Bill Kelliher on his difficult songwriting sessions with Brent Hinds
Kelliher reflects on his songwriting partnership with the late Brent Hinds
Latest News
Has social media been good or bad for guitarists?
Has social media’s playing field equalization outweighed its darker psychological effects and the cases of thievery? Let us know your thoughts
Reverend launches the very sweet Billy Corgan Z-One Infinite Sadness – and there’s a Drop-Z baritone version too
Who wants that honey? The Billy Corgan Infinite Sadness is released to coincide with the Smashing Pumpkins’ Rats in a Cage Tour, and is limited to 60 instruments
Cory Wong’s Sterling By Music Man StingRay II is officially here, and even nicer than we remember it
Do you remember NAMM 2026? Yeah, we've still got the nightmares, the Anaheim stare, but this affordable, all-kinds-of-high-end-looking Wong signature model is no flashback
![Sammy Hagar plays a red Explorer [left] in 2025; Alex Van Halen in action behind the kit during a Van Halen show in 2015.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WsbwJw5JKcus23XwZA52mh-840-80.jpg.webp)
Sammy Hagar responds to Alex Van Halen calling him a “complete idiot”
Hagar makes an impassioned play for the Van Halen co-founder and drummer to clear the air, and insists whatever he wrote in his book, it was all true
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Gibson’s former CEO learned the art of guitar building. Now his one-of-a-kind models have inspired a new series
Six new guitars are being sold to raise funds for the firm’s charity – and they've been launched alongside a new single that features Mateus Asato and Jordan Rudess
Joan Jett’s signature Epiphone is back – just in time for the 45th anniversaries of two of her most iconic albums
Jett's 2026 edition of her signature Olympic Finish is a no-frills workhorse that gives everyone permission to make unapologetic rock
Johnny Marr’s guitar collection – including several iconic Smiths guitars – sells for almost $5m at auction
Guitars and amps with ties to the Smiths and his solo career have gone to new homes – and he’s happy many guitars fetched more humble prices
Artists
Barrie Cadogan on Liam Gallagher, Morrissey, and Primal Scream – and how John Squire started it all
Brit-pop’s most decorated sideman shares stories from the road, and how he approached playing some of the most iconic tracks in indie
Warren Haynes on playing with Clapton, his favorite guitar and first rig
The Gov’t Mule frontman checks in to talk about the best advice he ever got, and explains why you’ve always got to be chasing tone
When a fan challenged Megadeth to outpace Metallica, the band responded by cranking up the tempos
David Ellefson recalls the sliding-doors moment that would transform Megadeth into one of thrash metal’s Big Four
Page Hamilton on the ESP Horizon that’s been on every Helmet album from Meantime on (and was a GW cover star)
Is it magenta or pink? That's the question. What's beyond doubt is that Page Hamilton's Horizon is one of the coolest hot-rodded S-styles of all time
Dickey Betts and Duane Allman’s rocky first jam
From the Archive Once the Allman Brothers hit their stride, the two guitarists clicked. But their first interactions didn’t exactly foretell a legendary partnership
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Riff Wood formed when they were 11 years old. Then they were discovered by Green Day’s producer. Stadiums are next
Singer-guitarists Carson Groves and Hyrum Russon reflect on their rapid rise with assistance from a Grammy-winning producer, a tight gear list and their band-of-brothers attitude
What Angus Young thought of Eddie Van Halen
From the Archive The SG-touting AC/DC legend has used Chuck Berry and B.B. King to back up his argument
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Gear
"Still the reverb/tremolo pedal to beat": Strymon Flint V2 review
Does this John Mayer pedalboard mainstay still hold up to scrutiny in this day and age?
Best reverb pedals 2026: from spring to shimmer, these are our top picks for your pedalboard
Take a deep dive into the cavernous world of 'verb and explore the best reverb pedals for every budget
"It’s incredibly easy to edit and adjust sounds”: Strymon BigSky MX review
Big-box reverb workstations can bury their best sounds in menus. We put Strymon's dual-engine BigSky MX through its paces to see if it falls into the same trap
How signature models are really made – and how they can drive innovation in guitar design
Some signature models are little more than a cash-in, but surprising amounts of R&D are invested in the best ones
Jack Higginbotham on why PRS needed a CEO, and why it’s him
Four years ago Higginbotham said he’d turn their SE line into a $75 million business. How close are they? What’s getting them there? And which guitar icon would he love to hear on which of their models?
