6 Must Read
  • Features
    • Featured

      Peter Sprague on Jazz Guitar, Surf, & Breaking Even

      Another golden moment that stand’s out in Peter’s recall came in Washington D.C. playing with Chick and Al Jarreau. And then doing film work with Chick on the movie The Cat Chasers, starring Kelly McGillis. The band included Vinnie Callouta on drums, Chick, Pattittuci, Kujala. The trust he earned with Correa was such that Sprague became the one to organize Chick’s music in book form for publishing purposes.

      • Own Your Tone! A Practical Guide to Electric Guitar Tone
      • Christopher Dale Singing the Praises of Songwriting
      • New Commissioning Program “Just Songs” Amplifies Voices of Emerging Songwriters
      • Jason Mraz Foundation to Award Grants to 25 US Non-Profits
  • How To
    • How To

      Want to be a better guitarist? Check out Steve Vai’s Guitar Workout

      The Best Ways to Record Bass: Tracking All the Way to Mixing

      Musical Theory: Give It a Rest! 

      laptop recording

      Friday Flashback: Tips to Start Laptop Recording

      How To Create A Recording Studio For Just $100

      Recording Acoustic Guitar in Stereo for Beginners

      How to Set Up an Online Concert and Ticket It

      Carmine Miranda: The Joy of Life as a Cellist

      How to Sell a Guitar – and Make Money

      clean a trumpet

      How to Clean A Trumpet

      A Guide to Playing Altissimo Saxophone

      24 Exercises at the Piano

      Previous Next
  • Video
    • Newest Video
      • Video

        Peter Sprague on Jazz Guitar, Surf, & Breaking Even

        Christopher Dale Singing the Praises of Songwriting

        New Commissioning Program “Just Songs” Amplifies Voices of Emerging Songwriters

        Playing Well with Dr. Kertz — Health Tips for Vocalists

        Jane Lui — Lighting the Way of Her Own Path

        From National Opera to Otherworldly Chant Music — The Evolution of Shunia

        Mastering Best Practices Explained with Alan Silverman – Part 2

        Paul Abbott’s Zen Approach to Mastering – Part 3

        Community Video: Porsia Camille — Can’t Say the Same

        Community Video: The Wilderness — If I Have to Die

        Mastering Process Explained with Alan Silverman – Part 1

        Community Video: altre di B — Salgado

        Previous Next
    • Product Spotlight
      • Product Spotlight

        NAMM Show 2021: Yamaha Announces New DGX-670 Digital Piano

        NAMM Show 2021: Product Spotlight on the Yamaha YDS-150 Digital Saxophone

        Making Music Product Spotlight: The Mute Caddy with Jeff Stockham

        akg lyra

        Making Music Product Spotlight: AKG LYRA Ultra-HD Multimode USB Microphone

        Making Music Product Spotlight: Balu Musik horn mutes and mellophone

    • Community Videos

      Musical performances submitted by readers.

      • Community Videos

        Pick the Winter 2021 Community Video Contest Winner!

        Community Video: Porsia Camille — Can’t Say the Same

        Community Video: The Wilderness — If I Have to Die

        Community Video: altre di B — Salgado

        Community Video: J.C. Andersen — I Go Out

        Community Video: Galand — Storyline

        Community Video: Hitha — We Will Last

        Community Video: Alto Key — Burning Up

        Community Video: Kendra Erika – Avalanche

        Community Video: The Moon City Masters – Over Now

        People’s Choice Winner TemperMental — A New Generation of LA Rockers Rising Up

        Pick the Fall 2020 Community Video Contest winner!

