Category Archives: Gear

Baritone Guitar: How to Transpose on the Fly

To transpose on the fly with a baritone, knowing a little music theory goes a long way. This is different than slapping on a capo or imagining your guitar with a capo that can lower the notes, all of the notes are in different places. Even tuning takes on a slightly different meaning. Let me […]

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MIDI for Guitarists: How to Unlock Infinite Potential

MIDI for guitarists seems like an oxymoron that only a moron would actually consider. However, I have been hard at work getting the latest addition to my home rig configured – a MIDI pedalboard. Back in my post entitled, Do You Have G.A.S?, I mention my virtual studio. It is one of many paths to […]

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Building v.s. Buying a Guitar: How to Avoid Disaster!

When considering whether to build a guitar, your own style and skill are major determinants in success. These tips will help you decide.

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How to Travel With a Guitar: 3 Solid Ideas

You want to travel with a guitar and you are not a professional musician. How can you take your music with you and still keep your load light? I’ve been doing this for years and have accumulated a few ideas that you might want to implement. Whether you are driving or flying or cruising the […]

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Choosing the Best Guitar For You: Does Size Matter?

Choosing the Best Guitar for you can be a challenge. So many types and styles can get you lost in confusion. I touched on the subject of size in a previous post about How to Get Started and I would like to expand on that a bit. I’m a big guy. My wife is…not so […]

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How to choose a pick: A simple guide

How to choose a pick, like everything, depends on several things: Style of music Type of guitar String Gauge Your style of playing You can use finger picks, finger nails or flat picks. For now, let’s concentrate on flatpicks and tackle the others at another time. I use any of the above depending on the […]

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Should I mic or go direct?

Mic or go direct is a good question and the answer is not a simple one. Is this live or for recording? What sound are you trying to capture? What do you consider is part of your signal chain? Acoustic or electric guitar? So many questions… Let’s get started. I answered a post on the […]

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Budget guitars: They need love, too!

You might start looking at budget guitars if you are just beginning to learn how to play or even just thinking about it. I hesitate to call them “cheap” guitars as those in the bottom price range have become quite good! Let’s explore this a little bit. There was a hilarious series of articles in […]

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A little amp leaves a big impression

In my last blog post, I wrote about Charlie Daniels recent passing. I also mentioned how I saw him in concert. There is a detail I did not mention about that experience that made me look at my rig in a whole new way. The band played on an enormous stage in an arena and […]

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