In the right hands, money is a valuable tool for furthering a worthy vision. In the wrong hands, money is little more than a means to an end. The problem (or prospect) isn’t with money – it’s with the individual using it! Some have a lot, and some have a little. For those that have…
A lot of guitar teachers tend to teach their beginner students how to play three-finger open chords in their first lesson. Don’t get me wrong – sometimes this can work. If the student is astute and hardworking, they might be able to use this experience as a launching pad to learn other skills and techniques….
It’s hard not to see the big-picture possibilities as a musician. We are living in the information age, and that means you have access to a virtually endless supply of resources, not to mention people. Interested in building a worldwide audience? The opportunity is definitely there. But before you get too carried away with your…
When it comes to lead guitar, there are certain techniques you need to master. Whether you’re trying to learn your favorite guitar solo, or you’re looking to add some flare to your band’s songs, if you don’t add any feeling to your lead playing, you’re not going to come off sounding like a pro. “Feel”…
As you begin to delve into the world of scales, you might feel a little overwhelmed. There are a lot of different scales in music, many of which aren’t immediately applicable to the musical situations you’ll likely find yourself in, especially as a beginner. But you probably won’t know the difference between what matters now…
If you’re in the music industry, then odds are good that – at one point or another – you’ve expressed the need for more time. Although there’s no way to increase the number of hours in a day, it is possible to automate more of what you do and free up more of your time…
Unless you’re exclusively a jazz guitarist, odds are there’s going to come a time in your journey when you’ll need to learn string bending techniques. Even if you’re a complete beginner, you’ve probably heard lots of examples of string bending in the music you love: the intro to Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode”, the solo…
The music you create can be used in a variety of different ways. Most musicians focus on making money with their music, and for good reason. But you can also use your music as a promotional tool to create a buzz, build your email list, or to grow your following. If you aren’t interested in…
Are you new to string skipping? Are you looking to assimilate new techniques to include in your repertoire as a guitarist? Want to test out the cool new strings you’ve just bought? The amazing thing about a seemingly simply technique like string skipping is that it can go from easy and simplistic all the way…
Looking for ways to promote your music on Instagram? Don’t worry – Instagram is not a hard platform to use. But you will need to put a little bit of forethought into your strategy if you want to make the most of it. Here are 20 quick fire Instagram marketing tips for musicians. Instagram Marketing…
A guitarist’s collection of gear inevitably grows, shrinks, and fluctuates over time. This is because a beginner often starts on inferior equipment – instruments, cables, pedals, amps and accessories that may be good enough to practice on, but aren’t ideal for recording or performing. And then, as they continue to grow and learn, guitarists usually…
If you want to take your online engagement to the next level, then you might consider setting up a forum website where your fans can go to communicate and interact with each other. This is a great way to retain your fan base over the long term. And before you claim that your fan base…
There are many different ways to play the guitar. The instrument is so adaptable, in fact, that it would be nearly impossible to learn every style, every genre, or every technique. But finger picking is a technique that’s definitely worth learning, even if you’re a dedicated metal guitarist that could care less about “slow music”,…
One of the most obvious ways to start building a presence for your music on Facebook is by setting up a fan page. Your Facebook page is a place where you can share updates, post photos, add videos, accumulate “likes”, and more. One thing is for certain – a fan page doesn’t make for a…
Chromatic scales aren’t terribly musical, but they do make for good exercises or speed drills. They can help you build your finger strength and dexterity, coordination, speed, and so on. As you probably know, there are 12 notes in the 12-tone western scale. A chromatic scale is merely a scale with all 12 pitches in…