Articles by: Amit Sharma

H.E.R.: "I play melodies that feel closer to what a singer would do, as opposed to a guitar player"

By Amit Sharma

The Grammy-winning RnB singer-songwriter on feel over theory, the enduring genius of Jimi Hendrix and the creation of her stunning new signature Fender Stratocaster

Jimi Hendrix: paying tribute to the ultimate guitar hero, 50 years on

By Amit Sharma

On the 50th anniversary of his death, Total Guitar celebrates the life and art of the greatest guitar player that ever lived

The best Stratocasters 2020: expert advice on the best Fender Strats around

The best Stratocasters 2020: expert advice on choosing the best Fender Strat for you

By Amit Sharma

These are the best Fender Stratocasters for every budget and playing style

Best pickups for metal 2020: our guide to upgrading for high gain heaven

By Amit Sharma

Looking for more firepower? Our round-up of the best pickups for metal guitarists has you covered…

How Grey Daze's Cristin Davis and an all-star line-up honored Chester Bennington's legacy with Amends

By Amit Sharma

Page Hamilton, Chris Traynor and Korn's Head and Munky pitched in to help Davis finish what the Linkin Park vocalist started

Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil: ”I like my Strat to sound like someone losing their mind and clawing at the door”

By Amit Sharma

The guitar-toting frontman talks new gear discoveries, why the Boss Metal Zone continues to thrill, and the enduring influence of Soundgarden and Rush

Justin Hawkins on AC/DC: "There’s no left turn that leaves you disappointed. Every crescendo satisfies"

By Amit Sharma

The Darkness frontman shares his love for the most iconic fraternal guitar duo of all time - Angus and Malcolm Young - and hails “the ultimate rock riff” in Back In Black

Tom Morello: "Guitar playing has a different emphasis now – young people want to be producers before musicians"

By Amit Sharma

The Rage Against the Machine six-stringer and political activist talks the current landscape of guitardom, and his new Audible release, Tom Morello at Minetta Lane Theatre: Speaking Truth To Power Through Stories And Song

(L-R) Taylor Momsen and Ben Phillips of The Pretty Reckless

Taylor Momsen: "Guitars are like people. The longer they've been in your life the better"

By Amit Sharma

The Pretty Reckless leader remembers Chris Cornell, and goes deep on the guitars, gear and creation of the band's star-studded upcoming album, Death By Rock And Roll

Curt Chambers: "I've always loved matching the energy in hip-hop with aggressive guitar playing"

By Amit Sharma

The sought-after session man on playing with Eminem, Dr. Dre and Travis Barker, and how a 50th Anniversary Fender Strat Reissue shaped new solo single, Good Thing

Shaun Morgan: "Grunge guitarists are really good players, but they put aside finesse for the sake of emotion"

By Amit Sharma

The Seether frontman on rock music's place in South Africa, why he switched from Schecter to Ernie Ball Music Man and new album, Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum

4 signs your guitar strings need replacing

By Amit Sharma

...plus 5 ways to extend the life of your strings, and why boiling them should only be a last resort

Black Veil Brides: "We really hated the lead tones on that first album - it was exciting to go back and re-record it all"

By Amit Sharma

Jake Pitts and Jinxx wax lyrical on technique, classical influences and completely re-recording the band's debut album, Re-Stitch These Wounds

Brian May's 20 greatest guitar moments

By Amit Sharma

From Brighton Rock to Bijou, here are the Queen icon's finest songs, solos and acts of melodic genius

Dance Gavin Dance's Will Swan: "I don’t want to sound like Liam Neeson here, but I really do have a specific set of skills!"

By Amit Sharma

The pedal-keen six-stringer on feel over theory, his love for Kiesel guitars and the making of eclectic new album, Afterburner

Best Telecasters 2020: top Fender Tele electric guitars for all budgets and styles

By Amit Sharma

We pay homage to Fender's iconic electric guitar and help you figure out which is the best Telecaster for you

Fender releases 5 new short-scale offset Player Series models

By Amit Sharma

The Mustang, Mustang 90, Duo-Sonic, Duo-Sonic HS and Mustang Bass PJ officially join the Player line-up, complete with fresh finishes

Alain Johannes: "I love the immediacy of acoustic instruments but I love the crazy worlds you can create with pedals - all I’m looking for is honesty and rawness"

By Amit Sharma

The enigmatic multi-instrumentalist talks working with everyone from Chris Cornell to Mark Lanegan, and his breathtaking new solo record, Hum

Guitar Gabby: "Understanding where guitar music came from helps young black women like me, out here paving our own paths"

By Amit Sharma

The LTD-wielding guitarist talks the music business, The TxLips Band and the genius of Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Best headphones for guitar amps 2020: practice in peace with the best guitar amp headphones

By Amit Sharma

Studio cans, noise cancelling headphones… even headphones that are the amp – explore the best headphones for guitarists, from Boss, Audio-Technica, Sennheiser and more

Best electric guitars under $500: 10 epic electrics for smaller budgets

By Chris Gill, Amit Sharma, Guitar World Staff

These budget electric guitars offer fantastic tone and great playability, all within a more wallet-friendly price range

Michael Angelo Batio: "This new generation of guitarists is the best I’ve seen. They're where I was in my 20s but at the ages of 10 or even 5!"

By Amit Sharma

The thousand-notes-a-minute shred hero talks competing with younger players, effects pedal minimalism and his face-melting new album, More Machine Than Man

Ed O'Brien: "The guitar to me is like an oscillator on a synthesizer - it’s the start of a sound rather than the sound in itself"

By Amit Sharma

Total Guitar joins the six-stringer to discuss his plethora of effects pedals, the future of Radiohead and his debut solo album as EOB, Earth

Yvette Young performs live at the Ibanez PIA launch party at NAMM 2020

Yvette Young: "I feel like an outsider to the whole virtuoso guitar world... I would jokingly call my genre 'detail rock'!"

By Amit Sharma

The Covet leader and math-rock innovator goes deep on her Ibanez signature model, latest single Parachute, and how the guitar saved her life

Fiokee on how he became Africa's most in-demand guitarist and the secret to writing guitar parts that connect

By Amit Sharma

"I see the guitar as a microphone - I try to keep my melodies very simple so that everyone can understand the message"