“We might just say, 'Let's go back to the '90s again.' It's not a bad idea”: Kirk Hammett on the next Metallica album
And he has 767 new riffs ready to go!
Artists
“We might just say, 'Let's go back to the '90s again.' It's not a bad idea”: Kirk Hammett on the next Metallica album
And he has 767 new riffs ready to go!
Mk.gee, Fred Again, Sekou… is Justin Bieber assembling 2025’s hottest cast of musical collaborators?
He might not have announced a new album, but Bieber is rumoured to have been working with some serious in-demand talent
“I certainly didn’t do it for the money”: Rhiannon Giddens on playing banjo on Texas Hold ‘Em
She felt it was a “compromise for the greater good”
“Outstanding achievements in philanthropy and widening participation”: Another honorary degree for Stormzy
The rapper’s scholarship scheme has now funded 55 Black British students
"What a way to round off a tour and a career”: The ‘longest running pop band’ will end their career at Glastonbury
The Searchers will bow out after 66 years
“Kind of proud of myself for being thrown out of America at 67”: UK Subs have been refused US entry
Bassist thinks it’s due to his derogatory opinions about Trump
Dolly Parton explains that Sabrina Carpenter lyric change on Please Please Please
Fortunately, embarrassment was saved for all concerned
Music Tech
Mk.gee, Fred Again, Sekou… is Justin Bieber assembling 2025’s hottest cast of musical collaborators?
He might not have announced a new album, but Bieber is rumoured to have been working with some serious in-demand talent
“I certainly didn’t do it for the money”: Rhiannon Giddens on playing banjo on Texas Hold ‘Em
She felt it was a “compromise for the greater good”
Apple says that its USB-C audio update for AirPods Max will make them do something unique for musicians
Lossless 24-bit/48kHz audio meets low-latency performance
NI update Maschine to 3.1 adding user chords, full screen mode, and clarifying compatibility
Maschine has been expanding in all directions recently with not all users feeling the benefit. Now 3.1 aims to clear the way
RIP headphones? 'Audible enclaves' are a new a way to beam music into your ears without hardware
Could a multi-billion dollar industry about to go bust? That’s the road ahead if scientists can refine their promising new tech
Bored of the same old analogue emulations? Try these 5 innovative synth plugins daring to do things differently
Unconventional and creatively inspiring, these soft synths are pushing synthesis in bold new directions
A YouTuber asked AI to tab a bunch of Metallica songs for guitar and got some really crazy results
On this evidence, tab books and sites are safe for now…
“He was using reverse psychology on us”: Bootsy Collins on why James Brown’s fines worked for his musicians
Plus how he found someone to make his ‘space’ bass
"Nu metal was everything": Emily Armstrong says she was a Linkin Park fan in high school
"I was like, ‘you guys this album is so good’"
“A superb-sounding, pro-end keyboard”: Roland V-Stage 88 & 76-note keyboards review
If you’re a gigging keyboard player, the new Roland V-Stage could be the next major addition to your rig
MusicRadar deals of the week: Bag yourself £300 off a premium Taylor acoustic, £270 off the Fender American Pro II Strat, $100 off the Line 6 HX Stomp, and so much more
We've uncovered the very best offers on a range of music-making gear from the likes of Line 6, Fender, Yamaha, Gibson and more
Guitars
J Rockett PXO Review
J Rockett teams up with the Bon Jovi ace to bring us a no-frills, but premium pedal that boasts something of an original tone whilst still serving classic sounds
“A lot of people don’t think this fits with Pet Sounds”: Carol Kaye on her 10 greatest recordings
As she celebrates her 90th birthday, we revisit our classic interview with the legendary bassist
Was this teenage prodigy the world’s first electric guitar player?
The instrument that defined rock had to start somewhere - and all evidence points towards George Barnes
“Perfect for that '80s arena-rock vibe”: MXR Rockman X100 pedal review
MXR revives Tom Scholz’s fabled '80s guitar headphone-amp tone in its latest pedal. Mass Hysteria ensues...
