Lead guitar looks impressive, which is one of the reasons why a lot of students also tend to be intimidated by it. But basic lead guitar – and I do mean basic – is much easier to learn than basic rhythm guitar. Surprised? After all, with lead guitar, you only have to play one note…
Sweep picking is cool and flashy, and players like Yngwie Malmsteen make it look appear effortless. As it so happens, it is considered advanced technique by many. But if you’re going to start, you might as well start now. There aren’t that many advantages to waiting to learn how to sweep. It’s an aspect of…
If there’s one thing we know about promotion and branding, it’s that visual marketing works. The problem is that most musicians aren’t graphic designers. The software can be learned with a lot of patience and time, but many of the programs are too confusing, under-powered, or unreasonably expensive to be practical. Becoming a Photoshop guru…
If you’re reading this, it means you’re interested in becoming a better guitarist. To get there, we must get back to the basics. Much of what follows will be review for you if you’ve been playing guitar for any length of time. But that’s not a bad thing, because we all need some reinforcement from…
Many artists dream of one day earning a sponsorship deal with their favorite clothing company or big brand. The good news is that this dream may not be that far out of reach. The not-so-good news is that it’s going to take some work. You have to build a following, and you have to know…
You might be surprised by the types of guitarists that use fingerstyle guitar techniques in their playing – James Hetfield (Metallica), Mark Tremonti (Creed, Alter Bridge), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), and even Eddie Van Halen! So if John Denver or Chet Atkins is what first came to mind when you heard the word “fingerstyle”, it’s…
If you’ve been in the music industry for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the terms “LP” and “EP” before. But what exactly do these terms mean, and how do they differ from each other? This is something you should definitely be aware of as an artist, so let’s take a look. The Origin…
What’s the most aggressive style of music on the guitar? Is it metal? Djent? Funk? Believe it or not, it’s actually country. When you really listen to all of the snapping and popping that happens in a typical country solo or lead lick, it’s not hard to see why. Even if you have no plans…
You’ve heard about house concerts. Perhaps you’ve even considered playing one. But you’re not entirely sure how they work or what you can do to get booked for one. You don’t know what to expect. Fortunately, house concerts are typically set up to serve the artist, and the terms are almost always in favor of…
Contrast exists in every facet of the world: day and night, happiness and sadness, love and hate, male and female (note I did not say opposite, I said contrast). In music, legato is typically seen as the contrasting element to staccato. In essence, you can’t really have one without the other. From a broader perspective,…
We live in exciting times. There have never been more ways to market your music for free, and every day there are new tools, resources, apps, and websites popping up! The key to your success, then, is to figure out what works for you, and then keep doing that. Pursuing every single avenue could be…
Rhythm is what separates one genre of music from another. Sure, the accompaniment, the chords and riffs, the melodies and harmonies all play a part. But jazz tends to have a very different rhythm than rock, and reggae is a little different than the blues. If not for differences in rhythmic patterns, the division lines…
Attentive, engaged, and buying audience members. A cozy, intimate environment. A solid pay check, and maybe even food and accommodations for the night. All the marketing handled on your behalf. Every artist has different dreams, but for some, the above describes the perfect gig. If this sounds intriguing to you, you’ll be glad to know…
A capo is on practically every guitarist’s recommended accessory list. Why is that? Does every guitarist use a capo? No. But do many guitarists use them? Absolutely. Whether you’re an amateur or a pro, there are no rules against using a capo. You are not a lesser or better guitarist for using one. It really…
There are a variety of different channels you can use to market your music, from traditional methods like radio and TV, to modern digital marketing tools like Snapchat and Periscope. Some are free. Others cost a bit of money. And still others cost a lot of money. The old idiom, “nothing ventured, nothing gained” certainly…