“You could clone me — but why would you want to?”: Iced tea laced with Ozzy Osbourne’s DNA, anyone?
Yours for just $450!
Artists
“You could clone me — but why would you want to?”: Iced tea laced with Ozzy Osbourne’s DNA, anyone?
Yours for just $450!
“The greatest rock ballad of all time!”: The classic song that held the No.2 spot for 10 weeks without ever hitting No.1
But at least the album made it to the top
“After Smells Like Teen Spirit, there was no place for bands like us”: The life and death of a hair metal band
Two top 10 hits and two million album sales couldn't save them
“Playing in front of people who are stripped down to the bones…” Josh Homme talks Alive In The Catacombs
“This could be beautiful. This could be elegant,” he says, of Queens of the Stone Age's unusual live return
Fender gives Richie Kotzen’s figured-maple topped MIJ signature Strat a global release
Ash-bodied with a figured maple top, offered in Transparent White and Red Burst finishes, equipped with DiMarzio pickups, Kotzen's Strat could be a modern classic
I Wanna be Your Man: The Bootleg Beatles are after a new Paul McCartney
Successful bassist will be their fourth Macca - do you have the “look, the voice, bass guitar and keyboard skills”?
Gibson unveils new signature ES-345 for Marcus King, and it is the evolution of a family heirloom
Inspired by "Big Red," the 1962 ES-345 that has been in the family for generations, King's new signature model has the same feel but comes with a fixed Vibrola and the Varitone switch removed
Music Tech
"Splice is now built directly into Pro Tools": Avid launches Pro Tools 2025.6 with Splice integration, AI speech-to-text engine and more
Avid teams up with leading sample platform in what the company calls a "game-changing integration bringing millions of sounds into the heart of Pro Tools"
Sonicware's LIVEN Evoke is a "nostalgia-evoking ambient music box" fusing acoustic and electronic sounds
The next synth in the Japanese manufacturer's super-affordable LIVEN series is billed as a "deeply expressive tool for composing cinematic ambient and post-classical music"
Universal Audio's Anthem synth plugin promises to "put the biggest, baddest analogue sounds at your fingertips"
A growling analogue-modelled filter, flexible sequencer and vintage-style modulation effects give UA's new monosynth an edge
It’s a Beatles sons reunion: Zak Starkey, James McCartney and Sean Lennon unite on Rip Off
New Mantra Of The Cosmos track also features Shaun Ryder
“There’s a freedom of thought that doesn’t exist elsewhere”: How and why California became the heart of the synthesizer world
Many of the biggest players in the genesis of modern music-making hailed from California, but just what made the state such fertile ground for the synth pioneers to flourish?
Teenage Engineering has designed an electric moped - and it's cheaper than the OP-XY synth
Are they taking us for a ride?
Music Production for Women announces free workshops in London, Dublin, Amsterdam and Berlin
Taking place throughout July, the beginner-oriented events will cover subjects such as beat programming, synthesis and audio effects
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
Guitars
Cornerstone’s revamped Imperium V2 is a Dumble x TS-style stompbox that really is a 2-in-1 overdrive
A high-end twofer overdrive for the discerning guitarist, now with four I/O connections for maximum versatility
Fender gives Richie Kotzen’s figured-maple topped MIJ signature Strat a global release
Ash-bodied with a figured maple top, offered in Transparent White and Red Burst finishes, equipped with DiMarzio pickups, Kotzen's Strat could be a modern classic
I Wanna be Your Man: The Bootleg Beatles are after a new Paul McCartney
Successful bassist will be their fourth Macca - do you have the “look, the voice, bass guitar and keyboard skills”?
Gibson unveils new signature ES-345 for Marcus King, and it is the evolution of a family heirloom
Inspired by "Big Red," the 1962 ES-345 that has been in the family for generations, King's new signature model has the same feel but comes with a fixed Vibrola and the Varitone switch removed
Supro teams up with Two Notes for the Airwave, a vintage-voiced 25W tube combo with onboard cab sims
Old-school Supro tube tones, new-school design, the Airwaves makes it effortless to go direct when recording or playing live – and it comes with 12 presets, including one inspired by Jimmy Page
Keeley Electronics’ Manis Overdrive remixes the Klon recipe for those who don’t like the original
In this inventive twist on the Klon, Robert Keeley switches out the "mythical" diodes for germanium transistors and offers diodes as a switchable option, and there's a bass boost feature too
Sam Ryder channels Brian May with an electric guitar performance of God Save The King, but not everyone's happy
The moment came on Saturday before the rugby union Gallagher Premiership Final
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
