Beck

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“Beck wanted something distinctive and driving. Like the bass was coming unhinged at every turn”: Listen to Justin Meldal-Johnsen’s bassline on Beck’s Sexx Laws

By Bryan Beller published 22 April 24

How Justin Meldal-Johnsen anchored Beck’s postmodern pop classic by breaking all of the rules

Jason Falkner is seen playing with Anne Erin Clark, known professionally as St. Vincent while performing on stage at the Primavera Sound in Porto.

“I was sitting around my house, drinking too many margaritas because I thought the world was ending. I got a call asking if I’d be interested in playing with St. Vincent”: Jason Falkner’s “oddball” guitars took him from Jellyfish to Beck and St. Vincent

By Andrew Daly published 27 March 24

The journeyman guitarist and session pro developed a bass technique without owning one (landing him a gig with Noel Gallagher), discovered St. Vincent isn’t the musical dictator he’d expected, and knows his fans are impatient for his next solo album

“Musically, Eric was a very generous guy. I loved working with him because he encouraged me to play”: How Eric Clapton used Roger Waters, George Harrison, and Stevie Ray Vaughan as foils to survive the ‘80s – the decade he was not prepared for

By Andrew Daly published 7 February 24

This was the decade that saw Slowhand board a train with Another Ticket and disembark as a fully-fledged Journeyman. Here, Albert Lee, Phil Palmer, and more recall a turbulent time in Clapton's career

Bernie Marsden holding a Gibson Les Paul

Bernie Marsden was British blues-rock's secret weapon – and his melodic, emotive approach to guitar solos is a must-learn

By David Gerrish published 24 January 24

In honor of the late, great Bernie Marsden, we put his solo style under the microscope with two lead workouts that showcase the former Whitesnake rock legend's chops and phrasing

“Nobody in Decca studios had ever witnessed somebody setting up their guitar and amp and playing at that volume. People in the canteen were complaining”: How Eric Clapton revolutionized electric guitar in the ‘60s

By David Sinclair published 24 January 24

It was a febrile time for popular music, and in Eric Clapton, guitar had a hero in waiting who would change forever how we would play the instrument

“It was a huge risk – to this day I’m wondering if I pulled it off or not. But it was how I felt inside. I didn’t want picture-perfect solos”: Kirk Hammett reflects on his all-improv lead approach – and explains why he doesn’t sweat onstage mistakes

By Jonathan Horsley published 12 January 24

Kirk Hammett looks back on a landmark year in Metallica, reveals how Joe Bonamassa helped him snag one of the rarest Les Pauls ever made, and explains what caused him to mess up the intro to Nothing Else Matters – and why it doesn’t matter

“Leslie West said: ‘I prefer your licks, Pete. Eric seems to be playing things he’s learned, that he’s picked up from other blues players’”: Pete Townshend says the Mountain legend favored his expansive rock licks over Eric Clapton’s blues vocabulary

By Matt Owen published 7 January 24

“I think that is a fair comparison, although I have seen Eric play live, where he really goes sky high,” the Who hero added

(from left) Jeff Beck, Gary Rossington, Robbie Robertson, Sinead O'Connor, David Crosby

Remembering the guitarists we lost in 2023

By Jackson Maxwell published 26 December 23

We had to say goodbye to a staggering number of guitar geniuses this year. We salute those players and their contributions to the instrument

Why should keyboard players have all the fun? A history of BOSS guitar synths

By Stuart Williams published 26 December 23

Your guitar isn’t limited solely to traditional sounds. Roland and BOSS have been at the forefront of guitar-based synthesis for decades – and they’re showing no signs of stopping

Eddie Van Halen playing his Peavey EVH Wolfgang #69

“Whenever people visited my house and saw the guitar, their faces would light up”: Guitar gifted to Jason Becker by Eddie Van Halen sells for $110,000 at auction

By Phil Weller published 21 December 23

Becker was happy to part ways with the instrument to pay for his ongoing ALS care and hopes it goes to someone who will “love and appreciate it as much as I do”

John Paul Jones live on stage at Download Festival, June 11, 2010, Donington Park.

