Guitar Techniques

John Mayer guitar lesson: 12 tips that will help you capture the essence of his versatile playing style

By Total Guitar editors

From subtle acoustic works to full-blown rock, we look at the techniques behind the blues-rock superstar's inimitable style, with full tab and audio

Watch Mike Dawes transform All Along the Watchtower into a mesmerizing fingerstyle masterclass

By Matt Owen

The acoustic virtuoso, in the presence of Rick Beato, demystifies his approach to rearranging rock hits with a spellbinding cover of the Bob Dylan/Jimi Hendrix classic

Eric Gales will take on Joe Bonamassa in a live “World Heavyweight Guitar Battle” next week

By Matt Parker

Which blues guitar titan would you put your money on? Who will float like a tremolo and sting like a B? Will they wear guitars at the weigh in?

Carlos Santana and Chris Stapleton team up for groove-infused, lick-laden new single, Joy

By Matt Owen

Joy is the fourth single taken from Santana's upcoming album, Blessings and Miracles, which is set to arrive October 15

Watch Neal Schon shred the National Anthem at the Las Vegas Raiders vs Chicago Bears NFL game

By Matt Owen

Armed with his custom-built IHush Lady M Strat and flanked by a pair of Marshall stacks, the Journey founder served up a blazing rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner

How to go beyond pentatonics in a blues guitar solo

By Richard Barrett

Thanks to John Mayer, Journeyman-era Eric Clapton is having a moment, and this lesson lets you climb into that '80s vocal blues guitar style

Lari Basilio delivers a melodic seven-string masterclass on an Ibanez AZ7 in groove-oriented new track, Seven

By Matt Owen

Basilio sets the 'board ablaze by way of some dazzling phrases, time signature-shifting breakdowns and effortless extended solo passages

John Petrucci: “I've always felt there's a connection between guitar playing and weight lifting”

By Sam Roche

The Dream Theater shred wizard explains the link between his two great passions in life (other than his beard)

John Mayall announces retirement from touring, telling fans “it is time for me to hang up my road shoes”

By Matt Parker

The British blues-rock icon will limit himself to one-off shows and events local to his California base

Ozzy Osbourne's new album could feature Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Zakk Wylde and Tony Iommi

Ozzy Osbourne’s new album will feature a dream guitar lineup of Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Tony Iommi and Zakk Wylde

By Matt Parker

The Black Sabbath icon reveals Clapton has already recorded a solo for his upcoming record

[L-R] John Lennon, Eric Clapton and George Harrison

John Lennon suggested Eric Clapton join The Beatles following George Harrison's temporary departure in 1969, according to new audio recordings

By Sam Roche

The clips – which have surfaced ahead of the upcoming The Beatles: Get Back documentary – reveal a near-pivotal conversation between Lennon, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr

Hone your hybrid picking with Greg Koch's lesson on how to play Luna Girl

By Greg Koch

It's a song written for a cat and it makes the purrfect workout for your rhythm chops

How to play the James Bond guitar chord – and 007 ways you can solo over it

By Andy G Jones

To celebrate the release of James Bond's 25th outing, No Time To Die, we show you how to play its iconic theme chord, and give you a license to thrill with your own accompanying leads

Eruption: Conversations With Eddie Van Halen is a definitive new biography based on 50+ hours of interviews with the man himself

By Matt Parker

The book, due October 5, also includes chapters on EVH’s guitar builds and personal stories from the guitarist detailing oddities from his gear collection

John Mayer performing live on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

John Mayer debuts live rendition of Wild Blue on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert

By Matt Owen

The Sob Rock track performance played host to some exceptional in-the-moment soloing from Mayer

Attention music producers and songwriters: what do you want from streaming platforms?

By Guitar World

Are you a music creative? Do you have an opinion on streaming platforms? Then we want to hear from you

Watch Nita Strauss shred onstage using Jason Becker’s original prototype Peavey Numbers guitar

By Jackson Maxwell

"This guitar truly has Jason’s magic in it – I felt like I couldn’t miss a note if I tried," Strauss said of the experience

How to play slide guitar solos in open E tuning

By Andy Aledort

Get creative with a slide and an open tuning and you can add a vocal glissando quality to your playing

Hear Andy McKee’s stunning acoustic interpretation of Prince’s Purple Rain

By Matt Parker

Prince heard and approved of McKee’s arrangement, which arrives alongside a new six-track covers EP, Symbol

Queen's Brian May hints towards all-instrumental solo album

By Sam Roche

“I don't have the dazzling technical expertise of a Joe Satriani or a Steve Vai or Al Di Meola or Eddie Van Halen. But I just might”