        Previous Next
    • Travel
      • Travel Video

        Mile of Music

        Wisconsin’s Fox Cities: More than a Mile of Music

        Alabama Gulf Coast Feeds a Musician’s Heart

        Inside Cash’s Boyhood Home

        crooked road

        The Crooked Road: A Journey Steeped in Music Traditions

        moab concert

        Moab Music Festival

        America Meets the Beatles! at Bethel Woods

        Discovering Music Destinations South of Nashville

        Cumbia: The Sound of Colombia

        Previous Next
    • How To Videos
      • How-To Videos

        Recording Acoustic Guitar in Stereo for Beginners

        Carmine Miranda: The Joy of Life as a Cellist

        clean a trumpet

        How to Clean A Trumpet

        Bass Guitar Lesson with Dan Hawkins – Using Scales To Create Killer Grooves

        restringing your guitar

        A Guide to Restringing Your Guitar for Beginners

        f major

        How to Play Clarinet Scales: F Major

        g minor

        How to Play Clarinet Scales: G Minor

        The No. 1 Thing Songwriting Guitarists Don’t Think About

        Teaching Jazz and Musical Creativity to the Classical Piano Student – Part 2

        Teaching Jazz and Musical Creativity to the Classical Piano Student – Part 1

        c minor

        How to Play Clarinet Scales: C Minor

        The Problem All Pianists Need to Overcome (But Many Don’t Even Know About!)

        Previous Next
    • Instrument Video
      • Instrument Video

        Peter Sprague on Jazz Guitar, Surf, & Breaking Even

        Christopher Dale Singing the Praises of Songwriting

        New Commissioning Program “Just Songs” Amplifies Voices of Emerging Songwriters

        Playing Well with Dr. Kertz — Health Tips for Vocalists

        Jane Lui — Lighting the Way of Her Own Path

        From National Opera to Otherworldly Chant Music — The Evolution of Shunia

        NAMM Show 2021: Product Spotlight on the Yamaha YDS-150 Digital Saxophone

        Recording Acoustic Guitar in Stereo for Beginners

        Tracy Silverman: Defying Dogma with Electric Violin (Interview part 2)

        Jeremy Cohen’s Historic Prized Violin

        Serious About Fiddling Around with Sara Watkins

        Like a Butterfly Smashing Glass: Taking Flight with Cellist Tina Guo

        Previous Next
  • Health
    • Health

      The Bassist’s Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health

      Written by a bass player for bass players, The Bassist’s Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health, in two volumes, is designed to point out common and not-so-common problems that the musician may encounter during practice or performing situations. These books, written by Dr. Randy Kertz, a regular contributor to Making Music and creator […]

      • Playing Well with Dr. Kertz — Health Tips for Vocalists
      • Playing Well with Dr. Kertz — Posture Review for 2021
      • Things Vocalists Should and Shouldn’t Eat (Before Performing)
      • Playing Well with Dr. Kertz — Bring Your Instrument to the Doctor With You
  • Instruments
    • Woodwinds/Brass
      • Wind

        NAMM Show 2021: Product Spotlight on the Yamaha YDS-150 Digital Saxophone

        Yamaha recently introduced the YDS-150 Digital Saxophone, a first-of-its-kind instrument that allows saxophonists of all levels and those new to playing a wind instrument to create great sounding music from the very start. The YDS-150 effectively emulates an authentic saxophone experience digitally—from the sound and key layout to feedback from the instrument—while maintaining the sense […]

        • Buffet Crampon’s New GALA Clarinet
        • Jeff Stockham’s Past, Present & Future As a Horn Player
        • Saxophonist Prateek Thakur Triumphs Through Music
        • Peruvian Saxophonist Lucia Sarmiento Follows Jazz and Finds America
    • Bass
      • Bass

        World’s Smallest Guitar/Bass Multi-Tool

        GrooveTech Tools has released its newest guitar and bass multi-tool, the Mini-Multi. Based on the premise that some players don’t adjust truss rods using a multi-tool, GrooveTech concentrated on action, tremolo systems, intonation, pickup height, and most other adjustments on guitars and basses. The Mini-Multi consolidates 14 tools into a body that’s less than three […]

        • Jeff Stockham’s Past, Present & Future As a Horn Player
        • French Horn Basics with Michael Manley
        • Jazz, Trumpet & Nick Fields
        • Six Lessons for Playing Funk Bass – with Dan Hawkins
    • Guitar
      • Guitar

        Peter Sprague on Jazz Guitar, Surf, & Breaking Even

        Another golden moment that stand’s out in Peter’s recall came in Washington D.C. playing with Chick and Al Jarreau. And then doing film work with Chick on the movie The Cat Chasers, starring Kelly McGillis. The band included Vinnie Callouta on drums, Chick, Pattittuci, Kujala. The trust he earned with Correa was such that Sprague became the one to organize Chick’s music in book form for publishing purposes.

