Dweezil Zappa on the high-tech custom build that Eddie Van Halen dubbed “The Super Pluto Guitar” By Matt Parker published 25 April 24 The tale of a truly distinctive instrument that was custom-made for a trio of rock’s most innovative players in the 1980s
David Gilmour’s first new single in 9 years features one-and-a-half minutes of all-out soloing By Matt Owen published 25 April 24 Upcoming album Luck and Strange was made with the help of a new producer who tore up the Gilmour rulebook
Friedman’s expanded IR-D puts a cult classic amp mod into a tube preamp pedal By Matt Owen published 25 April 24 Two independent channels, genuine tubes and state-of-the-art digital tech come together for another neat release from the boutique amp specialist
Tony Iommi once dressed his guitar tech up as himself and sent him onstage By Janelle Borg published 25 April 24 The real Tony Iommi played while hiding behind a stack, and the fake Iommi nearly got away with it
Josh Homme reveals how learning polka in childhood gave way to his off-kilter guitar playing style By Janelle Borg published 25 April 24 Josh Homme reveals how learning polka in childhood gave way to his off-kilter guitar playing style
David Gilmour’s first solo album in 9 years features a new producer tearing up the rulebook By Janelle Borg published 24 April 24 The first single from Luck and Strange drops tomorrow
“He said things like, ’Well, why does there have to be a guitar solo there?’… He has a wonderful lack of knowledge or respect for this past of mine”: David Gilmour’s first solo album in 9 years features a new producer tearing up the rulebook By Janelle Borg
Dweezil Zappa on the high-tech custom build that Eddie Van Halen dubbed “The Super Pluto Guitar” By Matt Parker published 25 April 24 The tale of a truly distinctive instrument that was custom-made for a trio of rock’s most innovative players in the 1980s
David Gilmour’s first new single in 9 years features one-and-a-half minutes of all-out soloing By Matt Owen published 25 April 24 Upcoming album Luck and Strange was made with the help of a new producer who tore up the Gilmour rulebook
Friedman’s expanded IR-D puts a cult classic amp mod into a tube preamp pedal By Matt Owen published 25 April 24 Two independent channels, genuine tubes and state-of-the-art digital tech come together for another neat release from the boutique amp specialist
Tony Iommi once dressed his guitar tech up as himself and sent him onstage By Janelle Borg published 25 April 24 The real Tony Iommi played while hiding behind a stack, and the fake Iommi nearly got away with it
Josh Homme reveals how learning polka in childhood gave way to his off-kilter guitar playing style By Janelle Borg published 25 April 24 Josh Homme reveals how learning polka in childhood gave way to his off-kilter guitar playing style
Jason Isbell and Luther Dickinson pay tribute to Dickey Betts By Jim Beaugez published 24 April 24 Isbell, Dickinson and Sadler Vaden paid homage to Betts with a three-guitar salute on the Allman Brothers classic
Watch the moment Kiko Loureiro’s strap snaps mid-solo By Phil Weller published 24 April 24 The former Megadeth virtuoso insists his Ibanez is “better than ever” despite clattering the stage floor mid-jam
Tommy Ramone on why Johnny Ramone's playing forced him to switch from managing to drumming By Janelle Borg published 24 April 24 Johnny Ramone’s strumming technique contributed to the lightning-in-a-bottle sound of the band’s debut album
Guitarist whose home was hit by a Russian airstrike has finished his first build By Phil Weller published 24 April 24 Nikita Zhemerenko launched SWFT GTRS following the destruction of his home in Kharkiv in 2022. His new brand hopes to show that “even in the most hopeless situations, one can fulfill one’s dream”
"This American institution has not only changed the face of the guitar forever but has shaped the course of popular music": 5 Fender innovations that changed the world of guitar By Daryl Robertson
Flatwound vs roundwound bass strings: What’s the difference? By Richard Blenkinsop published 25 April 24 Mellow and warm or bright and snappy? We look at the key differences between flatwound and roundwound bass strings
Best guitar capos: top choice capos for acoustic and electric guitar By Chris Bird last updated 25 April 24 A capo is a great way to boost your creativity on the instrument. Here’s our expert picks for electric and acoustic guitar, ukulele, 12-string and beyond
Best short-scale basses 2024: the ultimate guide to the greatest pint-sized bass guitars at all price points By Daryl Robertson last updated 25 April 24 From Fender to Gibson, Gretsch to Spector, here are our top picks for the best short-scale basses on the market right now
Rock City Machine Co. went from KISS Army to KISS collaborators. Now they're going it alone. By Andrew Daly published 25 April 24 Ryan Cook and Jeremy Asbrock have worked with Ace Frehley and Gene Simmons, but say it’s time for them to stand on their own, er, four feet...
