Choosing gear - How would you choose your gear if you didn’t have the internet?

How would you choose your gear if you didn’t have the internet?

Just imaging for a moment that there were no interviews, no magazines, no hundreds and thousands of user reviews, no online reviews (you know the kind that I do a lot of!). Are you imagining that?? I hope so, please go with me on this one!Firstly,  please understand that I'm NOT shooting down the reviewers or the reviews, they serve a purpose and they are doing a great job. It is just that I'm trying to throw out an idea of what would you do if none of this information existed? How would you choose something?

Well, I think it would go a little something like this....

You walk into a guitar shop, you have no idea what any of the pedals are, brands, types, components, you have no idea! So, how would you go about choosing something?Well, perhaps you go and look something that you are visually attracted to, nothing wrong with that. what would you then do?Well, you probably plug it in, turn the knobs, see (hear!) what happened, and I’m pretty sure you would be drawn to something if you liked how it sounds. I am going out on a limb here, but you probably wouldn't care about anything else.We get so side-tracked by other people's opinions, XYZ does this, it sounds better than this, etc, but if you didn't know any of this information, if you haven't heard the voices of the internet or magazines telling you all this, you would probably pick a product primarily on how it sounds, and how it looks, and that is something we forget about quite a lot.I am a big advocate now of just plugging into something and seeing how it sounds. Asking.....does that sound appeal to me? Can I change all the knobs? what does it do? Really getting under the surface of the piece of equipment and finding out what the hell it can do, and how it sounds, and if I like that sound. does that sound work for me? does that sound make me want to play guitar?The little nugget of advice I'm giving here is, that sometimes when you're looking for something, go into a guitar shop, forget the internet for the time being, as awesome as it is, but go in to that guitar shop, go in blind. Get the shop assistant to plug in a whole bunch of pedals that you can't see, and see which one sounds good for you. does it do what you want it to do? Does it make the sound in your head come to life? Does it achieve the sound that you are looking for?We are brainwashed at the moment into thinking XYZ says this, XYZ says that, some guy I've never met before (including me) says this is a great pedal, and it sounds better than this pedal because whatever, and it costs more therefore it must be better, does it really?Of course there are a whole bunch of other factors to factor in, there are some useful things about reviews, if you have a great pedal but it's in a case made of flimsy plastic and you step on it and it breaks, that's not a good thing, and it's probably worth noting that, but in terms of sound and what sound is and how personal it is to someone, if you like the sound of a metal zone pedal then buy one and make it work for you.If you hate the sound of a metal zone pedal, don't buy one, buy a soul food or Andy Timmons Angry Charlie, or something like that, but whatever it is you buy, make sure it works for you and not for some other guy on the internet who says it's a great thing and it works for them.PeaceNeil

Worldizing - breathing life into digital sounds and your music

Worldizing is a sound design term conceived by the great Walter Murch, but it is not limited to sound design, it can be used in your compositions. An easy and effective way to breathe life in your to digital sounds, to make them more organic. Give life to that plug in synth sound, fatten up those drums or guitar parts!Give it a try!!!For more in-depth information on maximising your practice time and finding your own voice on the instrument, check out my book Guitar Creativity - A new way of thinking http://spencerbruce.com/guitar-creati...…Follow me onTwitter http://twitter.com/lightb4soundFacebook https://www.facebook.com/SpencerBruce...Instragram https://instagram.com/lightb4sound/LinkedIn http://uk.linkedin.com/in/neilbrucePeace