        • Gretsch Electromatic Lap Steel
        • Own Your Tone! A Practical Guide to Electric Guitar Tone
        • Want to be a better guitarist? Check out Steve Vai’s Guitar Workout
        • Travel Acoustic: Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus
    • Drums
      • Drums

        Gideon Waxman’s Ultimate Guide to Buying Cymbals

        Cymbals play an integral part of a drummer’s set up, and they are a significant investment. With a cymbal purchase, you will have to be completely confident that sound is right for you and your music. They cannot be altered or tuned in the way that drums can. So it’s imperative to invest in cymbals that will compliment the styles of music you play! In this guide I aim to provide as much information as I can about cymbals to help educate you on how to choose the perfect cymbals that are right for you, and what you need to consider when looking to invest in new cymbals.

        • Taiko Drumming: Healthy Exercise for Music Makers
        • 12 Ways to Improve Your Drumming
        • Exploring the History of Playing Timpani (Kettle Drums)
        • Money Beats with Rich Redmond
    • Strings
      • Strings

        Tracy Silverman: Defying Dogma with Electric Violin (Interview part 2)

        The first thing violinist Tracy Silverman did was to earn his degree from Julliard. The second thing he did when he graduated was to throw it all out the window and join a rock band…

        • Jeremy Cohen’s Historic Prized Violin
        • Serious About Fiddling Around with Sara Watkins
        • Writing Well for the Modern Harp
        • What Are Strings Made Of? The Basics of Orchestral String Construction
    • Keyboards
      • Keyboard

        NAMM Show 2021: Yamaha Announces New DGX-670 Digital Piano

        During the 2021 NAMM Show, Yamaha unveiled the DGX-670, a new digital piano featuring a modern, attractive aesthetic and a simplified user interface. The new “Portable Grand” ensemble instrument is a full, 88-note weighted action keyboard with exceptional playability, superb sound and visual appeal, making it ideal for beginners and accomplished pianists alike. It replaces […]

        • The Workings of the Piano: For the Up-and-Coming Pianist
        • Yamaha Announces New Portable Keyboards
        • Adjustable Padded Piano Bench
        • On-Stage LED Piano Lamp
    • Vocal
      • Voice

        Christopher Dale Singing the Praises of Songwriting

        2018 marked the release of Dale’s single, Smile, which he used to promote a campaign in support of the international children’s charity Smile Train, which has provided over a million new smiles to kids who required corrective, cleft-palate surgery. In 2020, C. Dale released the EP “Where The Road Turns To Sand”.

        • New Commissioning Program “Just Songs” Amplifies Voices of Emerging Songwriters
        • Playing Well with Dr. Kertz — Health Tips for Vocalists
        • HaMelekh (for High Voice and Piano)
        • Singing with Other People: Top Tips
    • Other Instruments
      • Other Instruments

        The Harp: A Global Story of Music, Man, and Medicine

        In simplest terms, the harp is a plucked string instrument where the plane of the strings is perpendicular to the soundboard.

        • Where Did the Banjo Come From? Here’s a Timeline of Its History
        • Western Contemporary Music: A Musical Melting Pot
        • Dulcet Tones: The Hammered and Mountain Dulcimer
        • The Harp: How Does it Work?
  • Products
    • All Products
      • Products

        Gretsch Electromatic Lap Steel

        The Gretsch Electromatic Lap Steel produces the unmistakably rich tones of an electric Hawaiian guitar. Sleek and smooth, it features a solid mahogany slab body, chrome-covered single-coil pickup, chrome-plated strings-thru-body bridge, silver plastic deco control plate and variously shaped fingerboard position markers (circle, triangle, square, diamond).

