The harmonica is a common (and relatively affordable) free-reed woodwind instrument played in many musical genres. With such a vast catalogue of songs, genres and harmonica types, it’s no wonder so many people pick up the harmonica. Additionally, there are a surprising number of benefits associated with learning how to play the harmonica and practicing/playing…
Portable keyboard instruments often benefit from stands, especially when performing live. From digital pianos to synthesizers to electronic keyboards and even MIDI controllers, these easily movable instruments can be easily set up on stands for ergonomic, ease-of-use, and aesthetic purposes. Since portable keyboard instruments are so popular, it makes sense that there are plenty of…
The violin (often referred to as the “fiddle”) is the smallest and highest-pitched string instrument commonly used by the violin family. The instrument is commonplace in orchestras, chamber music groups such as string quartets, and solo performances. Violin/fiddle is also popular in many other musical genres, including, but not limited to, folk, bluegrass, country, and…
Drums and percussion instruments are some of the most enjoyable to play but often require hardware to support them and keep them in place. Drums are very popular instruments, and while drum manufacturers tend to offer their own hardware, the top drum brands may not necessarily make the best-of-the-best hardware. When it comes to choosing…
Electronic drums have become a viable alternative to acoustic drums, not only for quieter practice at home but also for enhanced timbral variety thanks to sampled and synthesized sounds. When it comes to choosing the best electronic drum kit (or single drum for your kit), there are plenty of options. In this article, we’ll consider…
The tambourine is a common percussion instrument, finding itself in the hands of many performers as well as being incorporated into drum and percussion kits. Tambourines are used in a wide variety of musical genres around the world. When it comes to choosing the best tambourine, there are plenty of options. In this article, we’ll…
Online learning resources, be it courses, videos, written content, one-on-one coaching, apps, et cetera, provide fantastic opportunities to learn (and teach) bass guitar and understand music more generally. Though nothing truly beats dedicated in-person bass lessons, there are plenty of excellent alternatives online. Note that by “resources,” I’m not only referring to video tutoring and…
The mandolin is the smallest, highest-pitched and most popular instrument from the “mandolin family,” comprised of the mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, mandocello, mandobass and other related instruments. Mandolins come in a variety of build styles, including Neapolitan/round-backed, archtop and flat-backed types. The instrument types are commonplace in European classical and traditional music, American folk and bluegrass,…
Most electric guitars come with various pickups. At times, these can be selected through switches, providing players with the advantage of various configurations and combinations that largely depend on the number of pickups available. How do guitar pickup switches work? A pickup selector switch triggers the pickups that will send signals to the amplifier. Most…
An electric guitar works through a device called a “pickup”, which is a transducer that translates vibration into electricity and delivers signals to the amplifier. Pickups can be made with one, two, and, to a lesser extent, three coils, each one basically comprising the wiring wound to a set of magnets. Depending on the number…
Guitar pickups produce different outputs depending on their setup, build quality and positioning. Some pickups produce a higher output than others, but determining what constitutes a high-output pickup can become tricky. What would be considered a high-output guitar/bass pickup? High-output pickups are the ones that transfer stronger signals to the amplifier relative to the string’s…
Electric guitars and basses are, for the most part, solid-bodied, meaning that they have no soundhole and rely entirely on electric or electromagnetic induction through pickups. Acoustic guitars and basses ordinarily produce sound through their soundhole, but it may not be enough for large venues, so some of them have pickups fitted. The question would…