NAMM 2017 Rumours

So it is that time of year again!! Doesn't come around so quickly there days?? The NAMM show in January 2017. is a time to start thinking and dreaming of what might be coming out in this year. It seems like quite a few companies like Korg, Supro and various pedal companies (to name the two that I have seen) have done pre-release press releases, so we already know what is coming. A bit of a shame, as I love the excitement.....but I a very excited about the Korg Gadget getting a desktop version!! Amazing!So what am I hoping for this year? Well, I think I am going to be disappointed (as always it would seem), but one can dream. TC Electronic (now part of Music group i.e Behringer) seem to only be concentrating on single stomp boxes now, which is a real shame. My other wish is for Spectrsonics to update Stylus RMX, but given keyscape only just came out I doubt that they will. NAMM used to be big for them, but they seem to have gone very quite of late.Like most years, (if you have read any of my blog previously), really I am only looking for a couple of companies to do a couple of things (which are actually pretty much the same from year to year!!!), so I am guessing there must be a gap in the market, and one thing in particular, the TC Electronic Nova System is right up there. Given by just how popular my review and videos on the unit are, it would seem I am not alone. So for the fifth year running, this is what I am  hoping for.But, otherwise here are my NAMM 2017 wishes1) (This is the big one!) A new Nova System from TC Electronic. Well to be honest, I love the Nova System, I have been gigging mine for over five years now, but there are a few omissions and small things that would make it totally perfect. These are, a filter section (Autowah, envelope filter perhaps, I would have these over the pitch if I had to), and improved tuner (insert a polytune please!!!) and perhaps another way to access patch v presets. I would also love for it to be Toneprintable, how incredible would it be to be able to download Toneprints to the Nova System. Oh okay maybe one more, to make it the most perfect object of all time, perhaps adding in a few basic amp models (Fender, Marshall, Vox perhaps?), so that it could be used direct into a PA or as a basic modeller. That would make it perfection!! Particular on the last point that the TC Halicon Voice Channel can do this, and Tech 21 have introduced this concept with the FlyRig, it would be perfect. But sadly I don't think it is coming.2)Love to see an update to the Ibanez RG Prestige range, perhaps a natural finish guitar??3)Spectrasonics?? Where are you???????….maybe some new libraries for Stylus RMX?  and how about the next generation of awesome software that we know you are capable of!!4)Logic 11? 2013 was the year of Logic X, I am very cautious with Apple at the moment and their (what feels to me) move away from supporting the creatives that carried them through the bad times. They are a phone company now and not a computer company, evidenced by their latest update to the Mac Mini, a total backward step IMHO.5) I also use Digital Performer 9 a fair amount and whilst it is great for audio and film stuff, I still prefer Logic for straight composition and song writing, probably because of the ability to work with looped regions. Maybe this will come to DP one day?6) A decent Marshall amp (we can dream!)7) Atomic Amplifire - actually you guys totally rock! I am loving my amplifier so maybe I don't need a replacement for the Nova System now. I am sure if you have something new it will blow us away!I would be very interested to hear what you are waiting for/hoping for.Maybe I'll get my book there next year ;)

A lifetime of guitar knowledge for only £6.95Take the next step with your playing...

Or Kindle version....

So what is on your list?

PeaceNeil

3 ways to study effectively online

Yes!! The internet has changed the way we learn! I have changed everything, but with so much information out there, how do you go about LEARNING EFFECTIVELY from online sources? Watch the video to find out the 3 ways to effective online learning!So I have created this video for you guys and hopefully it answers ALL the questions!!An introduction to a new creativity and guitar lesson series I am going to be doing. The idea is that I will play devil's advocate on a number of issues that we all may hear about or know about. This is my opinion on the topic and I will also try and question that opinion as well.The main thing is asking the question, and seeing how I would answer and how you would answer, There is no right or wrong, and we all may learn something. Some of the topics might be controversial, some might wind you up a little bit, but please be part of the conversation and let's see where this goes.For more in-depth information on maximising your practice time and finding your own voice on the instrument, check out my book Guitar Creativity - A new way of thinking PeaceNeil

8 ways playing rhythm guitar with help your lead playing! FACT

The Rhythm Revelation!

It was a revelation! Thanks to my amazing guitar teacher at Berklee, Mike Williams, when he said,MW: "What to you spend 98% of your time doing during a gig?”My answer, “Playing rhythm guitar?"YES, that is the one. In band or session situation, you are judged and employed for your rhythm skills and then (if you are lucky) for 16 bars you’ll get to wail! But do not fret (no pun intended!), playing all this rhythm stuff and practicing it actually has a massive by product…you WILL improve you lead playing, without even trying!!Yes, Yes it is true and I have put together a video detailing the 8 ways YOU WILL IMPROVE by practising rhythm!!

The 8 ways you’ll improve your lead playing

In the video I discuss in-depth the following 8 ways that practicing and playing rhythm will make you become a much, much better lead player. It is a fact! Check it out.

• Timing
• Chord knowledge - Start to learn more chords, and therefore more arpeggios and sweet notes
• Finger Independence
• Fretboard Knowledge
• Ear Training
• Playing for friend….confidence building
• Dynamic Solo ideas
• Fusing Rhythm and Lead, Hendrix’s legacy in a nutshell

EnjoyPeaceNeil

Spitfire Audio Albion V Tundra Review - First Impressions.

I have just downloaded Spitfire Audio's amazing Albion V Tundra library and thought I would do a very quick first impressions video!! The thing that got me hooked was how it was recorded (as they put it) "on the edge of silence". The orchestra all playing a soft and as quiet as they can using the inspiration of Scandinavian composers such as Arvo Pärt, Sibelius and Gorecki, the sounds I have heard on my first few hours with the instrument do really conjure up and evoke the cold, mystical tundra.I am so excited to have been able to get this library and it is very, very useful for the kind of music I write. I will be putting together a proper composed demo soon, but it in the meantime it is safe to say, I totally love it so far!EnjoyPeaceNeil

Apple MacBook Pro 2016 Review

Apple MacBook Pro 2016 Review

So yesterday, at the Apple event, they announced the new Apple MacBook Pro 2016 Model....with Touch bar. As a result music and video forums around the world seems to give a resounding 'really' is that it? Is that the announcement? No new iMacs and crucially no new Mac Pros? What are you doing Apple, you remember those guys who saved you in the 90's, the designers, the studios, the video guys....remember, the one's you thought it was 'cool and trendy' to be associated with. Well, I personally think you are starting to dump on them BIG style! For the biggest company in the world, is it too much to put some resource aside and keep us guys content? Is it really?

