Mastodon's Bill Kelliher on how meeting his guitar heroes pushed him to improve his craft By Janelle Borg published 15 May 24 Mastodon's Bill Kelliher also credits Slayer's Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman for changing his previously nonchalant attitude to warming up before a show
Tsakalis Audioworks’ Mothership merges analog warmth with over 70 free configurable cab sims in one overdrive/preamp pedal By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 The best-of-both-worlds unit offers two identical overdrive channels with three gain stages each, and a choice of over 70 free digital cab simulations
Chase Bliss’ Onward sampler pedal is glitching and freezing heaven for guitarists of all styles By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 A deceptively small little stompbox, the Onward is the laden with synth sorcery
Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament on recording with one of their idols By Janelle Borg published 15 May 24 Pearl Jam were recruited by the godfather of grunge to help him record his 1995 album
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken plays Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World with Ukraine covers band By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 Blinken joined the local covers band to play Neil Young’s political anthem while in the country for high-level talks with Ukraine officials
JHS, Keeley and Benson have all built effects inspired by the Beach Boys’ studio tones By Matt Parker published 15 May 24 The Sweetwater-exclusive line sees some of the biggest names in pedals attempt to recreate the Beach Boys' most iconic studio sounds
“I came to America with a guitar and a toothbrush. When Fender said they wanted to make me a Strat, I didn’t even know what a signature guitar was!” Yngwie Malmsteen traces his Stratocaster story – and recalls the origins of his scalloped signature model By Phil Weller
Mastodon's Bill Kelliher on how meeting his guitar heroes pushed him to improve his craft By Janelle Borg published 15 May 24 Mastodon's Bill Kelliher also credits Slayer's Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman for changing his previously nonchalant attitude to warming up before a show
Tsakalis Audioworks’ Mothership merges analog warmth with over 70 free configurable cab sims in one overdrive/preamp pedal By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 The best-of-both-worlds unit offers two identical overdrive channels with three gain stages each, and a choice of over 70 free digital cab simulations
Chase Bliss’ Onward sampler pedal is glitching and freezing heaven for guitarists of all styles By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 A deceptively small little stompbox, the Onward is the laden with synth sorcery
Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament on recording with one of their idols By Janelle Borg published 15 May 24 Pearl Jam were recruited by the godfather of grunge to help him record his 1995 album
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken plays Neil Young’s Rockin’ in the Free World with Ukraine covers band By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 Blinken joined the local covers band to play Neil Young’s political anthem while in the country for high-level talks with Ukraine officials
JHS, Keeley and Benson have all built effects inspired by the Beach Boys’ studio tones By Matt Parker published 15 May 24 The Sweetwater-exclusive line sees some of the biggest names in pedals attempt to recreate the Beach Boys' most iconic studio sounds
Fender’s latest Joe Strummer tribute model is a Masterbuilt creation that costs $20,000 By Matt Owen published 15 May 24 The forensic replica is said to reproduce “every aspect” of the Clash trailblazer’s 1966 Telecaster, including all the scrapes and scars of the original model
Seymour Duncan promises country tone without the hum with new noiseless Hot Chicken Strat and Tele pickups By Janelle Borg published 15 May 24 Seymour Duncan’s latest single coils were designed with contemporary country guitarists’ high-gain demands in mind
You’ll never guess what guitar thrash metal pioneer Kerry King learned to play on By Janelle Borg published 14 May 24 Kerry King’s first guitar is as far away from his hellishly barbed electric guitars as you can get
“I narrowed it down to the bare essentials and found that three strings were all I needed”: 10 guitarists who played with missing strings on purpose… and the weird reasons why By Will Ainsley
In June 1968, Jack Bruce came close to forming a band with Jimi Hendrix By Nick Wells published 15 May 24 Speaking in 2003, the late Cream bassist Jack Bruce recalled his first encounters with Jimi Hendrix
