Stomp boxes have been giving electric instrumentalists a sonic edge for many years. Three very popular effects used to paint shimmering aural landscapes are phase shifters, chorus pedals, and flangers. These three pedals are also commonly confused because they sound very similar. To learn the differences between them, it helps to have a basic knowledge […]
When comparing the two instruments side by side, it’s hard to see any similarities, but brass and wood have more in common than you think. They don’t look the same, are made out of completely different materials, and aren’t played in nearly the same way. But look again. Mark Mullins, of New Orleans, Louisiana, electric […]
Sure, it may look harder to play than a big-rig is to drive, but armed with the right knowledge, it’s completely within the realm of possibility for almost any musician to figure out the basics and start playing pedal steel guitar.
Take advantage of modern technology and transform your practice or solo performances into a one-man band. There is a cycle involved in every art form–inspiration, creation, and sharing. What many musicians enjoy the most about making music is the last phase of the cycle–the performance. The satisfaction of involving an audience in the music making […]
Wouldn’t it be great to have a friendly, nonjudgmental and noncompetitive environment where you can share your ideas and love of music? The Guitar Church in Western Canada and the Guitar League of Syracuse, New York, have been hard at work to create just that: a safe haven for closet pickers and pros alike to […]
It’s not “the summer of ’69” anymore and playing ’til your fingers bleed isn’t the greatest idea, no matter how sentimental it sounds. Taking care of your hands and wrists is important to get the most out of your music. Any musician who practices regularly can attest that overuse of the hand muscles can cause […]
Not many people can say portraying a superhero is their full-time job. Greg Grunberg, an actor on the critically acclaimed NBC series Heroes, spends his days playing likable cop Matt Parkman, an average Joe who wakes up one day to find he has the ability to read minds.
Family time is a precious commodity, and it’s hard to find something the whole family can do together. For music lovers both young and old, traveling to music camp often means leaving loved ones behind. Wouldn’t it be great to, instead, bring them along for the adventure?
Since announcing his intention to run for President of the United States this past January, the former Arkansas governor’s life has been a whirlwind of interviews, debates, speaking engagements, and fundraising events. But no matter where the campaign trail takes him, one thing is always sure to follow—his beloved bass guitar.
“Kevin definitely had stage fright when we played our first shows,” recalls Michael Bacon, 57, the other half of the Bacon Brothers band. “Despite all his film work, he still had nerves.” “I was just shaking,” says Kevin, who is nine years younger than his brother, recalling that at their first performance he turned to […]