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Trombone: an In-Depth guide for Beginners and Advanced Musicians

It’s funny how many times when we think of brass instrument we usually think of the trumpet first…

And rarely of the trombone. It’s true, the trombone is kind of an underdog.

And in fact, if you ask a trombone player why they chose this funny looking instrument, they’ll usually reply either of these answers:

It was the only instrument left in high school band
It’s what my father/mother played

Now, there are reasons the trombone is not as popular as other instruments, mainly:

it’s hard to play – because of the way it’s built, the trombone is a difficult instrument to master, and there are indeed few trombone “virtuoso”
children can’t really play it – because of its size, it is usually not recommended for children, although there are some workarounds

But come to think about it, all these reasons are also PRECISELY WHY you should play the trombone!

Trombone players are usually highly sought after exactly because they’re so scarce. And the instrument itself is completely unique and plays like no other.

So whether you’re looking to be the next Trombone Shorty, play in a symphonic orchestra or become one of the rare jazz trombonists…

You’ve come to the right place as I have compiled for this all the information you need to know to either:

Buy your first trombone
Upgrade your current trombone
Buy a new trombone

Sounds good? Then let’s start.

The Ultimate Guide to the Flute for Beginners and Advanced Musicians

Did you know the flute is the oldest instrument in the world?

The first specimens are dated to as old as 40,000 years ago.

Virtually every region in the world has its own variant of the flute, and you probably played it yourself at some point in school.

Remember these recorders?

Well, in this post I’ll be covering the Western Classical Flute, also known as transverse flute.

Why? Well mainly because:

It’s the most common type of flute
It’s the most versatile flute and you can find it in virtually every music genre.
It’s the most complete flute, and the most complex one too.

So whether you always wanted to play the bird part in Peter and the Wolf, that smooth jazz from the 50s/60s, be the next Jethro Tull or play the punchy flute in that Salsa tune you like…

You’ve come to the right place as I’ve compiled in this post the most comprehensive piece of information you’ll need to get started on the flute…

As well as to upgrade your knowledge AND your flute if you already play it.

Sounds good? Then let’s start.

The 9 Best Glockenspiels for Curious Musicians and Newbies

Fun fact, the word glockenspiel actually literally means “toy”, and more specifically “toy bells” in German.

And the truth is, when we think of a glockenspiel, most of us picture this colorful plastic — and diatonic — instrument made for children.

And while there are absolutely models marketed for kids, there are also glockenspiels made for adults and dedicated players…

Essentially, these more “serious” models are generally made of high grade materials, like wood.

Finally, there are also professional models, with features such as sustain and/or damping pedals.

So whether you are looking for an introduction to the struck idiophone instrument family…

Or you are just obsessed with the glockenspiel’s sound…

You’ve come to the right place as I have compiled for today’s article a list of the 6 Best Glockenspiels currently available on the market.

Sounds good? Then let’s start.

The 8 Best Cowbells for Drummers and Curious Musicians

Cowbells are among these percussion instruments that you often make fun of, a little bit like the triangle.

And that’s because people think it’s enough to hit the instrument without thinking about it.

Well guess what? They’re wrong! There’s much more to the cowbell than just hitting without thinking.

A core part of Afro-Cuban and Latin-American music, you’d be surprised how hard a cowbell can groove when you know how to play it correctly…

And it will add some serious rhythmic structure to ANY song.

On top of that, it’s an excellent addition to any drummer’s set up, whether on the drumkit or on a percussion set up.

So whether you play;

Salsa
Son
Rock
Pop

Or really any other music with some rhythm in it…

The cowbell is a sure way to make people want to stand up and start moving.

And so for today’s article I decided to compile the best models out there… And some more.

Sounds good? Then let’s start.

The 7 Best Tambourines for Curious Musicians

Just like others such as the triangle, the tambourine is part of this group of instruments that are often either:

looked down upon
ignored, or simply…
not even noticed when played on a track

But this fame is proportionate to its ubiquitousness: it is present on virtually EVERY music ever created, from all around the world, and from all time periods.

Every single culture/country has its own variant of the tambourine, or a similar handheld drum…

From the most simple and cheapest plastic frame with nothing but zills to the more complex Arab riq or Brazilian pandeiro.

So first of all, before choosing a tambourine, be sure to know what you are looking for:

Are you a lead singer who wants to play some rhythm while singing?
Are you a drummer who wants to add some texture to your beats?
Are you a percussionist seeking for a more complete instrument, possibly to play whole rhythms with it?

Well, all of these are possible thanks to the wonders of the tambourine! But seriously though, there is most likely a model of tambourine that suits your needs.

And so for this article I decided to compile a list of the most popular, and useful tambourines currently available on the market.

Sounds good? Then let’s start.

First off…