Players Peter Frampton reveals the stories behind five of his classic tracks 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 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 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 Latest Players “I want my solos to be melodic — but not a ‘pretty’ melodic, an aggressive one…’‘ Grammy award nominee Christone “Kingfish” Ingram’s top five tips for guitarists By Gary Graff published 5 January 24 Whether it’s being happy to warm up the audience as an opening act, not getting lost in solos or letting a lukewarm crowd prey on your mind, these are the tips Christone “Kingfish” Ingram uses to stay at the top of his game "Waiting for the Bus and Jesus Just Left Chicago? In essence, it’s a blues suite in 4/4 and 6/8 time..." The career of Billy Gibbons, blues guitar supremo, in five songs By Mark McStea published 4 January 24 From early days in Moving Sidewalks, opening for the Jimi Hendrix Experience to taking the world by storm on 1980s MTV with ZZ Top, he’s defied convention. Here are five deep cuts Billy Gibbons considers his best "When I play with a pick and without a capo, I have a tendency to go right over to B.B. King's or Buddy Guy's house. I can't help it. But when I use the capo, I think I sound more like me." Jimmie Vaughan's wicked tone secrets By Art Thompson published 29 December 23 One from the Guitar Player archives: a 1998 interview with Jimmie Vaughan on tone, recording secrets, fat strings and more… "He really lived it": Lightnin' Hopkins picked cotton and worked on a chain gang before becoming the most recorded of the postwar bluesmen – and schooling the likes of Billy Gibbons and Johnny Winter By Jas Obrecht published 27 December 23 "Lightnin' did everything the way you'd think a real blues player would do…" The story of Lightnin' Hopkins: Sage, scoundrel and natural-born storyteller "My solos happen so fast that I don't really know what I'm doing. It's like trying to tell somebody about a car crash: It's all over in two-fifths of a second, and then you talk about it for ten hours afterward": A revealing chat with Jeff Beck By Lisa Sharken published 25 December 23 In 1999, Jeff Beck sat down with Guitar Player for one of his most revealing interviews. Topics covered: why younger players are "crap", the genius of Eric Clapton, and why "the Marshall sound is the balls" “Every guitarist should understand the drums. It's important to know where the kick and snare should land to complement your riffs.” Dave Grohl on the making of the Foo Fighters' There Is Nothing Left To Lose By Kyle Swenson published 24 December 23 Back in late 1999, the Foo Fighters were down to a three-piece, with Dave Grohl playing all the guitars on third album, There Is Nothing Left To Lose, and about to unveil a new guitarist, Chris Shiflett… From sparkling duets with Joe Pass to sweat-soaked virtuoso TV guest spots, his playing was a wonder — here’s why you should take a deep dive into The Roy Clark Guitar Spectacular! By Jim Campilongo published 24 December 23 With elegance, speed, humour and soul, Roy Clark showed he was far more than a “gun for hire” on this toe-tapping, fun-packed 1960’s tour de force "What did we do when the record company asked us for a disco hit? We gave them Highway To Hell!" An archive interview with AC/DC's Angus and Malcolm Young By Jude Gold published 23 December 23 The secrets of Mutt Lange's production, Malcolm's pick-destroying strings, and why they're really just "two frustrated drummers": 20 years ago we sat down with AC/DC's Angus and Malcolm Young to look back over their amazing career "I took a screwdriver and stuck it under the strings at the nut…" Gary Rossington on how he came up with his sound on Lynyrd Skynyrd's Freebird By Lisa Sharken published 21 December 23 Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gary Rossington died in March, 2023. Back in 1999, he told us the weird trick he used for the slide part on Freebird… “Guitar playing is a creative thing. If you come into it thinking that it’s a competition, you’re already screwed”: Rising U.K. blues guitarist Dom Martin on beating his inner demons and the ghost of Rory Gallagher By Jim Beaugez published 21 December 23 After four years of sobriety and a slew of acclaimed blues albums, Dom Martin hits his stride on Buried in the Hail 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 READ1Three guitars that exemplify the PRS SE line in 2024 – reasonably priced, impeccably put-together, and versatile in terms of both tone and playability: PRS SE CE24, SE Custom 24 Quilt and SE Swamp Ash Special review 2“I bought my ’59 sunburst Les Paul from my first wife’s brother... he’d gotten sick – he called me and said, ‘I’m probably not gonna make it. Will you buy my Les Paul?’ Now it gets to live on and still make music”: Vince Gill on his beloved 'Burst 3“Noel’s process is purely guitar. He’s so in love with the chords, and he was cycling through and through... He wouldn’t stop until he was satisfied”: How Noel Gallagher and Beck helped bring the Black Keys' latest funky full-length, Ohio Players, to life4Best amp modelers 2024: Get your dream guitar tone with our top picks5Best overdrive pedals 2024: Strap in, it's time to drive
