Introducing the PickTwist – a new 3D pick that will make you a better player
The pick’s ergonomic and self-centering design is the result of two years of rigorous prototype testing
Latest news
Introducing the PickTwist – a new 3D pick that will make you a better player
The pick’s ergonomic and self-centering design is the result of two years of rigorous prototype testing
Crazy Tube Circuits bottles Angus Young’s tone in a pedal – including the secret sauce that shaped his guitar sounds
The Heatseeker is designed to replicate the spirit of Young's Marshall stack, but also includes a circuit inspired by a coveted piece of vintage gear used by other big name players
Faith has given its staple Eclipse acoustics a premium reboot
The new-and-improved acoustics arrive in three body shapes, and deliver a range of high-end upgrades and series-first updates
Steve Vai gives his seal of approval to the viral Hungarian high-schooler who nailed For The Love of God at his school prom
Laci’s flawless performance of the gruelling fretboard workout has attracted the attention of the man who composed it
TC Electronic’s Plethora X1 takes the fight to the Line 6 HX One – and it costs over $100 less
The $179 stompbox delivers some of the firm’s most beloved effects algorithms via a simple, easy-to-use interface
Harley Benton might just have launched its best-value acoustic yet – a solid spruce/rosewood build that starts from $318
Solid spruce tops, solid rosewood back and sides, rosewood fingerboards, Fishman electronics, mahogany flourishes... Harley Benton’s latest acoustics look to be serious players
Abigail Ybarra is a legend of the pickup world – but her daughter didn’t realize until she got mobbed by fans
The famed pickup maker worked for Fender for more than 50 years, and her pickups were played by some of the biggest guitar players in the game, including Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton
Artists
Originally recorded as a B-side, bassist Billy Cox played a pivotal role in this riff-driven blues by guitar legend Jimi Hendrix
Hendrix named the track after the Olympic White Fender Stratocaster he wielded during his iconic Woodstock set
London jazz ace Artie Zaitz on why the amp is an instrument, too, and how he learned to love mistakes
Zaitz's debut album, The Regulator, introduces a prodigious talent on guitar, and he is backed by some of the best players in the capital's jazz scene
How husband-and-wife duo the Courettes became one of the most exciting bands in the garage-rock underground
Guitarist Flavi Couri details the retro gear and inspirations behind the Courettes’ garage-rock expansionism – a sound that references Motown, Phil Spector and ’60s power-pop
Tom Morello on his tone struggles and what he learned from teaching his son Roman how to play
Rage Against The Machine icon discusses his unreleased Post Malone song, being outshredded by his son, pushing Iron Maiden for the Hall of Fame and why he avoids most endorsement deals
Marcus King on why your fretboard has its own language – and how mental health became his muse
The Americana-loving singer-songwriter digs into the ties between the ebb and flow of his emotional state and the safe space inherent in the well-worn fretboard of his beloved Big Red
Raised on R&B, schooled by fusion, and empowered by punk rock, Bad Brains bassist Darryl Jenifer remains a 4-string purist
The bass powerhouse behind Washington DC’s Bad Brains pioneered a style that changed the history of punk
Remembering jazz great Victor Bailey, who used an unsung multi-FX pedal for his cover of Prince’s biggest hit
From his ’80s heyday with Weather Report through to his mid-’90s stint with Madonna, Victor Bailey earned his stripes as one of the world’s greatest bass players
How George Benson landed a hit album by breaking the rules – and learning to play in tune
As Benson prepares to share his skills first-hand in an immersive music experience, the jazz guitar legend looks back on a magical career and explains why he's still learning
Punk-grunge icon Donita Sparks on ironic gear choices, L7’s infamous Reading Festival set and why recording with Butch Vig was “maddening”
The Flying V die-hard started playing live for a dare. She looks back at first picking up the guitar, keeping going through the heartbreak years, and the enduring success of her “joyous anger anthems”
Gear
Best parlor guitars 2024: sofa-strumming acoustics for every budget
The grandfather of acoustic guitars – our top parlor guitar picks from Gibson, Martin, Yamaha, and more
Best acoustic guitars under $500 2024: get more for your money
These sub-$500 acoustic guitars are ideal for everything from folk and indie guitar to blues and country
Best beginner bass guitars 2024: starter basses for beginners
The best beginner basses for young players, newcomers and the budget-conscious – featuring Yamaha, Squier, Ibanez and more
Best acoustic guitar strings 2024: bring your acoustic to life with fresh strings
Top picks from the best acoustic guitar string brands including Ernie Ball, D’Addario, Elixir, and more
Best volume pedals 2024: control your tone with these essential pedals
Turn it up with our pick of the best guitar volume pedals from Lehle, Ernie Ball, Boss, and more
“We love it when Gibson gets it right”: Gibson ES-330 and Les Paul Studio review
Along with its high-profile limited-edition releases, Gibson continues to consider the working musician, as this pair illustrates: two new additions that couldn’t be more different!
