Wolfgang Van Halen on his early gigs with Van Halen – and keeping Eddie in line
Wolfgang also wanted to unearth some B-sides to help honor the genius of his predecessor once he stepped into the role
Latest News
Wolfgang Van Halen on his early gigs with Van Halen – and keeping Eddie in line
Wolfgang also wanted to unearth some B-sides to help honor the genius of his predecessor once he stepped into the role
In 1988, a shred prodigy opened for Ozzy Osbourne. He was eight years old
Thomas McRocklin would go on to become Steve Vai’s protégé. But his first major gig was opening for the Prince of Darkness
Mike Dirnt looks back on his early bass days – as Epiphone launches signature version of his cult classic Grabber G-3
Dirnt has championed the oddball 1970s bass throughout his career. Now he's got his own signature Epiphone version
Michael J. Fox jams with Jackson Browne at charity event – but what is that mystery guitar he’s playing?
The boutique custom build is quite the instrument, and may have previously been played by Sheryl Crow
New study names the most inspiring bands for aspiring guitarists – and The Beatles have been beaten to top spot
UK retailer guitarguitar studied the top 5,000 guitar tabs from Ultimate Guitar to see which artists are having the greatest influence on today's players
This insane Jaws guitar was made using thousands of tiny pieces of paper from Guitar World magazines – now it’s going up for auction
The intricately decorated Ibanez was featured in Guitar World back in 2013 after Trey Xavier spent hours putting it together
Guitarist Dave Burgess – of Tequila hit-makers the Champs – dies at 90
The pop culture phenomenon is said to have been written in just 15 minutes
Artists
Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil on why he fell in love with Kirk Hammett’s Greeny – even if he’s still Team Strat
With their 10th album, Futique, Biffy Clyro remind us exactly why they are one of the most important rock bands of the modern age
John Paul Jones’ best Led Zeppelin basslines
A choirmaster, organist and expert in many archaic music styles, John Paul Jones also happened to play bass guitar in the biggest heavy rock band there has ever been
The difficult Radiohead song that reduced Thom Yorke to tears – and went on to be a viral smash
Inspired by seeing Jeff Buckley in concert, Thom Yorke wrote this stunning power ballad of sorts while under pressure to produce a follow-up to the band's breakthrough hit, Creep. In the end, it was a huge mixing mistake that helped make it a classic, and a hit – 30 years later
Dave Davies on the Kinks’ argumentative energy, mixed feelings on Van Halen, and Jeff Beck, the “loose cannon”
One of the O.G. progenitors of rock 'n' roll sits in with us to discuss the vital spark that lit the fire for a new generation – the sound, the fury, the friction, and the legacy
Big Wreck’s Ian Thornley on channeling Eric Johnson and Steve Morse – and why he’s called a guitar the “Jungle Gym”
Cutting loose on his Suhr electrics, Ian Thornley is officially enjoying himself on the Canadian rockers latest LP, The Rest of the Story. He discusses his intro to metal, pinch harmonics, and wrestling with producers
Inside the final Gary Moore gear auction – from the amps behind his sound to the red Strat that unleashed his blues power
With the last of Moore’s guitars going under the hammer, we join Claire Tole-Moir of Bonhams and Neville Marten, former Guitarist editor and friend to Gary, to examine his extraordinary collection
Far Caspian made one of this year's best indie records, and he did it by paring down guitar layers and embracing dirt
Joel Johnston channels R.E.M. and shoegaze on his latest indie-rock opus. He tells us why he’s a Japanese-built Fender offset loyalist through and through
From the Pixies to the Breeders, Kim Deal’s do-it-yourself attitude inspired a generation of alt-rockers
Kim Deal’s insistent eighth-note basslines were one of the few constants of the Pixies’ zero-to-60 approach to alt-rock
Stevie Salas on Bill & Ted, playing arenas with Rod Stewart then opening for Joe Satriani, and turning down both Van Halen singers
The ahead-of-his-time guitar great recalls starting a trend followed by Steve Vai and Tosin Abasi, why he had to quit a Joe Satriani tour, and why he sometimes aimed to be the worst player in the room
Gear
Best looper pedals 2025: options for practice, songwriting, and live performance – tried and tested by an expert
Whether you're writing songs or woodshedding solos, using a loop pedal will make you a better guitarist – these are the best looper pedals from Boss, TC Electronic, Line 6 and more
What's the best guitar cable in 2025? These are the tried & tested options I'd recommend to any player
There's a lot of snake oil when it comes to the top guitar cables – I'm a professional guitar gear reviewer and I've tested 11 of the best to help you find your perfect match
“A joy to play… Sirloin steak quality for chicken nuggets price”: Jet Guitars JT-350 BKM H and JJ-300 P90 SFG review
These guitars have outlines that you'll recognise, but their meagre price points surely belie the set of specs and level of build quality? Let’s find out
How John Suhr built one of guitar’s hottest boutique brands
John Suhr knows a thing or two about tone. Hey, the guy oversaw repairs at Rudy’s Music in NYC, modded amps with Bob Bradshaw, became a Senior Master Builder and launched his own brand
“Aim to clone the style of the high-end UK Custom Shop models… To be honest, we’re struggling to find any negatives”: PJD Origin Series Carey Pro and St John Pro review
Known for its finely made production-led UK builds, PJD Guitars is now aiming for the mainstream with a range of Indonesian-made solidbodies and its lowest price points yet
“If you’re heading off on holiday any time soon and want a guitar-shaped companion with a good pedigree, look no further”: Furch Pioneer-ER A review
The latest travel guitar from the renowned Czech builder may look small, but it packs a punch and benefits from some revolutionary new technology
