

Shining Light On The Dark Ages: The Concept of Mind Over Metal
Throughout human history, music has been an ever changing and evolving art form. It has embraced and expressed the views of many tribes and nations, and the beliefs that make them unique. From Creation, music and sound have played an important role in molding and shaping the voices and expression of basic human communication. Sound is one of the first senses that helped us develop our conception of the world around us. We distinguish different vibrational impulses from the


When the artist loses himself in his art, then the art comes to life!
"When the artist loses himself in his art, then the art comes to life." Bowl of Saki, December 11, by Hazrat Inayat Khan In all my efforts to share wisdom and spirituality, nothing really sums up better than this the way that art and God resonate as one for me. I hope it speaks to you the same. Blessings, Sikander Commentary by Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan: One must not only be an artist; one must become art itself. Then to the one who is so absorbed in his work that he forgets


The Guitarist's Home Studio
When an idea strikes, it can be magical sometimes. And as you enter into that blissful moment of being lost in the music, you then step back into reality and try to remember what you just played in your altered state. This is where having the capability to record what you jam is an essential part of growing as a musician. For guitarists there are many ways to get those ideas down. From old fashion boom box recordings to full blown Pro Tools, there are a number of ways to crea


Kicking the Habit
For several decades many scientific studies have been conducted to better understand what physically and neurologically forms a habit in one’s life. The majority of these studies say it takes at least 21 days to break a habit, so it will take at least that long to form a new one. Repeated actions build up a memory within your body’s muscles and neurological pathways and these sensations eventually become what we have come to know as a habit. Whether it's moving the fingers to
The Art of Self-Discovery - Embracing Your Individuality
What is Self-Discovery? The name implies a journey or a quest that will end in the finding of a personal treasure buried deep within oneself. This is esoterically correct indeed as self-discovery becomes a journey and the jewels in which we un-earth do come from within. So often though, our tendency is to get stuck on the concept of the journey, always seeking another map that will lead you to your treasure, ready to cast off for shores beyond the farthest horizons in search


How to Make Practice PERFECT!
There are many great quotes and mantras dedicated to the topic of practice and for good reason. It is the process of practicing ones craft that creates personal growth and builds in one the strength to overcome all of life’s limitations. Although all of us are born with innate abilities, it is through the disciplined action of practice that these abilities are refined and empowered. There are many ways to approach practice and many different theories as to what practice regim


Creating On The Fly!
When it comes to being creative we often think of the need to "get in the creative mindset" which could take on many forms or ritual practices in the efforts to conjure up thy inner mojo. But there are many opportunities where the juices are flowing and a great idea comes a knockin' and yet we choose not to open the door. Some of the BEST music was created in a moments time and started with a simple idea or melody that just seems to spring up from out of nowhere. These are th


The Spirit of Music
In ancient times, poetry and music were often considered sacred testimony carried out by enlightened souls sharing their experience of the divine. Not so anymore. In most cases, art has lost its spiritual connection. In part, Westerners have limited the spirituality of music through the literal restriction of the musical scale to 12 notes. In time the micro-tones and sub frequencies (responsible for transmitting an expansion of consciousness within sacred music) were dismisse

Expressing Divinity in a World of Illusions
In the past (and still today in some other cultural societies) art such as poetry and music was seen as a divine expression of sacred truth and those who carried this divine expression where seen as enlightened souls sharing the sacred prophecies of God. But too often in modern times artistry has lost the connection to the mystical presence of divinity within. As the temporal tuning system was introduced in music by Johann Sebastian Bach , Westerners in particular began to de


Creating the Perfect Solo!
Guitar-God in action, Joe Satriani shreddin' away on another perfect solo! Songwriting is a process that comes easily for some and takes much more effort and preparation for others. Although a great melody and strong chorus is often a songwriters focal point, this is not always the case from a guitar players perspective. For us axe-wielding God's of guitar, the SOLO section is where we tend to set our focus in an attempt to wow the universe with our acumen. So where do you st