In our article about contracts for musicians, we already touched on it: the technical rider. This is a document that lists all the ‘technical specifications’ of a band. There are many versions in circulation, varying greatly in quality. With a good rider, the on-site engineer knows exactly what to expect. What should a technical rider include? And what’s the difference between a technical rider and a hospitality rider?

Bax Music has a wide range of microphones in its catalogue. On the microphone product pages in the webshop you’ll find a list of specifications, which we’re going to take a closer look at. To understand what these specs actually mean, we need to start with the basics.

In our articles about musical instruments, the saxophone simply can’t be left out. It’s remarkable to see how this relatively young instrument – invented in 1840 – continues to hold its own in pop music and jazz. The saxophone is a popular instrument and features on countless classic tracks. We’ll cover the history of this ingenious wind instrument, along with the different types of sax, playing styles and techniques.

Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven is a timeless classic. And yet there’s a strange vibe around the song, with the intro even being dubbed “the forbidden riff”. In this mini-blog, we dive into the stories behind this evergreen meme — and why, according to some people, you’re not supposed to play Stairway to Heaven in a music shop.

One of the most challenging stages of making your own music video is the edit. This is the moment you take the footage you’ve worked so hard on and start shaping it into an impressive music video. It’s a tough job, but the end result can be stunning — and a real calling card for your band. You can make the process easier by following the step-by-step plan in this article!

In classical music, violins take pride of place. But the violin has also found its way into pop music, and in styles such as folk rock it’s practically indispensable. How do you play this bowed instrument, and how difficult is it? And what should you watch out for if you want to combine violin and pop? A closer look at a legendary instrument!

Is it time to bring in an image consultant? Or do you not need one as a musician? One thing is certain: a meal in a restaurant can taste amazing, but if the presentation isn’t appealing, it feels less appetising. The same goes for musicians and bands. Image and identity matter. It’s an extra form of expression, adds a new dimension to your band and your music, and above all, it makes you recognisable.

The ukulele (spelled ‘ukulele’ in English) is a small, four-string musical instrument fitted with nylon strings. You’ll recognise it by its bright, cheerful sound. Most of the time, you play chords on it—and those are relatively easy to learn thanks to the ukulele’s compact size and the small number of strings. Originally, you’d mainly come across ukuleles in folk music, but these days they also regularly show up in pop bands and as an accompaniment instrument for singers. In this article, you’ll read about ukulele history, tuning, types and much more.

In this blog, we’re not answering the question “what is a Les Paul?”, but who was Les Paul? Guitarist and inventor Les Paul (1915 – 2009) made an important contribution to the development of the electric guitar (the famous Gibson Les Paul) and to popular music, both musically and technically.

Diction, pronunciation and articulation are often overlooked topics in the singing world. But that doesn’t make them any less important. In fact, they’re the foundation of good singing and a strong performance. Here’s how that works!

The wind controller, or wind synth, is a synthesiser for wind players who want to pluck, hammer and bow. Saxophonist Louis Gerrits knows all about it. There’s always work for the wind controller, he says. Mind you, the real controller isn’t the instrument, but the player.

Experiencing and conveying the lyrics is essential for a strong vocal performance. The basic principles are fairly quick to explain, but in practice it can be very labour-intensive. You can also look at lyric delivery in a broader context—think performance and the way you, as a singer, position yourself in ‘artistic life’. Singer Ellen Evers has a very clear vision on that.