Players 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 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 Jimmy Page reflects on the Yardbirds and his short-lived two-guitar tandem with Jeff Beck The budding virtuosos had respect for one another, but Page says their respective styles occasionally clashed Latest Players 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 “He said, ‘Come by the studio tomorrow and bring your guitar.’ All at once, my life changed.” How an unknown guitarist turned a lunch date into session work on the biggest hits of the 1980s By Joe Bosso published 24 October 24 Eddie Martinez’s chance encounter made him a go-to session player for Mick Jagger, Steve Winwood, Robert Palmer and others Session guy Tim Pierce on his hits with Bon Jovi, Crowded House, Goo Goo Dolls and more By Joe Bosso published 18 October 24 Tim Pierce on the Goo Goo Dolls' Iris and the Michael Jackson hit inspired by Motley Crue Nick Lowe says he’s just a strummer — but these two classic-rock hits launched made him a songwriter's songwriter By Gary Graff published 18 October 24 Lowe tells the story behind "Cruel to Be Kind" and four other tracks from his 50-year career Dave Mason on meeting Jimi Hendrix in 1966 and making “All Along the Watchtower” with him By Alan Paul published 18 October 24 The former Traffic guitarist also tells us about his time with Eric Clapton as a founding member of Derek & the Dominos 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 said to them, ‘Just play these three chords and follow me!’ And then — boom — it hit me: This is a classic!” It took guitarist Randy Bachman seven years to write "Takin' Care of Business." It finally came together at one nearly disastrous show2"I wouldn’t normally be caught dead with one because I think they’re ugly. But that’s the only guitar I used." Mikael Åkerfeldt talks about his surprising choice of guitar for Opeth's latest album 3"My manager said did I fancy trying to write a song with David Gilmour? I was delighted to have a track on a Pink Floyd album." Exclusive: Hear Phil Manzanera's demo that became a Pink Floyd cut4“We recorded fresh guitar parts to allow us to create new Thin Lizzy acoustic versions of some of our favorite songs.” Guitarist Brian Bell announces a new Thin Lizzy album with original unheard vocals from Phil Lynott5“After a half hour sales pitch, he said, 'Forget the Gretsch! That's a toy. You'll appreciate the Gibson 335 much more later in life.' ” Ritchie Blackmore tells how amp-maker Jim Marshall sold him the guitar he used to launch Deep Purple
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
“He said, ‘Come by the studio tomorrow and bring your guitar.’ All at once, my life changed.” How an unknown guitarist turned a lunch date into session work on the biggest hits of the 1980s By Joe Bosso published 24 October 24 Eddie Martinez’s chance encounter made him a go-to session player for Mick Jagger, Steve Winwood, Robert Palmer and others
Session guy Tim Pierce on his hits with Bon Jovi, Crowded House, Goo Goo Dolls and more By Joe Bosso published 18 October 24 Tim Pierce on the Goo Goo Dolls' Iris and the Michael Jackson hit inspired by Motley Crue
Nick Lowe says he’s just a strummer — but these two classic-rock hits launched made him a songwriter's songwriter By Gary Graff published 18 October 24 Lowe tells the story behind "Cruel to Be Kind" and four other tracks from his 50-year career
Dave Mason on meeting Jimi Hendrix in 1966 and making “All Along the Watchtower” with him By Alan Paul published 18 October 24 The former Traffic guitarist also tells us about his time with Eric Clapton as a founding member of Derek & the Dominos
