Fender Play vs Yousician: Which online lessons are right for you? By Simon Fellows published 28 March 24 These titans of online guitar tuition take a very different approach to teaching. What sets them apart and which is the best one for you?
Lonnie Mack is an unsung hero in the development of the modern guitar solo – learn the blues guitar pyrotechnics that lit a fire under Stevie Ray Vaughan By Richard Barrett published 28 March 24 A key influence on SRV classics such as Scuttle Buttin', Lonnie Mack's trailblazing style is worth another look
“Not a stitch. I can’t pull anything off!” Joe Bonamassa names the one technique he cannot nail – and reveals what prompted him to pivot from Strats to Les Pauls By Phil Weller published 27 March 24 It's a technique that Allan Holdsworth and Eric Johnson are masters at, but the revered blues guitarist has had to pursue a different approach to counter his shredding kryptonite
What do you get if you mix rock and metal with jazz and prog? A better guitar player – here's how you can mix these styles now By George Karayiannis published 27 March 24 In this JTC Guitar collab, we meet a brilliant Greek guitarist, teacher and performing musician with a fusion lesson that will blow your mind – and fretboard – wide open
"When I was 14 I saw George Thorogood and thought, ‘That’s cool – I’m going to do that’” Ruzz 'Guitar' Evans on the two pedals and amazing pickups behind his rock 'n' roll tone By Tom Poak published 26 March 24 Pedalpocalypse: Ruzz 'Guitar' Evans of Ruzz Guitar's Blues Revue on the two pedals and amazing pickups behind his rock 'n' roll tone
“I’m at a loss for words”: It’s one of the defining cartoon theme tunes of the ’90s – now Nili Brosh has reimagined the classic X-Men lick fest for X-Men ’97 By Matt Owen published 26 March 24 Brosh brings some serious bends to the table as she helps breathe new life into the iconic opener, which has been re-recorded for Disney's animated X-Men revival
Jazz and blues are closer than you might think – with just a few tweaks, you can turn simple blues licks into sophisticated jazz phrases By Cecil Alexander published 26 March 24 Cecil Alexander shows you how to take the blues scale and make it jazz
Janis Joplin covered his songs and he was in a supergroup with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings – Kris Kristofferson is a movie star and outlaw country icon with a classic acoustic style By Stuart Ryan published 25 March 24 Kristofferson is one of the greatest songwriters of his generation, one of its biggest movie stars, and a master of making open chords work to a song's advantage
“My face has melted”: Steve Vai and Joe Satriani cover Metallica’s Enter Sandman during opening Satch/Vai Tour show – and give their first-ever collaborative single its live debut By Matt Owen published 25 March 24 After their own solo sets, the two virtuosos shared the stage to perform The Sea of Emotions, Pt. 1, and the Kinks' You Really Got Me – before wrapping things up with a wah-drenched cover of the Metallica classic
“An absolutely genius video presentation”: New video for Mark Knopfler’s all-star Guitar Heroes charity single reveals who played what on the 50-guitarist-strong instrumental epic By Matt Owen published 22 March 24 The cleverly put together clip picks apart the many pieces of the nine-minute track, putting the spotlight on the track's A-list contributors
“Steve Vai is the only guitarist who could play my parts. I’m totally psyched for this”: Robert Fripp gives his blessing for a new King Crimson supergroup, featuring Steve Vai, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Danny Carey By Phil Weller published 22 March 24 The star-studded lineup will perform tracks from King Crimson's ’80s albums – and it was Fripp who suggested the group's name
A master of pickslanting, economy picking and pentatonic flurries, Eric Johnson is one of the smoothest soloists on the planet – and his techniques will make really make your solos pop By Andy G Jones published 22 March 24 Take a leaf out of the Texan Strat master's book and improve your picking technique, melodic sensibility and position shifting now with this lesson in Johnson's lead guitar style
“If only he knew who was playing guitar behind him!”: Paul Gilbert heard someone playing Little Wing at a music store, so he spontaneously joined in the jam – and the player’s reaction is priceless By Matt Owen published 21 March 24 The Mr. Big virtuoso was doing a spot of gear shopping, but ended up stealing the show with the help of a 1980s Ibanez Roadstar
“That take was live from beginning to end, 7 minutes of pure guitar energy without a single miscue”: Stevie Ray Vaughan’s producer and bassist recall being in the room when SRV tackled his game-changing cover of Voodoo Child By Matt Parker published 21 March 24 SRV’s other massive Hendrix cover proved a pivot point in his playing career – helping the Texas bluesman to find his way through his fraught second album sessions
“It doesn’t take a million dollars. You take this to any studio or venue, and you’re Band of Gypsys”: Joe Bonamassa attempts to recreate Jimi Hendrix’s iconic live rig on a budget – with a $319 Squier Strat and Peavey Classic By Phil Weller published 20 March 24 The gear guru is challenged to capture Hendrix’s legendary live tones with two vastly different budgets – and reveals some Hendrix tricks along the way
“We did a Pepsi Challenge on the Klon!” Henry James of Robert Jon & The Wreck names his favorite pedals – and his no. 1 Klon clone By Tom Poak published 20 March 24 It's the return of Pedalpocalypse, “the Desert Island Discs for pedals”, with Henry James from Robert Jon & The Wreck and King Tree & The Earth Mothers on the three pedals he would take with him in the event of a future lockdown
“When I first went to England, there was Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton sleeping in a van. They all bought Strats after they saw me play”: Buddy Guy reflects on his relationship with the Strat during a jam with Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram By Phil Weller published 20 March 24 In Fender's new Strat Sessions series, the two blues greats come together for a stripped-back take on a Willie Dixon classic – and to discuss the enduring influence of the Stratocaster
“Absolutely mind-blowing”: Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith rips through the blues on a ‘55 Gibson Les Paul Custom previously owned by Paul Kossoff and Eric Clapton By Matt Owen published 20 March 24 The early-years Black Beauty was reportedly Kossoff's first “real” guitar, and paved the way for the many Burst LPs that the Free great later became synonymous with
Al Di Meola, Steve Vai and Tosin Abasi are in awe of his technique – learn the signature style of Matteo Mancuso, the maestro of fingerstyle fusion shred By Charlie Griffiths published 20 March 24 Mancuso's debut LP The Journey is a tour de force of technique and imagination. We take a look at how the young Italian virtuoso's approach can make you a better player now
K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton brought British steel to the world with Judas Priest – learn the secrets behind the metal gods’ seminal rhythm style By Jamie Hunt published 18 March 24 Fall to your knees and repent if you please, it’s time to dial it back to Priest’s glory days with a lesson that’ll whip your eighth and 16th-note rhythm playing into shape