Matt BlackettSocial Links Navigation Latest articles by Matt Blackett “A lot of guitarists don’t consider themselves part of the rhythm section. I could always count on Randy to come up with great rhythm guitar parts”: Rudy Sarzo on the magic of Randy Rhoads' rhythm work, and the tonal quirks that set him apart By Matt Blackett published 10 April 24 Rhoads' former bandmate details how the late guitar legend's rig changed over time, and what about his playing often gets overlooked “Mick Taylor would play the top lines. Keith Richards would write most of the songs... Once, Keith said, ‘You play too f*cking loud. I can’t work with you in the room right now‘”: Andy Johns on the Rolling Stones' turbulent Exile on Main St. sessions By Matt Blackett published 7 March 24 Though the late engineer had already worked with George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Free, Eric Clapton, and Led Zeppelin, he saw what would become the Stones' masterpiece as “the most important project” he'd ever taken on “I got into the Who when I was playing my Mom’s Martin. I thought it looked cool to do the windmill, but when my Mom saw how badly I scratched her guitar she said, ‘No more pick for you’”: Carolyn Wonderland on Tele Thinlines and Houston guitar heroes By Matt Blackett published 20 February 24 In this classic GP interview, the Texan with the stunning voice (and equally impressive six-string chops) discusses her tonal inspirations, and why – decades after her early windmilling damage – she continues to stick with fingerstyle "I Once Did a Solo on a David Crosby Record Without Ever Hearing the Song": Steve Lukather Reveals His Most Shocking Studio Sessions By Matt Blackett published 16 August 23 "He said, 'You bastard! You never even heard the song!'" recalls Luke in this hilarious interview “Music Is About Completing Those Little Circuits That Connect You to Your Past”: Mark Knopfler Looks Back on the Journey From “Sultans of Swing” to His Latest Solo Album, ‘Down the Road Wherever’ By Matt Blackett published 25 April 23 “It’s still about that, and it’s endlessly fascinating,” says the Dire Straits guitar legend “It All Starts In the Mind”: Steve Vai Shares Some Words of Wisdom for Guitarists By Rod Brakes, Matt Blackett published 18 May 22 We get in the zone with Vai in this interview excerpt from the GP archives. Fender Limited Edition HM Strat Review By Matt Blackett last updated 13 May 22 A go-faster Strat with a finish so loud it's visible from space. What's not to like? Discover the Flawed Genius of Guitar Master Lenny Breau By Matt Blackett published 5 August 21 VIDEO A hero and mentor to guitar greats like Steve Vai, Andy Summers, and Randy Bachman this rare virtuoso was a giant among giants. VIDEO Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen review By Matt Blackett published 21 July 21 No matter how complete your home studio or live rig is, it probably has a place for the compact Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen audio interface Steve Lukather Remembers His Friend, Eddie Van Halen By Matt Blackett published 23 December 20 “He was the magic. The guitar just gave him a means to perform that magic.“ Guitar Heroes Pay Tribute to the Genius of Eddie Van Halen By Matt Blackett published 21 December 20 Joe Satriani, Vinnie Moore, Richie Kotzen, and more on the man who changed guitar playing. How Eddie Van Halen Made Music, and Our World, So Much Richer By Matt Blackett last updated 17 December 20 Steve Vai, Nuno Bettencourt, and a host of stars join Guitar Player in paying tribute to a revolutionary guitarist. Fender Lead II and III Review By Matt Blackett published 23 October 20 A pair of retro doublecuts that were sadly long forgotten. Can they find an audience in 2020? Steve Lukather’s Most Terrifying Session: “It Was a Humbling Experience” By Matt Blackett published 21 October 20 Out of 1,500+ sessions, this is one that Luke definitely doesn't want to revisit. Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 Review By Matt Blackett published 23 September 20 The latest evolution of the Slipknot guitarist's favorite offset welcomes his signature EMGs to the plate. One Control BJF-S66 review By Matt Blackett published 29 June 20 This compact solid-state head is a triumph of Swedish design and might just be the pedal platform you're looking for. Richie Kotzen Tells the Epic Story Behind His Magnum Opus By Matt Blackett published 16 June 20 For Kotzen, 50 is the new 50 as he celebrates his birthday with his biggest record ever. The Tuning that Flummoxed Pete Townshend and David Gilmour By Matt Blackett published 20 May 20 English Beat and General Public guitarist Dave Wakeling reveals the tuning that baffled two of his guitar heroes. Fender Vintera '70s Telecaster Thinline Review By Matt Blackett published 8 May 20 Although at a glance it looks like a Tele, this guitar is really its own thing, both sonically and visually. Electro-Harmonix Nano Operation Overlord Allied Overdrive Review By Matt Blackett published 27 April 20 EHX shrinks its hugely flexible OD pedal with impressive, amp-like results. Learn Some Monster Bends from Johnny Hiland By Matt Blackett published 16 April 20 Pick up some gorgeous, sick and twisted bends from one of country guitar's greatest practitioners. Kirk Hammett: The Five Guitar Solos That Changed My Life By Matt Blackett published 15 April 20 Metallica's lead guitarist tells GP about the five solos that most shaped his playing. Learn to Read Music with This Easy Lesson By Matt Blackett published 14 April 20 You may not necessarily ~need~ to know how to read music to play music, but it certainly helps! Get started with this lesson. MOST READ1Jackson Browne, John Mellencamp, Mavis Staples honored by Bruce Springsteen at second annual American Music Honors 2Peter Frampton reveals the stories behind five of his classic tracks3PRS SE CE24, SE Custom 24 Quilt and SE Swamp Ash Special review 4How a deeply personal twist of events brought a beloved 'Burst into Vince Gill's life5How Noel Gallagher and Beck helped bring the Black Keys' latest funky full-length, Ohio Players, to life
