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
Martin Barre explains why his early days with Jethro Tull were a trial by fire
By Janelle Borg published
Jethro Tull went on tour with Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and Vanilla Fudge right after Barre joined the band
The Band's Jim Weider on how he bagged his career-defining Fender Telecaster
By Janelle Borg published
After spending years searching for his dream '52 Telecaster, Weider describes how he finally managed to get his hands on the one that would accompany him throughout his illustrious career
Brian May explains why he was reluctant to share a solo with Billy Gibbons – and what changed his mind
By Janelle Borg published
May and Gibbons were recruited by session icon Steve Cropper to add their guitar star power to his latest release, Friendlytown
Yes, Rick Rubin played the opening riff on Beastie Boys’ No Sleep Till Brooklyn – he looks back at recording a classic
By Janelle Borg published
While Kerry King's searing solo is the star of the show, Rubin sets the tone with his rhythm guitar work on the iconic rap rock track
Olivia Rodrigo guitarist Daisy Spencer reveals how a stroke of good luck landed her the 1972 Fender Strat she plays onstage
By Janelle Borg published
Spencer is currently touring the world as Olivia Rodrigo's rhythm guitarist – and the 1972 Fender Strat is one of the many guitars in her arsenal
George Benson is selling his studio-and-tour-used rare and vintage guitars
By Janelle Borg published
The jazz icon's Reverb collection includes his Gibson Johnny Smith, which he played on the 1976 triple-platinum album Breezin'
“I don’t think he was very happy about the situation”: Crowded House’s Neil Finn on replacing Lindsey Buckingham in Fleetwood Mac
By Janelle Borg published
Finn also discusses the challenge of learning the guitar and vocal parts of iconic Fleetwood Mac songs like Go Your Own Way
Watch Neil Young and John Mayer trade solos in a ferocious rendition of Rockin’ In The Free World with Stephen Stills
By Janelle Borg published
Young and Stills performed a 13-song set brimming with classics, including a song they haven't performed in over 50 years, and another one that was never actually recorded
Joe Bonamassa fits a budget Squier Tele with his new Seymour Duncan 1950 Broadcaster pickups – and tests it against the vintage Fender original
By Janelle Borg published
The new signature pickups are modeled after Joe Bonamassa's Broadcaster – the very rare Tele predecessor, of which only 250 were made
Yasmin Williams on how Guitar Hero shaped her lap-tapping technique
By Janelle Borg published
The fingerstyle virtuoso reveals how the video game inspired her to flip her acoustic onto her lap and fingertap
Blues veteran Sue Foley on why turnarounds are essential to any great blues solo
By Janelle Borg published
Foley names T-Bone Walker, Freddie King and Eddie Taylor as turnaround masters and demonstrates a number of key approaches that blues guitarists should add to their toolkit
Brian May is back on stage following a recent minor stroke
By Janelle Borg published
May attended the Red Special Convention in the UK, and treated attendees to a special performance on his trusty guitar
Super-producer Raphael Saadiq on why it's challenging to be the lead singer and play bass simultaneously
By Janelle Borg published
Saadiq reveals that while he played on Tony! Toni! Toné! records, he felt like he could never sing while playing bass live due to rhythmic differences
Super-producer Andrew Watt reveals his secret to convincing music legends to collaborate
By Janelle Borg published
From recruiting Paul McCartney and Elton John to play on the latest Rolling Stones album, to scoring a global hit with Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, Watt has quickly established himself as an artist matchmaker
Al Di Meola on why he opts to practice on an acoustic guitar – even when preparing for electric-heavy tours
By Janelle Borg published
Di Meola says a nylon guitar's response time is slower than that of an electric, which forces the player to work harder, especially when executing fast phrases
Fontaines D.C. guitarist Carlos O'Connell reacts to playing Rory Gallagher's prized guitars
By Janelle Borg published
O'Connell also tries out Gallagher's 1959 Silvertone, 1963 Epiphone Coronet and 1968 Martin D-35 ahead of the much talked-about auction
Jared James Nichols reveals how he developed his unique fingerstyle technique – and the perks of going pick-less
By Janelle Borg published
Nichols also demonstrates how to achieve optimum attack and dynamics with his fingerstyle technique, which was inspired by Albert King, Derek Trucks and Mark Knopfler
Serj Tankian reveals he has a Gibson signature model on the way
By Janelle Borg published
The System of a Down frontman discusses his penchant for Gibsons, particularly Les Pauls, and elaborates on what we can expect from his signature model
Joe Bonamassa throws his support behind the movement to keep Rory Gallagher's famous Strat in Ireland
By Janelle Borg published
Bonamassa was previously rumored to be one of the big-name guitar collectors interested in bidding on Gallagher's 1961 Strat
How Elton John and Hall & Oates guitarist Caleb Quaye ended up inheriting the Led Zeppelin legend’s studio work
By Janelle Borg published
Jimmy Page decided to quit his lucrative career as a session guitarist in favor of joining the Yardbirds, and Quaye was right on time to take his spot
Yvette Young explains why she's rebooting her a solo career – and redefining her guitar playing along the way
By Janelle Borg published
Young is temporarily putting aside Covet to lean into different facets of her guitar playing, focusing less on virtuosity and more on melody-driven composition
America's Got Talent sensation Maya Neelakantan gifted a rare prototype of the late Slayer guitarist's signature model by his wife
By Janelle Borg published
Neelakantan was handed an ESP LTD Jeff Hanneman Tribute 2014 – of which only 666 guitars were made
Why Gen Z guitar star Beabadoobee’s chords have confused her fellow guitarists – but won over Rick Rubin
By Janelle Borg published
Beabadoobee, aka Beatrice Laus, recently landed a number one album in her native UK, but her fondness for My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth and Elliott Smith has spawned a guitar style that has confounded her fellow players
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