“An owl meeting a bumblebee in mid-flight.” Ritchie Blackmore on crafting the perfect Deep Purple–era guitar tone
The legend reveals how Marshall, Fender and even a tape deck helped shape his famously heavy — but barely distorted — sound
Guitarists
Why Bill Frisell bought Robert Quine’s blue Telecaster after his death
Frisell recalls his friendship with Quine, the New York City jam session that led to the guitar’s purchase, and the modifications that made it his own.
Jack White on the accident that forced a major change in his guitar playing
In the wake of a freak car mishap, the guitarist had to relearn how to form chords without the use of his index finger
“The guitar is like this magic wand.” Bill Frisell on imagination, collaboration and the guitar guiding his new album
The jazz great speaks with us about creative humility, turning 75 and why ‘In My Dreams’ is about collective conversation — not guitar heroics
Gear
Best pedalboards 2026: budget-spanning 'boards to help you organize your effects
Level up your rig and get the most out of your pedals with ‘boards from the likes of Pedaltrain, Boss, Temple Audio, Friedman, and more
The Presidents' Day celebrations have arrived early at Musician's Friend with massive discounts of up to 60% off guitar gear, including some sweet deals on Fender, Epiphone, and Martin guitars
Get your hands on a new guitar, amp, or effects pedal at a healthy discount in this early Presidents’ Day sale
“This amp’s dynamics are off the charts.” We review Bartel Amplifiers’ Swingland 1x12 combo and find a low-watter that delivers high-wattage tone, response and feel
The Swingland is designed for studio/home use to deliver like a cranked vintage amp at low volume
Best amp modelers 2026: get all your dream guitar tones in one
Amp models so good, you’ll think they’re the real thing
Guitars
Best guitar capos 2026: acoustic and electric options for every budget
Boost your creativity and explore new horizons with our pick of the best capos from Shubb, Ernie Ball, G7th, and more
Best beginner bass guitars 2026: starting you off on your low-end journey
Great models for budding bass stars from Squier, Ibanez, Gretsch, Sterling by Music Man and more
Best acoustic guitars under $500 in 2026: top-rated acoustic guitars for less
My wallet-friendly picks of the best acoustics under $500 from the likes of Epiphone, D'Angelico, Gretsch, Yamaha, and more
I didn’t expect much for guitarists in the Amazon Presidents’ Day sale, but these 6 deals are well worth checking out with big savings on Boss, Fender, D'Addario, and more
There are loads of deals in the Presidents' Day sale, but not all of them are great, here's my top picks to get you straight to the good stuff
Grab yourself some historic savings with the 5 best Presidents’ Day sales for guitar players, including hundreds slashed off Fender, Gibson, PRS, and more
We round up the greatest sales for guitarists at Guitar Center, Sweetwater, Musician's Friend, and beyond
The price of golden-era guitar tone just plummeted with a staggering $600 saving on a Vintera II guitar at the official Fender Presidents' Day sale
Grab yourself some historic savings on period-correct guitars at the mega Fender Presidents' Day sale
Guitar Center pledges to make guitars cheap again this Presidents' Day, and with a staggering $900 off a Gibson Les Paul, they've got my vote
From Fender to Gibson, Epiphone, Martin, Gretsch and D’Angelico you can score giant discounts on killer guitars and more
Makers
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
Tommy Emmanuel reveals everything you need to know about his upcoming Guitar Camp U.S.A.
Presented by Dreamcatcher Events this October, the camp is a hands-on learning experience unlike any other, featuring the acoustic virtuoso and other noted guitarists
New tariffs are having a negative impact on Fender’s credit rating
The taxes affect production at Fender’s facilities where guitars, amps, pedals and other electronics are made
Ciari Guitars is rising high as the industry’s premier travel guitar maker
Ciari founder Jonathan Spangler tells the story behind his company's innovative folding guitar design and technology
Lessons
Learn five essential fingerstyle patterns and timeless techniques in Eric Bibb’s blues masterclass
From rich chords to articulate fingerpicking, this tutorial will elevate your acoustic blues vocabulary and deepen your musicality
B.B. King on his trick for getting more sounds out of your guitar
The King offered invaluable advice that any guitarist can put to use
Session guitar ace Shane Theriot shows how to elevate your rhythm and lead chops with bluesy licks, soul grooves and jazzy chromaticism
Inspired by Joe Walsh and bebop, these examples are perfect for a range of genres, including rock, blues and jazz
Music
How Elvis Costello, Whitney Houston and 10 seconds of film turned a failed song into the biggest payday of Nick Lowe’s career
”(What’s So Funny ’Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding” went nowhere when released in 1974. Its reappearance decades later funded the pub-rock icon’s second act
How Neil Diamond, a bag of weed and a twice-rejected song turned a pair of struggling young guitarists into global stars
As the Bellamy Brothers reveal, they were hurting for a hit when they befriended Diamond’s band. The rest is history
Scotty Moore on the night Elvis Presley walked into Sun Records — and the session that launched the King’s career
As Baz Lurhmann’s new ‘EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert’ comes to screens, we revisit Guitar Player’s classic interview with Presley’s first guitarist
Julian Lage says noise from cellphone towers made recording his guitars impossible. Just by luck, he had a fix
The guitarist was cutting his new album near the Empire State Building, where interference from 5G towers was excessively strong
John Lydon on the Sex Pistols’ obsession with ABBA
Punk mocked pop’s excesses, but Sid Vicious adored ABBA — and wasn’t afraid to show it.
Bernie Leadon dissects the Eagles’ biggest album of all time
“It’s really simple, and simple’s good,” the group’s co-founder says, “if you want to reach people and make it memorable”
Al Jardine on the Beach Boys’ “lost album” and Brian Wilson’s strangest comeback
As ‘We Gotta Groove’ highlights a polarizing, two-year period in the group‘s history, the long-running guitarist reflects on a band in transition
