Interviews

Ray Suhy: "I used an Ibanez RG for a death metal tour, and a few months later I used the same guitar on a jazz album!"

By Alison Richter

The genre-fluid guitarist discusses technique crossover between two of music's most seemingly dissimilar styles

Drive-By Truckers: "These songs called for lyrical playing and slide guitar was a great way to achieve that"

By David Von Bader

We explore the band's latest LP, The Unraveling, with guitarist Mike Cooley

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

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

Hällas: "We started with the plot and then made riffs that would fit the narrative. It was more of a soundtrack approach"

By Amit Sharma

Guitarists Marcus Pettersson and Alexander Moraitis discuss their latest synth-infused, video game-influenced prog-rock epic, Conundrum

Randy Rhoads performs live with Ozzy Osbourne

Learn Randy Rhoads' warm-up exercises and more in this complete 1982 guitar clinic

By Andy Aledort

The Ozzy Osbourne guitarist himself teaches technique and the Crazy Train solo

Jerry Cantrell discusses the five best bands he's toured with, soloing and partying with Dimebag Darrell in 2011 interview

By Kory Grow

Revisit a classic Dear Guitar Hero with the Alice in Chains axeman

Eddie Kramer: "Jimi Hendrix was tough on himself, but when he made a mistake, he’d turn it into something cool"

By David Von Bader

The acclaimed record producer discusses the stellar new Jimi Hendrix/Band of Gypsys box set, Songs for Groovy Children: The Fillmore East Concerts

Lady Gaga guitarist Tim Stewart: "We get pop fans come to see her, but we get the guys from Anthrax and Slayer, too"

By Joe Bosso

He's played with Rihanna, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey, and now the session pro shares what it's like to land one of the highest-profile gigs on the planet - and how you can emulate his success

Black Mountain's Stephen McBean on how Judas Priest and Kiss fed into the stoner-rock vibes on new album, Destroyer

By Gregory Adams

"When I was a pre-teen in my first band, I would have thought Judas Priest seemed a little slow, but then you go back to certain things"

Joanna Connor: "Besides the human voice, the guitar is the most expressive instrument there is - what’s more amazing than a killer guitar solo?"

By Richard Bienstock

Slide guitar maniac Joanna Connor talks being an inspiration to female guitarists, jamming with Jimmy Page and Otis Rush - and her brand-new album, Rise

Chelsea Wolfe: "Birth of Violence is a really f**ked-up version of an American folk record"

By Mike Huguenor

The enigmatic singer-songwriter on her haunting new album and how it was recorded almost entirely on a Taylor 416ce

Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional

Dashboard Confessional: "When you’re a one-man band, the audience can get bored if you don’t use every playing style you can think of"

By Amit Sharma

Chris Carrabba on how he became his own compressor, why he still looks to the Fender Tele for his electric kicks, and… his favorite metal shredders?!

Steve Harris: "Whether you’re playing for 200 or 200,000 people, you still give 110 per cent"

Iron Maiden's Steve Harris talks British Lion, songwriting, and why his SansAmp is a carry-on essential when touring

By Joel McIver

"Whether the crowd is 200 or 200,000 people, there’s no difference - I still give 110 per cent wherever I'm playing"

Billy Strings: "I see a lot of similarities between metal guitar and mandolin, especially in tremolo picking"

By Richard Bienstock

The International Bluegrass Music Association’s Guitar Player of the Year discusses his anything-goes approach and hot new album, Home

Sunn O))): "Our music is not a violent, destructive thing. It’s an expressive thing"

By Gregory Adams

Drone-metal lords Stephen O’Malley And Greg Anderson discuss the meaning of Life Metal - and their new signature stompbox, the Life Pedal

Dear Guitar Hero - DragonForce's Herman Li answers your questions: "I am a specialist in my own weird guitar sound"

By Mark McStea

The shredder on the band's latest album Extreme Power Metal, his favorite EVH solo and how he developed his mind-bending sweep-picking ability

Mark Heylmun and Chris Garza of Suicide Silence

Suicide Silence: "Instead of trying to write like Malmsteen or Vai, I like making people go, 'What the hell just happened?'"

By Amit Sharma

Guitarists Mark Heylmun and Chris Garza talk gear, influences and returning to form with their latest album, Become the Hunter

Grace Potter: “The guitar is inherent to my sound, and when I get onstage I can’t help it: I have to get to 11”

By Jonathan Horsley

The Vermont rock-pop force of nature on falling back in love with music, working with resonance and why the Flying V brings out her A game

Kerry King on new music post-Slayer: "Let’s just say Dean didn’t sign me for nothing!"

By Brad Angle

The pioneering thrash-metal hero tells Guitar World about his latest signature Dean - the USA Kerry King V Limited Edition

Latest Updates

Ray Suhy: "I used an Ibanez RG for a death metal tour, and a few months later I used the same guitar on a jazz album!"

Drive-By Truckers: "These songs called for lyrical playing and slide guitar was a great way to achieve that"

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"

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

Hällas: "We started with the plot and then made riffs that would fit the narrative. It was more of a soundtrack approach"

Learn Randy Rhoads' warm-up exercises and more in this complete 1982 guitar clinic

Jerry Cantrell discusses the five best bands he's toured with, soloing and partying with Dimebag Darrell in 2011 interview

Eddie Kramer: "Jimi Hendrix was tough on himself, but when he made a mistake, he’d turn it into something cool"

Lady Gaga guitarist Tim Stewart: "We get pop fans come to see her, but we get the guys from Anthrax and Slayer, too"

Black Mountain's Stephen McBean on how Judas Priest and Kiss fed into the stoner-rock vibes on new album, Destroyer

Joanna Connor: "Besides the human voice, the guitar is the most expressive instrument there is - what’s more amazing than a killer guitar solo?"

Chelsea Wolfe: "Birth of Violence is a really f**ked-up version of an American folk record"

Dashboard Confessional: "When you’re a one-man band, the audience can get bored if you don’t use every playing style you can think of"

Iron Maiden's Steve Harris talks British Lion, songwriting, and why his SansAmp is a carry-on essential when touring

Billy Strings: "I see a lot of similarities between metal guitar and mandolin, especially in tremolo picking"

Sunn O))): "Our music is not a violent, destructive thing. It’s an expressive thing"

Dear Guitar Hero - DragonForce's Herman Li answers your questions: "I am a specialist in my own weird guitar sound"

Suicide Silence: "Instead of trying to write like Malmsteen or Vai, I like making people go, 'What the hell just happened?'"

Grace Potter: “The guitar is inherent to my sound, and when I get onstage I can’t help it: I have to get to 11”

Kerry King on new music post-Slayer: "Let’s just say Dean didn’t sign me for nothing!"

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