Players

George Lynch performs with the Lynch Mob at The Culture Room on August 6, 2011 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

George Lynch recalls the pressure to create memorable solos in the guitar-hero years of the Dokken era

By Mark McStea published

Here's what he told us about the five songs that define his career

Photo of Doug Gillard posing with Gibson ES-335 "small block"

Behind Doug Gillard's six-string wizardry for alt-rock faves Guided by Voices and Nada Surf.

By Tom Beaujour published

His band mates call his guitar talents "indispensable." But all Gillard wants is to make good music.

Peter Stroud (left) and Sheryl Crow perform onstage

Sheryl Crow guitarist Peter Stroud on why guitarists shouldn’t start on modelers, and how to complement a singer with your playing

By Joe Bosso published

How did Stroud become a right-hand man for Sheryl Crow, Don Henley, Stevie Nicks, and many others? It took lots of talent – and these five rules...

Reb Beach

From Winger to Dokken, Whitesnake, Night Ranger, and his solo albums, Reb Beach looks back on his career, and his greatest solos

By Mark McStea published

Four decades down the road, the Winger guitarist explains to GP that the band deserved far more than the ‘hair metal’ label

Al Di Meola (left) and Paco de Lucia perform onstage

“Paco needed to relax, so he smoked a joint and the second take was the one”: Al Di Meola on the magic of Mediterranean Sundance

By Matt Blackett published

Reflecting on his chemistry with Paco De Lucia in a 2009 GP interview, Di Meola revealed that the spontaneous creative fire of the Mediterranean Sundance session stunned all of its participants – including the guitarists themselves

Lessons

John 5

Channel John 5's brilliance with a lesson in his chicken pickin’ prowess, rapid-fire banjo rolls, and behind-the-nut bending

By Chris Buono published

The man of many hats, face paints, and Teles guides GP through a gaggle of curated techniques culled from his catalog of solo albums

Teja Gerken

Why acoustic fingerstyle virtuoso Teja Gerken recommends playing air guitar

By Jimmy Leslie published

“And,” the acoustic ace tells GP, “there’s a side benefit from a health perspective”

Richie Sambora, pictured on the cover of the August 2024 issue of Guitar Player

August 2024 Guitar Player lesson audio

By Guitar Player Staff published

Ella Feingold

Ella Feingold weaves magic with her funky playing, and this lesson in her style will sharpen up your rhythm work in no time

By Jeff Jacobson published

Feingold has played with Bruno Mars, Queen Latifah, Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, and Jay-Z, and was taught directly by the legendary Chalmers “Spanky” Alford. This guided tour of her approach is a funk guitar one-stop shop

John 5 performs onstage

John 5's top tips for beginner, and veteran, guitarists

By Joe Bosso published

A master of many styles who's played with Lynyrd Skynyrd, David Lee Roth, Rick Springfield, and, currently, Mötley Crüe, John 5 has pointers for players that go far beyond how to practice

Gear

Yngwie Malsteen poses in London with his signature Fender Stratocaster.

Yngwie Malmsteen reveals the 60-year history behind his new MXR signature overdrive

By Andrew Daly published

As the Swedish virtuoso tells Guitar Player, “I wanted a Marshall. But it wasn’t enough to create the sound in my head.”

Boss NS-2 noise suppressor on a pedalboard

Best Noise Gate Pedals 2024: Bring some silence to your sound with noise gates for all budgets

By Connor Godfrey published

With options from Boss to Darkglass, TC Electronic to Revv Amplification, we have selected a noise gate to suit every style of rig

Florentine Empirial

“Within an iota of perfection”: Any way you choose to look at it, the Florentine Empirial is a stunner

By Dave Hunter published

This creation from the Fender Custom Shop’s former principal master builder looks fantastic, and utterly refuses to put any limits on whatever you intend to do with it

Silvertone H63 Espanada

Offered by Silvertone and Harmony, the H63 Espanada was the poor man’s Gibson ES-175

By Dave Hunter published

Like many of its Silvertone/Harmony siblings, the H63 Espanada makes up for its more corner-cutting features with a sound, vibe, and look all its own

John 5

John 5 shares the stories behind 10 of the most prized guitars in his collection

By Ken Sharp published

The virtuoso showcases his new Mötley Crüe axes, the gift he received from Eddie Van Halen, and the guitar he played so much it was bad for his health

Close up of acoustic guitar strings on an acoustic guitar

Best acoustic guitar strings 2024: our pick of the best strings around

By Matt McCracken last updated

From coated options to custom gauges, these are the best acoustic guitar strings on the market from Elixir, Ernie Ball, D’Addario, and more