How to choose, buy and care for your instrument

Guides to picking your first instrument and keeping it clean, in tune and protected from the weather.

Playing an instrument in an apartment: noise, neighbors, and what Colombian regulations say
You can practice almost any instrument in an apartment with the right tools, sensible practice times, and a timely conversation with your neighbors. Here is what to do for each instrument and what to check in your building's rules.
13 min readRead article
Acoustic drums, electronic drums or a cajón to start with?
Before the drum kit, a practice pad and a good pair of sticks. We help you choose between an acoustic kit, an electronic kit or a cajón for your home.
8 min readRead article
How do you change guitar strings? Step by step
Nylon and steel strings, acoustic, classical and electric: when to change them, what gauge to use and how to put them on so they tune up and stay in tune.
9 min readRead article
How do you take care of your voice? A practical guide for singers
Your voice doesn't come with a case: you look after it with daily habits. Hydration, rest, warm-ups and knowing when to get a professional evaluation.
8 min readRead article
How do you look after an electric bass?
Fresh strings, a well-adjusted neck and noise-free electronics make a bass sound and play better. What you can do at home and what's a job for the luthier.
9 min readRead article
How do you look after a double bass? Transport, bridge and bow
A double bass gets damaged more in transit than while being played. How to move it, adjust the bridge when the weather changes and look after the strings, bow and rosin.
7 min readRead article
How do you care for an oboe and its reeds?
The oboe is demanding about two things: its reeds and its wood. Here's how to soak, store and rotate reeds, and how to clean the oboe without risking a crack.
9 min readRead article
How do you look after a tiple and a bandola?
Lots of steel strings, lots of tension and woods that react to the weather: the tiple and the bandola need their own kind of care. Here's what it involves and which warning signs not to ignore.
8 min readRead article
How do you look after a cello? Endpin, bridge, bow and transport
With a cello, almost every accident happens outside the lesson: setting it down on the floor, getting on a bus or loading it into the car. Here's how to look after its endpin, bridge, bow and wood.
8 min readRead article
How do you care for a drum kit and percussion instruments?
Drumheads, cymbals, hardware, cajón and congas: every part of your percussion setup needs its own care. And there's one you can't see that matters most: your hearing.
8 min readRead article
How do you care for and clean an acoustic or digital piano?
Keys, cabinet, humidity, sunlight and tuning: what a technician wishes you knew so your acoustic or digital piano lasts and sounds good for years.
9 min readRead article
How do you choose your first electric bass?
A 4-string bass that feels comfortable in your hand and a small amp are all you need to get started. We explain what to check before you buy.
7 min readRead article
How do you choose your first saxophone? What to check before buying
A first saxophone is almost always an alto. Here's what it should come with, which reeds to buy and what to check on a used one so you don't bring home a problem.
9 min readRead article
How do you choose your first trombone? Slide, size and F attachment
A tenor trombone with a smooth slide is the best way to start. We help you decide whether you need an F attachment and how to check a new or used trombone.
8 min readRead article
How do you choose your first electric guitar and amp?
An electric guitar is a system: guitar, cable and amp. What to look for in each, what to try before you pay and why pedals can wait.
7 min readRead article
How do you choose your first trumpet? What to check
A B-flat trumpet with smooth valves and no dents in the leadpipe is what you need to start. We explain how to check one, new or used.
8 min readRead article
How do you choose a tiple or bandola? What to check first
A well set-up tiple or bandola takes far less effort to play. We tell you what to check on a new, luthier-made or inherited instrument.
7 min readRead article
How should you store your instruments for Colombia's climate?
Wood, leather, glue and pads all react to the climate. How to store your instrument in Bogotá, on the coast, in the hot lowlands and when you travel.
9 min readRead article
How do you clean a saxophone after playing?
Five minutes after every practice session prevents sticky pads, bad smells and unnecessary trips to the repair shop. Here's how to clean a saxophone step by step.
8 min readRead article
How do you clean a trombone and care for the slide?
The slide is the heart of the trombone and also its most fragile part. Here's how to lubricate it, clean it inside and protect it from knocks when assembling and transporting.
8 min readRead article
How do you clean a plastic or wooden recorder?
A plastic recorder can be washed in warm water; a wooden one should never get wet. How to clean each kind, protect the windway and labium, and what to do if it sounds airy.
7 min readRead article
How do you clean a trumpet at home?
Oiling the valves, greasing the slides and giving it a full bath every so often keeps a trumpet responsive and in tune. Here's how, and what you should never use.
8 min readRead article
How do you clean and care for a clarinet?
Swab, mouthpiece, reeds, cork grease and the big risk with wood: cracks. Everything you need to keep your clarinet sounding good and lasting.
8 min readRead article
How do you clean and look after a violin (and a viola)?
Rosin, bow, bridge, soundpost and humidity: what your violin teacher expects you to do after every practice session, every week and every year. The same goes for the viola.
9 min readRead article
How do you clean and care for a flute?
Two minutes with the cleaning rod after playing and careful assembly prevent almost all damage. A guide to cleaning, pads, the cork and servicing.
7 min readRead article
How do you clean and care for an acoustic or classical guitar?
A minute of care after you play, a deep clean when you change strings and an eye on humidity: that's how to look after a nylon- or steel-string guitar, and how to know when it's time to see a luthier.
8 min readRead article
How do you clean and look after an electric guitar?
Body, frets, pickups, scratchy pots, cables and amp: how to look after your electric guitar at home and when to leave the job to a luthier.
8 min readRead article
New or used instrument? What to check before you buy
A used instrument can be a great buy if you know what to look for. Here's a checklist for each instrument family and the signs that should make you wary.
7 min readRead article
What microphone should I buy for singing at home?
For singing at home, a dynamic microphone with an audio interface and closed-back headphones is usually the most practical choice. We explain when a condenser is the better option.
7 min readRead article
What size violin do you need? How to choose your first one
Violin size is chosen by measuring the arm, not by age. A size chart, how to confirm it with the violin in hand and what to check before you pay.
8 min readRead article
Clarinet and saxophone reeds: what strength should you choose?
A 2½ isn't the same across brands, and a harder reed isn't a better one. How to read reed strength, what the cut changes and when to move up or down.
9 min readRead article
How to choose your first clarinet and reeds
B-flat, resin or wood, mouthpiece, ligature and reeds: what your first clarinet needs to sound good and what to check before you pay, new or used.
8 min readRead article
How to choose your first piano or keyboard: a buying guide
Acoustic, digital or keyboard: which specs really matter for learning piano, what to test in the store and what to check if you buy used.
9 min readRead article
How to choose your first cello: size, bow and case
Cello size is tested sitting down with the endpin adjusted. What to check on the instrument and bow, how to move it around and when renting beats buying.
7 min readRead article
How to choose your first flute
Closed-hole keys, offset G, C foot and pads that seal: the most comfortable setup for learning, and when a curved headjoint makes sense.
7 min readRead article
How to choose your first acoustic or classical guitar
Nylon or steel, the right size for each age and string height: what decides whether your first months with the guitar are a joy or a struggle.
8 min readRead article
How to choose a beginner double bass: sizes and types
3/4 is the standard adult size, and a laminated bass is a beginner's best friend. What to check, how to adjust the string height and how to sort out transport.
8 min readRead article
How to choose a recorder: Baroque or German fingering, soprano or alto
They all look the same, but fingering system, size and material change how they sound and how easy they are to learn on. What to ask the school before you buy.
7 min readRead article

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