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Andy Summers: "Message in a Bottle"
Randy Bachman's "Business" success
Scott Gorham on 'Jailbreak'

Latest News

Boss Katana 50 amp and Head on a pink background

Sweetwater just kicked off Black Friday early with the first ever reductions on the Boss' Katana Gen 3 amps

Ross Holder published 6 November 24

Whether you play bass or guitar, Sweetwater has you covered with fantastic savings across the versatile Katana range as part of their early Black Friday sale

A Gibson Les Paul on a blue background

Musician’s Friend go early on Black Friday with huge savings of up to 50% off music gear

Matt McCracken published 6 November 24

Get in on the action early with some huge early Black Friday deals at Musician’s Friend

Jim DeCola and Randy Rhoads

Jim DeCola talks about modding Randy Rhaods’ polka-dot V backstage minutes before it was played live and the legacy it created

Phil Weller published 6 November 24

He was so busy working on the guitar that he missed the support band. But he finished in time to witness an iconic rock moment

Ernie Isley and Paul McCartney

Ernie Isley recalls how a surprise meeting with Paul McCartney led to the pair jamming "Twist and Shout"

Phil Weller published 5 November 24

Nearly 60 years after both groups found success with their hit cover versions, the pair united for a special impromptu performance of the track

Mike Campbell and Lindsey Buckingham

Mike Campbell talks about replacing Lindsey Buckingham in Fleetwood Mac

Phil Weller published 5 November 24

The former Heartbreaker says his short time in Fleetwood Mac was an education and a challenge for one specific reason

Left: Quincy Jones holds three Grammys in 1982 .Right: Eddie Van Halen performs onstage, January 18, 1984

Quincy Jones, who died Sunday, never forgot his infamous phone call with Eddie Van Halen or the hit track they created

Christopher Scapelliti published 4 November 24

The celebrated producer was also behind George Benson's Grammy-winning album 'Give Me the Night'

Derek Trucks (left) and Warren Haynes perform with the Tedeschi Trucks Band as part of the "Garden Party" series at TD Garden on September 27, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. — Warren Haynes talks recording with Derek Trucks for the first time in over 20 years on Gregg Allman's forgotten gem The two former ABB guitarists reunited to bring Gregg's unheard song to life for Haynes' new album

Andy Summers poses in his home studio in 2019 for a feature in Guitar Player magazine — “It’s a famous riff, and I have to admit, it’s hard to play. You have to be a real guitarist to do it well." How Andy Summers made a massive Police hit using a hand-wrenching guitar figure and a Telecaster with a mysterious history The guitarist calls "Message in a Bottle" "the best song Sting ever came up with, and the best Police track”

Randy Bachman and C F Turner of Bachman Turner Overdrive performing on stage, Hammersmith Odeon, London, 1975. — It took guitarist Randy Bachman seven years to write "Takin' Care of Business." It finally came together at one nearly disastrous show The guitarist reveals that the Bachman-Turner Overdrive hit was actually inspired by the Beatles' "Paperback Writer" and written for the Guess Who

Paul McCartney performs as he headlines the Pyramid Stage during day four of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 25, 2022 in Glastonbury, England. — “I’ll just do a little bit of it and show you what got me in the Beatles.” Paul McCartney reveals the song he played for John Lennon that earned him a spot in the band McCartney says Lennon was impressed by his guitar playing and the fact that Paul knew all the words

Opeth's Mikael Akerfeldt — How vintage gear is fuelling Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt in the studio and on the road From a ‘90s Telecaster to Hank William’s 1940s Martin D-18, it’s been an interesting year of gear for the Swedish guitarist

Matthew Caws of Nada Surf — Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws talks vintage Gibsons, Ric Ocasek’s gift and scoring their second hit after 28 years He says the group's long-running success came from learning to fill a small room rather than half of a big room

Brian Robertson (left) and Scott Gorham perform with Thin Lizzy at the Palladium, New York City, October 22, 1977. — Scott Gorham on the making of Jailbreak – Thin Lizzy’s do-or-die fifth record, twin harmonies, and his relationship with Phil Lynott After two failed albums, Vertigo Records was ready to drop the band, but their twin-guitar harmonies saved the day