Best multi-effects pedals 2025: replace your rig
Our pick of the best multi-fx pedals from Neural DSP, Kemper, Line 6, Boss, and more
Lessons
Great tone starts with the pick – just ask Steve Vai. Here’s how honing your picking can improve your tone for free
Unlock every pick color – from warmth and brightness to the secretive clarinet tone
Best online guitar lessons 2025: I'm a professional guitar product reviewer and these are my top picks
Online lessons are the ideal platform for developing guitar skills from the comfort of your home or on the go – myself and our in-house experts have tested options for all playing levels, styles and budgets, including a free option
"The quality of tuition remains second to none, the user interface is slick, and the amp feature is both practical and entertaining:" Gibson: Learn To Play Guitar app review
The sophisticated Gibson tuition app sets the tone for players aspiring to dial in as much gain with as little pain as possible - with oodles of feedback always on tap
Sue Foley shows you how to nail classic blues turnarounds – and how to come up with your own
In Foley's final column in the series, she completes her turnarounds masterclass – an essential skill for any blues player
Joe Bonamassa on the vintage Gibson that makes a great power chord guitar
What makes the Gibson ES-350 so good for rock? Bonamassa says they are a real live wire, with “a lot of pop” and no shortage of low-end
Cory Wong on how to create a bigger, wider sound by layering baritone guitar parts
Using a Fearless Flyers classic as a case study in baritone layering, the funk-master GW columnist peels away the onion to explain how these individual parts all stack up
Explore open G tuning: a fresh perspective that reshapes your fretboard and inspired timeless blues and Americana songs
Open G has been embraced by legends including Keith Richards, The Black Crowes and Led Zeppelin. Now it’s your turn to revel in its golden tones
David Gilmour is a master of melodic bluesy phrasing – here are 3 minor blues approaches you can expand your soloing vocabulary
Whether you call these solo ideas minor blues or embellished pentatonic/blues scale, the effect is the same, freeing you up from established patterns to hold your audience's attention
Reviews
“A joy to play… Sirloin steak quality for chicken nuggets price”: Jet Guitars JT-350 BKM H and JJ-300 P90 SFG review
These guitars have outlines that you'll recognise, but their meagre price points surely belie the set of specs and level of build quality? Let’s find out
“Aim to clone the style of the high-end UK Custom Shop models… To be honest, we’re struggling to find any negatives”: PJD Origin Series Carey Pro and St John Pro review
Known for its finely made production-led UK builds, PJD Guitars is now aiming for the mainstream with a range of Indonesian-made solidbodies and its lowest price points yet
“If you’re heading off on holiday any time soon and want a guitar-shaped companion with a good pedigree, look no further”: Furch Pioneer-ER A review
The latest travel guitar from the renowned Czech builder may look small, but it packs a punch and benefits from some revolutionary new technology
"The quality of tuition remains second to none, the user interface is slick, and the amp feature is both practical and entertaining:" Gibson: Learn To Play Guitar app review
The sophisticated Gibson tuition app sets the tone for players aspiring to dial in as much gain with as little pain as possible - with oodles of feedback always on tap
"I’m just gonna warn you – these are the LOUDEST pickups I’ve ever heard in a guitar": Bare Knuckle Halcyon humbucker pickup review
Could the Halcyon humbucker be the forceful sonic voice you've been seeking?
“It absolutely nails the sounds of the ‘60s when palm muted and picked”: Gretsch Electromatic CVT Bass Double-cut review
It's a reboot of the lesser-spotted Gretsch Corvette – but it's only got four strings!
"Not only is this Riviera the most Oasis-relevant guitar of the recently launched trio, it’s the most affordable too": Epiphone Bonehead Riviera review
Noel Gallagher’s new Gibson Les Paul might have grabbed the headlines, but of the recently launched Oasis trio, it’s Bonehead that delivers the banger
Buying Guides
Best looper pedals 2025: options for practice, songwriting, and live performance – tried and tested by an expert
Whether you're writing songs or woodshedding solos, using a loop pedal will make you a better guitarist – these are the best looper pedals from Boss, TC Electronic, Line 6 and more
What's the best guitar cable in 2025? These are the tried & tested options I'd recommend to any player
There's a lot of snake oil when it comes to the top guitar cables – I'm a professional guitar gear reviewer and I've tested 11 of the best to help you find your perfect match
Best online guitar lessons 2025: I'm a professional guitar product reviewer and these are my top picks
Online lessons are the ideal platform for developing guitar skills from the comfort of your home or on the go – myself and our in-house experts have tested options for all playing levels, styles and budgets, including a free option
Best multi-effects pedals 2025: replace your rig
Our pick of the best multi-fx pedals from Neural DSP, Kemper, Line 6, Boss, and more
Looking for useful Christmas gifts for guitarists under $20? Here's my pick of 10 affordable accessories every guitar player actually needs
Supercharge your gifting with home practice and gigbag essentials that won't break the bank – recommended by a professional guitar salesman
Best acoustic guitar strings 2025: our top-rated strings for your acoustic
We pick the best guitar strings for acoustic guitar from Ernie Ball, D'Addario, Martin, and more
Best guitar amp headphones 2025: 6 options for when the neighbors need a break
From studio stalwarts, to fully fledged amps you wear on your head, these are the best headphones for guitar amps