        Travel Acoustic: Taylor GS Mini-e Koa Plus

        If you’re looking for a compact acoustic guitar with a big voice and a stunning visual appeal to match, check out Taylor Guitars’ GS Mini-e Koa Plus. Built with back and sides of layered Hawaiian koa with a solid koa top, this model’s clear, articulate sound is right at home whether you’re practicing on the […]

        Mic Stand Cable Hanger Tray

        The new microphone stand cable hanger and organizer from Gator Frameworks provides convenient, accessible storage for audio and computer cables in a compact size. Features include: Hanging design prevents potential damage to cables from over-coiling and kinks 5/8-27 female threads attach directly to standard mic stand 32 cable slots with alternating-size spaces from 5-9mm features […]

        Sennheiser MD 435 Wired Microphone

        The Sennheiser MD 435 provides every voice the same tonal qualities and characteristics made familiar with the MD 9235. Its high-quality aluminum-copper voice coil refines high frequencies with detailed transparency and highlights even the finest nuances. Even subtle vocals can be heard and accentuated effortlessly in the mix. The MD 435 may be sensitive when […]

        Korg SoundLink MW-2408/ MW-1608 hybrid analog/digital mixer

        Korg has collaborated with the legendary mixer design team of Greg Mackie and Peter Watts to create hybrid/analog mixing consoles that make creative mixing easy. Both the 24- and 16-channel models give you instant analog control for live mixing with stunning sound quality and musician-friendly features — paired with the power of high-quality digital. FEATURES: […]

    • Audio Recording
      • Audio Recording

        Paul Abbott’s Zen Approach to Mastering – Part 3

        Paul Abbott is an audio mastering engineer, musician, and owner of ZenMastering (located in San Diego, CA). Paul established ZenMastering in the late 1990s — at a time when there were very few high-end independent mastering studios. Since then, Paul has mastered over 1,000 projects for clients throughout the United States and around the world, ranging from up-and-coming indie bands to award-winning artists and labels.

        • Korg SoundLink MW-2408/ MW-1608 hybrid analog/digital mixer
        • Music Production: Learn How to Record, Mix, and Master Music
        • D’Addario Loknob — Lock in Your Sound
        • Mastering Process Explained with Alan Silverman – Part 1
    • Live Sound
      • Live Sound

        Distortion Packs a Punch! Amps Explained with Christopher Ames; Part 2

        Making Music Mag visited with Christopher Ames at Guitar Center where he shares practical insights about distortion with the help of and Orange amplifier,  a Marshall amplifier and a Les Paul.

        • Radial Engineering Hotshot 48V Condenser Microphone Switcher
        • Zen and the Art of Acoustic Guitar Amplification, part 2
        • That Clean Sound! Amps Explained with Christopher Ames: Part 1
        • Zen and the Art of Acoustic Guitar Amplification, part 1
    • Books/Sheet Music
      • Books and Sheet Music

        Music Theory for Guitarists

        Everything You Ever Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask In Music Theory for Guitarists, guitarists of all levels will find a wealth of practical music knowledge in this special book with online audio access. Veteran guitarist and author Tom Kolb dispels the mysteries of music theory using plain and simple terms and diagrams. […]

        La Guitarra – A Comprehensive Study of Classical Guitar Technique and Guide to Performing

        Tuscany Publications presents a revised and expanded edition of Pepe Romero’s Guitar Style and Technique (1982), which had been out of print for some time. New features in La Guitarra include sections on tremolo, flamenco, concert performance, additional finger gymnastics, and a Romero photo album. It contains all of the music from the earlier version […]

