Paul Young's Royal Family

Guitarist Steve Bolton and bass player Pino Palladino explain the importance of being a Swedish Chef.

Mark J. Prendergast interviews California-born musician Terry Riley, the influential inventor of 'minimalist' music.

Torch Song; aspiring musical and studio entrepreneurs

RETROSPECT: miles davis

what can a 63-year-old jazz trumpeter teach you about playing? rather a lot, actually

five stars pick their fave sounds

Vince Clarke, Jon Lord, Steve Levine, Bill Nelson, John Foxx... five heroes of the keyboard nominate their favourite synth tracks and sounds

the history of the music that gave birth to rock 'n' roll

The Art Of Arranging

Ian Gardiner gets out the manuscript paper and tells you how to spread those blobs around

MK 80 Electronic Piano

In its day the Fender Rhodes changed the course of musical progress; now Roland have resurrected and improved Harold Rhodes' classic electric piano. Simon Trask plays on...

The musicians' gossip column. Stuff you wouldn't believe. (We didn't.)

This, however, is the bit where we tell you gossipy tittle-tattle you've never heard before.

A half-page of wit from Adrian Deevoy. Or should that be...

The release of the M1R puts the M1’s hot sounds in a compact rack-mounting package that will undoubtedly appeal to musicians and studios already burdened by a surfeit of keyboards. Martin Russ looks beyond the surface appeal.

Not all sampler owners have access to every instrument they might wish to sample, hence the appearance of Sample CDs containing all manner of digitally recorded sounds. But how useful are they? Are they value for money? Keyboardist Dave Stewart recently spent many hours sorting the wheat from the chaff. Here are his findings.

Little boy blue, come blow up your horn — but first, read this introduction to blowing saxes etc.

Improvisation. You know, making it up, off the top of your head. Of course you can do it.

This month: Farfisa to Fuller.

Roland GR09

Down-to-earth guitar synth

EQ Tutorial

Perfecting your sound with a little equalisation

Courses, dealer information, bulletin board

Technology On The Air

When Paul D. Lehrman was asked to use his technological expertise to help create a radio quiz show, he rose to the challenge — and discovered it was just about the best fun he could have standing up.

Who you (the readers) voted as best musician, and what you (still the readers) voted as best gear. We shake the world.

Snares

guitar boss shows how to steal licks from Buddy Holly, Scotty Moore, Les Paul, Jimi Hendrix, Hank Marvin and Roger McGuinn