Do you pay attention to news and world events? Are you fascinated by what’s happening across the globe, and do you have strong opinions about it? If so, your attention on the media could actually be benefiting your music career. Not in a sleazy, manipulative kind of way, but more in a relevant, timely and…
You may have noticed how some of the greats – past or present – aren’t just tasteful, fast, or technical guitar players. Many of them are really flexible too! Some of my students like to point out how small and stubby their fingers are, but if you know anything about working out, you know that…
A booking agent is one of the most important team members to bring on board. Many artists actually start with an agent, even before they have management and label support. The reason for this is that there are many levels and types of agents, and you are not obligated to stay with the same one…
Social media sites come and go. But Instagram and Pinterest are among the few sites that have risen quickly through the ranks and have even shown some staying power. What they have in common is that they are both visually-focused platforms. Pictures and videos drive huge engagement, which is why these content types are the…
Wouldn’t you love to be able to jump into any band or musical situation and fill in the spaces with awesome guitar licks? The more experience you gain as a musician, the easier this becomes. But you need to have a willingness to explore the fretboard, even if what you’re playing doesn’t sound that great…
Sending emails can seem like half your job when you’re a musician. But when you take a step back to think about what it must be like to be on the receiving end of such emails, you soon realize emails can take up a ton of valuable head space, time, and storage on one’s email…
Snapchat has quickly risen through the ranks as a popular social media app, and its user base is growing so fast that it may even exceed that of Twitter and Pinterest by the end of the year. More than just a communication tool, marketers and musicians everywhere have been experimenting with the platform to start…
It seems like every artist is getting into crowdfunding these days. As a musician, there’s just too much to pay for and too little money! Crowdfunding can be the answer to your financial woes. It can be a great way to connect with the audience you’ve built through little videos, shows, personalized “thank you’s”, and…
Even in today’s internet-centric world, traditional media such as radio, TV, and direct mail can be incredibly effective promotional tools. TV represents an ever-increasing opportunity for musicians, as new channels continue to be introduced – niche shows and commercials along with them. But it can also be a highly competitive field to get into. So…
As you look to explore new genres, add some flavor to your playing, or read off of lead sheets at Sunday morning church services, there may come a time when you need to learn chords you’ve never heard of or tried before. If you’re relatively new to guitar, 7 chords probably fall under this category….
At some point in your touring career, you’re going to need to cross the border. Whether you’re an American looking to build a new market up in Canada, or you’re a Canadian trying to crack the American scene, or even if you’re looking to tour to Europe, Australia, or Asia, you’re going to have to…
As a guitarist, it’s beneficial to be able to play in a variety of different styles. And although note and chord choices sometimes do define a style, more often than not, the rhythmic patterns do more to evoke a particular genre or feel than the notes themselves. Syncopated rhythms are what define dance music. And…
Everyone should know by now that mailing lists are extremely important. Whether it’s in the music world or in the world of marketing, an email is the golden ticket to direct marketing that everybody wants. As a musician, you principally want two things: people at your shows, and people viewing and listening to your content….
Not to be too dramatic, but instrumentation can sometimes make or break a song. You might have a beautiful melody and clever, thought-provoking lyrics, but if the music surrounding your voice is clashing and interfering with it, the message isn’t going to come across as intended. So what kind of backing tracks should you use…
The old guitarist joke is that singing is wasted time between guitar solos. This is because guitarists are always looking for opportunities to show off their skills, be flashy, and play parts that keep themselves entertained. Solos are where stylistic choices and creativity really have a way of shining through. And while the ability to…