Janelle Borg
Janelle is a staff writer at GuitarWorld.com. After a long stint in classical music, Janelle discovered the joys of playing guitar in dingy venues at the age of 13 and has never looked back. Janelle has written extensively about the intersection of music and technology, and how this is shaping the future of the music industry. She also had the pleasure of interviewing Dream Wife, K.Flay, Yīn Yīn, and Black Honey, among others. When she's not writing, you'll find her creating layers of delicious audio lasagna with her art-rock/psych-punk band ĠENN.
Latest articles by Janelle Borg

Nita Strauss reveals how Yvette Young inspired one of her favorite riffs she’s ever written
By Janelle Borg published
Strauss demonstrates a tapping and hammer-on/pull-off-heavy riff that featured on her 2023 album, The Call of the Void

Former Smashing Pumpkins bassist Nicole Fiorentino on how she landed her role in Garbage – with no audition
By Janelle Borg published
Fiorentino continues the trend of former Pumpkins bassists delivering the low-end for both bands

Pop star Lizzo is set to play rock guitar pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe in an upcoming biopic – and has been filmed jamming on a Suhr at shows
By Janelle Borg published
The movie – Rosetta – will focus on a significant period in Tharpe's life, culminating in her first stadium show which doubled as a wedding

Melissa Etheridge on how she came to own a “museum quality” Fender from Norman's Rare Guitars – which she played at the 2005 Grammys
By Janelle Borg published
Since then, Etheridge has become a true disciple of the iconic guitar store – adding even more vintage guitars to her collection

When she was just a teenager, Lindsay Ell was playing blues with Buddy Guy – and being mentored by Randy Bachman
By Janelle Borg published
The Canadian singer-songwriter was recently handpicked by Shania Twain as her lead guitarist and recently reflected on her early guitar mentors

Longtime Mike Campbell sideman Jason Sinay on how he ended up playing with his hero after spotting him in the crowd
By Janelle Borg published
Sinay has jammed with his fair share of bonafide music legends – but admits he was starstruck when the Godfather of Grunge asked to play with him

Paul ‘Wags’ Wagstaff, guitarist for Happy Mondays, Black Grape and Paris Angels, has died aged 60
By Janelle Borg published
Wagstaff was a key figure in Manchester's thriving “Madchester” scene in the '80s and '90s

How a Beatle helped Hans Zimmer conquer his stage fright with some priceless advice
By Janelle Borg published
Turns out even a film composer extraordinaire needs a little help from his friends…

Steven Wilson on why guitarists need to switch up their tones to prevent their solos sounding stale
By Janelle Borg published
Alongside guitarist Randy McStine, the musical polymath took a tone-first approach to composing – and playing – solos on his new album, The Overview

Vicki Peterson on the invaluable lessons she learned with The Bangles – and how she stopped worrying about her guitar playing
By Janelle Borg published
The Bangles' guitarist and co-founder shares nuggets of wisdom on how to avoid overthinking your guitar playing in a live setting

The time Mike Campbell asked George Harrison to take over his own guitar solo
By Janelle Borg published
Campbell recalls rejecting his own solo on the Traveling Wilburys' debut single – and why Harrison's playing style was a better fit

After a decade playing together in Dead & Company, John Mayer and Bob Weir reveal the invaluable lessons they’ve learned from each other
By Janelle Borg published
The veteran guitarist and Slow Dancing In a Burning Room hitmaker also set the record straight on whether we can expect a Dead & Company studio album anytime soon

Joe Satriani reveals the Eddie Van Halen guitar parts he found most difficult to play
By Janelle Borg published
Satch also discusses his years-long search for the quintessential Van Halen tone

Fender adds new period-accurate Stratocaster and Telecaster to its American Vintage II roster – plus stunning new finishes for existing models
By Janelle Borg published
The new models continue to honor the series' ethos of producing the highest-quality, period-accurate guitars from Fender's golden years of craftsmanship

Scott Ian on going from a lifelong Black Sabbath fan to playing their final show thanks to Tom Morello
By Janelle Borg published
The Anthrax co-founder teases what we can expect from this July's heavy metal extravaganza

Ace Frehley sets the record straight on his multiple departures from Kiss
By Janelle Borg published
Frehley has dispelled the decades-long rumors that he was fired from the legendary band

John Fogerty deploys Eddie Van Halen-style two-hand tapping on an Ibanez RG in unlikely guitar practice video
By Janelle Borg published
Even veteran guitarists have to keep their chops up

Willow Smith reveals the unassuming album – and actor – that inspired her to pick up the guitar
By Janelle Borg published
The actor's sole studio album to date – which takes a very DIY and low-key approach – captured Smith's imagination, so much so that she decided to fully dive deep into all things guitars

Peter Frampton called Grace Bowers his favorite new guitarist. Now they’ve collaborated on a Beatles classic with Trey Anastasio
By Janelle Borg published
The three guitarists delivered a masterclass in soloing on this 10-minute-plus rendition

After playing Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown, Monica Barbaro claims she is a guitar player for life
By Janelle Borg published
After learning the instrument for the once-in-a-lifetime role, Barbaro is now taking her guitar journey beyond the screen and into her day-to-day life

Matchless Amplifiers and Bad Cat Amps luminary Mark Sampson has passed away
By Janelle Borg published
Sampson had recently returned to Bad Cat, and was even involved in launching the Era 30 tube amp at this year's NAMM

How Nathan East managed to make his bass sound like a guitar on these Kenny Loggins hits
By Janelle Borg published
East discloses the nifty technique that bassists can use in lieu of adding actual guitars to a track

February 2025 Guitar World Editors’ Picks
By Michael Astley-Brown published
A round-up of the best new guitar releases from the month of Feb, with new cuts from Sam Fender, Tash Sultana, Los Pirañas, and... Buddy Guy and Switchfoot?
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