Musical Instruments

Creative electric guitar designs placed James Burns' guitars ahead of their time. Now reformed the British guitar maker looks to music legends like Brian May.

Dec 1, 2009 - Jonathan Lister

What began as four men building guitar pickups in the United Kingdom would go on to create unique electric guitars for musicians such as Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath.

Dec 1, 2009 - Jonathan Lister

The Gretsch Guitar Company has been as big as Gibson and Fender. Now, with a vintage spirit the company reclaims its place in Rock & Roll and Swing music alike.

Dec 1, 2009 - Jonathan Lister

Guitars that were brought into vogue by such artists as Jack White of The White Stripes/Raconteurs/The Dead Weather have found a new home with Eastwood Guitars.

Dec 1, 2009 - Jonathan Lister

Staccato gives energy to a note, while slurring makes a note softer. Learning to do each without making a note sound sloppy takes great technique and concentration.

Nov 30, 2009 - Carmen Sofia Grant

Dynamics is more than playing loud and soft. Crescendos and diminuendos are the emotions evoked in the sheet music. Here are tips on how to convey and control dynamics.

Nov 30, 2009 - Carmen Sofia Grant

Of Leo Fender's great musical inventions none have had the staying power of the Fender Stratocaster. It has been duplicated often, but none hold a candle to the original.

Nov 29, 2009 - Jonathan Lister

The shop that first brought unique tone woods to the west coast from their Oregon workshop has built a strong market for electric guitars as well.

Nov 29, 2009 - Jonathan Lister

So, you think you've heard everything? Well, maybe not. Check out these strange instruments.

Nov 23, 2009 - Alison Lyke

Getting better at the flute takes dedication. Learning how develop the agility of the fingers and controlling that power between them and the brain takes perseverance.

Nov 21, 2009 - Carmen Sofia Grant

Budding drummers wanting to rock out on their iPhone need to look no further than Drum Kit Lite. With actual drum set graphics, this free app is worth the download time.

Nov 18, 2009 - Paul Williams

Grand Lite, developed by Peterb, is one of many quality free piano apps available for the iPhone. Large keys and a clear sound make this app worthy of a download.

Nov 17, 2009 - Paul Williams

Good tone starts with continuous and steady airflow to the instrument. Breathing practices and using a tuner will improve intonation and create a round and rich sound.

Nov 16, 2009 - Carmen Sofia Grant

Playing in tune is more than tuning one note and moving on. Learning to tune a flute properly takes great dedication to understanding each flute and its characteristics.

Nov 14, 2009 - Carmen Sofia Grant

Bloom is one of the most innovative App Store downloads. It brings a peaceful, calm interlude to any hectic day through interactive ambient music and graphics.

Nov 5, 2009 - Paul Williams

With its new 2.0 update, NLog Free establishes itself as one of the iPhone's best app values. An enhanced interface allows for easier synth tweaking and an edgier sound.

Nov 4, 2009 - Paul Williams

From special music pens to musical journals, from classic wooden metronomes to unusual instruments, these presents are bound to please guitar players and other musicians.

Nov 2, 2009 - Natalie Cooper

When it is time for a young musician to make the move from a student flute to an intermediate flute, keep these guidelines in mind to find a quality instrument.

Oct 28, 2009 - Alex Strauss

Since 1998, the most expensive drums in the world - from $5,000 for a snare drum to $75,000-plus for a complete set - have come from three workshops in suburban Detroit.

Oct 17, 2009 - Jimmy McFarlin

Steel-string acoustic guitars will sound best with new strings. Here is what to get and how to do it!

Oct 15, 2009 - Carl Dates

One of the most innovative features of the iPhone and the iPod Touch is its multi-touch interface which allows for a wide range of interesting musical applications.

Oct 14, 2009 - Paul Williams

Tips for parents helping a child choose which instrument to play in the school orchestra; and options for adults looking to start a new musical hobby.

Oct 13, 2009 - Alicia King

By learning to tune a guitar by ear, a guitarist can accomplish a skill that many professionals avoid like the plague.

Oct 13, 2009 - Tom Graves

Guitar players often focus on flashy techniques and ignore the basics of rhythm playing. Here is a simple exercise to improve your timing, guaranteed!

Oct 9, 2009 - Min-ju Chiang

The world of electronic music production is now available for every Nintendo DS owner with the Korg DS-10, a fully-fledged synthesizer and sequencer program.

