Steely Dan’s Denny Dias says his iconic Do It Again electric sitar solo was recorded on a lousy rental model
The former Steely Dan guitarist was required to borrow a Danelectro/Coral electric sitar for the job – but he was less than impressed
Latest news
Steely Dan’s Denny Dias says his iconic Do It Again electric sitar solo was recorded on a lousy rental model
The former Steely Dan guitarist was required to borrow a Danelectro/Coral electric sitar for the job – but he was less than impressed
Guitar World deals of the week: save over $600 on a Charvel, get a huge $130 off an MXR pedal, plus all the week's best deals
You weekly round-up of the best deals from all corners of the web
Sinners composer Ludwig Göransson used vintage Dobros to write the movie’s music – and he scoured the globe to find them
Sinners – which stars Michael B. Jordan and Buddy Guy – boasts a compelling score that pays tribute to the blues, with a little help from three hard-to-find guitars...
Pete Townshend looks back at life on the road as The Who announce farewell US tour
The legendary band will bid farewell in a country where Townshend has always appreciated the “incredible” crowds
Kurt Cobain's 1989 Takamine expected to fetch up to $500,000 at auction
This year's Music Icons sale – organized by Julien's Auctions – includes over 700 collectible items from some of the world's biggest guitar stars
Bob Weir joins Joe Satriani and Sammy Hagar for Best of All Worlds guest spot
The Grateful Dead legend joined the band for a free-flowing take on a Montrose hit
NAMM CEO John Mlynczak on the impact of Trump’s tariffs in the guitar industry
This week, representatives from some of the States' biggest guitar brands have come together in D.C. for the first time in 17 years to continue advocating for the musical instrument market
Artists
Watch two funk-rock guitar gods unite for the ultimate acid guitar jam
Woodstock '69 finally had some competition as the ultimate acid guitar jam when Rockpalast 1985 united two funk-rock guitar gods under a trippy groove
Alice in Chains’ Mike Inez on Paul McCartney, why Cliff Burton ruled and what John Entwistle told him
Inez is a rock bass powerhouse, holding it down with AIC, Ozzy, Heart, guesting with Slash. Here he discusses a life in low-end and the evolution of his style
Knowing where the notes are on the guitar is a skill all players should take seriously. Here are 10 ways you can master the fretboard
Get ready for a deep-dive bootcamp, complete with 2 visual diagrams and 10 exercises that will increase your confidence and knowledge of the fingerboard
Andy La Rocque on why he is no longer a 120mph soloist – and we can expect from the long-awaited King Diamond album
La Rocque has been the King's six-string courtier for 40 years now. Here he tells us how it all began, how his style has evolved, and yes, the new stuff is coming...
Randy McStine reveals all behind his cosmically epic solo on Steven Wilson's The Overview
When Wilson asked McStine to redefine the guitar solo for the 21st-century, David Gilmour's greatest solo was the reference. The catch? No pentatonic minor blues. It was to be comfortably new
Chris Holt compares his Eagles and Dirty Knobs gigs
Former Don Henley sideman has a multi-amp rig when he plays with Mike Campbell, and a stipped down in-ears-only setup for the Sphere – but he always has 12 guitars standing by
Peter Brewis on Field Music’s ‘collage rock’ – and why he owes his career to Robert Zemeckis
Brewis explains how “gestural thinking” helped him transcend influences and find his own unique language on the UK band’s latest record, Limits of Language
![The Night Flight Orchestra all glammed-up in stage clothes and photographed against a green backdrop: guitarists Rasmus Ehrnborn [second from left] and Sebastian Forslund [fourth from right]](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Wy6UcSKUxjjiWvEWzYf3y3-840-80.jpg.webp)
Gear
“With its tone knob backed off this thing gets sasquatch-hairy without losing clarity. It’s a surprisingly killer stoner rock machine”: EVH SA-126 Standard review
Wolfgang Van Halen’s adventurous high-gain-friendly, semi-hollow signature gets a budget build – but does the magic carry across?
Best modeling amps 2025: get iconic amp tones at your fingertips with these top picks
I break down the best modeling amps available, covering a range of budgets, brands and sizes
Best cheap acoustic guitars 2025: budget acoustics with genuine pedigree
Great tone doesn’t have to break the bank – these are the best cheap acoustic guitars from Fender, Yamaha, Alvarez and more
I bought the cheapest bass Fender makes from Amazon and it genuinely surprised me: Squier Debut Series Precision Bass review
The Amazon-exclusive Debut Series is aimed at beginners, but could it also be ideal for modders and guitarists who need a bass for recording too?
“As a compact amp modeler/cab simulator/Capture device, this is perhaps the best option out there, screen or no screen”: Neural DSP Nano Cortex review
The follow-up to the game-changing Quad Cortex is here at last, and with its ultra-powerful Nano Cortex, Neural DSP has set its sights on challenging IK Multimedia and Kemper to offer the ultimate all-in-one rig solution
Best Strat-style guitars 2025: Our choice of the finest S-style guitars for all budgets and players
Don’t want a Fender? Here’s our expert pick of the top Strat-style electric guitars from the likes of Ibanez, Yamaha, G&L, PRS and more
In praise of the Riviera, Epiphone's semi-hollow superstar
The Riviera played a crucial role in Epiphone's evolution through the New York jazz clubs of the 1920s, '50s electric blues, to today’s vibrant, diverse scene – and it might be the brand's GOAT
With plentiful, far cheaper clones, why does the Klon Centaur remain a holy grail pedal?
