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Three Pro Guitarists Write a Song Before Your Very Ears

Three Pro Guitarists Write a Song Before Your Very Ears

Hosts and musicians Sean Watkins and Peter Harper kick off this podcast series by writing a new tune with Vulfpeck multi-instrumentalist Theo Katzman.


While plenty of songwriters are happy to give a post-mortem review of how they write a song, the actual process happens behind closed doors. What goes through their heads while they decide on a specific word choice? Who hasn’t wished to be a fly on the wall while professional musicians hack together the pieces that make our favorite songs?

That’s the experience of Before Your Very Ears, a new podcast hosted by guitarists Sean Watkins and Peter Harper. On each episode, Watkins and Harper are joined by a different guest musician, and together, the three of them have one goal before the mics stop rolling: They have to write an original song. Before Your Very Ears is a fun, insightful exploration of the mysterious, ever-elusive “Songwriting Process,” and a real-time demonstration of the twists and turns that result in the music we love.

This debut episode features Vulfpeck founder and guitarist Theo Katzman. The trio starts with a gentle acoustic idea, envisioned as a sleepy-time lullaby. But as each player introduces their perspective on the concept, it soon turns into a profound, heart-felt meditation on death and grief, and what it means to lose someone.

Step right up, and witness the creative brain in motion Before Your Very Ears!

Visit BOL.education for a free sample lesson, or use code “Song” for a 10% discount on your first non-degree course.

Don't miss your chance to win a Yamaha Pacifica Standard Plus – the perfect blend of versatility and style. Enter now and make this go-to guitar yours. Giveaway ends January 7!

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Which Solidbody Guitar Is Best for You?
- YouTube

PG contributor Tom Butwin takes us through three exceptional solidbody electric guitars: the versatile Gibson Les Paul Studio, the uniquely styled Zemaitis SCW22, and the dynamic PRS CE 24. Each brings a distinct flavor—find out which one matches your style!

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The effect of ecommerce on CopperSound's shipping room.

Our columnist ponders the business-to-consumer model, and how the design of online stores might be more crucial to the stompbox industry than we’d like to admit.

Let’s open things up with a TV/movie trope. The character on screen has a speech that they’ve been preparing for once they’re called up onstage to address the audience. When they finally get up to the lectern to deliver it, they pause, give the attendees a look over, and rip up their script in a dramatic fashion before pursuing an off-the-cuff, heartfelt message that goes on to invigorate the crowd and inspire a roaring ovation. For right now—I’m at least doing the first part of that. I’m abandoning my planned topic. Consider this me ripping up my finely curated index cards.

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Loud, evil, searing hot, and unexpectedly versatile, the Fuzz War’s demented bass cousin has a bold and more-complex personality all its own that sounds radical with guitar, too.

Evil. Just plain evil. Unexpected and vast variation. Responds interestingly to bass volume and tone attenuation. Wet/dry mix control. Sounds amazing (and extra evil) with guitar.

None.

$195

Death By Audio Bass War
deathbyaudio.com

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If you like your fuzz measured in megatonnage, the Death By AudioFuzz War is one of life’s great joys. And if you’re a bass player with similar predilections and accustomed to watching guitar players have all the fun, the new DBA Bass War will be sweet revenge.

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