Ged When you’re just starting out learning how to play guitar one of the first things you need to understand is how to read chord boxes. As a beginner guitar player, you might be intimidated by the look of these diagrams. … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
Guitar scales are essentially ‘organized sequences of notes’ but they are so much more than a few notes strung together. For the aspiring guitarist, they’re vitally important to master. As a fundamental piece of music theory, practicing them helps you … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
Social media is a crucial channel for any aspiring musician, but unless you have a label doing it all for you, you’re going to need to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself. The good news? It’s not that … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
So you want to learn how to play guitar? Great. It’s well worth the effort, and as instruments go, it’s one of the easiest to learn. There are even a ton of health benefits attributed to doing it too. So what’s … Read more
So, you’ve been rehearsing with your bandmates for several weeks now, you have a set together and are finally feeling ready to start gigging. But what can you do to make sure everything runs smoothly? As someone with 10 years … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
All guitarists have a vague idea that guitar pickups are the things that generate sound on a guitar. However, for many, understanding stops there. In this expert guide, we’re going to take a look at how they work, all the … Read more
At a glance, banjos may appear similar to other stringed instruments such as the guitar or violin, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, they’re rather complex and are made using some pretty novel technology! So, what … Read more
With today’s technology, you can make an incredibly professional sounding home recording studio with very little money. Plus you’ll have access to it in your home, making it super convenient (and cheap). You’ll also become a guru of making and engineering music, … Read more
If you’re a violinist or fiddle player, it’s likely that at times you will need to be amplified. Whether it’s for the sake of recording, a performance with a band or even just to try out having some fun with … Read more
The ukulele is the guitars younger – and has to be said – more fun little brother. Simple to learn, easy on the ear, amazingly portable, these little guys have a lot going for them. If you’re just starting out, … Read more
Just bought your first guitar??? Cool! You’ll need to know how to tune it then. In this article, we’re going to give you clear instructions on every step. Let’s get cracking then. Standard Guitar Tuning: EADGBe We’re going to tune … Read more
I get it. You’re a musician and want to make music, and don’t have the time or inclination to mess about tweeting, posting, vlogging or any of that nonsense. But here’s the truth: if you want your music to go … Read more
The concert ukulele was developed in the 1920s as an ‘enhanced’ soprano ukulele, being a little larger and deeper in tone, generally of a higher quality and more commonly used on stage. The tuning is G, C, E, A just … Read more
If you’re a drummer or thinking about becoming a drummer, you no doubt love the feel of an acoustic drum kit. That bounce, the responsiveness, the noise… The noise. Unfortunately, that noise that’s so much fun when you’re the one … Read more
Even the best beginner kits often come with low-quality skins which struggle to stay in tune for long or survive a beating. Of course, a premium drum kit with excellent skins is going to cost a small fortune, so one … Read more
Cymbals are an integral part of any drum kit. Although they look like a simple hunk of cyclical metal, there’s more to them than meets the eye, and an incredible amount of mastery goes into making the best ones. In … Read more
Along with the Strat and Les Paul, the much loved ‘Tele’ has helped to forge modern guitar-based music. Leo Fender released the world’s first one in 1951, probably with little idea that his design was going to be so popular. … Read more
The benefits of learning to play music have been proven time and time again, so why do so many adults and children not take up an instrument? If there’s one reason, especially among adults, it’s because they think it’s too … Read more
The electric guitar has been used in blues music since the 1940s. Muddy Waters bought his first electric in 1944 and quickly hit the clubs, asking for an amp everywhere he went with his band. “Can’t nobody hear you with … Read more
Humbuckers are what gives us those warm, thick and rich sounds associated with blues, rock, metal and even jazz. While jazz players favor them for their warmth, many genres of rock use this type of pickup for the punch they … Read more
It may seem pretty unnecessary to consider which guitar strap you’ll be using before you play a gig or start learning guitar; however, the right one can make a huge difference to your playing. Some guitars, especially Les Paul and … Read more
Playing gigs and jamming with mates is great fun, but practicing is where all the hard work happens. But here’s the thing: most guitar amps sound great when you turn them right up, but don’t when they’re at low volume. Here’s … Read more
Distortion is the bedrock of blues, rock, and heavy metal music. There are few sounds more iconic than the roar of a distorted guitar. But as you’ve probably realized there’s a bewildering number of effects pedals to choose from. In this … Read more