Klons have been used by Jeff Beck, John Mayer, Joe Perry, Ed O'Brien, and countless other guitar heroes, and are often spoken about as a sort of overdrive sword of Excalibur. But what exactly sets them apart? And how did they become so darn valuable?
"A very cool guitar with a lot of style, and fortunately, it has the substance to match its good looks": Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Offset Telecaster SJ review
On paper, a Telecaster/Jazzmaster hybrid sounds like an absolute winner. But can the Squier Paranormal deliver the goods?
Lessons
Erja Lyytinen shares her 6 go-to slide licks for unlocking more expressive soloing
She wowed Sonny Landreth and Carlos Santana called her the “future” – Erja Lyytinen shares her 6 go-to slide licks for unlocking more expressive soloing
“The passion of Gary Moore with riffs inspired by Zeppelin”: The searing lead guitar of ’80s rock’s great journeyman
Exploring the lead guitar style of John Sykes, a player who – like Page, Blackmore, and Moore – balanced flair with power
How to get better at guitar – 10 proven ways to improve your playing fast
These small details can separate an amateur-sounding guitarist from a professional one
5 lo-fi guitar chords to add to your progressions
These chord voices are so cool they're worth the stretch
Unlocking the power of 7th chords: expand your guitar chords beyond the basics
From The Doobie Brothers to The Smiths, James Brown to Metallica, 7th barre chords are fundamental for playing with more color and sophistication
How to weave crosspicking and Carter picking into your acoustic guitar playing
In this lesson inspired by Molly Tuttle, Trey Hensley and the O.G. of acoustic folk playing Maybelle Carter, we'll make one guitar sound like two with arrangements alive with rhythm and melody
Jared James Nichols on adding fingerstyle “snap, crackle and pop” to your sound with banjo rolls
Here's a blues power-up for your fingerstyle technique, as the big man combines chicken pickin' with snappy pops on the strings
Don't let chord inversions bamboozle you. This lesson explains all (and 5 ways you can play a Bmaj7)
Inversions are essential for jazz players, virtuoso cats such as Martin Tyler, but they are super-useful for any player looking for a fresh chord voicing. Let's take a look and demystify them with 5 ways you can play a Bmaj7
Reviews
“With its tone knob backed off this thing gets sasquatch-hairy without losing clarity. It’s a surprisingly killer stoner rock machine”: EVH SA-126 Standard review
Wolfgang Van Halen’s adventurous high-gain-friendly, semi-hollow signature gets a budget build – but does the magic carry across?
I bought the cheapest bass Fender makes from Amazon and it genuinely surprised me: Squier Debut Series Precision Bass review
The Amazon-exclusive Debut Series is aimed at beginners, but could it also be ideal for modders and guitarists who need a bass for recording too?
“As a compact amp modeler/cab simulator/Capture device, this is perhaps the best option out there, screen or no screen”: Neural DSP Nano Cortex review
The follow-up to the game-changing Quad Cortex is here at last, and with its ultra-powerful Nano Cortex, Neural DSP has set its sights on challenging IK Multimedia and Kemper to offer the ultimate all-in-one rig solution
"A very cool guitar with a lot of style, and fortunately, it has the substance to match its good looks": Squier Limited Edition Paranormal Offset Telecaster SJ review
On paper, a Telecaster/Jazzmaster hybrid sounds like an absolute winner. But can the Squier Paranormal deliver the goods?
Presonus Eris Pro 6 Review
Sporting a coaxial design and an easy-to-use nature, PreSonus brings us a capable speaker that can fit seamlessly into the workflow of any setup
Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1957 Les Paul Goldtop review
Epiphone has struck gold with this ambitious recreation of a pivotal guitar in the Les Paul history books
Jackson X Series Surfcaster SC HT6 review
It's a Surfcaster, Jim, but not as we know it – Jackson has retooled its cult offset as an affordable metal powerhouse. After a 22-year absence, is it worth the wait?
Buying Guides
Best modeling amps 2025: get iconic amp tones at your fingertips with these top picks
I break down the best modeling amps available, covering a range of budgets, brands and sizes
Best cheap acoustic guitars 2025: budget acoustics with genuine pedigree
Great tone doesn’t have to break the bank – these are the best cheap acoustic guitars from Fender, Yamaha, Alvarez and more
Best Strat-style guitars 2025: Our choice of the finest S-style guitars for all budgets and players
Don’t want a Fender? Here’s our expert pick of the top Strat-style electric guitars from the likes of Ibanez, Yamaha, G&L, PRS and more
Best practice amps 2025: hone your chops at home
My tried & tested pick of the best guitar practice amps to get your playing up to speed without any noise complaints
What's the best guitar cable in 2025? These are the tried & tested options I'd recommend to any player
There's a lot of snake oil when it comes to the top guitar cables – I'm a professional guitar gear reviewer and I've tested 11 of the best to help you find your perfect match
Best tremolo pedals 2025: Top pedal choices, from old-school vibe to chopped-up tones
The best tremolo pedals on the market right now, from the likes of TC Electronic, Electro-Harmonix, Boss, Strymon and JHS
Best pitch shifter pedals 2025: an essential tool for channeling Tom Morello, Steve Vai and Joe Satriani
For face-melting solos and keeping your audience on their toes, pitch shifters are a surefire way to inject something different into your tone
