Latest articles by Chris Barnes
These huge drum deals at Sweetwater are about to disappear – here’s your last chance to bag up to 60% off electronic drums, cymbals, sticks and more
Quick! Sweetwater’s mega Drum Month sale is coming to an end. Save big while you still can
Best drum sets: Top drum kits for beginner to pro drummers
Explore 17 of the best drum kits for the studio, stage and bedroom from Ludwig, Pearl, Tama, DW and more
Best bass drum pedals 2025: single and double bass pedals for every budget
Put your best foot forward with my guide to choosing the right kick pedal for your playing style and budget, with picks from DW, Pearl, Tama, Yamaha and others
How we test electronic drum sets
Everything you need to know about how the MusicRadar team tests e-kits for our reviews and buyer's guides - full methodology explained
Best online drum lessons 2025: Our pick of tuition platforms for beginner to advanced players
Learn drums how and when you want with these excellent online drum lesson resources, tried and tested by us
Cyber Monday Andertons deals 2024: Last chance to grab a deal
You've not got long to bag yourself a bargain on guitars, pedals, and amps in the Andertons sale
Black Friday microphone deals 2024: Black Friday is over, and these are the best microphone savings that are still live
Your place for all the microphone deals from Shure, Rode, AKG, Blue Microphones and more - whether you're a musician or a podcaster
Cyber Monday MacBook deals 2024: Last-minute MacBook deals
The sales are over now but you can still pick up some great deals
Thomann’s latest 70th anniversary deals just dropped - including bonkers birthday discounts on Taylor, Arturia, Darkglass, Behringer, Baby Audio and loads more
Whether you’re shopping for guitar gear, studio tools or a new keyboard, Thomann's birthday sale has something for every type of musician
Thomann, PMT, Andertons and Gear4Music are taking the fight to Amazon with these Prime Day-beating sales
Forget Amazon, these are the UK stores offering the best Prime Day deal for musicians today
Best ukulele strings: From beginner to pro
Our expert round-up of the best ukulele strings is suitable for beginner ukulele players and seasoned strummers alike
A one-year Guitar Tricks subscription just got 55% cheaper for a limited time with this mega Father’s Day offer
Get 12 months of lessons from one of our favourite online guitar tuition platforms - plus a free guitar setup guide - for just $8.25 per month until 18th June
How to set up an electronic drum set
Our step-by-step guide to unboxing, building and optimising your electronic drum kit
Waves’ jam-packed Big March Sale has dropped key titles back down to Black Friday prices
With plugins starting from just $9.99, big bundle discounts and free plugins the more you spend, this is the best Waves sale of the year so far
24 must-have Cyber Monday deals the MusicRadar team is buying this year
In between writing deals we've been shopping... this is what's in our baskets - from e-kits and plugins, to guitar pedals and tuition subscriptions
Black Friday iPad deals 2023: Up to $100 off iPad Pro, Air and mini models - all with music-friendly specs
Apple's tablet is the perfect tool for mobile music production and this year's Black Friday discounts are heavy, making it the ideal time for you to start you iPad music making journey…
Grab a Guitar Tricks annual subscription for just $99 this Black Friday, and bag an additional $321 of extras
Make 2024 the year your playing moves up a level with online lessons from one of the best platforms around
There’s no need to wait for Black Friday with these software savings - Waves just dropped a load of titles to $29.99
And if you buy two plugins you can choose another two for free
Best drumsticks for beginners: Recommended sticks for budding players
Choose your perfect first pair of sticks from our expert recommendations, including models from ProMark, Vater, Vic Firth and more
EFnote 3X review
These high-end electronic drums from ex-Roland employees have got the looks, but do they have the midas touch?
NUX DM-8 review
A newcomer to the competitive e-kit market, NUX’s mid-range offering is a fantastic value package that should keep the competition on its toes
Musician’s insurance: Everything you need to know about covering you and your gear
Whether you teach, tour or own loads of gear, insurance expert John Woosey is here to help you find the right cover
Best Yamaha e-kits: Top electronic drum sets from Yamaha for beginner, intermediate, and pro drummers
Use our expert guide to help you find the right Yamaha electronic drum set for you
