“You’re the only one who made it to the end of the song — you’re hired!”: The madness of Captain Beefheart's masterpiece
“Man, it was weird!” recalls bassist Rockette Morton
Artists
“You’re the only one who made it to the end of the song — you’re hired!”: The madness of Captain Beefheart's masterpiece
“Man, it was weird!” recalls bassist Rockette Morton
“It’s about reconfiguring what a human voice is so it’s not just aesthetic, but political”: Lyra Pramuk turns vocal processing into protest on new project Hymnal
On her second LP, Lyra Pramuk collides experimental vocal edits with classical instrumentation to create an eerily beautiful sonic symphony
Unpicking the Beach Boys’ classic that confirmed Brian Wilson’s creative genius
Conceived as an all-in-one ‘pocket symphony’, Good Vibrations was thematically triggered by the notion that dogs could sense the positive or negative energies of humans
“All my equipment kind of glowed and then shut down”: The weather event that shaped a Richie Hawtin classic
“I probably made some of the hardest tracks I ever did”: The literal lightning strike behind Dimension Intrusion
“Now the deck is heavily stacked against old farts like myself!”: The classic rock singer exiled by his old band
How Ed Sheeran generated royalties for Bob Dylan by borrowing from Jimi Hendrix
Sheeran also reveals what he talked to Van Morrison about when he met him for breakfast: "I think he was, like, asking me to explain Spotify to him"
“I’ll cry... I’d have done that gig for nothing” Zak Starkey on why he'll miss the Oasis gigs
And he says he might yet rejoin The Who
Music Tech
The ultimate compression cheat sheet – go-to settings to help you make better music
Confused about where to start with compressors and dynamics effects? We'll guide you through the essential features and settings
“It’s about reconfiguring what a human voice is so it’s not just aesthetic, but political”: Lyra Pramuk turns vocal processing into protest on new project Hymnal
On her second LP, Lyra Pramuk collides experimental vocal edits with classical instrumentation to create an eerily beautiful sonic symphony
“One of the most iconic synthesizers of all time, in a highly usable and great sounding piece of software”: GForce Software Oberheim TVS Pro review
Introducing a software rebirth, based on a hardware reissue. GForce presents two seminal voices in a single legendary Oberheim
Sack The DJ: Apple launches its new feature that can mix tracks using AI
AutoMix can timestretch and beat match
“A good all round headphone suited to recording, mixing and mastering”: Adam Audio H200 Headphones review
Adam Audio has properly entered the headphone market, and the new team has made a strong start
MusicRadar deals of the week: My pick of Father's Day deals for musicians include $400 off the Polyend Play+, $200 off a Martin acoustic and so much more
We've uncovered the very best offers on a range of music-making gear from the likes of Tama, Gretsch, Polyend, Martin and more
"It’s been a tough few years": UK gear retailer PMT closes its doors, makes 96 staff redundant and sells £2.4m of stock to Gear4Music
Just a few months after Brighton-based GAK closed down, another UK musical instrument retailer enters administration
Tick, tick, tick, tick, boom! Camtronome is the essential musical metronome app that you didn’t know you needed
It’s the next-level performance assistant whose time signature jumps, tempo changes and audible queues will keep you on point through your entire gig
“One of the most alive-feeling synths I’ve tried – even when it’s picking a fight”: Erica Synths Steampipe review
This digital physical modelling synth is designed with wind instruments in mind – but there’s more versatility here than meets the eye
Arturia's Mix DRUMS is an "all-in-one" drum processor that promises punchy, pro-sounding drums without the fuss
Co-developed with producer Emre Ramazanoglu, Mix DRUMS brings together dynamics, distortion, tone-shaping and much more in a one-stop shop for drum mixing
Guitars
MusicRadar deals of the week: My pick of Father's Day deals for musicians include $400 off the Polyend Play+, $200 off a Martin acoustic and so much more
We've uncovered the very best offers on a range of music-making gear from the likes of Tama, Gretsch, Polyend, Martin and more
Gretsch’s unveils new MIJ high-end semi-hollows with redesigned bodies and Pro Twin Six humbuckers
The Broadkaster LX Center Block and Broadkaster Jr Center Block have The Great Gretsch Tone, that classic Gretsch look, but are refreshed with some some subtle player-friendly tweaks
“A bold new take on a classic metal machine”: Having ridden the wave of popular demand, Jackson’s Surfcaster offset has landed – and it’s built for speed
No sharp ages? No problem. These X and JS Series Surfcasters have the shred-friendly dimensions and high-output pickups to mix it as a metal guitar
Line 6 debuts all-new AI tech as it supercharges its amp modelling platform with the Helix Stadium
The Helix Stadium and Stadium XL Floor units feature an 8" touchscreen, a vast range of tone-shaping features – including amp and effects capture – and take Line 6's modelling to new heights
Orangewood teams up with TreeTone for its first-ever electric – a baritone offset semi, priced $695
Designed alongside Josh Forest of TreeTone, the Del Sol Baritone is a P-90-loaded model based on Forest's golden era-inspired original, and it has a 27.5" scale and ships in B standard
Best 3/4 acoustic guitars 2025: Portable playability from Taylor, Martin, Yamaha, and more
Perfect for beginners and seasoned professionals alike, 3/4 acoustics make great songwriter guitars or for players on the go
“Guitars should be played”: Kirk Hammett has been anonymously selling his guitars online
One owner, gigged in stadiums, used on the recording of a Grammy-nominated metal album. Serious offers only...
