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The NAMM Show 2020: Day 3

We're at the 2020 winter NAMM show! On Day 3, we're taking a look at new products from Martin, Empress, Sabian, Zildjian, Nord, Ernie Ball, Marshall, Pearl, Gibson, Yamaha, Line 6, Revv, Two Notes, and Tama.

The NAMM Show 2020: Day 2

We're at the 2020 winter NAMM show! On Day 2, we're taking a look at new products from Roland, Mapex, A&F Drum Co., American DJ, Pioneer DJ, Sonor, Warwick Music, Dunlop, Ludwig, Hohner, D'Addario, Softube, Audio-Technica, Royer and Taylor.

The NAMM Show 2020: Day 1

We're at the 2020 winter NAMM show! On Day 1, we're taking a look at new products from ART, Yorkville, Mackie, Godin, KRK, Fender, Shure, Avantone, Radial, Warm Audio, Presonus, Aston, Tascam, ESP, Focusrite and Universal Audio.

Play Along Recordings for Jazz

If I could, I’d practice every day with a live rhythm section, but this is impossible so I settle for the next best thing: Play along recordings. This is not only handy but also a fun way to learn and practice tunes.

Learning a Song in Half the Time - Part Two

In part one of this series a “Four Across Map” was presented as an effective tool in learning the chord progression of any song in half the time. In this issue I’m presenting two more techniques that will also help.

Giving the Gift of Music Lessons

Giving the gift of lessons makes a great present for your loved one, no matter their age or stage. Whether you know someone who wants to improve their existing skills, who wants to pick an instrument up again after a long hiatus, or who has never touched music in their life, lessons as a gift are a perfect place to start.

A Drummers Guide to Cleaning Cymbals

Clean cymbals can be the most eye-catching instruments on the stage. You can clean cymbals in one of five ways. This guide will teach you how to clean your cymbals and recommended cymbal polishers.

Musical Gift Giving Made Easy

For many of us, the start of the holiday shopping season is a bit terrifying. So much to do, so little time. And how do you find that perfect gift? You know, the one that makes their eyes light up when they open it? If you’re shopping for the musician in your life it can be a challenge to find just the right thing. But it doesn’t have to be. Your friends at Long & McQuade are happy to help!

Rewriting the DNA of Tone

More than an effects pedal board, the Helix, as well as its slightly stripped down counterpart the Helix LT, is the latest in a long line of processors from the tone gurus at Line 6, and in this article I will not only explore the features of the Helix, but I’ll go over concepts like amp modeling, discuss features and how they can fit into (or completely replace) your rig, and I’ll talk about all things Helix.

Data Driven Fretwork

The PLEK Station is a specialized robot that creates a high-resolution digital scan of a guitar’s fingerboard and performs fully automated fretwork. The machine collects data about the playing surface, recommends fret adjustments for optimal performance, then cuts the frets with perfect precision.

The Undisputed Champion: The Ukulele

Once looked upon as a bit of a novelty, the ukulele has been riding a wave of popularity for nearly a decade. In this blog, we will discuss why that might be, and we’ll also discuss some basics to help you choose wisely when it comes time for you to don the tights and enter the ring.

Rees Harps and the Harpsicle

There is a renaissance happening in the world of music, with growing interest in learning how to play traditional acoustic instruments. One folk instrument garnering a lot of renewed interest is the harp, and this is in no small part thanks to the efforts of the Rees Harp Company in Indiana.