A Musician’s Journey through Songs, Stories & Life
I’m a guitarist, singer-songwriter, and travel writer with over 30 years of experience across performance, production, and storytelling.
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Guitar lessons, gear reviews, songwriting tips, and behind-the-scenes music stories.
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Lessons, tone, gear reviews, playing insight
✍️ Songwriting & Music Production
Creative process, writing, recording
🌍 Music & Life Stories
Travel, reflections, industry experience
Featured Articles
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Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s Review: Worth it in 2026?
Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s Review. Is this the best affordable Les Paul you can buy? Before we get into it, let’s look at the Epiphone Les Paul Standard 60s specs. The Les Paul™ Standard 60s models from Epiphone’s new Inspired by Gibson™ Collection recreate the sound of 1960s era Les Pauls. Featuring a classic…
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The Golden Age of the Video Game Arcade: 1987
Welcome back to 1987, with this year’s long list of classic arcade games being impossible to detail in a single article. Here are some of my favourites. 1987 was a turning point for me and my fascination with the video game arcade. It had been a place of comfort for a good chunk of my…
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BOSS Katana 50 Guitar Amplifier Review
The BOSS Katana 50 Guitar Amplifier IS the best guitar-related purchase I’ve ever made. Why? Let me explain. Is the BOSS Katana 50 loud enough to gig with? The question that everyone’s asking. Simple answer… ABSOLUTELY!. That’s on the 50W mode, clean channel, gain just less than half, volume the same, and master maxed. In…
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Goa : A Lesson In Life – Second Edition. Out NOW!
A BIG day! Originally realised back in 2017. My debut book, Goa : A Lesson in Life receives a long-overdue edit, professional cover, long-lost images, and an extra chapter, bringing my story to a close and up to date. So, what’s it all about? Back in August 2006, I visited Goa, India. A trip that…
Latest Articles
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The Art of Audio Mixing: Techniques and Tips for the Aspiring Musician
Audio mixing is a nuanced, technical, and artistic process involving collecting raw tracks and transforming them into a cohesive and polished final product. This is where artistry intersects with technical expertise. For upcoming musicians and producers, mastering this art is essential to ensure their music achieves the desired emotional impact and clarity. This post will…
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History Of The Guitar
By Shawn Leonhardt for Guitar Tricks and 30 Day Singer The guitar was one of the most popular instruments of the 20th century and while its genre dominance waned there are still so many people who love it. It can be found across the world and in most musical styles as lead, rhythm, accompaniment, and…
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Is the future of live guitar bright in 2024?
It’s been a pretty turbulent 2023 and early 2024 for me, so I think it’s high time to slow things down. My first post of the year is usually a blog-focussed motivator for myself; Pointers on how the blog could improve and lessons learned, which hopefully other bloggers can get something from. But this year…
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Apartment vs. Condo Living in Las Vegas: Pros and Cons
Introduction Choosing between an apartment and a condo in Las Vegas can be a challenging decision. Each offers a unique living experience, with its own set of advantages and drawbacks. This article will delve into the pros and cons of apartment and condo living in Las Vegas, helping you make an informed choice based on…
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A Musician’s Guide to Enhancing Visual Appeal and Stage Presence
As talented as you are, it takes more than that to be a successful musician today. Combining your musical talent with a captivating stage presence and persona is fundamental for success because it helps you stand out. There are hundreds of thousands of artists in your respective genre, vying for the attention of the same…
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How to Record Vocals Properly
By Shawn Leonhardt for 30 Day Singer and Guitar Tricks While there are many guidelines, tips, and tricks to recording vocals, your set-up will greatly determine the ultimate decisions made. Every vocalist will have specific issues with their recording space and gear that they need to adjust for, there is no one-size-fits-all for vocals. Even…
