Guitar Nine Columns

The one thing I always try to do is be in a creative state of mind when I compose. It seems that the ideas flow better if you are working on it on an ongoing basis. For a lot of my instrumental tunes, I sometimes get a mental picture of something in my head, and then ask myself what music goes with this scene. This is much like scoring for film--except the film is in my head!

I do as much pre-production as humanly possible at home. When you`re ready to record, and I can`t stress this enough, have everything rehearsed to death and a production plan ready. I did my latest CD at a commercial place, but my dream is to do my next one at home.

The bottom line is: I believe in my music. As an instrumental artist you`re not going to land a huge deal with a major label. If you do get a deal the label is going to take a huge chunk of money, and even if they do sign you, they may not even distribute your CD. Some friends of mine signed with a major label, and the label has not done a thing with them. So they have a great product that they can`t do anything with.

A Javascript-powered worksheet designed to help a record label estimate costs, price CDs and cassettes, and compute potential profit for a recording project.

We turn the electronic mailbag upside down to answer some of the most commonly asked questions about releasing and promoting records.

How to start and organize your own record label. It's a lot easier than you may think.

How to trigger inspiration by understanding what causes it, and more importantly, what causes it for you.

A number of short lick ideas designed to kick-start your technique.

More short lick ideas to kick-start your technique.

Nowhere to go with ascending licks but up? Dan McAvinchey confronts the problem and gives you several ideas you can use today. Don't just take the easy way out and start descending either.

Stop practicing with boring scales and start testing your fingers with melodic 'riffs' from Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, and more.

Stop strumming those simple barre chords, and embellish your chordal work with licks and phrases that blur the distiction between rhythm and lead guitar playing.

Break free of your limiting beliefs about pentatonic scales.

An introduction to the world of copyrights and publishing. It`s not hard at all to protect the songs you`ve written, and you may be surprised at the various ways your original compositions can earn money for you.

Studio and music business psychobabble explained.

Chock full o` ideas for promoting and selling your new record, and building a fan base.

An original work (part one of two preludes) composed for solo electric guitar, in tabulature and standard notation.

Some creative uses of digital delay when writing or recording.

Tips for playing arpeggiated chord progressions using string skipping.

An arrangement of the Tchaikovsky piece for solo guitar, in tabulature and standard notation.

New Jersey guitarist Paul Kuntz takes time out from lunch to give you his assurance that there is life beyond the blues scale.

Don`t let your current concept of reality dominate your guitar playing.

Arnold Schulman discusses lyric writing for the beginner.

An original work composed for solo classical guitar, in tabulature and standard notation.

Jason Pruett offers his light-hearted yet insightful views on getting the most from your guitar and busting a playing rut.

Learn some substitutions for those tried and true barre chords. How the knowledge of triads can help you come up with original sounding guitar parts.

New Jersey guitarist Paul Kuntz is back and aside from a ravenous appetite, he`s got plans to teach you all about tuplets and fitting the notes to the rhythm.

Do you still think the Aeolian mode is a ship from Star Trek? Are you comfortable discussing Mixolydian and Phrygian modes in mixed company? Tony Young cuts to the heart of modes.

Just can`t get enough info about modes, can you? Guitarist Tony Young relates modes to chord progressions.

Sometimes it seems every guitar riff and chord progression has been done to death. How you can avoid the tendency to copy.

How to use the song structure method to jump-start compositions.

Stuck recycling the same licks and riffs? Dig yourself out of your guitar playing rut and rediscover the instrument you love.

Emulating your heroes is fine, but consider how far should you take it.

The use and abuse of compression.

Reader tips for twangin' up your sound.

Dan McAvinchey helps you to eliminate those pesty sonic gremlins from your home or project studio.

Why setting levels properly will help you achieve optimal sound and clarity.

Ideas for improving your recorded guitar sound.

McAvinchey dips into his magic bag to bring you 16 tips you can use today to improve your tracks.

13 additional tips you can use today to improve your tracks.

The use of delay in the studio.

Reinventing Music As Sustenance