The number one productivity tip for improving on the Guitar (and anything!)

If you only do one thing to become more productive, then it should be to watch this video and learn the NUMBER one tip to being more productive and improving on the guitar (or anything else in life!). It is really quite simple!EnjoyPeaceNeil2

TC Electronic Nova System for the acoustic guitar

For a number of years now, I have been using my TC Nova system with my acoustic guitar for a duo gigs and some of my original material. I am only really using a few of the effects in this situation, the reverb, delay and compression, but the size of the box and the amazing quality of the effects is the prime reason for choosing it.

Much easier than building a small pedal board for a few pedals, plus it has an IEC power supply which again makes life much easier the live environment.Since then have had a few questions from both subscribers of my youtube channel and members of a Facebook group for Nova system users.

The questions tend to be focused on how I use the Nova and what settings I used. So to answer these questions, I produced a couple of short videos to help anyone and hopefully answer any questions. One of the videos also details all of the patch settings should you want to recreate me settings.andIf you have any more questions please let me know.

Request

I hope that you found this article useful and enjoy my blog, podcast and YouTube channel. I’m always happy to share my thoughts and to help others as much as I can and I will never charge for my blog content. Having said that, I truly appreciate when someone supports me in return for the time it takes to write articles, produce podcasts and videos, where I share my years of work and experience with you.

Here are some ways you can show your appreciation:

• sharing my content online.

• buying me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SpencerBruce

• subscribing, liking and commenting on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NeilSpencerBruce

• Listening to my music on streaming services like Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3llyDSr

• buying my music and sounds on Bandcamp: https://lightb4sound.bandcamp.com/

• Visiting my online store: SpencerBruceStore

Peace

Neil

SBM Vlog Updates

For those of you regulars on the blog and any of your new comers, please be aware that I also vlog as well! So below is a play list of recently Spencer Bruce Media VLOG’s. Similar to the blog in someways, what you get is an insight in to the work I am doing, a few rants here and there and some background behind the sense video of what it is like to be a working musician.I would love to hear your thoughts on the vlog (and the blog!).Thanks for your continued support everyone!EnjoyPeaceNeil

Setting objectives will a BIG difference to your guitar playing.

How setting objectives will a BIG difference to your guitar playing and other areas of life. In this video I examine the importance of setting yourself objectives and goals in your guitar development as as SURE fire way to develop on the instrument. The ideas in the video are not only suitable for guitar playing but can be transferred to all aspects of life.Many of these kinds of ideas are explored in my Guitar Creativity book, which opens up the guitarist to new ways of thinking about their practice, the instrument and creativity on the instrument.What are your current objectives?EnjoyPeaceNeil

Flare Audio Snoozers thoughts and ISOLATE review

Those of you who follow my Youtube channel, may be aware that I have done a series of videos on the Flare Audio Isolate ear plugs. I have been surprised at how much anger there seems to be towards this company and product. To give you a bit of background......

Flare Audio ISOLATE

I recently was made aware of a crowd funding campaign for these little ear plugs and I have to say it got me hooked. As some of you know I have a background in academic acoustics and psychoacoustic and thus the ear are something very important to me. I also an a huge advocate of protecting one's hearing from hearing loss in musician circle (as they can be the most immune and the least caring....until it's gone!).As you can see I always reviewed these ear plugs in the context at which they were marketed to me, as a musician. Most the anger on my videos seems to come from people who were using them to sleep in. Wow, I would never consider sleeping in these, that just seems SO uncomfortable indeed!!!But it seems that Flare Audio have taken a lot of the criticism onboard and released the Snoozers for those of you who like to sleep with ear plugs. So I thought I would put together a little video for you with my thoughts....and here it isEnjoyPeaceNeil

Top 5 tips for working from home

Home is where the work is

Home working (thankfully) is becoming more and more common and we all know that it makes SO much more sense. That is not to say that going into the office (or in my case rehearsal/gig) on occasions is not crucial to maintain relationships and have human and work interaction.

But, in this day and age, working from home really is possible and can serve to cure many of today’s pressing issues, such as combating congestion, helping to reduce co2 and climate change; helping employee’s with health issues such as  stress and over working; helping employee’s to achieve a much better work life balance.

I am fortunate as a guitarist and composer that I get to work in my home studio....in my home!

