Thoughts on the Power Amplifier
Today we delve into a chapter that deals with an element that at first glance seems irrelevant: the power amplifier. And I say irrelevant because we often don’t pay enough…
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Synchronizers and Time Codes
Once again we turn to the tools the market offers our small (or not so small) home studio. In this chapter we're going to take a closer look at some little devices that seem…
Loudspeakers and Speaker Cabinets
Today we’ll cover another aspect of vital importance for our recording and listening sessions: loudspeakers. This is certainly a broad field, so my idea is to start by describing…
Sources and Nuisances: Noise
It may seem odd that we have to refer to noise as an integral part of musical compositions and/or recordings. But that is how it is: noise is absolutely tied to music and to…
Microphone Distances and Pickup Techniques by Instrument Family
As promised in the chapter on microphones, today we get into the second part. It is based on describing microphone techniques according to the pickup distance and sound capture…
Self-Esteem and Learning: How to Develop Them Properly
The training of a professional musician involves developing a range of musical skills and knowledge. For some time now, various countries have been adding to the usual curriculum…
Stage Fright
It is very common for our level of playing on stage to be lower than what we reach in the rehearsal room. Many musicians I know, myself included, struggle with this. So-called…
Bring Out Your Best: Performing and Facing the Audience
Performing is one of the most fundamental aspects of a musician’s training, because of the enormous capacity it has to motivate both students and professional musicians, since the…
The rhythm guitarist
There are many important factors in music: harmony, melody, tone, concept, and so on. But if I had to pick just one, I'd have to choose rhythm. Harmonic and melodic concepts are…
Building Scales: The Essential Pillars
When we face challenges involving any of the seemingly impassable faces of music, I personally always try to keep prudence as my chief counselor. Everything we'll discuss in this…
Guitar and Bass Guide (Chapter III and Final)
Get the most out of your instrument. In this final installment of the guide, we will see how the type of finish and strings used affect the sound of the instrument, and how to…
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Which Is the Prettiest Guitar? A Practical Guide to Guitar and Bass, Chapter II
Frets. Next I'll share some ideas about frets from professionals such as Tom Anderson, Roger Sadowsky and Dan Erlewine, who are some of the best luthiers in the world when it…
Electric Guitar and Bass Guide: More Criteria for Judging What's Worth It (Chapter I)
After a long time fattening up our piggy bank, we've managed to save the money we need to buy a new guitar or bass. We have several options in mind and we're swimming in a sea of…
Transcribing: Ear Training for Guitarists. Get the Most Out of What You Hear
It is often hard to figure out where to go next in your own musical learning. Sometimes you find yourself lost, not knowing which way to head. Of course there are many solutions…
Taming the Big Guns: How to Reduce the Power of Your Tube Amp
Every musician, to a greater or lesser extent, has their amp’s sound nailed down; what you might call “the grit.” We’ve been writing songs, rehearsing with our band in the…
To Build or Not to Build, That Is the Question: How to Venture into Building a Guitar
There seems to be growing interest among guitarists and bassists in how to build a guitar, so the editor of this magazine has asked me to prepare this article. First, I will try…
Archtop Guitars, All That Jazz
In the early 20th century, arched-top or archtop guitars won out over the banjo and flat-top guitars thanks to their greater volume and ability to "blend" better with the rest of…
From Hell. On the Most Extreme Side of Metal.
Lately, the vast majority of metal players are looking for ever more aggressive sounds and lower tunings; but that search can easily bring us a problem or two. There's no point in…
Unhappy with Your Pickups? (Part II)
We're back at it. Last month we gave you the first brushstrokes on the basic principles of pickup installation.As I told you, we left a few pending issues for later, specifically…
Unhappy with Your Pickups? (Part I)
Nine years. Nine years of work well done, nine years in the professional field, nine years of learning and teaching, nine years of giving our best. And since we're talking about…