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The advice Jared James Nichols took – and the bad advice he ignored – to develop his electric fingerstyle
In a journey that took him from rural Wisconsin to world stages, Nichols reflects on the fingerstyle players who inspired him
Latest News
The advice Jared James Nichols took – and the bad advice he ignored – to develop his electric fingerstyle
In a journey that took him from rural Wisconsin to world stages, Nichols reflects on the fingerstyle players who inspired him
Amazon's Prime Day sale is having a vintage year, but it’s not the only place for guitar gear price cuts – here’s 7 Amazon alternatives offering giant savings this week
From money off guitars and amps, to accessories and software, it's a bumper week for discounts
I've sifted through the chaos of the Prime Day sales to bring guitar players 14 of the most essential guitar accessory deals – start saving from just $4.99
Who says playing guitar needs to be expensive? These Prime Day deals show that Amazon is still the best place to shop for accessories
How the ’80s guitar scene left Jeff Beck feeling like an “observer”
He helped change the instrumental guitar scene forever. Then it nearly killed his career
The short-lived Kiss guitarist who was supposed to succeed Ace Frehley
After Ace Frehley decided to leave the Kiss circus in 1982, Paul Stanley and co. were left without a lead guitarist for Creatures of the Night. One session player got the opportunity of a lifetime...
Prime Day is the place to upgrade your guitar cable game right now, with up to 66% off stage-ready leads and great-value patch cable bundles
Forget new guitars and pedals, if your cable game sucks it's all pointless - shop discounted options from Fender, MXR and Donner
A massive 35% Prime Day discount just took this already affordable multi-effects pedal into a completely different territory - find out why 200+ guitar players picked up this Mooer pedal in the last month on Amazon
At only $129 for 151 effects, 55 amp models, and 26 high-quality cab sims, the Mooer represents great value for money in my opinion
This reverb pedal blew my mind last year, and now it's 20% off for Prime Day – thanks to its dual-engine and intuitive layout, this is a serious and capable reverb, and a no-brainer at this price
I fell in love with this Hotone pedal, giving it my pedal of the year in 2025, and I've recommended it to countless players since
Artists
Don Felder on slide lessons from Duane Allman, vintage guitars and why he has no retirement plans
A little dehydration aside, there is nothing stopping the former Eagles man. Here he discusses his epic guitar collection and his new compilation, The Vault 1975-2025: Fifty Years of Music
Dead Pioneers on how indigenous politics and pedal-builds have powered them to punk glory
An extensive and expansive gear list helps the Pearl Jam-approved band express their hopes for global improvement – as heard on their explosive new album, Wagon Burner
Kirk Hammett didn’t play rhythm guitar on Metallica's first five albums. That all changed with 1996’s controversial Load
In an attempt to explore new musical directions, Hammett was summoned to share rhythm guitar duties with James Hetfield, helping to kickstart a new phase for Metallica
How a late-night drinking session with Lars Ulrich almost ruined Robert Trujillo’s Metallica audition
Robert Trujillo was announced as Metallica's new bassist on February 24, 2003, following a two-day try-out for the metal giants
Jeff Berlin on meeting his bass hero – and playing White Room alongside him
According to bass virtuoso Jeff Berlin, Jack Bruce is still the bass guitar’s most underrated innovator
“David Bowie didn’t even show up”: Herbie Flowers on the making of Lou Reed’s Walk On the Wild Side
Having recorded over 20,000 sessions for the likes of David Bowie, Dusty Springfield, T.Rex, Paul McCartney and Elton John, Brian ‘Herbie’ Flowers was not your average bassist
Rowan Robertson was 17 when he joined Dio. He recalls how he got the gig – and why it came to an end
The English guitarist recalls the advice Ronnie James Dio gave him, the demo tape that landed him the role, and why he never reunited with the iconic singer
Guitarists are having their videos stolen, replaced by AI and used to scam people out of money
Influential players including Sophie Burrell and Sophie Lloyd have had their work manipulated by bad actors in order to defraud guitar fans. They detail their struggles to get the fake footage taken down, and explain why female guitarists are disproportionately targeted
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Gear
He played bass with Robert Plant, gave Tony Iommi his sound and created an iconic British amp brand – the life and times of Lyndon Laney
The loved and respected founder of the Midlands amp company was behind the seismic sound of Black Sabbath and countless more
Mad Professor Little Green Wonder review
"An impressive drive pedal with a unique Body control": Mad Professor Little Green Wonder review
“A much more versatile pedal than you might think”: Strymon Canoga Vintage Silicon Fuzz review
The wizards of digital stompbox design conjure more analog magic with a two-knob fuzz box promising vintage Hendrix flavors and then some
Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto aims to defy skepticism with his new house brand