“A lot of guitarists don’t consider themselves part of the rhythm section. I could always count on Randy to come up with great rhythm guitar parts”: Rudy Sarzo on the magic of Randy Rhoads' rhythm work, and the tonal quirks that set him apart By Matt Blackett published 10 April 24 Rhoads' former bandmate details how the late guitar legend's rig changed over time, and what about his playing often gets overlooked
“Mick Taylor would play the top lines. Keith Richards would write most of the songs... Once, Keith said, ‘You play too f*cking loud. I can’t work with you in the room right now‘”: Andy Johns on the Rolling Stones' turbulent Exile on Main St. sessions By Matt Blackett published 7 March 24 Though the late engineer had already worked with George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Free, Eric Clapton, and Led Zeppelin, he saw what would become the Stones' masterpiece as “the most important project” he'd ever taken on
“I got into the Who when I was playing my Mom’s Martin. I thought it looked cool to do the windmill, but when my Mom saw how badly I scratched her guitar she said, ‘No more pick for you’”: Carolyn Wonderland on Tele Thinlines and Houston guitar heroes By Matt Blackett published 20 February 24 In this classic GP interview, the Texan with the stunning voice (and equally impressive six-string chops) discusses her tonal inspirations, and why – decades after her early windmilling damage – she continues to stick with fingerstyle
"I Once Did a Solo on a David Crosby Record Without Ever Hearing the Song": Steve Lukather Reveals His Most Shocking Studio Sessions By Matt Blackett published 16 August 23 "He said, 'You bastard! You never even heard the song!'" recalls Luke in this hilarious interview
“Music Is About Completing Those Little Circuits That Connect You to Your Past”: Mark Knopfler Looks Back on the Journey From “Sultans of Swing” to His Latest Solo Album, ‘Down the Road Wherever’ By Matt Blackett published 25 April 23 “It’s still about that, and it’s endlessly fascinating,” says the Dire Straits guitar legend
“It All Starts In the Mind”: Steve Vai Shares Some Words of Wisdom for Guitarists By Rod Brakes, Matt Blackett published 18 May 22 We get in the zone with Vai in this interview excerpt from the GP archives.
Fender Limited Edition HM Strat Review By Matt Blackett last updated 13 May 22 A go-faster Strat with a finish so loud it's visible from space. What's not to like?
Discover the Flawed Genius of Guitar Master Lenny Breau By Matt Blackett published 5 August 21 VIDEO A hero and mentor to guitar greats like Steve Vai, Andy Summers, and Randy Bachman this rare virtuoso was a giant among giants.
Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen review By Matt Blackett published 21 July 21 No matter how complete your home studio or live rig is, it probably has a place for the compact Focusrite Scarlett Solo 3rd Gen audio interface
Steve Lukather Remembers His Friend, Eddie Van Halen By Matt Blackett published 23 December 20 “He was the magic. The guitar just gave him a means to perform that magic.“
Guitar Heroes Pay Tribute to the Genius of Eddie Van Halen By Matt Blackett published 21 December 20 Joe Satriani, Vinnie Moore, Richie Kotzen, and more on the man who changed guitar playing.
How Eddie Van Halen Made Music, and Our World, So Much Richer By Matt Blackett last updated 17 December 20 Steve Vai, Nuno Bettencourt, and a host of stars join Guitar Player in paying tribute to a revolutionary guitarist.
Fender Lead II and III Review By Matt Blackett published 23 October 20 A pair of retro doublecuts that were sadly long forgotten. Can they find an audience in 2020?
Steve Lukather’s Most Terrifying Session: “It Was a Humbling Experience” By Matt Blackett published 21 October 20 Out of 1,500+ sessions, this is one that Luke definitely doesn't want to revisit.
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster V4 Review By Matt Blackett published 23 September 20 The latest evolution of the Slipknot guitarist's favorite offset welcomes his signature EMGs to the plate.
One Control BJF-S66 review By Matt Blackett published 29 June 20 This compact solid-state head is a triumph of Swedish design and might just be the pedal platform you're looking for.
Richie Kotzen Tells the Epic Story Behind His Magnum Opus By Matt Blackett published 16 June 20 For Kotzen, 50 is the new 50 as he celebrates his birthday with his biggest record ever.
The Tuning that Flummoxed Pete Townshend and David Gilmour By Matt Blackett published 20 May 20 English Beat and General Public guitarist Dave Wakeling reveals the tuning that baffled two of his guitar heroes.
Fender Vintera '70s Telecaster Thinline Review By Matt Blackett published 8 May 20 Although at a glance it looks like a Tele, this guitar is really its own thing, both sonically and visually.
Electro-Harmonix Nano Operation Overlord Allied Overdrive Review By Matt Blackett published 27 April 20 EHX shrinks its hugely flexible OD pedal with impressive, amp-like results.
Learn Some Monster Bends from Johnny Hiland By Matt Blackett published 16 April 20 Pick up some gorgeous, sick and twisted bends from one of country guitar's greatest practitioners.
Kirk Hammett: The Five Guitar Solos That Changed My Life By Matt Blackett published 15 April 20 Metallica's lead guitarist tells GP about the five solos that most shaped his playing.
Learn to Read Music with This Easy Lesson By Matt Blackett published 14 April 20 You may not necessarily ~need~ to know how to read music to play music, but it certainly helps! Get started with this lesson.
