Ellie Rogers
Since graduating university with a degree in English, Ellie has spent the last decade working in a variety of media, marketing and live events roles. As well as being a regular contributor to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and GuitarWorld.com, she currently heads up the marketing team of a mid-scale venue in the south-west of England. She started dabbling with guitars around the age of seven and has been borderline obsessed ever since. She has a particular fascination with alternate tunings, is forever hunting for the perfect slide for the smaller-handed guitarist, and derives a sadistic pleasure from bothering her drummer mates with a preference for “f**king wonky” time signatures.
Latest articles by Ellie Rogers
![Maddie Kerr of mercury](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/s3biAoPt6L4N3B5DzC93jj-320-80.jpg)
Meet mercury, the wall-of-sound indie-rockers teetering on the edge of chaos
By Ellie Rogers published
Tennessee alt-rock experimentalist Maddie Kerr writes on acoustic before piling up the pedals on her partscaster – but a cranked-up Marshall is the key to her “out of control” sound
![flipturn](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vNvgCtz7RaLkW59dETvB9N-320-80.jpg)
How flipturn keep their three-guitar approach tight, while leaving room for creativity
By Ellie Rogers published
The Floridians share their love of open tunings, the one pedal they couldn’t live without, and the nightmare feeling when a ’board fails during a show
![Jasmine.4.t](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qEzNZSK4xvW55mCqxdV6Eh-320-80.jpg)
Jasmine.4.t on being produced by all three members of boygenius, borrowing their baritone – and why you should try writing in DADGAD
By Ellie Rogers published
The first British artist signed to Bridgers’ label explains how she used her Dano ‘63 Baritone to escape her previous life and turn horror into triumph on You Are the Morning
![St. Vincent, Mk.Gee, Grace Bowers, Gary Clark Jr.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/M5SxJg43tyWovyf2ipug7i-320-80.jpg)
The best guitar songs of 2024 – as chosen by Guitar World editors and pro players
By Jonathan Horsley published
With the help of pals including Eric Gales and Vernon Reid, we run down the songs that lit up the guitar-o-sphere this year, including a remarkable hardcore breakthrough, a virtuoso collab for the ages and the prodigy that everyone’s talking about
![Composite of Diamond Rowe, Matteo Mancuso, Mdou Moctar and Grace Bowers performing live](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/G4khtqEbGnbV9gAofx5hjn-320-80.jpg)
“This is like Santana’s Soul Sacrifice at Woodstock or Hendrix’s Machine Gun”: The best guitar solos of 2024
By Jonathan Horsley published
From a supernova of tapping and pitch-shifted metal guitar anarchy to all-star team-ups, here is your year in lead guitar – featuring Mdou Moctar, Diamond Rowe and some dudes named Satriani and Vai…
![Fender Chris Shiflett Cleaver Telecaster Deluxe](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Lrk87GaTmrjJsQMhE6Qmh9-320-80.jpg)
“There was a time you wouldn’t have touched a Superstrat”: How Chris Shiflett learned to love his inner shredder
By Ellie Rogers published
The Foo Fighters guitarist discusses playing with Brian May, the lessons of his podcast – and how his new Cleaver Telecaster Deluxe got its name
![Finneas](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/THFTNPciQxZKaJhZS3zZsF-320-80.jpg)
FINNEAS on bringing guitar back to pop – and why he loves Fender’s Acoustasonic Tele
By Ellie Rogers published
The producer and guitarist shares his recording insight, his new Fender signature model, plus the playing discussions he has with Billie Eilish
![Daniel Dafreez Johnston](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WeLvarf7QS4haxfnLfZ7M5-320-80.jpg)
Meet Daniel ‘Dafreez’ Johnston, the “blues rave-up” pioneer combining folk fingerstyle and EDM
By Ellie Rogers published
Teaming classic Strat sounds with tightly sync'd delays in My Baby, Daniel ‘Dafreez’ Johnston is a mercurial guitar talent
![(L-R) FINNEAS and Billie Eilish perform onstage during the "Happier Than Ever Tour" at The Forum on April 08, 2022 in Inglewood, California](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LzHhcafN8Jtnbo7ut7Gzp9-320-80.jpg)
“Her number one piece of feedback is to be quieter”: FINNEAS reveals his guitar technique debates with Billie Eilish
By Janelle Borg published
The artist and super-producer recalls recording guitars on Eilish's latest album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, and why the Fender Acoustasonic is a key tool in his production toolkit
![Jimmy Page, James Taylor and Tracy Chapman](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bWcH7FSgNEA4q6JVDkDYcG-320-80.jpg)
The 50 greatest acoustic guitar songs of all time
By Jonathan Horsley published
As voted for by you, this list spans some of the most significant acoustic moments ever committed to tape – and features a controversial winner…
![Filippa Nässil of Thunder Mother](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zmdXxVQMDbgSryEp3xUW6L-320-80.jpg)
How Thunder Mother’s pregnant guitarist Filippa Nässil changed her rig to suit her bump
By Ellie Rogers published
The Swedish hard rocker details the challenges of staying on the road into her third trimester – and why it proves you can have everything you want
![Heartworms performs at the British Music Embassy at The Courtyard on March 18, 2023 in Austin, Texas.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VWPironG5HZ2R7uzrvrCZY-320-80.jpg)
Meet Heartworms, the six-string experimentalist who went from busking for rent to playing the Royal Albert Hall with St. Vincent
By Ellie Rogers published
Self-taught and self-motivated, Jojo Orme expresses herself through her complex pedal arrangements and quest for uncomfortable riffs
![Susan Tedeschi](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VojxRZec4gugyGb4euF5iQ-320-80.jpg)
Susan Tedeschi on the making of her long-awaited signature Telecaster and the next generation of blues guitar heroes
By Ellie Rogers published
