“It means everything to me. It’s the song that gave us our first big break”: The ’90s hit that pretty much wrote itself
“We never actually rehearsed the song — just played it!”
Artists
“It means everything to me. It’s the song that gave us our first big break”: The ’90s hit that pretty much wrote itself
“We never actually rehearsed the song — just played it!”
Tame Impala's ultra-hyped chord-generating synth is back for a second drop - and this time it's international
Telepathic Instruments has announced the release of Orchid's second batch - here's how to get your hands on one
Calvin Harris reveals the unconventional method he used to record the guitar riff on new single, Blessings
“I bought this guitar which was the guy’s favourite guitar, apparently,” he says of his recently acquired Martin dreadnought
“The weight of this responsibility is enormous”: The Who’s new drummer announces himself to fans
Scott Devours is long-serving sticksman in Roger Daltrey’s solo band
“Proving we know music best”: Did Spotify really just pick this summer's hottest 30 tracks?
Mixing social science with some good old fashioned good taste, Spotify reckons it can predict the future
“The pirates are on their way!”: How guitarist Steve Stevens kickstarted Billy Idol’s hits White Wedding and Rebel Yell
"Our producer said, ‘You need a flag at the top'"
"We did one take of him singing Lava Chicken Shack": Jack Black’s Minecraft hit took 34 seconds to make
A new Apple Music video goes behind the scenes on Black’s musical contribution to the surprise hit of the year
Music Tech
“A versatile and durable dynamic microphone suitable for a range of applications”: Universal Audio SD-1 review
Affordable dynamic microphone bringing professional sound from a top-tier brand
Tame Impala's ultra-hyped chord-generating synth is back for a second drop - and this time it's international
Telepathic Instruments has announced the release of Orchid's second batch - here's how to get your hands on one
Calvin Harris reveals the unconventional method he used to record the guitar riff on new single, Blessings
“I bought this guitar which was the guy’s favourite guitar, apparently,” he says of his recently acquired Martin dreadnought
Akai drops major firmware update for Force groovebox with stem separation and plugin support
Billed as the "most significant" update since the product was released, Force 3.5 is available now as a free public beta
Marshall’s Heston 120 promises to bring "rock 'n' roll flair to the world of soundbars"
It’s so retro that The Darkness have been resurrected to help roll it out
ABBA pay tribute to sound engineer Michael B Tretow, their ‘fifth member’, who has died aged 80
“His importance for ABBA cannot be overestimated,” says Björn Ulvaeus
Universal Audio's new plugin emulates a legendary '70s production trick heard on recordings from Queen, AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac
The A-Type Multiband Dynamic Enhancer adds air, sparkle and brightness to vocals and instruments by recreating the classic Dolby A Trick in software
Fender Studio is the company’s long-awaited entry-level recording app, and it’s free for all
Cross-platform software “shares DNA” with PreSonus Studio One and includes Fender amp and effect models
“It will drag out your inner Brian Eno with frightening ease”: Soundtoys SpaceBlender review
And it will do it for free… if you're quick
“It’s a criminal offence”: Elton lambasts government over proposals to change copyright laws to suit AI firms
He described Technology Secretary as “a bit of a moron”
Guitars
Calvin Harris reveals the unconventional method he used to record the guitar riff on new single, Blessings
“I bought this guitar which was the guy’s favourite guitar, apparently,” he says of his recently acquired Martin dreadnought
Guitar Center's epic Memorial Day sale offers unbeatable deals, including $419 off a Gibson Les Paul Standard!
