Guitar / Bass Amplifier Info & Education

5 Effects Every Guitarist Should Try

July 31, 2023

We all know pedals are almost as much a part of a guitarist’s essentials as the guitar itself – even more so than amp cabinets, probably. And there are some pedals every guitarist should have in their arsenal as a default. Stuff like a tuner, overdrive, and chorus. But there’s also a world of creativity out there, and there are a few pedals we think every guitarist should try at least once. Here are the top five.

The Top 5 Things Every Live Guitarist Should Know

July 28, 2023

Assuming you already know how to play and you’re either just getting started gigging or you’ve been out a while – there are a few key things you might want to know in order to get your best results on stage. Here are our top five.

Playing Bass in a Power Trio: How to Fill the Sound

July 24, 2023

Rush. ZZ Top. Nirvana. Green Day. Grand Funk Railroad. The list of awesome power trios goes on and on. It’s not rare, but somehow it’s always a little surprising how big a sound three people can get. Obviously, no instrument in this lineup is superfluous, so the bass has a big job to do. As a power trio bassist, you need to provide a strong foundation, fill out the sound from underneath, and maybe even provide some extra rhythmic coverage when the guitar goes off on solo tangents. In other words, you have to do the same job you always would, plus a little more. We’ll dive into that a little more here.

Staying Current with Your Studio Productions

July 07, 2023

If you’re producing music you intend to do well in “the industry” – like radio hits or songs that get lots of licensing opportunities, there’s one thing you’re going to come across early and often – the notion of sounding “current.”

Making the Most Out of Paid Studio Time

June 30, 2023

Studio time is a precious commodity, even in today’s “everybody has a studio” world. Getting to work in a professional studio is fun, but it’s costly, and you don’t want to waste money by wasting time. So here are a few ways to maximize that time and money.

Recording an Unplugged Album

June 15, 2023

There’s no shortage of reasons to strip down songs and make minimalistic versions. Whether it’s to adjust for a solo or duo gig, make home recording easier, or just offer something different to fans, putting out an unplugged album is a time-tested strategy. So, here are a few strategies for planning and executing your unplugged album.

The Art of the Note Bend

May 25, 2023

The ubiquitous note bend gives guitar players a layer that most instruments don’t have. You certainly can’t bend anything on a piano (unless you’re willing to risk losing a hand when a string breaks). It’s a simple enough technique, but there’s an art to pulling it off. For experienced guitarists, it may be automatic, but we thought we’d give a few quick tips for those still learning this time-honored trick.

Bass Tone 101

May 16, 2023

It’s no secret that bass is the most important instrument in the band (except for most of the others!). Kidding aside, a killer tone can transform a set or a record from ordinary into classic, and for bassists (like any guitar player), achieving a unique tone is as much of an art as playing itself. So, it makes sense to dig into your bass tone in detail, if you haven’t already. Here’s a little on doing just that.

Recording Electric Guitar in 2023

May 12, 2023

From Berry to Hendrix to Van Halen to Johnny 5, electric guitars are irrevocably embedded in our cultural identity, and contrary to what some think, they’re not going anywhere. The only difference now is there are so many more ways to use them and record them well. So, let’s revisit capturing electric guitars in the current times.

Guitar Tone 101

April 28, 2023

The art of playing guitar is a subtle, long term-pursuit. You can learn it quickly, but mastering it takes a lifetime. The same can be said about getting a great guitar tone, but in reality, it’s not as big a task as playing. It just takes a few knowledge points, some patience, and the will to experiment.

Finding the Right Song Order for Your Album

March 27, 2023

Contrary to popular belief, the album is not dead. In fact, releasing a full-length album is still a great way to create a compelling product to build a solid promotional strategy around, sell merch, and bolster your act. So, as has always been the case, deciding the order of songs on your album is the main trick. Here are a few tips for getting your album order right.

Filling Out a Sound with Minimal Instruments

March 23, 2023

It’d be great if you could always count on two guitar players, a pianist, a whole horn section, four backup singers, bass, drums, and extra percussion, but the truth is it’s not easy to get that many musicians together at once. Sometimes you may have to make do with yourself and one other person. But that doesn’t mean the sound has to be empty or incomplete. Here, we’ll talk about filling out a sound with minimal instrumentation.

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