Players Meet Max Light, the jazz guitarist who loves Coltrane, Miles, and Meshuggah in equal measure The Brooklyn-based virtuoso is unafraid to challenge himself – see his mind-boggling re-interpretation of Coltrane’s 26-2, and tunes so challenging he could only get through one take in the studio – but is nonetheless a “serial monogamist” when it comes to his beloved Collings Slowly emerging from a hiatus, Sarah Longfield's ever-impressive playing is “more chill now” Having recently served as an instructor at Vai Academy 7.0, the genre-blending, Strandberg-wielding innovator is set to take her playing in an entirely new direction Ska, reggae guitar king Ernest Ranglin on the origins of the ‘skank’ style, and the early Jamaican scene In a 2014 chat with GP, the pioneering six-stringer discussed his tonal preferences and guitar teaching philosophy, and the most beloved – and enigmatic – guitar in his collection Latest Players "Like somebody trying to string telephone wire across the Grand Canyon…" Duane Eddy: My Career in Five Songs By Mark McStea last updated 3 May 24 His twangy guitar helped Duane Eddy travel across decades and genres. These are the top cuts from his long-running journey. "I never had a good voice for singing, so I took it out on the guitar." An epic Duane Eddy interview by Bill Nelson By Michael Molenda published 3 May 24 Back in 2012, we brought electric guitar pioneer Duane Eddy and visionary British legend Bill Nelson together for an epic interview. Topics covered include everything from meeting Elvis, swapping tips with Chuck Berry, pioneering a whole new playing style, and the idea of making a dark, ambient album… How Duane Eddy wrote his twanging, game-changing instrumental smash, Rebel Rouser By Mark McStea published 2 May 24 Needing an intro for his shows, Eddy – with the help of an empty 2,000-gallon tank – created one of the most influential guitar instrumentals of all time Peter Frampton reveals the stories behind five of his classic tracks By Joe Bosso published 25 April 24 Well over 50 years into his career, the Les Paul-wielding guitar hero has covered amazing stylistic ground, and worked with the best of the best. Learn how he crafted some of his most timeless tunes How Noel Gallagher and Beck helped bring the Black Keys' latest funky full-length, Ohio Players, to life By Gary Graff published 23 April 24 The Black Keys began life as a bare-bones two-piece, but, as Dan Auerbach tells GP, collaboration and an open musical mind have expanded the duo's sound to thrilling new heights Dickey Betts on dueling with Duane Allman, and composing Allman Brothers' biggest hit By Elliot Stephen Cohen published 19 April 24 In 2019, the late Dickey Betts sat down with Guitar Player to reflect on the Allman Brothers and his musical career, from his early influences to his last solo live album “We all knew it was really good… The guitar playing is just amazing”: How Dickey Betts made “Ramblin’ Man”, triumphed over tragedy and led the Allman Brothers to their greatest success By Alan Paul published 19 April 24 Duane Allman’s death might have been the end of the Allman Brothers Band. Instead, led by Dickey Betts, it marked the start of a remarkable era in the group’s life – and rock history Ritchie Blackmore on Steve Howe, Jimi Hendrix, classical influences and more By Martin K. Webb published 19 April 24 Chatting with GP in 1973, at the stratospheric height of Deep Purple's popularity, Blackmore offered insight into his hugely influential style – from his tremolo approach, to his deafening onstage volume How Robin Trower crafted his blistering tonal triumph, Day of the Eagle By Joe Matera published 17 April 24 With some help from legendary Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, Trower laid down an inspired tune that – 50 years later – remains, for his money, his “best rock and roll song” Gary Clark Jr. never asked to be a guitar savior By Joe Bosso published 16 April 24 Though he sometimes considers his own solos to be “gross,” the often-pigeonholed player took inspiration from the original G3 trio – alongside a potent cocktail of hip-hop, jazz, soul, R&B, and funk – on his stellar new album, JPEG Raw 123456789Archives 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 MOST READ1Expand your arsenal, and channel Lindsey Buckingham and Mark Knopfler, with this lesson in fingerstyle2Vince Gill on his role in the Eagles, and the wonders of playing with Joe Walsh 3Meet Max Light, the jazz guitarist who loves Coltrane, Miles, and Meshuggah in equal measure4Slowly emerging from a hiatus, Sarah Longfield's ever-impressive playing is “more chill now”5Ska, reggae guitar king Ernest Ranglin on the origins of the ‘skank’ style, and the early Jamaican scene
"Like somebody trying to string telephone wire across the Grand Canyon…" Duane Eddy: My Career in Five Songs By Mark McStea last updated 3 May 24 His twangy guitar helped Duane Eddy travel across decades and genres. These are the top cuts from his long-running journey.
"I never had a good voice for singing, so I took it out on the guitar." An epic Duane Eddy interview by Bill Nelson By Michael Molenda published 3 May 24 Back in 2012, we brought electric guitar pioneer Duane Eddy and visionary British legend Bill Nelson together for an epic interview. Topics covered include everything from meeting Elvis, swapping tips with Chuck Berry, pioneering a whole new playing style, and the idea of making a dark, ambient album…
How Duane Eddy wrote his twanging, game-changing instrumental smash, Rebel Rouser By Mark McStea published 2 May 24 Needing an intro for his shows, Eddy – with the help of an empty 2,000-gallon tank – created one of the most influential guitar instrumentals of all time
Peter Frampton reveals the stories behind five of his classic tracks By Joe Bosso published 25 April 24 Well over 50 years into his career, the Les Paul-wielding guitar hero has covered amazing stylistic ground, and worked with the best of the best. Learn how he crafted some of his most timeless tunes
How Noel Gallagher and Beck helped bring the Black Keys' latest funky full-length, Ohio Players, to life By Gary Graff published 23 April 24 The Black Keys began life as a bare-bones two-piece, but, as Dan Auerbach tells GP, collaboration and an open musical mind have expanded the duo's sound to thrilling new heights
Dickey Betts on dueling with Duane Allman, and composing Allman Brothers' biggest hit By Elliot Stephen Cohen published 19 April 24 In 2019, the late Dickey Betts sat down with Guitar Player to reflect on the Allman Brothers and his musical career, from his early influences to his last solo live album
“We all knew it was really good… The guitar playing is just amazing”: How Dickey Betts made “Ramblin’ Man”, triumphed over tragedy and led the Allman Brothers to their greatest success By Alan Paul published 19 April 24 Duane Allman’s death might have been the end of the Allman Brothers Band. Instead, led by Dickey Betts, it marked the start of a remarkable era in the group’s life – and rock history
Ritchie Blackmore on Steve Howe, Jimi Hendrix, classical influences and more By Martin K. Webb published 19 April 24 Chatting with GP in 1973, at the stratospheric height of Deep Purple's popularity, Blackmore offered insight into his hugely influential style – from his tremolo approach, to his deafening onstage volume
How Robin Trower crafted his blistering tonal triumph, Day of the Eagle By Joe Matera published 17 April 24 With some help from legendary Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick, Trower laid down an inspired tune that – 50 years later – remains, for his money, his “best rock and roll song”
Gary Clark Jr. never asked to be a guitar savior By Joe Bosso published 16 April 24 Though he sometimes considers his own solos to be “gross,” the often-pigeonholed player took inspiration from the original G3 trio – alongside a potent cocktail of hip-hop, jazz, soul, R&B, and funk – on his stellar new album, JPEG Raw