Metal is a genre of delightfully confusing self-contradictions. How can such aggressive and abrasive music simultaneously feature some of the most delicate and virtuoso musicianship? How can someone who goes by Corpsegrinder act so lovably domestic while shopping at Target? My theory is that metal musicians and fans alike, are proud of the fact that …
The envelope filter is one of my most recent and exciting musical discoveries. I’m a multi-instrumental producer, and every day I layer guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, percussion, and vocals while working on song arrangements. Gradually, my sonic palette started to feel stale, limited, and a little bland. Meanwhile, I had always been aware of the …
Is there a type of music with more debate over genre labels than EDM? I’d estimate there are ten thousand EDM genres at this point. As soon as a track invents a new genre, somebody gets on Twitter to complain that the second track in that genre is not truly of that genre. Maybe there …
Eddie Van Halen owes a bigger debt of gratitude to the humble archtop guitar than he probably realizes. The very idea of a guitar hero, of a guitar solo, of “shredding”, can be traced back to the jazz box, and to understand this lineage, some music history knowledge is useful. In the first decades of …
Glitch hop music is a relatively small niche genre, itself a subgenre of glitch music. But it is part of a larger movement that I personally find fascinating: turning mechanical distortion into beautiful art. All musicians should read this amazing Brian Eno quote (you know, the guy that pioneered ambient music) that really captures the …
I never could have predicted the secret slow-burning popularity of “lofi hip hop beats to chill and study to.” But in hindsight, how could I have missed it? We’ve been heading this way for a long time. We have always had music to dance to, sing to, cry to, mosh to. And I don’t know …
So often, we listen to music as a stimulant. We crave the rhythm, the melody…and of course the deep bass. We want to feel inspired to sing, move, and dance. Ambient music shows the unique power of music, the seemingly magical quality because it exists for the opposite reason. Ambient music soothes and relaxes. It …
The cello is pure distilled elegance. Its tone is among the most gorgeous and evocative of any instrument. It has the lyrical expression and agility of the violin, in a baritone playing range. Trombone, bassoon, vocalist- nothing would sound so beautiful performing the cello’s definitive melody. The violoncello, as it is properly known, is noteworthy …
How to Mic a Cello for Live or Studio Performances Read More »
I was recently browsing a forum for Les Paul owners. Someone had posed the question, to which genre of music is the Les Paul most suited? The answers were variations on a theme, but one response summed it up nicely: “The kind with notes in it.” Yep, it’s that good. But even with a legendary …
If there’s a single instrument that requires no introduction, it’s probably the Fender Stratocaster. Regardless, allow me to wax lyrical about it. Musical instruments aside, I can think of a few products from the 20th century that are more visionary and celebrated. The Fender Stratocaster has the stature of the Ford Model T, but the …
11 Best Electric Guitar Strings For The Fender Stratocaster Read More »