        Want to be a better guitarist? Check out Steve Vai’s Guitar Workout

        Since its appearance in Guitar World in 1990, Vai’s intensive guitar regimen has been the Holy Grail for serious players. Here is the lesson that shaped a generation of guitarists. Vai sat down with guitarist/transcriber Dave Whitehill and outlined his practice routine for the January 1990 issue of Guitar World. Never before had a guitarist […]

        Guitar Aerobics

        A 52-Week, One-lick-per-day Workout Program for Developing, Improving and Maintaining Guitar Technique Here is a daily dose of vitamins to keep your chops fine-tuned for a full 52 weeks. The exercises in Guitar Aerobics cover several musical styles including rock, blues, jazz, metal, country, and funk. Techniques taught include alternate picking, arpeggios, sweep picking, string […]

        The Bassist’s Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health

        Written by a bass player for bass players, The Bassist’s Guide to Injury Management, Prevention and Better Health, in two volumes, is designed to point out common and not-so-common problems that the musician may encounter during practice or performing situations. These books, written by Dr. Randy Kertz, a regular contributor to Making Music and creator […]

        HaMelekh (for High Voice and Piano)

        HaMelekh, by Jonathan Leshnoff, is a setting of two chapters from Heichalos Rabasi, an ancient Jewish mystical text almost 2,000 years old, that detail the approach to the presence of the Divine. Each space is a different room (heychal). The first movement set by the composer, Oso Odom, expresses both the fear and trembling of […]

  • Music Theory
    • Music Theory
      • Music Theory

        Dave Sanborn, Legendary Saxophonist, Presents the First Season of His New Show “Sanborn Sessions”

        Dave Sanborn, the veteran saxophonist, and six-time Grammy Award winner, has announced he will soon present the first episode of his new music show, Sanborn Sessions. The new series is hosted by Sanborn and features a diverse roster of accomplished artists from a variety of genres and generations. In its initial season, Sanborn welcomes Kandace Springs, […]

        • The No. 1 Thing Songwriting Guitarists Don’t Think About
        • The Importance of Chord Knowledge for Pianists
        • How Musicians Incorporate Artificial Intelligence into Their Songs
        • Transcription Errands – Chord Charts and the Nashville Number System
    • Clip N’ Save
      • Clip N’ Save

        Tying It Together: Defining the Difference Between Ties and Slurs

        The difference between tied notes and slurred notes in music can cause confusion—which is not surprising, since they are both noted the exact same way! Both slurs and ties are indicated with arc-shaped lines placed either above a grouping of notes (if the notes’ stems are pointing down) or below a grouping of notes (if the stems are pointing up).

        Musical Theory: Give It a Rest! 

        Just like notes, rests have precise rhythms; every type of note value has a corresponding rest with the same time value. And although there is no sound, in order to play with rhythmic accuracy, rests must be carefully counted.

        The following chart breaks down the types of rests you are most likely to find in music…

        Clip ‘n Save: Stepping Up and Stepping Down: Augmented and Diminished Intervals

        n our “Intro to Intervals,” we learned how to recognize major, minor, and perfect intervals—first, recognizing the distance between the two notes on the staff and then counting the precise number of steps between the two pitches. In addition to major, minor, and perfect, there are two other interval qualities that can come into play: augmented and diminished…

        Going the Distance: Intro to Intervals

        Clip N’ Save: Understanding Enharmonics

        Previous Next
  • History
    • History

      A complete history of Tom Petty in Los Angeles

      When Tom Petty arrived in Los Angeles in 1974 in search of a record deal for his band Mudcrutch, the Gainesville, Florida native found one almost immediately. While he thought he had found exactly what he was looking for in L.A., it would take years for Petty and his subsequent band, the Heartbreakers, to break […]

