This lesson in Alex Skolnick of Testament’s virtuoso lead style is a true trial by fire By Charlie Griffiths published 11 August 24 Mixing alternate picking with smooth legato runs, book smart theory with the instincts of a berserker, Skolnick took Testament to a new level
Learn the brutal, evil-sounding rhythm style of Slayer's Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King By Jamie Hunt published 8 August 24 Hell awaits in this lesson in the era-defining riffing style of thrash metal's most dynamic duo
Dickey Betts helped to forge the sound not only of The Allman Brothers Band, but of blues-influenced Southern rock as we know it By Martin Cooper published 7 August 24 This video lesson has two studies for you, one a rhythm piece that requires a deft touch and Betts' exquisite sense of space and feel, the other a solo that's all about feel, timing and details
Pat Metheny called him “one of the brightest new talents on the instrument” – learn Dan Wilson’s remarkable phrasing By John Wheatcroft published 6 August 24 Wilson is a mind-blowing talent, and here he opens his box of tricks to share some licks that will improve your understanding of melodic minor modes
5 blues guitar rhythms every guitarist needs to know By John Wheatcroft published 5 August 24 Every guitarist can improve their rhythm game. As Steve Lukather says, “I’ve been paid to play rhythm guitar 90% of the time. It’s harder than it looks”
How to connect melodic phrases using chromaticism and string bending By Andy Timmons published 2 August 24 Timmons is here with a video lesson to make your licks sing with an approach that will give help your solos stretch out, joining the dots between different musical ideas
Surf guitar can teach you a lot about attitude and note choice – Arianna Powell shows you how your playing can benefit from catching the wave By Arianna Powell published 2 August 24 Using the A minor pentatonic scale as a launch pad, Pickup Music's video lesson teaches you how to catch big waves of melody that bring that '60s surf style right up to date
Only bending strings with your second and third fingers? Strengthening your first and fourth fingers will help you express yourself like the greats By Simon Barnard published 1 August 24 Blues heroes like Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan used their first and fourth fingers to bend – without support – to powerful effect. And with a bit of practice, you can learn their expressive solo techniques, too
6 scales from around the world that every guitar player should know – and how to use them By Jamie Humphries published 31 July 24 Tired of the same old blues scales and pentatonics? Try these on for size…
Enhance your melodic sensibility with this essential lesson in understanding musical intervals By Andy Wood published 30 July 24 Andy Wood's debut column for Guitar World is an essential study for players looking to have a greater knowledge of the fretboard and how root notes relate with each individual note in a melody
Matteo Mancuso video masterclass: The maestro shares the secrets to his awesome fingerstyle approach By Declan Zapala published 29 July 24 Mancuso has lit up guitar since his arrival on the scene, with his debut album, The Journey, a modern classic. And he has nothing to hide; here he is showing us exactly how he does it
Improve your syncopation now with this lesson in funk guitar 101 By Simon Barnard published 29 July 24 Taking small chord shapes, single notes and 16th-note strums, we unpack the essentials for funk guitar and target those offbeats for rhythmic intrigue in your playing
Why learning Americana guitar styles will open up a whole new world for your acoustic playing By Stuart Ryan published 27 July 24 From Maybelle Carter’s famous ‘pick and flick’ approach to Pete Seeger’s banjo-style techniques – it’s all here in a lesson that will make you a more rounded player
5 easy ways to make open chords more interesting By Richard Barrett published 26 July 24 Players such as David Bowie and Joni Mitchell have deployed alternate voicings to great effect in their songwriting, and they can be a powerful songwriting tool to have under your belt
“The most well-known user of this instrument was universally beloved for having one of the heaviest guitar tones of all time”: Joe Bonamassa explains why you can rule the world with one pickup By Joe Bonamassa published 25 July 24 In this video lesson inspired by Leslie West, Joe Bonamassa puts the single-pickup rock 'n' roll machine through its paces with some riffs and licks that make good use of open strings
Donovan taught John Lennon to fingerpick – here's why he's an under-appreciated acoustic guitar great By Stuart Ryan published 24 July 24 As legend tells it, he was the man who taught John Lennon to pick. And he sure could write a song. We pay tribute to the flying Scotsman of the Swinging Sixties, Donovan Phillips Leitch, with this lesson in his folk-informed style
How the guitar riff has developed since the 1950s – and what you can learn from its evolution By Simon Barnard published 21 July 24 From Chuck Berry to Dave Grohl via Johnny Marr, Jimmy Page and more, this rhythm guitar masterclass offers a decade-by-decade study in the evolution of the riff
How Al Di Meola’s peerless alternate-picking style changed the landscape of guitar playing By Charlie Griffiths published 19 July 24 The fusion master influenced a generation of players, and this lesson will show you why – and make you a cleaner, more accurate player in the process
Dimebag Darrell wrote the book on the art of shredding – but his rhythm style took metal riffing to a new level By Jamie Hunt published 17 July 24 It's time to toss some melodic motifs into the meat grinder for a high-gain rhythm assault in the style of the late Pantera firebrand and Guitar World Columnist, Dimebag Darrell
Ardeshir Farah is a nylon-string acoustic wizard who fuses Iranian and Western music – and his techniques will expand your solos’ horizons By Jon Bishop published 15 July 24 Farah is a player who will comfortably blow your mind – this lesson is for moderate/advanced players looking to up their alternate-picking game, scalar knowledge, and rhythmic subdivisions