While I’ve been selling music and books for decades, I’ve finally opened my own online store, which you can visit here. Why? Well… Revenue. Depending on the format and store, like Amazon, I lose between 30-75% of the money. With Read More …
Author: Rand
New Band Site
I’ve created a new website for my metal band, Black Halo, and the new logo has been revealed. While the site is up, it will be a while before we have photos, videos, and more, but we do have a Read More …
Band Name Chosen
I’ve chosen a name for my metal band and it’s long-stalled debut album, Utopia. Once the logo is created (it’s on order), I’ll reveal it here and on Facebook. Work has gone well and we’ve completed vocals on two songs. I’ve Read More …
Vocal Album Resumed!
You can expect more frequent updates from me now that I’ve returned to doing music! The Utopia album, the first with vocals, has been held up for a very long time. Me, Dave, and James recorded the guitars, bass, and drums Read More …
My Son, the Metal Head
When my son was born in 2012, I semi-retired from doing music, though this was also to re-focus on writing books. But now that he’s 9, he’s a full-on metal head who listens to stuff heavier than me. Why does Read More …
4 Ways To Pay Less For Your Guitar Strings
Guest post by Mark Woodburn If you play your guitar frequently, your strings get worn faster and need to be changed every few months or even weeks, especially if you break a string or two. Buying replacement strings can cost Read More …
Double-Tracking Lead Guitars, Part 2
Last time we discussed double-tracking problems you can avoid by doing Guitar 1 well, so this time we’ll cover the same for Guitar 2, with more modern home studio audio recording techniques and tips to help you record your guitar Read More …
Double-Tracking Lead Guitars, Part 1
In an age when few want to play lead guitar at all, not to mention twice, an article on double-tracking guitar solos might seem pointless, but for those players keeping the faith, this one’s for you. We’ll discuss the pros Read More …
Structural Chord Progressions
A good way to make songs more powerful and structurally sound is to use chord progressions not only within sections, but also across them. This creates a harmonic relationship between sections and adds to the sense of forward motion, tension Read More …
Interval Riffs, Part 3: Simple Counterpoint
Counterpoint is defined as two or more simultaneous melodies that maintain their independence while still forming a harmonic relationship. A single instrument like classical guitar can perform counterpoint with three or four lines seeming like a single part. However, rock Read More …