NEWS – ARTinoise, the Italian startup behind the successful re.corder is back with a smaller instrument that’s no larger than a USB flash drive, but packed with tech and gadgeteer music making fun! What is it? The Zefiro is a smart reed that plugs directly into your smartphone’s USB-C port. Once connected, it works with the […]
This tiny USB-C gadget will turn your phone into a wind instrument! Read More
NEWS – Eleven years ago, I purchased a Loog guitar kit. It was one of their original 4-string guitars that you had to assemble yourself. Years later, they started offering pre-built guitars, and we were able to review the Loog Pro Electric Guitar. Their newest offering is the Loog Piano, which will ship in October.
Loog is back with a piano! Read More
NEWS – I used to play guitar, then the ukulele, and lately, I haven’t played anything because I have some arthritis in my hands. When I saw the LiberLive C1, it piqued my interest for multiple reasons. First, it folds for easier storage than a traditional guitar. But of course, that’s not the most exciting
If playing guitar makes your fingers sore, check out the LiberLive C1 stringless guitar! Read More
REVIEW – I recently reviewed the Synido MIDI Keyboard Controller Beat Maker Machine and the Synido TempoPAD P16 Portable Beat Pad and have thoroughly enjoyed noodling around and making music with both tools since those reviews. Out of the blue, Synido reached out wondering if I’d like to check out their new Synido TempoPAD Z-1
Synido TempoPAD Z-1 MIDI Controller Beat Maker review – more pads equals more fun Read More
REVIEW – Thanks to various Gadgeteer reviews I’ve been amassing the various pieces I’ll need to make my DJ debut during my midlife crisis. I haven’t picked a DJ name yet, but I’ve definitely enjoyed noodling around with the Synido MIDI Keyboard Controller since I reviewed it a few months ago. When Synido asked if
Synido TempoPAD P16 Portable Beat Pad review – a great little beat pad controller Read More
REVIEW – I pretty much taught myself to play piano and guitar when I was just a kid by using music books back before the internet was a thing. Then after becoming an adult, I became obsessed with the ukulele. At one time, I had over a dozen ukes in my collection. Unfortunately, I’ve let
REVIEW – Like many middle-class American kids, I was forced to learn piano growing up. Even though I hated this at first, I eventually came around and also elected to play in the school band, and have loved to learn and play new instruments ever since. I mostly noodle around randomly and make up things
REVIEW – There’s been a running prank war in my extended family for years where we like to give other nieces and nephews loud and obnoxious kids toys (like drum sets, karaoke machines, etc.). At first glance, I thought I would be inflicting a prank upon my own household by volunteering to review the Blipblox
Blipblox SK2 synthesizer review – electronic music fun for kids and adults alike Read More
REVIEW – When I was a kid, I loved to play the piano. I went to lessons for several years and if my memory serves me correctly, I passed the tests up to grade 3 before I quit due to an instructor who was proficient at hitting my knuckles with a wooden ruler each time
Quntis 55” Ultra Wide Illumination Piano Light review Read More
REVIEW – You read that right! A banjolele is exactly what it sounds like: the love child of a ukulele and a banjo. The Vangoa VBU-20 Banjolele is designed to be an entry-level instrument that you can learn on without spending a whole bunch of cash. In my opinion, it accomplishes that mission. To the
Vangoa VBU-20 Banjolele review – a whole bunch of fun at a great price! Read More
REVIEW – Whenever I hear the ukulele, I’m transported back to my childhood and seeing Tiny Tim playing and singing “Tiptoe Through the Tulips”. If you’re too young, a quick search will take you to it. Yes, that can scar someone for life. But since then, there have been plenty of terrific ukulele performances, including
NEWS – Fretting notes and chords on the fingerboard is the most important skill when it comes to playing the guitar. Without that skill, you won’t be able to play your favorite songs. Practicing with an actual guitar is obviously the best way to improve your playing but for those times when it’s not convenient
Improve your guitar playing skills without even making a sound Read More
REVIEW – A couple of months ago, I reviewed the Artiphon INSTRUMENT 1 and now I’m back with another musical instrument from Artiphon. I enjoyed testing the INSTRUMENT 1 but found that it was more than I needed in a music-making device. Lucky for me, Artiphon makes another device that is much smaller and has
Artiphon Orba review – Create music without knowing how to read music Read More
REVIEW – When I was very young, I discovered the music books that my mom had used when she took piano lessons as a child. I used those books along with very minimal help to teach myself to play a few songs on the Baldwin piano that we had in our living room. I later
REVIEW – Guitar news typically focuses on the artists themselves (and why shouldn’t it) or the core equipment (guitars, amps, strings, pedals). However, there is an unsung component that rarely gets mentioned… the guitar pick. It could be that it’s just taken for granted, relegated to band merchandising or that everyone assumes a pick is
Acoustik Attak review – Technical guitar picks that add unique qualities to your sound Read More
REVIEW – Learning to play guitar, and getting to a point where others might want to listen, can be a very large gap. Even when you sound really good, the required repetition to nail a lick can take a toll on anyone listening. Headphones have long been a great solution for this, but without good
Fender Mustang Micro guitar amp review – Your guitar’s new best friend Read More
REVIEW – Meet the new addition to my Uke family: the Ukutunes UKE1 Concert Ukulele! It’s a surprisingly sweet player that has some nice sound to go with those good looks. To the review! What is it? It’s a concert-sized ukulele. What’s in the box? You’ll get the ukulele, a basic carrying case, and an
Ukutune UKE1 Concert Ukulele review Read More
NEWS – If you’re a guitar player then you know that it’s hard to compete with the feel and sound of plugging into and playing through a good amp. Maybe you don’t have room for a 2x cabinet amp, or perhaps just want to minimize your gear. You might want to check out the Jamstack
Jamstack 2 – Does your amp mount on your guitar? This one does! Read More
REVIEW – My 12-year daughter has been teaching herself to play a basic entry-level ukulele that was given to her by a friend. She has been dedicated to learning and we had been discussing purchasing her lessons and a better quality uke. So, when the opportunity to try out the Fender Fullerton Stratocaster Ukulele presented itself,
Fender Fullerton Stratocaster ukulele review Read More
REVIEW – What’s something on your bucket list that you can tackle without traveling? What’s that? You said you’d learn to play guitar, bass or ukulele? Well, Fender’s Play app can help you cross that one off in whatever time increments you can devote. Fender was gracious enough to not only give us access to
Fender Play review and a Player Series Firemist Gold Mustang® too! Read More