Players “I had this really nice old Strat I used for a lot of stuff. I loved Jimi Hendrix so much and I really liked the tonality of that guitar.” Chris Stein on Blondie’s hit “Dreaming” and its secret ingredient Notes Stein, “I think I'm the first person to actually have an EBow credited on a record” “People Always Say I’m the Beatle Who Changed the Most”: The Incredible Story of How George Harrison Became a Guitar Legend While all the elements of Harrison’s guitar style were falling into place, the Beatles were falling apart. Here’s what happened… Robby Krieger reveals how breaking the rules resulted in the Doors' breakthrough hit, "Light My Fire" He says his chart-topping song came about because Jim Morrison said "We need more originals" Latest Players Robby Krieger reveals how breaking the rules resulted in the Doors' breakthrough hit, "Light My Fire" By Joe Bosso published 7 November 24 The guitarist says his chart-topping song came about because Jim Morrison said "We need more originals" It took guitarist Randy Bachman seven years to write "Takin' Care of Business." It finally came together at one nearly disastrous show By Gary Graff last updated 3 November 24 The guitarist reveals that the Bachman-Turner Overdrive hit was actually inspired by the Beatles' "Paperback Writer" and written for the Guess Who Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws talks vintage Gibsons, Ric Ocasek’s gift and scoring their second hit after 28 years By Joe Bosso published 30 October 24 He says the group's long-running success came from learning to fill a small room rather than half of a big room Jimmy Page reflects on the Yardbirds and his short-lived two-guitar tandem with Jeff Beck By Jackson Maxwell published 30 October 24 Though the two budding virtuosos had plenty of respect for one another, it perhaps isn't a huge surprise that their respective styles occasionally clashed in the Yardbirds How a Rickenbacker and an empty toilet paper roll made one of the greatest guitar songs of the 1990s By Joe Matera published 29 October 24 Ed Roland says he was thrilled when Dolly Parton — of all people — covered "Shine" and won a Grammy for it "As much as I love gear and gadgets, there’s no substitute for what you can do with your fingers." Adrian Belew reveals six ways to change your guitar game right now, for free By Joe Bosso published 28 October 24 The guitarist also explains how he made a new instrument out of a child’s toy and used it on his latest album Nancy Wilson tells how blazing guitars, powerhouse riffs and Yes combined to make Heart's monster hit "Barracuda" By Joe Bosso published 28 October 24 The guitarist also recalls the controversial history behind the group's 1977 classic rocker Soccer Mommy’s Sophie Allison on the value of chord knowledge — and why 20 layers of guitars is too many By Andrew Daly published 28 October 24 The Nashville guitarist says writing on acoustic guitar is key to her method "It's a very weird situation, and I don't think I'll ever understand it." Guitarist K.K. Downing updates his status with Judas Priest as he tells the story behind the song that defined the group's heavy-metal image By Joe Matera published 27 October 24 The guitarist —who celebrates his birthday today — says he wrote "Run of the Mill" to show off Rob Halford's remarkable vocal range It took guitarist Al Stewart 10 years to write his breakthrough hit. Then he tried to hide it By Joe Matera published 24 October 24 Al Stewart loved the guitar work on "Year of the Cat." The sax solo? Not so much 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives Get The Pick NewsletterAll the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors LATEST ARTICLES1“I might have done better in the Bluesbreakers than in the Yardbirds. But I didn't want to be mimicking Chicago blues musicians forever." Jeff Beck said he turned down a spot in John Mayall’s group, only for Jimi Hendrix to nearly derail his career2Electronics legend Roger Mayer on salvaging Bob Marley's guitars for the making of his hit album 'Exodus'3Scott Gorham tells how an offhand moment led to his favorite Thin Lizzy song, released 50 years ago 4“People Always Say I’m the Beatle Who Changed the Most”: The Incredible Story of How George Harrison Became a Guitar Legend5Vox’s four new Valvenergy pedals aim to put tubey richness and compression in guitarists’ sight
Robby Krieger reveals how breaking the rules resulted in the Doors' breakthrough hit, "Light My Fire" By Joe Bosso published 7 November 24 The guitarist says his chart-topping song came about because Jim Morrison said "We need more originals"
It took guitarist Randy Bachman seven years to write "Takin' Care of Business." It finally came together at one nearly disastrous show By Gary Graff last updated 3 November 24 The guitarist reveals that the Bachman-Turner Overdrive hit was actually inspired by the Beatles' "Paperback Writer" and written for the Guess Who
Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws talks vintage Gibsons, Ric Ocasek’s gift and scoring their second hit after 28 years By Joe Bosso published 30 October 24 He says the group's long-running success came from learning to fill a small room rather than half of a big room
Jimmy Page reflects on the Yardbirds and his short-lived two-guitar tandem with Jeff Beck By Jackson Maxwell published 30 October 24 Though the two budding virtuosos had plenty of respect for one another, it perhaps isn't a huge surprise that their respective styles occasionally clashed in the Yardbirds
How a Rickenbacker and an empty toilet paper roll made one of the greatest guitar songs of the 1990s By Joe Matera published 29 October 24 Ed Roland says he was thrilled when Dolly Parton — of all people — covered "Shine" and won a Grammy for it
"As much as I love gear and gadgets, there’s no substitute for what you can do with your fingers." Adrian Belew reveals six ways to change your guitar game right now, for free By Joe Bosso published 28 October 24 The guitarist also explains how he made a new instrument out of a child’s toy and used it on his latest album
Nancy Wilson tells how blazing guitars, powerhouse riffs and Yes combined to make Heart's monster hit "Barracuda" By Joe Bosso published 28 October 24 The guitarist also recalls the controversial history behind the group's 1977 classic rocker
Soccer Mommy’s Sophie Allison on the value of chord knowledge — and why 20 layers of guitars is too many By Andrew Daly published 28 October 24 The Nashville guitarist says writing on acoustic guitar is key to her method
"It's a very weird situation, and I don't think I'll ever understand it." Guitarist K.K. Downing updates his status with Judas Priest as he tells the story behind the song that defined the group's heavy-metal image By Joe Matera published 27 October 24 The guitarist —who celebrates his birthday today — says he wrote "Run of the Mill" to show off Rob Halford's remarkable vocal range
It took guitarist Al Stewart 10 years to write his breakthrough hit. Then he tried to hide it By Joe Matera published 24 October 24 Al Stewart loved the guitar work on "Year of the Cat." The sax solo? Not so much