How Adam “Nolly” Getgood and Bare Knuckle reinvented the PAF for a new era
Gibson’s PAF has to be the most-cloned pickup of all time, but what if it was used as a launching pad for a humbucker with more oomph? Getgood and Tim Mills of Bare Knuckle might just have the answer with the PolyPaf
Lessons
Rodrigo Gouveia masterclass: learn how to emulate horns and piano like the neo-soul maestro
Crossing the boundaries of jazz, soul and soul, this JTCguitar lesson presents practical strategies for expanding your sound with melodic embellishments and triads that fill the mix
“It works every time… although you'll ruin your pick”: How to end a slow blues solo, by Joe Bonamassa
Drawing upon B.B. King's seminal Live at the Regal, JoBo offers pointers for "high-note activity" and the emotional build-up before deferring to Jeff Beck for the coupe de grace
How Queensrÿche's Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo became two of metal's most cerebral riff-masters
Queensrÿche's high-concept metal still feels cult even though the Washington band are bona-fide platinum-selling stars. DeGarmo and Wilton's approach can be applied across all metal subgenres, too
Can’t figure out why your improvised solos don’t feel right? Here’s how to fix them
It's not uncommon for competent players to become unmoored from rhythmic reality when vamping in a solo, but it's crucial to keep the beat at all times, and there are some practical ways you can do that
His playing had an intensity and drama that even Eric Clapton admired – and it all started with classical guitar: Paul Kossoff was a rare genius
It was Clapton's work with John Mayall that electrified the Free guitarist's imagination. Then it was Marshall stacks, a Les Paul and a wicked vibrato…
![Three funk guitar maestros [l-r]: Hamish Stuart of Average White Band crouches down to play his Telecaster; Nile Rodgers of Chic gives the audience some love; and Claydes Charles Smith of Kool and the King holds it down with sunglasses on in an archive B/W live shot.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JiG8AhR8Xa2U8sYe6rBRm7-840-80.jpg.webp)
The glitterball guitar heroes of ’70s funk were masters of rhythm guitar – and their techniques will make you a better player
Unpacking the techniques pioneered by the likes of Nile Rodgers, Hamish Stuart and Claydes Charles Smith
Reviews
“We love it when Gibson gets it right”: Gibson ES-330 and Les Paul Studio review
Along with its high-profile limited-edition releases, Gibson continues to consider the working musician, as this pair illustrates: two new additions that couldn’t be more different!
“MXR’s claim that Layers will ‘extend the creative potential of your instrument’ is absolutely right”: MXR Layers review
The latest pedal from MXR can enhance your sound with layered-in ambient sustain for expansive soundscapes
“Could this be the most impressive tube amp under $700? For simpler needs, we definitely think it’s up there”: Blackstar TV-10 B combo amp review
The British amp wizards once again succeed in making boutique tones affordable
“From the aesthetics to the feel and the sounds, the Sferata is wholly convincing”: Rivolta Forma Sferata review
Just because Rivolta is Dennis Fano's more affordable brand doesn't mean he keeps his best ideas for Novo...
“Outrageously excellent value”: Squier Affinity Series Starcaster Deluxe review
Is it time this electric expanded its cult appeal and became a mainstream blockbuster? Because this is one cool – and affordable – semi
“Gene Simmons used a Grabber for a reason – because they play like nothing else on earth”: Epiphone Grabber Bass review
With its classic looks and budget-friendly price tag, is the revived Grabber still as iconic?
“These guitars make Donner a firm competitor with other major brands in the sub-$500 category”: Donner DST-600 and DST-700 review
Donner Music might not be the first brand on everyone's lips when it comes to affordable electrics with impressive specs, but here are two reasons why that might change soon
“Dial in a wide range of tones with minimal effort”: Reverend Billy Corgan Signature Drop Z review
The Smashing Pumpkins frontman's latest signature collab with Reverend is built for drop tunings. Is this the ultimate grunge machine?
“A supreme upgrade of the classic ES-335 design, with exceptionally more versatile tonal options”: Gibson ES Supreme review
The ES-335 gets an upscale makeover with ebony fingerboards, figured maple and an expanded range of sounds, but is it worth the extra outlay? We try one in each color to see what's what
Buying Guides
Best parlor guitars 2024: sofa-strumming acoustics for every budget
The grandfather of acoustic guitars – our top parlor guitar picks from Gibson, Martin, Yamaha, and more
Best acoustic guitars under $500 2024: get more for your money
These sub-$500 acoustic guitars are ideal for everything from folk and indie guitar to blues and country
Best beginner bass guitars 2024: starter basses for beginners
The best beginner basses for young players, newcomers and the budget-conscious – featuring Yamaha, Squier, Ibanez and more
Best acoustic guitar strings 2024: bring your acoustic to life with fresh strings
Top picks from the best acoustic guitar string brands including Ernie Ball, D’Addario, Elixir, and more
Best volume pedals 2024: control your tone with these essential pedals
Turn it up with our pick of the best guitar volume pedals from Lehle, Ernie Ball, Boss, and more
Best guitar cables 2024: recommended instrument cables for electric, acoustic and bass guitar
Plug in with confidence using our expert guide to the best guitar cables from Planet Waves, Mogami, Ernie Ball, George L’s and more
Best guitar capos 2024: top choice capos for acoustic and electric guitar
A capo is a great way to boost your creativity on the instrument. Here’s our expert picks for electric and acoustic guitar, ukulele, 12-string and beyond
Best locking tuners 2024: improve your performance with these powerful upgrades
Keep your guitar playing consistently with our top locking tuner picks from Fender, Schaller, Sperzel and more
Best online guitar lessons 2024: 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 – our experts have thoroughly tested options for all playing levels and for every budget, including a free option