Guitarist Features

Steve Vai on his time in Whitesnake: "There was real aggression and control in my playing. I just remember thinking it was never good enough back then!"

By David Von Bader

Three decades after its release, Vai takes you inside the making of Whitesnake’s Slip of the Tongue, the album that sent the band into uncharted territory

The Darkness: "Ed Sheeran's fans probably didn’t anticipate seeing a rock band when they bought a ticket!"

By Richard Bienstock

How do you delight, beguile and offend thousands of Ed Sheeran fans? Just ask UK riff-masters Justin and Dan Hawkins

Epiphone DR-100, Fender CD-60 and Yamaha FG800: beginner acoustic guitars go head to head

Epiphone DR-100, Fender CD-60S and Yamaha FG800: beginner acoustic guitars head to head

By Jonathan Horsley

Looking for a great entry-level acoustic guitar? We put ace beginner acoustics from Epiphone, Fender and Yamaha to the test

Robbie Robertson: "While playing with Bob Dylan I remember thinking, 'They’re going to wake me up tomorrow because all of this is impossible'"

By Alan Paul

The guitar legend discusses his time with The Band, Ronnie Hawkins and Bob Dylan - as well as his new album, new documentary and latest Martin Scorsese score, The Irishman

How guitar relic'ing took over the world

By Tony Bacon

Fender, Gibson and more tell the story of new guitars made old, from the very first relic experiments to today's sought-after Custom Shop replicas

Tony Iommi: "We had this interest in the supernatural. Light and shade… Something a bit frightening"

Tony Iommi: "I’ve always had determination. I had to go against all the people who said, 'You’re never going to be able to play guitar'"

By Neville Marten

The Black Sabbath guitarist and architect of heavy metal on a lifetime in riffs, bandmates and his trusty Monkey SG

Alan Merrill in Greenwich Village, NYC on September 13, 2009 in New York, U.S.A.

Alan Merrill tells the story of I Love Rock 'n' Roll in his final Guitar World interview

By Mark McStea

The Arrows frontman muses on his career in music in this never-before-published conversation

Eric Clapton performs live on stage at Royal Albert Hall on May 14, 2015 in London, England

Eric Clapton: 13 of his best under-the-radar solo songs

By Damian Fanelli

The overlooked solo Clapton tunes you need to hear

Girl reads a book sat next to her acoustic guitar

10 biographies, motivational manuals and killer guitar books to read during lockdown

By Matt Parker

Great guitar reads covering inspiration, idiotic antics and information, in mostly equal parts

The history of the Gibson SG

By Rod Brakes

Take a closer look at Gibson’s iconic SG range with Gibson's Mat Koehler and David Davidson of Well Strung Guitars

Out of the woods: the environmental challenges facing guitar makers

By Adam Bradbury

Traditional tonewoods are under pressure. Can luthiers create a new generation of planet-friendly acoustic guitars?

21 underrated guitar solos you need to hear

By Jonathan Horsley

Lesser-celebrated but nonetheless awesome acts of lead playing from St. Vincent, Kurt Cobain, James Honeyman-Scott and more that might change how you approach your playing

Steve Vai: "When I was a kid playing guitar too loud, the neighbors would complain... and my father would tell them to shut the f**k up"

By Joe Bosso

With the big 6-0 just around the corner, guitar icon Steve Vai reminisces about Satch, Zappa, Alcatrazz and a life in the ultra zone

The secrets behind Johnny Marr's tone on The Smiths' How Soon Is Now?

By Chris Gill

How some unusual studio tricks shaped the sound of one of the indie icons' most popular tracks

Photo of a guitar, amp and pedals in a home

10 ways guitarists can keep busy while stuck at home

By Michael Astley-Brown

Can’t leave the house? Here are 10 six-string activities that will occupy your time through a health crisis and beyond...

Nick Johnston: "I didn’t have a lot of money growing up - you learn to make gear sound good with what you have"

By Peter Hodgson

The instrumental master sheds light on his signature Schecter, songwriting and majestic new album, Wide Eyes in the Dark

Electro-Harmonix Mod 11, Nano Operation Overlord and Bass9 Bass Machine review

By Trevor Curwen

We take a closer look at three essential new pedals from EHX

Classic gear: Fender Telecaster Thinline

By Rod Brakes

The story of how the first mass-produced solidbody electric guitar went semi-hollow…

How to clean your guitar: the Guitar World guide to keeping your guitar in premium condition

By Metal Mike Chlasciak, Guitar World Staff

Get your electric guitar looking like new in just four steps inspired by the car detailing world

Genuine Gibson guitars are seen being produced at the Gibson USA Factory on July 17, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee

How much is enough: is amassing a huge gear collection really good for your playing - or the planet?

By Matt Parker

Taking a closer look at the impact of cheap guitars and modern gear indulgence