Joanne Hall

The Best Mandolin Strings for the Money

Lanikai Ukulele: A Complete Guide

Lanikai ukuleles have earned their reputation through decades of reliable craftsmanship and authentic Hawaiian tone. Whether you're beginning or progressing, understand what makes them a smart choice.

Mountain Dulcimer: A Complete Guide

The mountain dulcimer is one of the most beginner-friendly folk instruments. Here's what it is, how the diatonic fret system works, the main tunings, and the different playing styles you'll encounter.

Bouzouki: A Complete Buyer's Guide

Decoration tells you nothing about how a bouzouki plays. Here's what to check before you buy one, from tuning system to scale length.

Common Electric Fiddle Mistakes to Avoid

The instrument rarely lets you down — it's usually the setup around it that does. Here are the mistakes worth watching for.

A Guide to Electric Mandolin

Solid body, floating pickup, or electrified acoustic — here's what distinguishes different electric mandolin formats and where each suits different playing contexts.

The Complete Guide to Guitar And Ukulele Stand

A quality guitar and ukulele stand provides genuine security whilst encouraging more frequent playing. Proper stands keep instruments visible, accessible and safe from accidental damage—transforming h...

Dulcimer: A Complete Buyer's Guide

Two instruments share the name, several tunings and a lot of jargon. Here is what genuinely matters before you buy one.

The Best Accordions for the Money

Reed quality, bellows airtightness and keyboard action are the benchmarks that separate good value from poor — this guide covers the standout options at every price point.

Koto for Beginners: A Complete Guide

Learning the koto rewards patience over speed from the very first lesson — here's exactly what your first weeks will actually involve.

Didgeridoo Explained: Features, Types and Tips

The didgeridoo is one of the world's oldest instruments, still played in living Aboriginal tradition. Here's how it works and what the different types offer.

A Guide to Lap Harp

Makala Ukulele: A Complete Buyer's Guide

Buying a Makala ukulele is one of the simpler instrument decisions available. This buyer's guide covers size, model, starter packs, and what to check when the instrument arrives.

Celtic Harp for Beginners: A Complete Guide

Persistent resonance is the first thing to understand about the harp. Get damping right and the rest of the instrument follows naturally.

The Best Concert Lightings for the Money

There's no single best rig, only the right one for your venue and budget — here's how concert lighting setups break down by scale, from pub gig to arena tour.

The Best Harps for the Money

No fake benchmarks here — just an honest, tier-by-tier look at which harps genuinely suit which player, and where your money is best spent at each level.

Kala Ukulele for Beginners: A Complete Guide

Starting from scratch with a Kala ukulele is straightforward when you know the right sequence — this guide covers tuning, technique, the first chords and how to build a practice habit.

Common Tabla Drumming Mistakes to Avoid

Small, repeated habits, not dramatic errors. Here's what quietly works against a beginner, and against the instrument itself.

The Ultimate Guide to Banjo

The banjo's true history, the difference between five-string and tenor, open-back and resonator, and how to choose your first instrument by the music you want to play.

Tabla: A Complete Buyer's Guide

Choosing a tabla means more than picking a price point — shell wood, puri craftsmanship and bayan material all determine whether your new drum will actually sing.

Bluegrass Subgenres, Explained

There's more than one way to play bluegrass, and the differences matter. Here's an honest map of the main strands and what separates one from the next.

The Best Folk Rock Artists to Know

This sound only really makes sense once you know who's singing it — here are the folk rock artists worth knowing first.

Bouzouki for Beginners: A Complete Guide

The bouzouki looks daunting at first. Here's a calm, step-by-step path through your first instrument, tuning and practice habits.

Mandolin Strings Explained: Features, Types and Tips