Getting into guitar or mandolin picking? One of the first things you will need (besides your instrument) is a good collection of picks. It’s never a bad idea to start out with an assortment—over time some picks will definitely come to the forefront as favorites. Furthermore, until you have a handle on basic flatpicking technique,…
Tag: Music
7 Guitar String Care Tips
If you play your guitar often, you will find that your strings wear out quickly. Is there a way to extend their life so that you don’t have to replace them quite so often? Yes! Allow us to share a few tips for keeping your strings clean and at their best for as long as…
Choosing Studio Headphones
Whether your headphones are for recording or mixing, attention to quality, shape, and comfort are critical.
3 Guitar Exercises for Finger Independence
Playing the guitar requires flexible fingers. Fortunately, left-hand agility is a skill that can be acquired and improved with practice. These tried-and-true exercises will help you sharpen that skill. Note that you may not be as proficient in these exercises as you might like the first few times out. Always challenge yourself, but respect your…
5 Tips for Left-Hand Guitar Technique
Brushing up on your guitar playing abilities? One area where you might want to put in some work is the left hand. While the left hand is less influential on tone than the right, good left-hand technique is a must for clarity and precision. The left hand is the source of buzzing and incorrect notes….
Top 10 Skill-Building Resources
Favorite rainy-day projects from our archives.
Pros and Cons of USB Microphones for Home Recording
Are the savings worth it? A few words of warning to the prospective home producer.
Variations on the Harmonica
Chromatic, minor, tremolo, octave, miniature—what are they and how are they used?
Rosewood: Southeast Asian, Amazonian, & Honduran
Southeast Asian Rosewood Southeast Asian rosewood is an endangered species. This wood is no longer harvested for guitar manufacture, and is therefore extremely hard to find from legitimate sources. Southeast Asian rosewood has the exotic colors that make Brazilian rosewood so highly sought. It tends toward a reddish cast. Black grain lines offer contrast, but…
Rosewood: Brazilian, Indian, Madagascar & Cocobolo
Rosewood is a common choice of wood for guitars and mandolins. It has been used for backs, sides, tops, and fretboards. But did you know that instruments are built with several different types of rosewood? Seven of the most common are: Brazilian. Indian. Madagascar. Cocobolo. Amazonian. Honduran. Southeast Asian. Does country of origin make any…
