Essence of Music

It’s kind of ironic, but it may be that the smallest and most affordable piece of gear we guitarists own—ounce for ounce, and dollar for dollar—has the biggest impact on both our tone and our technique. We use the pick (or “plectrum”) to strike the strings, and that sets our entire audio signal in motion—whether it’s through airborne acoustic sound waves or a signal path full of stompboxes feeding blaring amps. The material, thickness, texture, and shape of that pick have an outsized impact not only on the sound we create, but also on our phrasing and articulation. Indeed, a pick can strongly influence our musical decision-making: Do we play linear, single-note lines in a more legato fashion because we want to minimize the crisp attack our heavy pick imparts, or do we crank out melodic double-stops because that same pick attack pushes them over the top in such an addictive way? Do we add upstroke ghost notes to that rhythm part because our thin pick gives them an ethereal subtlet...

In a fantasy world where we can choose to have an expensive guitar and an inexpensive amp or an expensive amp and an inexpensive guitar, which would you choose? I’ve often thought about what’s more important to me as a guitar player, and then the answer hit me: we’re guitar players. The way I see it, a room full of amazing guitars is more attractive than a room full of amazing amps. While you might disagree, I think there’s something to be said for being able to simply pick up an electric guitar and strum it—unplugged—and still achieve “that feeling.” An expensive amp is as good as the guitarist playing through it; an expensive guitar will not only speed up your progress as a guitar player, it will make that experience more enjoyable and cause you to have more pride in the instrument you play. On the flip side, a gigging musician might argue an expensive amp is crucial to cutting through the mix and consistently delivering good performances night after night. Whatever your t...

The word ‘tonewood’ has slightly magical connotations within the guitar world. Put simply, tonewood is the wood within a guitar’s construction that contributes to its tone. In the case of an acoustic guitar, this is largely the guitar body, which is divided into two sections: the top (or soundboard), and the back and sides (usually considered together as they are nearly always made of the same material). It is from within the grains of these woods that a guitar’s unique voice emerges. If you’re a beginner, you may wonder what difference the tonewood makes to the tone of an acoustic guitar.  Laminate versus Solid Wood When reading about acoustic guitars, you may have noticed that cheaper instruments tend to be made of laminated wood, whilst more expensive guitars tend to be made from solid wood. In a nutshell, an all-laminated body guitar, the top, back and sides will be made from layered (laminated) pieces of wood, most typically laminated spruce for the top, and laminat...

Compared to acoustic guitars, electric ones have been around for a fairly short period of time. We are talking 60 to 70 years of active use. Even so, this instrument has completely changed the way we understand music.  The electric guitar's almost unlimited flexibility is exactly why so many people start their journey of learning how to play it each year. If this is you right now, you are in the right place. Today we are going to go over everything you need to know about these sweet electric axes. This article is going to be a guide of sorts.  By the time you are done reading, you should be armed with all the necessary information to step into the world of electric guitars with the confidence to choose (and use) a guitar for yourself or to snag one as a gift for someone else. With that said, let's get going. There are a handful of things you need to be aware of when it comes to guitars. Our recommendations eliminate the need to be hands-on and continually inv...

Whether you’re a solo artist or with a band, the amount of tasks you have to fulfill can be overwhelming. The act of making music is just one part of the music industry and just because you are a musician does not mean you don’t have other obligations. It may be hard to find time to get all your tasks done while also making a business out of your music. 3 essential tips for musicians: planning is key Mapping out your time is essential for effective time management. Your plan should include things like goals and deadlines, your  marketing  plan on a weekly or monthly basis, and your content schedule for  social media . Set aside time to make planning a priority so you have time to think of all the tasks you have to do and you are not interrupted. prioritize what you want first It’s important to understand that not all your tasks hold the same weight. You need to take a look at all the tasks you need to do and determine which ones are most aligned with your...