Alison Richter

Drawing from jazz maestros, bluegrass pioneers and virtuosos from metal and rock, these players are taking a traditional art form to the next level with technique, songcraft and soul

The son of late country-folk legend John Prine never intended to be a singer-songwriter. But playing guitar and writing was instrumental in processing his grief. He shares the lessons his father taught him and how they set him up for a life in music

With two signature guitars to his name and multiple Grammy and Emmy nominations, Becker has notched up some serious accolades over four decades in the biz. He shares the secret to a long career – and explains how social media is (and isn’t) shaping the future of jazz guitar

With five Reverend signature models to his name and credits with everyone from k.d. lang to Roy Orbison, Pete Anderson knows tone. He explains what it takes to cut it in the session guitar world, and why he’s embracing digital amps: “We don’t read by candlelight anymore!”

A session guitarist for 30 years – 25 of those with will.i.am. and co – Pajon Jr. is one of the most respected names in the biz. He shares his secrets to success, what prompted him to invent amps that don't exist with Dave Friedman, and how he ended up with a guitar rig so complicated he can't afford to fly with it

Playing guitar – and playing it live – can be hugely therapeutic. That’s certainly the case for Nita Strauss, who shares how her love for the instrument has helped her fight her demons

The Guns N’ Roses bassist and songwriter speaks candidly about how trading the bottle for playing acoustic has helped his panic attack and mental health struggles

Guitar is more than a hobby – here are 7 ways it can help you deal with the challenges life throws at you

The Finnish/English prog-metallers roll into uncharted territory with a blazing new EP and explain why it’s all about musical freedom

The Ibanez signature artist made the very public shift from Alice Cooper’s band to Demi Lovato’s band this year, but she’s so much more than “someone else’s guitar player”

The Mammoth WVH mastermind previews his next album and makes a strong case for his own selection for guitarist of the year

We pay tribute to the returning champs, the young guns breathing new life into the guitar and this year's all-round heroes of the six-string – or, in Steve Vai's case, 23-string…

The leader of the crossover rock act details his rocky road to success, how songwriting and guitar playing has helped him throughout his life – and how one of John Frusciante's Strats ended up on AWOLNATION's latest all-star covers album

Fresh off the back of his latest EP with Tommy Emmanuel, the fingerstyle acoustic virtuoso reflects on the state of the guitar in the social media age, the benefits of practicing songs in the wrong tunings, and why every solo guitarist should have an imaginary drummer

Written for vocalist Jonny Hawkins' sister, who suffers with bipolar disorder, Jenny saw considerable mainstream success, and even spawned mental health movements. Here, guitarist Mark Vollelunga and bassist Daniel Oliver reflect on how music can be "more than just frequencies"

The self-taught guitarist and multi-instrumentalist discusses his struggle with bipolar depression, and shares advice for those suffering with mental health issues

The virtuoso shares his struggles with depression, alcohol and tinnitus – and how a lifelong love of guitar playing and music helped him through it all

The Eagles bassist digs deep into his bass gear – and looks back at the days when stardom was nothing but a teenage dream

The Grammy-winning producer and guitarist for the likes of Hall and Oates, Beyoncé and Robben Ford on the art of rhythm guitar, his new A-list Ebunctions project, and why he's never owned a Les Paul

The much-loved guitar educator and Steve Vai’s touring guitarist on confronting grief, and knowing when to seek help and mental health support when you need it most

As sole guitar player on Elvis, JD Simo left no stone unturned in search of the gear to bring rock ’n’ roll history to life, but as he explains, it was a gig he had been waiting his whole life for

The King of Pop's 10-year six-string sidekick talks playing guitar in a “man's world”, what keeps her loyal to Washburn, and the players impressing her today

The virtuoso on using the guitar as an outlet for grief, depression and anxiety on his sprawling new solo album, Transcendence

One of Nashville's most in-demand session players on how he stretched his wings on new album All the Birds Sing, and the lessons learned on his path from hotshot shredder to country gun-for-hire

FoF discuss their recent resurgence, and confronting grief and mental health stigmas on their upcoming album, Sparrow Road