Delay is one of the most common effects used in almost every genre of music and is one of those must-have effects pedals that every guitarist should own. In this article, we take an in-depth look into what this effect … Read more
Overdrive is a staple part of any guitarist’s diet, and usually one of the first effects pedals the beginner guitarist buys. In contrast to distortion, overdrive preserves some clean guitar tone but also mixes in extra crunch and volume, emulating the … Read more
If you play bass guitar, you’ll know some techniques create louder sounds than others, e.g., if you use the slap and pop technique, you’ll be louder than when you use two fingers to walk around bass lines. Or if you … Read more
Les Pauls are classic looking and hugely versatile guitars, used in lots of styles from metal to rock to reggae. The guitar’s small shape makes it a breeze to play, and it’s arguably the coolest looking one on the market. The … Read more
Compressor pedals are perhaps the most overlooked and underrated effects pedal for the guitar. Since they’re not as obvious as say, overdrive, they tend to be forgotten by those building their first pedal collection. However, in many cases, they should … Read more
Got an acoustic guitar with a built-in pickup? Wondering why it sounds awful when you plug it in? You know, unwanted noise, feedback, distortion? The most likely culprit is your guitars built-in, factory installed preamp. What you need is an … Read more
If you’re a drummer, you’ll be familiar with the problem of getting your instrument back and forth between gigs, recording studios and rehearsal rooms. Even at home, a full-size drum kit can be a problem if you’re short on space. … Read more
Struggling to concentrate, relax, or sleep due to noise? Have you ever considered a noise cancelling device? These devices help to block out unwanted, irritating noises helping you focus and get off to sleep more easily. In this article we’re going … Read more
Tube (or ‘valve’) amps are famous for producing warm, fat tones as well as generating natural distortion. They’re also incredibly responsive – if you pick gently, for example, they respond accordingly. This is why they’ve been every guitarists favorite for … Read more
Envelope filter pedals (often referred to as an ‘auto wah’) give you a wah sound without having to rock your foot back and forward on a wah-wah pedal. They are, unsurprisingly, hugely popular guitar pedals with funk players. Plus, they’re … Read more
The songwriting process can be a long, drawn-out affair. The muse, as Bob Dylan said: “cannot be willed, only welcomed”. In this article, we’ll look at what some of the best songwriters say about writing a song, plus we’ll cover some ways … Read more
Midi drum controllers work just like midi keyboards, but instead of keys, you control it via pads which you hit with sticks or with your fingers. These controllers are used with virtual instruments in sequencing software to create beats and to … Read more
If you’re here, you’re probably on the lookout for a new capo. Good move, they’re handy things to own. In this article, we guide you through all the considerations you need to think about – and believe it or not, … Read more
Who is the guitarist that experts look up to for inspiration? Who’s the best guitarist? The answer, according to some the best guitarists to ever live, is Django Reinhardt. Django Reinhardt, often simply referred to as ‘Django’ (well before the Quentin Tarantino movie) is … Read more
The snare is one of the most important components in your drum kit. Perhaps more so than with any other drum, it can change the overall sound of your kit. As you’re about to see, there are many types to choose … Read more
You might not have given the type of chair you sit on while you play guitar much thought. Well, it turns out that it’s quite an important thing for prolonging the length of your playing and practice time. In this … Read more
A drum machine is a device for creating electronically generated rhythms. It got popular in the 1980s and to this present day is still used in many forms of electronic music and pop. In this article, we review the best … Read more
The thing that makes a normal guitar a short scale guitar is the smaller distance between bridge and nut. It’s only a matter of an inch or two, but the difference is massive in terms of playability. If you’re an adult with smaller … Read more
Frustrated your amplified guitar is accompanied by an unwanted hissing, humming or buzzing sound? Maybe you’re a high gain player and the sounds you need to secure your heaviness come with a frustrating in-between buzz. Here’s the thing: unwelcome sounds … Read more
If you play electric guitar, it’s perfectly acceptable to add effects pedals. In fact, it’s expected that you do. With vocals, it’s less common to add effects. Some think they sound artificial – some even say that using one is cheating. … Read more
Electric guitars and amps are great, but they come with one major drawback: they’re incredibly loud. Turning up the volume is fine when you’re playing to a hall of your most devout fans, but when you want to practice you … Read more
Want to know the secret to every great guitar practice routine? You need to strike the right balance of technique, theory, and repertoire. Because here’s the thing: what you think is practice might not actually be helping your playing. You … Read more
Before we dive in with some advice on how to play with a metronome, you might be wondering: why oh why do I need to use one of those annoying ticking things?! I hear ya. A lot of fresh faced … Read more
