Latest articles by Richard Barrett
This Gary Moore lesson teaches you two sides to the late blues icon’s playing
The flagship amp from Boss’s latest iteration of the Katana series boasts some impressive-sounding features, for use from sofa to stage
Breaking these well-known chord shapes down into single notes or triads creates a road map for experimentation, improvisation and an escape route from cliched licks
How can Mesa/Boogie possibly have improved on the Mark V so much that it skipped the Mark VI? Join us as we plug in and find out
Players such as David Bowie and Joni Mitchell have deployed alternate voicings to great effect in their songwriting, and they can be a powerful songwriting tool to have under your belt
Aspiring film soundtrack artists, apply within, because with high drama, sometimes you need something more exotic than an open G...
Here are four tabbed out examples of how Gilmour’s approach changed the way we play the blues, and it’ll whip your phrasing and feel into shape
Tritone substitutions are jazz theory 101 – and you don't need a degree from Berklee to put them into practice
Expand your guitar vocab with chord ideas for Double Drop D, Open G, DADGAD, Open D and Open C tunings, favorite tunings for Keith Richards, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Page and more
The Asus2(addb5) might sound mind-boggling, but it's easy to play, sounds fascinating, and is one of five voicings to add to your chord vocabulary
The Be-Bop Deluxe icon invites us into his guitar-packed home to talk about his endless drive to write and record, his six-string war stories, and why he hasn’t used guitar amps for years
By incorporating open strings, you can give your chords more color and keep the ear interested. Here are five voicings that are certified fresh
These 15 must-learn licks take you from blues guitar's acoustic beginnings to its electric present day
These jazz-inspired chords will class up any set. Simply add to the conclusion of your jam, et voila!
A key influence on SRV classics such as Scuttle Buttin', Lonnie Mack's trailblazing style is worth another look
Simply rearranging the notes can make basic chords sound infinitely more exciting
As November 2023 would have marked Alan Murphy’s 70th birthday, we look back at the man and his music, with personal recollections from the collaborators who knew him best
It is all too easy to fall into familiar patterns when playing, but these five triads prove that it's just as easy to break out of them and find a fresh perspective on your playing
Step away from your usual scales by peppering your leads with some smart new chord shapes
What is a contrasting open chord? It's simply an open chord that combines high-fretted notes and open strings, and it can be used to great effect on acoustic or electric guitar
These major-sounding blues ideas are ideal for those situations where you've only got the drummer and bass player for company
Here are five ideas to get started with DADGAD tuning, so you can get on with the important business of writing the next Kashmir
Get more out of the guitarist’s favorite scale and make it sound fresh again by learning how the notes relate to each other and their underlying chords
