Guitar World

David Lee Roth claims the Frankenstein’s stripes were his design, but his story just doesn't add up – here's why Chris Gill, author of Eruption: Conversations with Eddie Van Halen and EVH guitar expert, has labeled Roth’s account “a complete revisionist fabrication”

Ozzy Osbourne rates his six-string sidemen and reflects on the highs and lows of Sabbath The Prince of Darkness speaks candidly about bandmates past and present – from Randy Rhoads to Zakk Wylde – and what he looks for in a guitarist, in this classic from the GW archives

George Lynch talks fuzz, the influence of Satch, and explains why he doesn’t want it easy from his gear With his first full instrumental album, Seamless, out now, the guitar legend talks fuzz, the influence of Satch, and explains why he doesn’t want it easy from his gear

Tom Morello trades licks with Alex Lifeson and Kirk Hammett on new track I Have Seen the Way The Rage Against the Machine firebrand’s collaboration with the Rush and Metallica guitarists appears on his second album of 2021, The Atlas Underground Flood

Latest News

Slash names the things guitarists overlook when trying to play like Eddie Van Halen

By Matt Parker published 30 November 21

In a new interview, the Guns N' Roses icon has also revealed the first album that made him switch from bass to guitar

Nile Rodgers to sell over 100 guitars and basses in mammoth We Are Family Foundation charity auction

By Matt Owen published 7 December 21

The Chic legend's Hitmaker Fender Prototype Stratocaster headlines the collection, which also boasts a bass used on David Bowie's Let's Dance and a Tokai played on Daft Punk's Get Lucky

Positive Grid's Spark amp is an ideal last-minute Christmas gift idea for guitar players - save up to $160 on bundles

By Stuart Williams published 7 December 21

Spark, Spark Pearl and Spark bundle prices are still at an all-time low in the lead up to Christmas

Watch Richie Faulkner shred on Instagram Live just 10 weeks after life-saving open-heart surgery

By Sam Roche published 7 December 21

The guitarist was taken to hospital back in September after suffering an aortic aneurysm onstage with Judas Priest

Custom Shop Master Builder Carlos Lopez leaves Fender

By Matt Parker published 6 December 21

Luthier with a love for Fender’s weirder builds steps out on his own

Jimmy Page pays tribute to Led Zeppelin tour manager Richard Cole: “He was a brother and a friend to the end”

By Matt Parker published 6 December 21

Cole passed away on December 2, 2021 after being diagnosed with cancer

Keith Richards-played 1957 Gibson Les Paul Mickey Baker Deluxe, traded to Gram Parsons, goes under the hammer

By Matt Owen published 6 December 21

The uniquely wired instrument, which also had a brief stint at the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, is speculated to sell for $200,000

Tony Iommi: “One of my rock gods is Brian May… He's got a certain character that you didn't hear from anybody else”

By Matt Parker published 6 December 21

The Black Sabbath man has been discussing his admiration for the Queen guitarist and their decades-long friendship

Meet Mojo Hand FX's Sericon, a highly tweakable Klon-style drive with three gain controls

By Matt Parker published 6 December 21

Three gain stages and a low-pass filter combine to offer tons of tonal manipulation

Prince William begins his week by listening to AC/DC's Thunderstruck

By Sam Roche published 6 December 21

“The first time I put it on I thought, ‘This is quite heavy’, but now, when I listen to it, it's the best tonic for a Monday morning,” the royal says

View all

Latest Features

Best online guitar lessons 2021: our pick of remote learning platforms for guitar players

By Chris Corfield, Chris Schwarten published 20 October 21

Develop your guitar skills from the comfort of your home, with the help of these online lessons services

Why the P-90 pickup is making a comeback

By Rod Brakes published 3 December 21

Bare Knuckle Pickups founder Tim Mills details the tonal qualities that have players turning to the classic single-coil design once again

Charnett Moffett: “I try to get a lyrical, singing quality through the fretless bass. It’s a way of being in direct communication with people”

By Bass Player Staff published 3 December 21

Jazz veteran Charnett Moffett discusses his latest life-affirming album, New Love, and how Jaco Pastorius and Alphonso Johnson shaped his approach to playing

Circa Survive: "It used to be difficult not to fill up every space with guitar – this record shows how our ability to restrain ourselves has grown"