SO Thoughts.....

I have given this some thought since the announcement, and the one thing that really jumps out is how, given the immense computing power available to the world now, why Apple in particular, aren't making absolute beasts of machines for those working in especially media related fields (Audio, Video, Photography) etc. It seems there is a specification undercutting happening, perhaps the warning flag should have gone up when the iPod classic left the shelves. You know when real music lovers, who LOVED the fact they could have their entire library on a tiny portable device ,were told that this was not cool and you should either stream or die like a dinosaur, I mean I guess some people do only listen to 3 albums these days whilst permanently tethered to GOOD WIFI!!!There seems to be a complete disjunct between the needs of professional creators and the machines we have. Why are these MacBook Pros being shipped with a max of 16Gig of Ram? That is kind of pointless for many of us out there, not just in audio production and music, ESPECIALLY when you can't upgrade it. 256 Gig HD, yes cool it is SSD but that is like 1 and a 1/2 quality sample libraries and it is full, before you take in to consideration any applications, and let alone think about an ACTUALLY PROJECT FILES! But no Grandad, why aren't you uploading your project to the cloud? SO uncool Dude. Because I have GIGs of project files and yes Apple, you market saying...work any where, be a free spirit, travel, record indigenous tribes in their native home lands, but less an less giving us the tools to do that....wow cool I have a SUPER THIN SHINNY box, but that pretty much goes out the window when the rest of my bags is filled up with hard drives, power supplies, and now 4 more different adapters to connect to all the other adapters to make the gear I have invested thousands and thousands in actually work!! That is not cool Apple, it takes me 20 minutes to plug everything in.

Top of the pile??

Why oh why is it not possible to have a SOLID performing laptop (Which might be a bit thicker than some others used for web browsing and typing documents), with a powerful CPU, upgradable RAM, maybe....just maybe....two hard drives in it?? SHOCK, and yes why not have 3-4 USB ports, and SD card reader, and HDMI port and Two Thunderbolts all running down the side. I would be so proud to tell all my friends about a product like that, you know one where I could actually just take that to a gig, a forest, a tribe and DO EVERYTHING. THAT WOULD BE COOL APPLE.But NO, style over substance, form over function now from the INNOVATION CREATIVE FRUIT BASED COMPANY. Phones, watches, $$$$$$$$$s and watch the old guard take the lead and innovate. Who in a million years thought they would ever actually look up from their fruit based computing device and watch a Microsoft promo (firstly actually watch it!) and go....ooooh what's going on over there..........Peace, love and good happiness stuff!Neil

There is another way : Making life work as a creative - My New Podcast

Create, live, breath and be free

I am so proud to say that my first podcast has been broadcast and is now available online and in iTunes. This is something which has been in the planning for sometime now and I have an exciting information and interviews to share with everyone in the near future.SO what is it about?"Create, live, breath and be free" : There is another way!The goal of the 'There is another way' podcast is to help and empower those on a journey to break away from the 9 to 5, captive working environment and live the life they truly want to. To explore life, the world and creativity.There is another way podcast is all about the journey of being a creativity, a no holes barred account of the ups and downs of being a creative. Neil aims to give listeners the whole truth about the journey and the inspiration to know that they can make it work, no matter their circumstances. With advice, interviews and live talks, this podcasts aims to assist you in making the right choices about your future.Please subscribe on iTunes to get the next Episodes, we will be realising a next Episode every Sunday!Enjoy and thanks for your support.PeaceNeil

Improve your finger independence for guitar - try chord voicings

Facing the finger

Improving finger independence is one of the biggest challenges facing beginner (and more advanced!) players, there are a whole host of finger exercises out there (including student's favourite...the spider). I have found that another way you can tackle this area and work on building your finger independence is to use chord voicings and switch between them.

Video Lesson

So I posted this video lesson which uses some  more 'complex' chord shapes and then spend your time switching between them. This is also a great 'musical' method to improve finger independence over the more traditional spider exercises.Download PDF of chord shapes here For more in-depth information on maximising your practice time and finding your own voice on the instrument, check out my book Guitar Creativity - A new way of thinking Follow me onTwitterFacebookInstragramLinkedInEnjoy!PeaceNeil