Graham Coxon has been hailed as one of the greatest British guitarists of the 90s. With his band Blur he became one of the driving forces of the Britpop genre. Although this fantastic little era of music more or less … Read more
The fretboard is to the guitarist what the chess board is to a grand chess master. To play the game, you need to know every square, likewise to master the guitar you need to know every inch of the fingerboard. … Read more
George Harrison didn’t quite get all the recognition he deserved during his lifetime. While McCartney and Lennon continue to gobble up most of the credit for the juggernaut legacy of The Beatles, hardcore George Harrison fans are typically happy to … Read more
Johnny Marr has been consistently voted one of the most influential and inspirational musicians and still remains to this day a highly successful guitarist. Throughout his long career, he has written unique and massively popular music and achieved these with … Read more
Guitarists don’t get more legendary than Jimmy Page, who is most famous for playing lead guitar in one of the most popular british bands in rock history, Led Zeppelin. Universally regarded as one of the most beloved and influential guitarists … Read more
Grammy award-winning guitarist Jeff Beck never achieved the mainstream success of his contemporaries, but his most avid fans love him all the more for that. With releases exploring everything from blues to electronica, Beck is a musician who flies under … Read more
Jimi Hendrix, despite being the most innovative guitarist of his day, had a fairly limited collection of equipment in his music career. There are a number of reasons for this, his tragic death at the early age of 27 being … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
From its iconic double-horned shape to its ‘comfort contour body,’ the Stratocaster was and still is the most iconic of all electric guitars. No other guitar, except for perhaps the Les Paul or Telecaster, has made such an impact. So … Read more
A chorus pedal is used to produce a full, shimmery, layered guitar tone. The best chorus pedals work by taking the guitar’s signal and modulating it so that several, slightly different versions of the same sound are produced – like … Read more
The best P90 pickup offers a fuller sound than traditional single coils and a brighter sound with more attack than a humbucker. Imagine a sound somewhere between the meat of a Gibson ES-335 and the brightness, power, and richness of … Read more
You’re sat around the campfire with your friends. Everyone is fed and watered, the kids (if you have them) are tucked up in bed, there’s only one thing missing. A good old fashioned sing-along. We put our heads together and … Read more
88 key midi controllers offer the melodic range and playability of a full-sized piano keyboard. Although many music producers opt for smaller keyboards, full-size controllers are essential for those who want up to seven octaves beneath their fingertips. Some feel … Read more
Before computers and software-based music production came along, the multi-track recorder was how you made music. With the advent of computers, they took a bit of a hit, but now they’re back in vogue. The good news is the best … Read more
Akai’s range of Music Production Centers (or ‘MPCs’) have left an indelible mark on popular music. They made the ability to create percussion from any kind of sound a reality, creating a new art form in the process being used massively … Read more
Encouraging your kids to learn an instrument is always a great idea, and drums are relatively easy to pick up for children – they’re also a lot of fun, and have a ‘coolness’ factor to them. But here’s the thing: … Read more
Jazz drum sets are a different beast to the standard kits you see. For a start, they tend to be smaller and often use wooden shells, with maple and birch being popular choices for their tonal qualities, as well as … Read more
Imagine you’re playing a song that’s full of distorted or overdriven guitar, but you want to play certain parts louder than others. Or perhaps you’re playing a song that requires a gradual volume increase as part of an intro or build-up. … Read more
It’s a known fact that tube (or ‘valve’) amps don’t sound their best at low volumes. They produce their best tone when they’re cranked, or when their volume is turned up to the ‘sweet spot.’ The problem is that this … Read more
The Cajon has been in use since the late 16th Century in Peruvian music, but more recently, they’re popping up all over the place in modern Flamenco, Cuban and even pop performances. It is an all-in-one box which creates the … Read more
Even if you’re just a beginner guitarist, there’s no doubt that at some point along your musical journey, you’ll start using a couple of effects pedals… and usually, once you start, you can’t stop. Those of you who already own … Read more
Although power supplies may seem like a relatively boring topic, in reality, they are a significant and essential part of your guitar’s effects rig. If you have lots of pedals, it makes a lot of sense. In this article, we … Read more
We all love a brand new, sparkling, shiny guitar. The problem is that the look just doesn’t last. After a few weeks of playing, what was once a smooth, beautiful body starts to collect fingerprints, dust and even scratches. You … Read more
The octave was the first standalone effects pedals ever made. Whether it’s to give you a fuller tone (by doubling up on notes), beefing up a solo, or just helping you play octaves more efficiently, they have many applications. In this article explain … Read more