But that doesn’t mean that it is all swings and roundabouts, there are some problems, just as there are going to work in an office.

But even with a few cons, the pro certainly outweigh them!!!

As they say, “we have the technology”, and so much more at our fingers tips,

So, WHY in this day and age are we forcing millions of people into (usually) very small city centre areas, all at the same times of day, to sit in over priced offices and (if we are honest) just think about and wish it to be home time so they can escape again (with the other millions).

There are SO many alternatives to the antiquated Victorian industrial era habit, and enabling employees to work either from home or hub offices and in their own time would do go part of the way to achieving this, and I am sure making the world a much better place!!

If you would like to hear more then please check out there There is another way podcast.

The Lucky Ones??

Yes, so of us are fortunately to already be able to do this, either because we decided to work for ourselves (I am sure this is the future!) or have actual liberated, open minded and most importantly trusting employers, who have embraced home working. BUT, what find is that when we cross this divide and finally get to work from home (or those of us who run our own businesses, there are a new set of issues to contend with.

Hopefully, this article serves to help overcome some of the common problems of isolation, new stresses, inactivity, procrastination and more.Sit back and enjoy the tips.

Top 5 tips for working from home

1) Make your bed.

According to a podcast from the ultimate home worker Tim Ferriss, when he interviewed a military general, his top piece of advice to avoid procrastination and giving your sense of habit forming and achievement is to make your bed and make your bed every day.

As you do this, it starts to form a habit, and when habits form they are hard to break. With the bed made and the formulation of this habit stuck in your head, you can then set to create the next habit task which starts directly after you have started your first task of the day, such as checking emails, corresponding to clients, or going to the gym.

To beat procrastination your need a routine and you need to form habits. Making the bed also gives you a sense of achievement that you have already completed a task at the start at the day. Therefore your are already on your road to success! Try it, your will be surprised.

2) Put your shoes on.

The act of putting your shoes on to me help signal to my brain that I am in work mode. I am ready for action, should I need to go out, go to a meeting, I am ready. Working in Pj's and slippers might sound like a great enticement to home working, but it can easily lead to you confusing work with being at home, and whilst this is fine, it can also (if you are that way inclined) cause you to start stressing as there is no delineation between your work and home life.

Bonus tip - Take your shoes offThis is a biggy to help relief and home working stress anxiety , the very act of removing your shoes signals that you are no longer at work, but at home and it is your time. It really does help you to relax and triggers your brain to start switching off from work life and moving from home life. Try it! It is just another trigger!

3) Put the radio on

I personally recommend some form of news talk show type program, as this chatter in the background at a low level is very similar to being in a work place environment, where you no longer feel isolated, and can switch in and switch out of the conversation. Just like in an office, when you are in the zone, you focus out the conversation, but thanks to the cocktail party effect, if something of interest is mentioned, you can zone back in again.

This tip really helps if you are feeling isolated working from home and alone. The constant hubbub really can help focus the mind on your task as you aren't thinking about being isolated. You should use the radio and not the TV as the visual elements of the TV will serve to distract you and the way that TV is edited is to draw you in and not allow you to switch off, because you just have to know what is coming next.....

4) GO out

This is very very important. You have escaped the office, and the sedentary life that goes along with sitting at a desk all day....to sit at a desk all day. Yes we are all guilty of it. But unfortunately this is actually worse for your fitness because you aren't even walking to the bus or the car or up the office stairs.

You need to keep yourself active, so make sure you go out for a walk, to the gym, whatever takes your fancy. This will also help clear your mind and for me helps my creative mind come up with new ideas and projects.

5) Find the place you work well

This could be a spare room, the sofa, for me it is a coffee shop. I became my own boss so I could work where I like and when. I have discovered after years of doing this, that I work SO much better in short very concentrated bursts in coffee shops.

I manage to kill two birds with one stone. I pick a coffee shop that is a mile or two away, and count that as part of my exercise (See above).

I walk to the coffee shop (most have WIFI these days....in fact I am writing this now in a coffeeshop) sit there and enjoy the atmosphere, which for me is very conducive for concentrated work (I know that this might not be for everyone) and sit and work very intensely for a few hours and then walk home with a sense of achievement.

