Electric guitars and basses have magnetic pickups located between the bridge and the neck below the strings. This design is the same, regardless of whether we speak of single-coil pickups, humbucking pickups, P90s, or other similar types. On the other hand, acoustic guitars and basses vary in terms of pickup arrangements since they have different…
Knowing that you have the right equipment can help boost your home entertainment setup. When it comes to choosing between an amplifier and a receiver, many newcomers to AV technology may require some additional context to understand what will best suit their system. Should you buy an amplifier or a receiver? If you only need…
With so many options on the market, buying your first or next pair of headphones/earphones can be overwhelming. Perhaps the first factor to consider is whether you want a proper pair of headphones or relatively simpler earbuds. Should I buy earbuds or headphones? Earbuds are bought for their lightweight, small size, easy storage, wear/style, and…
Online learning resources, be it courses, videos, written content, one-on-one coaching, apps, et cetera, provide fantastic opportunities to learn (and teach) how to play the drums and understand music more generally. Though nothing truly beats dedicated in-person drum lessons, there are plenty of excellent alternatives online. Note that by “resources,” I’m not only referring to…
The banjo is a staple string instrument in genres spanning American folk, bluegrass and country to Caribbean biguine, calypso and mento. Since banjos are such beloved instruments, it comes as no surprise that there are plenty of options to choose from on the market. This isn’t only true of individual instruments but also of solo luthiers and larger brands. Of…
The bagpipes are a unique woodwind instrument utilizing enclosed reeds. Though the most well-known bagpipes reign from Scotland, these instruments are played around the world in marching and military bands, solo performances and other situations. There are plenty of options when it comes to choosing the best bagpipes. In this article, we’ll consider the top 11…
The ukulele is a fairly popular string instrument, particularly in Hawaii. Ukes come in four common sizes: soprano, concert, tenor, and baritone. Since the ukulele is so well known and played, it makes sense that there are plenty of options to choose from on the market. With such a wide variety of ukuleles, knowing the…
The English horn (also referred to as the “cor anglais”) is a double-reed woodwind instrument in the oboe family. Though part of the oboe family, the English horn is often differentiated by its larger size (1.5x that of an oboe) and its lower pitch. English horns, like oboes, are commonly used in orchestra and chamber music ensembles or as solo…
Steel guitars are interesting and beloved string instruments capable of superb portamento and vibrato. Their sound is popular in Hawaiian music (where the steel guitar originated) and blues, rock, honky-tonk, gospel and bluegrass. When it comes to choosing the best steel guitar, there are plenty of options, namely in the categories of lap and pedal steel. In this article,…
The ocarina is a vessel flute-style wind instrument popularized by the Legend of Zelda video game series. The instrument has been historically used in Chinese and Mesoamerican music and has seen use in chamber music, orchestral composition, and solo performances. Though the ocarina isn’t an overly popular instrument, there are still plenty of options to…
The sousaphone is the lesser-known brass instrument relative to the tuba, designed for easier playing when standing or marching. Though not as popular as the tuba, there are plenty of options for student, intermediate and professional sousaphonists. This isn’t only true of individual instruments but also solo sousaphone makers and larger brands. With such a…
The bassoon and contrabassoon are popular double-reed woodwind instruments found in orchestral, concert band, and chamber music, as well as in jazz and pop music (though not as commonly). Since the bassoon is such a popular instrument, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of options for student, intermediate and professional bassoonists. This isn’t only true of…