“When Jimmy Page first saw my 8-string rig, he said, ‘I’m not playing to that!’” John Paul Jones on his 10 greatest Led Zeppelin moments

By Nick Wells published 8 December 23

From the pounding riffs of Black Dog to the monomania of Achilles Last Stand, we check out some Led Zeppelin history

Jason Becker hailed his “stunning technique and explosive guitar tone” – now Jien Takahashi is building a unique brand of shred shaped by Ritchie Blackmore, Morbid Angel and a quest to prove “a guitar solo can be as persuasive as a singer's voice”

By Andrew Daly published 5 December 23

The rising Japanese virtuoso has an undying love for the shred heroics of Becker and Marty Friedman, but also uses his Ibanez, PRS and occasionally his $50 Legend Strat copy to traverse much wider melodic ground

“The last person to really play it like that was Ed”: Eddie Van Halen personally gifted this guitar to Jason Becker in 1996. Now Norm’s demo whiz Michael Lemmo puts the #69 Peavey Wolfgang through its paces in a killer EVH-style demo

By Matt Parker published 5 December 23

The guitar is headed to auction later this month and was brought down to Norman’s Rare Guitars for a preview

“Being in a band is so much more than the playing. Actually, the playing is down on the list”: Before Megadeth, Marty Friedman says he auditioned for Ozzy Osbourne – but “failed miserably”

By Matt Owen published 28 November 23

Shortly before he became Megadeth's lead guitar player, Friedman took part in an ill-fated Osbourne audition – here's why it didn't work out, according to the man himself

“A truly inspired work of playable art”: Meet the El Bonneville, a guitar inspired by a vintage “hot rod masterpiece” from 1934

By Matt Owen published 14 November 23

Feast your eyes on the latest gem from V8 Custom – an $8k creation that was inspired by a bare metal Ford pickup owned by a notable hot rod fabricator

“Jason’s most treasured instrument”: The guitar Eddie Van Halen gifted Jason Becker during their emotional first meeting is heading to auction

By Matt Owen published 13 November 23

The Peavey Wolfgang was signed and played by Van Halen during his 1996 visit to Becker's house, and is being sold to raise funds for Becker's ongoing medical care

Jimmy Page plays Link Wray's Rumble onstage at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2023

“As a guitar instrumental, it was totally unique in its mystery”: Jimmy Page performs live for the first time in 8 years, covering Link Wray’s Rumble at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

By Matt Parker published 6 November 23

The Led Zeppelin icon made a rare onstage appearance to pay tribute to a guitarist linked to the very roots of his playing

Buddy Guy is one of the most influential guitar players of all time, inspiring everyone from Jimi Hendrix to John Mayer – learn the soloing style of a living guitar legend

By Phil Short published 1 November 23

We look at what makes the Chicago great's pentatonic playing essential learning for generations of blues guitarists

“I am Jethro Tull's guitar player. I was, I am now, and I always will be”: Martin Barre says he remains the prog legends’ guitarist, despite Ian Anderson’s insistence on touring under the ’Tull name

By Matt Parker published 12 October 23

Barre reckons Anderson’s solo band rebadging as Jethro Tull cannot replace their musical connection

Jazz guitarist David Becker performs live

“When people say ‘jazz’, they get locked into ‘It's not this; it's this.’ I never looked at music that way”: Grammy-nominated virtuoso David Becker is nurturing the future of jazz guitar – and he’s encouraging them to break the rules

By Alison Richter published 2 October 23

With two signature guitars to his name and multiple Grammy and Emmy nominations, Becker has notched up some serious accolades over four decades in the biz. He shares the secret to a long career – and explains how social media is (and isn’t) shaping the future of jazz guitar

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