Jason Sidwell

Jason Sidwell

Tuition Editor – GuitarWorld.com, GuitarPlayer and MusicRadar.com

Jason Sidwell (BA Hons, MA, ALCM) was editor of Guitar Techniques, is senior tuition editor for Guitarist and has written/edited over 25,000 printed articles since 1998. He is an advisor/guest tutor for UK music academies, a director/tutor for the International Guitar Foundation (IGF) plus author of How to Play Guitar Step by Step (Dorling Kindersley) and tutorials for The Guardian and Observer. His unique Guitar Day UK teaching events have been running for over a decade. He is also a busy classical guitarist and theatre musician, has recorded with musicians such as Steve Morse, Paul Gilbert, Andy Timmons and Marty Friedman and has a broad cliental for studio guitar work.

Latest articles by Jason Sidwell

TGR345 How to bend strings
Learning how to bend strings correctly is one of the quickest ways to make your playing sound better

By Stuart Ryan Published

String bending is a core technique for lead playing. Here's how to take it from beginner to pro

Techniques
capo at 7th fret
This easy chord trick appears on classic songs by the Beatles, the Eagles, Paul Simon and Passenger

By Stuart Ryan Published

Why the 7th fret is the magic position for your guitar capo

Techniques
Spanish musician Paco de Lucia (born Francisco Sanchez Gomez, 1947 - 2014) plays guitar during the World Music Institute 'Flamenco Festival New York 2004' concert at the Beacon Theater, New York, New York, February 27, 2004
Rasgueado is a game-changing flamenco strumming technique – and it will give your picking hand a huge turbo boost

By Declan Zapala Published

Learn the strumming style that will give your playing bravado, fire and passion

Techniques
[L-R] A composite image of Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Joel Hoekstra, Marty Friedman all taking a solo live: Bumblefoot plays his double-neck. Hoekstra has his white Les Paul Custom. Friedman wears a plaid shirt and plays his PRS signature model.
15 pro guitarists share their tips for memorizing music

By Jason Sidwell Published

We've all been there. Or worse still, you're playing, all is well, and then the mind goes blank. Here, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Joel Hoekstra, Marty Friedman, and a dozen of their fellow pros share their strategies for memorizing their parts

Musical Tips & Advice
Samantha Fish
How a former Black Crowe changed Samantha Fish’s soloing style forever

By Janelle Borg Published

Fish gives her take on what makes solos memorable – and why flashy playing doesn’t speak to the soul

Guitarists
Steve Morse
Steve Morse is the guitar virtuoso's virtuoso – and his technique masterclass will push your upper-fret bending and phrasing to the limit

By Jon Bishop Published

The former Deep Purple guitar legend checks in with an exclusive track – and tab to help you play along

Musical Tips & Advice
Steve Lukather and Jeff Beck
Steve Lukather: “I played Jeff Beck and Eddie Van Halen’s guitars – and I sounded like myself. But some of Jeff’s guitars were set up so strangely only he could play them”

By Jason Sidwell Published

In this previously unpublished interview, Lukather explains why Jeff Beck’s untouchable, “alien” approach to the guitar made him the ultimate player

Guitarists
Aaron Marshall
Intervals' Aaron Marshall takes a deep dive into his guitar-playing philosophy, and talks tones, tempos, modes and his favorite guitar instrumentals

By Jason Sidwell Published

After Wolfgang Van Halen named him his favorite guitarist right now, find out how the Canadian prog virtuoso tackles soloing, melodies, harmonies and other aspects of instrumental guitar from the man himself

Guitarists
Guthrie Govan
Guthrie Govan: why I love guitar instrumentals

By Jason Sidwell Published

The Aristocrats and Hans Zimmer virtuoso on the art of a good instrumental, the limitations of vocals, and his favorite examples of the genre

Guitarists
Nick Johnston
Nick Johnston: “The first few Yngwie Malmsteen albums still make me smile. The ferociousness of that playing is still unequaled”

By Jason Sidwell Published

The Schecter-toting virtuoso details his musical approaches, influences and how his style came together

Music Releases
Joe Satriani
20 guitar virtuosos on their favorite Joe Satriani moments

By Jason Sidwell Published

Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, Marty Friedman and more pay tribute to the maestro of instrumental guitar and give us the ultimate Satch playlist

Guitarists
John 5
John 5 shares his love of instrumental guitar music and names his favorites

By Jason Sidwell Published

Lyrics? Where John 5 is taking the electric guitar, we don’t need any lyrics. Besides, as the Rob Zombie guitarist admits, oftentimes he can’t remember them anyway

Guitarists
Paul Gilbert
Paul Gilbert gives us a track-by-track tour of his new Christmas album, ‘Twas

By Jason Sidwell Published

Forget goose: here, Mr Gilbert shares his festive recipe for perfect Christmas electric guitar, and he's putting emu picking on the menu. You might never hold a pick the same way again

Music Releases
Paul Gilbert, Steve Lukather, Marty Friedman, Kirk Fletcher, Steve Morse and Michael Landau
6 guitar pros on how to prepare your playing for tour

By Jason Sidwell Published

Paul Gilbert, Steve Lukather, Marty Friedman, Kirk Fletcher, Steve Morse and Michael Landau on how they get stage-ready

Musical Tips & Advice
Sidders
Expand your chops with this uptempo funk rhythm video lesson

By Jason Sidwell Published

Improve your funk playing with this exclusive video lesson, with tab and downloadable backing track

Lessons
Paul Gilbert
12 mind-blowing guitarists reveal the techniques they struggled to master, and how you can improve your guitar playing faster

By Jason Sidwell Published

Joe Bonamassa, Paul Gilbert, Joe Satriani and many more share the lessons they wish they'd learned sooner

Techniques
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