Lessons

Players like Steve Hackett are masters of extended chords/harmony – here’s how you can use them too

By Richard Barrett published 30 January 26

Today in extended chords 101, we look at 11th chords – both minor and major – and explain how these “harmonically dense” voicings look on the fretboard

Cory Wong reveals how to solo over chords in a meaningful way

By Cory Wong published 27 January 26

Wong explains how outlining notes in the chord progression helps find a solo that's melodically on-point and just what the song calls for

“Sometimes simplicity wins the day”: Joe Bonamassa on the art of writing a heavy guitar riff

By Joe Bonamassa published 16 January 26

In his latest GW video lesson, the blues-rock superstar recalls how some of his heaviest riffs came together, and to your shock – and maybe even horror – they were written in standard tuning

Demystifying chord names, starting with a Hendrix and SRV favorite, the maj9

By Richard Barrett published 14 January 26

A little knowledge with naming conventions goes a long way to understanding complex chords and how they might sound

“Albert King once advised Gary Moore to ‘play every other note’”: Why keeping it simple can improve your blues solos

By Richard Barrett published 7 January 26

Peter Green, George Harrison, Gary Moore, David Gilmour... These are just some of the players inspiring this lesson in stylistic restraint, all in the pursuit of the blues

Charlie Starr’s open G slide soloing masterclass

By Charlie Starr published 5 January 26

In his latest GW column, the Blackberry Smoke guitarist shows us how open G frees us up from the same tired old note choices

Jared James Nichols on an essential guitar playing skill – how to bend the strings expressively

By Jared James Nichols published 23 December 25

A set of electric guitar strings is no match for the bicep-curling, iron-pumping purveyor of blues power. He shows us how he makes his guitar scream

Joe Bonamassa reveals the secret to writing heavy riffs – and his methods might surprise you

By Joe Bonamassa published 11 December 25

Step back from the overdrive pedal, dial the gain back, and that extra clarity could well sound heavier in a band mix

Pete Townshend, Ray Davies and David Bowie all used third inversion chords – here’s why (and how) you should, too

By Richard Barrett published 10 December 25

If the idea of third inversions seems all upside down, fear not: these five examples show how easy they are to put together – and how musical they are when you apply them in a song