“Maybe it was a guy on smack who got paid $50”: Funkadelic solo was one of the band’s best – but who really played it?
Guitarist Michael Hampton has weighed in on the mystery solo that can be heard on the band’s 1975 record
Latest News
“Maybe it was a guy on smack who got paid $50”: Funkadelic solo was one of the band’s best – but who really played it?
Guitarist Michael Hampton has weighed in on the mystery solo that can be heard on the band’s 1975 record
Musician's Friend walks the line with its epic Labor Day sale by slashing a whopping $6,000 off a Johnny Cash Gibson acoustic, as well as up to 60% off big-name brands
The music retail giant has dropped its Labor Day sale, and it includes insane discounts on the likes of Gibson, Epiphone, Fender, Yamaha, Music Man, and more
This year's huge Labor Day guitar deals include up to 60% off at Musician's Friend, a crazy Guitar Tricks saving and super cheap Positive Grid gear – here’s 5 essential sales to shop today
There's juicy price cuts on everything from Fender to Gibson, PRS to Sterling By Music Man and more in these massive Labor Day sales
The Holy Grail guitars you can see up close and in action in London this month
Stellar guitarists Chris Buck (Cardinal Black) and Chris Turpin (Mirador) will be playing Holy Grail electric guitars, loud and live, at the upcoming Legendary Guitars event in London. Here’s what to look out for…
Forget the fire and flames, Sweetwater just dropped an exclusive, stealthy Black Satin version of Herman Li’s PRS SE Chleo you won’t find anywhere else
The online retailer has also launched an impressive Guitar Month sale with tasty discounts on a slew of big-name brands
Marty Friedman names one of his favorite guitarists to jam with
He’s jammed with some esteemed talents, but this player is one of his favorites
How Justin Broadrick ended up playing 8-string guitar on a Phoebe Bridgers record
No, it has nothing to do with Godflesh but everything to do with how the eight-stringer gave melancholy music a super-heavy spin as Jesu
Artists
Nervosa’s Prika Amaral on her unconventional playing style and overcoming Brazil’s broken music scene
The self-taught Kramer fan on surviving unaffordable gear and substandard venues, becoming lead singer then adding a second guitarist, and blending digital with analog for definition and power
How Ralphe Armstrong unlocked Hendrix-inspired expression on one of Jean-Luc Ponty's most adventurous recordings
Armed with a Morley Wah pedal and a Maestro Bass Brassmaster, Ralphe Armstrong turned his bass into a psychedelic lead guitar
The genius of David Bowie’s guitar collabs in 9 classic tracks
Bowie’s most iconic six-string moments, featuring his all-star cast of top-tier players, from Mick Ronson to Stevie Ray Vaughan
Stone Temple Pilots bassist Rob DeLeo has experienced the death of his lead singer twice – and somehow found a way to keep playing
Rob DeLeo opens up on the loss of Scott Weiland and Chester Bennington, playing alongside Johnny Depp in Hollywood Vampires, and the ’65 P-Bass with a “fingerboard like a Rickenbacker”
Billy Duffy on staying true to the Cult’s manifesto and his vision for rock guitar
The Cult’s long-time guitarist on channelling Hendrix through a Gretsch, nailing his sound on She Sells Sanctuary, and keeping the spirit of rock alive
How the Ramones took New York punk round the world
From the Archive Starting from the repurposed CBGB’s club, and harnessing a style based on their utter inexperience, the NYC punk antiheroes rewrote a 40-year-old rule about playing guitar
Rhythm king to the stars Brian Tichy on how Led By Vultures is giving him his Dave Grohl moment
Rhythm king to the stars Brian Tichy explains how Led By Vultures is giving him his Dave Grohl moment
Gear
"It does not feel like a budget guitar": Harley Benton Fusion-T II EMG MN HT SBK review
The German budget gear brand's latest go-faster T-style is a shred machine with pro-quality appointments at a beginner's price point
What happened to Syd Barrett’s Mirror Disc Telecaster?
