I’m sure you’ve noticed that tube amps have quite a cult following. New guitar players may wonder if it’s all marketing and snobbery, or if there really is something magical about these amps. To understand the obsession with tube amps, …
Using Guitar Pedals With a Bass
Effects pedals are more commonly associated with guitar than bass. It is not unusual to see a lead guitarist stomping on a dozen pedals to create elaborate solos while the bass player is holding down the low end with a …
How to Play Guitar Quietly
In most situations where you need to play electric guitar quietly, even a low-watt amp is just too loud. You’re better off either playing unplugged or using headphones with your amp or a program like GarageBand. Part of the fun …
Troubleshooting Your Guitar Rig
Like many players out there, I have several pedals that have been off the pedal board for some time. Honestly, it’s been about five years since my rig was at full strength. The other day I ventured downstairs, broke down …
How to Play Guitar with Arthritic Hands or Fingers
My wife’s 90-year-old grandmother has been drinking a glass of black cherry juice every morning for several decades now. It sounds weird, but she swears it keeps the arthritis in her hands at bay. This got me thinking about the …
How to Score a Great Guitar at a Yard Sale
It’s always fun to cruise the sales looking for a sweet secondhand guitar, and while I have yet to score a dream guitar at a yard sale, I have never given up the dream and to this day I always scan for guitars when I pass by a yard sale.
Taking Your Guitar on a Plane? Read This Before You Pack
How do musicians take their guitar rigs on planes?The short answer is that you can bring guitar gear on commercial flights in either carry-on or checked luggage. Carrying it on the plane is the safest option, though.