Don Felder says playing the Hotel California solo note-for-note is his “obligation” to Eagles fans
The guitarist doesn’t take the task of playing the iconic solo lightly
Latest News
Don Felder says playing the Hotel California solo note-for-note is his “obligation” to Eagles fans
The guitarist doesn’t take the task of playing the iconic solo lightly
How Keith Urban found Clarence, the Telecaster that's still his number one
Urban looks back on the origin story of his 1989 Fender 40th Anniversary Telecaster, which has defined his guitar tone and playing style
Gibson Garage Vegas offers chance to make a whole different kind of drunken decision on the strip
The firm’s rapid retail expansion continues with the news that the fourth Gibson Garage is on its way
Bob Dylan recruits Jimmie Vaughan as blues legend becomes final guest guitarist during hectic US tour
The blues veteran becomes Dylan’s fifth guitarist of the tour
The fastest rising digital amp tech has been added to another mainstream modeler – could this be a tipping point?
It’s not the first time TONE3000 and NAM integration has been added to a modeler – but this time it’s different
Former Whitesnake guitarist Adrian Vandenberg cancels tour due to serious health issues
Vandenberg has been forced to cancel live dates after being urged by medical specialists
The Smashing Pumpkins reunite with Melissa Auf der Maur at Lollapalooza
Billy Corgan and co. balanced nostalgia with their more recent era at their first Lollapalooza set since 1994
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Artists
“I’d love to go and see him but I probably wouldn't stay for the whole concert”: What Jeff Beck thought about Eddie Van Halen
Beck shared his thoughts on the Van Halen school of guitar back in 1985
The 25 Stratocaster players who revolutionized the guitar
The Fender Stratocaster would just be a glorified carpentry project without the players who danced across its neck and gave it life. Here we celebrate 25 of the best
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The Edge has never been impressed by players who try to imitate his sound
The U2 guitar icon discussed the value of developing your own voice during a 1996 interview
“All I was using was one Fender Twin Reverb, which I stole off Bob Marley… I had it turned up to 10 the whole time”: Stolen amps and punk rivalry – inside the making of the Sex Pistols’ Never Mind the Bollocks
Guitarist Steve Jones reflects on the making of the Pistols' incendiary studio album, Johnny Rotten's overdub myths, and why they had to keep Sid Vicious away from the studio
Blondie's Chris Stein on his greatest (and strangest) guitar shopping spree
Blondie’s days in rugged CBGB’s were many chart-topping hits behind them in 1980, when Stein told GW about the time he and his bandmates got themselves into an unassuming dream guitar store...
Bassist Tim Bogert on why Beck, Bogert & Appice fell short despite its all-star lineup
The second track on the trio’s only studio album showcases Bogert’s freewheeling bass playing – even if he believed the band never lived up to its immense potential
Angus Young on his favorite Gibson SG from his collection – and the hunt to find a replacement
The AC/DC guitar hero has tried getting copies made to no avail
Gear
Best FRFR speakers 2026: transparent tone for multi-effects and amp modelers
Get the most out of your digital modeler with the best FRFR speakers, from on-the-go options to arena-filling mammoths
"It can go from barely there room sound to a drawn-out blooming reverberance": JHS 3 Series Reverb review
This budget reverb pedal delivers impressive tones, a handy pre-delay switch, and an ultra-rugged build quality, all for just $99
“A clever expanding pedalboard that solves a real gigging problem, but it isn’t without practical compromise”: D'Addario XPND 1 Core pedalboard review
D’Addario’s XPND range brings telescopic pedalboard expansion with a rugged design built for real-world use – but is it genuinely practical, or just clever engineering?
