Every kind of performing artist, whether it’s a singer, DJ or band, has probably had to contend with bad live sound or technical issues on stage. Often, you’ll work with the live engineer to try and get things fixed. 9 times out of 10, the engineer will do everything in their power to solve the issue, but on some nights it can feel like you’re dealing with someone who really wants to win the title of ‘Worst Sound Engineer of all Time’. Since I’m pretty certain that no sound engineer actually wants the title, I’ve compiled some good advice for sound engineers on what not to do.

Ever spotted a set of ‘Send and Return’ ports round the back of a guitar amp and wondered what they’re for? These jack ports make up the effects loop, which is an infinitely useful feature when you’re trying to make external guitar effects sound as good as possible. In this article, we’ll tell you exactly which effects you should incorporate into your FX loop and why.

Two guitarists in one band: sometimes it’s a happy accident, sometimes it’s part of the plan. Regardless of how it came to be, to work together well, both guitarists will have to make conscious decisions all the time. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways for two guitarists to work side-by-side.

Ever made it to a drum fill only to find out that your hands and wrists have tightened up and refuse to move any faster? Whether you’re new to drumming or more experienced, you probably know what I’m talking about. In this blog, I’m going to show you how you can make it through fast-paced parts without slowing down, getting sloppy or having to simplify your parts.

You’ve no doubt seen one clamped on the neck of a guitar before: a capo. Also known as a capodastro, this handy little tool typically features a metal, plastic or rubber-coated bar that, as soon as the device is clamped on, holds down all six strings at the preferred fret to change the pitch, essentially changing the key the guitar is in. Never used a capo before? Then read on to learn all about it.

Nothing is more boring and unappealing than a song that doesn’t go anywhere, which is why any successful song needs to build tension and make sure that the listener is kept curious about what will happen next. So what can you do to keep a song fresh and surprising? How do you make a song instantly recognizable but a pleasure to listen to? Songwriting teacher, Peter van Vleuten offers some handy tips and tricks.

You might not know it, but the concept of a headless electric guitar or headless bass is actually pretty old. In 1979, Steinberger released a headless model with a distinctively minimal design, and soon after, Hohner released their own ‘licensed by Steinberger’ models. During the last few years, a headless trend has been brewing and these less-than-standard models have experienced a comeback, so in this blog we dive into the benefits and the pitfalls of owning your own headless guitar or bass.

We totally understand. You’re a fitness instructor, not a sound engineer, but because you’re often teaching a large group of people, it’s worth knowing how to amplify both the music and your voice, otherwise you’ll find yourself yelling just so the people at the back of the room can hear you and your class is forced to grunt through their crunches and lunges in stony silence. Since you need to keep both hands free, a wireless microphone headset is the ideal solution, but which model is best? What kind of speaker or system should you back it up with? And where do you start if you want to branch out and make YouTube videos and livestreams? In this blog we cover everything to help you make the right, tailor-made choice.

Guestblogger, Sander is a professional voiceover artist. Every working day, you’ll find him sitting behind his microphone in his booth at home, recording voice overs for everything from web videos to commercials – including Bax Music ads. In fact, Sander has been the ‘voice’ of Bax Music for ten years already. In this blog, he shares his trade secrets when it comes to recording the perfect voiceover.

While the guitar industry is fairly conservative when it comes to innovation, some recent developments are worth checking out. So, if you’ve never heard of multiscale guitars before (aka models fitted with so-called fanned frets), simply read on and be amazed.

Suffering from Gear Acquisition Syndrome? Here’s the cure: instead of buying a new guitar, upgrade your current guitar! In this article, we lay out five ways you can upgrade your stringed sidekick and refresh its sound, look and feel. Ready for a make-over?

Finding the right chords for a new tune is never easy. Thankfully, guest-blogger Hens Zimmerman is here to help ease the process with Ableton Live, but first, let’s look at a little music theory.