sent by tsunami buoy. And in this post, i will use example of three data row. You can apply it for thousands of data (as long as the data fit in excel, cause excel limited the number of data row to 65000 or so). As you can see, the date, hour, minute and second placed separatelly. This is an advantage (at least for me, hehe). Here's the idea. I want to combine the date, hour etc. into a single cell. What im doing here is write this formula:

I multiply the minute with 100, hour with 10000 and date with 1000000 and then add them all (with second too), in a single cell. Then copy it to other rows. What does this step for? It's to give the ID to the each of time parameters, so there will be no same ID for each of time parameters.
This ID is very important for the further steps. Copy the ID column, Paste Special(Values) it on the left of all data. We give the name 'ID' to make it looks simple.

Now, copy the 'ID' column to another sheet. And then, sort them ascending or descending, depend to your liking. I prefer ascending. Now, we use VLOOKUP formula. This is how it works. The table that we placed sorted ID is Table 2, and the original one named Table 1. VLOOKUP searches for a ID value in the Table 2, and then searches the same ID value in the Table 1. If it finds a same value, we can 'catch' the data from that row. If you confuse with the explanation (not a good explanator through, hehe) let's get down to the practical use. In the Table 2, place a formula like this:

I will explain each of the parameter. The first value (A2), is the ID, the value that we will looking for in Table 1.
The second one (Sheet2!$A$2:$H$1370) is the Table 1. I have my Table 1 at Sheet2, the rows of the table is 1369 (from 2 to 1370) and the column from A to H. We placed $, so the table selection will stay in that position if we copy-paste the VLOOKUP formula to another row.
Third parameter is '8', which is the number of the column that we want to 'catch' the data. Look at the previous pic. The 'height' data is in the 8th column. If you want to take the 'hour', you can replaced it with '5'.
And at last, the last parameter is 'FALSE', it means that if the ID value from Table 2 didn't match with the Table 1, it will finds the closest value. You can see Microsoft Excel Help for more information about VLOOKUP.
Once you get the formula right, just copy and paste it to another rows. That's it from me. Hope this trick is helpful. Cheers

Simple and Quick Logo

2009-01-10T08:04:00.000-08:00

Hi again folks. In this tutorial, i'm gonna show you how to make a simple logo. Fast and (hopefully) easy. Let's begin, shall we?

First of all, create a new document. I'm using 400x300 of dimension and white background

Set the foreground color with red color (#FF0000). Select Rounded Rectangle with Fill Pixels and Radius=20. We better create the rectangle in a new layer (Shift+Ctrl+N). I named it 'Base'

Ctrl+click Base layer and you'll get the rectangle selected. Create a new layer (i named it 'Shade'). Use Pen tool and create a path that looks like this:

It doesn't matter the shape of the path outside the rect. The important thing is the path inside it. Now, right-clik the path (still with Pen Tool Selected) and select Make Selection. Choose Intersect With Selection for the Operation. Click OK.

Now select the Gradient Tool (with Foreground to Transparent and Linier Gradient), set the foreground color to light grey (#E1E1E1). In Shade layer, create gradient color from top-left to down-right of the rect.

Deselect it (Ctrl+D). Now select Base layer, use Burn Tool in the bottom and right side of the rect.

Let's add it a little bit. Ctrl+click Base layer, create a new layer (place it below Base layer by dragging it) and fill it with black color (#000000). Deselect current selection, select Move Tool, and move it a little bit with Arrow key, rightward and downward

Well, it's done. You'll just have to place a text on it. And i use a Gaussian Blur for the shadow. This is the final result:

Hope you enjoy this tutorial, as much as i enjoy writing it. See you on the next tutorial. Don't forget to drop a comment. Rock on!!!!!!

