Articles
Wanna Hear What Bad Mic Technique Sounds Like?
by Rosana CabanIn our first audio post, Rosana Caban describes and demonstrates some bad mic techniques to watch out for in the studio.
What’s Best In Life: Schwarzenator At The Viper Room
by Kristian HSchwarzenator, the world’s greatest Arnold Schwarzenegger-themed metal band, causes lamentation of women at the Viper Room in LA.
Them Crooked Vultures (2nd) Los Angeles Debut Was Very, Very Heavy
by Kristian HKristian H was unexpectedly bestowed the pleasure of witnessing the (2nd) Los Angeles debut of Them Crooked Vultures, and decided to tell you about it…
Thomas Lang Gets Ridiculous On The Drums
by halfstepupThomas Lang soloing on the drums is, well, pretty awesome.
How & Why To Organize Your Practice Time – Part 2
by Billy BassBilly Bass continues with his best habits for making practicing worthwhile. You’d be surprised at how inefficiently you might be practicing…
4 Useful Tips For Propellerhead’s Record
by Rosana CabanRosana Caban gets you some insight on Propellerhead’s latest software offering, “Record”. Link to free demo download included…
How & Why To Organize Your Practice Time – Part 1
by Billy BassOur newest contributor Billy Bass comes out swingin’ with a killer article on how to organize your practice routine… a must for anyone serious about improving their craft…
Distortion Is Awesome: Part II
by Kristian HMore distortion knowledge chunks from resident amp-turn-up-too-loud-er Kristian H. Read if you want to rock.
5 Ways to Make Your Solos Suck Less
by Mason RazaviNeed some good pointers for making your solos have more awesome? Give Mason’s 5 tips a read…
Distortion Is Awesome: Part I
by Kristian HKristian H gets his science on and explains Distortion… that love-able guitar sound that’s ruined parent-offspring relations since the 1950s.
It’s The Wood That Makes It Good: Part 2
by Ryan GavanRyan Gavan comes correct with part 2 of his look at how different woods affect the tonal characteristics of the guitar. This installment focuses on necks, fretboards, and “tops”…
5 Tips to Add Clarity to Your Stage Sound
by Mason RazaviIf you’ve ever played your guitar live with your band and thought, “Why does this sound like crap?”, then you’d better read Mason’s suggestions on how to get your stage sound under control…
It’s The Wood That Makes It Good: Part 1
by Ryan GavanEver wonder about the different kinds of woods guitars are made of? Ryan Gavan has. Read a lil’ bit about the many kinds of woods used in guitar production and how they affect the tone of the instrument.
The Dead Weather Reigns Over The Regent In LA
by Kristian HThe Dead Weather show up out of nowhere for a free show in Downtown LA’s Regent Theater, and then vanish, leaving behind only lots of cool stuff to buy. Kristian H was there.
Music’s Middle Class Part 3: Q&A With Producer/Musician Jamie Bright
by Jon StewartJon Stewart’s multi-part opus, “Music’s Middle Class”, continues with an interview with Producer and Musician Jamie Bright, an ex-major label artist turned indie success story.
Music’s Middle Class Part 4: Keepin’ It Real
by Jon StewartJon Stewart’s several-episode long masterpiece, “Music’s Middle Class”, continues with a look at major labels, and their ability to fund and guide an artist’s career, vs. what an independent label can offer…
Music’s Middle Class Part 5: Q&A With Record Producer Peter Katis
by Jon StewartJon Stewart’s epic poly-episodal piece, “Music’s Middle Class”, continues with an interview with producer Peter Katis, who most notably has worked with New York’s Interpol.
Music’s Middle Class Part 9: The Web Of Change
by Jon StewartJon Stewart’s tour de force essay, “Music’s Middle Class”, continues with Part 9: The Web of Change… a look in to how the internet’s ability to reach people has rewritten the rules for independent bands and artists.
