Latest articles by Jim Beaugez
“We’re the birthplace of blues, country and rock and roll music, and the guitar is at the core of all of it”: The America at the Crossroads exhibit charts the guitar’s history with instruments owned by Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, B.B. King, and more
A new exhibit at The MAX museum explores the guitar’s cultural impact through dozens of significant instruments – from a stunning custom Martin D-28 built for Elvis Presley's estate to a rickety Soviet-era Tonika model
“When you show up to a set thinking you’re gonna hear acoustic blues and you hear tapping on an overdriven resonator, it might make you stop and listen”: Buffalo Nichols on breaking with blues tradition, and charting his own resonator-led path
With programmed drums, samples, some occasional two-hand tapping, and a renewed sense of purpose – as displayed on his sophomore album, The Fatalist – Nichols is taking the blues into the 21st century
“The weakness that guitar players often have is they’re good at noodling but not necessarily at making a hook that sticks to your ribs”: How heartland rocker Dave Hause made his new album Drive It Like It’s Stolen
We catch up with Dave Hause as he prepares to take the songs from his latest album on the road and talk parenthood, the benefits of stripped-down production and discover why Mike Campbell is his favourite guitarist
“Guitar playing is a creative thing. If you come into it thinking that it’s a competition, you’re already screwed”: Rising U.K. blues guitarist Dom Martin on beating his inner demons and the ghost of Rory Gallagher
After four years of sobriety and a slew of acclaimed blues albums, Dom Martin hits his stride on Buried in the Hail
“We worked out a big, long harmonized guitar solo. It’s my little homage to Thin Lizzy.” Foo Fighter Chris Shiflett on his new solo album Lost at Sea and why he's happy to not be the loudest guitarist in the room
After he regretted not playing more guitar on his solo albums, Chris Shiflett assembled a six-string dream team for Lost at Sea. The result is a treat for the ears
“I had a gold Klon but I lost it in Hurricane Katrina...” Blues supremo Eric Johanson on being both a Metallica and Jack White fanboy and why he’s into tone as much as music
With the help of "a really gritty velcro fuzz", blues guitarist Eric Johanson gets into the raw experience of the moment on his latest album, The Deep and the Dirty
"Blues Music Is My First Love": Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Reveals Five Life-Changing Riffs
Video The Fender signature artist and Grammy-winning bluesman talks vital influences from Albert King and B.B. King to Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Hazel
“Study Is a Big Word. I Just Looked at the Charts and Saw New Chords”: Peter One Reveals His Approach to Guitar Playing and Talks Returning to Music With an Intoxicating Solo Debut, ‘Come Back to Me’
“African music is sometimes weird; the beat is difficult. So I said to myself, If I play an instrument like guitar, I’ll probably get it,” says the former West African star
Jason Isbell’s Top Five Life-Changing Riffs
Video The multiple Grammy-winning maestro's journey intersected some serious guitar techniques
Molly Tuttle’s Top Five Tunes Revealed
Video The Grammy-winning bluegrass star shares the music that shaped her style
Marcus King’s Top Five Life-Changing Riffs
Video The singer, songwriter and guitarist reveals the music that inspired his southern fusion
Nels Cline Names Five Life-Changing Riffs
Video From the Byrds to Minutemen, the Wilco guitarist reveals five inspiring guitar tracks that changed his musical life forever
“This Is Me Rediscovering Myself and Finally Being Myself”: Laura Cox Reaches a New Level With ‘Head Above Water’
The French guitar phenom opens up about her latest album
“I Try to Do Things That Aren’t Going to Interfere With the Song”: Chris Scruggs and Craig Smith Explore the Licks That Make Jim Lauderdale’s New Album ‘Game Changer’ a Winner
How Lauderdale’s latest two players put in the extra innings to make the record shine
“No Matter Where You’re at in Life: There’s so Much to Learn”: Revered Singer-Songwriter Jim Lauderdale Opens up About His Decades-Long Musical Evolution
As he drops his 35th album, ‘Game Changer,’ the Americana stalwart is learning to be a better musician
The Evolution of Hill Country Blues
From Mississippi Fred McDowell to Cedric Burnside, here’s how a new generation is taking the juke joint sound forward
“There Was More to It Than Just Music”: Charlie Musselwhite Talks Blues
The revered harp player finds his way back to the guitar on new album, ‘Mississippi Son’
"We Let It Be the Raw Components of Who We Are as a Rock Band": Larkin Poe Talk Recording Their Blues-Infused Rock 'n' Roll Album, ‘Blood Harmony’
Dynamic duo Rebecca and Megan Lovell channel live energy with fuzz guitars and lap steel
Momma Talk Making a Record That Sounds “Bigger Than Any Bands My Dude Friends Were In“
The ‘90s alt-rock devotees bring back molten-hot Big Muff fuzz on 'Household Name'
“I Knew What I Wanted to Do With Guitars”: Bartees Strange on His Heady New Album, ‘Farm to Table’
The rising indie-rock star cooks up a dynamic concoction
Spoon’s Britt Daniel Reveals How ZZ Top and Their Native Austin, Texas Inspired the Group’s Latest Album, ‘Lucifer on the Sofa’
The Fender signature artist talks technique, songwriting and gear.
“His Storytelling Was as Brilliant as His Guitar Playing”: How the Spirit of Skip James is Felt Stronger than Ever Today in Bentonia Blues
Washed up at age 30, the legendary bluesman was rediscovered in 1964, just five years before his death.
“I’ve Been Interested in Guitar as an Instrument That Adds to a Band Instead of Overtakes it”: Browan Lollar Talks Finding His Sound
The St. Paul and the Broken Bones guitarist calls on the wisdom of his heroes on the band’s latest, ‘The Alien Coast.’
