Slowing down from the start so that you can play the whole piece – including the easier and harder parts – in one go and at the same tempo, is seemingly boring, but essential to your ability to play smoothly. | Photo: Cristina Gottardi (Unsplash)
5 Unpopular but Effective Rules for Practicing a Musical Instrument
5 Unpopular but Effective Rules for Practicing a Musical Instrument
It's Friday again and with it a new batch of practical insights, hints and tips for your musical life – which naturally includes practicing your instrument. An activity praised by some as a form of zen relaxation and hated or dismissed as a necessary evil by others. Also, an activity you can't skip if you want to play your favourite riff, avoid awkward moments at rehearsals and refrain from throwing in the towel (or the guitar) on stage...
It's Friday again and with it a new batch of practical insights, hints and tips for your musical life – which naturally includes practicing your instrument. An activity praised by some as a form of zen relaxation and hated or dismissed as a necessary evil by others. Also, an activity you can't skip if you want to play your favourite riff,...
It's Friday again and with it a new batch of practical insights, hints and tips for your musical life – which naturally includes practicing your instrument. An activity praised by some as a form of zen relaxation and hated or dismissed as a...
It's Friday again and with it a new batch of practical insights, hints and tips for your musical life – which naturally includes practicing ...
Mesa Boogie 90s Dual Rectifier: Reissue of the Iconic Amp’s First Version
Ewan McGregor as Mark Renton. | Photo: screenshot from the movie
The Soundtracks of Our Lives #8: Trainspotting, Addictive Sounds
Listening to Cutouts is like travelling between genres – from art rock to jazz influences to ambient surfaces. | Photo: Frank LeBon
The Smile Excel for the Third Time
If something is powerful in the song (emotion, lyrics, musical idea...), it should stand out even in a poor-quality recording. | Photo: Unsplash
5 Musical Problems Recognizable Even In a Demo
The typical sliding sound of a slide guitar is created by a piece of hollow tube called a slide, or bottleneck, which the guitarist wears on a finger of their left hand. I Photo: Paolo Piga
(Un)usual Guitar Techniques #11: Slide Guitar
NEW GEAR 1/25: Faith Eclipse Acoustics, Tech 21 RK5 V3, G&L Basses and Tama 8055 Snare
Setting a realistic goal and writing down the steps that will lead to its completion is the first step towards looking back in a year's time with a feeling of a job well done. I Photo: Emma Simpson (Unsplash)
5 Tips on How to Meet Your Musical Goals in 2025
What the Year 2024 Brought to Musicians
Bassman Pedals: A New Series of Fender Bass Effects
So far so good, I still have hair, just a few grey hairs in my beard but I can't pretend to be young and unchained anymore. The time has come for the next phase of life: welcome to middle age. | Photo: Dušan Krejdl
5 Wishes of a Middle-aged Bassist
Zoom MS-90LP+: Compact and Flexible Multi-effect with 13-hour Looper
Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Brian Slade. | Photo: screenshot from the movie
The Soundtracks of Our Lives #7: Velvet Goldmine, A Glam Rock Symphony on Screen
Burls Art and an Aquarium Guitar
NEW GEAR 52/24: Jimmy Page EDS-1275, Drive Soldano, Delay Nobels and Synth Orchid
Persevere and remember that if you have a good teacher who doesn't teach you bad habits, sooner or later you will reach your goal. | Photo: Oleg Ivanov (Unsplash)
5 Things That Can Baffle an Adult Beginner Musician
Massive guitar riffs sound much better if you only play the notes that belong there. | Photo: Vitalii Khodzinskii (Unsplash)
(Un)usual Guitar Techniques #10: String Muting
NEW GEAR 51/24: Synyster Gates Headless 7, KLOS Bass, DW Limited Editions and Korg NanoKEY Fold
Clichés, catchy chorus and frontman's cute face. Sometimes the pandering nature of music can get to us. | Photo: Pablo Heimplatz (Unsplash)
5 Aspects of Annoying Music
The currently very successful cover version of the song "Blackbird" (with a slightly changed title "Blackbiird") was recorded by the American singer Beyoncé. | Photo: Raph_PH, by CCA 2.0
Covered #4: The Beatles – Blackbird
If you experiment, you may find a combination of sounds, or altogether new sound that changes the way we use effects today. I Photo: Creative Commons
The Guitarist's Survival Guide: Getting Started with Effects Pedals (Part 2)
NEW GEAR 50/24: Gretsch Billy Duffy, Epi Tribute, Dunable bass and HeadRush Flex Prime
Listening to slow, dreamy ballads while watching the rain outside has its charm. But today, I will share a selection of songs that will help you fight all the obstacles life throws at you. | Photo: Ivan Kuznetsov (Unsplash)
4 Songs to Shake Off the Autumn Blues
Music is a cure. And it is not just a metaphor. Indeed, music therapy can cure all kinds of conditions. Photo: Lauren Mancke (Unsplash)
Music is Not Rocket Science #11: Music Therapy
Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette. | Photo: screenshot from the movie
The Soundtracks of Our Lives #6: Marie Antoinette, The Rhythm of Rebellion