“SONGWRITING IS LIKE TRYING TO CATCH LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE”
Total Guitar|November 2021
Alice In Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell is a master of the art who believes a great song requires only three key elements: “The riff. The melody. And something to say.”
Amit Sharma
“SONGWRITING IS LIKE TRYING TO CATCH LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE”

Jerry Cantrell has a way with chords. The Alice In Chains guitarist can take even the simplest of ideas and supercharge them with an emotional pull that sucks the listener right into the deep end of whatever mood he’s trying to convey.

From the Seattle group’s original run in the 90s, through his own solo endeavours and since the band’s rebirth in 2005, Cantrell’s mastery has made him one of rock’s true visionaries – a writer and player who makes you hear, feel and believe every word and note.

On his new solo album, Brighten, he’s embracing country music, yet still using the same electric guitar he’s used since Alice In Chains’ debut Facelift - an album that did so much to shape the sound of alternative rock in 1990. His motto: “Do what’s right for you.”

Which artists have influenced you most in terms of songwriting?

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Denne historien er fra November 2021-utgaven av Total Guitar.

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"You Can Imagine a Song in a Completely Different Genre" - The mysterious Lord Phobos, guitarist for TWRP, has covered everything from disco to Def Leppard in his collaborations with tongue-in-cheek duo Ninja Sex Party.
Total Guitar

"You Can Imagine a Song in a Completely Different Genre" - The mysterious Lord Phobos, guitarist for TWRP, has covered everything from disco to Def Leppard in his collaborations with tongue-in-cheek duo Ninja Sex Party.

The mysterious Lord Phobos, guitarist for TWRP, has covered everything from disco to Def Leppard in his collaborations with tongue-in-cheek duo Ninja Sex Party. He explains what makes a great cover version - and reveals the one guitar and the one pedal he couldn't live without...

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Some Things You Want to Tweak and Make Your Own- How the Foos' Chris Shiflett reworked two rock classics on his recent solo EP
Total Guitar

Some Things You Want to Tweak and Make Your Own- How the Foos' Chris Shiflett reworked two rock classics on his recent solo EP

Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett is also a solo artist in his own right, and his latest EP Starry Nights & Campfire includes Lights covers of two great old rock tracks - Thin Lizzy's Cowboy Song and the ballad Don't You Ever Leave Me by Hanoi Rocks, the Finnish band that did so much to inspire Guns N' Roses.

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"It Gives Me Physical Satisfaction To Play Funk Riffs!" - Into the groove with Giacomo Turra, the Italian guitarist who made his name covering classics by Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and more...
Total Guitar

"It Gives Me Physical Satisfaction To Play Funk Riffs!" - Into the groove with Giacomo Turra, the Italian guitarist who made his name covering classics by Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and more...

Into the groove with Giacomo Turra, the Italian guitarist who made his name covering classics by Stevie Wonder, Bruno Mars and more... Born in Milan, his funk guitar sensibility can be traced back to the dance studio where his mother taught, and the tunes he heard blasting out of her boombox. "I like to experiment with a lot of genres, but the really interesting thing for me is I really grew up on funk, and a little bit of jazz and fusion music," he says.

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6 mins  |
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- Try out these creative tips and make your cover versions stand out
Total Guitar

- Try out these creative tips and make your cover versions stand out

Try out these creative tips and make your cover versions stand out

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BEAUX GRIS GRIS & THE APOCALYPSE
Total Guitar

BEAUX GRIS GRIS & THE APOCALYPSE

Heavily requested on rock radio stations thanks to their unique twist on bluesy Americana, Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse are the kind of band that thrive in front of large crowds on hot summer days just as much as more intimate performances inside sweaty underground basements.

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BOSS KATANA-50 GEN 3
Total Guitar

BOSS KATANA-50 GEN 3

The Japanese giant cuts through the noise with its new practice amp

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SOLOKING MS-1 CUSTOM 22 HH
Total Guitar

SOLOKING MS-1 CUSTOM 22 HH

A great value guitar looking to clash headstocks with the big boys

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IK MULTIMEDIA TONEX ONE
Total Guitar

IK MULTIMEDIA TONEX ONE

The most powerful amp modeller for its size, bar none

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YAMAHA PACIFICA STANDARD PLUS PACS+12M
Total Guitar

YAMAHA PACIFICA STANDARD PLUS PACS+12M

Yamaha's long-running doublecut finally gets a makeover

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NO MORE MR.BRIGHTSIDE!
Total Guitar

NO MORE MR.BRIGHTSIDE!

The 10 songs you should never cover. Or at least think twice before trying...

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