I start by sketching something for every cue, even if it’s just a tone or a few notes, or an instrument choice. Sometimes it’s just adding text in the marker as a reminder to try opening a different session that may have an idea in it that could…
One of the biggest game-changers in your guitar journey is the ability to learn guitar fretboard notes with confidence and speed. Whether you’re struggling to find middle C on the twelfth fret or you want to unlock lightning-fast navigation across all six strings, fretboard mastery is the foundation…
What BPM should Afro house be? Afro house typically ranges between 110 and 125 BPM, a range that is conducive to expressive vocals, organic drum patterns, and hypnotic basslines. The range of 118 to 122 BPM is often preferred, giving a track energy but enough room to have…
You came up in an era defined by physical machines. How does Maschine keep that feeling alive while still giving you modern flexibility? Obviously, you can now get the sounds from every old-school outboard module you ever had (my faves were the old EMU rackmount module, for example)…
Guitar practice routine is one of the most searched phrases among players—and for good reason. If you’re an early-intermediate guitarist, chances are you’re putting in the time. You practice regularly. You care about getting better. Yet somehow, progress feels slow, uneven, or unclear. One week you’re woodshed-deep in…
From a technical standpoint, I usually use a lot of different modules inside Ozone when I’m mastering, depending on what the song needs. But for this EP, I tried to keep things more consistent. I love the Exciter module and usually play around with different types of saturation…
From Noodling to Writing: Create Your First Original Riff We have all been there. You pick up the guitar, play a few familiar licks, wander up and down a pentatonic box, and 20 minutes later you realize you have not actually created anything. Just noodled. There is nothing…
Beyond the decks: live sequencing To truly find your own sound, Hawtin suggests looking beyond standard DJ hardware. His setup includes a Launchpad running Bitwig for live percussion and melodic sequencing. Synced melodies: A step sequencer allows you to create new melodies in real time. Traktor sends the…
Creative guitar practice does not always mean learning more scales, adding more licks, or expanding your fretboard options. In fact, many players discover the opposite is true. When you intentionally limit your choices, your creativity often improves. This idea sits at the heart of one of the most…
You’ve mastered your barre chords, you can fly through pentatonic scales, and your rhythm is locked in. But when you listen to your favorite players—think the harmonic depth of Joe Pass or the modern shimmer of Julian Lage—there’s a “color” in their playing that feels just out of…
