Ill Niño part ways with new guitarist just weeks before tour
Xander Charles has parted ways with the nu metal outfit just before a run of tour dates
Latest News
Ill Niño part ways with new guitarist just weeks before tour
Xander Charles has parted ways with the nu metal outfit just before a run of tour dates
Slash and Gilby Clarke play together again as former Guns N’ Roses bandmates reunite for fundraiser show
Slash, Clarke, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler brought the house down by taking an Appetite for Destruction classic for a spin
I’m rebuilding my pedalboard for my first gig of 2026 and these 9 essential items in the Amazon Big Spring Sale will ensure I’m gig-ready from just $4.49
The Amazon spring sale just gave me the perfect opportunity to upgrade my pedalboard for a lot less
A storm is coming as Gibson unveils modernized Thunderbird bass
New take on the bass combines heritage with modern performance
Ace Frehley’s iconic 1975 Gibson Les Paul expected to sell for more than half a million dollars at auction
The Les Paul will be sold alongside stage-played guitars from Stevie Ray Vaughan, Kirk Hammett and Billy Duffy at an upcoming auction
I normally tell guitarists to skip the Amazon Big Spring Sale but this year I’m happy to be proven wrong – here’s 7 essential accessories to kickstart your year in guitar from just $6.49
The Amazon Spring Sale has launched with some awesome deals on strings, picks, clip-on tuners, and loads more accessories for guitar players
Whisper it... Donner's 4.5-star Hush-X travel guitar just dropped by a chunky 20%, bringing quiet practice within reach at home or on vacation
In the Amazon Spring Saleyou can bag an electric travel guitar that sounds so good you won't believe it isn't a regular solidbody
Artists
How a custom SG gifted from The Mars Volta and a voice memo fed into Blackwater Holylight’s doomy shoegaze masterpiece
The Portland trio started out playing house parties. But a move to LA helped them evolve into an atmospheric powerhouse that’s the missing link between Deftones and Radiohead
"The bush can make you whacky, especially if you’re running from a few coppers who are shooting at you": William Crighton on bush psychedelia, collaborating with the late Rob Hirst, and his new LP Colonial Drift
Guitarists The Australian singer songwriter talks the gestation and creation of his fourth album.
The story of Joe Perry’s ’59 Les Paul Standard – his lost treasure and ultimate birthday gift
Joe Perry was forced to part with his beloved 'Burst in 1979, but it was his Aerosmith bandmate who found it again
How Butch Walker’s ear for killer tone took him on a journey from obscurity to in-demand producer
From Taylor Swift to Green Day, he’s worked with the world’s biggest stars, and still managed to make 16 of his own records – and, now, his own signature amp with Divided by 13
With the help of a stunning vintage Gibson acoustic, Jussi Reijonen is giving Western folk an Arabian makeover
The Finnish fingerstylist's acoustic reveries are essential listening for fans of Paco de Lucía, Omar Khorshid, and Lenny Breau
Back to the Future made them a household name, now they needed a followup – the making of Huey Lewis and the News’ last big rock ’n’ roll guitar record
By 1986, the heat was on. The success of the Power of Love required an artistic statement and fast. Guitarist Chris Hayes looks back on the making of Fore!, when Huey Lewis and co rose to the challenge
Simpsons icon Hank Azaria on his Springsteen tribute – and his custom Moe guitar from the Boss’ own builder
From Springfield to Springsteen, the Simpsons actor talks about becoming The Boss, performing with two guitar icons, and shows off a custom Petillo guitar, complete with Moe inlay. Worst. Interview. Ever? Not a chance
Why bassist Paul Samwell-Smith chose a short-scale Epiphone for his “rave-ups” with the Yardbirds
The blues-rock opener from the band’s 1966 debut album showcases a standout example of Samwell-Smith’s fluid, freewheeling bass work
How a new recruit turned Swedish adventure rockers Hällas into a band of gearheads
The latest addition to the ever-quirky prog outfit's lineup, guitarist Rickard Swahn made an impact at his first rehearsal among worn-out frets, weird pickup choices, and crumbling amps – and saved a song that was too Mark Knopfler for them
Gear
Best 3/4 acoustic guitars 2026: small-bodied, short scale sensations from Taylor, Martin, Fender and more
I count down the best compact acoustics for new players, smaller guitarists and those looking for a neat 'couch guitar'
“Arguably the most practical single pedal you can put in front of an amp”: Flattley The Outlaw review
Flattley combines the functions of two of its pedals into one chassis to create a Marshall-flavoured drive and boost
Best beginner guitar amps 2026: my top picks from over a decade working in music retail
After nearly ten years working in a busy high-street music store, I’ve seen which beginner amps truly deliver, offering the best value, most useful features, and long-lasting popularity from brands like Blackstar, Fender, Positive Grid, and more
"It’s one of the most satisfying stacking combinations I’ve encountered in a dual-channel pedal for a very long time": Wampler Golden Jubilee review
Wampler is going for gold with a versatile, fun and pretty great-sounding dual drive pedal
“More aggressive, more physical, more raw and in tune with the animal kingdom”: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi 2 Dual Op-Amp Fuzz review
A schematic, lost in the shuffle, resurfaces with the help of JHS Pedals supremo Josh Scott, and presents us with a fresh slice of Pi
Best bass amps for practice 2026: top combos for working on your chops at home
Get the most out of your playing at home with one of these great bass practice amps
How to dial in any guitar amp and find your sound
Great tone doesn’t need a guitar tech and a stadium rig. Here’s how you can get the most out of your amp in any situation...