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
Can you fix your guitar's frets yourself? We try three innovative approaches from MusicNomad to investigate how they might conquer a major cause of fret buzz
Uneven frets are a common issue with our guitars, but MusicNomad has come up with different ways to empower players to deal with it themselves
How to play like George Harrison on The Beatles' Abbey Road
Learn the guitar style of the most expressive and accomplished playing The Beatle would ever commit to tape
How to play guitar like David Gilmour: Bluesy diads, slides, quarter-tone blues curls and more
Tackle the expressive phrasing and minor pentatonic tricks of one of rock's finest guitarists, David Gilmour
30 essential acoustic guitar chords, with charts
Massively expand your musical vocabulary and songwriting options with these beautiful acoustic guitar chords
"You owe your guitar the chance to be its best": How to clean and polish your guitar frets a better way
We take a look at two different products that can help you get your frets gleaming and your guitar back to its best for smoother bends and clearer vibrato
Play like Jimmy Page! Exclusive video lesson
Key techniques guitar players can learn from the Led Zeppelin legend
How learning and understanding chord symbols can prove a major benefit for sharing your musical ideas
Chord hieroglyphics can take several forms. We unravel the mysteries of one of the most symbolic and common examples
What are the best online guitar lessons in 2025? I review guitar gear for a living and these are my favourite lessons platforms
My pick of the best online guitar courses will get your playing up to speed from the comfort of your own home, whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player
Latest Tuition
The ultimate compression cheat sheet – go-to settings to help you make better music
Confused about where to start with compressors and dynamics effects? We'll guide you through the essential features and settings
Piano basics: the black notes - what are they for and how do you use them?
Fear of a black key?… Don't be afraid. Adding flats and sharps to your music will give it a new lease of life.
From Parlour to Jumbo: The beginner's guide to acoustic guitar body shapes (and which one is right for you)
There are key variables that affect how an acoustic guitar will sound - its projection and tonal characteristics in particular
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: TDR Nova
If regular EQ and compression aren’t delivering, then dynamic EQ might be the answer – and we have the perfect free plugin
The head of Audacity shares his top 5 tips for beginner podcasters
The man who leads development of the world’s most popular free and open-source audio editor offers his advice
The ultimate guide to pedal board essentials (and what order to put them in)
Here's what you need on board and where they all sit best for maximum effect
Can you fix your guitar's frets yourself? We try three innovative approaches from MusicNomad to investigate how they might conquer a major cause of fret buzz
Uneven frets are a common issue with our guitars, but MusicNomad has come up with different ways to empower players to deal with it themselves
10 music theory tricks every producer and songwriter should know
Spruce up your chords and snazz up those scales with our simple but powerful techniques
“When you want a boring sound to sound rhythmic and exciting - reach for the delay”: How to understand and use delay effectively in your productions
It's one of the most widely used effects for producers, synthesists and guitarists alike, but how does it work?
Want to record some real musicians in your studio? Here’s how to prep for success
One of the biggest learns when becoming a producer is just how you manage - and work with - real musicians.
Here's how to compress your mix bus for sonic punch
What does mix bus compression do, how do you use it, and which compressor should you use?
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: Full Bucket FB-3300
Classic synthesizer plugins offer a great entry point for unusual and rare synth designs, and this Korg design is one of the rarest
How to play like George Harrison on The Beatles' Abbey Road
Learn the guitar style of the most expressive and accomplished playing The Beatle would ever commit to tape
Technically capable, but struggle to make your tunes sound musical? 5 simple music theory hacks to make your tracks stand out
Level up your music-making with these simple but effective tricks that can be easily used by those with zero knowledge of music theory
Play mono synth properly: the skills you need
How playing mono synths differs from standard keyboards
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: Newfangled Audio Pendulate
This free mono synth plugin is creative, chaotic and fun to use. It’s time to go West (Coast)
"You owe your guitar the chance to be its best": How to clean and polish your guitar frets a better way
We take a look at two different products that can help you get your frets gleaming and your guitar back to its best for smoother bends and clearer vibrato
“If you don’t have an idea, go mow the lawn": Follow Neil Young’s lead to demolish those frustrating songwriting barriers
It’s true, sometimes working relentlessly on perfecting a song or track that you’re just not feeling can do more harm than good
Latest reviews
“One of the most iconic synthesizers of all time, in a highly usable and great sounding piece of software”: GForce Software Oberheim TVS Pro review
Introducing a software rebirth, based on a hardware reissue. GForce presents two seminal voices in a single legendary Oberheim
“A good all round headphone suited to recording, mixing and mastering”: Adam Audio H200 Headphones review
Adam Audio has properly entered the headphone market, and the new team has made a strong start
“One of the most alive-feeling synths I’ve tried – even when it’s picking a fight”: Erica Synths Steampipe review
This digital physical modelling synth is designed with wind instruments in mind – but there’s more versatility here than meets the eye
“There is no question that there’s enough quality audio here to cater for every musical taste and presents a massive amount of editing options”: Alesis Strata Club review
Alesis continue to expand its BFD-powered Strata range with this stripped-back, 4-piece e-kit
"Up there as one of the better value for money metal guitars that you can currently buy": Spira S-450 TPP review
From the team behind JET guitars comes new brand Spira. Created to serve the heavier side of music, and applying an impressive spec in a budget-friendly, metal package
“Pigments is becoming so powerful it risks making the V Collection look obsolete”: Arturia Pigments review
With physical modelling and a vocoder among the additions for Pigments 6, we explore why Arturia’s flagship softsynth is very much worth your time in 2025
“A highly flexible yet portable unit that is easy to use but can also be configured to taste”: Zoom H6 Essential review
Compact location recorders with six inputs are a rarity. Let’s see what this latest Zoom design has to offer
“Ribbon tweeters are sometimes criticised for their limited vertical dispersion, here this is not noticeable unless you are sitting very close”: Adam Audio D3V Monitor
If you want quality monitoring but space is limited, Adam Audio’s latest monitors could be the answer