A YouTuber asked AI to tab a bunch of Metallica songs for guitar and got some really crazy results
On this evidence, tab books and sites are safe for now…
“He was using reverse psychology on us”: Bootsy Collins on why James Brown’s fines worked for his musicians
Plus how he found someone to make his ‘space’ bass
Lollar’s Super-Caster pickup set is here – three single-coils to rule the world?
Has Lollar just dropped the Stratocaster mod of the year?
Ernie Ball Music Man shakes up Steve Lukather signature series with new pickup options and finishes
But if these high-end electrics are a bit out of your price range, Sterling By Music Man has you covered with its $649 Lukather signature model in all-new finishes
MusicRadar deals of the week: Bag yourself £300 off a premium Taylor acoustic, £270 off the Fender American Pro II Strat, $100 off the Line 6 HX Stomp, and so much more
We've uncovered the very best offers on a range of music-making gear from the likes of Line 6, Fender, Yamaha, Gibson and more
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
"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
Fingerboard care basics: 6 things you need you need know about how to clean and condition your guitar fretboard
A string change is the ideal opportunity to get your 'board back to its best
Proggy pentatonic! How to use the good ol’ pentatonic scale in cool new ways
Get strumming: The 22 essential beginner, blues and folk guitar chords every guitarist should learn first
Inspiration for every skill level
Latest Tuition
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.
“It’s a favourite with jazz and funk players, but it's just at home in hits by artists such as Jessie Ware”: Expand your chordal colours with 9ths
Building an extension to a chord doesn’t require planning permission, but it might require a degree of design. We add 9ths to our extension palette
“If you're listening to amazing gear through terrible monitors, you've wasted your cash”: Why monitors are the most important part of your studio
Don't know where to begin with buying and using studio monitor speakers? Listen up
“The net result of this process is a progression which sounds smoother, calmer and more musical”: The value of adding chord inversions
If your chord progressions sound a little clunky, try approaching your harmony in an inverse way.
How to connect your audio interface to your computer – for both PC and Mac users
My guide to hooking up your audio interface to a laptop or computer, step-by-step
“When used in conjunction with other unextended chords, it will sound amazing”: How to enhance your songwriting with major sevenths
From bossanovas to Carole King and even James Bond villains, the major seventh can completely change your song’s mood.
How to connect a MIDI keyboard to your audio interface
Learn how to hook up your MIDI keyboard to your audio interface - no matter how complex your setup
“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
Latest reviews
J Rockett PXO Review
J Rockett teams up with the Bon Jovi ace to bring us a no-frills, but premium pedal that boasts something of an original tone whilst still serving classic sounds
“An excellent entry point into the world of cast-shell drums”: DrumCraft Bell Brass Snare review
As heavy-shell snare drums make a comeback, DrumCraft is letting us in on the action at a snip of the price
“Perfect for that '80s arena-rock vibe”: MXR Rockman X100 pedal review
MXR revives Tom Scholz’s fabled '80s guitar headphone-amp tone in its latest pedal. Mass Hysteria ensues...
“A superb-sounding, pro-end keyboard”: Roland V-Stage 88 & 76-note keyboards review
If you’re a gigging keyboard player, the new Roland V-Stage could be the next major addition to your rig
"Whatever magic is in the Van Halen ear canals has been imparted here too": EVH SA-126 Special review
The first new design from EVH under Wolfgang Van Halen's watch is a Gibson-inspired semi-hollow with plenty of personality
“The perfect environment for creating iconic drum sounds, which have scope to move beyond their original sonic remit”: GForce Software IconDrum review
In the return of an Iconoclastic instrument, GForce revisits one of the most influential drum machines of the ’80s, and beyond
"This bass has got a bit of a Goldilocks vibe going on": Cort Artisan Space 4 review
Cort's Space program has expanded with a four-string variant and you might want to get onboard
“A versatile set but these cymbals excel in a rock and metal context”: Zultan Z Series review
Budget cymbals without the budget sound
