CATEGORIES

Reality Bites

With their essential new album, Seeyouspacecowboy leave nothing off the table. This is how vocalist Connie Sgarbossa found herself opening up in ways she never had before…

Guts And Glory

On their latest, and perhaps most important record (for about a million reasons), every time I die truly open up. Keith Buckley lifts the lid on ‘Radical’.

The Journey Ahead

With their new album, Mayday Parade have looked to their past and the adventure they’ve been on to help to create some of the best songs ever. Here, we look back on some of the moments that have allowed them to still be here doing what they love…

OSCAR PETERSON

In the third lesson of his series Ulf Wakenius continues his quest to bring Oscar Peterson’s stunning piano licks onto the guitar fretboard.

SHRED!

Step away from the pick and put your hands on the fretboard as we enter the tapping world of Jennifer Batten. Charlie Griffiths is your guide.

J S BACH Allemande (from Lute Suite No.1 BWV996)

Bach’s compositions are revered for their harmonic and structural sophistication. Declan Zapala presents a piece full of cascading notes and gorgeous chords to develop your fingerpicking skills.

MOLLY TUTTLE

Stuart Ryan shows you the blistering picking of US bluegrass sensation Molly Tuttle, and explains the secrets to her incredible ‘crosspicking’ style.

Heart

Martin Cooper checks out the AOR sound of Heart, with sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson plus the excellent Howard Leese on lead guitar.

NEO-SOUL

In the second instalment of his new series Simon Barnard examines the techniques of talented rising young star, Melanie Faye.

JOHN MAYER'S Blues Chops

In this exclusive feature Milton Mermikides breaks down John Mayer’s impressive blues techniques and musical concepts, to show how they can inspire and supercharge your own playing.

JON HERINGTON & ALLEN HINDS Video Masterclass

In this world exclusive, Jon Herington and Allen Hinds perform and discuss their playing on Jason Sidwell’s new track, Street Allure. Jon Bishop is your guide to the duo’s sophisticated rock soloing over a slick, jazzy R&B number.

RORY GALLAGHER

Phil Short explores the stylings of a legend of blues-rock guitar, and perhaps one of the guys who started it all, the brilliant Rory Gallagher.

THE CROSSROADS: T-Bone Walker & Charlie Christian Connections

In this month’s Crossroads, John Wheatcroft explores the connections and the enduring influence of two Texan guitar legends: blues giant T-Bone Walker, and jazz innovator Charlie Christian.

Double Identity

Acoustic carbon-fibre guitar manufacturers Emerald take a bold step into the twin humbucker semi-acoustic market with one of the most versatile instruments we’ve encountered

THE FIRST Les Paul

The reason Gibson’s iconic Les Paul exists is because of its namesake. A star of the 1940s airwaves, Les Paul was also a gifted inventor who strived for 30 years to make his dream of a solidbody electric a reality. As his son Gene Paul says, “This is the reason music changed and rock ’n’ roll came to be… all because of this little guitar that sounded good.” Here is the story of how that very guitar – the first of the breed – was created

TOM WEIGHTS

Gigs are back! Are we ready? Er… no. Some peculiar things are going on and Dave Burrluck needs to fix ’em

P-90 Revival

Bare Knuckle Pickups founder Tim Mills explains why so many of us are turning to this classic single coil

Postcards From NOW HERE

Phil Manzanera gave Roxy Music the taut riffs that made the band’s hits irresistibly danceable – but his latest album, recorded with Tim Finn, is about traveling without moving. We joined him to discover why a Firebird and an Ox make a powerful combination in any home studio, and receive a masterclass in the recording techniques he’s honed over 50 years of hits

Lean & Mean

A weekly spot at Ronnie Scott’s provides Adam Goldsmith with the welcome challenge of a stripped-back setup

FRESH CREAM

Another UK-made guitar brand is always welcome, but rarely are they conceived by a meeting of great minds that includes a grizzled USA rock icon and a ‘mad scientist’ pickup maker from Norway…

Clockwork Echo

J Rockett reimagines the Deluxe Memory Man concept

BRIAN SETZER

Rockabilly’s top cat on beating tinnitus, resurrecting Dick Dale, why you’ll never catch him with a Strat, and why rockers can’t play the ’billy

Digitally Controlled Expression - Get Expressive!

Stefan Fast of YouTube channel ThePedalZone goes on a trip to the creative playground that is expression. Modern technology is taking it to the next level…

STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN

Phil Short checks one of the greatest and most influential blues players; the Texas powerhouse that was the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan.

THEM CHANGES

Andy G Jones shows how to improvise on the James Bond Em/maj9 chord, which requires a grasp of unique Minor scales, such as Harmonic and Melodic Minor Pentatonics.

THE CROSSROADS Repeating Licks

In this month’s Crossroads, John Wheatcroft explores the propulsive power of repetition via the playing style of legendary Blue Note powerhouse, Grant Green.

SHRED!

Charlie Griffiths peeks through green-tinted glasses to demonstrate five scarifying and lethal licks, inspired by Paul Gilbert.

OSCAR PETERSON

Swedish jazz great Ulf Wakenius takes another look at how Peterson adapted the blues for jazz piano, and how we too can exploit these ideas.

NEO-SOUL

To kick off his brand new series Simon Barnard analyses the playing of Chalmers ‘Spanky’ Alford, better known as the Godfather of neo-soul guitar.

Fernando Sor Study No 20, Opus 35

This month our classical expert Bridget Mermikides presents this beautiful arpeggio study by the Spanish guitarist and ‘Beethoven of the guitar’, Fernando Sor.