Loathe’s Erik Bickerstaffe loves budget gear, real amps and thick strings that don’t bite back By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 While finishing up the djent-shoegaze heavyweights’ new album, Bickerstaffe reflects on kickstarting a craze for baritones, why he’s burned out on P-90s, and what makes amp modelers feel like a step backward
Best overdrive pedals 2024: explore which drive pedal is right for you By Alex Lynham last updated 15 May 24 Overdrive is one of the most essential guitar effects pedals. These are our top picks for every budget
Best phaser pedals 2024: our guide to this versatile modulation guitar effect By Chris Corfield last updated 15 May 24 Looking to create that swirling sound effect? These are the best phaser pedals to try from MXR, Electro-Harmonix, Walrus Audio and more
Meet Belushi Speed Ball, the ‘pizza thrash’ band chasing pineapple-friendly guitar tones By Phil Weller published 15 May 24 Inspired by death metal greats, Belushi Speed Ball’s fourth album is available as an actual pizza, and features two new guitarists to slam home more punchlines – but beneath the silliness there’s escapism in their mad maelstrom
Dave Grohl's guitars: meet the six-strings behind the Foo Fighters, plus get DG's tone on a budget By Daryl Robertson published 15 May 24 Want to know what guitars Dave Grohl plays? We unveil the nicest man in rock's guitar arsenal
Marcus King on mental health, telling truth on guitar, and the timeless style of vintage gear By Tim Tucker published 14 May 24 Mood Swings is the sound of Marcus King rebounding from dark days with a record of hope and truth. Produced by Rick Rubin, it's an early career masterpiece. He tells us all how it came together
How Neil Jason put on a slap bass masterclass on David Sanborn’s 1979 instrumental classic Hideaway By Chris Jisi published 14 May 24 The studio session for Hideaway took place in early 1979, at Minot Sound, in White Plains, New York
Mark Knopfler on how he enlisted Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and dozens more for the all-star Local Hero theme By Jamie Dickson published 14 May 24 Corralling dozens of A-list guitar talent onto one epic track, Mark Knopfler's Guitar Heroes pulled out the impossible to raise money for teen cancer charities – here's how it all went down
Learn the signature soloing style of Gretsch-toting rockabilly legend and Stray Cat Brian Setzer By Andy G Jones published 15 May 24 Brian Setzer mixes jazz, swing and rock 'n' roll for a sound that's all his own. This lesson unpacks his soloing style so you crazy cats won't stray on the fingerboard
How Allan Holdsworth blew the minds of Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and a generation of guitar heroes By Charlie Griffiths published 13 May 24 Take your playing to another realm with this lesson in Holdsworth’s legato, string skipping and that unique ability of his to find new patterns in scales
Triads are unsung heroes of guitar – here is how you can use the CAGED system to master them By Molly Miller published 10 May 24 Dr Molly Miller breaks down the three-note formula behind triads and explains how you can use them anywhere across the fretboard
Muddy Waters is a blues guitar icon who pioneered the sound of electric guitar and invented a new solo language By David Gerrish published 8 May 24 In the smoky clubs of Chicago, Muddy Waters turned up the volume on blues guitar, electrifying it, and then the audience – and his slide and open-tuning approach to Chicago blues was integral to his early success
‘Hammer-ons from nowhere’ can blow your guitar playing wide open By Jamie Hunt published 6 May 24 This Greg Howe and Joe Satriani-favored technique will whip your hammer-ons, pull-offs, tapping, and muting into shape
Build a whole new lickbag with our country-blues masterclass By Andy Saphir published 3 May 24 Learn how you can mix major and minor pentatonics, and add extra notes to give your solos a wide open space to roam in, with this deep dive into country-blues guitar
Learn how to use “call and response” as a phrasing technique with blues maestro Josh Smith By Josh Smith published 2 May 24 In blues maestro Josh Smith's latest GW column, the guitarist draws inspiration from George Benson for a lesson in call and response phrasing
Matteo Mancuso is the hottest guitar player in the world right now – learn four licks in his breathtaking rock fusion style By JTC Guitar published 2 May 24 Put the pick down and take a breath, it's time to take your playing on a journey. Improve your classical picking, legato and string skipping in this video lesson with the man himself
Make like Joni Mitchell and Steve Hackett and freshen up your chords with 5 alternative voicings By Richard Barrett published 30 April 24 By incorporating open strings, you can give your chords more color and keep the ear interested. Here are five voicings that are certified fresh