For many hundreds of years, almost as long as the idea of the guitar itself has been around, there have been modifications to the conventional design - sometimes this included an extra string! When you hear the term ‘seven string guitar’, your mind naturally wanders towards heavier, more aggressive styles of music. However, this is not always the case and we will be learning about some of those today. The modern seven string guitar as we know it, with a solid body and menacin

Desktop Guitar Amps: What They Are and the Models Worth Knowing If you mostly play at home, a full-size guitar amp can feel like overkill. It takes up space, needs to be turned up to sound its best, and often comes with more power than you’ll realistically use. That’s where desktop guitar amps come in. These are compact, self-contained units designed specifically for low-volume environments like bedrooms, apartments, or small home studios. They’re built to sound good at conve

Pickups are the part of an electric guitar that turn string vibration into signal. That signal then gets shaped by your amp, pedals, and playing style. While pickups don’t determine your entire tone, they set the foundation. If you get this part wrong, everything downstream is a compromise. Here’s a clear look at the main pickup types, what they really sound like, and where they tend to work best. 1. Single-Coil Pickups Single-coils use one coil of wire wrapped around magnets

Musicians tend to fall into one of two main categories; some people gravitate towards one instrument although they have rudimentary skill with other disciplines, and others seem to be equally at home with anything that you put in their hands. I find myself firmly in the former category, but I have met many people who align with the latter statement (I may or may not be a bit jealous!). In this blog post, I want to discuss how having some experience with other instruments asid

The Gibson ES-335 is a legend in the music world. From its unmistakable design to its versatile sound, the ES-335 has carved its place as one of the most iconic instruments in history. This semi-hollow body marvel has graced the hands of countless guitar heroes and appeared on some of the greatest tracks ever recorded. Let’s dive into the origins, its legendary players, unforgettable songs, purpose, and even its closest relatives in the Gibson family. The Origins of the Gibso

There was a time when creating professional-quality music required access to expensive recording studios, high-end equipment, and specialized engineers. For many musicians, especially those just starting out, these barriers seemed insurmountable. Today, however, the landscape of music production has changed dramatically. The home recording revolution has made it possible for anyone with a passion for music to set up a recording studio in their own home. This transformation ha

The electric guitar is one of the most influential and iconic instruments in the history of modern music. Its sounds have defined genres, inspired musicians, and created some of the most unforgettable moments in music history. But the electric guitar is not a monolith; it comes in several distinct types, each with unique qualities that shape the way it sounds and feels. Among the most notable categories are solid-body, semi-hollow, and hollow-body guitars. These designs refle

The sound of an electric guitar begins with its pickups, the small, magnetic components that transform the vibrations of your strings into an electrical signal. These signals become the tones we know and love, and while every aspect of a guitar affects its sound, few elements are as influential as the pickups. Among the wide variety of pickups, single-coils and humbuckers stand as the two most iconic types, each with its distinct sound, advantages, and limitations. For guitar

Overdrive, distortion, and fuzz are the unsung heroes of modern guitar playing, forming the foundation of countless iconic tones. While these effects share a common goal adding grit, sustain, and character to your sound. They achieve it in different ways, each with its own unique voice. Whether you’re a blues player chasing warm overtones, a metalhead seeking crushing power, or an experimental artist diving into chaos, understanding these effects is essential for crafting you

Pull-offs and hammer-ons are two of the most important techniques for any guitarist to master. They form the backbone of smooth, connected playing, adding speed and fluidity to your music. Whether you’re playing a gentle acoustic melody or shredding an electric guitar solo, these techniques can make your playing sound more dynamic and expressive. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what hammer-ons and pull-offs are, how to perform them effectively, and how to practice for

Funk music is all about groove, rhythm, and style. Whether you’re laying down tight, percussive rhythms or throwing in some tasty licks, your guitar needs to match your vibe. The Fender Stratocaster, with its bright tone and versatile design, is one of the best tools for the job. But to truly unleash its funky potential, you’ll want to fine-tune your setup. In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to set up your Strat for funk playing. From hardware t

One thing that surprises me all the time with rock guitar players is how many random bits of riffs they know. In fact, I would hazard a guess that the average player would only be able to get through the whole song that those riffs come from 1 in 10 times. This is where rock guitar players differ from a jazz guitarist, because the latter tend to memorize changes and melodies much more frequently. Some players, like Paul Gilbert, are a veritable encyclopedia of guitar riffs,

To articulate a phrase or melody, in fact any musical idea, is to give it your own personal signature. From another perspective, it is imperative to copy the articulations used by a guitarist if you wish to accurately emulate their style. For many beginners it is difficult to execute many different articulations, and the different variations from there. When a beginner starts to incorporate this into their playing, they begin to border on intermediate territory. After this,

Palm muting is a fundamental technique in rock guitar, adding depth, rhythm, and power to your playing. Whether you’re looking to play...

For musicians and producers, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) has become one of the most indispensable tools in modern music...

Les Paul vs. Gibson SG: Key Differences Explained Gibson’s Les Paul and SG models are two of the most iconic electric guitars in music...

When it comes to electric guitars, few names are as iconic as the Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster. These two models have shaped the...

If you’ve been playing guitar for a little while, you’ve probably heard a bend or two in your favorite songs. Moments where a note...

A few months ago, we were delighted to host the fingerstyle magician himself, Mr Hide Takemoto! A Kyoto native originally, Takemoto moved...

Amp It Up! Rock Guitar Techniques That’ll Make Your Neighbors Call the Cops So, you’ve got your guitar in hand, your amp cranked up, and...