Sep 25, 2009 - Paul Williams

These two instruments, the rhythm sticks or claves and the cowbell, feature prominently in Afro Carribean music. They can be made in minutes at home.

Sep 23, 2009 - Douglas Howard

A pipe recorder can be made from commonly available materials and tools. With some patience and persistence, a fine quality instrument can be made and enjoyed.

Sep 23, 2009 - Douglas Howard

Learn to play famous songs by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Creedence Clearwater Revival in only a few minutes using simple guitar chords.

Sep 21, 2009 - Matthew Miller

Buying an acoustic guitar can be a costly proposition. To get the most out of this investment, remember to examine all parts of the guitar & get advice from other players

Sep 18, 2009 - Matthew Miller

Learn to play a number of popular classic rock tunes in only a few minutes. All the songs use simple chords and can be played to impress friends and family.

Sep 17, 2009 - Matthew Miller

These two instruments, the rhythm sticks or claves and the cowbell, feature prominently in Afro Carribean music. They can be made in minutes at home.

Sep 16, 2009 - Douglas Howard

Learn to play a number of popular classic rock songs in only a few minutes. All that is needed is a knowledge of basic guitar chords.

Sep 16, 2009 - Matthew Miller

Changing humbucking guitar magnets is a relatively cheap and easy way to replace a failing magnet, to ensure the proper polarity for a split coil hum cancelling effect.

Sep 16, 2009 - Douglas Howard

Learn to play songs by The Beatles, Traffic and Bob Dylan on guitar using simple chords.

Sep 15, 2009 - Matthew Miller

He is the considered the world's foremost expert on vintage acoustic and electric stringed instruments. But George Gruhn's first passion - zoology - is never far away.

Sep 15, 2009 - Devan Stuart

Learn to play popular songs by Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Neil Young, The Animals and Jethro Tull in only a few minutes.

Sep 14, 2009 - Matthew Miller

For the guitarist, here are five essential songs to learn that are easily recognizable, easy to learn, and will give you that feeling of cool when you learn to play them.

Sep 10, 2009 - John Shults

Anyone interested in learning popular guitar music will find it necessary and extremely handy to learn to read guitar tab.

Sep 6, 2009 - Mark Brenndorfer

A guitarist has to consider the cost of the guitar and equipment. Learning the music can be expensive. With a computer and the internet, learning music can be free.

Sep 3, 2009 - John Shults

Musicians don't have to spend thousands to get a quality instrument. For a few dollars, a buyer can get a hold of a great guitar that can provide hours of enjoyment.

Aug 31, 2009 - John Shults

Finger strength is essential for playing any instrument. In this thrid article we move into stretching and finger placement exercises.

Aug 25, 2009 - Michael Catley

An Italian inventor and musician, Bartolomeo Cristofori, created the piano about three hundred years ago. Subsequently, it has become the world's most popular instrument.

Aug 24, 2009 - Samantha Markham

The piano is the most played instrument and many people dream of having a piano in their own homes. Fortunately, it comes in a variety of styles, shapes and sizes.

Aug 24, 2009 - Samantha Markham

Finger strength is essential for playing any instrument. In this second article we continue exercises to continue building power in fingers to help speed guitar playing.

Aug 22, 2009 - Michael Catley

Finger strength is essential for playing any instrument. Therefore it is necessary to build the muscles in order to play at a higher level.

Aug 22, 2009 - Michael Catley

Zero-resistance strumming and muscular awareness are the best way to prevent or help combat any potential RSI issues a guitar player may be suffering.

Aug 19, 2009 - Robert Deskoski

Power chords can be found in virtually all types of rock music, among others. They can be easier to play than standard chord forms, and great to solo over.

Aug 1, 2009 - Jim Shelp

The piano is thought of as relatively modern. However, its very earliest origins are to be found in the B.C. era. Today, it is the most played instrument in the world.

Jul 31, 2009 - Samantha Markham

The guitar is jam-packed with musical possibilities. One can play virtually any style of music. Moreover, the guitar can be tuned in many attention-grabbing ways.

Jul 30, 2009 - Jim Shelp

For beginners, getting started with the ukulele often means buying the best ukulele possible for the lowest price. Here's how to get the most out of that first ukulele!

Jul 24, 2009 - Natalie Cooper