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Ritchie Blackmore in 1968, and Eric Clapton in 1970, both playing live on stage

That time Ritchie Blackmore disturbed Eric Clapton by cranking Marshalls in a hotel at 3am

By Matt Owen published

Blackmore decided to protest some noisy hotel maintenance with some equally noisy guitar antics. Unfortunately, Slowhand was in the room next door…

Martin Simpson

Open Csus2 chords: 5 shapes you need to know

By Jon Bishop published

With its low C tuning on your sixth string, open Csus2 is a powerful tuning, used to great effect by powerhouse acoustic folk players such as Martin Simpson

Mdou Moctar and band perform a tiny desk concert against an office backdrop

Mdou Moctar delivers scorching solos at the NPR offices – and even ditches his Strat for an Acoustasonic

By Janelle Borg published

Moctar and his band showcased standout tracks from his latest album, the critically acclaimed Funeral for Justice, in an electric performance

Musician Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith performs on the Sunset Cliffs Stage during the 2016 KAABOO Del Mar at the Del Mar Fairgrounds on September 17, 2016 in Del Mar, California

Aerosmith may have retired from touring, but bassist Tom Hamilton says it might not be the end for the band

By Matt Owen published

The US rock icons announced they'd be retiring from the road following Steven Tyler's vocal injury

David Gilmour

David Gilmour on how he won over Luck and Strange’s solo-sceptic producer

By Janelle Borg published

Gilmour has also addressed whether he feels pressured to deliver solos on the fly – and how he writes them

Pat Travers and Eddie Van Halen playing guitar in the 1980s

Pat Travers recalls how Eddie Van Halen gave rise to caricature impersonators

By Matt Owen published

Travers witnessed Van Halen at the peak of his powers, but was able to appreciate aspects of his trailblazing playing style that often went under-appreciated by Eddie's peers

Closeup of Fender Offset Picks

I’ve been on a quest to find the perfect pick – and it didn’t just improve my tone, it made me a better player

By Michael Astley-Brown published

After using Tortex for 20 years, I tried Fender’s “game-changing” Offset Picks – they weren’t my final destination, but they made me realize what an important contribution picks make to your overall sound

King Gizzard playing with a fan on stage

Fan plays guitar onstage with King Gizzard in memory of his friend who died in an avalanche

By Janelle Borg published

King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard performed the track Perihelion with fan Timmy at a recent show in Boston

Prince during The 19th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony - Show at Waldorf Astoria in New York City, New York, United States

Unreleased Prince documentary suggests his iconic While My Guitar Gently Weeps solo was an “act of revenge” against Rolling Stone

By Matt Owen published

Prince's famous solo from the 2004 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was performed a year after Rolling Stone omitted him from its 100 Greatest Guitarists list

Ashdown SX Amp Series

Ashdown’s mid-priced SX range looks to put a modern spin on classic tube amp tones

By Phil Weller published

Dubbed “cost-effective gems” by their maker, the new SX amps are available in a variety of formats and promise a wide array of sounds

Mk.gee performing live on Jimmy Kimmel

Lo-fi guitar hero Mk.gee on why he decided to learn guitar basics from an upright bassist

By Janelle Borg published

Rather than developing a clear-cut guitar technique, Mk.gee wanted to learn how to use the guitar as a tool for experimentation

Fender Blu DeTiger Limited Edition Player Plus Jazz Bass

Fender honors viral bass sensation Blu DeTiger with a signature Jazz Bass – and it sounds as good as it looks

By Matt Owen published

DeTiger helped Fender first launch the Player Plus Jazz Bass back in 2021, and now she's been treated to her very own signature model

Gibson Victory

Gibson channels Superstrat and PRS vibes as it revives its Victory model for the first time in 40 years

By Matt Owen published

The Victory's revival was first teased late last year, and the offset double-cut has been rebooted with a few choice tweaks

David Gilmour and Romany Gilmour playing acoustic guitar at a British pub

David Gilmour surprises pub-goers with acoustic rendition of Pink Floyd classic accompanied by Romany

By Janelle Borg published

Gilmour wielded his Martin D-35 signature acoustic for a special Wish You Were Here duet at a tiny pub in the UK

Corey Taylor and Steve Vai performing on stage

Slipknot's Corey Taylor collaborates with his hero Steve Vai on new Billy Morrison track

By Matt Owen published

Incite The Watch is lifted from The Morrison Project, which sees the Slipknot vocalist fulfil a lifelong dream of working with the virtuoso

Electric guitar with a HSS pickup configuration

Single coils vs humbuckers: Which pickup type is right for you?

By Matt McCracken last updated

They both offer a unique flavor of guitar tone, but is one pickup really better than the other? We deep dive into the debate

Molly Tuttle

Open Gsus4 tuning chords: 5 chords you need to know

By Jon Bishop published

A must-learn tuning for folk acoustic styles, open Gsus4 makes for easy chords that sound amazing

Slash

Slash on the benefits of affordable guitars – and why overspending on gear is “not worth it”

By Phil Weller published

The Guns N' Roses guitarist explains why splashing the cash simply for the name on a headstock isn't a good idea

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic's Blackbyrd McKnight perform on stage at Wilderness Festival on August 8, 2015 in Oxford, United Kingdom

DeWayne Blackbyrd McKnight on how he came to join George Clinton's legendary music collective

By Janelle Borg published

McKnight's journey to Parliament-Funkadelic started with him knocking on a stranger's door after hearing someone play guitar

Linkin Park 2017

Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson explains why he's decided to sit out the band’s comeback tour

By Phil Weller published

Delson – whose replacement in the Linkin Park live lineup has been confirmed – will focus on his contributions to the band behind the scenes