Guitar Techniques News

Latest

Musicians Alex Van Halen (L) and Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen perform at their dress rehearsal for family and friends at the Forum on February 8, 2012 in Inglewood, California

Hear Eddie Van Halen solo again in a preview of the last song he worked on with his brother

By Matt Owen published

Titled Unfinished, the full song will be released as part of the audiobook version of Alex Van Halen's forthcoming tell-all memoir

John Lennon playing a Telecaster and an image of David Bowie and Carlos Alomar (playing a Stratocaster) onstage

Carlos Alomar recalls making Fame with two rock icons – and why he turned down dinner with a Beatle

By Matt Parker published

The long-term Bowie collaborator says he had to put his guitar ideas first

Eric Clapton performs on stage with singer Yvonne Elliman and guitarist George Terry at Crystal Palace Garden Party 31st July 1976

“Someone dosed Eric with LSD”: George Terry on stepping up during Clapton's bad nights on the road

By Matt Parker published

The session pro and former Clapton sideman has been reflecting on life on tour and in the studio with the guitar icon in the 1970s

Brian May playing live onstage with Queen + Adam Lambert

Brian May recovering after suffering “minor stroke”

By Matt Owen published

The Queen legend's ability to play guitar was in “some doubt” following the health scare

Andy Summers and Robert Fripp Looking at their Hands

Andy Summers on his longstanding relationship with Robert Fripp – and their surprise new collab album

By Janelle Borg published

Summers and Fripp have known each other since childhood and decided to record three albums' worth of material back in the '80s after they both achieved success with their respective bands

Left-Grace Bowers performs on Day 1 of BottleRock Napa Valley at Napa Valley Expo on May 24, 2024 in Napa, California; Right-B.B. King playing his guitar Lucille

Grace Bowers on how B.B. King completely changed her perspective on what makes a good guitar solo

By Janelle Borg published

Bowers discusses her transition from hair metal to blues

Left-Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter of The Doobie Brothers performing on stage at Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan, February 1979. He is playing a Burns guitar; Right-Disco diva Donna Summer, November 1978.

Skunk Baxter on how he recorded his classic Hot Stuff solo on a cheap guitar he bought right before the session

By Janelle Borg published

Baxter reveals he very nearly didn't do the Donna Summer session – and how the producer's willingness to experiment clinched the deal

Matteo Mancuso playing guitar, with his laptop and speakers in the background

Jazz fusion virtuoso Matteo Mancuso on why he prefers baritones to seven-string guitars

By Janelle Borg published

Mancuso worked with famed Italian luthier Bruno Bacci to bring his baritone guitar concept to life

Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd performs onstage during the 2024 CMA Music festival at the Nissan Stadium on June 06, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee

Rickey Medlocke on the first time he played Lynyrd Skynyrd’s iconic Free Bird guitar solo

By Matt Owen published

Medlocke rejoined Lynyrd Skynyrd as their new guitar player in the early 1990s, and one of his main responsibilities ever since has been to tackle Allen Collins’ legendary lead effort

Tomo Fujita and John Mayer

Tomo Fujita on what it was like to teach John Mayer – and how he indirectly helped him write Neon

By Phil Weller published

The guitar professor lifts the lid on his early lessons with Mayer and explains how Neon was born from his signature slap guitar technique

Grace Bowers playing a white Strat

Grace Bowers trades her Gibson SG for a Fender Strat to cover Stevie Ray Vaughan classics

By Janelle Borg published

The young blues virtuoso and her band The Hodge Podge pay homage to Vaughan with their own takes on Lenny and Scuttle Buttin’

Left-Marty Friedman performs on stage during his Japan Heritage Special Live concert at Haneda airport on July 17, 2023 in Tokyo, Japan; Right-Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley perform during the final show of KISS: End of the Road World Tour at Madison Square Garden on December 02, 2023 in New York City

Marty Friedman recalls missing out on joining Kiss because of his height

By Janelle Borg published

Yngwie Malmsteen and White Lion's Vito Bratta were also rejected due to image-related reasons

Left-Skunk Baxter performs onstage at The 2020 NAMM Show – 35th Annual NAMM TEC Awards on January 18, 2020 in Anaheim, California; Right-Musical guest Dolly Parton performs on August 23, 2016

Jeff “Skunk” Baxter recalls recording guitar on Dolly Parton mega-hit 9 to 5

By Janelle Borg published

Baxter highlights the song's R&B feel as a key element that set it apart from the country songs being released at the time

Russell Malone performs with the Ron Carter Trio during the Newport Jazz Festival 2019 at Fort Adams State Park on August 03, 2019 in Newport, Rhode Island

Acclaimed jazz guitarist Russell Malone, known for his work with Harry Connick Jr. and Ron Carter, has died aged 60

By Janelle Borg published

Malone had just finished a performance at Blue Note Tokyo with The Golden Striker Trio when he suffered a fatal heart attack

Left-Keith Urban performing on stage; Right-John Mayer performs on stage at The O2 Arena on October 13, 2019 in London, England

Keith Urban and John Mayer agree – having fewer guitars can make you a better guitar player

By Janelle Borg published

Urban on the valuable lesson he learned from John Mayer

Kirk Hammett of Metallica performs on stage at Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano on July 14, 2024 in Madrid, Spain

Kirk Hammett doesn't pay attention to solo trolls – and thinks “bad” solos are a thing of the past

By Matt Owen published

The Metallica guitarist's lead effort in Lux Æterna came under intense fire from online commenters upon its release, with some even recording their own 'improved' versions

Fred Durst and Corey Feldman

Fred Durst wanted to see if Corey Feldman’s viral guitar playing was real – so he went on stage to see for himself

By Matt Owen published

Feldman is currently opening for Limp Bizkit on their Loserville tour, and caught some strays on TikTok after his guitar playing went viral

Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Grace Bowers solos her way through her late-night TV debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

By Janelle Borg published

Bowers delivers a wah-heavy performance of her track Tell Me Why U Do That accompanied by her band the Hodge Podge

Michael Lemmo playing a Fender Jazzmaster

Michael Lemmo on the surreal time he met Eddie Van Halen – who was dating his friend’s mom

By Matt Owen published

Norms’ Rare Guitars’ resident virtuoso idolized Van Halen as a youngster, and miraculously crossed paths with him when a new kid arrived in town…

H.E.R. performs the USA national anthem during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France on Sunday, August 11, 2024

H.E.R. performs national anthem – and solos as Tom Cruise abseils into the stadium – at the Olympics closing ceremony

By Matt Parker published

The Strat-wielding superstar’s performance of the Star Spangled Banner marked the start of the official countdown to LA28