“It was the most bizarre musical experience”: QOTSA’s Troy Van Leeuwen on playing Paris's Catacombs
Alive in the Catacombs presents a set of stripped-down QOTSA classics on acoustic for a unique concert film/EP
Artists
“It was the most bizarre musical experience”: QOTSA’s Troy Van Leeuwen on playing Paris's Catacombs
Alive in the Catacombs presents a set of stripped-down QOTSA classics on acoustic for a unique concert film/EP
“The Eagles were in the same studio. They had to go because we were too loud!”: Sabbath in the ’70s - by Tony Iommi
Want to learn to play Wonderwall on the guitar? You’re not the only one…
By now, you should’ve somehow realised that it’s in F# minor
“That’s not how we were. We would never do that”: Ringo has put his foot down over parts of the Beatles biopics
Plus the drummer says he still feels like a young man
How the Oasis vs Blur chart battle marked Britpop's cultural peak, and the beginning of its end
1995’s chart battle between Oasis and Blur cemented the two bands as Britpop’s warring kings, but creatively, the movement was unravelling
Lorde unmasks the guitar part on her new album that was created using a ‘90s Roland V-Guitar processor
Plus, the Teenage Engineering OP-1 patch that “shows up everywhere” on the record
“I know there’s going to be at least another Aerosmith gig”: Joe Perry is convinced that band will play again
He suggests that Steven Tyler would be able to take part
Music Tech
How Cherry Audio recreated the sound of the world's first commercial polysynth in software
We caught up with Cherry Audio's CTO Dan Goldstein to find out more about how it crafted a plugin emulation of a super-rare proto-synth from 1939
Predicting the future evolution of plugin design
It's out with hardware replication and in with simplification, with a considerable heap of AI on the side - we ask the experts to foresee the plugin experience of tomorrow
“Unlocks a new layer of compositional creativity that was absent from previous versions”: Ableton Live 12 Suite review
With the arrival of Live 12.2, we revisit and update our review for 2025
To mark Plugin Week, here’s our pick of the most out-there sound design plugins you should grab now
From wonky reverbs, complex motion designers and dehumanisers, this assortment of tools will take your music into places you never thought possible
“It’s marketing. It’s trolling”: The Velvet Sundown are an AI-generated ‘art hoax’
But does it matter?
Leapwing Audio on their stable of forensic mix plugins
Leapwing's intuitive, incisive plugins let users perform forensic mix surgery with ease and emulate the tones of iconic producers.
Pivot is a ‘no-nonsense’ FM synth plugin from the designer of one of our favourite hardware instruments
With three operators, no algorithms and a morphing filter, Pivot aims to make FM user-friendly – and you can try a Lite version for free
Lorde unmasks the guitar part on her new album that was created using a ‘90s Roland V-Guitar processor
Plus, the Teenage Engineering OP-1 patch that “shows up everywhere” on the record
Atlas DSP, Your Last Steps Review
The new kid on the block delivers its first hard-hitting amp sim, which is tailor-made for brutal noise making and modern metal grit – just don’t call it the blues
5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently
Unconventional and creatively inspiring, these soft synths are pushing synthesis in bold new directions
Guitars
“It was the most bizarre musical experience”: QOTSA’s Troy Van Leeuwen on playing Paris's Catacombs
Alive in the Catacombs presents a set of stripped-down QOTSA classics on acoustic for a unique concert film/EP
Want to learn to play Wonderwall on the guitar? You’re not the only one…
By now, you should’ve somehow realised that it’s in F# minor
Vox V863-CA Semi-Auto Wah Pedal review
Featuring 3 modes and both manual and automatic control, Vox has put together a versatile wah to help get the funk out
Atlas DSP, Your Last Steps Review
The new kid on the block delivers its first hard-hitting amp sim, which is tailor-made for brutal noise making and modern metal grit – just don’t call it the blues
Meet the guitarist who’s worked his dad’s ashes into his Telecaster
"This way he will still be with me at all the shows and this has given me a sense of closure," he says
![[Left] Richie Faulkner plays his custom Les Paul Custom while Rob Halford looks on; [right] Late-stage Ozzy-era Sabbath the first time around, with Ozzy cheering on guitarist Tony Iommi](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sVrRxrJkHEGCKWBssDNNZe-840-80.jpg.webp)
Judas Priest salute the OG metal gods with a cover of Black Sabbath's War Pigs
Also, is that Pelham Blue Les Paul Custom a new signature model for Richie Faulkner?
