ESP has dropped a new LTD signature guitar for Richard ZK – and it’s got the Rammstein riffer rather excited
The guitarist road-tested and experimented with various prototypes before landing on the final form
Latest news
ESP has dropped a new LTD signature guitar for Richard ZK – and it’s got the Rammstein riffer rather excited
The guitarist road-tested and experimented with various prototypes before landing on the final form
Cort and Hedras continue to elevate their progressive electric design with new Mutility II
Improved ergonomics and bolstered tonal versatility headline Cort’s latest Hedras-designed drop
Watch Al Di Meola play Race with Devil on Spanish Highway with Steve Vai
This intimate rehearsal clip shows the fretwork of both guitar legends up-close
“I don't think I want to go on tour anymore. I hate to say that”: Sammy Hagar reveals his touring days are over
Hagar clarifies this does not mean he's retiring – but at 77, he prefers residencies over the stresses of touring
Dennis Fano is now leading both Fano and Novo – as his two boutique companies merge
Both firms were founded by Fano, and now they’ve been brought under one leadership structure for the first time
NAMM 2025: rumors, predictions and breaking news from the world’s biggest gear show
With the likes of Fender, Gibson and Marshall returning to Anaheim at long last, this year’s event is set to be the biggest in five years – with secrets and surprises to match
Guitars signed by Paul McCartney, Slash, Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Olivia Rodrigo and many more to be auctioned off in support of leading music charity
Over 60 one-of-a-kind items donated or signed by music stars are up for auction, with proceeds going to MusiCares, whose vital work includes supporting musicians impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles
Artists
Geddy Lee reflects on his 50 years atop the prog-rock heap
The Rush frontman charts his experiments in bass tone, and why he'd sometimes tackle the instrument like a lead guitarist
Zakk Wylde on Ozzy Osbourne's guitar pet peeves
Though not a guitarist himself, the Prince of Darkness had some very specific pet peeves that he related to Wylde when the guitarist was a newly-hired young gun
How Marcus Miller found his voice – and became one of the most-imitated bassists in the biz
The bass icon breaks down his formative influences, and how he gave everyone from Prince to Beethoven a low-end makeover via his '77 Fender Jazz
Recorded for Metallica’s Master of Puppets, Cliff Burton’s bass masterpiece has earned its place in the pantheon of great rock solos
Recorded for Metallica’s genre-sparking Kill ’Em All, Burton’s complex snarl of notes has captivated bassists for years. Dial in your favorite fuzz-wah tone and let it rip
B.B. King had his breakthrough blues guitar moment with The Thrill Is Gone – but it was Jerry Jemmott’s bass that made it groove
For The Thrill Is Gone, Jemmott played his 1964 Jazz Bass – which would be stolen soon afterward
Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos reveals his obscure vintage gear obsessions
The Franz Ferdinand leader rarely gets to talk guitars. He shares his love of vintage Japanese instruments, explains the process of demoing, looping and mic’ing on new album The Human Fear – and reveals why the secret to studio success is that there’s no secret
Zakk Wylde tells the story behind his infamous Guitar World cover with Dimebag Darrell
It's one of the most legendary GW cover shoots of all time: two metal legends, one with a freshly dyed green beard, and lots of alcohol…
Teddy McDonald pointed out Ed Sheeran was using a fake Eric Clapton Crashocaster. So they asked him to replace it
The British artist and lifelong guitarist discusses his work on Sheeran’s custom-painted Strats – and why he views the model as as a superior to the Les Paul
Myles Kennedy on Warren Haynes, why he's an accidental frontman, and the almighty power of the riff
We’ve been saying it for years, but the man best known for his soaring vocals with Slash and Alter Bridge also happens to be one hell of a guitar player. On his new album, he busts out his riffs, his roar and his signature PRS
Gear
“Plays like a much more modern proposition”: Gretsch Professional Series Hollow Body Tennessean review
The working musician’s hollowbody designed to handle most popular styles but retaining that unmistakably cool Gretsch vibe
"Throw your Cantrell staples at the Dirt, and you’re rewarded with authenticity": Funny Little Boxes Dirt pedal review
Funny little Boxes' tone quest continues with an attempt to recreate Jerry Cantrell's guitar tones from Alice in Chains' Dirt, but it's really a great all-rounder
“Well beyond the typical Klon-style proposition”: Walrus Audio Voyager Preamp/Overdrive MKII review
Walrus Audio revitalises its very first pedal, the Klon-emulating Voyager, with some tasty additions
Best guitar capos 2025: 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 guitar straps 2025: play in comfort and secure your guitar in style
Our expert pick of straps for electric, acoustic and bass, covering all budgets and materials
“What ran the risk of being a toy-like guitar actually proved to be some serious fun”: Lava ME Air review
Lava is hellbent on revolutionizing the acoustic guitar. Forget what you know about spruce and cedar – this one’s boasting about carbon fiber and onboard effects
