The Beatles | Guitar World

How to replicate the Beatles’ classic tones using today’s affordable guitars, basses and effects pedals

By Chris Gill published 7 February 23

Because sourcing the vintage gear is almost impossible, financially and practically, we've put together a list of gear that's on the market today that will help you nail the Fab Four's sound

How the Beatles crafted the guitar and bass tones that forever changed the sound of rock music

By Chris Gill published 1 February 23

We chart the evolution of the Fab Four's sound through the key tracks and the gear that made them

1966, British rock musician Paul McCartney playing on stage during The Beatles', last tour. Drummer Ringo Starr is visible in the background.

Rick Rubin says Paul McCartney is the “best of all bass players”

By Nick Wells published 31 January 23

In a new interview, Rubin has claimed the Beatles icon is the greatest of all time

George Harrison performs at the Prince's Trust on June 5, 1987 at Wembley Arena in London

George Harrison's 15 greatest guitar moments after The Beatles

By Damian Fanelli published 29 November 22

Following the breakup of the Beatles, Harrison invented an entirely new, distinctive, and often-imitated guitar persona for himself. Revisit the finest of those post-Beatles six-string moments

Watch Peter Frampton end his touring career with a final show-closing cover of The Beatles’ While My Guitar Gently Weeps

By Matt Owen published 18 November 22

The guitar legend played his three-pickup Gibson Les Paul sat down, and brought the curtain down on his prolific live career at the last show of his farewell tour

Bassist Frank Bello of Anthrax performs at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas at The LINQ Promenade on February 11, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Frank Bello: 5 bass players who influenced me

By Joel McIver published 14 November 22

Anthrax bassist Frank Bello on Geezer Butler, Steve Harris, Paul McCartney and more

The Fender Bass VI is this year's best-selling bass guitar thanks to the Beatles

By Nick Wells published 8 November 22

The baritone-meets-bass has overtaken Precision and Jazz models after its appearances in Peter Jackson's The Beatles: Get Back documentary led to a surge in sales

The Beatles perform at Dodger Stadium on August 28, 1966 in Los Angeles, California

The Beatles' Revolver: a comprehensive guide to the guitars and recording equipment the Fab Four used to make the landmark album

By Christopher Scapelliti published 28 October 22

GW dissects the album that changed the band's musical trajectory, and that of pop music as a whole

Hear John Lennon sing Yellow Submarine as a melancholy acoustic ballad in this unearthed Revolver outtake

By Matt Owen published 21 October 22

Lifted from the upcoming Revolver: Special Edition reissue, the newly discovered cut is a far cry from the peppy upbeat version that eventually made it onto the 1966 album

George Harrison and the Gibson Les Paul ransom burst

George Harrison’s Gibson ‘58 “ransom” Les Paul – which helped recover his stolen Lucy model – sells at auction for $312,500

By Matt Owen published 26 September 22

The guitar, along with a Fender Precision Bass, played a key part in the negotiations that led to the safe return of his legendary Lucy Les Paul, which was stolen in 1973

George Harrison and a 1958 Gibson Les Paul

George Harrison’s Gibson 1958 “ransom” Les Paul – used to rescue his stolen '57 Lucy model – goes up for auction

By Matt Owen published 1 September 22

The Burst was used as a bargaining chip along with a Fender Precision Bass to ensure the safe return of the Beatles guitarist's prized single-cut, which was stolen in 1973

Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton were at the forefront of guitar culture in the '60s

The greatest guitar albums of the ‘60s: From Beatlemania to Electric Ladyland, a rock ’n’ roll revolution takes shape

By Total Guitar editors last updated 19 August 22

As chosen by you, here are the albums that defined guitar music in the swinging ‘60s, featuring the Beatles, Cream and some guy named Hendrix... He could play

Peter Jackson and the Beatles: Jackson reveals he is working on another Beatles film, and opens up about the process behind the Lennon/McCartney Glastonbury duet

Peter Jackson is planning another Beatles film

By Jonathan Horsley published 22 July 22

The Oscar-winning director has also opened up about enabling that iconic Lennon/McCartney virtual duet at Glastonbury

Holiday in George Harrison’s childhood home – Beatles fan puts the Liverpool townhouse on Airbnb

By Jonathan Horsley published 14 April 22

We all live in an Airbnb, an Airbnb, an Airbnb...

Paul McCartney to open his childhood home for unsigned artists to write, perform and gain inspiration

By Sam Roche published 7 April 22

The house at 20 Forthlin Road is where Macca and John Lennon wrote many early Beatles hits, including When I'm 64 and I Saw Her Standing There

Rammstein and Faith No More members Come Together for Beatles cover in aid of UNICEF Ukraine fundraiser

By Matt Owen last updated 28 March 22

Richard Kruspe and Bill Gould are joined by Chris Connelly, Matt Walker and more for the track, which incorporates elements of Queen's We Will Rock You

Paul McCartney announces first live shows since 2019 with the Got Back tour

By Matt Parker published 18 February 22

The run of 13 US dates kicks take place between April 28 and June 13

10 great Beatles guitar moments you've never heard before

By Tim Tucker published 3 February 22

Wild slide guitar, flamenco-inspired rhythm, raw 12-bar blues and more – the inner workings of the Fab Four revealed

Watch Mateus Asato transform The Beatles’ In My Life into a dreamy fingerstyle workout

By Matt Owen published 1 February 22

The neo-soul specialist took up his Mayones electric guitar and Asato-fied the classic track in stunning fashion

Audio from the Beatles' iconic 1969 rooftop performance to arrive on streaming services for the first time

By Sam Roche published 27 January 22

The legendary Savile Row show will arrive on Spotify, Apple Music and other major streaming services from January 28