You can have a great voice but get a mediocre sound if you don’t have the correct microphone for singing. It’s not just about the price, though. You don’t have to pay top dollar to optimise your performance. You can get great sound from a budget microphone designed specifically for vocals. We’ve collated a list of the best microphones for singing, whether you’re performing live or recording at home. All budgets are catered for—some highly-rated products are on our list for a great price.   1. Shure SM58, £119 Key features:  Built-in spherical wind and pop filter  Pneumatic sho ..read more

The prestigious BRIT Awards Rising Star has been presented annually since 2008 to the most promising up-and-coming musicians in the UK. Previous winners have included a diverse range of artists. These include Adele, Sam Smith and Rag’n’Bone Man, all recognised for their exceptional talent and potential to impact the global music industry. But not all recipients of the award went on to do great things. Amidst the now-household names, many Rising Star winners and nominees struggled to live up to the hype. Potentially lacking the star power required to make it in this notoriously tough industry ..read more

Whether you’ve been DJing in your bedroom for a while or are completely new to the industry, you may want to learn more about your potential career prospects. If so, we don’t blame you for wondering—how much do DJs get paid in the UK? Since DJs work in various settings, the answer isn’t straightforward. But don’t worry—we’ve covered everything you need to know about DJ salary in the UK, including tips for boosting your earnings.   How much do DJs get paid in the UK? UK Talent says the average DJ salary in the UK is £30,000. However, Payscale presents £22k-£102k as ..read more

  Wearing drumming gloves or not is a personal preference. Some drummers wear them, others choose not to. While they’re not essential (in fact, many of the world’s best drummers don’t wear them), they do have several benefits for those drummers that do. One of the biggest pluses of wearing drumming gloves is that they can help you avoid nasty blisters on your hands and fingers. This is a godsend, particularly for beginners who haven’t yet built up the thicker, stronger skin that drummers of a certain age will have—AKA drummer’s hands! Drumming gloves can also help absorb shocks and improv ..read more

Christmas is calling, and so are the bustling clubs and small music venues that rely on musicians to bring some holiday cheer. While it’s the perfect opportunity to showcase some original material, it’s never a bad idea to know a handful of Christmas songs on the guitar. You never know when a last-minute event might come up, and people love a festive tune in December. We’ve rounded up some of the best Christmas songs on the guitar, so you have plenty in your arsenal for any upcoming gigs this season.   1. Last Christmas  Artist: Wham!  Key: C Tuning: Sta ..read more

As many musicians know only too well, some artists never get the plaudits or recognition their music deserves.  They have a loyal set of supporters and a respectable amount of YouTube views and put on live performances of a lifetime. Still, their music never catches on with a wider audience, for whatever reason. Well, we’re here to try and change all that. Here are 10 of the most underrated music artists to look out for.    1. Låpsley Hailing from Southport, Merseyside, Låpsley (full name Holly Lapsley Fletcher) combines minimalistic electro-pop with a powerful, extensive v ..read more

Let’s face it, DJs get the coolest toys. Guitarists get pedals and amps. Vocalists get microphones and (occasionally) Auto-Tune. DJ gadgets, however, include watches, headphones, decks, lighting, speakers, and tons more. Here you’ll find the most exciting DJ gadgets and accessories out there that you may have overlooked.   1. BassMe personal wearable subwoofer, £69.98 (RRP 83.99) The phrase ‘feel the bass’ gets thrown around a lot, particularly at raves and clubs, but this is the first time you can say it and truly mean it. The BassMe is a wearable subwoofer that transmits the sensation ..read more

Every DJ knows the importance of power. The higher your speaker’s power, the better your sound quality. Of course, every DJ will have a professional audio system. But if you’re a DJ who owns a powered speaker, you’ll be able to take your sound to the next level. However, finding the best powered speakers can be confusing when you’re endlessly trawling through websites. To make things easy, we’ve rounded up the seven best powered speakers for DJs. Some speakers are better at doing different things, so whether you’re just starting at home or performing at large venues, we’re here to help you fin ..read more

We’ve all heard the saying ‘no pain, no gain’—and playing the guitar can come with its fair share of pain. However, some injuries are more painful than they’re worth, especially if they prevent you from playing.  We’ve rounded up the most common guitar-related injuries and explained how to avoid them.   1. Blisters  They’re not the most serious guitar-related injury, but blisters on the fingertips are a hurdle many guitarists face when first starting out. The skin on our fingertips is naturally soft and fleshy. When it repeatedly rubs against the rough surface of a steel guitar ..read more

Searching for the best drumsticks can be exhausting when you don’t know where to start. While they look alike to the naked eye, subtle differences can affect the sound you get out of your kit. They’re not the most expensive piece of music equipment, but the cost can rack up if you have to try out a few pairs to get the right sound.   Here you’ll find the best drumsticks on the market, from premium models to those suitable for beginners—there’s truly something for all playing styles and abilities. We’ve also included a buyer’s guide, so you can make an informed decision and find the t ..read more