Guitar phrasing is often misunderstood as something mysterious or advanced. In reality, it begins with a simple but challenging idea: learning when not to play. Many beginner and beginner-intermediate guitar players believe that better solos come from more notes, faster runs, and constant motion. But some of the…
Guitar dynamics are one of the most misunderstood elements of great playing. Many guitarists spend years chasing tone through pedals, pickups, and amp settings, only to discover that their sound still feels flat, stiff, or lifeless. The truth is both simpler and harder to accept: your tone lives…
You know the feeling. You’re strumming along, hitting every chord cleanly, nailing the changes, and yet something’s missing. The part sounds flat. Mechanical. The missing ingredient? Guitar syncopation, the rhythmic technique that transforms lifeless strumming into the kind of groove that makes people move. It’s the difference between…
How do I make my melodies sound sad or nostalgic? The first step to making melodies sound sad or nostalgic is to choose the right sound – pianos, strings, guitar, and synths work well. Then, you’ll use composition techniques that incorporate minor scales or modes like Dorian or…
We’ve all been there. You pick up your guitar, tune up, and… play the exact same lick you played yesterday. And the day before. It’s the dreaded intermediate plateau. You have the chops, but you lack the vocabulary to express something new. This is where the art of…
How do you choose the right lo-fi plugins for your setup? Choosing the right lo-fi plugins comes down to your experience level, budget, and the kind of beats you want to make. There is no single perfect setup, but there are solid options that make sense at every…
Here’s a truth most intermediate guitarists need to hear: your rhythm playing is the backbone of everything you do on the fretboard. You can shred pentatonic runs all day, but if your time wobbles and your comping sounds like strumming through mud, you’re leaving serious musicality on the…
From the silver screen to your headphones, the high-octane world of K-pop requires a level of sonic polish that is both surgical and cinematic. In the Golden Globe-winning film K-Pop Demon Hunters, the music defines the world. We sat down with two architects of the film’s soundtrack: producer…
Common questions about sound design plugins What is the difference between a monophonic and a polyphonic synth for sound design? A monophonic synth plays one note at a time. That’s great for basses, leads, and expressive sound effects. A polyphonic synth plays chords or multiple simultaneous voices. This…
You remember the feeling: that initial rush when you first mastered the F chord, or the lightning bolt of excitement when your first pentatonic solo actually sounded like music. But lately, when you head into the woodshed, things feel different. You’re playing the same riffs, your fingers feel…
