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December 2024

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84 articles

December 31
- “I get disrespected before I even play. People take one look at me and immediately get a thought in their head of what I am." How teen blues guitar sensation Grace Bowers is winning over critics one gig at a time
- “Listen, I’ve actually sat in a room with her and a guitar, watching those tiny hands finding all these weird jazz chords. She made it look so effortless.” Watch Amy Winehouse stun audiences with her voice and a Stratocaster
December 30
- "That’s why he sounds like Eddie." John 5 shares what he learned about Eddie Van Halen after playing through the guitarist's rig
- “Our first two albums were dismal failures. We had everyone saying, ‘You’d better do it on this one or there’s the door!’ ” Scott Gorham on Thin Lizzy’s ‘Jailbreak’ success, the power of harmony guitars and working with Phil Lynott
December 29
- “There was a deadly silence for what seemed like ages.” Ralph McTell scored a hit with his classic “Streets of London.” It only took him 10 years — and three recordings
- “I once asked Jeff Beck if he used Vox AC30s, and he said, ‘What? Those old Beatle bashers?’ Then he realized what he'd said”: Paul McCartney talks Vox amps, and his love of dirty tones
December 28
- “I wrote two songs that should have gone into the dustbin. They turned out to be my biggest hits.” The guitarist behind a pair of classic-rock gems says he’s just a strummer who thinks of himself as a jingle writer
December 27
- “This is the biggest challenge of my musical life.” Joe Bonamassa on the honor and pressures of his upcoming Rory Gallagher tribute shows in Ireland
- “When I got the role of Keith Partridge, they knew I could play and sing because I played 'Voodoo Child' before my screen test.” David Cassidy on seeing Hendrix, learning from the session guitar greats, and jamming with John Lennon and Paul McCartney
- “Here to make its first stage appearance in 50 years is my original bass.” Paul McCartney’s iconic Höfner bass returns to the stage after being lost for over 50 years as he brings the Got Back tour to a star-studded close
December 26
- “Every guitar that had been in Jamaica had to be pulled apart and rebuilt because of what the humidity there did to the electronics.” Pedal legend Roger Mayer reveals how he perfected Bob Marley's guitar tone for 'Exodus,' his global breakthrough
- “That opened up a whole world for me. You realize that it's all there.” Derek Trucks reveals how fretboard visualization helped him find harmonic possibilities all over the fretboard
- “Lack of use, plus three bouts of COVID, probably phased out the plectrum for me”: Mark Knopfler tells why he’s ditched the pick in favor of fingerpicking
December 25
- "I thought it was about the lamest song I ever wrote in my life.” Eddie Van Halen on guitar solos, the music teacher who slapped his face, and his all-time worst song
- “I went out to have a cigarette. The door opens and it’s the producer. He looks at me and says, ‘You feel like playing?’”: Steve Hunter tells how he spontaneously tracked the guitar solo for Aerosmith's "Train Kept a Rollin' "
December 24
- “It's past 2 billion plays on Spotify… which makes my guitar riff one of the most-played in history!” Andy Summers reveals his role in the making of the Police hit “Every Breath You Take”
December 23
- "Shredders rejoice!" The Engl Hardtailer converts your tremolo from full-floating to dive-only in seconds — no modifications required
- "I realized there was something in them very appealing to the listener. It's a richer sound." George Benson shows how he uses octaves in this lesson from Guitar Player's August 1976 issue
- “Paul said that in the more than 300 songs he and John wrote, he could only remember one time where they got stuck”: Paul McCartney guitarist Brian Ray talks the Beatles' creative process
December 22
- Think all 1970s Fenders suck? Seth Lover helped create a Telecaster range that remains one of the decade's shining moments
December 20
- Apparently even the Spring King takes Ozempic. Danelectro brings back its oversized spring reverb pedal in a slimmed-down stompbox. And yes, you can still kick it
- "It looks like a beast!" Fame Guitars lets you rock like a star without having to spend like one
December 19
- “The message said, ‘Me and Ozzy have been checking you outI" Chris Impellitteri reveals his 1988 invitation to become Ozzy's guitarist and how it would have changed the singer's career
- “I'd like to do it again... starting now!” Watch David Gilmour perform on a dulcimer as he hints at more to come in 2025
- "That's his DNA right there." Joe Bonamassa plays Rory Gallagher's "other" Strat. But his excitement isn't about the guitar
December 18
