Benjamin Wood
Benjamin taught himself guitar and, later, how to build and mod his own pedals in a spare room in Derby, driven more by curiosity than any grand plan. He loves the point where tone meets electronics. He writes about guitars, effects and gear.
The Ultimate Guide to Instruments Tambourine
From ancient frame drum to folk-rock icon: a complete look at what a tambourine is, how it's built, and where it still turns up today.
The Ultimate Guide to Claves
Two wooden sticks that organise a whole family of music: how to hold and strike claves, the difference between son and rumba clave, and what 3–2 and 2–3 really mean.
Steel Band Drums: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Buying a steelpan comes down to trusting your ears over the spec sheet — here's exactly what to check before you spend a penny.
How to Play B Minor on Guitar
B minor is the chord that stops most beginners in their tracks. Here is the barre shape, why it is hard, and three honest ways around it while you build up to it.
The Best Tanglewoods for the Money
No invented benchmarks here — just an engineer's breakdown of which Tanglewood guitars earn their price at each budget tier.
Fender Telecaster: A Complete Buyer's Guide
The wall of Telecasters at the shop all look similar; the differences that matter are in the neck, the pickups and the bridge. Here's what to check before you buy.
Common Instruments Tambourine Mistakes to Avoid
From clamping the frame too tightly to putting the mic too close in the studio, here are the tambourine habits worth fixing early.
The Best Cymbals for the Money
Price and quality do not track together in cymbals. A tier-by-tier look at where your money buys real improvement — and where it just buys a name on the box.
Fender Explained: Features, Types and Tips
From the bolt-on neck up: what actually separates a Stratocaster from a Telecaster, a Precision from a Jazz Bass, and a Squier from a Custom Shop.
Common Tubular Bells Mistakes to Avoid
Most tubular bells mistakes come down to physics, not clumsiness. Here's why each one happens and the simple fix, grouped by technique, care and setup.
The Ultimate Guide to Bongos
Two little drums, endless depth. A complete guide to how bongos are built, tuned and played — from the macho and hembra to the martillo and how to choose your first pair.
Marimba Explained: Features, Types and Tips
Ever wondered what actually makes a marimba sound the way it does? Here's how the bars, resonators and ranges fit together, explained without the jargon.
Cymbals: A Complete Buyer's Guide
What to check before you buy cymbals — from matching pieces to your playing to spotting a good one in the shop, with no brand loyalty required.
Instruments Tambourine: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Headed or headless, steel or bronze, mounted or handheld — a clear-headed look at what actually matters when you're choosing a tambourine.
How to Set Up and Use Pearl Tom Toms
Mount it right, angle it right, tune it right — a proper step-by-step process for getting Pearl tom toms sounding the way they should.
