Smooth Operator: Equipment Upkeep for Beginners

So you started taking music lessons. Love it. Bought your own instrument? That’s the best. You're putting in the work, practicing every day. Awesome. You are practically a rock star.

But now what? What about that instrument? Is there anything you are supposed to be doing to keep it performing well? I sat down with Jameson Ray, Rock 101 instructor, and Instrument Tech, to discover the answers to these questions. (learn more about Jameson here)

I came with a notebook and a sharpened pencil, ready to take copious notes as I wrote down the extensive to-do lists for each instrument. Turns out this was unnecessary. Turns out equipment upkeep is much less stressful than I was anticipating. Turns out Jameson has ONE BIG RULE. According to him, if you follow this ONE BIG RULE many issues are minimized.

Prepare yourself. Here it is.

ONE BIG RULE: Wash your hands before you pick up your instrument.

Washing your hands before handling your instrument will make a huge difference in the quality of your playing and in the longevity of your instrument. Win/win. Also, it’s totally easy and practical. 

Now, that’s really not all there is to equipment upkeep. Jameson has two other general rules that apply to all instruments.

Follow-up Rule #1: Things break. Don’t freak out. (There is a solution to every situation.)

Follow-up Rule #2: Be gentle with your instruments. (A guitar case does not protect your guitar when you toss it across the room.)

Aside from these golden rules of musical upkeep, there are just a few things to keep in mind depending on the instrument in question.

• Guitar

  • Washing your hands is particularly important for string instruments. As dirt accumulates on the strings, the sound can become dull.

  • There are no hard rules about how often to change the strings. This becomes a personal preference of the artist. For example, James Jamerson never changed his strings. On the other end of the spectrum, Victor Wooten changes his strings weekly. In general, if a string breaks or if they look grimy, you may want to change them.
  

  • After you change the strings, the strings will continue to stretch for several days. This will require you to tune your instrument often in that initial period after restringing.

• Drums

  • Check for loose screws. The vibrations from the drums can cause screws to come loose. Tighten them up as you find them.

• Piano & Keyboard

  • Have your piano tuned about once a year, more if you play often.

  • Keyboards can get dusty. Use a cloth to wipe them down.

• Amplifiers

  • Be particularly careful not to bang your amp around. There are many small parts inside of an amp that help to create the musical goodness. Breaking any one of these parts will affect your amp’s performance.

There are some instrument issues that you will be able to assess and problem solve on your own. However, remember that you are not alone! Your Rock 101 instructors are a great place to start when you feel stumped by an issue. In addition, Music Go Round is a local Albuquerque shop that is always ready to help. The absolutely great news is that ALL Rock 101 students receive 10% off on all purchases and equipment tune-ups. Simply let them know that you attend the best music academy in Albuquerque.

Jameson told me a story about the famed lead Beatles guitarist, George Harrison. When he was young, just playing around, he broke a string on his guitar. Having thought he had broken the guitar beyond repair, he tossed it into his closet and walked away. Imagine what the world would be like had George Harrison never learned to pick up that guitar again! Overall, equipment upkeep need not be a source of stress along your musical journey and it should most definitely not be the thing that prevents your progress. You got this. 

Now go wash your hands.

- Danielle Parker