Bill Abernathy, 56, has been writing songs and playing guitar for most of his life, though it’s rarely been his focus. Today, with two grown children and a well-established career as a logistics expert for a large multi-national company, Abernathy has reached the top of Reverbnation’s Americana chart with his very first album, Changes.
Google and Converse challenged the UK company Technology Will Save Us, which specializes in supplying DIY kits, to modify a pair of Converse sneakers with its DIY Speakers Kit. Technology Will Save Us rose to the challenge creating what may be the world’s first guitar shoe, using the laces for strings, then creating a microphone, contrabass, and feedback synth, and using the kit’s box to create an amp. They then brought the challenge to a set of London workshops where participants created everything from a sneaker that “walked” when bass-heavy music played to a sneaker ukulele.
“Singing and making music have been my passion since I can remember,” says Sabrina Duke, who says she grew up singing all the time to whoever would listen.
Blisters are small, raised lesions in which fluid collects under the skin. They are frequently caused by friction, so it is no surprise that musicians, from drummers to guitarists to clarinet players get blisters on their hands. Though they are relatively minor injuries, blisters can cause enough discomfort to curb your playing.
ESP’s Acoustic Resonant Chamber (ARC) thinline electric LTD series guitars have a sharp design and high-end features at an interesting price. The ARC-6 nylon string guitar has a rosewood fingerboard Graph-tech NuBone-XB nuts and saddles. It comes in either black with a maple top or mahogany with natural top with a chambered mahogany body. It includes chrome hardware, Grover tuners, B-band Electronics with three-band EQ and digital tuner. The ARC series is also available in steel string and 12-string models.
It’s no wonder that percussionists the world over are turning to a significantly smaller alternative. The cajon has become a popular addition to many a jam session, acoustic gig, and space-challenged environment. And in the right hands, the beat is as sweet, strong, and soulful as it ever was.
The best music writing programs are user-friendly and include comprehensive notation, editing, and input/output features. Most are easy enough for beginners, with enough bells and whistles to give experienced composers the tools need.
Let’s face it; recording music at home can be a daunting prospect! If you’re like me you love to write music and you’re passionate about bringing to life the masterpiece resounding in your head.
The new Fender Vaporizer tube amp looks like it teleported here from the ’50s. Featuring two ten-inch, 16-ohm, special design Vaporizer speakers, two inputs, and a quarter-inch speaker output, it stands a tidy 17-inches tall. It has stripped down controls, a built-in reverb, and a retro-styled, single-channel, 12-watt amplifier. The “Space Race” looking chassis is available in Surf Green, Slate Blue, and Rocket Red.
An unfortunate reality for musicians is that, if they play out at all, they’ll probably lose gear at some point. Sometimes it’s an innocent mix-up where cables get lost in the shuffle, picked up by mistake, or something gets left behind. But, unfortunately, other times, it’s malicious.