SANTANA SAMBA PA TI

Welcome…

Way back in November 2014, upon the release

KILLING IT

Photo Arthur René Walwin Expectations are high for

SCENE

YOUR NEWS IN GUITARS

FUZZY LOGIC

THE BRAND THAT KICKSTARTED THE STOMPBOX MOVEMENT RETURNS WITH FIVE NEW PEDALS

SHRED & BEAUTIFUL

The Ibanez RG series is a stone cold

RIFF POWER

Positive Grid isn’t slowing down after the success

“MY APPROACH IS INTUITIVE”

HOW TO PLAY EXTREME METAL

JACK WHITE

Taking Me Back

10 THINGS EVERY NOVICE GUITARIST NEEDS TO KNOW…

Chords and scales, rhythm and lead. These core skills set you up for success in any style

“WRITING A GUITAR PART THAT ENDS AT AN IRRATIONAL POINT IS QUITE A CHALLENGE!”

Yard Act are the most talked-about new band in the UK. Guitarist Sam Shjipstone and singer James Smith reveal the origins of their unconventional post-punk sound

“WRITING A GUITAR SOLO IS LIKE WRITING ANOTHER SONG”

Joe Newman has led alt-J to worldwide success, but has always focused on songwriting first – guitar playing second. Until now

“Everyone’s personality is in their phrasing”

He plays heavy with Black Label Society and Ozzy, but Zakk Wylde is inspired by the emotion in blues and “pentatonic insanity” of jazz fusion

“IF WE LIKE IT, IT MUST BE GOOD!”

After their surprise top 5 debut album, Black Country, New Road deliver a more melodic follow-up. But as guitarist Luke Mark says: “I insisted on being louder than everyone else!”

“MY RIGHT HAND IS ALWAYS MOVING – WHETHER I HIT ANY NOTES OR NOT!”

Funk master Cory Wong is all about the gr oove. But on his new album with Vulfpeck, he’s also rocking out. As he says: “I got to be a little more Eddie Van Halen!”

Robben Ford

HE’S A MASTER CRAFTSMAN WHO HAS PL AYED FOR LEGENDS SUCH AS MILES DAVIS AND JONI MITCHELL, AND CRE ATED A SERIES OF BRILLIANT SOLO ALBUMS. FOR ROBBEN FORD, ONE GOLDEN RULE APPLIES: “TONE HAS ALWAYS BEEN NUMBER ONE TO ME.”

THE TOTAL GUITAR INTERVIEW

In 1987 Slash changed the face of rock

“I WANT TO STICK TO WHAT EXCITES ME RATHER THAN CONFORM TO WHAT’S POPULAR AT THE MOMENT. I’D RATHER KEEP IT ROCK ’N’ ROLL.”

“I’d be lying if I said I don’t feel the pressure in this age of technical expression and fluidity...”

PLAY LIKE

Take a look at Slash’s key playing techniques to get inside his style

APPETITE FOR INSTRUCTION

TG takes a look at the cat in the hat’s greatest riffs with GN’R and more

THE FORGOTTEN GEAR

If you thought he only played Les Pauls, check out these amazing highlights from Slash’s $2 million guitar collection

BILL WITHERS USE ME

Catchy riffs and an infectious groove. TG and Rockschool take a look at Bill Withers’ acoustic smash

OPEN-MIC SONGBOOK TAYLOR SWIFT WILLOW

Learn the lockdown hit from Taylor Swift’s second number one album of 2020, Evermore

TAB GUIDE

Get more from TG by understanding our easy-to-follow musical terms and signs

THE GAS STATION

REAL WORLD REVIEWS OF THE BEST NEW GEAR

START ME UP!

Five awesome new products to get your gear engine revving this month…

PRS SE SILVER SKY

£895

EPIPHONE 1961 LES PAUL SG STANDARD

A Gibson in all but name?

FENDER KURT COBAIN JAG-STANG

Cobain’s “dream guitar” gets a reissue

FUNNY LITTLE BOXES 1991

Son... have we got a little pedal for you

SERRA PETALE LOS BITCHOS

Photo Tom Mitchell “Is there anyone who doesn’t