Features

We've all been there. Or worse still, you're playing, all is well, and then the mind goes blank. Here, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Joel Hoekstra, Marty Friedman, and a dozen of their fellow pros share their strategies for memorizing their parts

The Living Colour guitarist reveals the seven riffs that stopped him in his tracks – and hints at how Jimi Hendrix might have inspired Cult of Personality

Born to be a bassist, he was warned against working with Rainbow and Sabbath alumni, but did it anyway. And his only regret is the ever-looming cloud over his celebrated work with Ozzy Osbourne

Reflecting on the experience decades later, Sambora said that – embarrassing as they are in the moment – mishaps like that are “what shape you as a pro”

Woodstock native Jim Weider got a chance to prove his mettle in the mid-80s when he stepped up to replace Robbie Robertson in The Band. Here, he tells us his story – and how a ’52 Tele came along for the ride

PRS might well be 40 years old in 2025, but the SE guitars seem to be catching up – with a 25th anniversary celebration planned for 2026. Where does the time go?

Long before perfect stranger John Entwistle lent him a Trace Elliott, the Porno For Pyros founder started out with a P-Bass knockoff and a homemade amp. Now he’s all about paying tribute to late friend Mark Lanegan

Wesson's full-length solo debut was made in collaboration with his Martin D-28 and a ’68 Fender Pro Reverb amp rescued from the trash outside a London guitar shop, and features 10 tracks with a story to tell

On the eve of the release of 10,000 Days, Tool's tone titan sat down for a chat with GW about the reclusive quartet's creative process, “the Melvins school of writing music,” and why he absolutely, positively, did not use an E-Bow on the album

Starting his punk band Verböten at 11 with a “terrible” SG copy, the modest guitar hero (and Bob Mould bassist) remains in demand with his eternal passion, attention to detail and love of living room shows