Indie Musician Resources

What are you stuck on?

Honest reviews and plain-English guides from a mixing engineer who still takes lessons. Pick what you are trying to fix and start with the three posts I would hand a friend.

Pickup Music Review: My 6-Month Experience100+ hours on the platform. What it costs, who it fits, and who should skip it.Simply Piano ReviewThe app that listens while you play. How far it actually takes you.PianoForAll ReviewCheap, old-school, and still one of the better ways to learn piano.
What Is Music Theory, And the Best Way to Learn ItStart here if theory has always felt like homework you keep putting off.The 5 Best Music Theory BooksFor beginners and for the people who already know the basics.3 Months With Building BlocksThe course that teaches theory by making you produce. My honest review.
What Is The Best Songwriting SoftwareThe tools worth paying for, and the free ones that do the same job.HookPad ReviewChord progressions and melodies without needing a theory degree.What Is The Most Common Chord Progression?The four chords behind a startling number of songs you already know.
5 Tips To Getting Better Recordings at HomeFixes that cost nothing and matter more than your next gear purchase.Mixing vs Mastering: What Is The DifferenceWhat each stage is for, and what you can do yourself.Screw Buying Auratones, Mix With a BoomboxA cheap second reference speaker that shows you what the mix is hiding.
11 Essential Home Studio Equipment You NeedWhat to buy first, in the order that actually helps.The 3 Best Budget Audio Interfaces Under 200 DollarsAll you need to get a clean signal in. Spend the rest on your room.The 5 Best Monitor Isolation PadsThe cheapest upgrade to what you hear in a room you cannot rebuild.
Best Discord Servers for Musicians and ProducersWhere to get feedback from people who are not your friends and family.Everything You Need To Know About Digital DistributionGetting your music onto the platforms without overpaying for it.How To Copyright Your MusicWhat copyright actually protects, and the steps to register it.

Or go deep on one sphere

Musicianship resourcesMusicianshipYour instrument, theory, ear training and the habit of practice.Browse the picksSongwriting resourcesSongwritingLyrics, melody and song form, plus the tools that help you finish.Browse the picksProduction resourcesProductionSound design, arrangement and the plugins actually worth paying for.Browse the picksRecording resourcesRecordingMic technique, editing and treating the room you already have.Browse the picksMixing & Mastering resourcesMixing & MasteringBalance, translation and knowing when a mix is actually done.Browse the picksMusic Business resourcesMusic BusinessAudience, deals and royalties, explained without the jargon.Browse the picks

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Creative Endeavours

I am doing the homework too

Creative Endeavours is my first-person column: the guitar lessons I am taking, the tools I am building, the mixes that did not work. It is where the reviews come from.

Chris Finnell in his home studio

The Ultimate Library

Every resource I trust, in one place

Books, courses, podcasts, channels and tools for musicians, producers and songwriters, sorted into spheres so you can go deep on the one skill you need right now.

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