      • The Winter Solstice in Song: A Short List for the Longest Night
      • The Harp: A Global Story of Music, Man, and Medicine
      • What Are Strings Made Of? The Basics of Orchestral String Construction
      • The Cello Suites: J. S. Bach, Pablo Casals, and the Search for a Baroque Masterpiece
  • Jason Mraz Foundation to Award Grants to 25 US Non-Profits
  • Nancy Wilson, The Go-Go’s, and More to be Honored at 2021 She Rocks Awards
  • Worldful of Pianos to Gather Global Pianists for NAMM’s Believe in Music Week
  • New Partnership Helps Struggling Musicians
  • Ford Musician Impact Fund to Announces Grant Program
  • D’Addario Receives State Grant to Continue Manufacturing PPE Face Shields 
  • Sweet Relief Raises More Than $9,000 for Musicians  
  • Last Call to Register for the 2021 Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards

Category: Other Instruments

The Harp: A Global Story of Music, Man, and Medicine

Featured Article, History, Other Instruments November 30, 2020December 2, 2020 Making Music 0 Comments

In simplest terms, the harp is a plucked string instrument where the plane of the strings is perpendicular to the soundboard.

banjo history

Where Did the Banjo Come From? Here’s a Timeline of Its History

Featured Article, History, Instruments, Other Instruments July 3, 2020July 6, 2020 Making Music 0 Comments

The banjo has evolved from its African roots, first as a minstrel instrument, and later as a jazz, bluegrass, and folk staple. At the American Banjo Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, you can see more than 300 banjos – the largest public display in the world. The timeline below includes just a few.

contemporary music

Western Contemporary Music: A Musical Melting Pot

Featured Article, Other Instruments April 23, 2020April 16, 2020 Making Music 0 Comments

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact time when instruments from other cultures were first used in Western contemporary music. It is better thought of as a period, rather than an exact moment.

dulcimer

Dulcet Tones: The Hammered and Mountain Dulcimer

Featured Article, Other Instruments April 20, 2020April 16, 2020 Making Music 1 Comment

Aside from their last names, the mountain dulcimer and hammered dulcimer share only a few traits. They’re both a type of zither—an instrument with strings that extend only to the ends of the soundboard—and they’re both folk instruments not often heard in modern popular music.

harp

The Harp: How Does it Work?

Featured Article, Other Instruments April 17, 2020April 16, 2020 Cherie Yurco 0 Comments

The harp is a seemingly mysterious instrument to many people, so let’s take a look at how this unique instrument actually works.

ocarina

How to Choose the Best Ocarina for You

Making Music, Other Instruments April 15, 2020April 14, 2020 Making Music 0 Comments

The name ocarina, meaning “little goose,” was coined in the late 19th century by Italian musician and baker Guiseppi Donati who modified the instrument to play a diatonic scale and popularized it in the west

accordion

The Accordion: More Than Your Mama’s Squeeze Box

Featured Article, Instruments, Other Instruments April 14, 2020April 14, 2020 Cherie Yurco 0 Comments

An accordion is a free reed aerophone instrument with bellows, but there are actually many different instruments within the accordion family, with diverse sounds for various playing styles and genres of music.

recorder

The Recorder: It’s an Instrument, Not a Toy

Featured Article, Other Instruments April 1, 2020April 2, 2020 Making Music 1 Comment

For most of us, a plastic recorder was the first musical instrument we encountered back in elementary school, and for that reason it’s something we tend to think of as a childhood toy. However, the recorder is actually a serious instrument, with a rich history that goes back to ancient times.

venova

Grace Kelly Plays Yamaha’s Venova

Featured Article, Other Instruments, Woodwinds/Brass September 2, 2019September 3, 2019 Making Music 0 Comments

Yamaha’s latest wind instrument, the Venova, is compact, durable, and great for a saxophone sound on the go. Check out Grace Kelly’s demonstration!

venova jam session

Venova Jam Session

Other Instruments, Woodwinds/Brass September 2, 2019September 3, 2019 Making Music 0 Comments

In this video, three musicians – Kenta Fukui (Sax), Kei Suzuki (Sax), and Naoyuki Takano (Clarinet) – take a spin on Yamaha’s latest wind instrument in a Venova jam session.

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