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Guitar Scales Cheat Sheet

I wanted to post this just to have a quick guide up for a reference when needing a different scale pattern to use on the fly. This info came from a variety of sources that I found while browsing around the other day. So, Let’s start with the basic patterns for the main scales everyone needs to know.

A Minor PentatonicRead More »Guitar Scales Cheat Sheet

Dod Death Metal Distortion Pedal

DOD released the FX86 Death Metal by early 1994, probably at the same time as the FX33 Buzz Box. Designed for use with guitar or bass, the FX86 was painted solid black with a blood-red splatter finish befitting its name. The FX86 was unique among DOD’s distortion pedals in that it featured three bands of eq but no distortion gain control, resulting in a somewhat limited pallette of distorted sounds (but perfect for extreme metal).

DOD’s self-imposed limit of four control knobs became readily apparent with the FX86, and made it clear that no DOD pedal would ever feature concentric pots (which Boss began using in three different pedals released in 1991, including their MT-2 Metal Zone). The FX86 Death Metal sold well but was ultimately replaced by the final-series FX86B Death Metal Distortion in 1998.

The DOD Death Metal Distortion PedalThe DOD Death Metal Distortion Pedal

Mixing Your Sound; Working with EQ

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Equalizing is the most important part of mastering the audio tracks that you have recorded. Without it, everything would sound muddy, garbled and lifeless. Each instrument has a range from roughly 20Hz to 20kHz, with the majority of the sound in the 400Hz-16kHz frequencies. When you are recording one instrument, it sounds fine because it used the full spectrum and has clarity, but when you add 4+ instruments, now they all are muddying up the spectrum which gives you a uneven sound with some instruments overpowering others.Read More »Mixing Your Sound; Working with EQ

Creating Your Own Hit Songs

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There’s no “set-in-stone” method to writing a song.  Each type of music is a little bit different than the rest, which is what gives them their “oomph”. The beauty of music is it can be anything, Phil Collins made songs using just drum beats and a melody, Skrillex and Dead Mau5 layer noise on top of bass beats for their songs.  Each way is different yet all are still popular.  Here’s a handy quick-sheet for coming up with your own songs.Read More »Creating Your Own Hit Songs

Recording Guitar with the iPad

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It’s really amazing what you can do with an iPad. I just bought a Griffin Guitar Connect to plug my guitar into my iPad so that I can use it for a amp simulator / effects unit, same thing as the iRig.  This literally changes everything about recording an playing guitar.

Guitar Connect for iPadGuitar Connect for iPad

You can now go anywhere and compose a new track, record multiple tracks along with drums, bass and vocals, or even play live with an assortment of different amplifiers and effects. These are a few of the apps that I’ve been playing with over the weekend.Read More »Recording Guitar with the iPad

Dimebag Darrell Tone

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Although his setup was as simple as can be, the cutthroat tone that launched forth from his axe is seldom achieved by amateurs and professionals alike. It’s probably the most sought after sound in the metal community, and has been ever since he emerged on the scene with Pantera in the early 90’s.

The Legend Himself; Dimebag DarrellThe Legend Himself; Dimebag Darrell

Pantera themselves were a force more innovative than any other during that period, forming a mechanical tightness that has been constantly imitated but never surpassed.Read More »Dimebag Darrell Tone