I jokingly call the coffee shop my office, and I am so lucky as I have a huge range of “offices" to go to depending on my mood. For you it might be different, it might be a bean bag in your kitchen, or a shed.

Where ever that space where you find you can do your best work is, go there, and DON'T worry about what or where it is at the end of the day your client or boss want to see results....Do they REALLY care that you did it at 2am in a late night service station? Nope!

NOTE : This article was written before the enforced home working of the Covid-19 Pandemic for many people around the world. For additional advice about homeworking and homeschooling do check out this article on Mindgenius.

I’d would love to hear your home working tips and tricks, please leave them in the comments below!

Enjoy

Peace

Neil

Fender Blues Junior III Tweed Review : Five years later

Fender Blues Junior III Tweed Review : Five years later

Recently, I have started producing a series of YouTube video reviews of gear I have had for a long period of time. I am calling this series ‘Retrospective Reviews’.The first of these was the review of my TC Electronic Nova System. Those who have been reading my blog for a number of years, will realise that this is a pivotal part of my set up, and while things come and go, the Nova has been the bedrock of my set up (yes I am still hoping for a new version, please please please TC the cash is ready!!). Anyway, I digress. Another bedrock of my set up has been my Fender Blues Junior III Tweed NOS.

Gigs, recordings and so much more.

I have no idea how many gigs, rehearsals and recordings this amp has done over the last 5 years since I have owned it....it is a lot! I have has spells of using other amps such as my Fender 68 Deluxe Reverb, Cornford 50W Roadhouse and Marshall JMP-1 being the main contenders, but I keep coming back to the Blues Junior.

Why?

Simply because it meets so many of the criteria that I need in my gigging life. It is light, it sounds great, it is 'loud' enough, in fact that is probably one of the biggest reasons I keep rolling it out. With modern PA's, sound limiters, constantly being told a band is too loud (remember most of my work is funtion work where the client is always right!), using higher wattage amps is just a waste, you can never really open them up and hit their sweet spot.So it is easier to use a smaller (and lighter) amplifier that cuts the mustard and on bigger stages mix it up and get the signal through a monitor.

Video

So here is everything I have to say about my Blues Junior III after 5 years of hammering it and long may it continue!!In short, I love this amp. It does have some failings, but for function work and most gigs it is the perfect compromise. I have convinced myself that I am going to get another one (Normal one this time not with the Jensen).EnjoyPeaceNeil

The Problem with learning licks

Guitar licks

Learning guitar licks is a not only a major part of developing as a guitar player, it is also a fundamental part of the learning experience. Learning licks is very much like learning phrases in another language. With the internet awash with videos and tutorials telling you about the 30 licks you must know, in the following video I highlight some of the problems with the approach and MOST importantly how to overcome them.For more in-depth information on maximising your practice time and finding your own voice on the instrument, check out my book Guitar Creativity - A new way of thinking https://gumroad.com/l/zCAXyEnjoy!PeaceNeil

Xvive U2 Wireless Guitar System review

The Age of Wireless

A short while a go, I was contacted by Xvive to see if I was interested in the chance to review their U2 Wireless system.Of course as a wireless user already (Line 6 G30), I am full aware of the problems and shortcomings with using Wireless units live, so I was very keen to see what the new kid on the block had to offer and how it worked in a live situation. During the review period I used the unit at a series of gigs and at home in the studio (as well as doing the 'making a cup of tea' challenge'). I feel that this gave me a strong indication of the U2's abilities.NOTEI will state now (as I state in the video), I don't work for Xvive or the distributors, nor am I endorsed by them in any way. The review (as with all my reviews) is my simply my thoughts and opinions and nothing else (as you will know if you have seen any of my other videos), if I find a problem with a product I will let you know.

Cableless or wireless?

The first thing that struck me about the U2 unit (well, actually the first thing that struck me was that it came in a really nice box, and I like boxes!), was how light and small they are! The unit consists of a standard 1/4" jack and a bulb shaped, flattish transmitted and receiver. The shape means that they fit well with Strat style jack, and also on to a side mounted jack (e.g. Tele, Les Paul etc), I did have a concern for a moment that it might come flying out, but after trying to get it to fly out with some crazy guitar swinging antics, the unit stated firmly put. This put my mind at rest as my Line 6 transmitter pack has gone flying across the stage and into the audience on numerous occasions. So no worries on that point! The plastic was fairly robust and I am sure would last if treated with respect, if you are the kind of person that jumps up and down on your gear and treats it with contempt, then perhaps it might not be as robust, but then again you probably break a lot of gear!Firing up the units it was a matter of two button presses to get the to sync to the correct channel and I was a way. A series of flashing lights indicated which channel each unit was on and the process was extremely simple to assign each to the same channel. I should not that there are only four channels available in the band. This make be an issue for bands with a large amount of wireless gear which is operating with in a fixed band.

