Carlos Santana

Latest about Carlos Santana

June Millington of American all-female rock band Fanny performing on stage at City Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne, 30 May 1973.
“You Couldn’t Get the Information Because People Were Making It up on the Spot”: June Millington of Fanny Recalls Life in the Late-’60s Rock Scene

By Sue Foley Published

As one of the first all-female rock and roll bands to enjoy major-label status their place in music history is undisputed

Guitarists
Santana 'Abraxas' album artwork
Here’s Why Santana’s ‘Abraxas’ Is a Lesson in Finding Your Own Voice on Guitar

By Jim Campilongo Published

The band’s ‘Billboard’ number one album remains the most focused and concise album from Carlos’s group

Music
L-R: Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and Kurt Cobain
The 40 Most Important Guitar Solos of the 20th Century

By Guitar Player Staff Published

From bluesy beginnings to metallic peaks, we trace the evolution of the electric rock solo

Guitarists
Carlos Santana
“The Ultimate Destination for Guitar Players is to Create Heaven and Wonderment”: 5 Spiritual Lessons for Guitarists by Carlos Santana

By Michael Molenda Published

We celebrate the Grammy-winning guitarist’s 75th birthday with this insightful interview extract from the GP archive.

Lessons
Beto Martinez
“I Love Santana. But I Think That It’s Vital for People to Recognize That There Are Many Other Important Players”: Beto Martinez Talks Inspiration

By James Volpe Rotondi Published

From chunk to chicha, Latin rock's leading light reveals his most important influences.

Guitarists
Carlos Santana's wild, psychedelic Strat
The Story of Carlos Santana's Psychedelic "Strat"

By Richard Bienstock Last updated

This hallucinogenic, “magical realist” guitar perfectly matches Santana's musical aesthetic and spiritual vision.

Electric Guitars
Carlos Santana performs at the Oakland Stadium on July 2, 1977 in Oakland, California.
Watch Carlos Santana Bringing Mesa/Boogie Amps and Yamaha Guitars to the Masses

By Rod Brakes, Dave Hunter Published

Video Here’s why the Grammy-winning legend was a guitar gear innovator.

Video
Kirk Hammett, 2019
Kirk Hammett’s Favorite Under-the-Radar Guitar Solos

By Guitar Player Staff Published

Metallica’s shredmaster general recommends these lesser-known gems.

Guitarists
Stevie Ray Vaughan performing at First City in New York City on July 7, 1983.
Blues Turnarounds (Part 2)

By Phil Capone Published

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.

Lessons
Cindy Blackman Santana and Carlos Santana, 2017
“I Wanted to Please My Wife and the Music”: How Carlos Santana Recorded ‘Give the Drummer Some’

By Joe Bosso Published

The guitar legend talks Cindy Blackman Santana’s star-studded long-player.

Music
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