Music’s Middle Class Part 11: The Continuing Web Of Change
by Jon StewartIt makes sense that Tim Westergren (Founder of the web radio site Pandora.com) would commend his competition, as that seems to be the nature of the Internet. Rather than musicians, Web site owners and fans working toward mutually exclusive goals…
Music’s Middle Class Part 12: Give It Away
by Jon Stewart“Know Your Rights! Give It Away Strategically” by Roland Tanglao
“If I die tomorrow, I’ll be happy that we didn’t carry on working within this huge industry that we don’t feel any connection with.”1 Thom Yorke, guitarist and lead singer, Radiohead
Despite years of declining CD sales and an industry revolution brewing on the Web, the big [...]
Save Your Ears!
by Mason RazaviHuh? What? What’s that? Say Again? Isn’t this annoying? Should you be doing more to protect your hearing? Probably? Mason? Can you explain? Huh?
So Long, Les Paul: 1915 – 2009
by Mason RazaviMason Razavi remembers Les Paul, guitarist, inventor, innovator, and all-around incredible human. He will be missed and remembered!
The Volume Problem
by Kristian HOddly enough, loud isn’t always best. It usually is, but allow Kristian H to explain the finer points decibel control. Playing live at the RIGHT volume is a surprisingly difficult skill to master….
(((Bassist needed for Rock, Progressive, Hard Rock Band)))
by Jayo“Yeah man, I got a drummer, and I’m auditioning some Craigslist bassists later this week, man…” Sound familiar? Remember how this band thing worked a decade ago? Jayo is here to remind you, actually spending time in your city’s music scene…
10 Tips For Aspiring Private Teachers
by Mason RazaviThinking about teaching music privately? Mason’s got a few things to say about that. Being a great music teacher involves plenty of work and preparation, and Mason shares his insights and tips on how best to handle yourself as an educator…
I’ve Got a Library… How About You?
by Edouard BrenneisenScrew your local library (kinda/not really). Edouard Brenneisen lists his top choices for must-have books on the jazz guitarist’s shelf at home.
So You Think You Can Sell Your Music?
by Kristian HKristian H shares some thoughts on the little guy, who for some reason or another, is behaving like a big guy… why does said little guy think he’s gonna fool anybody?
All About The Symmetrical Augmented Scale
by Edouard BrenneisenEdouard Brenneisen is bringin’ symmetrical back with a look at the Augmented Scale. If you’re in to patterns and scales that don’t resolve, you’re in the right place…
Why the Live Nation-Ticketmaster Merger Might Be a Good Thing
by Rosana CabanLive Nation and Ticketmaster could soon be merged in to one giant company… feel like buying tickets from NationMaster? Rosana Caban wonders….
John Abercrombie’s “John’s Waltz”: Transcritpion & Analysis
by Edouard BrenneisenEdouard Brenneisen hits the ‘Step with it’s first complete solo transcription, a composition called “John’s Waltz” by John Abercrombie. Any guitarists seeking solos to dig in to, look no further.
The Few, The Proud, The Studio Interns
by Rosana CabanRosana Caban tells it like it is to all you hopeful recording engineers out there. If you’re interested in a career working in a professional studio, get ready for a professional whooping as a studio intern…
Odd Time Signatures In Composition
by Edouard BrenneisenEdouard Brenneisen takes you in to the world of Odd Time Signatures… a magical place where you’re reminded that musicians actually do need to know something about math. Learn how odd time ideas can broaden your compositional toolbox… great insight for players of any instrument!
Effects… Where Do I Begin? (Hint: Right Here.)
by Ryan GavanRyan Gavan gives the beginner guitarist a peek in to the world of guitar effects. If you’ve always wanted to explore the use of pedals and more experimental sounds in your playing, but don’t know much about the subject, here’s the place to start.
Intervallic Patterns & Improvisation On Guitar, a.k.a. Guitaxohpon-ification
by Edouard BrenneisenEdouard Brenneisen takes you guitar players into strange, saxphone-ish territory with an examination of intervallic patterns applied to scales. If you’ve ever wondered how saxophonists get so awesome, this is a must-read…
Staff Paper With Guitar Neck Diagram
by Kristian HStaff paper with a guitar newck diagram at the top of the page. Write scale shapes and other patterns on the guitar neck along with examples in standard notation. For 6-string guitar.