- "A cornucopia of tunings with airy voicings, suspended chords and rich, colorful soundscapes." Learn the alternate tunings and percussive guitar style of indie pioneer Ani DiFranco in our exclusive audio lesson
- "I want a guitar solo!” Pop music is falling in love with guitar solos again. You can thank these top-selling female performers for that
- “The guitar's not even in tune. But we liked the sound.” Randy Bachman tells us how a throwaway song with an inside joke gave him a hit even bigger than "Takin' Care of Business"
- Fender proves it's the season of giving - score an extra $50 when you buy a $350+ gift card this Christmas
- Can Taylor's new Legacy 514CE Grand Auditorium replace our reviewer's prized quarter-century-old 514CE? Learn how it stacks up in our review
December 17
- “I could hear the amps humming.” Derek Trucks says playing with Buddy Guy taught him the secret power of turning down your volume
- "I’ve got two boxes of cassettes with Eddie. I’m not sure I’m mad enough to go through them!” Mike Rutherford reveals his secret recording sessions with Eddie Van Halen
December 16
- “I told him, ‘I got the idea for my song from you.’ And he said, ‘Paul McCartney says I stole it from him!” Tommy Shaw tells us the twisted history of a classic Styx hit
- "We got the wrong producer. But it's the song that changed everything for us. We would have never done as well otherwise." Guitarist Billy Duffy tells the story behind the song that gave the Cult a second life
- "There’s something magical about playing the guitar. I still can’t believe that I get to be a guitar player." Jimmie Vaughan tells the stories behind five key songs from his career
December 15
- “If you're playing with a flatpick full-time, you're only half playing the guitar.” Rory Gallagher delivers a master class in blues in Guitar Player’s 1978 interview
December 14
- "Anytime I would move to another guitar, I would just be annoyed by it." Derek Trucks explains why the Gibson SG is the best guitar for him
- “It started making this crazy noise and gave me a song straight away. Steve said, ‘That’s good! We should record it.’" Adrian Smith reveals the two lucky breaks that resulted in a pair of Iron Maiden classics
- “I’d probably have practiced a little more If I knew I was going to affect that many people’s lives.” Ace Frehley takes us behind the scenes of five classic Kiss cuts
December 13
- “When the internet isn’t watching, dyed-in-the-wool Gibson people will say their favorite guitar pickup is a P90.” Joe Bonamassa and Jared James Nichols have found their favorite alternative to the humbucker
- “It wasn't until we listened back to it that we realized, ‘Holy s***, this song's really got something.'” Robbie Robertson told us how one simple change helped the Band save "The Weight" from oblivion
- “I took from the best and tossed in little bits of myself. Before long, it started to sound like me.” Eric Gales shares his secret for developing your own guitar style
December 12
- “He makes it sing, and he makes it cry. He can do it all.” Jeff Lynne explains why a "campfire classic" proves George Harrison's slide playing was second to none
- "I said, ‘It’s just a guitar riff.’ He goes, ‘You should write a song with that. It’s catchy.’” Tossed off as a B-side, this 1974 classic-rock gem became a number-one hit
- "I was like, 'I'm wasting this pedal.' The way I've been setting it now is where it's a little warmer and a little gainy-er." Warren Haynes says it's the greatest overdrive pedal and tells why the Ibanez Tube Screamer can't beat it
December 11
- "He let me play the first amp that he ever made. I never forgot the sound of it.” Orianthi reveals how an invitation from Alexander Dumble shaped the tone of her signature Orange combo
- “I had just put together a beautiful white Stratocaster. So I said, 'Okay, I'll trade you.' ” Jeff “Skunk” Baxter recalls the questionable deal he made with Jimi Hendrix in the mid 1960s
- "The classic overdrive becomes even better with three modes. But with fewer than 2,000 copies available, it's also a collector's item." The DOD 250 Overdrive/Preamp pedal gets an appealing 50th anniversary makeover
- “There were a few guitars kicking around. But it just didn't fit in this electronic-based track.” The world’s most famous charity rock song lost its guitar parts in 1984. They’re finally back for 2024
December 10
- "There are a lot of guys that play much more like Eddie than Joe." Sammy Hagar says Joe Satriani was “not a perfect match” for his Van Halen Best of All Words tour. But one factor set him apart
- “I used to hear people say, 'It's what you don't play that counts.' I thought, What the hell does that even mean?” Warren Haynes explains the two things every guitarist should do to stop sounding like an amateur
- Who is Chris Herin and why are Peter Frampton, Alex Lifeson and Martin Barre playing lead guitar on his new album?
