Access Backstage Pass
Extreme and Red Hot Chili Peppers classics among first tracks confirmed for Guitar Hero's successor, Stage Tour
The game seems to be taking a page from Guitar Hero's playbook by featuring both old-school legends and more contemporary powerhouses
Latest News
Extreme and Red Hot Chili Peppers classics among first tracks confirmed for Guitar Hero's successor, Stage Tour
The game seems to be taking a page from Guitar Hero's playbook by featuring both old-school legends and more contemporary powerhouses
Rush play first show in 11 years, armed with double-neck guitars and deep cuts
The prog legends returned to the stage at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, and the setlist and gear on display are a sight to behold
4 Comments
Dimebag Darrell’s estate responds after court rules in Dean’s favor in legal dispute
The late Pantera guitarist’s estate claims that Dean has been engaged in trademark disputes over his Stealth and Razorback guitar designs
Ed Sheeran is about to launch another piece of signature gear – and he’s already gifted it to a young fan
A new signature Orange amp pays homage to Sheeran’s busking roots
Who’s the greatest Stratocaster player?
Trying to suss out a guitarist who – in all of the model's 70+ years of existence – is the most synonymous with the Fender Stratocaster, is probably a fool's errand, but we want to know your thoughts anyway
16 Comments
Troy Van Leeuwen debuts stunning Squier 12-string Telecaster while performing live with Michael Stipe on Jimmy Kimmel
The Queens of the Stone Age guitarist says the oddball 12-string will be out this summer and is one of Squier's Paranormal specials....
This week's hottest new guitar gear – including an AI-powered amp that wants to change the way you create tones
Fresh new drops from Epiphone, JHS Pedals, Fender, Positive Grid and more...
Artists
Failure’s Ken Andrews on teaming up with Hayley Williams and his return from near-death
After a scary hospital experience, the guitarist lost his mojo for a while – but he’s back with Location Lost, an album that features new twists and turns, along with classic attitude
The moment Jack Gardiner realized Giacomo Turra had lifted his licks
The serial solo thief targeted a range of virtuosos, but Jack Gardiner was one of the first to realize he’d been a victim
From Eric Clapton to Daft Punk and Avenged Sevenfold, Greg Leisz has played with everyone
He says finding himself working with Matthew Sweet, k.d. lang, and Lucinda Williams has been a dream. But he still wants his stolen ’64 Strat back
Michael Schenker on his lifelong pursuit of self-expression and track-by-track guide to Don't Sell Your Soul
Foxes, gold pieces, Tom and Jerry cartoons? It can only be the great Michael Schenker, who takes us through MSG’s new album, Don’t Sell Your Soul, track by weirdly inspired track
David Torn is playing louder and heavier than ever, leaving a trail of trashed bridges in his wake
The prolific guitarist, producer and film composer reflects on his first solo album in a decade, lessons learned across a long career, and his rejection of “guitarists living in the hero age”
Lee Sklar shares his secrets for finding the perfect groove in the studio
Sklar has played on over 2,500 albums – not bad for someone who claims, “I never had any intention of becoming a studio player”
Glenn Tilbrook on the sounds that gave Squeeze a push, and the resurrection of the band's early recordings
The Squeeze frontman, songwriter, and guitarist shares the story behind Trixies, a new album that unearths demos from decades ago, and brings them gloriously back to life
Gear
“As soon as I open the black hardshell case, my eyeballs don’t know where to go first”: Fender John Osborne Telecaster review
The country-rock star’s Tele tears up the template – and could be your fastest ticket to B-bender tone
"A genuinely brilliant guitar that can do far more than its heavy metal aesthetic suggests": Ibanez Iron Label AZ41B1 review
Ibanez's pitch-black metal machine is hiding a secret beneath its stealthy exterior
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
Ancoats Granada Special review – a unique modern-retro design with a fresh approach to relic’ing
This UK boutique build references the long-gone Granada Television, another Manchester oddity, and creates a new spin on the T-style
“A fine, gig-ready instrument with premium build quality”: Taylor Gold Label 710E review
As part of an ongoing revision to its esteemed catalog, Taylor has introduced a deep-bodied dreadnought into the fold. Let’s take it out for a spin
Meet the Afghanistan war veteran who made it his mission to design the ultimate ergonomic guitar
The Ghost Lab Acoustics HyperNova 2.0 might look radical, but every inch of it has been designed to protect your body as you play
Lessons
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
Charlie Starr on how to play “Piedmont” fingerstyle guitar
The Blackberry Smoke frontman goes unplugged to give us a lesson in the fingerstyle techniques he applies in his day job
Hidden for four decades, the story behind the (almost) unheard outro solo on John Farnham’s smash hit, You’re the Voice
Celtic rock bagpipe phrasing, THAT blazing arpeggio and a crazy bend that broke a string – learn how Brett Garsed played his solo in this exclusive feature
Joe Bonamassa breaks down the differences between P-90s and PAF humbuckers
In this lesson, the blues maestro demonstrates how pickup choice affects the tone and can be used for different purposes
Reviews
“As soon as I open the black hardshell case, my eyeballs don’t know where to go first”: Fender John Osborne Telecaster review
The country-rock star’s Tele tears up the template – and could be your fastest ticket to B-bender tone
"A genuinely brilliant guitar that can do far more than its heavy metal aesthetic suggests": Ibanez Iron Label AZ41B1 review
Ibanez's pitch-black metal machine is hiding a secret beneath its stealthy exterior
Ancoats Granada Special review – a unique modern-retro design with a fresh approach to relic’ing
This UK boutique build references the long-gone Granada Television, another Manchester oddity, and creates a new spin on the T-style
“A fine, gig-ready instrument with premium build quality”: Taylor Gold Label 710E review
As part of an ongoing revision to its esteemed catalog, Taylor has introduced a deep-bodied dreadnought into the fold. Let’s take it out for a spin
"The price might be chunky, but the playing experience, build and sonic delivery are tough to argue with": Ibanez Alpha A528 review
It’s already caused a stir online, but does the Alpha eight-string multi-scale prove itself in person?
Positive Grid Reactor 100 Intelligent Guitar Combo Amp review
Positive Grid is branching out from the market-conquering Spark family with a bold new lineup that could spell trouble for the Boss Katana
“Waiting to throw a spanner in the works of your guitar tone”: Electro-Harmonix Pico Atomic Cluster review
EHX’s new Pico pedal is designed to deconstruct your tone to an atomic level
Buying Guides
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
Best octave pedals for bass 2026: Pitch-shift your playing with my pick of essential pedalboard additions
Looking for a new octave pedal to add to your bass rig, or are you entering the world for the first time? Here's are my top choices along with expert buying advice
Best 3/4 acoustic guitars 2026: small-bodied, short scale sensations from Taylor, Martin, Faith, and more
I count down the best compact acoustics for new players, smaller guitarists and those looking for a neat 'couch guitar'
Best overdrive pedals for bass 2026: The ultimate in bass saturation at all price points
My pick of the top-rated overdrive pedals for bass players from the likes of EBS, Electro-Harmonix, Origin Effects, and more
Best Squier guitars 2026: the ultimate guide
We check out the top Squier guitars, including the Classic Vibe series, Affinity series, Debut models, and Paranormal series guitars
Best modeling amps 2026: get iconic amp and effects tones at your fingertips
I break down the best modeling amps available, covering a range of budgets, brands and sizes
