It's That Time of Year Again!
As the clock strikes midnight and the hangover of last year fades into a haze of fireworks and fizz, musicians everywhere face the same annual dilemma: How to improve in the year ahead? Forget the tame platitudes about "trying your best" or "staying consistent." This is Musicmaker. We’re here to lay down the riotous resolutions that’ll turn your 2024 into a year of sonic revolution. Buckle up and grab your axe—it's time to embrace the challenge.
1. Ditch the Excuses, Master Your Gear
You’ve got a pedalboard the size of a surfboard, but do you even know what that weird green one does? Resolve to finally learn your gear. Dive into manuals, tweak every knob, and discover the voodoo magic lurking in your rig. Your sound deserves it.
Sorted? Check out some more pedals to play with HERE.
2. Record That Album You Keep Talking About
The eternal musician's lament: "I'm working on an album." Enough procrastination! This year, grab a Korg synthesizer, lay down those sick grooves, and make it happen. Whether it’s a lo-fi bedroom masterpiece or a full-band blitzkrieg, 2024 is the year your magnum opus takes shape.
3. Practice Like You Mean It
Gone are the days of noodling on the couch for ten minutes before Netflix. Pick a schedule, grab a metronome, and commit to real, sweat-drenched practice sessions. Who needs six-pack abs when you’ve got sixteenth-note chops?
Practice Pads? I'm looking at you drummers....
4. Upgrade Your Kit
Still playing that beginner guitar with action higher than a kite? Time to upgrade. Whether it's the sleek Gretsch Catalina Club kit or a blistering Fender shred machine, your tools should inspire greatness, not frustrate you into submission.
5. Jam with Strangers
The true path to musical enlightenment is paved with awkward introductions and unexpected brilliance. Hit up local jam sessions, open mics, or even that sketchy guitarist down the street. Collaboration breeds creativity.
6. Organise Your Space
A cluttered rehearsal room breeds a cluttered mind. Invest in wall hangers, cable organisers, and a decent stand for that acoustic beauty. Your music room should look like the temple of sound that it is—not a bomb site of tangled leads and dusty cases.
7. Go Analog
Sure, plugins are fun, but have you experienced the raw power of analog gear? Resolve to plug into a Vox AC10C1 Electric Guitar 10W Combo Amp, feel the vibrations of a true tube sound, or spin vinyl records for sonic inspiration. Digital has its place, but 2024 is calling for a return to the tangible.
8. Learn a New Instrument
Stuck in a rut? Shake things up. Grab a Vintage V49 Coaster Series Bass Guitar Pack and slap your way into uncharted territory. Or try the ukulele, mandolin, or even the triangle (don’t laugh; it’s harder than it looks). A new instrument equals a new perspective.
9. Play to an Audience—Any Audience
Your dog thinks you're a rock god, but let’s aim higher. Whether it’s busking on Grafton Street, streaming live on Instagram, or playing that dive bar with sticky floors, share your music with the world. Nothing beats the thrill of live performance.
Need an Acoustic Guitar to carry around?
10. Support Your Local Music Shop (Hint: That’s Us)
Resolve to buy local this year. Whether you’re upgrading to a Mapex Mars Bop Kit or snagging a fresh Pack of Strings, Musicmaker is your HQ for all things musical. From gear advice to killer bundles, we’ve got your back every step of the way.
Closing Thoughts: Make Noise, Break Rules
2024 isn’t the year to play it safe. It’s the year to push boundaries, embrace chaos, and chase down every last riff, groove, and melody lurking in the corners of your mind. Set your resolutions, stick to them (mostly), and let Musicmaker help along the way.
Let the year begin.