The sound of the Marshall amp has defined a generation (or two, or three) of music, and played an important role in defining Jimi Hendrix’s sound (among many others e.g. Angus Young, Billy Joe Armstrong, etc). Guitarists do everything they can to … Read more
Guitar amps go hand in hand with electric guitars. Without one, the electric guitar is rendered sort of useless. But with one…well, that’s an entirely different story. Along with guitars and pedals, amps make the sound of so many of … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
So you’ve just got your first guitar and you’re eager to start shredding it up like your idols. Sadly, that’s not going to happen today. But what you can do is learn some pretty simple riffs that sound impressive, and … Read more
In his short life (he died in 2003 at the age of 34) Elliott Smith made some truly great music – songs that will live on for a long time. In the 5 albums he released while alive (2 were … Read more
The artwork that accompanied some of the best albums of the last 50 years rarely gets the attention they deserve. So we took it upon ourselves to research the stories behind our favorites. Here’s what we found. 1. Pink Floyd – … Read more
Do you want to know the secret to improving your guitar playing? It’s this: learn more songs. Think about it for a second. We all learn a few songs when we start playing the guitar. We learn the chords to … Read more
Have you ever noticed how the perfect song can change your mood from sour to rosy; your outlook from dire and depressed to happy and hopeful? If so, you have already experienced one of the greatest effects music can have … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
While sometimes it’s purely to block out irritating noises (or people), or other times just to give us a welcome burst of energy, listening to music at work makes us more productive and helps with concentration and focus; it even … Read more
There’s no better feeling than grabbing a pair of drum sticks and tapping out a rhythm on a great sounding drum set. Drums are easily the most physical of all the instruments, and while they’re one of the easiest instruments … Read more
The guitar fretboard is the most sensitive part of the guitar (whether acoustic or electric) and the most important area to take care of. As well as regular polishing to remove sweat, dirt, and grease, it needs oiling every so … Read more
What’s the best way of extending the life of your guitar strings? The answer is simple: Keep them clean. Wiping them down after each play not only extends the life of your strings, it makes them play better too. There … Read more
The univibe effect was a massive part of the swirling, 60s sound. It came into being when sound engineers tried to replicate the sound of rotating Leslie speaker cabs – they’re pretty much essential if you want to get that Jimi Hendrix … Read more
Wondering the difference between the different sizes of ukulele? Let’s take a look… SOPRANO The soprano is the smallest form of ukulele and is usually between 20”-21” long, the body, therefore, produces the highest pitch tone, with fewer bass frequencies. … Read more
A multi-effects pedal is a stompbox that features a combination of digitally generated guitar effects. These clever devices also allow you to store your own combinations into patches, for quick, convenient use in a live setting. In this article, we went … Read more
I’ve been playing guitar for 20+ years – I go in fits and spurts, I can go days, sometimes weeks hardly picking up a guitar, and other times playing a few times a day. I’ve realised to improve you have … Read more
If you’re looking for a guitar for blues, there are plenty of fine acoustic guitars out there if you know what you’re looking for. In this article, I’m going to walk you through all the things you need to consider … Read more
If you’ve never played any musical instrument, learning ukulele can be a scary prospect. A natural first step is to learn some chords. So here goes. How to Read Ukulele Chords Before we look at some ukulele chord charts, let’s quickly … Read more
For such a cool little instrument, the ukulele or ‘uke’ hasn’t been around for too long. Originating in 19th century Hawaii, it was an adaption of the Portuguese Machete (an instrument, not the weapon). From the shores of Hawaii, it … Read more
Are you looking for a small acoustic guitar that sounds great but that’s compact enough for travel? Or maybe you want a more portable option for family outings, jamming around the campfire or beach parties. Or perhaps you’d heard that small … Read more
Looper pedals are something many musicians dabble with. They can transform solo, acoustic gigs from yawn-inducing to awe-inspiring, and they can open up endless creative options. If you’re a solo performer who longs to play guitar solos, but can’t as … Read more
Beginners often struggle with fingerpicking. It probably shouldn’t be the first thing you learn as a guitarist, but beginners are often put off, thinking its too hard. In this article, we’re going to give you some pointers on how to play this … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
Is it your first time changing your guitar’s strings? Or has it been a while and you’d like a quick recap? If the answer is ‘yes’ to either question, then this simple guide will get your instrument restrung in no … Read more
GedGed is Founder and Editor-in-chief at Zing Instruments. He’s a guitarist for London based gypsy jazz band ‘Django Mango’ and a lover of all things music. When he’s not ripping up and down the fretboard, he’s tinkering with his ’79 … Read more