“I want my solos to be melodic — but not a ‘pretty’ melodic, an aggressive one…’‘ Grammy award nominee Christone “Kingfish” Ingram’s top five tips for guitarists By Gary Graff published 5 January 24 Whether it’s being happy to warm up the audience as an opening act, not getting lost in solos or letting a lukewarm crowd prey on your mind, these are the tips Christone “Kingfish” Ingram uses to stay at the top of his game
"Waiting for the Bus and Jesus Just Left Chicago? In essence, it’s a blues suite in 4/4 and 6/8 time..." The career of Billy Gibbons, blues guitar supremo, in five songs By Mark McStea published 4 January 24 From early days in Moving Sidewalks, opening for the Jimi Hendrix Experience to taking the world by storm on 1980s MTV with ZZ Top, he’s defied convention. Here are five deep cuts Billy Gibbons considers his best
"When I play with a pick and without a capo, I have a tendency to go right over to B.B. King's or Buddy Guy's house. I can't help it. But when I use the capo, I think I sound more like me." Jimmie Vaughan's wicked tone secrets By Art Thompson published 29 December 23 One from the Guitar Player archives: a 1998 interview with Jimmie Vaughan on tone, recording secrets, fat strings and more…
"He really lived it": Lightnin' Hopkins picked cotton and worked on a chain gang before becoming the most recorded of the postwar bluesmen – and schooling the likes of Billy Gibbons and Johnny Winter By Jas Obrecht published 27 December 23 "Lightnin' did everything the way you'd think a real blues player would do…" The story of Lightnin' Hopkins: Sage, scoundrel and natural-born storyteller
"My solos happen so fast that I don't really know what I'm doing. It's like trying to tell somebody about a car crash: It's all over in two-fifths of a second, and then you talk about it for ten hours afterward": A revealing chat with Jeff Beck By Lisa Sharken published 25 December 23 In 1999, Jeff Beck sat down with Guitar Player for one of his most revealing interviews. Topics covered: why younger players are "crap", the genius of Eric Clapton, and why "the Marshall sound is the balls"
“Every guitarist should understand the drums. It's important to know where the kick and snare should land to complement your riffs.” Dave Grohl on the making of the Foo Fighters' There Is Nothing Left To Lose By Kyle Swenson published 24 December 23 Back in late 1999, the Foo Fighters were down to a three-piece, with Dave Grohl playing all the guitars on third album, There Is Nothing Left To Lose, and about to unveil a new guitarist, Chris Shiflett…
From sparkling duets with Joe Pass to sweat-soaked virtuoso TV guest spots, his playing was a wonder — here’s why you should take a deep dive into The Roy Clark Guitar Spectacular! By Jim Campilongo published 24 December 23 With elegance, speed, humour and soul, Roy Clark showed he was far more than a “gun for hire” on this toe-tapping, fun-packed 1960’s tour de force
"What did we do when the record company asked us for a disco hit? We gave them Highway To Hell!" An archive interview with AC/DC's Angus and Malcolm Young By Jude Gold published 23 December 23 The secrets of Mutt Lange's production, Malcolm's pick-destroying strings, and why they're really just "two frustrated drummers": 20 years ago we sat down with AC/DC's Angus and Malcolm Young to look back over their amazing career
"I took a screwdriver and stuck it under the strings at the nut…" Gary Rossington on how he came up with his sound on Lynyrd Skynyrd's Freebird By Lisa Sharken published 21 December 23 Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gary Rossington died in March, 2023. Back in 1999, he told us the weird trick he used for the slide part on Freebird…
“Guitar playing is a creative thing. If you come into it thinking that it’s a competition, you’re already screwed”: Rising U.K. blues guitarist Dom Martin on beating his inner demons and the ghost of Rory Gallagher By Jim Beaugez published 21 December 23 After four years of sobriety and a slew of acclaimed blues albums, Dom Martin hits his stride on Buried in the Hail