- “When she died, she was literally the last person I had in my life. I fell apart. I didn't care anymore.” Chris Impellitteri nearly gave up when tragedies took his family. Guitar kept him alive
December 9
- "He'd been given the guitar for his 16th birthday and obviously didn't want it. I took one look and said, ‘Thanks, I'll have it!’ " Phil Manzanera on his Roxy Music Firebird, "Love Is the Drug" 1951 Tele and other favorite guitars
- “We’ve been writing new music and we want to go back out on tour together." Joe Satriani and Steve Vai announce the new SatchVai Band and Surfing With the Hydra tour
December 8
- “They were yelling, 'You’ve gotta turn your guitar down, Mick! It’s leaking into our vocals.’ ” Mick Mars on how his Mötley Crüe ‘Dr. Feelgood’ tracks ended up on another great album from the 1980s
December 7
- "A fun and unique guitar that’s nevertheless a sleek beast of a performer." The Frank Brothers Sonar electric merges vintage styling with diverse tones, making it a perfect all-rounder
December 6
- “When she asked me if I would come be her lead guitar player, I just was like, ‘Um, how can I say no to Shania?’” Lindsay Ell talks performing with Shania Twain and finding joy in her career after 16 years
- "The guitar and its case were smashed to bits. We never even bothered to pick it up." Was George Harrison's 1963 Country Gentleman really destroyed in a Beatles road mishap? The evidence says no
- “It doesn’t get nearly enough respect for what a groundbreaking song it still is.” Jimi Hendrix is hailed as a guitar hero. Vernon Reid thinks he deserves respect for something else contained in one magical song
- “For acoustic guitarists, two pickup signals are better than one.” Getting the best acoustic guitar tone from an amp is within your reach. Try these tips.
December 5
- “We were about 50 feet apart when I heard the shots.” Jake E. Lee clarifies the events leading up to his shooting as the former Ozzy Osbourne guitar player gives a health update
- “I thought maybe England didn't want me anymore. I really thought I was completely through.” Jimi Hendrix predicted the rock guitar act that would lead "mind-blowing" music into the future. He wasn't wrong
- “I got the request from Ozzy, so you don’t say no.” Watch Wolfgang Van Halen shred the age-old rivalry between Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads with a ripping version of Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train"
- "It's a 1959 Les Paul. I've had this for about 12 years, and it used to belong to Peter Green." Watch Gary Moore talk guitars and shred with his Greeny Les Paul in 1987
December 4
- "It does a great job in front of any amp and has become an MVP in the studio.” Joe Bonamassa and Joe Perry name the best guitar gear of the year. Their choices surprised us
December 3
- “Prog-rock was king. I’m not ashamed to admit that I loved it.” The Jesus Lizard’s Duane Denison says he tried to sell Steve Howe a rare jazz guitar when he was a teenager. Looks like the Yes guitarist missed a good deal
- “I had to audition with this horrible black, Japanese Les Paul, and it started to fall apart, right in front of everybody's eyes." Scott Gorham on his worst guitar moment with Thin Lizzy and the mod he's made to every Les Paul ever since
- "Why does John Frusciante want a piece of crap like this?" Eddie Van Halen didn't like the guitarist's choice of wah pedal. His advice to the Red Hot Chili Peppers' axeman was priceless
December 2
- “They said, 'You've got to do it,' but I'm so glad they did. It became my biggest song.” The guitarist behind a power-pop gem almost let his hit single pass him by
- “I thought, Why do they want me in the front row?” Ritchie Blackmore on Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the time Ian Anderson pranked him at a Jethro Tull concert
- It might not be the latest model but I still think the Fender Mustang Micro punches above its weight - get it for even less in the Cyber Monday sales
- This Limited Edition Player II Strat is discounted $240. And at just $559, it’s going fast at Fender’s Cyber Monday sale
- This deal is so good, I'm buying it myself. At $99, UAD's Guitar Amp Bundle is 75% off. Plus you get 50+ more plug-ins for free — only on Cyber Monday
- We sent a pack of tone-hungry guitar wolves out to hunt down the best deals on guitar pedals. This is what they found…
- I’ve been recommending this audio interface all year and it just got its first-ever discount for Cyber Monday
- “It was the first time we ever made money. We bought one Mesa/Boogie Mark IV and shared it between ourselves in the studio.” How the Offspring made the number-one indie-rock record of all time with two guitars and one amp
December 1
- Get 100% better tone for 25% less. Boss SD-1 Super OverDrives are dirt cheap at Musician's Friend on Cyber Monday
- Our reviewer called this travel guitar "so good you won't believe it isn't a regular solidbody." Take 20% off during Amazon's Cyber Monday sale
- Universal Audio made my home studio workflow a breeze. Make yours better and save $200 on the Apollo Twin X DUO Gen 2 during Sweetwater's Cyber Monday sale
- My first amp was an embarrassment. My son's first was the Positive Grid Spark Go and it lived up to its name: it ignited something
- And the winner of this year’s Maddest Cyber Monday Deal Award goes to Sweetwater for this 6 grand saving on the Kirk Hammett Flying V…
- Squier Strats for less than $100 in Fender's Cyber Monday sale at Amazon – with free Fender Play subscription? That's mad
- “Front to back, it’s an amazing guitar album. It made me want to drive 95 miles per hour, and then I went out and did it." Samantha Fish talks Guns N' Roses, B.B. King and the 10 albums that changed her life