We investigate the many mysteries of the former Pink Floyd leader’s psychedelic guitar
The surprising history of the first-ever signature guitars, from custom builds for teachers to high-profile artists
The lure of celebrity endorsement has long been present in the world of guitars, with early examples dating back as far as the late 19th century
Up close with Steve Lukather’s 1951 Esquire, played on sessions with Joni Mitchell and Dolly Parton
This single-pickup instrument from the early ’50s has made musical history in the hands of the Toto icon and is a rare unconverted example
"The sounds here are absolutely the cream of the crop": Eventide H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 review
With world-class, studio-grade algorithms in a pedalboard-friendly chassis, Eventide's new multi-FX is built to handle any style or genre
5 reasons why I think every guitarist should try a baritone
I challenged my preconceived ideas about this long-scale, low-tuned guitar, and what I learned has me looking at the baritone differently
Best baritone guitars 2026: extended-range guitars for all styles and budgets
Get low with my expert pick of the best baritone guitars from PRS, Gretsch, Jackson, and more
Lessons
Meet the ‘no 5’ chord – the jazz-friendly option for guitar solos
Sometimes finding the right chord is a process of subtraction. Here are five examples of how you can jazz up your chord vocab
Joe Bonamassa explains how “hiding” your guitar pick can make you a more expressive player
Want to find your voice? Switch up your pick attack and put some character into your phrasing
If you learn one thing from Angus Young it should be this…
For those about to solo, you’ll be thunderstruck with the AC/DC guitar legend’s whole lotta use of open strings
Drop D is not just for grunge and metal – Joe Bonamassa explains how he uses it for blues guitar
The blues guitar superstar unpacks his drop D approach and explains how you can use it in your own blues jams
Mastodon masterclass: Nick Johnston reveals his insane soloing techniques
Luscious legato, hot hybrid picking, busy blues bends and creative chromaticism are the trademarks of Nick Johnston. Here are five of his favorite lead approaches
Why you don’t need open tunings to play slide guitar
Blues legends like Muddy Waters often preferred playing slide in standard tuning. This lesson might convince you, too – and it makes a great introduction to slide
Country icon Dolly Parton’s ‘thumb and flick’ playing style is essential learning for acoustic players
The late music icon had a distinctive approach to country rhythm, using alternating bassline picking and bluegrass soloing techniques
Reviews
"It does not feel like a budget guitar": Harley Benton Fusion-T II EMG MN HT SBK review
The German budget gear brand's latest go-faster T-style is a shred machine with pro-quality appointments at a beginner's price point
"The sounds here are absolutely the cream of the crop": Eventide H9 Harmonizer Gen 2 review
With world-class, studio-grade algorithms in a pedalboard-friendly chassis, Eventide's new multi-FX is built to handle any style or genre
“For under $600 it does something quite special”: Gretsch Electromatic CVT Baritone review
Gretsch’s Electromatic range offers plenty for under a grand including this compelling short-scale baritone
Thorn Soundlabs Flex Series pedals review
This new range of pedals straight out of Music City, USA, is designed for flexibility – meet the Bad Cash, Silver Spurs, Black Swamp, The FreaQ, Steam and Tremonator
“Compares well with instruments costing at least twice as much”: Epiphone Marcus King Dorado review
Epiphone revives its early 1970s Japanese-made El Dorado acoustic in the form of a very special Marcus King limited-edition
“It’s staggering that a $329 bass can play like this”: Sire Marcus Miller V1 review
Marcus Miller-approved bass range gets a new baby sibling – is it worthy of the name?
"A touch-responsive, dynamic drive that reacts like a good amplifier": Warm Audio Dirty Boy Jr. Overdrive review
Warm Audio teams up with a boutique legend to bring a sought-after drive to the masses
Buying Guides
Best baritone guitars 2026: extended-range guitars for all styles and budgets
Get low with my expert pick of the best baritone guitars from PRS, Gretsch, Jackson, and more
Best Gibson SGs 2026: Our budget-spanning picks of Gibson’s famous Solid Guitar
From retro reissues to contemporary shredders, here are the best Gibson SGs on the market right now
Best overdrive pedals 2026: from mid-hump to transparent tone
My pick of the top-rated overdrive pedals will get your gain tones on point
Best cheap acoustic guitars 2026: budget acoustics with genuine pedigree
Great tone doesn’t have to break the bank – these are the best cheap acoustic guitars from Fender, Yamaha, Cort and more
Best tube amps 2026: unlock incredible tone with my pick of valve amplifiers for stage, studio or home
Plug into legendary dynamic response and organic warmth with my top-rated valve amplifiers for every budget and playing style
Best clip-on guitar tuners 2026: hit the right note with my top pick of cost-effective tuners
Whether you play acoustic, electric, or bass, these clip-on tuners offer a quick, easy, and affordable way to achieve concert pitch every time you pick up your instrument
Best FRFR speakers 2026: transparent tone for multi-effects and amp modelers
Get the most out of your modeler with my pick of FRFR speakers, from on-the-go options to arena-filling mammoths – these active speakers from Fender, Laney, IK Multimedia and more are tonally transparent beasts