My concerns

I only had one concern about this unit before starting the review and that was about using rechargeable battery. NOW I will state strongly that this is my issue about batteries, I don't trust them after years of gigging and experiencing everything that can happen with batteries. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to quickly swap them for a new set should they go down. Again I will state that this is my issue and something which concerned me about the unit. BUT in hindsight this concern was not an issue at all. With the supplied double charging cable, there is no reason why these should ever go down. One thing is to get into the routine of charging them before a gig or leaving one of them permanently on charge on your pedalboard.Of course, I then came up with the perfect solution, connecting them to a USB power bank , there are so many was you could charge them using these, including leaving a battery connected. This to me seemed like the perfect solution. From that point on wards I never thought about the batteries again.....

But how long do they last?

I did a couple of tests on the battery life, during gigs and then a couple of tests where I left them on until the batteries died. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that they lasted 6-8 hours constantly on. That is really impressive! That will cover most gigs, if not 2-3 gigs with one charge. They also charged quickly when on charge!

Where do we go now?

Probably one of the most pertinent questions in relation to a wireless unit is....how far can I go before the signal cuts out? Now (bring on the internet hate!), given that most guitarists who don't use wireless units are probably using 3 or 6 metre cables (usually), I personally think that anything further than that is a bonus!! Please ask yourself HONESTLY about the stages you are playing on, be honest with yourself!! Are they that big? REALLY?To give you a point of reference, I play on very large stages and the occasional stadium, and the 30 metres of the G30 has never been tested. The one time where it can cut out, is if I jump down and go and check the FOH sound from the back of the room. If you are playing arena shows, and large venues as a point of course, I doubt you will be looking at this unit. You will no doubt be looking at integrated units to tie in with all the wireless signals floating around (IEMs as well). Just be honest with yourself and your requirements.Anyway, I did do the distance test with the U2, I would say going beyond 30 metres the unit did cut out, but there was a thick stone wall in the way as I went back stage. When the signal goes be prepared for an onslaught of horrible noise. I also did the 'make a cup of tea test', where I went downstairs to make tea in my house and the unit performed flawlessly with this test.

Cable tone

One thing that I found missing from the U2 was a 'cable tone' feature. This feature is on the Line 6 units and basically adds in some capacitance to mimic the effect on high frequencies of using a cable. Basically just a low pass filter circuit. If you haven't used wireless before you will probably be surprised at how bright your guitar can suddenly sound. Line 6 countered this with the option to switch in certain lengths of cable.This really isn't a big deal, you can just role off some of your treble on your amp, but I am mentioning it for completeness. I tend to like the duller sound of a cable, so I always have the cable tone switched in at it's maximum value! I am sure this wouldn't be a massive change should Xvive choose to add it to a future product (the U3?)

Conclusion

The biggest compliment I can pay to the Xvive U2 unit was that after my initial concerns about the battery life, I literally forgot about the unit, I didn't give it a second thought. The review unit performed flawlessly throughout the review period and all the gigs that I did during that period. I was sad to send it back, I will be seriously considering replacing my Line 6 G30 System with these in the near future. Perhaps I might even get two!! One from guitar to pedal board and then another from pedalboard to amp! No more cabling on stage!! That is pretty cool.Obviously, there is a consideration about how many channels the U2 has, but if you don't have many other wireless units on stage then this isn't a problem. Simply put, if you are looking to embrace the freedoms' wireless can offer you, then you can do a lot worst than cutting the Xvive U2 at the top of your list of units to check out. Highly recommended.Pros

• Very Lightweight
• Ease of use
• Battery Life
• Can be used for other instruments, not just guitar

Cons

• I think I need to buy two sets :)
• Lack of cable tone option (if I am really pushed)
• Number of channels (for some people)

EnjoyPeaceNeil