For most budding guitarists, the big attraction of the electric guitar is that it lets you rock out, and rock out loud. However, it's no good plugging your guitar into an amplifier if you don't know what the controls do.
If you've just got your first amplifier out of the box and don't know where to start, then this is the tutorial for you. We explain how the controls work and what they do, and give you some pointers toward dialing in a decent sound.
The selection of available controls will differ from amp to amp, but we've tried to make this as universal as possible. So, if you are mystified by middle or befuddled by bass, look no further...
“When we learn to improvise, the first thing we pay attention to is where to put our fingers… rarely do any of us pay attention to the rhythm of a melody or lick”: Can’t figure out why your improvised solos don’t feel right? Here’s how to fix them
![[L-R] A composite image of Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Joel Hoekstra, Marty Friedman all taking a solo live: Bumblefoot plays his double-neck. Hoekstra has his white Les Paul Custom. Friedman wears a plaid shirt and plays his PRS signature model.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VPKUYFpK9bsjnQdzekheeb-1280-80.jpg.webp)
“You should know the music so well that you could still play it perfectly while someone is screaming in your ear”: 15 pro guitarists share their tips for memorizing music
