The glam-rock guitarist who accidentally turned down Kiss
Punky Meadows, best known as the guitarist for glam-rock outfit Angel, sets the record straight on auditioning for Kiss, being chosen on the spot, but never actually making the band…
Latest News
The glam-rock guitarist who accidentally turned down Kiss
Punky Meadows, best known as the guitarist for glam-rock outfit Angel, sets the record straight on auditioning for Kiss, being chosen on the spot, but never actually making the band…
Joe Bonamassa on the ‘unorthodox’ Marshall hack he nicked from Zakk Wylde
The bluesman turned to the former Ozzy guitarist to get the most out of his Marshalls
Steel guitarist Pete Finney – who performed with Vince Gill, Reba McEntire and the Monkees – dies aged 70
The Nashville legend played with a variety of high-profile artists, including the Chicks, the Judds, and Patty Loveless – and was known as a connoisseur of American music history
Mark Speer was so afraid the audience wouldn’t applaud at early Khruangbin shows, he figured out how to do it on guitar
The Khruangbin guitarist also admits that this guitar trick was inspired by a legendary boxing video game
I didn’t think the Amazon Presidents’ Day sale would be any good for guitarists, but I’m happy to admit I’m wrong – here's 6 stellar savings on great guitar gear, including Boss, Fender, D'Addario, and more
Amazon doesn’t always have the best deals for guitarists, but there are some great savings on guitar gear this Presidents’ Day
Nancy Wilson’s first guitar was unplayable – so she kept stealing her sister’s
Wilson needed to play a six-string that was better than the $30 rental guitar she had herself
With over $1,000 off PRS Core guitars and amps, I think I just found the most tempting sale around this Presidents' Day
From studio to stage, snag that iconic PRS tone for a whole lot less at Guitar Center, Sweetwater, Musician's Friend, and other authorized dealers
Artists
Meet Mary in the Junkyard, the classically rooted alt-rockers making mind-bending indie with Elliott Smith’s tunings
London songwriter Clari Freeman-Taylor explains the eureka moment of moving to electric from classical guitar, her blood-sealed bond with a new Epiphone, and why she keeps leaving pedalboards on Lime bikes
Mike Vennart on the Squier Strats that are simply unbeatable – and why he hates acoustics
The former Oceansize and long-time Biffy Clyro touring guitarist on his love of off-the-beaten-path six-strings and why you've got to try before you buy
“I was auditioning during the making of the album”: Bassist George Murray’s six-year stint with David Bowie
As a member of Bowie’s band, George Murray cut the studio albums Station to Station, Low, Heroes, Lodger, and Scary Monsters
When one of alt-rock’s goofiest bands snuck into a storage space, and recorded a solo through Santana’s guitar rig
A tip from a roadie led to a clandestine operation that, its lead perpetrator said, “resembled an early morning bank heist”
How Tal Wilkenfeld taught Sting the correct way to play an Aerosmith classic
Sting was performing alongside Steven Tyler and Jeff Beck at the MGM Grand when Wilkenfeld intervened
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Prove your knowledge of the strangest guitars ever built
You're a no-nonsense guitar type? Sorry, this is all nonsense! OK, not all of it – some of these six- (and four, and... 17) string builds have serious functions, but they sure make it weird along the way
Their first single was so bad, the label pulled 10,000 copies. Yet they went on to be one of the most influential supergroups in music history
60 years ago, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker put together Cream. This is the story of the early years of the power trio that changed the face of popular music, and elevated Clapton to God-like status
Rudolf Schenker’s 60 years with the Scorpions – Flying Vs, trading guitars with brother Michael, and anchoring one of the 30 greatest rock bands
He lost Michael Schenker to UFO and Uli Jon Roth to Jimi Hendrix’s ex, then Matthias Jabs helped him fulfill his ambition of being in one of the 30 greatest rock bands. But it might have been very different if his dad had bought him a motorcycle
Gear
Strymon Fairfax Class A Output Stage Drive pedal review
Strymon's unexpected departure from its usual DSP-led design is a recreation of Randy Bachman's Garnet Herzog – and the result is something rather stellar
Cort G6MS Review
Cort's well-spec'd Strandberg rival capitalizes on the headless guitar renaissance, but it's not without its flaws
The Newman Torn and Frayed Edition might be the Rolling Stones-inspired T-type we’ve been dreaming of
With vibe and mojo off the charts, this UK boutique build is a stunning example of what a little imagination can do with when applied to Blackguard inspiration
When is a Gibson Barney Kessel not a Gibson Barney Kessel? This 1967 unicorn explains all...
It looks like a Kessell and almost sounds like a Kessell, but upon closer inspection we have a custom order that’s a “total freak”…
“A very good guitar with an evocative backstory”: Gretsch Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic review
One minute Gretsch wants to be the guitar for the ‘new generation’ and the next it releases an instrument with roots in the recording studio scene of early ’60s. Help!
