Everything published across instruments, studio gear, plugins and music software, newest first.
The Best Frets for the Money
There's no single 'best' fret for everyone. Here's an honest, tier-by-tier breakdown of where your money is genuinely well spent.
Bossa Nova for Newcomers: Where to Start
No jazz theory, no rigid guitar patterns — just three albums, in order, and what to actually listen for once you press play.
The History of Glitch
From a Japanese sound artist's damaged CDs to a German label's compilation series — the real, contested, occasionally accidental story of how glitch got its name.
The History of Nu Metal
A handful of early-1990s bands lay the groundwork, one 1994 debut pulls it into focus, and a five-year commercial explosion changes mainstream radio. Here's how nu metal actually unfolded.
Glitch Subgenres, Explained
What began as one strange 1990s studio habit has spread into half a dozen recognisably different styles. Here's how each branch actually connects back to the trunk.
House Music Subgenres, Explained
House music's subgenres blur into each other constantly. Here's a straight, no-nonsense breakdown of what separates them and who to hear first.
The History of Bebop
Bebop wasn't invented overnight by one genius. Here's the real story of how it was built, tune by tune, in Harlem's after-hours jam sessions.
Reggae Music Subgenres, Explained
Reggae was never one sound. Here's how roots, dub, lovers rock and dancehall actually differ, and where each one came from.
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.
Common Kids Guitar Mistakes to Avoid
Most 'why won't my kid practise' problems trace back to the guitar, not the child. Here are the avoidable mistakes I see most, and the fixes that actually work.
Handpan Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A handpan looks like two dented steel shells stuck together — here's the anatomy, history and craft behind that deceptively simple shape.
Kalimba Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A kalimba looks simple and sounds anything but. Here's what's really going on under your thumbs, and the types you'll come across along the way.
Fender for Beginners: A Complete Guide
Nervous about your first proper guitar? Here's exactly why a Fender is a kind place to start, and what to expect in those first few weeks.
Pro Tools: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Four editions, two purchase models and a hardware minefield — here's how to work out exactly which Pro Tools set-up is worth your money.
Balalaika: A Complete Buyer's Guide
Not every triangular instrument on sale is built to be played. Here's how to check a balalaika's neck, bridge and strings before you buy, and where your money is best spent.
A Beginner's Guide to Bossa Nova
What bossa nova actually is, in plain English — the sound, the story and the handful of names worth knowing before you dive in.
Ocarina Explained: Features, Types and Tips
A pocket-sized clay egg that sings a full melody — here's how the ocarina actually works, the types worth knowing, and the history behind it.
Essential Sea Shanty Albums Explained
A work-song tradition was never built for records — which is exactly what makes the handful of genuinely essential sea shanty albums worth explaining.
The History of Flamenco
From private Andalusian gatherings to UNESCO heritage status: the history of flamenco, told through the people and venues that shaped it.
The Best House Music Artists to Know
House music was built by DJs and producers solving a practical problem: how to keep a room dancing until sunrise. These are the names behind that graft.
Common Fender Telecaster Mistakes to Avoid
A Telecaster is a forgiving guitar by design, so the mistakes owners make tend to be small, habitual ones. Here's what actually holds a Telecaster back.
Ukulele Tuning for Guitar Players
Standard ukulele tuning is G, C, E, A, and every one of those notes can be found on a guitar. A practical guide to getting a ukulele in tune and keeping it there.
Rekordbox for Beginners: A Complete Guide
A reassuring, step-by-step first session with rekordbox for total beginners — no club hardware required, just a laptop and some music you love.
A Beginner's Guide to Americana
Americana blends country, folk, blues, bluegrass and rock into something else entirely. Here's a friendly, no-jargon way in for first-time listeners.
