Players Coco Montoya recalls how John Mayall turned him from a bartender into his Bluesbreaker guitarslinger The guitarist, who spent 10 years in Mayall's company, learned his stylings from Albert King Rich Williams recalls how his choice of guitar picks ruined a day’s worth of playing on the biggest hit Kansas ever had The guitarist says his banjo-playing experience had a lot to do with his choice of plectrum These Allman Brothers songs explain why Dickey Betts was a legend on acoustic as well as electric You can rock classics like "Blue Sky" and "Ramblin’ Man" — as well as most of Betts' material — with nothing more than an acoustic guitar Latest Players Ben Harper on playing with Jack Johnson and Harry Styles, and the crazy Martin Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie built By Jimmy Leslie published 15 July 24 As he celebrates his latest album, Wide Open Light, Harper shares memories of his family's iconic Folk Music Center, what he learned from legends like Taj Mahal, and the Taylor he's “head over heels for” Vinyl Treasures: Steel Guitar Favorites shows Jerry Byrd at the very top of his game By Jim Campilongo published 12 July 24 On this outstanding album, Byrd packs in every steel-guitar treat one could hope for, including tone sweeps that convincingly replicate the human voice Mark Knopfler on the guitars he couldn't send to auction, and that all-star version of Going Home By Gary Graff published 11 July 24 Following the release of One Deep River, Knopfler reflects on the guitars he’s loved – including his “serial number zero” Strat – the music that keeps his passion youthful, and how he’d like a do-over on that Dire Straits Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction How Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner transformed Lou Reed's moody, street-smart performances into an album of twin-guitar-led hard rock heroics By Gary Graff published 2 July 24 After Reed’s dark concept album, Berlin, bombed, guitarists Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner helped him get his groove back. The result was Rock ’n’ Roll Animal, the live classic that revitalized Reed's spirit and rescued his career Scott Henderson on trombone-emulating pedals, and balancing dense arrangements with blues progressions By Bill Milkowski published 1 July 24 Scott Henderson spent lockdown training his ears and building improv skills. As his new album, Karnevel!, shows, his jazz chops reached new heights, but his blues-rock roots remain as strong as ever Walter Trout is healthier and playing better than ever, but he’s still being dragged down by the world around him By Mark McStea published 27 June 24 On Broken, Trout – with some help from Dee Snider and a ’60s Coral electric sitar – tries to bring hope in a divided world through some of the most fiery licks of his career Blue Öyster Cult's Buck Dharma on the stories behind (Don’t Fear) The Reaper, and other BÖC classics By Gary Graff published 24 June 24 Less cowbell, more songs – the Blue Öyster Cult guitarist goes deep on the writing and recording of some of the band's greatest tunes How Amos Garrett and switching away from a Strat helped Glenn Tilbrook write Squeeze’s Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) By Joe Bosso published 21 June 24 Though most of Squeeze’s breakthrough US hit came easy for Tilbrook, its solo took the guitarist out of his usual comfort zone David Gilmour reflects on Syd Barrett, and Pink Floyd's Live 8 reunion By Mark Ellen published 27 May 24 “The years in what is now considered to be our heyday were 95 percent musically fulfilling and joyous and full of fun and laughter – and I don’t want to let the other five percent color my view of what was a long and fantastic time together” Betty Davis's self-titled debut album is essential funk guitar listening By Jim Campilongo published 17 May 24 This oft-overlooked, and recently-reissued, album sprang from the early '70s Bay Area music scene, which featured some of the best funk ever played by human hands 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"John Mayall called me up a second time. He said, ‘Don't hang up! I really am interested in having you in the band.' ” Coco Montoya recalls how John Mayall turned him from a bartender into his Bluesbreaker guitarslinger2“Everyone was hanging their heads, saying, ‘We’ve got to re-do it. Listen to this.’ ” Rich Williams recalls how his guitar picks ruined a day’s worth of playing on the biggest hit Kansas ever had. Even worse — he'd quadruple-tracked his guitar3"He approached a dreadnought much like he did a Les Paul, attacking leads and muscling the strings to achieve bends and vibrato." These Allman Brothers songs explain why Dickey Betts was a legend on acoustic as well as electric4“Rehearsal rooms are expensive in Los Angeles. So I decided to buy a boat. It’s way cheaper.” How one Grammy-winning guitarist, three Gibson ES-295s and a tiny ship became a formula for musical success5"The luthier said, 'I've never seen one that had this penciling inside. It's a ground-zero Jazzmaster.’ ” Thurston Moore was gifted a vintage axe when Sonic Youth's gear was stolen. He had no idea how rare it was
Ben Harper on playing with Jack Johnson and Harry Styles, and the crazy Martin Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie built By Jimmy Leslie published 15 July 24 As he celebrates his latest album, Wide Open Light, Harper shares memories of his family's iconic Folk Music Center, what he learned from legends like Taj Mahal, and the Taylor he's “head over heels for”
Vinyl Treasures: Steel Guitar Favorites shows Jerry Byrd at the very top of his game By Jim Campilongo published 12 July 24 On this outstanding album, Byrd packs in every steel-guitar treat one could hope for, including tone sweeps that convincingly replicate the human voice
Mark Knopfler on the guitars he couldn't send to auction, and that all-star version of Going Home By Gary Graff published 11 July 24 Following the release of One Deep River, Knopfler reflects on the guitars he’s loved – including his “serial number zero” Strat – the music that keeps his passion youthful, and how he’d like a do-over on that Dire Straits Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction
How Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner transformed Lou Reed's moody, street-smart performances into an album of twin-guitar-led hard rock heroics By Gary Graff published 2 July 24 After Reed’s dark concept album, Berlin, bombed, guitarists Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner helped him get his groove back. The result was Rock ’n’ Roll Animal, the live classic that revitalized Reed's spirit and rescued his career
Scott Henderson on trombone-emulating pedals, and balancing dense arrangements with blues progressions By Bill Milkowski published 1 July 24 Scott Henderson spent lockdown training his ears and building improv skills. As his new album, Karnevel!, shows, his jazz chops reached new heights, but his blues-rock roots remain as strong as ever
Walter Trout is healthier and playing better than ever, but he’s still being dragged down by the world around him By Mark McStea published 27 June 24 On Broken, Trout – with some help from Dee Snider and a ’60s Coral electric sitar – tries to bring hope in a divided world through some of the most fiery licks of his career
Blue Öyster Cult's Buck Dharma on the stories behind (Don’t Fear) The Reaper, and other BÖC classics By Gary Graff published 24 June 24 Less cowbell, more songs – the Blue Öyster Cult guitarist goes deep on the writing and recording of some of the band's greatest tunes
How Amos Garrett and switching away from a Strat helped Glenn Tilbrook write Squeeze’s Pulling Mussels (From the Shell) By Joe Bosso published 21 June 24 Though most of Squeeze’s breakthrough US hit came easy for Tilbrook, its solo took the guitarist out of his usual comfort zone
David Gilmour reflects on Syd Barrett, and Pink Floyd's Live 8 reunion By Mark Ellen published 27 May 24 “The years in what is now considered to be our heyday were 95 percent musically fulfilling and joyous and full of fun and laughter – and I don’t want to let the other five percent color my view of what was a long and fantastic time together”
Betty Davis's self-titled debut album is essential funk guitar listening By Jim Campilongo published 17 May 24 This oft-overlooked, and recently-reissued, album sprang from the early '70s Bay Area music scene, which featured some of the best funk ever played by human hands