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Best signature guitars 2026: artist-endorsed electrics for every style
Discover the best signature guitars tested by the experts at Guitar World, with options from PRS, Epiphone, Ibanez, and Fender for every budget and style
Best acoustic guitars under $500 2026: get more acoustic for your money with expert picks
These sub-$500 acoustic guitars are ideal for everything from folk and indie guitar to blues and country
"What sets it apart is its sheer versatility and interactivity": Z.Vex Vexter Fuzz Factory review
A more affordable way to gain entry to the factory floor
“Gibbons has used his frequently on ZZ Top albums – he often plays through two at once”: Meet the world’s first ‘pedal’ – a steampunk wonderland you need Windex to use
Introduced in 1946, produced through the mid–1960s, the DeArmond Tremolo Control is the O.G. guitar effect and was used by Muddy Waters, Billy Gibbons and Canned Heat
Lessons
Joe Bonamassa on how to saddle up a capo and get more out of your cowboy chords
The blues maestro demonstrates how a change of key can change your perspective and give your chord work new life
Charlie Starr on how the acoustic guitar can play a vital role in songwriting
Strumming a few chords is all it takes to open up a world of possibilities for new songs, and here the Blackberry Smoke frontman shows us how
Meet the “super arpeggio” – the extended shape that can supercharge your solos
Based on an approach Larry Carlton taught him, Corey Congilio says these extended arpeggios can power up your vamping
"There's no replacement for picking up a guitar and feeling those strings": How to get your fingers fretboard ready by building your calluses the right way
How to get your fingers fretboard ready by building your calluses the right way
Eric Gales on how the blues turned his life upside down – and what you can learn from his approach
In the blues-rock maestro's new GW column, he unpacks the core influence in his playing that came from listening to the original greats
The ultimate guide to sus chords: the secret sauce shapes for the Edge, Andy Summers and the Beatles
Some of guitar’s biggest names swear by suspended chords. Learn why they’re not so sus after all…
Have you been putting your capo on wrong? Tommy Emmanuel says this is the right way to do it – and it could save your tuning
Do it the wrong way and your tuning will suffer, the acoustic great warns
Reviews
"Still the reverb/tremolo pedal to beat": Strymon Flint V2 review
Does this John Mayer pedalboard mainstay still hold up to scrutiny in this day and age?
"It’s incredibly easy to edit and adjust sounds”: Strymon BigSky MX review
Big-box reverb workstations can bury their best sounds in menus. We put Strymon's dual-engine BigSky MX through its paces to see if it falls into the same trap
"What sets it apart is its sheer versatility and interactivity": Z.Vex Vexter Fuzz Factory review
A more affordable way to gain entry to the factory floor
“A tiny tone machine that proves solid-state can sound great”: Orange Baby Terror review
Orange expands its Baby line of products with the Baby Terror. A 20-watt solid-state amp head that is as mighty as it is mini
“Inspired generations of guitarists”: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi review
This mid-scooped fuzz has been around for nearly 60 years, and it deserves to be around a whole lot longer
“Nigh on impossible to craft a bad tone”: Positive Grid Spark Pedal review
The firm’s celebrated Spark series of modelers and multi-effects units finally gets an amp-in-the-box format
“For metal, Solar’s big talk isn’t hyperbole”: Solar Chug Capo review
Old Englund reckons his pedal is the new gold standard for pitch shifters, but can it oust Boss and DigiTech from the top of the de-tuning tree?
Buying Guides
Best reverb pedals 2026: from spring to shimmer, these are our top picks for your pedalboard
Take a deep dive into the cavernous world of 'verb and explore the best reverb pedals for every budget
Best signature guitars 2026: artist-endorsed electrics for every style
Discover the best signature guitars tested by the experts at Guitar World, with options from PRS, Epiphone, Ibanez, and Fender for every budget and style
Best acoustic guitars under $500 2026: get more acoustic for your money with expert picks
These sub-$500 acoustic guitars are ideal for everything from folk and indie guitar to blues and country
Best fuzz pedals 2026: add some filth to your sound with these essential pedalboard effects
Want to know your Fuzz Face from your Fuzz Gun, or channel your inner Jimi Hendrix? This guide is for you
Best baritone guitars 2026: extended-range guitars for all styles and budgets
Get low with my expert pick of the best baritone guitars from PRS, Gretsch, Jackson, and more
Best Gibson SGs 2026: Our budget-spanning picks of Gibson’s famous Solid Guitar
From retro reissues to contemporary shredders, here are the best Gibson SGs on the market right now
Best overdrive pedals 2026: from mid-hump to transparent tone
My pick of the top-rated overdrive pedals will get your gain tones on point