By Gregory Adams published 2 December 21

Colin Frangicetto and Brendan Ekstrom dissect their less-is-more approach on A Dream About Love and confess their newfound affinity for the Line 6 Helix

Dave Pomeroy: “Banjo bass, string bass… I did one song with nine tracks of uke bass. There are a million different ways to play the bass”

By Jamie Blaine published 1 December 21

Pomeroy has played on over 500 albums, collaborating with the likes of Sting and John Fogerty, and here he talks all things low end and how he ended up directing a bass orchestra

Mark Tremonti on finding the right guitar, the economics of Dumble amps and the Goldtop that got away

By David Mead published 1 December 21

Tremonti details his biggest gear hits and misses, and why good players sound like themselves no matter the rig

Loser’s Tim and Will Maxwell: “We were brought up on blues, but I always leant towards more of your Gary Moore sort of shred”

By Matt Doria published 30 November 21

The alt-rock luminaries in Loser are back with another slab of scintillating shred and nostalgic noise. We decipher it all with axemen Tim and Will Maxwell

The War On Drugs’ Adam Granduciel: “I’ve never strayed too far from having the amp shake the room and playing simple chords with some cool sounds”

By Ellie Rogers published 30 November 21

Granduciel discusses his long courtship of the Fender Jazzmaster, finding room for experimentation and why he loves to record with a “magical guitar”

Carlos Santana: “When I play guitar, I’m a kid with a first-class ticket to Disneyland, and I can go on any ride I want”

By Henry Yates published 30 November 21

As the guitar god returns with a new all-star collaboration album, Blessings and Miracles, he joins us to talk Strats, snakes, improv and acid…

Joe Bonamassa: “Being semi-retired for a year and a half has given me a new lease of life”

By Grant Moon published 30 November 21

The blues-rock maestro on how a no-frills recording approach didn't get in the way of his most musically ambitious record to date

Latest Lessons

10 ways to improve your live guitar playing

By Total Guitar editors published 19 August 21

Shape up your playing and focus on the skills you need to be the best live guitarist you can be

Melanie Faye performs during FORM Arcosanti 2019 at at Arcosanti Urban Laboratory on May 10, 2019 in Arcosanti, Arizona.

How to play guitar like Melanie Faye

By Simon Barnard published 7 December 21

Learn to channel Faye's unique fingerstyle technique, which fuses jazz with R&B and neo-soul

Randy Rhoads recording Ozzy Osbourne's 'Blizzard of Ozz' album at Ridge Farm Studio in West Sussex, England in May 1980

Learn Randy Rhoads' warm-up exercises and more in this complete 1982 guitar clinic

By Andy Aledort published 6 December 21

The Ozzy Osbourne guitarist himself teaches technique and the Crazy Train solo

Learn 5 ways to shred like Nuno Bettencourt with this lesson in Extreme guitar playing

By Charlie Griffiths published 2 December 21

Get the funk out with Nuno's formidable rhythm, tapping and alternate-picking licks

How to play the D chord on guitar

By Jonny Scaramanga published 2 December 21

Beginner guitar: the D chord fuels countless rock classics and pop ballads alike. Here, we break it down for you, as well as some useful variations

How to play the G chord on guitar

By Jonny Scaramanga published 25 November 21

Beginner guitar: we introduce you to one of the most commonly found chords in guitar playing, as well as some useful variations

How to combine rhythm and lead in a blues guitar solo

By Richard Barrett published 15 November 21

Add variety to your blues playing by bringing the two disciplines together in the vein of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix

Close-up of man playing E chord on electric guitar

How to play the E chord on guitar

By Jonny Scaramanga published 11 November 21

Beginner guitar: Get to grips with one of the easiest and most useful chords you'll ever learn, as well as some tasty variations

Learn 20 rock guitar licks that will elevate your solos

By Total Guitar editors published 9 November 21

Expand your lead guitar vocabulary with solo ideas in the styles of Jimi Hendrix, Joe Bonamassa, David Gilmour and many more

How to play vocal guitar solos in the style of John Mayer and Eric Clapton

By Richard Barrett published 5 November 21

A lesson in vintage '80s blues guitar, when guitars were pink, shoulder pads were big, and the melodies bigger still