Latest articles by Jenna Scaramanga
“So much metal is gridded and sterile. We call it ‘CGI metal’. It isn’t real, and it just doesn’t sound heavy”: Simon Neil and Mike Vennart are making metal heavy again with Empire State Bastard
The Biffy Clyro bandmates take us inside the uncompromising sound of metal’s hottest supergroup, revealing how they got Slayer legend Dave Lombardo to play drums, and the gear they used to “f**k up songs that were already completely f**ked up”
“How far can we push the prog, without sounding like it’s a cliché of a prog album?”: Nothing But Thieves are one of the UK’s breakout guitar bands – but their tonal tastes are anything but conventional
On concept album Dead Club City, Nothing But Thieves not only ditched the amps, but the speaker sims as well. Dominic Craik and Joe Langridge-Brown share their love of “honky” tones, stacking Queen-esque harmony guitars and how Dave Grohl shaped the sound of the record
5 ways to use Mixolydian scale – the Goldilocks mode loved by the Cult, AC/DC and Eric Johnson
Everything from feelgood rock to funk gets better with Mixolydian, a mode used to great effect by everyone from Guns N' Roses to Kool and the Gang
There’s no such thing as an ‘acoustic guitar chord’ – but these 12 shapes sound amazing unplugged
Learn a dozen chords that will expand your musical vocabulary and enhance your songwriting – and the best bit? They’re not that difficult
No, arpeggios aren’t just for jazz and shred solos – here are 5 ways you can use them to freshen up any style of guitar playing
Your riffs, rhythm parts and solos can all benefit from a minor 7 arpeggio injection
How to play jazz guitar: 5 ways to get started
Playing jazz doesn’t have to be scary – here are the fundamentals made easy
The greatest guitar solos of the 21st century... so far
Featuring every kind of guitar hero – from old-school to cutting‑edge. And not one but two Van Halens…
Nuno Bettencourt shares his top tips for playing better guitar solos: “I always see the solo as its own song”
Having masterminded some of the greatest guitar solos in rock, the Extreme guitarist wants to pass on a little wisdom to help you when the spotlight is on
Corook: “My dad used to say, ‘If you practiced guitar as much as you practice Guitar Hero, you’d be pretty good.’ I was like, ‘Fine, I’ll do that then!’”
Corook checks in to discuss the evolution of a 49-second TikTok song and explains why everyone is head-over-heels with rubber-bridged acoustic guitars
Nuno Bettencourt on why Instagram players make his jaw drop, how Eddie Van Halen inspired Extreme's new album – and why he apologized to Brian May for one of its leads
The Extreme virtuoso talks wowing everyone from Steve Lukather to Mateus Asato with his awe-inspiring Rise solo, the state of modern guitar playing, and the gear secrets – and mistakes – behind one of the year's biggest rock guitar albums
5 ways to improve your acoustic guitar strumming
Strumming is the one of the essential techniques for any guitarist, so let's give it the attention it deserves with a lesson that will develop your rhythm style
Indigo De Souza: “I was bullied a lot in school and had a really hard time. Guitar ended up being like a space of safety for me”
Gen Z's alt-pop guitar hero is joined by best friend and guitarist Dexter Webb to discuss the sounds and songs behind her life-affirming new album, All of This Will End – and why a bone-dry guitar tone can be a beautiful effect in itself
Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo offer their track-by-track guide to Metallica’s super-heavy smash-hit new album, 72 Seasons
Fast stuff, bouncy stuff, thrashing riffs, evil tones, power grooves and ‘total noise’ solos included
The guitar gear secrets behind James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett’s tones on 72 Seasons
Metallica co-producer Greg Fidelman reveals how the new album was made with the help of a Marshall modded by Eddie Van Halen’s amp wizard and a rack full of battle-hardened guitars, including one that makes Hetfield “immediately want to play fast riffs”
5 ways to use DADGAD tuning
Think DADGAD, think folk, but even Slipknot have used it, and this lesson shows you just how versatile it can be
Billy Gibbons gets his pedals on Amazon – and his favorite brand starts at $15
Larkin Poe’s Rebecca Lovell has revealed that, despite his boutique guitar and amp choices, the ZZ Top icon is obsessed with cheap mini pedals
Yvette Young: “I’m really optimistic about the future of guitar. It’s being used in a creative way and people don’t know all the cool sounds you can get from it”
One of the most original guitarists on the planet, combining innovation with accessibility on a new Covet album, Catharsis, Young explains why she’s the virtuoso who just “fell into” the guitar scene
Metallica’s Kirk Hammett: “With 72 Seasons, I improvised 20, 30 solos, gave them all to Lars and Greg Fidelman, and went, ‘You guys edit them!’”
Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo draw back the curtain on the metal album of the year: the gear shakeups, the Angus Young and Ritchie Blackmore-inspired guitar approach, and the response to critics of Kirk’s improvisational soloing approach
5 ways to start a guitar solo
Grab the audience's attention right off the bat with these fail-safe lead guitar tips
Dirty Honey’s John Notto on Les Pauls: “There’s such a great sound and great look that you put up with their charmingly difficult attributes”
A hard-riffing, Marshall-diming rock-and-roller, Notto swears that all the Gibson Les Paul's idiosyncrasies are worth it for that sweet, sweet tone
Eddie Van Halen was making plans for a farewell tour with the original Van Halen lineup
Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt revealed that Van Halen had been planning to reunite with Michael Anthony for the farewell shows
Phil Collen on Jeff Beck: “Jeff’s amp blew up and his pedalboard didn’t work, so they just brought in another Marshall – he sounded exactly the same. He didn’t even flinch”
The Def Leppard guitarist reflects on the life and legacy of Jeff Beck, and explains how Beck's trailblazing style is all over the the Leppard catalog
Kirk Hammett reveals the secret weapon behind his guitar tone: “I can’t believe I’m telling you about it!”
The elusive piece of gear has sonic ties to Eddie Van Halen, AC/DC and Pink Floyd, and featured throughout new Metallica album 72 Seasons
