Articles by: Chris Bird

Guitar World

Chris has been the Editor of Total Guitar magazine since 2020. Prior to that, he was at the helm of Total Guitar's world-class tab and tuition section for 12 years. He's a former guitar teacher with 35 years playing experience and he holds a degree in Philosophy & Popular Music. Chris has interviewed Brian May three times, Jimmy Page once, and Mark Knopfler zero times – something he desperately hopes to rectify as soon as possible.

Articles by: Chris Bird

Duff McKagan, Axl Rose and Slash of the rock group 'Guns n' Roses' perform at the LA Street Scene on September 28, 1985 in Los Angeles, California. Slash uses a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar for the first time onstage with the band.

How to play Welcome to the Jungle on guitar

By Chris Bird published 3 February 23

Learn the legendary Guns N' Roses riff that introduced Slash to the world

Brian May on how Led Zeppelin inspired Queen: “I owe a lot to Jimmy Page”

By Matt Owen published 18 January 23

The guitar icon said he and his bandmates looked up to Led Zeppelin from a musical and industry perspective, and labelled Page “the master of the riff”

Best guitar capos 2023: 10 top choice capos for acoustic and electric guitar

By Chris Bird published 18 January 23

A capo is a great way to boost your creativity on the instrument. Here’s our top picks for electric and acoustic guitar, ukulele, 12-string and beyond

How Brian May broke a golden guitar recording rule during the tracking of Queen's debut album

By Sam Roche published 17 January 23

The guitarist talks disrupting conventional approaches to recording in the early '70s in a new interview with Total Guitar

Brian Johnson (left) and Angus Young from AC/DC perform live on stage at the Cow Palace in San Francisco on February 16, 1982.

How to play Back in Black on guitar

By Chris Bird published 13 January 23

Learn one of the greatest riffs of all time from Australian rock legends AC/DC

Singer Freddie Mercury and guitarist Brian May of Queen at the Rosemont Horizon on September 19, 1980 in Rosemont, Illinois.

Brian May: “The Face It Alone solo is very much in the moment. It’s me trying to be a voice next to Freddie's”

By Chris Bird published 23 December 22

May reveals the story behind Queen’s ‘lost’ classic – and the epic guitar solo he created for it

Close-up of an acoustic guitar laying on its side on a dark stone surface

Best acoustic guitars under $500 2023: our top picks, including acoustic-electric models

By Chris Bird published 6 December 22

These sub-$500 acoustic guitars are ideal for everything from folk and indie guitar to blues and country

Best guitar tuners 2023: The 11 best chromatic, polyphonic, and strobe options

Best guitar tuners 2023: chromatic, polyphonic, and strobe options

By Chris Bird published 8 November 22

Find the best guitar tuner whatever your budget, with our top picks from the likes of Boss, Korg, TC Electronic and D’Addario

Inside the new issue of Total Guitar: How To Play Blues – 20 Ways To Get Your Mojo Workin'

By Chris Bird published 21 October 22

Also in issue 364! Interviews: Larkin Poe, The 1975, Alter Bridge, GA-20 and Alexisonfire! Reviews: Chapman ML2 Pro, Squier 40th Anniversary Jazzmaster Gold Edition, Blackstar Dept 10 Amped 1, Electro-Harmonix J Mascis Ram’s Head Big Muff. Learn songs by AC/DC, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The White Stripes and Muddy Waters

10 easy guitar songs for beginners

By Chris Bird published 17 February 22

Just getting started on guitar? These 10 songs prove that learning guitar doesn’t have to be difficult

Split image showing a guy playing guitar in front of his laptop on the left, and a guitar teacher and student on the right

Online guitar lessons vs face to face: which is right for you?

By Chris Bird last updated 17 February 22

From cost and convenience to community and progress tracking, we weight up the pros and cons of both approaches to learning the guitar

Guitar and bassist playing live on stage

10 easy and practical tips for getting a great live guitar sound

By Chris Bird published 8 July 21

Our guide to help you create a sonic storm onstage

How to play power chords

By Chris Bird last updated 20 October 21

Beginner guitar: learn rock, metal and punk riffs using just one chord shape

Brian May goes deep on Bohemian Rhapsody: the gear, the solo and the magic of Freddie Mercury’s finest hour

By Chris Bird published 3 March 21

In a Total Guitar exclusive, the Queen guitarist reflects on BoRhap's legacy and how its orchestral majesty came together

Brian May pays tribute to his friend Eddie Van Halen: “I miss his presence in the world“

By Chris Bird published 18 December 20

“There was no one who could match him, no one who could come close. There will never be another one of him“

20 ways to play guitar like Jimmy Page

By Chris Bird last updated 16 December 20

Learn the Led Zeppelin icon's riffing and soloing approaches, tone tips and altered tunings – everything but the violin bow!

Jimmy Page: ”Whole Lotta Love was so fresh and it still is. If somebody plays that riff it brings a smile to people’s faces”

By Chris Bird published 2 December 20

A new, all-encompassing interview with the Led Zeppelin icon on his evolution as a guitarist, writing rock's greatest albums and the gear behind them

How to play guitar like 7 Fender Strat icons

By Chris Bird published 17 November 20

Master the tones and techniques of 7 legendary Stratocaster players

Jimmy Page performs live with Led Zeppelin

Jimmy Page reveals the amp he really used to record Whole Lotta Love

By Michael Astley-Brown, Chris Bird last updated 6 November 20

The guitar icon details his setup on classic Led Zeppelin albums in an exclusive new interview with Total Guitar

Cory Wong on 10 key tracks from his extraordinary run of funk guitar albums

By Chris Bird published 28 October 20

The contemporary funk master has recorded six albums in one year. Here, he outlines his musical journey in 10 tracks...

Beginner guitar: how to take your first steps with lead guitar

By Chris Bird published 11 September 20

Start your lead playing journey with TG’s easy lesson on two essentials: the minor pentatonic scale and string bends

Paying tribute to the genius of Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley is an unsung guitar hero whose genius defies categorization

By Chris Bird published 21 July 20

Total Guitar editor Chris Bird reflects on why the iconic singer-songwriter doesn't quite fit into any 'greatest guitarist' list

Brian May: "I will never claim to be a great guitarist in the sense of a virtuoso. I just try to play from my heart"

By Chris Bird last updated 9 July 20

The man recently voted greatest rock guitarist in the world reflects on his heroes and friends, finding his tone, and orchestrating guitar genius with Queen

Jack Garratt: “The guitar is a litmus test of how I am feeling”

By Chris Bird published 3 June 20

The multi-instrumentalist on SRV, juggling MIDI, and the importance of the Strat to his kaleidoscopic pop sound

Vox Cambridge 50 review

By Chris Bird last updated 19 January 22

Getting hands-on with Vox’s hybrid of valve and digital tech

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