CATEGORIES

In The Woodshed

Charlie Griffiths has a feast of harmonics for you this month, so get prepared to tap out some exciting and impressive new sounds.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Justin Sandercoe of justinguitar.com lends GT his insight as one of the world’s most successful guitar teachers. This month: No Peeking!

The Amazing Alex Sill

Guitar instrumentals have supplied some of music’s most evocative moments. We asked some top guitarists for their take on this iconic movement. This month: new guitarist for Simon Phillips’ fusion band Protocol, the amazing Alex Sill.

KURT VILE

From battered Martins and vintage Gibsons to pre-CBS Fender offsets – we find out why the Philadelphian songsmith can’t bring himself to sell any gear…

If It Ain't Broke…

We catch up with Fender’s Justin Norvell, executive vice president of Fender Products, who takes us through the thinking behind the American Professional II range’s primary new features

STEVE HACKETT

It’s a time of reflection for Steve Hackett. With his autobiography, A Genesis In My Bed, on the bookshelves and a new live album retelling his old band Genesis’s most powerful prog statement with a version of Selling England By The Pound, the time seems right to look back and trace his musical journey to its starting point…

HOT ROD TELE

Editor Jamie Dickson embarks on converting his AVRI ’52 Tele reissue into a unique hot-rod Fender with artwork to match

EDDIE VAN HALEN -1955–2020

The great magician’s departure marks the end of a game-changing career. With exclusive thoughts and memories from the scene’s greatest players, we remember a visionary and virtuoso who rewrote the rules of electric guitar

THE 10 BEST SOFTWARE SYNTHS…AND HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THEM

From semi-modular behemoths to authentic virtual analogue, via shifting wavetables, sampled soundscapes, modulated effects stacks and beyond – join us as we celebrate the best synthesis tools the software realm has

Playing Legato

In the second part of the series Chris Brooks continues his quest to make your playing fast and fluent using rock legato techniques.

Joe Walsh

Phil Short checks out one of the world’s most respected guitarists, whose playing has graced the music of The Eagles and so much more.

“Sometimes You Just Gotta Play Loud!”

Australian guitarist Orianthi – former sidekick to Michael Jackson and Alice Cooper – shares her knowledge on gear, songwriting and keeping your head in the music business

In The Woodshed

A whole new harmonic world is at your fingertips with chord tapping, says Charlie Griffiths as he welcomes you to this month in the ’shed.

50 Rock Licks

Jon Bishop has 50 scorching licks in five rock flavours: blues-rock, classic rock, southern rock, commercial rock, and hard rock. The top players in each genre are covered, so grab that guitar and wail!

Kingdom

Ezra Rubin has worked with some of the mosttalked about artists of the last five years but as Leo Maymind finds out, he may have saved some of the choicest creative chunks for his own acclaimed work…

Maxim Lany

The Belgian producer shows us how he builds a groove from scratch

Ólafur Arnalds

Ólafur Arnalds has successfully bridged the gap between classical and electronic music. Danny Turner discusses the Stratus software driving the sound of his latest album

Roland Zenology Pro From $9.99/month

Roland Cloud’s central synth engine gets upgraded with pro-level features. Si Truss dives back in…

Shlohmo

Shlohmo’s lo-fiapproach lays the foundation for his unique brand of apocalyptic hip-hop. Danny Turner delves into his recording process

Hit'n'Mix Infinity £299

Infinity lets its users make detailed edits to the component parts of polyphonic audio. Si Truss sees if it’s too good to be true…

iZotope RX 8 Advanced $1199

The audio repair stalwart adds and improves a few modules. Can it give a fresh sheen to James Russell’s tracks?

Akai MPK mini mk3 £90

If you need a backpack-ready controller keyboard, there’s almost too much choice. Jon Musgrave sizes up Akai’s new release

Native Instruments Maschine+ £1,099

After years of speculation, NI launch their first standalone instrument. Si Truss asks if it lives up to the hype…

JOE BONAMASSA

Here’s a guy who knows a thing or two about buying guitars and it turns out he’s sold a few, too…

DREAMS OF GOLD

We’re all quick to dismiss or critique a new guitar but what about if you’re put in the design seat? Not so bloomin’ clever now are you, Mr Burrluck?

Ground Control

Fractal offers Axe-Fx III flavour in an eminently giggable compact floor unit

Coming Of Age

A lot has changed for PJD Guitars in the past year. As well as a new workshop, there are also some new guitars that offer plenty to celebrate

TOM MORELLO

He’s the Harvard alumnus, political activist and eternal square peg whose sonic adventurism with Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave tore up the rules of electric guitar. Now, as Tom Morello releases a new photobook spanning his three-decade career, he shares memories of obsessive practice, bad gigs and nights behind bars…

THE BIG GUITARSKI

Best known as a big-screen actor, Jeff Bridges’ role as a washed-up country music star in Crazy Heart highlighted his other great love: the guitar. We meet the original Dude to talk songwriting and his new Breedlove signature acoustics

Freak Out! Nile Rodgers

From Chic to David Bowie, Madonna to Daft Punk, Nile Rodgers has graced innumerable hits. Nile talks to Jason Sidwell about his career and technique, then performs six fantastic groove licks.