In this Sustainiac Pickup Review, we will take an in-depth look at this infinite sustainer pickup and discuss whether it’s practical for you as a musician. Unlike compression pedals or EBows, Sustaniac is designed to replace the neck pickup on your guitar directly. This means that you’d be sacrificing a ‘normal’ neck pickup in lieu of the Sustainiac. But should you really worry about that? We spent a lot of hours researching, testing, and interviewing musicians who use it a lot, and it’s safe to say that most people are loving the endless sustain and harmonic whammy fun that comes with it. Giv ..read more

Welcome to the battle of the BIG guys! In this article, I’ll talk about everything you need to know about the Dreadnought vs. Jumbo Guitar debate. The Dreadnought and Jumbo are two very popular body shapes for acoustic guitars. Now, if you’re struggling to decide between the two, I’ve prepared this guide that outlines all the differences between these two acoustic guitar shapes. I’ll also go over their applications so you’ll know exactly which variant suits your needs better. Keep reading! What Is a Dreadnought Guitar? The Dreadnought is the classic acoustic guitar shape originally developed b ..read more

The music of Japan differs vastly from Western music, both in its sound and the rich history behind it. While many of you might be familiar with J-pop or game music, the real beauty lies in the centuries of history and culture where the true identity of Japanese music lies. Japan witnesses a plethora of wind, string & percussion instruments, where each one is closely linked with the traditions of the regions they developed and evolved in. These instruments give Japanese folk music its exquisite and distinct flavor Today, we’ll introduce you to seven traditional Japanese String Instruments ..read more

If you are about to throw steel strings on your Classical guitar, STOP right there! You‘ve probably heard that classical guitars are designed to be used with nylon strings. Now, if a classical guitar is the only instrument you have, you might be curious to try steel strings on it. So, can you put steel strings on a classical guitar? Here’s the TL;DR answer. NEVER PUT STEEL STRINGS ON A CLASSICAL GUITAR. It has a thinner top and lighter bracing and is likely to break due to the higher tension of steel strings. Most classical guitars also don’t have a truss rod, so even lighter gauge steel strin ..read more

The pedal steel guitar is one of the more underrated members of the guitar family. But you cannot deny that its charisma is undeniable. The instrument first gained recognition in the 19th century in Hawaii, quickly gaining popularity in the United States in the early 20th century. I’ve always been charmed by the allure of pedal steel guitars. Therefore, it made sense for me to look out for artists who have been instrumental in bringing it into the limelight. After hours of scrounging through the internet and researching, I have finally curated a list of some of the best pedal steel guitar play ..read more

Traditional Chinese music has had a rich and diverse history; and a very different one from the Western world. The fact that China remained isolationist for centuries, their musical culture didn’t spread much outside of the Sinosphere. This is what makes traditional Chinese instruments even more special. Chinese String Instruments can be broadly classified into three types – Plucked, Bowed & Struck-string. Some of these instruments are less than 100 years old, while others are thousands of years old. Many of them underwent modifications in the 20th century, such as the use of modern constr ..read more

Mexican music is extremely diverse with a wide variety of instruments, genres, and styles. Interestingly enough, modern Mexican music is a blend of traditional Folk and Mariachi styles with all sorts of European influences such as cultural Spanish music and German Polka. Well, a lot of you might recognize iconic Mexican songs like La Bamba and Bésame mucho, but not a lot know the names of the artists behind them. Today, in particular, we’re talking about some of the most famous Mexican guitarists we recommend listening to. The Most Famous Mexican Guitarists, In No Particular Order We have incl ..read more

Choosing new strings for your instrument is always one of the two – Either you have a go-to brand that you buy without any second thought, or you mindlessly scroll through the endless catalog of strings available. Of course, that applies when deciding upon the best acoustic bass strings as well! If you fall into the latter category, then keep reading. We’re going to make bass string shopping easier for you. In this article, I’ll showcase some of the top-selling products across a wide variety of string types – Phosphor Bronze, Tapewound, Roundwound, Flatwound acoustic bass strings, you name it ..read more

So, you just got your first nylon string guitar and are excited to start with Flamenco guitar? Here’s a list of 10+ Easy Flamenco Guitar Songs to get you started. Flamenco is not the same as Spanish Guitar. A lot of techniques of the latter apply to Flamenco guitar, but not vice-versa. Purists don’t traditionally refer to Flamenco pieces as ‘songs’ but rather a collection of Flamenco ‘styles’ (palos). We’re talking about a huge variety of styles such as – Alegría, Tango, Sevillana, Fandango, Bulería, and more, each with its own characteristics. Flamenco guitarists usually start with an easy st ..read more

Mexican and Latin American Songs are a blend of traditional culture and the influences brought by the Spanish during colloquial times. Modern Mexican music is the evolution of indigenous sounds combined with virtually all the European and Eastern instruments brought into Mexico. The world is already familiar with iconic Mexican songs like Oye cómo va, La cucaracha, La Bamba and Bésame mucho, but few are aware of the actual recipe – the tools used to create these beautiful and colorful songs. We’re talking about traditional Mexican instruments which give that special zing to authentic Mexican m ..read more