Mike Campbell on what he brought to the Heartbreakers as Tom Petty’s guitar foil
The Heartbreakers guitarist will release his career-spanning memoir next week
Latest news
Mike Campbell on what he brought to the Heartbreakers as Tom Petty’s guitar foil
The Heartbreakers guitarist will release his career-spanning memoir next week
Electro-Harmonix founder Mike Matthews reveals legendary pedal firm’s struggles in the face of Trump’s tariffs
EHX is the latest gear company to speak out after the impacts of Trump's new tariffs begin to be felt across the guitar world
Gene Simmons is offering fans the chance to be his personal assistant and roadie for a day… for $12,495
Duties/benefits include hauling gear and having lunch with the Kiss bassist
Footage of Dweezil Zappa and Jack Black’s cover of Crazy Train, featuring Eddie Van Halen’s ‘Rasta’ guitar, was never released – but now it's been unearthed
Filmed on the set of On The Spot, it brings together two pieces of gear with interesting stories to tell
One of Gibson’s most obscure designs makes a comeback with the revival of the RD
Beloved by Dave Grohl and Ghost, the quirky build from 1977 has officially returned after its imminent arrival was teased earlier this year
Warren Haynes’ transition from humbucker loyalist to P-90 fan is complete – with the launch of his signature Gibson Les Paul
The Gov't Mule guitar hero's newest signature has been a long time coming, and arrives after Haynes pivoted towards P-90 tones
When Chris Cornell left Audioslave, he turned to Jeff Buckley’s guitar foil to make his mark
When Gary Lucas got the call to play guitar on Chris Cornell’s first post-Audioslave release, he was only supposed to be there for one day. But Cornell had other ideas…
Artists
The wildest bass solo you’ve never heard? Robert Sledge cranked the fuzz for this Ben Folds Five classic
Sledge describes the Big Muff as an extension of his hands – and he put it to good use on this searing solo
Courtney Barnett on her Fender video session, guitar tone and songwriting
The Australian singer-songwriter’s new live session demonstrates her continuing curiosity about dynamics, ambience and composing, as she admits she might be too comfortable with her Kurt Cobain Jag
Welcome to Nate Garrett’s Neon Nightmare, the Spirit Adrift guitarist’s ’80s horror-inspired tribute to Peter Steele
Drawing on classic Black Sabbath and Beatles albums, Garrett's one-man homage to Type O Negative will send chills down the spin of the morbidly romantic
How Zakk Wylde’s sparring partner Dario Lorina started a new chapter – with the help of a holy grail Les Paul
Dario Lorina – who has split Black Label Society’s guitar duties with Zakk Wylde since 2014 – delivers some serious fuel-injected moto-metal fury on Dark Chapel’s Spirit in the Glass
Paul Gilbert names his three favorite guitars – including one that was stolen very recently
The virtuoso behind Mr. Big and Racer X digs out three stalwarts from his arsenal of Ibanez guitars and explains what makes them cool – oh, and why he puts erasers under his pickups
John Paul Jones breaks down his Led Zeppelin bass approach – and what separated his and Jimmy Page's riffs
The all-time bass great discusses his telepathic relationship with John Bonham, early influences, and why Stairway to Heaven's gradual speed-up is part of its magic
He's a hitmaker who owned Eric Clapton's “The Fool” SG, produced Meat Loaf, and played with Ringo Starr
Todd Rundgren has just about done it all, but he does regret missing out on the chance to produce the Talking Heads and the Who...
Sue Foley has spent 25 years researching the unsung female pioneers of guitar – these are the most important players she discovered
The Grammy-nominated blues guitarist has been researching unrecognized women of the guitar world since 2001. Her latest album, One Guitar Woman, is a tribute to some of the greatest
![Cobra Kai composers Zach Robinson [left] and Leo Birenberg in the studio. Pictured in front of a bank of keyboards, Robinson plays an Ibanez RG550, while Birenberg plays woodwind.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YfxDAzMdyf8Mrf9cURm53e-840-80.jpg.webp)
How Cobra Kai’s soundtrack senseis brought Tim Henson, Tosin Abasi and Charlie Robbins to their musical dojo
As the hit Netflix martial arts show takes the story global, its soundtrack composers are doing likewise. Leo Birenberg and Zach Robinson explain why it’s a good time to explore their influences – and bring some virtuoso guitarists along for the ride
Gear
Best desktop guitar amps 2025: my top desktop amps for portable practice
Improve your guitar playing with my pick of the most powerful yet portable practice solutions
“Sounds great, bridges the gap between guitar and bass very nicely, and does so with heaps of character”: Shergold Telstar Standard Bass review
The revived UK brand unleashes a guitarist-friendly short-scale four-stringer that’s easy to play, and easy on the wallet
“Delivers uber-satisfying edge of breakup tube saturation that won’t annoy your neighbors”: Marshall DSL1CR review
Is there still a place for 1-watt tube amps in the modern age of modeling? I got hands-on with the DSL1CR to find out
“Could be a contender for the loudest, smallest amp”: Orange O Tone 40 review
What’s loud, light and orange? The latest solid-state and affordable combo from Orange
“These $99 pedals are excellent not only for their price, but also their sounds”: Keeley x Sweetwater Soft Reverb, Super Bass Overdrive And Distortion and Suns Ultravoid Fuzz review
Three all-American boutique pedals, at under $100 a pop. Too good to be true?
