Tina Weymouth: “I know Bono used me to taunt Adam Clayton when U2 were starting out” By Gregory Isola published 26 May 23 One of the bass world’s most influential female figures talks gender stereotypes and why her small stature was “almost like a dare to boys”
Best resonator guitars 2023: our pick of the best dobro guitars for blues, bluegrass and country By Matt McCracken published 26 May 23 Release your inner hound dog with these super strummers from Gretsch, Epiphone, Fender and more
Robert Trujillo: “We have more riffs than we know what to do with. With every handful of riffs we get out of Kirk, there’s another 500 we didn’t hear” By Amit Sharma published 26 May 23 Now a 20-year veteran as Metallica bassist, Trujillo details the secret weapons that locked in with James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett's guitar tones on 72 Seasons, and the key to getting extra grit from fingerstyle bass
In 1965 Elvis Presley was playing bass guitar, with a little help from Paul McCartney By Nick Wells published 25 May 23 Paul McCartney: “He was trying to learn bass, so I was like, ‘sit down, let me show you a few things’”
7 ways playing guitar can benefit your mental health By Alison Richter published 25 May 23 Guitar is more than a hobby – here are 7 ways it can help you deal with the challenges life throws at you
Meet Xander & the Peace Pirates, the triple-guitar band discovered by an ex-Gibson CEO, featuring Liverpool's answer to Stevie Ray Vaughan By Glenn Kimpton published 25 May 23 Henry Juszkiewicz broke the UK blues-rock outfit – they explain how they balance three distinctly different guitar styles
George Lynch shows us what’s on his pedalboard By Amit Sharma published 25 May 23 Make that pedalboards, as Mr Scary reveals his fly-in ’board and his more well-stocked, Jeff Beck-inspired offering – and reveals what pedal he can’t live without
Best guitar brands 2023: Whether you’re an acoustic or electric player, these are the guitar companies you need on your radar By Daryl Robertson published 24 May 23 From Fender to Gibson, Taylor to Martin, here are 17 guitar brands you should know about
Primus's Les Claypool names 7 bassists who shaped his sound By Andrew Daly published 24 May 23 The alt-rock innovator on "one of the most underrated bass players ever", who he sees as the instrument's Jimi Hendrix and that time a low-end hero "f**king kicked my ass" in a jam
“The phone rings and it's Jaco Pastorius. He says, 'I’m in room 265, come up here and get your lesson!'” Marcus Miller on an encounter with the self-proclaimed ‘greatest bass player in the world’ By Nick Wells published 24 May 23 Marcus Miller on what he learnt from Jaco Pastorius and why replacing him in Weather Report was “a beat down waiting to happen!”
Hank Marvin: “Cavatina is such a beautiful tune to play. It was a very good moment for me to nail it in one take” By Joe Matera published 24 May 23 The hero to an entire generation of British guitarists talks embarrassing moments and his favorite Shadows recordings
Steel Panther’s Satchel: “I really like the sound of single-coil pickups. It makes me play differently and feel like I’m David Gilmour. Or Yngwie!” By Amit Sharma published 24 May 23 Steel Panther’s resident shredder discusses everything from Paul Gilbert’s picking method to super-expensive Strats, and explains why he doesn’t use amps in the studio
Session guitar legend Michael Landau reveals what it takes to play with the biggest artists of all time and explains why “Strats are the ultimate couch guitar” By Amit Sharma published 24 May 23 As Fender releases two signature Stratocasters for the session guitar hero, he reflects on recording with the likes of Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Joni Mitchell – and what it’s like to play on a Pink Floyd track in front of David Gilmour
Best bass preamp pedals 2023: consistently great tone, wherever you are By Connor Godfrey published 23 May 23 Unlock bass preamp power with our expert picks from Orange, Ampeg, Electro Harmonix and more…
Best parlor guitars 2023: compact acoustics from Martin, Yamaha, Gibson and more By Richard Blenkinsop published 23 May 23 Diminutive and with a distinctive sound, parlor guitars are the unsung heroes of the acoustic world
How Gary Rossington played through the pain to define the quintessential Southern rock sound with Lynyrd Skynyrd By Alan Paul published 23 May 23 We pay tribute to the ultimate survivor, who broke every bone in his body and still kept the music going with a style that inspired generations of players
How ditching pedals and embracing open tunings made H.C. McEntire love the guitar again By Jim Beaugez published 23 May 23 On new album Every Acre, the indie-rock stalwart's songs tell a story, given a new depth by the addition of jazz-trained guitar foil Luke Norton
Malina Moye: “The music business makes you question things, so you have to know your worth... Like Eddie Van Halen said, ‘If it sounds right, then it’s right’“ By Andrew Daly published 23 May 23 The uncompromising Strat and Flying V-loving southpaw returns with Dirty, an LP that represents the evolution of her sound and an “upside-down“ style that confuses the easily confused
Best electric guitar pickups 2023: upgrade your tone with single-coils, P90s, humbuckers, and more By Jonathan Horsley last updated 23 May 23 We’ve rounded up the best electric guitar pickups available on the market right now for a range of budgets, including models from Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, and more.
Meet ambient shredder Jakub Zytecki – the trailblazing virtuoso who picks plugins over pedals and plays a Kurt Cobain-inspired 8-string By Ellie Rogers published 22 May 23 The Polish wunderkind explains why Polyphia and Plini have reignited his guitar fire and how he channeled John Petrucci on his stellar new album, Remind Me