Experimental Drumming Ideas for Beginners & Intermediate Players
One thing that made learning drums harder for me at a young age was that it felt more like homework than having fun. Below, I’ll list a few approaches to drumming that helped me to spice things up a little bit (and later, applied to my life as a drummer in bands). DJ Snare Wire […]
An Interview with John Petrucci
The standout guitarist in a band of accomplished Berklee College musicians, John Petrucci is renowned for his masterful guitar playing. For much of his 30-year career in Dream Theater, Petrucci has trusted Ernie Ball Music Man with crafting his series of articulate, versatile and beautiful signature instruments. The crown jewel of this collection, the Majesty, […]
Compressor Pedals and You
While it sounds pretty simple and is widely used by guitarists and bassists alike, compression is an effect that is easily misunderstood. Most people know or think they need it, but don’t always know why. Being primarily a utility effect — used to keep signal dynamics under control — compression isn’t really perceived as an […]
Chicago’s New Playground for Sonic Experimentation
At some of Chicago’s more famous museums, patrons aren’t supposed to touch the exhibits. But Synth House Chicago Museum is different. In this cozy co-working space in the West Town neighborhood, guests get their hands on an impressive collection of modern and vintage synthesizers curated by owner Marty Pelayo, who encourages museum visitors to bring […]
Beat Tools: Generative Music Software for PCs
As I wrote the title of this post, I suddenly realized: “There is nothing sexy about the words “generative music.” Just hearing them places you in the land of people in lab coats, looking at Matrix-like code, and listening to really unmusical, experimental music. After you know what generative music is (see: prior post covering […]
The Ultimate Pedalboard Build Guide
There comes a time in every guitarist’s life where carrying around that huge bag of pedals and cables to assemble at every gig becomes too much. Putting together a pedalboard is a great way to organize and transport your pedals while also cutting your set up time down to just a minute or two. Today […]
Legends of Tone: Radiohead Part 2
Radiohead, the behemoth rock band of legend, carried so much content for us to represent in our first Legends of Tone feature that we literally couldn’t boil it down into just one video successfully. Instead, we decided to go with an extra-special, unprecedented sequel: Legends of Tone Radiohead: PART TWO! Our first video focused on […]
Andrew Marshall Talks Drumming for Billie Eilish and His Monster Live Kit
Andrew Marshall is a working drummer who has played and produced for dozens of artists and bands. Currently he’s supplying beats and live production on Billie Eilish’s When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? tour. zZounds sat down with Andrew in the depths of the United Center during their stop in Chicago to […]
BOSS Announces New 200 Series Pedals
Boss has just announced an entirely new series of pedals: the 200 Series! Fitting in perfectly between their standard series of stompboxes and the top-shelf 500 Series, these pedals suit players looking for expanded options of their favorite effects and tones, all in one pedal. The 200 Series is available in four flavors: the OD-200 […]
