Guitar Techniques

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Geordie Walker

“Geordie was a true inventor of a massive sound that has influenced so damn many of us”: Killing Joke guitarist Geordie Walker has died, aged 64

By Jonathan Horsley published

Tributes pour in for the post-punk trailblazer whose influence was felt far and wide across rock and metal, with the likes of Metallica and Nirvana indebted to his vision for guitar

Online lessons deals

These discounted online guitar lessons subscription prove Black Friday is the ideal time to invest in your playing

By Chris Barnes published

Six of our recommended online learning platforms have seriously great value offers for Black Friday only

Joe Satriani performs at SiriusXM Studios in Los Angeles on November 14, 2023

“It’s one thing to listen, but when you play these songs, you go, ‘It’s no wonder Eddie had so much fun playing this’”: Tackling Van Halen, reforming G3, recording with Steve Vai – Joe Satriani is gearing up for his biggest year yet

By Andrew Daly published

He’s the godfather of shred, but over four decades into his career, Joe Satriani is busier than ever. He explains why he’s playing catch-up after avoiding Van Halen songs in the ‘80s, what his “intentionally excessive” collaborations with Vai have in store, and the biggest struggles he’s facing in covering “the greatest guitar player of all time”

Eddie Van Halen, Nuno Bettencourt and Joe Satriani

“The whole idea of being a great guitar player is nobody can do you like you… Mean Street is the perfect storm of why people don't f**k with Edward Van Halen”: Nuno Bettencourt explains why you’ve gotta give Joe Satriani “a pass”

By Matt Parker published

The Extreme guitarist explains the key to nailing EVH’s tricky intro and says its time to cut Satch some slack

Guitarist playing Stratocaster on grey background

Gigging guitarists spend the majority of time playing rhythm, not lead – so here are 21 ways to improve your rhythm guitar chops

By Jon Bishop published

Chords, picking, strumming, riffs, single-note accompaniments, timing: you can never practice rhythm playing enough, and this boot camp will hone your skills in all sorts of styles

Alex Lifeson and Adam Jones holding an Epiphone Alex Lifeson signature Les Paul

“His playing speaks to my soul like no other guitarist”: Alex Lifeson joins Adam Jones onstage to help Tool perform Jambi – before gifting his hero one of his signature Epiphone Les Pauls

By Matt Owen published

Having previously spoken about his affection for Jones' guitar playing, Lifeson joined Tool onstage to tackle the rhythmic riff rollercoaster – with some added Rush flair for good measure

Joe Satriani (left) and Eddie Van Halen

“I want to honor the sound, but I don't want to lose myself”: Joe Satriani says he’s coming to terms with the fact that he doesn't sound like Eddie Van Halen

By Matt Parker published

The guitar icon has been drafted in to take on EVH parts alongside Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony in the Best of All Worlds tour – and compares the challenge to taking on Ritchie Blackmore’s parts on tour with Deep Purple in the early-’90s

Dave Mustaine and Kiko Loureiro

“I don’t want to hinder any of the band’s plans”: Kiko Loureiro announces his departure from Megadeth after 9 years – and his successor may already be in place

By Matt Owen published

Is Teemu Mäntysaari, the young star currently filling in for Loureiro, set to take the mantle full-time? Or is a past player poised to make a sensational return?

The Best of All Worlds band – featuring Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Jason Bonham and Joe Satriani

“I royally screwed up, which hurt like a thorn in my side, but I’ll get over it”: Joe Satriani says he slipped up playing Van Halen’s Mean Street on Howard Stern – but it’s taught him a valuable lesson about EVH’s tone

By Matt Parker published

Satch nailed most of what was thrown at him on the show but says one track proved more of a challenge than the others

Josh Smith

Josh Smith shows you how to follow your musical inner voice and connect the dots in a blues guitar solo

By Josh Smith published

The blues maestro shows you how to combine chromaticism, diminished patterns and ii-V-i's – but don't be alarmed: it's easier than it sounds, and opens up the doors for radical guitar improv

Sammy Hagar and Joe Satriani in the Sirius XM studio

“This is impossible to play!” Joe Satriani and Sammy Hagar name – and nail – Eddie Van Halen’s hardest guitar riffs during first-ever Best of All Worlds performance

By Matt Owen published

Joined by bandmates Michael Anthony and Jason Bonham, the supergroup performed 5 tracks from the Van Halen catalog live on air ahead of their 2024 tour – mere minutes after getting together for the first time

Guitar Tricks Black Friday deal

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By Chris Barnes published

Invest in your playing with the best Black Friday deal we’ve seen so far from one of our favourite online lessons platforms

Close-up of a guitarist playing the guitar, macro. Man's hand on the fretboard with strings

These guitar finger exercises will improve your finger independence and dexterity, and make you a better player

By Simon Barnard published

Get your fingers working independently of each other and the fretboard will really open up

Joe Satriani wearing a Santa hat

It’s been covered by Steve Morse, Steve Lukather and Eddie Van Halen – but if Joe Satriani and Brian May tackled Joy to the World, it would sound a little something like this

By Jamie Humphries published

Learn a highly shreddable version of this Christmas carol classic, inspired by Satriani and May

(from left) Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani and Michael Anthony perform onstage at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center on October 18, 2014

“The music we created is going to outlive us all. It’s time we go out and serve the fans that music, while we still can”: Joe Satriani, Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony announce The Best of All Worlds – the next best thing to a Van Halen tribute tour

By Jackson Maxwell published

Though not explicitly a tribute, Hagar promises that the summer 2024 trek will feature a very Van Halen-heavy setlist

Sophie Lloyd

Welcome to Sophie Lloyd's melodic rock soloing masterclass – essential techniques to take your lead playing to the next level

By Charlie Griffiths published

The British shredder shares an exclusive video lesson in her signature soloing style – and it'll take you from pentatonics to melodic tapping and beyond

Paul Gilbert and Ace Frehley

“The solos are so perfectly composed... they remind me of what Bach would do if he had a Les Paul, a Marshall, and a space alien costume”: Paul Gilbert explains why he loves Ace Frehley’s playing

By Matt Parker published

The shred guru picks out a recording of the band’s “infallible feedback magic” as his highlight of the hard-rock icons’ remarkable 50-year run

Josh Smith

“If you want to get a visceral reaction from an audience, the bottom line is that you have to make your guitar sing”: Blues playing getting stale? Incorporating ideas from jazz guitarists will take your solos to the next level

By Josh Smith published

At some point it is inevitable: our blues playing starts to get old. Josh Smith walks you through concepts to expand your blues vocab and help your solos stay fresh over those changes

Robben Ford masterclass

"The diminished scale seems to loom large in my legend…" A blues masterclass from Robben Ford

By Adrian Clark published

Video lesson: “For the most part, people just know three chords and the pentatonic scale. That is a cul-de-sac!" Let Robben Ford be your guide to the way out…

Dolly Parton

Country icon Dolly Parton has written over 3,000 songs, but her trademark ‘thumb and flick’ playing style is essential learning for acoustic players

By Stuart Ryan published

Develop your alternating bassline picking and bluegrass soloing techniques with this country rhythm workout