CATEGORIES

This month: Trish Clowes

‘I respond to what band members are interested in – you develop together’

Order & Progress

Since Brazil gained independence 200 years ago, its composers have enriched both classical and jazz worldwide, as Mervyn Cooke relates

Sheku Kanneh-Mason

Music that changed me

Bodø Norway

Michael Beek joins the inaugural Aria Borealis Bodø, a biennial Early Music festival and singing competition just beyond the Arctic Circle

Benjamin Britten

His music was deeply rooted in the landscapes of Suffolk, but Britten also drew inspiration from well outside Europe

Roger and out

As a leading pioneer of the period performance movement, Roger Norrington has transformed how we hear composers from Bach to Mahler. As he retires, he shares his memories with Julian Haylock

Pentopixels

Communication between musicians and their fans was once time-consuming if more personal. Ariane Todes looks at how social media has changed everything

Billy Howerdel – "It Was a Happy Accident"

Billy Howerdel on his ‘Frankensteined' guitar and his debut solo album

Tash Sultana – "It's Fully Plugged in!”

Tash Sultana is an artist playing by their own rules. A new Unplugged album features plenty of acoustic guitars - but also a Strat, a Tele and a Whammy pedal

The greatest guitar albums of all time - The 60s

Beatlemania inspired millions of kids to pick up guitars. And with the dawn of the rock era and the elevation of the album as an art form, a golden generation of guitar heroes emerged - Clapton, Beck, Page, Santana and Hendrix...

BLOOD COMMAND

NIKKI WALKS US THROUGH HER HOPES FOR THE FUTURE.

PERFECT TEN

10 NEW RELEASES YOU NEED TO HEAR

NO FEAR

PUT VERY VERY BLUNTLY, THE NEW ITHACA ALBUM COMPLETELY AND UTTERLY CRUSHES. DJAMILA BODEN AZZOUZ WALKS US THROUGH IT...

WE GO AGAIN

TRAVIE LIFTS THE LID ON HIS PAST FEW YEARS, AND TELLS SOME TRUTHS ON HIS LONG-AWAITED NEW ALBUM, 'NEVER SLEPT BETTER'.

COMING CLEAN

DEAF HAVANA HAD MORE UPS AND DOWNS DURING THE PANDEMIC THAN MOST BANDS HAVE IN AN ENTIRE CAREER. HERE'S HOW JAMES AND MATTHEW VECK-GILODI SET OFF ON A PATH TO SOMETHING BRIGHTER.

A PROMISE KEPT

AFTER FIVE YEARS OF HEARTBREAK, UNCERTAINTY AND RESILIENCE, WE CAME AS ROMANS ARE READY TO TELL THEIR STORY. THIS IS HOW THEY OVERCAME TRAGEDY TO CREATE THEIR MOST VITAL, EMOTIONAL AND STUNNING ALBUM TO DATE.

PLAY LIKE… GEORGE HARRISON

John Wheatcroft discovers that, when it comes to guitar, the so-called quiet Beatle had plenty to say, as he explores George’s varied styles with four full-length pieces for you to learn and enjoy.

IMPROVE YOUR STRUMMING!

RGT’s Simon Barnard kicks off a brand new series designed to improve a variety of guitar techniques. This issue; strumming.

TRADITIONAL CATALAN Farewell Lad

While Declan takes a short break Bridget Mermikides returns to arrange, transcribe and perform this delightful Catalan folk song for solo classical guitar.

JOE BONAMASSA

This month David Gerrish takes over from Phil Short while he's away, and delves deep into the style of modern blues titan, Joe Bonamassa.

SLASH

Martin Cooper checks out the melodic lead style of rock legend Slash, as heard in his post Guns N’ Roses project Slash’s Snakepit.

GUTHRIE GOVAN

Guitar instrumentals have supplied some of music’s most evocative moments. Jason Sidwell asks top guitarists for their take on this iconic movement. This month: Hans Zimmer’s guitarist and The Aristocrats’ virtuoso, Guthrie Govan.

KRIS BARRAS Four Lead Licks

In this special one-off video feature Andy Saphir transcribes four licks from Devon’s explosive blues-rock powerhouse and live performer extraordinaire, Kris Barras.

ERIC JOHNSON

Stuart Ryan unveils the acoustic style of the legendary Texan guitarist Eric Johnson, but in his lesser-known role as a fine fingerpicker.

THE CROSSROADS Eric Gales Pentatonic Sequences

For this month’s Crossroads, John Wheatcroft explores the style of Eric Gales and discovers how melodic sequencing can enhance your phrasing and expand your soloing vocabulary.

NICK JOHNSTON Video Masterclass

In this exclusive feature, we welcome back Canadian virtuoso Nick Johnston. Nick treats us to a plethora of flowing rock phrases, all of which are played over Jason Sidwell’s specially written track, A Joy Fulfilled. Jon Bishop is your guide.

GOING BIG

Josh Smith's band grows a larger horn section. The result is his big-band extravaganza Bird of Passage.

MY CAREER IN FIVE SONGS

Joe Ely shares highlights from his rockabilly career and recalls his former Lubbock, Texas, neighbor: Buddy Holly.

SOME KIND OF MONSTER

Kirk Hammett set out to write background music. Instead, he created the four horror movie-themed guitar instrumentals that his debut solo effort, Portals.

LIVING ON THE EDGE

WRITTEN AND RECORDED PIECEMEAL ON DAYS OFF BETWEEN GIGS, CLOSE TO THE EDGE COALESCED INTO A PROG-ROCK MASTERPIECE. ON THE ALBUM'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY, STEVE HOWE REVEALS HOW YES CREATED THEIR GREATEST TRIUMPH.