A parent's guide to buying a guitar for your child By Daryl Robertson published 19 April 24 Give your child the best possible start with our top tips for buying a beginner guitar – plus our guitar recommendations
Best guitar picks 2024: recommended plectrums to upgrade your playing By Jonathan Horsley last updated 18 April 24 Our expert guide to the best picks for bass, acoustic and electric guitar
Is there a benefit to buying a more expensive guitar as your first? By Simon Fellows published 18 April 24 Entry-level or mid-grade? Which guitar offers better value for the beginner? If you’re just starting out, will an entry-level axe do, or should you invest in a fancier guitar with a price tag to match?
The story of B.B. King, the greatest blues guitar player of all time By Neville Marten published 18 April 24 How the King of the Blues heard his calling, found a guitar, and developed a style that made him the undisputed greatest of all time
5 Fender innovations that changed the world of guitar By Daryl Robertson published 18 April 24 From the first commercially produced solidbody guitar to the invention of the electric bass, the landscape of guitar would look very different without Fender’s monumental influence
Earl Slick on fast times with John Lennon and David Bowie – and saying no to Whitesnake By Joe Bosso published 18 April 24 The venerable session ace has lived a life less ordinary and has the discography to show for it. Earl Slick tells us what it was like to share the stage and studio with music legends
Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament names 11 bassists who shaped his sound By Gregory Adams published 18 April 24 From Dee Dee Ramone to Eric Avery, fretless to 12-string bassists, Jeff Ament believes all his influences can all be heard on the latest Pearl Jam album Dark Matter
Fender's guitar models explained: we break down the entire Fender line-up from Player to Custom Shop By Richard Blenkinsop published 17 April 24 Get to know your Jazzmasters from your Jags and your Players from your Performers with our breakdown of the vast Fender catalog
Best amps for metal 2024: our top picks for high-gain heroes By Jonathan Horsley last updated 17 April 24 These powerhouse metal amps from PRS, Orange, Friedman, EVH, and more will have you primed to seek and destroy
12 blues guitar albums that chart the genre – and the instrument’s – evolution By Ellie Rogers published 17 April 24 From Son House to Eric Gales, John Lee Hooker to Albert Collins, these classics highlight how blues guitar has changed over the years – its stories, tones and techniques all passed down and reinvented
Best FRFR speakers 2024: full range, flat response speakers that won't color your tone By Richard Blenkinsop last updated 17 April 24 Our pick of the best FRFR speakers for Helix, Kemper, Quad Cortex and other digital amp and effects modelers
Lita Ford on why B.C. Rich guitars “were God” – and that time she nearly joined Led Zeppelin By Andrew Daly published 17 April 24 Ever since she lied about her age to save for her first electric guitar, Lita Ford has been all about lead and leading. She looks back at life-changing encounters with Tony Iommi and Ritchie Blackmore, and explains why Kemper profiling is like “putting a Rolls Royce into a Volkswagen body”
Alex Lifeson takes us behind the scenes at Lerxst to talk gear, tone and new music By Richard Bienstock published 16 April 24 Time will tell whether Lifeson and Geddy Lee will work together again, but in the mean time the Rush icon has lots of new gear to show us, developed in partnership with Mojotone and Godin
Jesse Dayton is glad he didn’t have a hit years ago – it might have taken his freedom By Andrew Daly published 16 April 24 Fresh from his “Bonnie and Clyde” success with Samantha Fish, the six-string outlaw talks low-string droning, Texas storytelling and why it’s worth struggling with vintage gear – in the studio at least
How Martin threw away the tonewood recipe book to rethink acoustic guitar with the Inception By Jamie Dickson published 16 April 24 Martin's vice president of product management Fred Greene gives us the skinny on how the brand's latest acoustic presents players with some seriously innovative features
Paul Gough of Zilla Cabs takes a closer look at cabinet materials – and asks: what’s more important to you, consistency or quality of sound? By Paul Gough published 16 April 24 Paul Gough of Zilla Cabs takes a closer look at cabinet materials – and asks: what’s more important to you, consistency or quality of sound?
Listen to Geddy Lee’s “flamenco” strumming technique on Rush’s Snakes & Arrows By Nick Wells published 16 April 24 Geddy Lee’s signature sounds abound on Snakes and Arrows, but was there a new twist in his bass playing?
How the wah pedal changed electric guitar – but was originally intended for the trumpet By Huw Price published 15 April 24 Among the earliest guitar effects, made famous by Hendrix, Clapton and co, wah has remained a pedalboard staple for decades. This is its story
Mike Vennart influenced a generation of prog guitarists – and he’s not ruling out an Oceansize reunion By Alex Lynham published 15 April 24 The Empire State Bastard riff-meister and Biffy Clyro guitarist has produced some of his best work with his latest solo album, Forgiveness & The Grain. He breaks down his otherworldly tone secrets, and explains what made The Verve’s Nick McCabe a guitar Jedi – and why the Pro Co Rat is the only distortion pedal you need
Jonas Reingold switched from classical guitar and became Steve Hackett’s bassist By Andrew Daly published 14 April 24 From Wire and Karmakanic to the Flower Kings and Steve Hackett, the Swedish musician loves to learn, and always strives to be a better team player