How to play acoustic blues in open D tuning By Richard Barrett published 24 March 23 Open minds with open tunings can bring new shades to the blues, and in this acoustic piece inspired by Molly Tuttle and Jimmy Page, we bring bluegrass, blues and folk to the party
Add fire to your pentatonic phrasing with this lesson in Jimi Hendrix's soloing approaches By John Wheatcroft published 22 March 23 We might never reach Hendrix levels of god-like genius on the guitar, but how he phrased his leads is a lesson to us all. Here, we look at four examples that will expand your blues vocabulary
How perfect 4ths tuning can revolutionize your guitar playing By Ant Law published 20 March 23 Tuning to perfect 4ths allows you to copy shapes across the fretboard and can even make lead lines easier to play – British jazz great Ant Law shows you how to make the most of this radical tuning
Learn 5 guitar chords that evoke the golden age of Hollywood By Richard Barrett published 17 March 23 These chords have an orchestral quality that radiates a certain silver screen soundtrack magic
Learn the licks of 12 Stratocaster blues legends By Andy Saphir published 15 March 23 Unleash your inner blues guitar hero with these lead ideas in the style of Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Mayer, Eric Clapton and more
5 ways to play a blues turnaround on guitar By Jenna Scaramanga published 13 March 23 Give your solos a satisfying ending with these foolproof lead ideas
The ultimate Jimmy Page guitar lesson: learn every aspect of the Led Zeppelin legend’s playing By Jon Bishop published 10 March 23 Take a deep dive into the electric and acoustic techniques of one of the most influential blues, rock and folk guitarists of all time – and learn to incorporate them in your own style
5 soloing lessons you can learn from Zakk Wylde By Charlie Griffiths published 8 March 23 There’s no rest for the wicked in Wylde’s world of fast alternate picking and pinched harmonics. It's time to light up the 'board in the style of Ozzy Osbourne's longstanding shredder-in-chief
How to create fluid streams of notes like Eric Johnson by combining economy picking with legato pentatonics By Andy G Jones published 6 March 23 Let's talk about sextuplets, baby... and all the good things they can do for your lead phrasing when combined with a Johnson-esque picking strategy
Joe Bonamassa introduces you to the playing of Pee Wee Crayton, one of the most underrated blues guitarists of the 20th century By Joe Bonamassa published 3 March 23 Armed with a Fiesta Red Strat and a dynamic style, Crayton was a powerhouse of '50s blues guitar. This lesson takes you inside Bonamassa's interpretation of the Crayton classic Win-O
How to get more from oblique bends, a staple of blues-rock guitar playing By Andy Aledort published 1 March 23 Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Johnny Winter all used this technique to great effect – here's how you can make the most of it in your solos
5 ways to get more out of your power chords By Jenna Scaramanga published 28 February 23 Power chords are a rock rhythm guitar fundamental you need to know inside and out. Here are 5 options to spice up your hard-rocking jams
Exploring Brad Paisley’s awe-inspiring acoustic country playing By Stuart Ryan published 27 February 23 Let's dive headlong into the acoustic style of a Nashville superstar who’s better known for ripping out scary electric licks. Spoilers: he's just as spectacular unplugged
What is economy picking and how can it benefit your guitar playing? By Simon Barnard published 24 February 23 A more efficient way to pick, economy picking will make you a more fluid player, whether you’re playing jazz and fusion or shred à la Yngwie Malmsteen
Make your blues swing with this guide to Honky Tonk hero Billy Butler’s techniques By John Wheatcroft published 22 February 23 A hero to the great Danny Gatton, Billy Butler was a trailblazing player, and this lesson into his jazzy blues style will underpin your technique and improvisational sensibility
11 ways to invigorate your funk rhythm chops By Steve Allsworth published 17 February 23 This James Brown-inspired workout is not just for funk – all rhythm players can learn from these techniques and approaches
4 soloing ideas you can learn from Leslie West By Richard Barrett published 15 February 23 Scale the blues-rock mountain and balance on the edge of major and minor tonalities with this lesson in the style of one of rock's greatest players
How to weave small two-note chords around a guitar melody By Andy Timmons published 13 February 23 Andy Timmons unpacks his chord/melody approach and explains how you can use it in your own songwriting ideas
Hone your hybrid picking with this lesson in the style of the great Danny Gatton By Josh Smith published 10 February 23 Josh Smith is our guide in mixing flatpicking with fingerpicking for a piece that references Gatton's style along with James Brown
Learn 5 Lydian chords that can add mood and atmosphere to your playing By Richard Barrett published 9 February 23 Joe Satriani is a fan. Danny Elfman, too. And by learning these chord shapes, you can drop some Lydian magic into your songwriting for dramatic effect
