Gitfiddles and Paradiddles

Playing the right gear for the gig is essential to the success of the working musician. There are certain unspoken (and loudly spoken) guidelines to all genres of music. Being able to properly interpret them is your job as a musician for hire. Topics include: Gear Breakdowns Guitar Styles Fender, Gibson etc.) Selecting the right gear How scale length effects the sound of a guitar Proper cymbal selection Sound characteristics Universal rules of genres Single Coil vs Humbucker Pickup Drum Tuning Coated vs Clear Drumheads Along with some others! No need in re-inventing the wheel. Follow the guidelines to your own succuss! Picks of the Week: Jon - https://line6.com/hx-stomp/ Chris - https://www.ableton.com/en/live/

Let’s face it. When we first started playing we all imagined ourselves on a big stage in front of a screaming crowd. That’s the dream. . . That’s the goal right!? But are we interested in the process of getting from A to B? Do you know what the impacts of being a professional musician will have on our lives? Being in love with the process is what makes or breaks you. Your struggles will determine your successes. In this episode Jon & Chris dive into these topics and much more. This episode was inspired by the incredible book “The Subtle Art of Not Giving A Fuck” by Mark Manson. We recommend that everyone read this book! LINKS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-subtle-art-of-not-giving-a-f-ck/id1071409887?mt=11 https://www.amazon.com/Subtle-Art-Not-Giving-Counterintuitive/dp/0062457713/ref=sr12?ie=UTF8&qid=1543194676&sr=8-2&keywords=subtle+art+of+not+giving+a+f

Let's face it, gear is expensive. But do you have to spend a ton of money to sound your best? We don't think so. In this episode we breakdown some areas to focus on to get the most out of your money so that you can sound like a million bucks in any gigging situation. Topics Include: The $1,000 threshold Areas you sound focus spending dollars on Guitar Brands Guitar Pedals Amplifiers Cymbals Drum Tuning And much more! Jump into this episode to discover where you should spend your hard earned money.

From preparing your gear for the show. Load in, Load out and everything in between. We had fun covering it in this episode! Topics include: Gear Prep Be On Time Load in Backline Assessing the Stage Plot Setup Downbeat Load out And many other topics! We all have to go through these steps before and during our gigs. But do you take the time to examine them and maybe even learn from them? This can be essential in sharpening your skills each and every time you pack your gear for the next show.

As a working musician we all learn songs for our gigs. Sometimes a few, sometimes a lot. But is there a right way to learn? We think so. Dive in and what tried and true ways work for us. Topics include: The importance of listening first. Not playing first Getting the right tones for the songs your learning The Nashville Number System and ways to utlize it best Sight Reading vs. Stage Presence Taking the songs you've learned into the gigging / show situation LINKS: More about the Nashville Number System - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nashvillenumbersystem

Practice is essential to developing on a musical instrument. In this episode we breakdown all the aspects of practice and how it helps us as working musicians. How much can our brains handle at once? Do they get overloaded? Are you practicing with intent? Do you have a plan for practice when you sit down? During this episode we breakdown practicing with a metronome vs practicing ideas with a band. How to build up your chops. Do you get feedback from your bandmates? Are you asking for it? This episode was fun! We love talking about practice and how it can make us better players and band members. Come join us!

In this episode we discuss the importance of timing. Timing is relavent in all parts of music. Do you practice this? Do you make it a priority? As musicians we try to sharpen all these things. At least we hope to. Speed and precision. Pocket and groove. Both are important but which are you spending more time on? We get into all these topics in this episode. Come join us!

In this episode we talk about the importance of synergy within a band. The individual ways each band member functions and works together is crucial for a bands succes. Come join us!

In this episode we talk about the importance of networking within your city to help expand your brand as a musician. Join us!

Welcome into Gitfiddles and Paradiddles! In this episode we discuss our origins, backgrounds and reason for this podcast. Dive in and join us!