Lessons
How Joe Bonamassa and Slash channeled BB King and the Edge for an iconic cover of an iconic tune
In his latest lesson for GW, Joe Bonamassa celebrates B.B. King’s late '80s collaboration with U2
Jared James Nichols on the melodic soloing ideas every guitar player can take from Eric Clapton
In his latest Guitar World column, the blues powerhouse channels Slowhand (and uses his own track Threw Me to the Wolves) for a lesson in lyrical leads
“It’s about building intensity… think of Jeff Beck shifting to Billy Gibbons!” How to solo over one-chord blues
Soloing over changes is cool, but sometimes the blues is all about exploring melody over a single chord
Charlie Starr on the origins of the B-Bender – and how you can play those licks without one
No B-Bender, no problem, as the Blackberry Smoke frontman shows us 9 licks for that faux pedal-steel sound
5 altered chords you need to know – and how they get their names
Altered chords can be intimidating at first, but here we demystify the naming conventions, and once you understand that, you can easily find your own
Cory Wong on why doubling the bassline is one of the “most badass” things a guitarist can do
Cory Wong uses Vulfpeck's Jaco-inspired Dean Town to teach us the value of doubling a bassline on guitar
How to play B.B. King’s greatest song (with some help from Joe Bonamassa)
Bonamassa says B.B. King’s The Thrill Is Gone is so perfect that he initially couldn’t find anyone to cover it on his tribute album. Here, he unpacks the tones and approaches of the King of the Blues
Reviews
“Arguably the most practical single pedal you can put in front of an amp”: Flattley The Outlaw review
Flattley combines the functions of two of its pedals into one chassis to create a Marshall-flavoured drive and boost
"It’s one of the most satisfying stacking combinations I’ve encountered in a dual-channel pedal for a very long time": Wampler Golden Jubilee review
Wampler is going for gold with a versatile, fun and pretty great-sounding dual drive pedal
“More aggressive, more physical, more raw and in tune with the animal kingdom”: Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi 2 Dual Op-Amp Fuzz review
A schematic, lost in the shuffle, resurfaces with the help of JHS Pedals supremo Josh Scott, and presents us with a fresh slice of Pi
“Lo-Fi and Pitch modes take you well beyond the usual analog delay paradigm”: Beetronics Bee Bee Dee review
The first delay pedal from Beetronics offers analog sound with digital control for some time-warped creativity
PJD Origin Series Carey Apprentice and St John Apprentice review
It may appear stripped down and basic, but PJD’s new Origin Series Apprentice is sharply built – and seriously affordable. A new standard for affordable craft?
"It’s not the cheapest solution, but it’s one of the most fully featured volume pedals available": Walrus Audio Canvas Volume review
The newest addition to the Canvas family is a versatile, feature-rich volume pedal loaded with capabilities you never knew you needed
“It’s clearly had a lot of thought put into making it as flexible and useful as possible”: Laney Digbeth DB-EAST review
Over a long, distinguished career, Nathan East has never had a signature amp. Until now…
Buying Guides
Best 3/4 acoustic guitars 2026: small-bodied, short scale sensations from Taylor, Martin, Fender and more
I count down the best compact acoustics for new players, smaller guitarists and those looking for a neat 'couch guitar'
Best beginner guitar amps 2026: my top picks from over a decade working in music retail
After nearly ten years working in a busy high-street music store, I’ve seen which beginner amps truly deliver, offering the best value, most useful features, and long-lasting popularity from brands like Blackstar, Fender, Positive Grid, and more
Best bass amps for practice 2026: top combos for working on your chops at home
Get the most out of your playing at home with one of these great bass practice amps
Best Stratocasters 2026: The best Strats for every budget and playing style
Find your fit with our top pick of the best Fender Strats
Best guitar capos 2026: These are the tried & tested options I'd recommend for acoustic and electric players
I tested 10 of the most popular capos on the market. Here’s my expert picks for electric, acoustic, 12-string and beyond
Best short-scale basses 2026: the ultimate guide to the greatest pint-sized bass guitars at all price points
From Fender to Gibson, Gretsch to Spector, here are our top picks for the best short-scale basses on the market right now
Best electric guitars under $1,000 in 2026: find your ultimate workhorse guitar
Get more for your money with my pick of the top-rated electric guitars below the $1,000 mark
