Christopher Scapelliti

Christopher Scapelliti

Christopher Scapelliti is editor-in-chief of Guitar Player (opens in new tab) magazine, the world’s longest-running guitar magazine, founded in 1967. In his extensive career, he has authored in-depth interviews with such guitarists as Pete Townshend, Slash, Billy Corgan, Jack White, Elvis Costello and Todd Rundgren, and audio professionals including Beatles engineers Geoff Emerick and Ken Scott. He is the co-author of Guitar Aficionado: The Collections: The Most Famous, Rare, and Valuable Guitars in the World (opens in new tab), a founding editor of Guitar Aficionado magazine, and a former editor with Guitar World, Guitar for the Practicing Musician and Maximum Guitar. Apart from guitars, he maintains a collection of more than 30 vintage analog synthesizers.

Articles by: Christopher Scapelliti

Photo of James HETFIELD and METALLICA and Jason NEWSTEAD and Lars ULRICH and Kirk HAMMETT; L-R: Jason Newstead, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield performing live onstage.

The greatest rock concerts in music history

By Richard Bienstock last updated

From Metallica's Damaged Justice to Ozzy Osbourne's Diary of a Madman tour, Guitar World presents the most incredible concerts and roadshows in rock and metal history

The Beatles perform at Dodger Stadium on August 28, 1966 in Los Angeles, California

The Beatles' Revolver: a comprehensive guide to the guitars and recording equipment the Fab Four used to make the landmark album

By Christopher Scapelliti published

GW dissects the album that changed the band's musical trajectory, and that of pop music as a whole

The Beatles

The Beatles' 50 greatest guitar songs

By Christopher Scapelliti, Damian Fanelli, Jimmy Brown published

Charting George Harrison, John Lennon and Paul McCartney's very best six-string moments from the Fab Four's sprawling catalog

How Chuck Schuldiner pioneered the sound of death metal and became its spiritual guide

By Christopher Scapelliti published

The life and times of the visionary Death guitarist who set the blueprint for an entire genre

A guide to the recording equipment, songs and instruments featured on The Beatles' Abbey Road

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Revisit a masterpiece with Guitar World's complete guide to the creation of Abbey Road

Watch Les Paul Reveal Why He Never Liked the Gibson SG

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Les Paul discusses why he wasn't too fond of Gibson's decision to give his namesake model a sleeker look

Ritchie Blackmore, David Gilmour, Brian May and Others Play "Smoke on the Water" in 1989

By Christopher Scapelliti published

One of the greatest guitar hero gatherings of all time.

Hear Van Halen Cover the Who and Black Sabbath in 1978

By Christopher Scapelliti published

You can hear the covers in this rare recording from the band's first Paris concert.

These Two Magic Fusion Chords Work with Any Bass Note

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Learn some movable magic chords and how you can use them.

Hear Terry Kath’s Isolated Guitar from Chicago's “25 or 6 to 4”

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Hear Terry Kath's searing, isolated guitar work on one of Chicago's biggest hits.

Jeff Beck: “Why My Strat Always Beats a Les Paul”

By Christopher Scapelliti published

“My Strat is another arm, it’s part of me."

Paul Gilbert: “Why My String Gauges Are Changing All the Time”

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Paul Gilbert on why he's constantly changing up his string gauges.

Is This the Mother of All Finger Exercises?

By Christopher Scapelliti published

See if you can perform this drill.

Steve Vai: How to Unlock Your Creative Potential

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Steve Vai is not just a virtuoso guitarist—he’s also a deep thinker who integrates his philosophical outlook into every aspect of his life, including, and especially, his music.

This Stevie Ray Vaughan Technique Can Help You Nail His Style

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Pick up a whole bunch of cool SRV techniques.

Meet a Fake Les Paul Worth More Than Your Car

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Despite being a replica, this guitar commands tens of thousands of dollars on the market.

Pete Townshend on stage, 1972

The Who: Pete Townshend talks Tommy, Quadrophenia, Who's Next and more

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Revisit a classic 2009 Guitar World interview with Pete Townshend

Watch the Beatles in Rare 1963 Color Clip from Before Their U.S. Arrival

By Christopher Scapelliti published

A rare, pre-Ed Sullivan clip of The Beatles in color and with high-quality audio.

Five Simple Minor Pentatonic Hacks That Open Up the Fretboard

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Make your pentatonic lines come to life with fresh and unexpected sounds.

Hear Eddie Van Halen shred for five minutes at 1984 soundcheck

By Christopher Scapelliti published

A rare glimpse of Eddie Van Halen warming up

The Little-Known Pentatonic Modal Trick

By Christopher Scapelliti published

A great technique for helping guitarists get their heads and fingers around modal playing.

A Guide to The Beatles' 'Sgt. Pepper' Guitars and Gear

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Guitar World's in-depth study of the gear and guitars used to record one of the greatest albums of all time.

50 Classic Wah Riffs from 50 Years in One Take

By Christopher Scapelliti last updated

50 of the most classic wah riffs in a single take.

Five Ways a Compressor Pedal Can Change Your Sound

By Christopher Scapelliti last updated

A compressor pedal can be one of the most valuable tools you can have in your setup.

Four Easy Guitar Solos for Beginners

By Christopher Scapelliti published

Four easy solos that every beginner should learn.

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