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Gallery: Riot Fest 2015

Chicago’s other 3-day festival hosts an eclectic group of artists that span all of pop music.

Anthrax’s Jon Donais

The former Shadows Fall shredder fired up and down the fretboard of his signature Legator Ninja R300 Pro that features mahogany body with a maple top, a five-piece maple-and-walnut neck, and he outfits this one with Zakk Wylde’s signature EMG 81/85 pickups.

Classic counterpoint techniques that work for surf.

Intermediate

Intermediate

Learn some time-honored guidelines of classical composition.

Apply revered rules to more modern styles.

Create interesting and complex surf lines.
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The term counterpoint scares many people who think it is a carefully devised process that strips you of creative freedom. This is partly true, because some individuals have pushed the practice of counterpoint as strict rules at some point without explaining its purpose. I disagree with the view that music theory is a rule. Counterpoint, like serialism or any other principle of harmony, is simply a recipe for an expected result. These music theory recipes are not baking recipes where exact measurements must be made; music theory is more like cooking, which is more malleable and open to in-the-moment modifications.

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See and hear Taylor’s Legacy Collection guitars played by his successor, Andy Powers.

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The Oceans Abyss expands on Electro-Harmonix’s highly acclaimed reverb technology to deliver a truly immersive effects workstation. The pedal is centered around dual reverb engines that are independently programmable with full-stereo algorithms including Hall, Spring, Shimmer and more. Place these reverbs into a customizable signal path with additional FX blocks like Delay, Chorus, Tremolo, or Bit Crusher for a completely unique soundscape building experience.

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Our columnist’s silver-panel Fender Bandmaster.

How this longstanding, classic tube amp design evolved from its introduction in 1953.

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