I spent thousands trying to identify the source of my pain – it turned out to be my Fender Telecaster
Medical experts took the money but couldn’t stop the pain until the real culprit revealed itself
Played by Rick Derringer and Aerosmith, effortlessly cool, the B.C. Rich Mockingbird was the ultimate ’70s guitar
A precursor to the pointy shapes of ’80s guitar design, the Mockingbird bridges two worlds of extreme design and vintage class
Lessons
Marcin's percussive fingerstyle is dropping jaws. The warm-ups that fuel his virtuosity are guaranteed to boost your own playing
Acoustic phenom Marcin Patrzałek shows you his favorite warm-up exercises
Rasgueado is a game-changing flamenco strumming technique – and it will give your picking hand a huge turbo boost
Learn the strumming style that will give your playing bravado, fire and passion
6 signs it's time to upgrade from your first acoustic guitar
Is your first acoustic guitar holding you back? Here are six signs that it is time to upgrade your starter instrument to something better
5 common excuses for not learning the guitar – and 5 body and mind-boosting reasons you should
Always wanted to learn the guitar, but keep making excuses? These are the most common ones I've heard – and why they don’t hold up
By thumb-picking bass notes while playing a melody, you can be your own rhythm section – Jared James Nichols shows you how
The pickless blues-rock powerhouse demonstrates some picking hand independence strategies that gets it working up a rhythm that works a treat for the solo musician
Jimmy Reed was one of the most influential blues guitarists to ever live – and his fingerpicking style makes an incredible launching pad for improvisation
Jim Oblon cracks open the box to present us with a blues lesson to refresh your rhythm game
The gallop is the most important metal rhythm of them all – learn the breakneck guitar technique behind Metallica, Slayer and Iron Maiden classics
This rhythm found fame in heavy metal, but it's been used in all genres for decades – making it a must-learn for every guitarist
Best online guitar lessons 2025: remote learning for guitar players – every platform tested by experts
Online lessons are great for developing your guitar skills from the comfort of your home or on the go – myself and our in-house experts have thoroughly tested options for all playing levels and budgets, including a free option
Reviews
“Sounds great, bridges the gap between guitar and bass very nicely, and does so with heaps of character”: Shergold Telstar Standard Bass review
The revived UK brand unleashes a guitarist-friendly short-scale four-stringer that’s easy to play, and easy on the wallet
“Delivers uber-satisfying edge of breakup tube saturation that won’t annoy your neighbors”: Marshall DSL1CR review
Is there still a place for 1-watt tube amps in the modern age of modeling? I got hands-on with the DSL1CR to find out
“Could be a contender for the loudest, smallest amp”: Orange O Tone 40 review
What’s loud, light and orange? The latest solid-state and affordable combo from Orange
“These $99 pedals are excellent not only for their price, but also their sounds”: Keeley x Sweetwater Soft Reverb, Super Bass Overdrive And Distortion and Suns Ultravoid Fuzz review
Three all-American boutique pedals, at under $100 a pop. Too good to be true?
“This is no clichéd P.A.F.-repro pickup”: Bare Knuckle PolyPaf humbuckers review
Adam “Nolly” Getgood's signature humbucker redefines the O.G. classic for the 21st century
“A sophisticated ambient soundscape-generating device that’s like an instrument unto itself”: Mooer Ocean Machine II review
Devin Townsend’s delay, reverb and looper makes a spectacular return – and it’s the pedalboard sequel we’ve all been waiting for
“From fit to finish, it’s staggering how good this guitar feels and sounds”: Cort G250 SE review
The ultimate budget-friendly double-cut? This HSS electric retails for just $349 but it may well just blow your mind
Buying Guides
Best desktop guitar amps 2025: my top desktop amps for portable practice
Improve your guitar playing with my pick of the most powerful yet portable practice solutions
Best online guitar lessons 2025: remote learning for guitar players – every platform tested by experts
Online lessons are great for developing your guitar skills from the comfort of your home or on the go – myself and our in-house experts have thoroughly tested options for all playing levels and budgets, including a free option
Best acoustic guitars 2025: 10 top options for guitarists of all ages and abilities
Guitar World’s pick of the best acoustic guitars from Fender, Gibson, Martin, Taylor, Epiphone and more
Best acoustic guitars for beginners 2025: top picks for new players, reviewed and demoed by experts
We've played epic affordable six-strings from Epiphone, Taylor, Fender, Yamaha and more – read on for our best beginner acoustic guitar recommendations and watch our video demos
Best punk guitars 2025: straight-shooting, no-nonsense guitars for punk
From Gibson to Eastwood, Fender to Music Man, here’s our expert pick of guitars to help you cause some anarchy at your next DIY show
Best guitar picks 2025: awesome guitar picks to upgrade your playing
My expert guide to the best picks for electric, acoustic, and bass guitar
Best guitar plugins 2025: my top plugins to level up your recorded guitar tones
Get better guitar tones for recording and practice with my pick of the best guitar amp plugins
