Chris Bird

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

Joe Bonamassa and Gary Moore
“Those were some deep demons that were trying to exorcise themselves. He played with such bad intention. Even when he was playing the quiet stuff”: Joe Bonamassa on what made Gary Moore a guitar legend – and how he got him hooked on Les Pauls

By Chris Bird Published

JoBo explains why Moore could play through anything and make it sound good, and how when you hear Sloe Gin at a Bonamassa show you're hearing the influence of blues guitar's Belfast boy

Guitarists
TGR379
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 379

By Chris Bird Published

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 379

Magazines
TGR377
Inside the new issue of Total Guitar: The 50 Greatest Rolling Stones Riffs

By Chris Bird Published

Also in issue 377! Interviews: Richard Fortus, Chris Shiflett, Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram, Blackstone Cherry, Danny Bryant and more. Reviews: New gear from Shergold, Squier, Boss, Gibson and more. Learn songs by Queen, The Police and Rival Sons

Magazines
TGR377
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 377

By Chris Bird Published

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 377

Magazines
Joe Bonamassa
The blues jam session is a rite of passage for every guitarist – here are 5 ways to improve your blues guitar solos

By Chris Bird Published

Hone your phrasing and learn how to express your musical self

Musical Tips & Advice
Drive pedals
Are your drive pedals sounding the best they could? Here are 19 ways to get more from your overdrives, distortions and fuzzes – and make them work with your rig

By Chris Bird Published

Whether you’re using overdrive, distortion, boost or fuzz, there are plenty of ways you can tweak your setup for maximum tone

Effects & Pedals
Fender Strat single-coils
Types of guitar pickups explained: learn the difference between single coils, humbuckers, P-90s and active designs

By Chris Bird Published

If the wood is the soul of the electric guitar, the pickups are the brains of the operation. We walk through the most common pickup styles and what they mean for electric guitar tone

Guitar Pickups
Guitar, amp and pedal setups
Not sure what all those guitar tone buzz words mean? Get the lowdown with our jargon-buster

By Chris Bird Published

Fuzz this, intonation that – life can be confusing for the beginner player. This handy glossary explains what some of the most commonly heard terms mean

Musical Tips & Advice
guitar and amp
Unhappy with your electric guitar sound? Start with these 5 tone tips before you try anything else

By Chris Bird, Stuart Williams Published

Because great tone begins with getting the fundamentals right, from picks and strings through to pedals

Guitars
TGR376
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 376

By Chris Bird Published

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 376

Magazines
TGR376
Inside the new issue of Total Guitar: The All-Star Masterclass

By Chris Bird Published

In issue 376: Interviews with The Darkness, Cory Wong, Sophie Lloyd, Baroness, The Hives and more; new gear from PJD, Laney, Squier, Positive Grid and EHX reviewed, and learn songs by Guns N' Roses, Nirvana and Blur!

Magazines
fingerpicking
Every guitarist wishes they were better at fingerstyle – and this lesson may make you want to ditch the pick for good

By Chris Bird Published

Whatever style of music you play, these tab workouts will improve your fingerstyle technique on both electric and acoustic guitar

Lessons
mehro
“Johnny Cash inspired me to make music. I watched Walk the Line and it changed my life. I started playing guitar that night”: mehro is a self-professed scholar of the human condition – and he channels his thoughts via intricate fingerstyle meditations

By Chris Bird Published

For rising star mehro, every song begins with an acoustic. His method? “Being open, being in tune and channeling the inspiration.” Here's how he does it...

Artists
Close up of a woman playing an acoustic guitar
There’s no such thing as an ‘acoustic guitar chord’ – but these 12 shapes sound amazing unplugged

By Chris Bird Published

Learn a dozen chords that will expand your musical vocabulary and enhance your songwriting – and the best bit? They’re not that difficult

Chords
Acoustic guitar gig
How to assemble the ultimate live acoustic guitar rig

By Total Guitar editors Published

From how to banish feedback to sweetening your tone through EQ, get yourself gig-ready now

Musical Tips & Advice
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Inside the new issue of Total Guitar: 99 Ways To Better Tone!

By Chris Bird Published

Also in issue 375! Interviews: Biffy Clyro's Simon Neil & Mike Vennart, Nothing But Thieves, Ultra Q, Saint Agnes, Grace Potter and more! Reviews: New gear from Marshall, Fender, Gibson, Gretsch and more. Learn songs by Pink Floyd, Greta Van Fleet and The Killers

Magazines
TGR375
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 375

By Chris Bird Published

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 375

Magazines
Ilpo Musto / Alamy Stock Photo
Inside the new issue of Total Guitar: The 50 Greatest Acoustic Guitar Songs Of All Time

By Chris Bird Published

Also in issue 374! Interviews: Ben Howard, Skindred, Nat Myers, mehro and more! Reviews: Blackstar Debut 50R, Dave Mustaine 2023 Flying Vs, Danelectro Blackout '59M NOS, Fender Gold Foil Telecaster, EHX Lizard Queen. Learn songs by AC/DC, The Hives and Billie Eilish

Magazines
TGR374
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 374

By Chris Bird Published

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 374

Magazines
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Inside the new issue of Total Guitar: Wolfgang Van Halen – Believe The Hype!

By Chris Bird Published

Also in issue 373! Interviews: Nita Strauss, Jake Kiszka, The Lemon Twigs and more! Reviews: Gibson Kirk Hammett Greeny Les Paul Standard, Walrus Audio Fundamental Series, EVH 5150 Iconic Series 15w 1x10 Combo, IK Multimedia TONEX Pedal, Two Notes ReVolt Guitar, Apogee Jam X. Learn songs by Kiss, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Queens Of The Stone Age.

Magazines
TGR373
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 373

By Chris Bird Published

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 373

Magazines
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Inside the new issue of Total Guitar: The Solos Issue

By Chris Bird Published

Also in issue 372! Interviews: Nuno Bettencourt, Guthrie Govan, Tigercub, Island Of Love and more! Reviews: Cort G300 Glam, DOD Reissue Pedals, Fender Tone Master Princeton Reverb combo, Walrus Audio Melee, Vox amPlug Brian May. Learn songs by Foo Fighters, Queen and Arctic Monkeys

Magazines
TGR372
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 372

By Chris Bird Published

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 372

Magazines
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Inside the new issue of Total Guitar: Stevie Ray Vaughan – The Making Of A Guitar Hero

By Chris Bird Published

Also in issue 371! Interviews: Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton, HMLTD, Indigo De Souza and more! Reviews: Charvel Jim Root Signature Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1, Marshall Reissue Pedals, Strymon Cloudburst, Epiphone 1958 Korina Explorer, Crazy Tube Circuits Unobtanium. Learn songs by Mammoth WVH, The Clash and Stevie Ray Vaughan

Magazines
TGR371
Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 371

By Chris Bird Published

Download and stream the audio from Total Guitar 371

Magazines
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