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Living the Freelance Life

There are many career options available to a musician who is skilled at their instrument; some folks create original material at home, some play in bands, others might choose to audition for orchestras or perhaps work in the pit for a show that travels the country. The type of work is as varied as the genres of music in which to work:...

The World of Sound Healing

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in exploring the therapeutic uses of sound. While this development is not exclusive to drums and percussion, the percussion industry has really stepped up to offer a wide array of instruments with sound therapy in mind.

Ohm Improvement: Get a Great Tube Tone Quietly at Home

Tube amplifiers. They’re warm, they’re often heavy, and they’re loud. All of this said, guitarists can’t seem to get enough of them, and the history is there to prove that....

The Starting Power of Two-Chord Songs

Two chord songs allow you to practice all the things you need to keep a song flowing, like steady rhythm and connected chord changes, while keeping your chord decisions to a minimum.

It’s All About that Short Scale Bass

People come in all shapes and sizes, and so should instrument choices. Whether you’re looking for a bass for a younger learner, an adult with a smaller frame and hands, or you just want a bass that is more comfortable to play - there are many fantastic short scale bass options on the market.

Ukuleles for Songwriting

Ukuleles can be beneficial for beginners and advanced players, as it is a physically easy instrument to play. Writing songs on the ukulele frees your mind to be more creative and focus more on melodies and lyrics instead of focusing most of your mental energy on the physical chord changes and rhythmic patterns.

Exploring the Guitar Family of String Instruments

The guitar family of instruments makes up a large part of the string instrument family. From guitars to mandolins, uncover the popular string instruments that shape music across genres.

Proper Fretboard Maintenance - A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn essential tips and steps for proper guitar fretboard maintenance. Keep your guitar sounding and looking great with a comprehensive guide on cleaning and caring for your guitar fretboard.

8 Things You Need to Know Before Starting Music Lessons

Before you start your music education, there are 8 things you need to know before starting music lessons to make the most of your musical journey.

Choosing the Right Guitar

Which guitar is right for you? Learn which guitar is the best to buy for beginners between the acoustic, classical and electric guitar. Choose the right one!

Gibson Month Livestreams

Check out our YouTube livestreams discussing all things Gibson!

Getting Started on Slide Guitar

It’s a high lonesome sound that shivers and quivers, swoops and soars. Stars who’ve fallen under its spell and tried their hand include Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Winter and George Harrison. Here are some tips to help you get started on the slide guitar!

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.

All About Strings

The strings on your guitar, bass, or other stringed instrument are a key component of your guitar’s sound. There is a lot of misinformation on how to choose strings, how often they need to be changed, or even how to change them. In this article, I’ll explain the basics of string choice and maintenance, as well as explain some of the common myths surrounding them.

Guitarist Gift Guide: The Essentials

Still need the perfect gift for that picky guitar player? This article has some great ideas that will aid you in your search for the gift that should be on the wish list of even the most persnickety of guitar players. We focus on the bare essentials that any guitar player, from newbie to pro, will appreciate.

Guitar Picks: A Plethora of Plectrum Possibilities

People often ask us what picks are best for a beginner, what pick is good for country music, or what is the BEST pick. Picks come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colours and materials. This article will enlighten and educate you on the humble plectrum and how it can be the most important part of your tone.

PLEK: The Best Your Guitar Can Be

Whatever your playing abilities are, if you are serious about your playing it is worth asking yourself the question: Is my instrument as good as it could be? And if the answer to that question is not a resounding “yes”, then the Plek Station might be able to help.

Acoustic Guitars 101

Many guitar-making pioneers got their start in the cabinet-making business, raiding old furniture for their materials, and while you aren't likely to find old teacups rattling around inside, an acoustic guitar body is akin to a sealed wooden dish cabinet. 

Classical Guitars 101

When you hear the term "acoustic guitar", it usually refers to steel string instruments, favoured by folk, blues, and rock guitarists. Nylon-string classical guitars produce a soft, smooth sound, and are used to play all sorts of genres.

Slide Guitars: What types are there and what defines them?

There are many types of slide guitars used for various styles and sounds, and the terms for these instruments often get thrown around without a clear understanding of what they mean. Here’s a guide to help you sort out some of the confusion.

Questions to Ask When Buying an Acoustic Guitar

I have sold acoustic guitars at Long & McQuade for years, and have been asked many very good questions from customers – questions that you should ask yourself before buying your next guitar.

Three Great – and Affordable – Acoustic Performance Guitars

In my experience, when buying a guitar, I have found that you don’t have to spend a mint to get a great instrument. Most of the guitars in my own collection cost less than a thousand dollars – and many of them are gems.

Strings Attached - A Guide to Acoustic Guitar Strings

It's important to choose the right kind of strings for your guitar. This guide is intended to help you understand the different types of strings so you can get your instrument sounding its absolute best while improving playability.

Health and Safety - Hearing Protection for Musicians

Health and safety issues aren’t much fun to think about, but are of crucial importance for anyone who wants to continue enjoying music. Amongst the risks faced by musicians hearing loss is without doubt at the top of the list.

Guitar Care Guide

Guitars require adjustments on a regular basis to maintain proper playability and performance. A guitar setup is a complete adjustment and calibration of the entire instrument to ensure that it is as playable and as responsive as possible.

Acoustic Guitar Guide: Aren't all guitars just ... guitar shaped?

At first glance, acoustic guitars can look pretty much all the same. But in fact they come in all sorts of sizes, styles and shapes, which can have a dramatic effect on volume, tone, and playability.

Acoustic Guitar Pickups

An important consideration when buying an acoustic guitar is whether you want it to come equipped with microphones, pick-ups, tuners, or other built-in electronics. This article will help answer some necessary questions.