Stories
Short pieces on reading the neck — how a shape moves, what a cent sounds like, why a metronome beats counting.
NewsFender Japan Unveils Paul Smith Telecaster Collaboration
Fender Japan's Paul Smith Telecaster leads a 16-piece striped collection of guitars, clothing and accessories.
NewsJohn Mayer Releases ‘Tom and Jerry,’ Launches Sob Rock Records
John Mayer releases “Tom and Jerry,” his first solo single since 2021, and launches Sob Rock Records with Mercury Records.
NewsFender launches Mark Hoppus Stoned Fruit Jaguar Bass
The Fender Mark Hoppus Stoned Fruit Jaguar Bass recreates his Guava Green touring instrument and is available to order for 182 hours.
NewsOffspring guitarist Noodles steps away over sudden health issue
The Offspring guitarist Noodles is stepping away from live shows immediately to address an undisclosed, serious health issue.
NewsOvation Revives Viper Electric Guitar for 60th Anniversary
The Ovation Viper returns in two 60-piece anniversary models with modern hardware, Lace Sensor pickups and burst finishes.
NewsEagles Extend Record-Breaking Las Vegas Sphere Residency Into 2027
Eagles add two Las Vegas Sphere concerts, bringing their record-breaking residency to 74 shows and extending it into 2027.
Jake Kiszka Shares Five Guitar Tone Tips
Jake Kiszka explains five guitar tone tips covering technique, acoustic study, instrument choices, combo amps, and room sound.
NewsPRS Tekton family launches with four electric guitars
The PRS Tekton family adds four modern electric guitars with hardtail, tremolo, Floyd Rose and seven-string configurations.
TechniqueEscaping a Pentatonic Rut With Chord Tones
Escaping a Pentatonic Rut explains how chord tones, melodic phrasing and accurate bends can shape solos over a 12 bar blues.
NewsMetallica Adds ‘Harvester of Sorrow’ to Sphere Set
Metallica performed “Harvester of Sorrow” at the Sphere as its knife and goose visuals drew mixed reactions from fans.
TechniqueAllen Hinds: 8 legato ideas to build fluid, fiery solos
Allen Hinds shares 8 legato ideas to help you build fluid, fiery solos with cleaner articulation, scale movement and expressive vocabulary.
NewsAdam Morganstern Recalls Playing David Gilmour’s Black Strat
Adam Morganstern says he unknowingly played David Gilmour’s Black Strat for 20 minutes at a Manhattan repair shop.
NewsFender Honors George Harrison: Limited-Edition Dark Horse Stratocaster
Fender honors George Harrison's Dark Horse Records with a limited-edition Stratocaster, ukulele, accessories, and apparel.
NewsIron Maiden Announce Surprise 2027 North American Tour
Iron Maiden announce a surprise 2027 North American tour with 16 shows, plus Sonic Temple and Boardwalk Rock festival sets.
Second Hand Guitar Buying Guide and Inspection Checklist
This second hand guitar buying guide covers checks for neck, body, hardware and electronics faults before purchase.
NewsSteve Vai and Joe Satriani Used Guitar Plugins for The Sea of Emotion
Steve Vai and Joe Satriani used guitar plugins extensively while recording their first joint album, The Sea of Emotion.
NewsRoger Waters Slams James Hetfield's 'Apolitical' Sphere Speech
Roger Waters criticized James Hetfield over his apolitical Sphere speech and dismissed Metallica's musicianship.
NewsJackson unveils limited edition Legend Series recreations
Jackson's Legend Series recreates instruments linked to Randy Rhoads, Scott Ian, Marty Friedman and David Ellefson.
NewsFender launches American Professional range with Silent System
Fender American Professional range adds the passive Silent System, revised hardware and lower Stratocaster and Telecaster prices.
NewsSlash Receives 2026 Les Paul Spirit Award
Slash received the 2026 Les Paul Spirit Award in recognition of his creative legacy, musicianship and lasting influence.
NewsJohn Mayer Shreds Van Halen on Eddie’s Music Man Axis Replica
John Mayer shreds Van Halen with Dave Grohl on a replica of Eddie Van Halen’s Music Man Axis at the 2026 Soundstage of Hope benefit concert.
NewsWayne Charvel, Superstrat Pioneer, Dies at 85
Wayne Charvel, Eddie Van Halen's guitar builder and a pioneer of the Superstrat, has died at age 85.
TechniqueEric Gales’ 7 Position-Shifting Moves for Improvisation
Eric Gales demonstrates seven position-shifting moves for connecting fretboard areas and developing spontaneous improvisational ideas.
NewsPaul Reed Smith Rejects PRS ‘Dentist Guitar’ Stereotype
Paul Reed Smith calls the PRS dentist stereotype outdated and points to the affordable SE and S2 guitar ranges.
TechniqueHow to Play Electric Guitar With a Violin Bow
Learn how to play electric guitar with a violin bow using extra rosin, controlled angles, suitable tunings, pickups, and effects.
NewsJohn Lennon’s Only Two Full-Length Post-Beatles Concerts Get Restored
John Lennon’s only two full-length post-Beatles concerts get a restored Blu-ray release, with remixed audio and a documentary.
NewsGibson unveils Custom Shop 1957 L-5 CES Reissue
The Gibson Custom Shop 1957 L-5 CES Reissue joins the Historic Reissue range in Antique Natural and Vintage Sunburst.
NewsFender’s First Tone Master Signature Amp: ’59 Twin-Amp JB Edition
Fender unveils its first Tone Master signature amp, Joe Bonamassa’s ’59 Twin-Amp JB Edition.
