Sophie Lloyd

Latest Updates

Sophie Lloyd's pyrotechnic style will banish six-string imposter syndrome and teach you to shredify any song, any time

By Charlie Griffiths published 15 April 24

Get warmed up and dialed in for a lesson that's going to whip your legato, tapping and sweep picking into shape

Tosin Abasi of Animals as Leaders performs during Swanfest at Heart Health Park on April 23, 2022 in Sacramento, California.

“Technical playing can get cleaner, and that’s possibly even more challenging than just being faster”: We met the academics who study shred guitar for a living – they explained why it’s changed dramatically since the ’80s, and the 3 ways it can develop

By Ellie Rogers published 16 February 24

A new study documents the challenges facing modern-day virtuosos, who not only have to balance perfection and authenticity, but now have to be “10 things that used to be 10 full-time professions”

News of the (guitar) world: the biggest, baddest, weirdest and saddest guitar news of 2023

By Amit Sharma published 25 December 23

We track the year’s biggest six-string stories – from landmark gear developments to devastating departures and 2023’s most headline-grabbing players

“Big Cliffs Of Dover vibes”: Sophie Lloyd’s shred version of The Office theme takes the classic intro song into Eric Johnson territory – and we’re blown away by it

By Matt Parker published 11 December 23

The British guitarist manipulates the TV classic into a complex guitar instrumental, laced with soaring highs and lighting fast shred licks

Welcome to Sophie Lloyd's melodic rock soloing masterclass – essential techniques to take your lead playing to the next level

By Charlie Griffiths published 14 November 23

The British shredder shares an exclusive video lesson in her signature soloing style – and it'll take you from pentatonics to melodic tapping and beyond

“There’s no replacement for picking up a guitar, feeling those strings under your fingers and building your calluses”: British shred hero Sophie Lloyd teaches you how to become a better player

By Amit Sharma published 7 November 23

As first-call player for Machine Gun Kelly, a YouTube six-string superstar and solo artist, Lloyd is one of the world's fastest-rising guitarists. She shares her tips for getting better faster

Sophie Lloyd Metallica Enter Sandman shred cover

“Yes, that’s a real spider”: Sophie Lloyd’s Enter Sandman (Shred Version) adds extra fretboard flair to Metallica’s thrash classic – alongside some snakes and a tarantula named Rosie

By Matt Parker published 27 October 23

The British YouTuber and virtuoso guitarist has upped the shred quota on the iconic Metallica tune

“Let me know if you like it or you think I ruined it!” Dire Straits’ Sultans of Swing becomes Sultans of Shred as Sophie Lloyd gives the guitar anthem a high-gain makeover

By Matt Owen published 6 October 23

Mark Knopfler's sultry single-coil runs get given a generous injection of searing shred tones in Lloyd's latest cover

Wolfgang Van Halen’s favorite guitarist tears it up while death metal has never sounded more alive: this week’s essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown published 6 October 23

Round out the week with our curated list of unmissable songs from Intervals, Alluvial, Sophie Lloyd, Santana, Kvelertak, Sleater-Kinney and more

“Dimebag is one of my biggest inspirations for lead guitar. He always knew how to think outside the box”: Sophie Lloyd names 10 records that changed her life

By Joe Bosso published 1 September 23

The English shred superstar on how Avenged Sevenfold, Pantera and Joe Satriani opened her eyes to what can be done on guitar

Sophie Lloyd performing her Led Zeppelin Stairway To Heaven shred cover

“It’s all about your vibrato and phrasing”: Sophie Lloyd's shred version of Stairway To Heaven adds some fiery fretwork to the Led Zeppelin classic

By Matt Parker published 30 August 23

The UK shred whiz is back with another must-hear classic rock revamp

10 diehard rock and blues guitarists who boarded the pop train

By Andrew Daly published 27 August 23

The megastar crossovers where guitar met box office pop and made magic happen

“I love anything with a killer solo you can jam out to”: Welcome to the Sophie Lloyd masterclass, where the Machine Gun Kelly guitarist and YouTube shred sensation will give your rock chops a serious workout

By Sophie Lloyd published 24 August 23

In this Guitar World exclusive, Sophie Lloyd takes you behind her rhythm and lead techniques on monster single Do or Die and shares her tips on how to hone your skills

“It was the classic sob story in school – I was a bit of an outcast and didn’t make friends. The guitar was my release and my escape”: Sophie Lloyd went from filming YouTube covers to touring arenas with Machine Gun Kelly – she recounts her meteoric rise

By Joe Bosso published 16 August 23

This is the British shredder’s story so far, from YouTube guitar sensation to Kiesel signature artist, Machine Gun Kelly’s virtuoso-in-chief, and solo artist collaborating with some of rock and metal’s biggest names

Sophie Lloyd performing onstage with two kids – the guitarist says a kids TV show inspired to play guitar in the first place

“This is going to sound so embarrassing…”: Sophie Lloyd says this kids cartoon – no, millennial icon – was responsible for her picking up the guitar

By Matt Parker published 12 July 23

We’ll give you a clue: he lives in a pineapple under the sea...

Sophie Lloyd adorns the cover of Guitar World's September 2023 issue

Sophie Lloyd on the pros and cons of being 2023's reigning shred queen – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli published 11 July 23

Also featuring new interviews with Vito Bratta, Warren Haynes and Jake Kiszka, plus Sevendust, Opeth, Dirty Honey, and a review of the new Boss SDE-3000 EVH Dual Digital Delay

Kiesel unveils the Sophie Lloyd Signature Series – signature guitars you can spec yourself

By Michael Astley-Brown published 4 May 23

The social media virtuoso and Machine Gun Kelly guitarist has kitted her signature model out with some fun appointments – and aesthetics you can customize

Justin Lyons and Machine Gun Kelly perform during the 2022 Bonnaroo Music & Arts festival on June 19, 2022 in Manchester, Tennessee.

Justin “GuitarSlayer” Lyons on designing a glow-in-the-dark guitar to bring session players into the limelight and the guitar lesson he learned from Machine Gun Kelly

By Ellie Rogers published 2 March 23

He got his start in K-pop, and now “GuitarSlayer” has worked in just about every genre under the sun – he shares his tips on how to go pro, why he watches videos of Prince, Hendrix and SRV before he hits the stage, and how he divided up guitar parts with Sophie Lloyd in MGK's live band

Sophie Lloyd recruits Matt Heafy for Fall of Man – the heavy-riffing second single from her first-ever studio album

By Matt Owen published 24 February 23

Lloyd serves up bruising riffs and a suite of searing shred runs while the Trivium frontman delivers parts he wrote and recorded live on Twitch in the latest preview of Imposter Syndrome

Machine Gun Kelly and Sophie Lloyd perform during 2022 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on June 19, 2022 in Manchester, Tennessee.

What the Sophie Lloyd and Machine Gun Kelly non-scandal reminds us about how society views women who play guitar

By Pauline France published 22 February 23

It took nothing more than a Instagram comment to send the rumor mill into overdrive – and the baseless controversy is emblematic of a bigger problem facing the guitar world