How to write your first song // You're not too young to write a song! Tu n'es pas trop jeune pour écrire une chanson!

"My Students" Episode 1

Alberto is 10 years old, and he attends my guitar class in Brussels. He came out with that song.
I helped him here and there in the creative process and with the arrangement, but he wrote and performed it.
I just programmed the drums with some Native Instruments plugins, recorded and mixed.
Thanks to my other pupils Auriane and Ida-Marie, aged 13 and 12 for the acoustic guitars and the backing vocals.

I did a very small amount of editing and fixing. The goal is not having a perfect fake radio-ready pop song but teaching my students how to arrange and record a song, and work it out with headphones, metronome and layering parts and instruments.

So, what are waiting for? Write your first song!

More to come, stay tuned and spread the word :-)

How to make your guitar solo louder (with a TC Electronics MojoMojo) - Gain stage and volume between pedalboard and amp

I’m not an endorser, and the fact they are part of the same brand was not intentional. Instead, that’s the result of many trials and price comparisons. For me these guys are just the best value/size/money ratio on the market. Nothing fancy, but put them in your backpack when you’re in a rush and you won’t be disappointed. A real guitarist survival kit! #guitarplayer #guitar #electricguitar #rocknroll #musicproducer #musicismylife #homestudio #recordingstudio #mixing #studiogear #rock #music #tutorial #ontheroad #ontour #survivalkit #tcelectronicflashback #mojomojooverdrive #polytunemini #polytunemini2 @tcelectronic @guitarsarebetter @guitarsdaily @guitarstagram @guitarworldmagazine @all.things.bass

Un post condiviso da Ru Catania (@ru_catania) in data: 24 Ago 2017 alle ore 00:26 PDT

Even on the same amplifier, every channel will react in its own personal way to the sound coming out from your stompboxes.
This is particularly true for the LEVEL coming OUT from your pedal rig, which will influence the way you may DRIVE and BOOST the INPUT stage of your amp.
Unlike you could think, the cleaner the channel, the more it will react in terms of VOLUME.
The clean channel of a Fender Twin will increase the volume A LOT as you increase the OUTPUT VOLUME on your overdrive pedal*. And what's more, it will preserve your transients.
While the lead channel of the same amp (let alone a Marshall) will result in a more saturated and compressed sound but the VOLUME will nearly stay the same.
The more you push your input stage, the most muffled and confused your sound will come out from the amp, due to the circuitry of your amp, like tube load and stuff like that.
Which is pretty cool in terms of SOUND, but it is totally useless in term of "song arrangement" such as PUMP UP your volume during a solo.
So it really depends on your needs. You just have to look around a little bit with your settings and try different pedal order in your rig to find what works for your personal needs. Both with your own amp, and every time you're going to play with a backline amp.
Sometimes I end with using the crunch cannel for the clean parts, and switching to the clean channel + overdrive* for the solo section.
You may think it is a paradox and yes it is, but it works.

Check it out, your sound engineer will be happier than ever!

It happened to me during a gig to use my regular fuzz setting I was used to use on the crunch cannel of my VHT Pitbull amp on the clean channel of a Fender amp.
Don't do it, unless you want to transform your reggae party in a Manowar show.


* or no matter what other kind of distortion / boost unit.

Go and get that Mesa Boogie sound for 9 bucks! Plugin Alliance Brainworx Black Friday

Hi everyone!
If you're a guitar player or a producer, I have a tip for you.
I'm no more into the Gear Acquisition Syndrome, but I'm still obsessed by the offers that many companies run during Black Friday and all that crap. Some are just scam, some others are absolutely stunning and totally worth the price.
Even if I'm not a big fan of the well known Mesa Boogie sound.
Even if  I am a happy Native Instruments Guitar Rig user.
Even If a own a top class chain to record the real thing and I love it (yes, I'm 40 I was born with the real thing).
Well, I had the chance to buy the Plugin-Alliance / Brainworx  bx_Megasingle for 29 bucks some months ago.
No bullshit and no fancy, just a guitar amp.
It lacks of reverb, it lacks of tuner and the included delay is just meaningless to me.
Some people say it has some bugs too, and that it can crash the system, but everything seems to work fine for me.
That said.
The sound is just amazing.
You can buy it until tomorrow for 9 bucks (instead of 149)
No, seriously. 9 bucks. 8 €.
So, if you're a guitar player or into production, act now, go and grab that fucking Mesa amp direct into your bedroom, your home studio or professional studio.
Please do it.
You won't be disappointed.
It simply blow away all the rock/metal amp you have with sophisticated guitar suites such as Guitar Rig and Amplitube for 1/20 of the price.
Do it!
You will have fun, I promise.
And if don't like it, ok guys, it's the price of 5 picks, let's say I'll pay you a beer if we meet around.

How to use my YouTube channel to learn guitar and have fun

This content was originally written as part of my newsletter "Tartare de Guitare"

You can sign up on this page, over there --->

Here's my YouTube Channel demystified.
You can use it just for fun, and as tool to practice guitar.
I keep it simple.
There are 4 public playlists (see below).
In the near future I'll provide exlusive videos too, just for the Tartare subscribers and my flash & blood pupils.
Start the tour, click on the tiltle to enter the playlist!

Guitar Tricks
My videos. Riffs, licks, tutorial, soloing, well known songs explained.

Guitar Heroes
A must see for every guitar player.

Backing Tracks
Use this playlist to improve your soloing skills!

Songs To Play Along
If you're watching this playlist you should already know how to play at least one of these songs. Isn't it?

...and be sure to 

SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Channel !

Nuno Bettencourt Washburn N2 - this little monster blows me away

Last summer I was playing in a piece called "Elle(s)" at the Avignon OFF Festival.
I saw that 2nd hand Washburn N2 (made in Indonesia) in a guitar shop, I've tried it once.
I've tried it again 2 days later.
Then I've tried it a 3rd time.
I came back home with that guitar, end of the story.
I had an original N4 model at that time, I think it was in 1991, I've sold it straightway due to an issue to the bridge.
So I can say I know how a real N4 sounds, and that little monster N2 has nothing to be afraid of.
IMO, the only real difference is the lack of the Extended Cutaway.
Pick-ups are the same, the neck is comfortable, the sound is as it should be, and the sustain it is just incredible.
Nuno Bettencourt influenced my playing for so many years, and even if I don't think I could play that kind of stuff on stage anymore, I'm just having great time remembering that kind of sound.
And thank you Nuno for the eternal inspiration.

I think this guitar is just here to remember me one simple thing.
I'm not talking about bands, fashion, managements, courses, money, shredding, ostentation.
I really don't care about.
This guitar is just here to remember me one simple thing.
I love playing the guitar.

So, I'm talking to you.
Play. Play your guitar. Play as much as you can. It is just amazing.

New Stevie Ray Vaughan style video + FREE Native Instruments Guitar Rig preset

I've never recorded this track properly, but I will, no matters when.
This is the classic Stevie Ray Vaughan style, nothing more, but I have so much fun every time I play that kind of crap! :-)
Enjoy and subscribe my Youtube channel!

If you are an audio geek you can download the Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5 preset I've stored for this song.

Click HERE to DOWNLOAD this preset FOR FREE!

And don't forget to subscribe my newsletter HERE for some news and more exclusive contents!