The CEO’s Guitar Labs ambition – to create an in-house guitar brand that’ll last a century – has its detractors, but Dalporto argues his crowd-sourced approach is essential in achieving such a lofty goal
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Inside 60 years of Yamaha guitars – how the Japanese firm forged its own six-string path
Yamaha’s Yusuke Ota and Shingo Ekuni take a look back at key guitars and artists from the brand’s history – from Carlos Santana and Billy Corgan to the current one-two Revstar punch of Chris Buck and Matteo Mancuso
“Its popularity extends beyond jazz boundaries – notable players include Steve Howe, B.B. King and even John Frusciante”: Why Gibson’s longest-running production electric remains one of the world’s more affordable vintage guitars
In production for seven decades, the hollow-bodied ES-175 was the perfect partner for jazzers of the 1950s – especially at its original $175 price point
Flattley The Joker review
The latest from the UK-based pedal company gives you licence to rock with the choice of dirt or filth
Lessons
Mike Stringer gives us an “unapologetically heavy” lesson in how to combine power chords with hammer-ons and pull-offs
The Spiritbox riff-master shows you how to chug along to Angel Eyes
Pinch Harmonics made easy: how to get the perfect squeal
Our definitive guide on how Billy Gibbons, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and Zakk Wylde make their guitars scream
The secret to great guitar solos isn’t technique – it’s rhythm
All the greats put themselves into their phrasing, and that identity was not only note choice but rhythm. Here are four ways you can add rhythmic interest to great effect
If you learn one thing from Jake E. Lee it should be this: bigger stretches for better shredding
Try this enhanced lesson to strengthen your fourth finger and use your thumb for wide fretting like the iconic Ozzy Osbourne guitarist
How to funk up your blues solos
Taking cues from John Mayer, Jimi Hendrix and Nile Rodgers, this lesson offers three examples of phrases that add rhythm and movement to blues
“To some people, this is more of a ‘jazzy’ sound”: How to use dominant 7 arpeggios in a guitar solo
Because you can't have enough exit ramps from traditional blues phrases, here's how you can use the notes of a dominant 7 chord to spice up your solos
5 chords that sound like they’re in an open tuning (but aren’t)
Because sometimes retuning your guitar is, well, a pain in the backside – and there are workarounds
Reviews
Mad Professor Little Green Wonder review
"An impressive drive pedal with a unique Body control": Mad Professor Little Green Wonder review
“A much more versatile pedal than you might think”: Strymon Canoga Vintage Silicon Fuzz review
The wizards of digital stompbox design conjure more analog magic with a two-knob fuzz box promising vintage Hendrix flavors and then some
Flattley The Joker review
The latest from the UK-based pedal company gives you licence to rock with the choice of dirt or filth
Gibson J-185 Century 12-Fret and J-45 Century 12-Fret review
A pair of historic acoustics from Gibson’s illustrious catalog to celebrate its century of flat-tops. But wait, these are 12-fretters. What’s going on?
Marshall x Jimi Hendrix 60th Anniversary JMH Half Stack review
Paying tribute to 60 years of one of the most iconic pairings in guitar history, Marshall releases a signature Hendrix amp bundle, featuring not only an amp and cab, but a Fuzz Face and some very collectable extras.
EVH 5150 III Hypersonic 6L6 2x12 review
Following in the steps of parent company Fender's Tone Master range, EVH releases a digital combo version of the coveted 5150 amp, combining digital modeling and a real guitar cabinet
Yamaha 60th Anniversary RSP20B and RS02CB Chris Buck review
After redesigning the ‘new’ Revstar back in 2022, Yamaha has added two models to the line-up: a 60th Anniversary knees-up and Chris Buck signature model
Buying Guides
Best bass compressor pedals 2026: expert picks for the ultimate in low-end control
From studio-style levelers to stompboxes that squash, we put the market-leading compressor pedals for bass to the test
Best amps for metal 2026: my top picks for high-gain heroes
These powerhouse metal amps from PRS, Orange, Friedman, EVH, and more will have you primed to seek and destroy
Best pedal amps 2026: top preamps, power amps, and amp modelers
We rank and review the best guitar amp pedals from Strymon, Universal Audio, Blackstar, and more
Best guitar plugins 2026: my top plugins to level up your recorded guitar tones
Get better guitar tones for recording and practice with my pick of the best guitar amp plugins
Best guitar straps 2026: play in comfort and secure your guitar in style – budget-spanning choices from a guitar salesman
My expert pick of straps for electric, acoustic and bass, covering all budgets and materials. Plus, buying advice to help you decide
Best single coil pickups 2026: from trailblazing designs to vintage traditionalists
From Fender Telecaster twang to Gibson P-90 bite, we’ve compiled our pick of the best aftermarket single coils your money can buy right now
Best budget guitar amps under $500 2026: cost-cutting amplifiers for every player
Get great sounds and features without blowing your budget – from affordable tube amps to wallet-friendly digital modeling amps and everything in between
