B.B. King "You Don’t Want to Play Like B.B. King or Somebody Else. You Want to Be You": Some Collected Words of Wisdom From B.B. King Himself "Try to ‘borrow’ a little bit from each guy. And, like that, you become you," said the King of the Blues Fatten Your Chops With Double-Stops in the Style of Blues Legends Like B.B. King, Lightnin' Hopkins and Robert Johnson These essential phrases will help you speak the language of blues guitar "Blues Music Is My First Love": Christone “Kingfish” Ingram Reveals Five Life-Changing Riffs The Fender signature artist and Grammy-winning bluesman talks vital influences from Albert King and B.B. King to Jimi Hendrix and Eddie Hazel Latest B.B. King The 40 Most Important Guitar Solos of the 20th Century By Guitar Player Staff published 28 December 22 From bluesy beginnings to metallic peaks, we trace the evolution of the electric rock solo Watch B.B. King’s Awe-Inspiring ‘Sing Sing Thanksgiving’ Performance 50 Years On By Christopher Scapelliti published 30 November 22 VIDEO Filmmaker David Hoffman says the legendary bluesman called this “the best recording of his music he had heard” VIDEO "Your Recorded Music Is Your Legacy": Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Reveal the Guitar Secrets Behind ‘I Am the Moon’ By Mark McStea published 30 September 22 Their expansive quadruple album project explodes with joy, power and positivity “The Key to Finding Who You Are is to Compose”: Lee Ritenour Reveals His Top Five Career-Defining Tracks By Mark McStea last updated 13 September 22 With thousands of sessions to his name the guitarist talks definitive solo records and collaborations from his multi-genre catalog. Here’s How to Replicate the Magic of the Blues Greats By Art Thompson published 30 June 22 Get in the tone zone of Eric Clapton, Albert Collins, Albert King, B.B. King, T-Bone Walker and Stevie Ray Vaughan. After 20 Years in the Wilderness, Larry McCray Returns in Style With 'Blues Without You' By Mark McStea published 12 May 22 Thanks to a restart and a new album his future looks brighter than ever. “If You Want to Be a Creator, You’ve Got to Go On a Whole Different Journey”: Albert Cummings Talks Blues By Rod Brakes published 4 May 22 With his new album, ‘Ten’, the Strat-slinger is keeping the blues alive and well – and down to earth. “His Storytelling Was as Brilliant as His Guitar Playing”: How the Spirit of Skip James is Felt Stronger than Ever Today in Bentonia Blues By Jim Beaugez published 13 April 22 Washed up at age 30, the legendary bluesman was rediscovered in 1964, just five years before his death. The History of the Fender Telecaster By Richard Smith published 14 March 22 How Fender’s seminal solidbody helped ignite a cultural revolution. Living Legend Larry McCray Releases New Bonamassa/Smith-Produced Track “Breaking News” By Rod Brakes published 4 March 22 Video The Rust Belt bluesman reveals the second single from his long-awaited new album, ‘Blues Without You.’ Video 123Archives 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 READ1“Dave Friedman's amps deliver many of the things we love about big ’70s rock, molten ’80s metal, and modern high-gain guitar... If you want a handy sampling of these sounds that travels well, the JEL-20 might be your golden ticket”: Friedman JEL-20 review2“Link Wray does it all, but his style also reminds us how captivating a few well-chosen riffs can be when combined with compelling tone, passion, and musicality”: Link Wray's Rumble (1956–62) is an essential document of ‘less is more’ guitar playing3Best guitar stands and hangers 2024: Keep your precious guitars safe and secure4“Eddie Van Halen had me play his 5150 guitar, and then he asked me to show the solo to him, because he’d forgotten it”: Jennifer Batten recalls re-teaching EVH the Beat It solo5“Premium sound for everyday playing without the hassle of amps, pedals and computer interfaces”: With the Katana:GO, Boss has entered the headphone amp market with a bang
The 40 Most Important Guitar Solos of the 20th Century By Guitar Player Staff published 28 December 22 From bluesy beginnings to metallic peaks, we trace the evolution of the electric rock solo
Watch B.B. King’s Awe-Inspiring ‘Sing Sing Thanksgiving’ Performance 50 Years On By Christopher Scapelliti published 30 November 22 VIDEO Filmmaker David Hoffman says the legendary bluesman called this “the best recording of his music he had heard”
"Your Recorded Music Is Your Legacy": Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi Reveal the Guitar Secrets Behind ‘I Am the Moon’ By Mark McStea published 30 September 22 Their expansive quadruple album project explodes with joy, power and positivity
“The Key to Finding Who You Are is to Compose”: Lee Ritenour Reveals His Top Five Career-Defining Tracks By Mark McStea last updated 13 September 22 With thousands of sessions to his name the guitarist talks definitive solo records and collaborations from his multi-genre catalog.
Here’s How to Replicate the Magic of the Blues Greats By Art Thompson published 30 June 22 Get in the tone zone of Eric Clapton, Albert Collins, Albert King, B.B. King, T-Bone Walker and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
After 20 Years in the Wilderness, Larry McCray Returns in Style With 'Blues Without You' By Mark McStea published 12 May 22 Thanks to a restart and a new album his future looks brighter than ever.
“If You Want to Be a Creator, You’ve Got to Go On a Whole Different Journey”: Albert Cummings Talks Blues By Rod Brakes published 4 May 22 With his new album, ‘Ten’, the Strat-slinger is keeping the blues alive and well – and down to earth.
“His Storytelling Was as Brilliant as His Guitar Playing”: How the Spirit of Skip James is Felt Stronger than Ever Today in Bentonia Blues By Jim Beaugez published 13 April 22 Washed up at age 30, the legendary bluesman was rediscovered in 1964, just five years before his death.
The History of the Fender Telecaster By Richard Smith published 14 March 22 How Fender’s seminal solidbody helped ignite a cultural revolution.
Living Legend Larry McCray Releases New Bonamassa/Smith-Produced Track “Breaking News” By Rod Brakes published 4 March 22 Video The Rust Belt bluesman reveals the second single from his long-awaited new album, ‘Blues Without You.’