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 “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 Listen to Blues Guitar Virtuoso Albert Cummings’ Hard-Rocking Single “Need Somebody” from His Forthcoming ‘Ten’ Album By Rod Brakes last updated 17 February 22 Read our exclusive interview and get a sneak preview of the opening track. Gibson Makes History Again with the B.B. King Lucille Legacy By Rod Brakes published 2 February 22 The King of Blues’ legacy lives on with this revamped Gibson signature model. Here’s Some Blues You Can Really Use By Rob Laing, Jon Bishop, Chris Bird published 26 January 22 Improve your playing with this master class on everything you need to know for better blues. Watch As 12-Year-Old Joe Bonamassa Opens for B.B. King in 1989 By Christopher Scapelliti published 25 November 21 “He’s the nicest person I’ve ever met in the music business. He is the blues, the blues is him,” Bonamassa said. Award-Winning Blues Guitarist Deborah Coleman Was a Rock ‘n’ Roll Powerhouse By Sue Foley published 4 November 21 Remembering the late, great blues virtuoso in this archive interview. “Truth Is, I Hate the Way I Play Guitar”: Joe Bonamassa Speaks Candidly in Our Exclusive Interview By Rod Brakes, Joe Bosso published 14 October 21 Read these incredible snippets from our latest issue's eye-opening cover feature. Blues Turnarounds (Part 1) By Phil Capone last updated 14 October 21 How to play soulful, harmonically effective melodies over the last four bars of a blues progression in the styles of the genre’s greatest players. 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 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
“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.’
Listen to Blues Guitar Virtuoso Albert Cummings’ Hard-Rocking Single “Need Somebody” from His Forthcoming ‘Ten’ Album By Rod Brakes last updated 17 February 22 Read our exclusive interview and get a sneak preview of the opening track.
Gibson Makes History Again with the B.B. King Lucille Legacy By Rod Brakes published 2 February 22 The King of Blues’ legacy lives on with this revamped Gibson signature model.
Here’s Some Blues You Can Really Use By Rob Laing, Jon Bishop, Chris Bird published 26 January 22 Improve your playing with this master class on everything you need to know for better blues.
Watch As 12-Year-Old Joe Bonamassa Opens for B.B. King in 1989 By Christopher Scapelliti published 25 November 21 “He’s the nicest person I’ve ever met in the music business. He is the blues, the blues is him,” Bonamassa said.
Award-Winning Blues Guitarist Deborah Coleman Was a Rock ‘n’ Roll Powerhouse By Sue Foley published 4 November 21 Remembering the late, great blues virtuoso in this archive interview.
“Truth Is, I Hate the Way I Play Guitar”: Joe Bonamassa Speaks Candidly in Our Exclusive Interview By Rod Brakes, Joe Bosso published 14 October 21 Read these incredible snippets from our latest issue's eye-opening cover feature.
Blues Turnarounds (Part 1) By Phil Capone last updated 14 October 21 How to play soulful, harmonically effective melodies over the last four bars of a blues progression in the styles of the genre’s greatest players.