In praise of the Champ, Bronco and Vibro Champ – how Fender's compact tube amps became studio MVPs
Countless classic recordings have been blessed with the hot tube mojo of a 1964 black-panel Fender Champ and its descendants, and it’s a sound that remains a studio superpower to this day
Lessons
Everyone from Metallica to jazz pros have made use of the ominous sound of the Locrian mode – here's how it could shake up your guitar playing
The Locrian mode is the seventh and darkest mode derived from the major scale. Stuart Ryan takes you through the structure of the scale and gets creative with some rhythm and lead examples
Joe Bonamassa shows you how to get more tones from your Gibson Les Paul
The blues hero shares six lead guitar examples that demonstrate the versatility of the Gibson Les Paul’s pickups, volume and tone controls
How to blend rhythm and lead blues guitar like John Mayer and Stevie Ray Vaughan
Listen to SRV, Mayer and Jimi Hendrix and you'll hear players who are masters of mixing rhythm and lead – an invaluable skill for anyone in a jam. We look at four ideas for upping the ante in your blues rhythm game
How inverted boogie riffing can shake up your blues
Jim Oblon shows us the tricks behind inverted boogie riffing – and the best part is you don’t have to stand on your head to play it
Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour and Slash all love Aeolian – the minor mode that rules over them all. Here’s what makes this scale work
Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour and Slash are just three of the countless fans of this staple minor mode. Here, Stuart Ryan takes you through the structure of the scale, plus a handful of chords, riffs and licks
Jared James Nichols shows you how to make your solos “sing”
The blues power advocate says thinking like a vocalist can help your solos connect with your audience – he shows you how it’s done
Confused about altered and extended guitar chords? Here’s the theory behind them – and how they can supercharge your songwriting
Players such as Jimi Hendrix had extensive altered and extended chord vocabularies to draw upon
An essential scale for classic blues and rock solos, the Mixolydian mode is loved by everyone from B.B. King to Guns N' Roses – here's how it works
Used by countless blues guitarists and hard rockers from B.B. King and Guns N' Roses to Josh Smith and Joe Bonamassa, the Mixolydian mode is essential knowledge. Stuart Ryan explains all
It's one of Joe Satriani and Steve Vai's favorite scales, and holds the most mysterious-sounding note combinations – here's how the Lydian mode works
This bright but unusual sounding mode became popular among shredders after Joe Satriani and Steve Vai used it in the 80s. Here, Stuart Ryan explains what gives the Lydian mode its signature sound
Reviews
“Plays like a much more modern proposition”: Gretsch Professional Series Hollow Body Tennessean review
The working musician’s hollowbody designed to handle most popular styles but retaining that unmistakably cool Gretsch vibe
"Throw your Cantrell staples at the Dirt, and you’re rewarded with authenticity": Funny Little Boxes Dirt pedal review
Funny little Boxes' tone quest continues with an attempt to recreate Jerry Cantrell's guitar tones from Alice in Chains' Dirt, but it's really a great all-rounder
“Well beyond the typical Klon-style proposition”: Walrus Audio Voyager Preamp/Overdrive MKII review
Walrus Audio revitalises its very first pedal, the Klon-emulating Voyager, with some tasty additions
“What ran the risk of being a toy-like guitar actually proved to be some serious fun”: Lava ME Air review
Lava is hellbent on revolutionizing the acoustic guitar. Forget what you know about spruce and cedar – this one’s boasting about carbon fiber and onboard effects
“A real winner”: Gibson Hummingbird Studio EC & Hummingbird Standard Rosewood EC review
Gibson refreshes one of its most iconic acoustic designs with three new cutaway models. Will these latest ’Birds fly or simply fail to take off? Let’s take a look
“Full of classy-sounding effects”: Fractal Audio VP4 review
Fractal Audio puts its Axe-Fx III effects in a conveniently sized stage-ready floor unit – could it be the only effects unit you need?
“One of the best compact wireless systems you can buy”: Xvive A58 Guitar Wireless System review
The successor to Xvive’s best-selling U2 wireless system offers a wealth of upgrades and impressive performance
Buying Guides
Best guitar capos 2025: 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 guitar straps 2025: play in comfort and secure your guitar in style
Our expert pick of straps for electric, acoustic and bass, covering all budgets and materials
Best guitar amps 2025: tube, solid-state and modeling amplifiers for all levels and budgets
These are the best combo amps and heads from Orange, Fender, Marshall, Boss, and more
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
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
Best headphone amps for guitar 2025: portable practice solutions
You don’t need to sacrifice tone to practice quietly with our expert pick of the best headphone amps for guitar players
Best Christmas gifts for guitar players 2025: the ultimate festive gift guide for guitarists
Treat them right this Christmas with our pick of the 46 must-have guitar items, essential accessories, clever gadgets and instruments for every budget
