Hot wired: So you wanna be a rock star

NZ Music Month is the ideal time to look at some music-making gizmos. Unlike music listening, which abounds with MP3 players and cellphones, the musical instrument end of the industry is comparatively devoid of "gadgets". It's fast running out of instruments, too, with software-modelled versions becoming more common.

The legendary American electric guitar-maker Fender is celebrating its 60th birthday this year, and still coming up with new ways to get people playing their wares. Their Guitar Digital Entertainment Center, or G-DEC, is a small practice amplifier packed with more features than many full-sized amps. It's like having a band in a box because it contains a MIDI synthesiser that you can use to accompany your solo playing with drums, bass lines and other instruments.

There are 50 presets, which include a drum loop with bass and accompaniment and guitar tone to match, or you can make and save your own. Guitar tones ranging from heavy metal to jazz, punk to country can be selected at the twist of a knob.

You can create your own song files or filter out the original guitar and play over songs from your computer, MP3 or CD player. It's just 15 watts so not too loud for the bedroom or basement and costs about $600.

Casio have "keylighting" keyboards for about the same price. The keys light up to show your fingers the way and rhythms and tunes are built in.

For acoustic guitarists, there are low-cost digital string-tuners devices, their tiny microphones built into compact electronic metronomes, pedals, pocket clips and even string winders.

The latest contact models, such as the $140 Intellitouch PT-1 simply clip on to the guitar headstock. It works by measuring string vibration - so the noise from your screaming fans won't be a problem. A backlit display shows you which way to tune. It will also tune other stringed instruments.

Another guitar gadget is the Rebel strap with hand-cast steel skull accessories. Not ideal for the church band, but handy at Saturday-night gigs to knock the top off that free beer or light up without missing a note. Now that'll get them screaming for more.