
Chris Bird
Chris was Editor of Total Guitar magazine from 2020 until its closure in 2024, when he became Lesson Editor for Guitar World, MusicRadar and Guitar Player. Prior to taking over as Editor, he helmed Total Guitar's world-class tab and tuition section for 12 years, helping thousands of guitarists learn how to play the instrument. A former guitar teacher, Chris trained at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in Guildford, UK, and held a degree in Philosophy & Popular Music. During his career, Chris interviewed guitar legends including Brian May and Jimmy Page, while championing new artists such as Yungblud and Nova Twins. Chris was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in April 2024 and died in May 2025.
Latest articles by Chris Bird

Best guitar capos 2025: top choice capos for acoustic and electric guitar
By Chris Bird last updated
A capo is a great way to boost your creativity on the instrument. Here’s our expert picks for electric and acoustic guitar, ukulele, 12-string and beyond

Beginners guitar lesson #1: How to hold the guitar, pick strings and fret your first note!
By Chris Bird published
The very basics of guitar playing, from holding your guitar to using a pick and fretting your first note

Best acoustic guitars under $500 2025: get more for your money
By Chris Bird last updated
These sub-$500 acoustic guitars are ideal for everything from folk and indie guitar to blues and country

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 390
By Chris Bird published
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 390

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 389
By Chris Bird published
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 389

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 388
By Chris Bird published
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 388

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 387
By Chris Bird published
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 387

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 386
By Chris Bird published
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 386

How to play Sweet Home Alabama on guitar
By Chris Bird published
Learn one of the most iconic guitar intros of all time from this Lynyrd Skynyrd classic

Fender currently makes over 100 Stratocasters – here’s how to choose the Strat that’s right for you
By Chris Bird published
Stratocasters explained: from pickups to bodies, necks to hardware, this is what you need to consider when buying a Fender Strat

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 385
By Chris Bird published
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 385

“Its simplicity makes it a compelling, easy-to-use pedal”: Sheeran Looper + review
By Chris Bird published
Is Ed Sheeran’s signature pedal a dream for the one-man jam band?

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 384
By Chris Bird published
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 384

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar's Guitar Heroes
By Chris Bird published
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar's Guitar Heroes

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 383
By Chris Bird published
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 383

Best guitar tuners 2025: chromatic, polyphonic, and strobe options
By Chris Bird last updated
Find the best guitar tuner whatever your budget, with our top picks from the likes of Boss, Korg, TC Electronic and D’Addario

“Freddie was a good riffmeister! He was a devotee of Jimi Hendrix. People think he was just concerned with the lighter stuff but it’s not true. He did enjoy the heavy stuff”: Brian May reveals the inside stories behind 13 classic Queen tracks
By Chris Bird published
In a world-exclusive interview, Brian May takes you behind the scenes of the making of 13 iconic Queen cuts, and reveals what inspired his magical guitar playing in Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now and many more

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 382
By Chris Bird published
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 382

How to master CAGED guitar chords and unlock the fretboard
By Chris Bird published
The CAGED guitar system is a speedy route to fretboard mastery – and you'll learn some cool new chords along the way

“I still don’t find it easy! It’s one of the most unnatural riffs to play you could possibly imagine”: Brian May finds Bohemian Rhapsody difficult to perform – and he points the blame at “riffmeister” Freddie Mercury
By Phil Weller published
The Queen guitarist has called it “the most unnatural riff to play” and says even now he has to battle with adrenaline when he plays it live

Are you taking an honest look at your technique before you practice? By working on the fundamentals, you’ll get much more out of your routine
By Chris Bird published
Your technique will improve tenfold if you know which areas of your playing need most attention. Follow our checklist to see where you can get better

“It’s probably the only time in my career I bowed out, because I knew it was going to be a fight… most of that heavy guitar was lost”: Brian May says David Bowie removed his electric guitar riffs on Under Pressure – and he never liked the results
By Matt Parker published
The Queen guitar legend says the song originally sounded more like a Who-style rocker, but Bowie had other ideas…

On sale now! Inside the new issue of Total Guitar: Queen's Greatest Songs Track By Track – By Brian May
By Chris Bird published
Also in issue 381! Interviews: Yard Act, Sleater-Kinney, Ihsahn and more. Reviews: New gear from Gibson, Fender, Shergold and more. Learn songs by Queen, Bring Me The Horizon and U2
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