Frank Zappa Dweezil Zappa on the time he taught Eddie Van Halen how to play one of his dad’s most difficult riffs Dweezil had looked up to Eddie all his life, but the apprentice became the master one night in 2010 Dweezil Zappa reveals the ins and outs of Frank Zappa's futuristic setup Though guitar gear, of course, has advanced in leaps and bounds since Frank Zappa's heyday, the elder Zappa enthusiastically pushed its technological limits "I showed Eddie Van Halen some of what I had to learn in order to pull off Frank’s music... Eddie said, 'Who would've thought that you'd be giving me a guitar lesson!': How Dweezil Zappa took EVH inside his father's playing, and left him in awe In this vintage GP interview, Dweezil also reflected on the idiosyncratic nature of his father's soloing, and how the elder Zappa worked around his technical limitations Latest Frank Zappa “He Picked Me up off the Floor and Said, ‘Honey, You Play Good Guitar!’”: Alice Stuart Talks Playing With Albert King and Frank Zappa By Sue Foley published 24 January 23 There were few female guitar role models in the mid-’60s when this trailblazer’s career took off Frank Zappa's Favorite Guitars and Amps By Darrin Fox published 22 December 22 “Frank rarely used anything stock": Dweezil Zappa reveals the custom gear behind some of his late father's greatest recordings in this essential read from the 'GP' vault Watch Captain Beefheart Guitarist Jeff Cotton’s New “Does It Work for You?” Music Video By Rod Brakes published 28 July 22 Video “Magic Band fans will like the song,” says the guitarist fka Antennae Jimmy Semens. Video Captain Beefheart Guitarist Jeff Cotton Shares 5 Insightful Tips for Guitar Players By Rod Brakes published 13 July 22 The artist FKA Antennae Jimmy Semens offers some sage advice. “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. Three of Frank Zappa's Timeless Guitar Playing Tips By Rod Brakes, Guitar Player Staff published 11 May 22 Cop some straight up wisdom from the late, great guitar genius. The Mysterious History of George Harrison’s “Mad” Bartell Fretless By Christopher Scapelliti published 5 May 22 'Finding Fretless' Author Paul Brett reveals how his relentless sleuthing uncovered a most unusual Beatles guitar. TWA Mk. III Triskelion Harmonic Energizer Review By Art Thompson published 5 April 22 Evolving from the Systech Harmonic Energizer as used by Frank Zappa, this parametric midrange filter boasts adjustable peak control and obscene amounts of gain. GP Presents Oz Noy this Thursday, March 24, in Oakland – Win Tickets! By Jimmy Leslie published 21 March 22 Guitar Player welcomes the fusion master to the East Bay for a Thursday night throwdown with his trio featuring Dennis Chambers and Jimmy Haslip. Steel Panther’s Satchel Names His Top Five Guitar Solos By Guitar Player Staff published 4 January 22 The glam metal merchant reveals his lesser-known personal favorites. 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 LATEST ARTICLES1“A testament to positivity and the joy of music”: Martin teams up with feel-good apparel firm Life is Good for an acoustic that promotes optimism through music 2“I'm trying to see if I can get Paul to help me get a bit of fight out of a guitar designed to give you no fight”: Keith Urban is working with PRS on a new model, and it's unlike anything the company has made before 3“Everyone else is essentially – we can't beat them at that”: Orange reveals why it won't dabble with amp modeling, and why you shouldn't call its products “retro”4“I’d advise new guitarists to play with an amp. When you use an amp modeler, your touch and picking will be very different”: Sheryl Crow guitarist Peter Stroud on why guitarists shouldn’t start on modelers, and how to complement a singer with your playing5“The revered characteristics of our originals with the clarity, tightness, and sustain of rail design”: Seymour Duncan recreates its JB, Jazz, and Nazgûl and Sentient pickups with rail designs
“He Picked Me up off the Floor and Said, ‘Honey, You Play Good Guitar!’”: Alice Stuart Talks Playing With Albert King and Frank Zappa By Sue Foley published 24 January 23 There were few female guitar role models in the mid-’60s when this trailblazer’s career took off
Frank Zappa's Favorite Guitars and Amps By Darrin Fox published 22 December 22 “Frank rarely used anything stock": Dweezil Zappa reveals the custom gear behind some of his late father's greatest recordings in this essential read from the 'GP' vault
Watch Captain Beefheart Guitarist Jeff Cotton’s New “Does It Work for You?” Music Video By Rod Brakes published 28 July 22 Video “Magic Band fans will like the song,” says the guitarist fka Antennae Jimmy Semens.
Captain Beefheart Guitarist Jeff Cotton Shares 5 Insightful Tips for Guitar Players By Rod Brakes published 13 July 22 The artist FKA Antennae Jimmy Semens offers some sage advice.
“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.
Three of Frank Zappa's Timeless Guitar Playing Tips By Rod Brakes, Guitar Player Staff published 11 May 22 Cop some straight up wisdom from the late, great guitar genius.
The Mysterious History of George Harrison’s “Mad” Bartell Fretless By Christopher Scapelliti published 5 May 22 'Finding Fretless' Author Paul Brett reveals how his relentless sleuthing uncovered a most unusual Beatles guitar.
TWA Mk. III Triskelion Harmonic Energizer Review By Art Thompson published 5 April 22 Evolving from the Systech Harmonic Energizer as used by Frank Zappa, this parametric midrange filter boasts adjustable peak control and obscene amounts of gain.
GP Presents Oz Noy this Thursday, March 24, in Oakland – Win Tickets! By Jimmy Leslie published 21 March 22 Guitar Player welcomes the fusion master to the East Bay for a Thursday night throwdown with his trio featuring Dennis Chambers and Jimmy Haslip.
Steel Panther’s Satchel Names His Top Five Guitar Solos By Guitar Player Staff published 4 January 22 The glam metal merchant reveals his lesser-known personal favorites.