The blues powerhouse’s first signature Fender has been a long time coming. She explains why it has finally given her confidence in her guitar playing – and names the up-and-coming players she’s keeping an eye on
![Mario and Sarah Quintero of Spotlights perform live](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3FZXn4SpEys89RT94CXopJ-320-80.jpg)
Meet husband-and-wife guitar team Spotlights, the dreamsludge tonesmiths championed by Mike Patton
By Ellie Rogers published
Dreamsludge, doomgaze, doomsludge… Whatever you call them, Mario and Sarah Quintero are producing some of the heaviest tones in the business. They reveal how they do it – and why couples who riff together, stay together
![Anthony Pirog playing his Abernethy Sonic Empress guitar](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8yBgcWZLrc5YRaXkH39zJB-320-80.jpg)
Meet Anthony Pirog – the John Frusciante favorite who’s jamming with Fugazi’s rhythm section
By Ellie Rogers published
The D.C. virtuoso has joined forces with his heroes as The Messthetics
![Mike Kinsella](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hBeddCVf8BpnAtvmcwTaHL-320-80.jpg)
Mike Kinsella on his journey to cult guitar hero status with American Football
By Ellie Rogers published
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
![Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker, Eric Gales](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zUujScEAhxV9yBVRHJDoDm-320-80.jpg)
12 blues guitar albums that chart the genre – and the instrument’s – evolution
By Ellie Rogers published
From Son House to Eric Gales, John Lee Hooker to Albert Collins, these classics highlight how blues guitar has changed over the years – its stories, tones and techniques all passed down and reinvented
![Marcos Mena of Standards](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C479oaUdmsy2HWmJz94v4f-320-80.jpg)
“I asked Ibanez for a Telecaster-style guitar with a single neck pickup. I was expecting them to make fun of me and say no!” Standards’ Marcos Mena is bringing joy to virtuoso playing with his custom mint green tapping machine
By Ellie Rogers published
As the pop-shred maestro honed his fruit-inspired instrumental math-rock technique, Ibanez warned him his neck-pickup-only AZ might look bad – but it turned out to be his perfect guitar
![Mike Griffiths](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6u6mJX2iGkq9Y7cCcgX4BP-320-80.jpg)
How does a Welsh rock band that trades in “filthy, nasty guitar tones” end up writing a song with Brian Johnson of AC/DC? Himalayas’ Mike Griffiths explains the story behind their “unexpected gift”
By Ellie Rogers published
The Welsh rockers’ debut album, From Hell to Here, is essential listening for those who like rock from the garage and the desert – especially where the guitar “sounds quite wild a lot of the time”
![Devon Ross](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PaznZhECbboTxWkJeEEa4k-320-80.jpg)
“I’ve always picked up my dad’s guitars, but I wasn’t that serious about it. Then I realized it was natural to me – it was so deep in my soul I didn’t have a choice”: Thurston Moore loved her demos. Now Devon Ross is journeying from actor to guitarist
By Ellie Rogers published
Inspired by ‘60s pop and ’90s alt-rock alike, the Fender Mustang-toting Irma Vep star – and daughter of Lenny Kravitz guitarist Craig Ross – brought her debut EP to fruition with help from the Sonic Youth icon
![Tosin Abasi of Animals as Leaders performs during Swanfest at Heart Health Park on April 23, 2022 in Sacramento, California.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/c8EAY3eHsnWX35QwX8tVzL-320-80.jpg)
“Technical playing can get cleaner, and that’s possibly even more challenging than just being faster”: We met the academics who study shred guitar for a living – they explained why it’s changed dramatically since the ’80s, and the 3 ways it can develop
By Ellie Rogers published
A new study documents the challenges facing modern-day virtuosos, who not only have to balance perfection and authenticity, but now have to be “10 things that used to be 10 full-time professions”
![Rosie Frater-Taylor](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Qd9t7e34yVH6XKd5ihGGfb-320-80.jpg)
“I love Gibson – I always have. Even though people like Slash play Les Pauls, for me they work better in a jazzier sound-world”: Jimmy Page was bowled over by her playing. Now Rosie Frater-Taylor is injecting jazz solos into pop for an all-new sound
By Ellie Rogers published
Inspired by jazz-go-pop stars like George Benson and Pat Metheny, the Pickup Music tutor and rising star has a unique guitar-meets-vocal vamping style
![Matteo Mancuso playing a Yamaha Revstar](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fF5Gs4aAFpR2d5aE284zQY-320-80.jpg)
“Sometimes it’s not really about complexity. There are some jazz tunes that are incredibly simple like AC/DC”: How Matteo Mancuso is redrawing the frontier for guitar and unlocking the fretboard one chord at a time
By Ellie Rogers published
The fingerstyle fusion phenom talks technique, the illusion of jazz complexity – the reality of the guitar's complexity – and why everything is okay so long as you land on a good note
![Jon Gomm](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xyfLyMFTcHLnSWqiDh42Yc-320-80.jpg)
“Basically, I climb up telegraph poles late at night, tear down the cabling with my bare hands and use that to string my guitar!”: Jon Gomm on how he's using wild tunings, giant strings, and lessons from Jeff Beck's whammy work to redefine the acoustic
By Ellie Rogers published
If you want to be a revolutionary player, you need a revolutionary attitude, and Gomm says that means looking for sounds you have never heard before
![Matteo Mancuso](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B2ztNaaAbs6gyJbP2twELb-320-80.jpg)
“It’s a little bit softer and you get a different attack”: Matteo Mancuso took the guitar world by storm with his otherworldly playing style – now he’s revealed the secret to his flawless fingerpicking tone: fake nails
By Matt Owen published
He's already given his advice on crafting better lead lines. Now, the young virtuoso has kindly revealed how you can get natural tones to match
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