Kim Thayil on what Soundgarden’s album is like, and why you’re waiting so long for it
Guitarist explains the challenges of working with late singer Chris Cornell’s voice to complete a “quirky, introspective” record with no release date yet
Guitarists
Eric Bell on the Thin Lizzy show that ended his dream gig
The guitarist says he couldn't play without drinking — and couldn't play after drinking, bringing his time with the Irish rockers to an early end
Ry Cooder lost an eye at four. A guitar helped him find his way back
Cooder helped reshape the Rolling Stones’ guitar sound. But first, he had his own transformative encounters with Bukka White, Gary Davis and an unknown hillbilly flatpicker.
Joe Bonamassa says this rare instrument is the most meaningful guitar he owns
The blues star owns guitars tied to Tommy Bolin and Lowell George — but the instrument he dreamed about as a kid means the most.
Gear
My favorite guitar practice tool just hit its lowest-ever price of $99, thanks to Positive Grid wiping nearly 40% off the Spark Neo Core
Grab an early Labor Day steal with some mega savings in the Positive Grid Fall Tone Fest sale
Sweetwater has jumped the gun on Labor Day
Time to save big on guitar gear with this super early Labor Day sale from Sweetwater
How Grady Martin, Nancy Sinatra and Ann-Margret helped fuzz become every guitarist's favorite effect
Between the effect's creation and its development as a guitar pedal, interest was kept alive by a trio of fuzz-loving musicians
Best overdrive pedals 2026: saturate your guitar tone
Push your sound to break-up with the best OD pedals from Boss, TC Electronic, JHS, Ibanez and more
Guitars
Best acoustic guitar pedals 2026: Boost your tone with the top effects pedals for acoustic guitar
Take your acoustic tone to the next level with my top pedal picks, from DIs to delays
Best acoustic guitar strings 2026: my pick of the best strings around
From coated options to custom gauges, these are the best acoustic strings on the market from Elixir, Ernie Ball, D’Addario, and more
This bizarre two-by-four guitar flopped in 1967 — then Devo made it famous
The La Baye 2x4 sold only around 45 examples after its 1967 debut. Now it’s a cult classic. Here’s why its unusual looks are only part of the appeal
Alvin Lee’s daughter tells how Gibson accidentally preserved his Woodstock guitar forever
After sending his legendary “Big Red” ES-335 in for a neck repair, the Ten Years After guitarist got back a very different instrument
Best classical guitars 2026: my pick of the finest nylon-string acoustics
From small-scale acoustics for your first steps to stage-ready electro-classicals, here's what to look for
We review the Taylor Ben Harper Gold Label 512e Special Edition grand concert
With its short scale, compact body and warm, articulate voice, Taylor’s Ben Harper signature is an acoustic that rewards everything from delicate fingerpicking to bluesy bends
Guitar Center and Sweetwater bring your dream guitar closer than ever with massive savings on Fender, Jackson, EVH, and Gretsch - and that includes $200 off the Fender American Pro II Telecaster
From Fender classics, EVH signature models, and metal-ready Jacksons, you'll find healthy discounts on a range of Fender-owned brands at multiple retailers
Makers
New video shows Les Paul’s home and workshop in ruins just before demolition: “It made me sick”
Guitar collector Perry Margouleff filmed the Mahwah property in its final days, while Les Paul’s son questions why preservation was never pursued
Behind the Beatles’ Abbey Road cover with Paul McCartney and its designer: “I thought, I’ve got to do this and get it out on Wednesday?”
As Sam Mendes re-creates the iconic image for his new Beatles films, we revisit how the original cover photo became an icon
Roger Daltrey says the Who invented metal before Black Sabbath
The singer says the Who's pioneering use of volume, feedback and Marshall amps laid the foundations for metal years before Black Sabbath arrived.
Fender serves a cease-and-desist to PRS, but does this latest target meet Fender’s copyist criteria?
PRS confirms it received a cease-and-desist letter over the Silver Sky — John Mayer’s massively successful signature model. But does this latest target meet Fender’s copyist criteria?
Studio legend Glyn Johns on Paul McCartney's shocking request to work on what became the Beatles' final album
The album’s roots live on as 'Let It Be,' but Johns says the rest of the band didn’t get McCartney’s “really interesting” idea
From Taylor Swift to Phoebe Bridgers and Wilco's Jeff Tweedy — how indie rockers came to adopt a guitar bridge born from parts in Home Depot's toilet aisle
Rubber-bridge guitars have changed the sound of acoustic guitar over the past 10 years. And it's all down to one man's invention
Recording engineer Glyn Johns on why he never used click tracks when working with the Stones, Beatles, and Led Zeppelin
He’s recorded and mixed seminal records by some of rock’s biggest artists, and click tracks were always left out in the cold
Lessons
“Here’s how to make your guitar sing…” Larry McCray Blues Masterclass
Learn these 13 examples that span across gospel inspired moans and bends, the Chicago shuffle and Larry Carlton's super arpeggio approach to soloing
Joe Bonamassa explains his trick for finding the guitars you’ll want to keep forever
The blues guitar star has amassed more than 600 guitars, from rare Les Pauls and Strats to a $400,000 Flying V. But he says the secret to finding a keeper is asking yourself one simple question
$99 for full access to Guitar Tricks online lessons is an absolute steal with this Summer Black Friday deal – especially if you’re a beginner
Save a huge $861 off this mega bundle and take your playing to new heights this year
Music
Neil Diamond was fired five times before the Monkees scored a hit with his song “I’m a Believer”: “He was angry I’d given away a No. 1 hit”
Diamond nearly offered the song to a country star before the Monkees turned it into one of the biggest hits of the 1960s
Billy Gibbons remembers late ZZ Top drummer Frank Beard
The guitarist said the trio will "keep on keeping on," even though he's now the last surviving member of the band's iconic classic lineup
Barbra Streisand recorded over 30 takes of “The Way We Were.” Nothing worked. Then the bassist tried something different
Session legend Carol Kaye says the song came alive the moment she ignored the written part
Alex Van Halen has been knighted
The Van Halen drummer returned to Nijmegen, where he spent his childhood with Eddie, to receive one of the country’s highest civilian honors
Jimmy Page on the Beatle who inspired Led Zeppelin’s most beautiful song
George Harrison’s complaint inspired Page to borrow one of his melodies — but there’s a James Taylor connection there as well
Brian May is still upset about the controversial B-side to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” single
Drummer Roger Taylor’s tongue-in-cheek tune on the hit song's B-side brought him a hefty payday. May still holds a grudge.
Stevie Nicks wrote “Landslide” after Lindsey Buckingham left her stranded in Aspen. Now she’s singing it with Olivia Rodrigo: “She reminds me of me”
Nicks joined Rodrigo for the Fleetwood Mac classic at Daisy Chain Fields, more than 50 years after the song emerged from one of the most difficult moments of her life