Randy Rhoads recording Ozzy Osbourne's 'Blizzard of Ozz' album at Ridge Farm Studio, 1980. — Ozzy bassist Bob Daisley on his first memories of Randy Rhoads and how he knew he was special With one rehearsal, the guitarist shattered fears that he was too young and inexperienced to be Ozzy's guitar star

Al Stewart performs in 1978 — It took guitarist Al Stewart 10 years to write his breakthrough hit. Then he tried to hide it Al Stewart loved the guitar work on "Year of the Cat." The sax solo? Not so much

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Players

Robby Krieger performing live onstage, December 30, 2006

"I decided that I was going to write a song with a lot of chords." Robby Krieger tells how he wrote a timeless hit with "Light My Fire"

By Joe Bosso last updated 6 November 24

Krieger explains how the song changed from the time they played it in clubs until it became a chart-topping hit single

The Yardbirds"pose for a portrait in England in 1966. Left to right: Jeff Beck, Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, Jimmy Page and Keith Relf.

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

Ed Roland of Collective Soul performs in concert at Emo's on November 20, 2015 in Austin, Texas.

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

Adrian Belew performs on stage during Guitar BCN 2016 at Sala Bikini on March 2, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain

"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 of Heart at The Oakland Coliseum in 1977 in Oakland, California.

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

Lessons

Tommy Emmanuel plays his acoustic guitar

Learn Travis picking, harp harmonics and 8 other techniques that make Tommy Emmanuel an acoustic tour de force

By Jeff Jacobson published 6 November 24

Put key elements of the acoustic shredder's style to work in your own playing with these video tutorials

A photo of a vintage 12-string acoustic guitar

How to choose the 12-string acoustic that's right for you — plus a few interesting options on the standard format

By Jimmy Leslie published 6 November 24

From higher string tension to tuning issues, a 12-string is a different animal from your standard six-string

John 5

Channel John 5's brilliance with a lesson in his chicken pickin’ prowess, rapid-fire banjo rolls, and behind-the-nut bending

By Chris Buono published 5 September 24

The man of many hats, face paints, and Teles guides GP through a gaggle of curated techniques culled from his catalog of solo albums

Teja Gerken

Why acoustic fingerstyle virtuoso Teja Gerken recommends playing air guitar

By Jimmy Leslie published 16 August 24

“And,” the acoustic ace tells GP, “there’s a side benefit from a health perspective”

Richie Sambora, pictured on the cover of the August 2024 issue of Guitar Player

August 2024 Guitar Player lesson audio

By Guitar Player Staff published 3 July 24

Gear

Two Taylor acoustic guitars lying on a rug

Best Taylor Guitars 2024: Our Pick Of The Finest Taylor Acoustic guitars You Can Buy Today

By Rob Laing last updated 3 November 24

Marrying innovation with sustainability, these instruments are Taylor-made for your collection

A PRS MT 15 tube amp head with footswitch

Best tube amps 2024: Top choices from Fender, Marshall, MESA/Boogie and more

By Richard Blenkinsop last updated 31 October 24

From single-channel combos to versatile, powerful heads, here are the best tube amps on offer right now

Best multi-effects pedals 2024: Do-it-all multi-FX for all styles and budgets

By Matt McCracken last updated 30 October 24

Expand your guitar-playing horizons with these multi-fx options from Line 6, Kemper, Neural DSP and more

Recording studio with acoustic and electric guitars and a guitar amp in shot

Best Guitar Audio Interfaces 2024: Great Guitar Recording Options For A Range Of Budgets

By Sam Roche last updated 30 October 24

Whether you’re a solo guitarist or a frequent collaborator, here lies the perfect guitar-ready interface for you – chosen by our experts

Best wireless guitar systems 2024: unshackle yourself from cables, it’s time to go wireless

By Daryl Robertson last updated 25 October 24

Unlock the freedom of the stage with our pick of the best wireless guitar systems from Boss, Line 6, AKG, Behringer, Sennheiser, NUX, and more

Orange TremLord surrounded by guitar gear

Best Combo Amps 2024: Our Pick Of Stunning Solid-State and Tube Combos For All Budgets

By Daryl Robertson last updated 24 October 24

No matter your genre, budget or skill level, these top combo amplifiers from Fender, Orange, Blackstar, EVH, and more will make your guitar sing

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