Do you like to drink before singing?
I usually like a drink or two before I go on stage. It can also help relax my vocal cords beforehand. Do you like a bit of "Dutch Courage" as well, and if so, how much?
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What's the most difficult chord to play?
What's the most difficult guitar chord you know? Feel free to show pictures!
Welcome to the new site!
Thank you for being here. I started this site to bridge the gap between online forums (too clunky) and social media (too general), specifically for musicians like me and…
Why song endings often need more arrangement work than introductions
Bands usually discuss how a song begins, but endings are often left as “we will feel it”. That can work, yet unclear endings are one of the quickest ways to make an other…
Building a reliable live keyboard rig without carrying too much
Keyboard rigs grow quickly because every extra sound suggests another device, stand, cable or power supply. Reliability improved when we designed around the actual set ra…
Using a click track live without making the band feel rigid
A live click can tighten cues, loops and time-based effects, but it should support the band rather than replace listening. The biggest improvement for me was treating the…
Tracking down hum and noise on a guitar pedalboard
Pedalboard noise is easier to solve when the chain is simplified methodically. I start with guitar straight into amp, then add the board with every pedal bypassed, and fi…
How to make a two-hour band rehearsal genuinely productive
A rehearsal can disappear into repeated full-song run-throughs without resolving the sections that actually need work. A simple agenda has helped us: arrive prepared, ide…
What should you treat first in a small home recording room?
It is easy to spend money on foam without identifying the actual problem. In a small room, the first priorities are usually listening position, speaker placement, early r…
A realistic vocal warm-up for gig days when time is limited
A useful warm-up does not need to be a 45-minute ritual. On busy gig days I prefer a short sequence that checks coordination without tiring the voice: gentle semi-occlude…
Bass DI, miked cabinet, or both for small live shows?
There are three common approaches to bass at a small show: DI only, cabinet microphone only, or a blend. DI is predictable and keeps low end clean, but it can miss the ch…
Drum tuning for small rooms: less ring or simply better balance?
In small venues I often hear “take all the ring out of the kit”, but completely dead drums can disappear once guitars and vocals start. I have had more success keeping a…