NewsTony Iommi Shocked by Ozzy Osbourne’s Condition at Rehearsals
Tony Iommi recalls his shock at Ozzy Osbourne’s condition during Black Sabbath’s Back to the Beginning rehearsals.
NewsAerosmith Set Two All-Star L.A. Concerts With Slash, Morello, Cantrell
Aerosmith announce two all-star L.A. comeback concerts with Slash, Tom Morello, Jerry Cantrell and more at the Hollywood Bowl.
NewsJohn 5 Becomes Most Decorated Telecaster Artist With 3 New Models
John 5 becomes the most decorated Telecaster artist with three new Fender signature models, led by a $6,000 Custom Shop Phantom.
NewsJoe Bonamassa Has Sympathy for Up-and-Coming Artists Using AI
Joe Bonamassa has sympathy for up-and-coming artists using AI but opposes artificial acts competing with human musicians.
NewsBrian May Says Queen's Touring Days Are Over: "50 Years Is Enough"
Brian May says Queen's touring days are over after about 50 years, but he remains open to individual shows and immersive projects.
NewsTom Morello’s Power to the People Festival Draws Rock Icons
Power to the People Festival united Bruce Springsteen, Dave Grohl, Tom Morello, and other guests for protest songs and rock classics.
NewsSteve Hackett and Steve Rothery Release The Roaring Waves
Steve Hackett and Steve Rothery release their first collaborative album, The Roaring Waves, blending their distinct guitar styles.
TechniqueAcoustic Bluegrass Primer: Two-Handed Folk-Blues Guitar Lesson
Acoustic bluegrass primer: a two-handed folk-blues guitar lesson using alternating bass, chords and double-stops in drop D.
Low-Cost Mods to Make a Gibson Les Paul Junior Look and Sound Vintage
Make a Gibson Les Paul Junior look and sound more vintage with low-cost 1950s wiring, plastic parts, a P-90 pickup and tuners.
NewsDumble Overdrive Special Reissue Orders Open
The Dumble Overdrive Special returns alongside Tweedle Dee and MegaPLX as exclusive custom-order amplifier reissues.
Music theoryTechniqueAlex Skolnick Shares Legato Secrets: Allan Holdsworth’s Lydian b7
Alex Skolnick teaches an Allan Holdsworth-inspired legato lick in E Lydian dominant and explains how to practice it across six strings.
NewsBuddy Guy's 90th Birthday Concert Unites Blues Stars
Buddy Guy's 90th birthday concert featured Eric Clapton, John Mayer and other blues stars in a worldwide Nugs livestream.
NewsTony Iommi Gets MBE; Sabbath Final Concert Film Is Hard to Watch
Tony Iommi accepted an MBE for music and charity and says Black Sabbath’s final concert film is difficult for him to watch.
Acoustic Guitar Neck-to-Body Join: Sound and Playability
The acoustic guitar neck-to-body join affects soundboard response, upper-fret access and playing comfort.
NewsEric Clapton Calls Blackie Auction a ‘Big, Big Mistake’
Eric Clapton says auctioning Blackie and his 1964 Gibson ES-335 was a major mistake, though the sale supported Crossroads.
NewsMayer-Trucks Solos, King-Bonamassa Led Zeppelin Cover: Crossroads 2026
John Mayer and Derek Trucks trade solos, while Marcus King and Joe Bonamassa cover Led Zeppelin at Crossroads 2026.
NewsJohn Mayer Announces 2027 Sphere Residency With Solo, Band, Trio Sets
John Mayer announces six 2027 Sphere shows featuring solo, full-band and blues-rock John Mayer Trio sets.
NewsRita Coolidge Says Eric Clapton Owes Her a ‘Layla’ Writing Credit
Rita Coolidge says Eric Clapton owes her a co-writing credit for the piano coda of Derek and the Dominos’ “Layla.”
NewsBrian May: Freddie Mercury’s Anthem Changed Queen’s Audience Bond
Brian May recalls how Freddie Mercury’s “We Are the Champions” changed Queen’s relationship with its audience.
10 Veteran Guitar Legends: Styles, Signatures, and Six-Decade Careers
Meet 10 veteran guitar legends of modern music, from Les Paul to Neil Young, and learn the signature styles behind their six-decade careers.
NewsFender Silent System Debuts in Limited-Edition Guitars
The Fender Silent System is a passive, battery-free unit designed to reduce single-coil hum without changing pickup tone.
PracticeTechniqueHow to Play the D Shape Chord on Guitar
Learn how to play the D shape chord on guitar: finger placement, naming the chord from string 4, avoiding muted strings, and the minor and 7th versions.
PracticeTechniqueHow to Play the E Shape Barre Chord on Guitar
Learn how to play the E shape barre chord: where each finger goes, how to name the chord, how to fix buzzing, and the minor and 7th versions.
PracticeTechniqueHow to Play the G Shape Barre Chord on Guitar
Learn how to play the G shape barre chord: where each finger goes, the partial shapes guitarists use, how to name the chord, and the minor version.
PracticeTechniqueHow to Play the A Shape Barre Chord on Guitar
Learn the A shape barre chord: where each finger goes, three ways to fret it, what to do with the high E string, and the minor version.
PracticeTechniqueHow to Play the C Shape on Guitar
Learn the C shape barre chord: exact finger placement, why it is the hardest CAGED shape, and a fix-first practice routine.
PracticeWhat Is the CAGED System and Why It Matters
The CAGED system turns five open chord shapes into a roadmap for the whole fretboard. Here is how it works and why it matters.