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“We’ve always played fast, and that hasn’t changed. But the big thing is finding new notes that instantly fit within that zone”: Herman Li on DragonForce’s new era of maximalist shred, AI in music and the fine art of string bending
These days, amid the fire and the flames of DragonForce’s extreme power metal, you’ll detect a little something extra in Herman Li’s playing: an emphasis on melody and dynamics
I’ve tried every home practice solution under the sun, but nothing stuck. Then I plugged in a headphone amp – and now I’m playing for hours
As a busy guitarist and parent, Boss’ new Katana:GO has been a revelation when it comes to my playing time – but it’s the way it feels that’s got me hooked
Everything you need to know about acoustic guitar neck joints – how they work, and why they matter for your tone
There are all kinds of different ways the neck is attached to the body of your acoustic, and it’s one of the areas where luthiers are innovating to offer similar or better tone to traditional dovetail joints
“I don’t care how special or what year something is – if it’s not going to stay in tune, it’s useless… I need things dialed in”: Danny Rader on navigating Kenny Chesney’s triple-guitar lineup and why the Fractal Axe-Fx is his go-to for huge country shows
The award-winning country multi-instrumentalist discusses the fun side of playing stadium stages as part of Kenny Chesney’s “three-headed monster” – and why going digital has made his life a whole lot easier when he’s up there
“Adam wanted to completely change everything. His band had hit a brick wall”: How Marco Pirroni teamed Link Wray with Les Paul Juniors to make Adam and the Ants’ ’80s-defining Kings of the Wild Frontier
Kings of the Wild Frontier found new wave icon Adam Ant at a crossroads, and with Marco Pirroni's raw rock 'n' roll guitar and Burundi drumbeats, he found a sound that sold by the millions
“I’m happily surprised when I hear solos on the radio. I wish they were more present. To hear a solo longer than 20 seconds in modern music is a rarity”: Meet Kelly Green, the Instagram ‘guitar queen’ who never plays the same solo twice
The Madam Radar guitarist shares her love of Godin’s underrated single-cut and bands where “the guitar parts were just as important as the lyrics” – and explains why trying new gear is sometimes the quickest route to new song ideas
A beginner’s guide to the Gibson Byrdland – the cult classic archtop that took flight after a request from two Nashville guitar aces
Billy Byrd and Hank Garland were integral to the development of one of Gibson’s coolest ‘Thinline’ models – an “L-5, but with a thinner body and a bunch of other stuff” – and the rest is history
“It’s like Brian May walked over to his tone booth and just turned it up to 11!” Kirk Hammett names his favorite Queen song – and it’s a seriously deep cut
Metallica may have covered Stone Cold Crazy, but that’s not Hammett’s no. 1…
“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
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
“I met Ritchie Blackmore during the Sepultura days. At first, he wasn’t interested in talking to anybody. But the minute I asked, ‘Do you like football?’ he said, ‘Yes – come with me!’” Max Cavalera names 10 guitarists who shaped his sound
The metal pioneer reveals how to score private time with Ritchie Blackmore, the reality of trying to cover Tony Iommi, what Chuck Shuldiner would be doing today – and why he’s finally playing all six strings… on a James Hetfield guitar
