Blackstar promises classic valve tones in compact models in its latest MK III Series By Janelle Borg published 23 April 24 Fully equipped with Blackstar’s patented CabRig technology, the MK III Series prioritizes tonal customization
John Lennon’s lost Help! Framus acoustic has been found in an attic after 50 years By Matt Owen published 23 April 24 The 12-string acoustic guitar was used on a number of classic Beatles tracks, and is tipped to rival Kurt Cobain’s $6m Martin D-18e when it hits the auction block next month
Mdou Moctar finds a new fan in Metallica’s Kirk Hammett By Janelle Borg published 23 April 24 The Tuareg guitarist’s latest album continues to expand the horizons of contemporary rock
Artist who smashed guitar at Coachella pulls out after backlash By Janelle Borg published 23 April 24 AP Dhillon smashed his guitar in a show of protest
Peter Frampton has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame By Phil Weller published 22 April 24 The iconic guitarist will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the MC5, Dave Matthews Band, Cher, Foreigner, Mary J. Blige and more in October
New research reveals the world’s most Googled guitar riffs and chord progressions By Phil Weller published 22 April 24 A total of 271 songs and 2,314,336 Google searches were analyzed, with a riff many believe to be played on bass claiming the top spot
“The first 4 songs are played so often that staff in guitar stores can no longer hear them”: New research reveals the world’s most Googled guitar riffs and chord progressions By Phil Weller
Blackstar promises classic valve tones in compact models in its latest MK III Series By Janelle Borg published 23 April 24 Fully equipped with Blackstar’s patented CabRig technology, the MK III Series prioritizes tonal customization
Mdou Moctar finds a new fan in Metallica’s Kirk Hammett By Janelle Borg published 23 April 24 The Tuareg guitarist’s latest album continues to expand the horizons of contemporary rock
Artist who smashed guitar at Coachella pulls out after backlash By Janelle Borg published 23 April 24 AP Dhillon smashed his guitar in a show of protest
Peter Frampton has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame By Phil Weller published 22 April 24 The iconic guitarist will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the MC5, Dave Matthews Band, Cher, Foreigner, Mary J. Blige and more in October
Martin’s DSS Biosphere II is an FSC-certified build that raises awareness for sustainability By Matt Owen published 22 April 24 The third instalment to Martin's Planet Earth series features custom Robert Goetzl artwork, and a super-green spec sheet
Steve Vai explains the hardest part of replicating Robert Fripp’s playing style By Phil Weller published 22 April 24 Vai will be touring King Crimson’s ‘80s material with Beat in the fall, and he’s spoken about his preparations – which includes working with Roland on three purpose-built guitars
Neil Finn on how he ended up joining Fleetwood Mac By Janelle Borg published 22 April 24 Neil Finn on how he ended up joining Fleetwood Mac
Pete Doherty remembers Amy Winehouse’s unique guitar playing style By Janelle Borg published 22 April 24 Pete Doherty remembers Amy Winehouse’s unique guitar playing style
Crazy Tube Circuits has given its all-analog White Whale reverb/tremolo pedal a serious upgrade By Phil Weller published 22 April 24 With more effect types and independent effects circuits, the two-in-one pedal is back and better than before
"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
5 signs your guitar cable needs replacing (and 6 ways to make it last longer) By Ross Holder published 23 April 24 Assess the health of your cables with our guide to the warning signs, plus our maintenance tips to extend their life
Is Emanuel Casablanca the hero that modern blues guitar has been waiting for? By Andrew Daly published 23 April 24 Strung Out on Thrills was hard to make and hard to write – every track was challenging. But Emanuel Casablanca's album throws down the gauntlet to blues guitar, presenting a new path forward
MJ Lenderman shares tone secrets and explains why there’s life in the live album yet By Richard Bienstock published 23 April 24 With a blazing (not to mention “fluid like the wind”) band behind him, indie rock’s leading overdrive purveyor takes his best one-man-band material to wild new places
Mike Kinsella on his journey to cult guitar hero status with American Football By Ellie Rogers published 23 April 24 As his latest Owen album looms, the guitarist reflects on how he discovered the tunings that made him so influential, doing it all without pedals and why he can only play Teles
Patti Smith on her controversial first gig – and why rock belongs to the people By Janelle Borg published 22 April 24 The punk poet laureate continues to inspire generations of artists
“I’m not thinking about trying to impress anybody”: Fusion legend Scott Henderson talks virtuosity and style By Jamie Dickson published 22 April 24 Returning with a new instrumental album seamlessly fusing rock, blues and jazz, Scott Henderson checks in to talk gear, style and what we can learn from vocals and horn
“Beck wanted the bass coming unhinged at every turn”: Justin Meldal-Johnsen's bassline on Beck’s Sexx Laws By Bryan Beller published 22 April 24 How Justin Meldal-Johnsen anchored Beck’s postmodern pop classic by breaking all of the rules
Session legend Nathan East reflects on the business of bass By Nick Wells published 21 April 24 Nathan East looks back at some of his biggest tracks, and why he’d love to have a career like Pat Metheny or Marcus Miller
How to add warmth to digital amp modelers By Joe Dean published 21 April 24 From the unsung hero of your pedalboard to the importance of signal routing, here's what you can do to improve the tone of your digital amp rig
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
Learn the greatest licks from over 100 years of trailblazing blues guitarists, from Robert Johnson to B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Eric Gales and more By Richard Barrett published 10 April 24 These 15 must-learn licks take you from blues guitar's acoustic beginnings to its electric present day
All your favorite guitarists know how to lock into a groove with their leads – and learning to solo deep in the pocket will elevate your style immensely By Andy Aledort published 9 April 24 In this video and tab lesson, inspired by the Shuggie Otis classic Me and My Woman, we're thinking rhythmically while we're soloing, which is an essential skill for any player