Staff Paper With Guitar Chord Diagrams
by Kristian HStaff paper with 6 guitar chord diagrams at the top of the page. Write examples in standard notation along with chord or arpeggio shapes at the top.
Bass Neck Diagrams
by Kristian HA sheet of 7 bass neck diagrams (for 4-string bass). Ideal for writing scales and shapes in 7 positions on one sheet of paper.
Staff Paper With Bass Neck Diagram
by Kristian HStaff paper with a bas neck diagram at the top of the page. Write bass examples in standard notation and use the neck diagram to write out shapes and patterns.
Bass Tab Paper
by Kristian HBlank bass tab paper for use with 4-string bass. Write down riffs and examples for the bass in tablature.
Bass Tab Paper With Neck Diagram
by Kristian HBlank bass tab paper with a bass neck diagram at the top of the page. For 4-string bass.
Staff/Bass Tab Paper
by Kristian HCombination staff paper with bass tab for 4-string bass. Write down examples in both standard notation and tablature.
Staff/Bass Tab Paper With Neck Diagram
by Kristian HCombination staff and bass tab with a bass neck diagram at the top. Write bass examples in tablature or standard notation, and use the bass neck diagram to write down shapes and patterns on the neck. For 4-string bass.
Staff/Guitar Tab Paper
by Kristian HBlank sheets of staves and guitar tab (for 6 string guitar). Write examples in both standard notation and tablature.
Staff/Guitar Tab Paper With Chord Diagrams
by Kristian HCombination staff and guitar tab paper with chord diagrams at the top. Write down chord and arpeggio shapes, along with examples in both tablature and standard notation. For 6 string guitar.
Staff/Guitar Tab Paper With Neck Diagram
by Kristian HCombination staff and guitar tab paper with a guitar neck diagram at the top. Write guitar examples in both tablature and standard notation while taking advantage of the neck diagram to show shapes on the guitar neck.
Guitar Tab With Chord Diagrams
by Kristian HBlank guitar tab paper with 6 chord diagrams at the top. Use to write down ideas and examples, along with chord shapes and arpeggio shapes at the top. For 6 string guitar.
Guitar Tab With Neck Diagram
by Kristian H6-string guitar tab paper, with a 15 fret guitar neck diagram at the top of the page. Perfect for writing out examples along with scales or chord and arpeggio shapes.
Blank Guitar Tab Paper
by Kristian HRegular ol’ blank guitar tab paper, perfect for writing down riffs and ideas for 6 string guitar.
Don’t Have A Band? Then Find A Blues Jam!
by MelindaMelinda shares some great advice for musicians looking for an outlet to perform… the local blues jam. Just about every major city has got one, and there’s few better places to really hone your skills…
Nobody Will Ever Like You And I Mean It
by Seth RomanoSeth Romano deals out some harsh truth about what it is to be musician. It may sound kinda mean, but he’s actually being quite helpful.
The Lost Art of Drum Tuning
by Nate LaguzzaWait, you can tune these things? Really? Drummer Nate Laguzza explains drum tuning top to bottom, including tips on new heads, how to match pitch and muffling.
Let’s Talk Tone: A Novice Guitarist’s Guide
by Mason RazaviMason Razavi discusses the finer points of tone for the electric guitar player, including EQ, amp selection, and more. Whether you’re fresh to the game or mad pro, you should probably read this to be sure you’ve got the basics correct.
Mr. Decker’s Gear Of Choice
by Matt DeckerMatt Decker talks a little bit about his guitar rig and setup, which is of course optimized for metal.
