Gibson debuted the ES-335 guitar in 1958. It was a semi-hollow design that quickly earned the nickname “Dot” because of the Pearloid inlay developed for the instrument. Several unique innovations were part of the original ES-335, including the guitar offering the first thin line archtop that musicians could purchase. In […]
Music
Why Is Rhythm Guitar so Hard?
When someone picks up a guitar for the first time, they almost always get a feel for the instrument’s rhythm. Each chord strum creates specific body movements that correlate into a 1-2-3-4 beat. The rhythm a guitarist establishes can help them establish melodies, backgrounds, or percussive elements while giving momentum […]
Nitro vs. Poly Finish – Which Guitar Finish Is Better?
If you want to find the best guitar to accommodate your playing style, one of the instrument’s attributes to consider is its finish. You can find two standard options offered for sale today. If you prefer something vintage or old-school, a nitrocellulose lacquer should be your preference. It’s perfect for […]
Has Anyone Been Banned from Steve Hoffman Forums?
Steve Hoffman is a mastering engineer. You’ve likely heard his work with The Who, Buddy Holly, and many others. After spending several years working on album reissues and direct mastering, Hoffman decided to become an influencer in the audiophile world. When Hoffman works on an album, you don’t need to […]
Don’t Be Nervous about Adjusting Your Truss Rod!
At some point, almost all guitars develop a bit of a bow to the neck. Depending on the weight, playing style, and storage conditions the instrument faces, it can shift upward or backward. When this issue occurs, the easiest way to fix the guitar is to adjust the truss rod. […]
Open G vs. Open C Tuning
Do you wonder how guitarists can remember the different notes, chords, and fingerings from their other alternative tuning options? It seems like an impossible task to learn the dozens of different potential tuning options that work for the guitar. How can anyone keep them straight? What you’ll discover is that […]
Shipping a Violin from the US to the UK: FedEx or UPS?
When you want to ship a violin from the USA to the UK, almost any shipping service is suitable for this need. Two of your best options are FedEx and UPS. You can also choose Airborne, DHL, or even the U.S. Postal Service for this task. Some shippers are more […]
Do Do Dodododo: What Is This Song? Please Help? [SOLVED]
Have you ever had a song get stuck in your head without knowing what it was or who performed it? Even with the Internet’s help today, it isn’t always easy to identify a tune when the only thing you have is the melody. One of today’s top questions about music […]
Amazing Sounding “Gouzouki” or Bouzouki
The Gouzouki or Bouzouki is an instrument that goes by several different names. You’ll discover the most common one is the bouzouki. Although it looks like an acoustic guitar at first, it doesn’t take long for you to see that it has eight strings instead of six. The body shape […]
Should You Label Your Piano Keyboard?
When you start learning how to play the piano, the 88 keys you have to learn can seem overwhelming. How do you know what ones to play? If you have trouble remembering which key corresponds to each note on your keyboard, one of the best learning strategies is to label […]