Treat yourself this Memorial Day, and get hundreds of dollars off an array of guitars, basses, amps, effects and more
John Mayer and Ernie Ball unveil a set of acoustic guitar strings made from an all-new alloy
The Earthwood Bell Bronze acoustic strings are made from an all-new proprietary alloy that offers “bold, rich, full-bodied tones with enhanced resonance and projection”
Harley Benton applies retro-classic colours to its beginner friendly short-scale JB-62CC Mini Bass
Short-scales have all the fun? For under 200 bucks you get a 23” scale Jazz-alike that’s ideal for the kids, but maybe also for those plummy old-school soul and R&B tones
“I thought, 'Well, now I have a Strat, a Les Paul, and a regular Tele all in one’”: How a top session player struck gold
It's been slung over his shoulder since the ’80s
EHX promises a “completely unique soundscape building experience” from the Oceans Abyss über-reverb
It's not just any reverb pedal, it's an "Advanced Reverb Laboratory", and it allows you to run two stereo reverbs at once, pan them across the stereo field, add effects and get creative
With AAAA quilt maple veneer, US pickups and new neck joint, Kramer ups the ante with the Volante
Kramer's high-performance range expands with a super-versatile double-cut with dual-humbucker or humbucker/single-coil configurations, Floyd Rose vibratos and speedy necks as standard
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
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
“It’s tougher and faster than ever”: Jump aboard the modern hardgroove train and learn to build a club-ready beat
Putting together the elements you need to craft a beat that just won't let up
Play like Jimmy Page! Exclusive video lesson
Key techniques guitar players can learn from the Led Zeppelin legend
Don't know where to start with virtual instruments? We're here to help
In today's world of music production, pretty much everything you can dream of will have a virtual counterpart. Let's explore
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
UA is giving away its 1176 plugin as a Valentine's gift – here's how to get it and use it!
Forget flowers, chocolates or champagne – give your loved one a free vintage compressor plugin instead! Better still, just get it for yourself…
Are all interpretations of songs correct? Kate Bush certainly thinks so
It’s easy to get precious about the true meaning of our creative endeavours, but how much authority do songwriters really have to own the definitive reading of their work?
How Aphex Twin fought the temptation to continually refine, and how we can learn from his example
It’s easy to carry on fiddling with our tracks, but as Richard D. James knows all too well, that urge to keep going can prove a problem
“Maybe I’ll write out five or six chords, then discipline myself to write something only with those chords involved”: Why David Bowie’s restrictive songwriting strategies provide a lesson for us all
Sometimes imposing rules can force us out of our creative comfort zones. It's a tactic David Bowie used to birth some of his most celebrated songs.
Latest reviews
“A versatile and durable dynamic microphone suitable for a range of applications”: Universal Audio SD-1 review
Affordable dynamic microphone bringing professional sound from a top-tier brand
"Ordering one before clapping eyes on it will be a lottery": Cort KX507MS Pale Moon 7-string review
Another value-for-money, thoroughly modern metal machine from Cort, but with a finish that has divided opinion
“It will drag out your inner Brian Eno with frightening ease”: Soundtoys SpaceBlender review
And it will do it for free… if you're quick
“Its robust construction, low self-noise, and ability to emulate a range of classic microphones make it a valuable asset”: Universal Audio SC-1 review
Classy condenser with top-shelf tricks but a bargain price tag
"A versatile jack-of-all-trades, with some excellent displays of mastery at times": Fender Player II Modified Precision Bass review
Fender’s workhorse-series P-Bass gets some performance-enhancing additions, as well as a tone control that works in passive mode
"This is a guitar that proves affordability can still bring looks that stun": Gretsch G5230T Electromatic Sparkle Jet FT review
Gretsch makes a few tweaks to the G5230T to bring us a variation with more than a little sparkle
“At full throttle, this speaker is capable of delivering room-filling volume without strain”: Alesis Strike Amp 12 MK2 review
This workhorse amplifier has had a rethink, improving specs whilst maintaining the affordable price point that Alesis is known for
“If you’re all about getting as close as possible to period-correct as you can for this price point, then you won’t be disappointed here”: Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom 1960 Les Paul Standard Reissue review
We get hands-on with Epiphone’s ode to one of the most coveted Gibson guitars of all time