Music’s Middle Class Part 5: Q&A With Pandora Founder Tim Westergren
by Jon StewartThe genome itself is a musical taxonomy. It’s a very large collection of musical attributes that collectively go into a song; it’s sound, melody, harmony, voice, and instrumentation broken down into their primary colors…
Music’s Middle Class Part 4: Bands On The Run
by Jon StewartA trend among independent bands in the 21st century and the use of new media technologies has been the emphasis of giving out music online for free in order to attract fans and generate income and a fan base in the long term…
Music’s Middle Class Part 3: Confessions Of Guitarist Chris Michetti of RAQ
by Jon StewartHailing from Burlington, Vermont, RAQ is self described as high performance rock and roll and has found a place in the jam band circuit.
Music’s Middle Class Part 1: The Business Of Indie
by Jon StewartIt’s 1957 and EMI is a primarily British record label when it decides to buy Capital Records based in the United States…
Music’s Middle Class Part 2: A Shift In Power
by Jon StewartIn the 1960s, advancements within the music industry were rapidly evolving. During this time technical developments were put in place and recording of songs became more advanced…
Steve Gregory On Writing Love Songs, Peanut Butter
by Steve GregorySteve Gregory shares his thoughts on good songwriting in a Pop/Rock context, evidently while hungry for peanut butter.
Necrophagist – “Epitaph”
by Matt DeckerMatt Decker gives Necrophagist’s 2004 release “Epitaph” the “too much rock for one hand” devil horns.
Gnarls Barkley – “St. Elsewhere”
by Kristian HGnarls Barkley’s “St. Elsewhere” lets hip-hop, soul, and schizophrenia play together.
Circle Of 5ths Diagram
by Kristian HA visual diagram of the Circle of Fifths. The diagram is a very useful tool for practicing, composition, and general study.
Blank Sheet Music Paper
by Kristian HA blank sheet of staff paper with 8 staves on it. Use for all of your standard notation needs.
Blank Guitar Neck Diagrams
by Kristian H7 horizontal guitar neck diagrams layed out on a single sheet. Each neck goes up to the 15th fret, making it ideal for scale shapes, as well as other large patterns, like chord tones across the whole neck or single-string patterns.
Blank Guitar Chord Diagrams
by Kristian HA simple, blank sheet of 24 empty guitar chord diagrams. Use this template to print out for writing down chord or even arpeggio shapes for 6-string guitar.
How My Funk Got Fretless
by Lady BHow a Berklee summer semester overseas in Greece turned Lady B from a fretted funk queen to a fretless bass aficionado…
How I Made My Favoritest Guitar, Or, The $800 Homemade Strat
by Kristian HEver thought about building your own guitar? Kristian H shares his experience and talks about what he went through building his own strat-style guitar.
Expressive Markings & Performance Terms
by Michael TeoliA simple list of the many terms used to indicate performance instructions on written sheet music.
Vocal Health
by MelindaDon’t think about having that cup of coffee if you’re a vocalist and haven’t learned what kind of effect it can have on your singing. Learn this and much more about maintaining the health of your voice.
Practicing and Warming Up
by Ryan GavanWondering how you can make the most of a practice session? Have a look at Ryan Gavan’s article about his approach to warming up and to practicing guitar.
The New Face Of Press Kits
by MelindaGetting the attention of future fans is one thing, getting the attention of managers, label owners, and music execs is another. Learn a bit about Press Kits and how their being reinvented online.
From Smooth Jazz To Death Metal….It’s All Good!
by Mason RazaviMason Razavi discusses the importance of maintaining an open mind to all kinds of music, especially if you want to be the best musician you can be…
Selling Out is Flippin’ Fantastic!
by Mason RazaviSurely you’ve heard the term “Sell Out” before… but before you shoot someone down for doing a Chevy ad, get Mason’s take on the situation.
Featured Lesson
The distance between two notes is actually something quite important... it's called an interval. Kristian...
Featured Article
In our first audio post, Rosana Caban describes and demonstrates some bad mic techniques...
Featured Teacher
Primary Instrument: Guitar
Profession: Performer, Producer, & Songwriter
Country: United States of America