Chat Acronym

2008-12-16T01:50:00.000-08:00

This is few of acronym that often use in chat room. Hope it's useful

AFAIC As far as I'm concerned
AFAIK As far as I know
AFK Away from keyboard
BRB Be right back
BTDT Been there, done that
BTW By the way
C/C Comments and criticism
EOM End of message
FAQ Frequently Asked Question
FTFY Fixed that for you; often accompanied by a correction
FTW For the win
FWIW For what it's worth
FYI For your information
GUI Graphical user interface
HTH Hope this helps
IANAL I am not a lawyer
IDK I don't know
IIRC If I recall correctly
IMHO In my humble opinion
IMNSHO In my not so humble opinion
IMO In my opinion
IOW In other words
LFG Looking for group, usually used in MMORPGs
LMAO Laughing my a** off
LOL Laughing out loud
MMORPG Massive, multiplayer, online role-playing game, such as World of Warcraft or Star Wars Galaxies
NG Newsgroup
n00b From "newbie", meaning a newcomer not yet familiar with the rules
NT No text; usually in the subject line of a message with no body
OMG Oh my God
OTOH On the other hand
PWN Usage of the term "own", as in "I PWNed you!"
QQ Cry more, noob (representation of eyes crying, often found in MMORPGs)
RL Real Life, as opposed to the Internet
ROFL Rolling on the floor laughing
ROFLMAO Rolling on the floor laughing my a** off
RTFM Read The Fine Manual
SO Significant other, used to refer to someone's romantic partner without making any assumptions about gender or legal status
TLA Three letter acronym
TTFN Ta ta for now
TTYL Talk to you later
W/E Whatever
w00t An expression of joy
WFN Wrong forum, noob
WTF What the f**k
WYSIWYG What you see is what you get, pronounced as "wizzywig".
YMMH You might mean here
YMMV Your mileage may vary

Photoshop Tutorial:Making Glass Orb

2008-12-14T10:14:00.000-08:00

My name is not Doni, but you suck at Photoshop. Haha, if you often browse photoshop tutorial at Youtube, you must be familiar with that line. He's teaching Photoshop with hilarious way.
Anyway Im gonna give you some Photoshop tutorial here. I got it from Youtube, but no, not from Doni, hehe, im gonna write it in another tutorial. I forget where the original video was, so i cant refer to it, souwry.
My Photoshop is Photoshop CS, so this tutorial will be aplicable for later version.In this tutorial, i will show you how to Make a Glass Effect Orb. This is my first tutorial, and i just start learning photoshop about two months ago, so feel free to comment. Without further sayings, let's get started!!!!
First thing first, let's open a new file, File - New. Im using 500x350 pixel for my new document. You can use any dimension to your liking. Click OK.

Okay, now select the Elliptical Marquee Tool, and make a perfect circle (Hold Shift to keep the cirle proportional)

Create a new layer and switch to the new layer. This is important, since the result would be different if you're not switch to the new layer. Name the layer, for example i will name it 'Main'

Select Paint Bucket Tool, select the color from Color Swatches. I pick red, but you can pick another color. And then fill the circle

Create a new layer (i named it 'Dark') and then choose Gradient Tool with Foreground to Transparent. Pick a darker color from your original orb color. Mine is red (#FF0000), so i take #891B1B as the dark color.
Drag the line, from the bottom to center of the circle (a). You'll get something like picture (b)

(a)

(b)

While the circle still selected, go to Select - Modify - Contract. I use 3 for the value.
And then select the Elliptical Marquee Tool again. In the menu, select Subtract to Selection, then create another circle above the first circle, but intersect with it. See the picture for clear explanation.

Contract the selection again by 3, and then Feather it to 10. You can change the value. This is what i get

Create a new layer (i named it 'Bright'). Select the Paint Bucket Tool and then pick a bright color. I use #F58C8C because my basic color is red. Splash it out!!!!

Next, create a new layer and named it 'Upbright'. Deselect previous selection, then create a new Elliptical Selection in the upper side of the orb.

Use Gradient Tool, still with Foreground to Transparent. Pick white color as foreground and background. Drag from above the selected circle to bottom of that circle.

Finally, last step, is to merge all layers into one layer. Choose the top layer (if you following me, it should be Upbright layer) and then click Ctrl+e three times. In the end, there's gonna be two layers, Background and Main, where the orb is in the Main layer. The orb can be moved anywhere in your canvas right now.

I hope you enjoy this tutorial. You don't have to strict to the rules. Everybody have their own unique style, so just free your soul and do it. I only give you the mainline, the rest is up to you. Don't forget to leave comment, okay? Or you can mail me at dethocean@gmail.com. See you next time. Bye for now.

My First Post

2008-12-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

Hellow...this is my first posting...euu..don't know what to say, hehe
I'm glad because finally i made myself a blog...
I will share some of my knowledge or interesting (at least for me) here and need feedback from you, so don't hesitate to suggest, critic, mock or stuff like that, haha.
And if you wish you can read about my daily life or about 'my feeling this day' wall of text or my love story, which is like diary book, like everybody does, then you just hoping for a fat lady sings. You won't find it in here. Maybe i'm gonna make it in another blog, maybe, hehe, not kind of person who wrote a diary everyday. So, don't bother searching my private stuff here, you will find NOTHING!!!!!
Until then, C U in my next post. Bye.......