“Thunderous sub-octave, expressive envelope, and lush modulation effects with killer tracking and sustain”: MXR unveils the MB301 Bass Synth – instant funk for your pedalboard
The Bass Synth is a funk engine with selectable waveforms, presets, and monophonic synth sounds evoking golden era Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Parliament/Funkadelic
Scott Gorham recalls Thin Lizzy’s close shave when they nearly split over Brian Robertson’s beard
Thin Lizzy's Live And Dangerous lineup was exactly that, and with Robertson, things could get hairy over the most trivial matter
The Oasis song Liam hated because it was 'reggae': "I remember Our Kid saying 'Why are you writing reggae songs?' And I was like, there speaks a man that has never heard reggae"
A songwriter in peak form, a singer and band who hated it, and the song that became bigger than anyone could have imagined
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
Ignite your inner guitar god for just 27 cents a day with TrueFire’s July 4th sale - save 60% on online lessons
With over 84,000 lessons at your disposal, this is one of the best value guitar tuition subscriptions online right now
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
How to use reverb to build impressive-sounding filters, reverses, risers and pads
Create your own reverb effects with our step-by-step tutorial
“Learning how to mix is almost as important as hitting on your original musical idea”: New to the mixing process? Start here
Don't let a brilliant song be swallowed up in a bad mix by following our guide to the central principles of the process
How to master virtually any software synth
Don't let your software arsenal overwhelm you - sometimes the best route to creative success is to mine just one instrument
How to record virtual and live instruments more smoothly by taking stock of your sample buffer
Latency on your plugins and audio recordings can derail a developing musical idea - but if you get a handle on managing your sample buffer you’ll have a much smoother ride
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: The Wave Warden Odin 2
Hybrid synths offer a wealth of synthesis options and this one is absolutely free. What are you waiting for?
Don't know where to start with virtual instruments? We're here to help
Because there's never been a better, easier, more affordable time to make great music on your computer
8 things you can do with Ableton Live's updated Auto Filter device
Given a major overhaul in Live 12.2, Auto Filter features a variety of creative filter types, new modulation options and real-time visualization
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?
Latest reviews
Vox V863-CA Semi-Auto Wah Pedal review
Featuring 3 modes and both manual and automatic control, Vox has put together a versatile wah to help get the funk out
Atlas DSP, Your Last Steps Review
The new kid on the block delivers its first hard-hitting amp sim, which is tailor-made for brutal noise making and modern metal grit – just don’t call it the blues
“We were even encouraged to dig out some particularly gnarly old stuff that hadn’t seen the light of day in years”: Freqport FreqInOut FO1 review
We take a look at Freeport’s latest in/out box which promises to morph your hardware into plugin form without breaking a sweat
“Unbeatable... A play-anything guitar”: Duesenberg Alliance Series Tom Bukovac Session Man review
One of the world's G.O.A.T. sessions players gets a candidate for G.O.A.T. signature guitar – a stunning semi-hollow with dual humbuckers and a piezo, and a vibrato, and... well, it's a lot of guitar
"An honest pair of compact, affordable monitors that are easy to set up": KRK Systems Kreate 5 review
KRK have a new affordable monitor range designed to help you create
“It took 400 audio tracks for me to get it to throw an error, which is frankly insane”: Asus ProArt P16 review
Looking for an alternative to a MacBook? Asus might have just provided the answer for musicians everywhere
“A worthy addition to Moog’s long history of analogue synths”: Moog Messenger review
It might look a little basic at first glance, but on closer inspection Moog’s latest is a smart and inspiring – if pricey – monosynth
“At times it can really feel like more of a multi-effects pedal rather than just a straight reverb pedal”: Electro-Harmonix Oceans Abyss review
EHX brings us a reverb pedal with sliders, a screen, and all the potential to be a Strymon-killer
