ISSUE 350 AUGUST 2023

GUITAR PLAYING doesn’t come more honest, raucous and exciting than the early days of rock and roll. With the world in a post-war flush of 50s optimism, and America’s teenagers finding their voice, there were certain things that came to epitomise the times. For our purposes, one was the car (freedom, excitement!) and the other was the electric guitar (music!). Made by trailblazing companies such as Fender and Gibson, the amplified guitar was a huge entity, as was the sound it made. Grasped in the hands of Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, James Burton, Cliff Gallup and others, America’s guitar developed a sound and a vocabulary that resonated around the world.

It’s that flush of excitement, that notion of playing loud using string bends, double-stops and Pentatonic flurries, that has informed our cover feature this issue. Being a fan of the genre and guitarist for the UK’s own rock and roll idol, Shakin’ Stevens, Jon Bishop has brought his expertise to our celebration of some of the biggest rockers that America gave the world. From the raucous licks of Chuck Berry to the infectious rhythms of Bo Diddley, the countryrock Strat tones of Buddy Holly to the sparkling hybrid picking of James Burton, you’ll love working through the examples. Our backing tracks are perfect for the authentic licks you’ll play, too! On page 26 we have the session guitarist and producer Shane Theriot soloing on a new piece, then discussing his playing approach. GT’s long-running artist video features are unique for both the depth of knowledge imparted and how celebrated artists create and play when faced with new music. No other magazine or website does it like GT!