Why a baritone Les Paul is the perfect prog metal weapon for Wheel’s James Lascelles By Phil Weller published 25 April 24 Upcoming third album, Charismatic Leaders, kickstarts a new era for the Finnish prog-metallers with a sound that’s stubbornly traditional but powerfully progressive
Inside the sound and style of Motown master James Jamerson By Chris Jisi published 25 April 24 Five top low-enders with links to the bass great dissect the James Jamerson style
Why Squarepusher (aka Tom Jenkinson) is an artist in a vast left-field league of his own By Brian Fox published 25 April 24 You may or may not know Squarepusher (aka Tom Jenkinson), but chances are he doesn’t care to know you
Kevin and Michael Bacon on trashing Taylors for Guardians of the Galaxy and love of Fender Acoustasonics By Bruce Fagerstrom published 24 April 24 Movie star Kevin Bacon and his composer brother Michael reveal how they play to their differences during their Bacon Brothers shows – and what happens when they perform Footloose at venues that don’t allow dancing
I’ve played IK Multimedia’s nano modeling amp, the TONEX One – and it could be the ultimate pocket-sized pedal platform By Alex Lynham published 24 April 24 The tiny modeler is not perfect, but it’s going to solve a lot of problems – particularly for players who are willing to put in a little time upfront
Phrase spellbending blues intro licks in the style of Kenny Wayne Shepherd and John Mayer By Stuart Ryan published 25 April 24 Learn how to phrase spellbending blues intro licks in the style of Kenny Wayne Shepherd and John Mayer
Learn Iron Maiden’s galloping rhythm guitar style in a lesson that packs their triple-guitar approach into one By Jamie Hunt published 24 April 24 This action-packed metal lesson will hone your palm-muting and cram Maiden’s triple-guitar approach into one all-action rhythm part
Introducing jump blues – the electrified ‘40s guitar style that melded jazz, blues and swing By Andy Saphir published 22 April 24 Exemplified by the likes of Louis Jordan, Roy Brown and T-Bone Walker, jump blues can add some jazz flair to your blues and rock ‘n‘ roll changes
Why founding Whitesnake members Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody were a classic guitar partnership By Martin Cooper published 22 April 24 Learn the rhythm and lead style of Whitesnake’s Bernie Marsden and Micky Moody era
“One of my greatest heroes”: Joe Bonamassa salutes Jeff Beck as he shares his favorite licks By Joe Bonamassa published 19 April 24 With a Les Paul in hand, Bonamassa checks in from Nerdville to give a lesson in the style of the late, great Jeff Beck
These fast guitar licks sound harder than they actually are By Simon Barnard published 16 April 24 We all know speed is not the be all and end all, but sometimes more is simply more. This lesson will take you to the edge, maybe beyond, following in the footsteps of Steve Vai, Eddie Van Halen and Gary Moore
Banish six-string imposter syndrome with this lesson in Sophie Lloyd’s shred style By Charlie Griffiths published 15 April 24 Get warmed up and dialed in for a lesson that's going to whip your legato, tapping and sweep picking into shape
Learn why Robin Trower's blues guitar style is up there with the best By David Gerrish published 15 April 24 Learn the licks of the British blues guitar great who took Hendrix's six-string revolution and ran with it
Learn how to fuse jazz, blues and rock guitar in this Jimmy Herring lesson By John Wheatcroft published 12 April 24 Herring marries the harmonic sophistication of jazz to the power of rock and blues, and this lesson will knock your picking articulation and chord changes into shape