Elizabeth Swann
Elizabeth Swann is a devoted follower of prog-folk and has reported on the scene from far-flung places around the globe for The Evening Standard, Forbes, HuffPost, Prog, Wired, Popular Mechanics and The New Yorker. She treasures her collection of rare live Bert Jansch and John Renbourn reel-to-reel recordings and souvenir teaspoons collected from her travels through the Appalachians. When she’s not leaning over her Stella 12-string acoustic, she’s probably bent over her workbench with a soldering iron, modding some cheap synthesizer or effect pedal she pulled from a skip. Her favorite hobbies are making herbal wine and delivering sharp comebacks to men who ask if she’s the same Elizabeth Swann from Pirates of the Caribbean. (She is not.)
Latest articles by Elizabeth Swann

Circle Guitar does the picking for you. Radiohead's Ed O'Brien is onboard
By Elizabeth Swann published
O'Brien will receive the first of the roughly $10,000 MIDI-controlled self-strumming guitars when they start to roll off the line this year
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Karl Cochran, guitar player who worked with Kiss and Joe Lynn Turner, has died
By Elizabeth Swann published
The guitarist was a member of Ace Frehley's band and co-wrote "Into the Void" from Kiss's 1998 reunion album, 'Psycho Circus'
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Don Felder feeling better after being rushed offstage by medical emergency
By Elizabeth Swann published
The guitarist was playing on the Rock Legends Cruise when he became disoriented during a performance of the Eagles' classic “Tequila Sunrise”

Joe Satriani: "She can shred any guy out there"
By Elizabeth Swann published
Satch points to Alyssa Day as an example of how the digital age has leveled the playing field for women and others who once had to rely on record labels for success
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Steve Vai says he's “admired” this guitar player “for quite a while"
By Elizabeth Swann published
The virtuoso adds that he and Joe Satriani are “feverishly writing” new music together for the SatchVai band, whose tour kicks off in June
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Black Sabbath will reunite for one final show, with all-star support acts
By Elizabeth Swann published
Dubbed Back to the Beginning, the all-star event will take place on July 5 at Villa Park, Birmingham

Paul McCartney said necessity made him and John Lennon learn to be ambidextrous guitar players
By Elizabeth Swann published
McCartney also revealed how he came to understand the bass guitar's transformational power while recording the Beatles' "Michelle"
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“That's the easiest part, the solos." Why Angus Young thinks rhythm guitar is harder to play than lead
By Jas Obrecht published
The guitarist shared with us his favorite solos, but said “I never look at them as a solo thing. It’s our band. We all play together”
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Bob Daisley credits Randy Rhoads' faulty equipment for inspiring Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train"
By Elizabeth Swann published
The bassist and lyricist said he wrote the 1980 song about world events and the looming threat of another world war
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Jeff Beck on his microtonal guitar approach and how he set up his Fender Stratocaster for precision pitch bending
By Lisa Sharken published
The late guitarist shared insights into his influences and techniques in an interviewer for our May 1999 issue
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Martin celebrates its 3 millionth serialized instrument and announces new models
By Elizabeth Swann published
The diamond-encrusted masterpiece is a tribute to the company's 192-year history and the countless employees who have served it
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Derek Trucks explains why the Gibson SG is the best guitar for him
By Elizabeth Swann last updated
The Tedeschi Trucks guitarist says his main SG is one gifted to him by Duane Allman's daughter
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Joe Satriani and Steve Vai are writing new music and will tour as the SatchVai Band
By Elizabeth Swann published
The news comes at the end of a busy year of touring for the two guitar virtuosos
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