If you are like most of us musically minded wannabes, you may be conflicted on how to split your practice time.
For example you may juggling your practice time learning covers for your band, working on your own originals or striving for mastery over the instrument of your choice. I do all three!
I remember when I began to really develop my chops, practicing only new licks and scales for soloing.  I did get noticeably better at solos but as soon I joined the next cover band, I was off to learn new songs, and doing only that. I learned new songs but after awhile I began to slip back to old habits and my solos suffered.
That’s when I realized that if I wanted to stay current with new material, be able to write some of my own and to keep developing as a player I needed a system. This is what helped me.

• Write down your Musical Goals that you need to practice for.
• Prioritize these goals.
• Assess your available practice time and segment your time so that you can round out your learning experiences.

I practice about 1 hour per day, the first 30 minutes I work on new songs, then I spend about  10 minutes on scales or new licks, any time after that I work on my own stuff.
This system isn’t perfect and will vary a little day by day, but it does keep me focused on the big picture. Good Luck!

     There are several factors that will determine the longevity of your instruments strings.  The first of course is the Quality of the string. Always go with a trusted name brand that you recognize or that you have researched. This is as easy as reading reviews on the brand Also make sure to buy your strings from a trusted source. Name brand strings that have sit in a musky warehouse for 10 years might not last as long as a set of off brand strings that are new.   
The second factor is frequency of use. If you play every day, don’t expect your strings to last as long as someone who plays infrequently.  Your body chemistry can be a determining factor as well. If you sweat a lot when you play or if your body’s PH is particularly acidic, this will shorten string life as well. Other factors will be the climate in which your instrument is subjected, is it particularly humid where you live, is your instrument kept in its case when not in use? These are all factors to consider.  Here are some simple tips to increase string life.

• Buy quality strings from a trusted source
• Always wipe off your strings when you are done playing
• Keep your instrument in its case or bag when not in use.

 One thing that many musicians and have in common is playing at high volume levels.  As I talk to musicians that have been playing for a long time the one question that often comes up is do your ears ring all the time? 


I spent my late teens and all of my 20s playing 5-6 nights a week in pretty loud bands.  You know…the snare drum cracking, cymbals crashing and let’s not forget those guitar amps!  Tinnitus, the ringing in your ears, is something that a lot of musicians deal with and it is incurable.  I’m no doctor so if you have it you should defiantly see one to see what can be done.  I can just tell my story.


Off and on over the years I would come home from a gig with that ringing in my ears and it would usually go away the next day.  As I got older I realized that I really should do something and started wearing earplugs.  Well that didn’t last long because I felt I wasn’t hearing everything I needed to do my job as a musician.  Then a few years ago I started having the ringing in my ears at random times, time to get more serious!  I was a little late and it wasn’t long before the ringing became a constant thing.  I am lucky and it is very minor but it is still there.   There are a lot of earplugs out on the market that do a great job and lowering the volume level and letting most frequencies through.


If you are exposing yourself to high volume levels you should go to a hearing specialist, they will be able to help you with preventive measures to help preserve your hearing.  Remember you only have one set of ears!

    There can be a big controversy about using a music stand while performing on stage, I don’t really want to get into that but rather what advantages there are to memorizing pieces of music.
I would say memorizing will improve your skill level.  The only way to memorize a piece of music is through repetition and the more you play a piece of music the better you will get at it.  This will also help to build your technique. 
Having your music memorized will also help with your confidence.  If you are relying on a piece of music in front of you it’s easy to get lost due to nerves or distractions while you are playing.  Distractions can range from a loud audience member to an equipment malfunction and everything in between.  I can’t tell you how many times an audience member has come up to me during a song to request another song.  If I am not completely confident in the piece I could get lost very easily.  Another advantage is you have everything memorized you can interact with your audience better and have eye contact.
There is an old saying.  How do you eat an Elephant?  One bite at a time!  This applies to memorizing music.  I memorize by taking a small portion and play it while reading a few times then I turn the music over and try it I do this until I can complete that passage with no Problem.  Then I work on the next package and put them together.  Before you know you have the piece committed to memory and you will be much more confidant in that piece of music.