“Delivers surprisingly good amp models and one of the best AI practice tools I’ve ever used”: JBL BandBox Trio review
The first foray into guitar amps from JBL combines room-shaking volume with the ability to dismantle your favorite tracks in real-time
Best guitar amp headphones 2026: practice playing your guitar in peace
From studio stalwarts to fully-fledged amps you wear on your head, these are the best headphones for use with guitar amps
Lessons
Demystifying 13th chords, the voicing that Stevie Ray Vaughan used to stunning effect in Lenny
This primer in 13th chords will give you five voicings to use in your playing – and an explanation on how they get their name
How to play slide guitar in standard tuning
Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke demonstrates how slide playing in standard and drop D tuning can be the best of both worlds
What is “Dead thumb” fingerpicking? Jared James Nichols explains
Jared James Nichols is a master of “Dead thumb” fingerpicking. The Blues Power fingerstylist explains how it gives the him freedom to cut loose
How to let it rip like the late, great Gary Moore
Time to show the Marshall amp no mercy and engage the Tube Screamer – this solo lesson works mid '70s Thin Lizzy into Parisienne Walkways and Still Got The Blues and doesn't hold back
![B.B. King [left] cups his hands to his ear as he asks the crowd for more. Joe Bonamassa, with a Les Paul, gives his crowd a thumbs up.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/P3XrQLh86C27JfPp4AGp6n-840-80.jpg.webp)
“I met him in 1990 when I was 13 years old. We became lifelong friends”: Joe Bonamassa pays tribute to B.B. King
Bonamassa says King was the kind of player who could say it all with one note – “Just one stinging vibrato and you know it can only be him”
Players like Steve Hackett are masters of extended chords/harmony – here’s how you can use them too
Today in extended chords 101, we look at 11th chords – both minor and major – and explain how these “harmonically dense” voicings look on the fretboard
Cory Wong reveals how to solo over chords in a meaningful way
Wong explains how outlining notes in the chord progression helps find a solo that's melodically on-point and just what the song calls for
Best online guitar lessons 2026: I'm a professional guitar product reviewer and these are my top picks
Online lessons are the ideal platform for developing guitar skills at home or on the go – myself and our in-house experts have tested options for all playing levels, styles and budgets, including a free option
Reviews
Strymon Fairfax Class A Output Stage Drive pedal review
Strymon's unexpected departure from its usual DSP-led design is a recreation of Randy Bachman's Garnet Herzog – and the result is something rather stellar
Cort G6MS Review
Cort's well-spec'd Strandberg rival capitalizes on the headless guitar renaissance, but it's not without its flaws
“A very good guitar with an evocative backstory”: Gretsch Limited Edition Abbey Road RS201 Studiomatic review
One minute Gretsch wants to be the guitar for the ‘new generation’ and the next it releases an instrument with roots in the recording studio scene of early ’60s. Help!
“Delivers surprisingly good amp models and one of the best AI practice tools I’ve ever used”: JBL BandBox Trio review
The first foray into guitar amps from JBL combines room-shaking volume with the ability to dismantle your favorite tracks in real-time
"The combination of onboard multi-effects and a looper on a travel acoustic is an inspirational proposition here": Cort Earth GO 3/4 Dreadnought guitar review
Onboard HyVibe H2 effects with a looper on a mini travel guitar – too good to be true?
“Far, far from limited to our man in terms of its potential use”: Fender Johnny Marr Signature Special Jaguar review
It’s been 13 years since we saw the first Johnny Marr Jaguar, and with little fanfare his second signature landed at the end of 2025. What’s changed?
“Set your preconceptions of the band and brand aside – this is a very capable bass”: Epiphone Mike Dirnt Grabber G-3 review
A cult-classic Gibson bass gets a ressurection courtesy of Epiphone and Green Day's Mike Dirnt
Buying Guides
Best guitar amp headphones 2026: practice playing your guitar in peace
From studio stalwarts to fully-fledged amps you wear on your head, these are the best headphones for use with guitar amps
Best amp modelers 2026: rack-mounted and floorboard options for every budget
Want a bunch of amp sounds packed into one unit? Start your research with our pick of the best amp modelers for guitarists
Best fuzz pedals 2026: add some filth to your sound with these essential pedalboard effects
Want to know your Fuzz Face from your Fuzz Gun, or channel your inner Jimi Hendrix? This guide is for you
Best classical guitars 2026: nylon-string guitars for every budget
From classical, flamenco and crossover, to acoustic-electric models and beyond, these are the best nylon-string guitars around right now
Best bass amps for practice 2026: top combos for working on your chops at home
Get the most out of your playing at home with one of these great bass practice amps
Best beginner bass guitars 2026: top starter basses for beginners
The best beginner basses for young players, newcomers, and the budget-conscious, picked by our experts – featuring Yamaha, Squier, Ibanez and more
Best cheap guitar pedals 2026: killer budget stompboxes you need to try
Stock up on new sounds for less with these incredibly cheap guitar pedals from Boss, NUX, TC Electronic and more