“Not your average digital delay by any means”: Beetronics Pollinator Hazee Delay review
Beetronics cross-pollinates delay and modulation to create textural sounds that blur the boundaries between them
Meet the 1968 Gibson Super 400 that was customized for Merle Travis – the ultimate artist’s guitar (even if the materials aren’t that great)
With a thinner neck and P-90s instead of humbuckers, this is the kind of unicorn that pops up very rarely on the vintage guitar market
How George Harrison fell in and out of love with the Tele he played at the Beatles’ final performance
George Harrison’s heavyweight prototype Fender shaped the late-era Beatles sound, and later passed through the hands of Delaney Bramlett and, briefly, Jerry Garcia
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"The build quality is superb, it plays like a dream": Sire Larry Carlton S7 Ash Top review
With a raft of premium features, Sire's super value-for-money S-style makes a concrete case for dodging the big brands
"Any aspiring dirt purveyor worth their salt will naturally gravitate toward the HalfLife’s crushing wall of sound" EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) HalfLife Octave Distortion & Booster review
EQD’s HalfLife pedal delivers the droned, bottom-heavy fury inspired by Sunn O))) with uncompromising force
Lessons
How to install LR Baggs’ HiFi Duet acoustic pickup – and yes, we’re gonna drill a hole in Chris Buck’s guitar
Chris Buck bought a new acoustic for tour, but he needed a pickup installed. Enter Huw Price and his drill
Why muting the low E string is one of the most important lessons any beginner guitarist can learn
Learning to mute individual strings makes all the difference when mastering your first guitar chords
Spiritbox’s Mike Stringer on how extended-range guitars open up new possibilities with chord voicings
Mike Stringer's progressive metal masterclass continues as he teaches you how to play Spiritbox’s Tsunami Sea
Charlie Starr on how to turn a simple, catchy riff into a killer song
The Blackberry Smoke guitarist pays tribute to the power of the almighty riff in his latest GW lesson
How to build a compelling rhythm guitar part with triads
Confused about triads? They are just chords with three notes, and as Corey Congilio demonstrates here, they can be the building block of a great guitar part
If you learn one thing from Buddy Guy it should be this
Get that Buddy Guy-like phrasing by mastering his signature style: rhythmic on-grid and off-grid phrasing
Switching guitar chords is one of the hardest parts of learning. This exercise will help you master changing chords faster
Beginner guitarists, this is your fast track to nailing those chord changes in time with the music
Reviews
"It can go from barely there room sound to a drawn-out blooming reverberance": JHS 3 Series Reverb review
This budget reverb pedal delivers impressive tones, a handy pre-delay switch, and an ultra-rugged build quality, all for just $99
“A clever expanding pedalboard that solves a real gigging problem, but it isn’t without practical compromise”: D'Addario XPND 1 Core pedalboard review
D’Addario’s XPND range brings telescopic pedalboard expansion with a rugged design built for real-world use – but is it genuinely practical, or just clever engineering?
“Not your average digital delay by any means”: Beetronics Pollinator Hazee Delay review
Beetronics cross-pollinates delay and modulation to create textural sounds that blur the boundaries between them
"The build quality is superb, it plays like a dream": Sire Larry Carlton S7 Ash Top review
With a raft of premium features, Sire's super value-for-money S-style makes a concrete case for dodging the big brands
"Any aspiring dirt purveyor worth their salt will naturally gravitate toward the HalfLife’s crushing wall of sound" EarthQuaker Devices Sunn O))) HalfLife Octave Distortion & Booster review
EQD’s HalfLife pedal delivers the droned, bottom-heavy fury inspired by Sunn O))) with uncompromising force
“Every note comes out with punch and clarity. You could immediately slot it into a mix”: Ibanez Mode MDM1300 review
Ibanez takes on the boutique-styled ‘super Jazz’ market – has it cracked it?
“Strangely unique after all these years”: Danelectro Dan O Cool and Dan O Mano review
Danelectro presents a pair of far-from-historically-correct Short Horns. Where to start?
Buying Guides
Best FRFR speakers 2026: transparent tone for multi-effects and amp modelers
Get the most out of your digital modeler with the best FRFR speakers, from on-the-go options to arena-filling mammoths
Best guitar plugins 2026: my top plugins to level up your recorded guitar tones
Get better guitar tones for recording and practice with my pick of the best guitar amp plugins
Best bass preamp pedals 2026: consistently great tone, wherever you are
Unlock bass preamp power with our expert picks from Orange, Ampeg, Electro Harmonix and more…
Best acoustic guitar pickups 2026: electrify your acoustic with our expert picks
Whether it be for performing live or recording at home, the best acoustic guitar pickups from LR Baggs, Fishman and others will help you enhance your tone
Best online guitar lessons 2026: I tested 20+ apps and sites to help you play faster, smarter, and cheaper
Learning guitar online is cheaper and more flexible than traditional tuition, but only if you choose the right platform. Together with Guitar World’s expert team, I’ve put the top lesson sites to the test for every budget, genre, and skill level, including a fantastic free option
Best electric guitars 2026: our top picks for every playing style, ability and budget
Useful buying advice and our expert pick of the best electric guitars for newcomers to pro players
Best beginner electric guitars 2026: top electric models for new players, reviewed and demoed by experts
So you're a budding guitarist? Get started with our pick of the best beginner electric guitars from Squier, Yamaha, and Epiphone
