Guitar Player
25 stories
Guitar PlayerGuitars"You want to play blues? Well, here's a better way to do it." Keith Wyatt: What I learned at GIT Keith Wyatt is one of the world’s most prominent guitar educators, specializing in blues and roots-based music.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsThe Police made an impulse buy that shaped their sonic identity: “We got everything in triplicate” The Police’s sound was built around space — and delay was one of the tools that helped the British trio create it.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsIan Gillan hospitalized after medical emergency as Deep Purple postpone two concerts: “I don't want to be an embarrassment to anyone” Deep Purple's European tour has hit an unexpected setback after Ian Gillan was hospitalized following a medical emergency, forcing the band to postpone two concerts in Germany.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsHow William Ackerman and Windham Hill changed the sound of acoustic guitar: “Michael Hedges took it to a whole other level” Fifty years ago, William Ackerman had little ambition beyond recording an album of original guitar instrumentals and releasing it on a homespun label he founded with his girlfriend, Anne Robinson.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsAl Di Meola says an acid trip landed him the gig of a lifetime: “He said, ‘Don’t worry — the Beatles take this stuff’” On New Year’s Eve 1971, a 17-year-old Al Di Meola walked offstage after playing the gig of his young life with jazz pianist Barry Miles.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsMark Knopfler on why he’s ditched the pick in favor of fingerpicking Mark Knopfler has long been regarded as one of the premier electric guitar fingerstylists in the game .
Guitar PlayerGuitarsWe review the LiquiSlide Jules Leyhe Signature glass slide Form and function come together on a finger. That’s the story of the intriguing LiquiSlide line, which offers an array of double-walled glass slides filled with different liquids in a variety of…
Guitar PlayerGuitarsWhen Dolly Parton shocked heavy metal legend Rob Halford: “She goes, ‘I love your beard,’ and starts to clean it!” Dolly Parton collaborated with everyone from Linda Ronstadt and Paul McCartney to Ringo Starr and, in 2025, Mötley Crüe.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsSue Foley serves up five game-changing blues guitar tips: “That’s where you control your tone” Sue Foley is renowned for her dynamic electric blues playing. Even so, the Texas blues woman took a stylistic detour on her Grammy-nominated 2024 album, One Guitar Woman , by covering a range of…
Guitar PlayerGuitarsDonita Sparks on L7’s farewell tour and mourning Jennifer Finch: “I’m not sure I’ve processed it completely yet” As they take their Last Hurrah Tour through North America — with Europe and Asia on tap for 2027 — L7 are discovering that parting is, indeed, sweet sorrow.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsFender Japan unveils two Pokémon guitars for 30th anniversary — but there's a catch Fender Japan is celebrating Pokémon’s 30th anniversary with two limited-edition electric guitars inspired by the franchise’s original video games.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsJimi Hendrix hooked Alice Cooper up with his longtime manager while Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison looked on Alice Cooper found his longtime manager in a room with Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin. He has Hendrix to thank for the introduction.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsCheap Trick cancel 2027 dates to put 50 years of touring on hold: "We need a break" Cheap Trick are stepping away from touring after five decades on the road, announcing that they have withdrawn from several concerts scheduled for 2027 to take an extended break.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsThe British ace who had more than a touch of the Chicago blues, according to Billy Gibbons The British blues boom of the 1960s owed everything to Black American musicians, but bands like the Yardbirds and the Rolling Stones helped bring the music to a wider audience in the U.K.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsAlex Skolnick on the guitar technique he still struggles with: “It has to be very precise” From mastering thrash metal with Testament to becoming an accomplished jazz player later in life, Alex Skolnick has proved himself a chameleonic guitar player.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsDavid Bowie poached Adrian Belew from right under Frank Zappa’s nose: “How’d you like to be in my band?” Adrian Belew got his big break playing with Frank Zappa in the late 1970s, but it was David Bowie who helped propel him to the next level.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsPete Townshend reveals why he avoided Led Zeppelin: “They were trying to pinch our audience” Pete Townshend has revealed why he avoided listening to Led Zeppelin during the band’s heyday: He thought they were trying to steal The Who ’s audience.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsGeorge Michael’s “Faith” guitar sparks family feud as it goes up for auction: “She would be horrified” George Michael’s iconic “Faith” guitar is going up for auction today, but the sale has sparked a family dispute over who should inherit the late singer’s memorabilia — and whether the collection…
Guitar PlayerGuitarsPete Townshend’s rescued 1969 SG is coming out of retirement Pete Townshend has destroyed countless guitars over the course of his career, but one of his most memorable victims has survived for more than 50 years.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsNeil Young sues Donald Trump over “Rockin’ in the Free World” again: “The song is the opposite of everything he stands for” Neil Young has sued Donald Trump over the use of his classic song “Rockin’ in the Free World” at a recent political rally.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsGene Simmons challenges Ace Frehley’s account of an infamous Kiss incident For 15 years, Ace Frehley ’s version of the story went unchallenged. In his 2011 memoir, No Regrets , the Kiss guitarist credited Gene Simmons with saving his life twice — once after he fell into a…
Guitar PlayerGuitarsJoe Bonamassa makes plea after amp goes missing: “There is a generous reward for its safe return” Joe Bonamassa has appealed for help finding his bandmate’s missing amp head in Germany. Josh Smith ’s Two-Rock unit was last seen in Leverkusen, Germany, where the group performed with the WDR Big…
Guitar PlayerGuitarsRobert Fripp reveals the one person he ever let play his ’59 Les Paul Custom: “A guest star stepped up to play with us” Robert Fripp has spent decades establishing himself as one of rock’s most exacting bandleaders, helping push guitar playing into new territory with King Crimson.
Guitar PlayerGuitarsPaul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” has one of the most unusual bass hooks in pop Roy Halee helped turn a one-measure bass line by Bakithi Kumalo into one of the most recognizable hooks on Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al” by playing the recording in reverse and placing it…
Nothing matches this filter yet.