Despite being a simple music accessory, there are many factors to consider when selecting drumsticks. The most important considerations for traditional drumsticks are diameter, length, weight, taper, tip, and type of wood.
Category: Instruments
Holiday Gift Ideas for Every Kind of Musician
Gift ideas for musicians, from guitarists to keyboardists, drummers, wind musicians, and everyone in between.
History of Instrument Makers: From Zildjian to Hohner, Fender, Marshall, and More
We’ve already covered some fun music factoids in our Rock and Roll Quiz and Jazz Quiz—now let’s look at the history of the musical instruments that made rock and jazz possible in the first place. Many of today’s big names in musical instruments and gear got their start more than 75 years ago. Some accidently […]
Liberty DeVitto’s Secrets to Drumming Success
Liberty DeVitto has played with many big name musicians such as Meat Loaf, Paul McCartney, Karen Carpenter, and Stevie Nicks, to name a few. Here, he shares some valuable drumming tips.
Difference Between Nylon, Coated, Acoustic, and Electric Guitar Strings
No matter how much you may love your instrument, almost every guitar player eventually complains about tone and playability. The solution may be as simple as trying new strings. New strings can do wonders for tone and playability.
An Explanation of Clefs: Treble, Bass, Alto, Tenor
Four different clefs are used in music today; the most common are the treble and bass clefs, and the less common are the alto and tenor clefs.
Introduction to Bluegrass Instruments
For anyone seeing an authentic bluegrass band for the first time, the unique instrumentation, driving tempos, soulful harmonies, and fierce, piercing tenor singing can be a lot to take.
What are the Kinds of Mutes for Brass Musicians?
For brass musicians looking to discover new sounds, mutes may be the way to go. They change the instrument’s sound by reducing airflow, altering the volume, and changing the resonance. Typically made of copper, aluminum, or brass, mutes can be placed either in the interior, or on the exterior of the instrument.
Composite Instruments VS. Wood Instruments
As high quality woods become rarer and their use is called into question because of environmental concerns, alternatives are growing in popularity. Manufacturers began using plastics and hard rubber to make woodwind instruments decades ago. Today these techniques are widely accepted.
Best Cheap Microphones
Building the perfect mic kit can be expensive. Trying to do it on a tight budget can be challenging. You need just the right mic for every possible task. Focus first on what you do most. Here are some basics to get you started.