There are so many picks out there it can be mind boggling to choose the right pick for you.  Here are a couple of things to consider.
Shape
There are small picks out there that many people call Jazz or Mandolin picks, these are great for fast, precise picking.  There is what has become known as a standard pick the most being the Fender F351.  Most of us start off with this style of pick and can be used for just about any style.  Another popular size is the oversized picks often in a Triangle shape.  These are perfect for strumming chords.   You should also consider the tip that strikes the string.  There are both pointed and rounded tips.  Rounded picks are great for strumming while the pointed tips are really good for picking individual notes. A favorite for ukulele players are the large tear drop felt picks.
 
Thickness
While there are many thicknesses available the most common are Thin, Medium and Heavy.   As a general rule Thin and Medium picks are great for strumming chords while the heavier picks are great for single note lines.  I have also found that most beginners prefer thin picks and as their skills progress their pick gets heavier.
 
Remember there are no hard and fast rules.  The best thing to do is grab a handful and try them out.  Luckily picks are reasonably inexpensive so for just a few bucks you can try many different types.  I am not tied down to just one type of pick sometimes I will use different picks for different styles or techniques. The most important thing when choosing a pick is to experiment and go with feels the best to you.  Now go out there and take your pick!

As the saying goes, timing is everything!  This is especially true when playing a musical instrument.

There are many benefits to using a metronome.

• Improve your timing.
• It’s a way you can track your progress by knowing exactly the tempo that you are comfortable with.
• It can help keep you from wanting to speed up and slow down during a song. Many of us have a tendency to speed up during loud sections and slow down during softer passages.
• By starting with a slow tempo you can work out faster passages keeping them precise as you increase the tempo.  This will help you stay clean at faster tempos.

​One of my favorite tricks with a metronome is to set it up so the click is on the 2 and 4 of a measure like a snare drum.  This can be challenging and will really help you find the groove.
I think that you will find that using a metronome is a fast way to improve your timing and feel which will really help you become a better player.
 

Pineapple Ukuleles were first developed in the 1920’s as a purposeful variation of the more common guitar shaped Ukuleles. However it was not originally intended to resemble a pineapple or to go by that namesake. That came later as people thought it looked very “pineapple-ish”.

The design though offers a very distinctive full rich sound that is appreciated and often preferred by many Ukulele enthusiasts.
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If you are interested in discovering new tonal palates should give the pineapple Ukulele a listen, chances are you will be hooked.   While many Ukulele companies follow the traditional mahogany styles, the Eddy Finn EF-PNAPL Pineapple Uke  (see below) is made from Zebra wood which adds a very pleasing cosmetic touch and evokes a tropical ambiance as well as chime like harmonics to an already awesome warm rich tone. Try One!

As a beginning player you can find out very quickly one of the most important things is one of the hardest things to do.  Tuning your instrument!  When I first started I had a pitch pipe.  The biggest problem with that is that as a beginner our ears aren’t usually developed enough to match the pitch.  As I got a little older electronic tuners started to become more affordable but I still paid over $100.00 for a very basic tuner. Today you can get a much more accurate and flexible tuner for a fraction of the price.
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Here are some types of tuners and their advantages.

I love these things!  I keep one in every room that I play in as well as my guitar case.  The low cost and ease of use make these a favorite of mine.  Just clip it on the headstock of your guitar, turn it on and go.  (Pictured is the Tune Tech TT-5) ​

​The Pedal Tuner

​Built in Tuner

​Some acoustic instruments have built in tuners.  This type of tuner is great if you aren’t using any pedals.  It is built into your instrument so it is always there!  
(Pictured on the left is the built in tuner for the Eddy Finn EF-9-CE. Pictured on the right is the built in Tuner in the Morgan Monroe Music Row series  MGV-100E)



What is the best type of tuner?  
To me it really depends on the application.  If I’m sitting at home you can bet I have a clip on tuner on my headstock and if I’m out playing with a band I have a pedal tuner on my board.  

Let us know what your favorite tuner is!