Articles by: Chris Bird

Chris has been the Editor of Total Guitar magazine since 2020. Prior to that, he was at the helm of Total Guitar's world-class tab and tuition section for 12 years. He's a former guitar teacher with 35 years playing experience and he holds a degree in Philosophy & Popular Music. Chris has interviewed Brian May three times, Jimmy Page once, and Mark Knopfler zero times – something he desperately hopes to rectify as soon as possible.

Articles by: Chris Bird

The minor pentatonic is the essential scale for guitar solos: we'll show you how to get to grips with it today

By Chris Bird published 30 December 22

If you learn one scale on the guitar then it should be this

A Fender Stratocaster and Fender Telecaster lying on the floor

Best electric guitars 2023: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets

By Chris Bird last updated 1 November 23

Find the top electric guitar for your budget and playing style, whether you play rock, metal, blues or beyond

Close-up of a Sterling by Music Man Ray4 bass guitar's body against a reddish brown background

Best cheap bass guitars 2023: Top budget basses for every style of player

By Chris Bird last updated 20 October 22

Take a tour through our pick of the best budget bass guitars for beginner to intermediate players

Close up of a Martin D-15M acoustic guitar

Best acoustic guitars 2023: Top acoustics for all players and budgets

By Chris Bird last updated 3 November 23

Our pick of the very best flat tops from Taylor, Martin, Gibson, Fender and loads more

IK Multimedia Axe I/O and Audient Sono on a flight case surrounded by guitar cables and headphones

Best guitar audio interfaces 2023: Record killer guitar parts at home with our pick of outstanding interfaces

By Chris Bird last updated 25 October 22

Home studio-friendly guitar audio interfaces from IK Multimedia, Focusrite, UAD and more

Best budget signature guitars 2022: sound like your guitar heroes for less

Best budget signature guitars 2023: sound like your guitar heroes for less

By Chris Bird last updated 19 October 22

From a PRS for Mark Tremonti fans to a Slash-approved Epiphone, these are the best cheap signature guitars around

Best bass strings 2023: vintage and modern string sets for every style and budget

By Chris Bird last updated 19 October 22

Breathe some fresh life into your bass with our pick of the best bass strings on the market

8 essential contemporary blues guitar licks to learn

By Jon Bishop, Chris Bird published 6 April 22

The styles and techniques of the current crop of blues guitarists with audio and tab

10 ways to improve your guitar practice now

By Charlie Griffiths, Chris Bird, Rob Laing last updated 7 May 20

Improve your routine with our quick lessons and tips

5 ways to improve your guitar recordings

By Rob Laing, Chris Bird last updated 6 August 21

Best of 2019: Pro tips and useful tricks you can use at home and in the studio

"We’ve been making guitars for 70 years. We'll be teaching people how to play for the next 70" - Fender CEO Andy Mooney on the company's mission

By Chris Bird published 8 November 19

Chief Executive talks Fender Songs and how the iconic guitar company is trying to reach out to new potential players

Easy guitar theory: Chord structures

By Chris Bird published 1 November 19

Learn how to build some of the most commonly used chords with 5 different chord structures and accompanying arpeggio patterns

New Fender Songs app features over 750k songs to learn

By Chris Bird published 22 October 19

Slow tracks down to learn, complete with lyrics plus chord boxes

Me and my guitar: Joey Landreth

By Chris Bird published 24 July 19

The Canadian alt-country star on his custom-made go-to Goldtop

10 ways to get more from your guitar

By Chris Bird, Rob Laing published 9 July 19

How to sound better using what's right in front of you

Cory Wong: “The key to it all, the starting point for understanding, is just to listen”

By Chris Bird last updated 6 July 20

We talk to the Vulfpeck guitarist and modern funk whiz

Blur the line between rhythm and lead guitar with these smart playing approaches

By Chris Bird published 9 July 18

10 ideas that will help you handle both roles in your band

Guitar basics: getting started with rhythm guitar

By Chris Bird published 30 October 17

Master strumming chords in time

Bend it like David Gilmour

By Chris Bird published 5 November 15

Nail the Pink Floyd man's never-ending bends!

Gus G talks Brand New Revolution: "I wanted to push myself with the solos on this record"

By Chris Bird published 9 October 15

The Greek guitar god returns

A-Z of classic rock guitar

By Chris Bird, Simon Bradley, Rob Laing, Stuart Williams, Henry Yates published 20 August 15

From Aerosmith to ZZ Top

Rockschool makes Drums, Guitar and Bass syllabuses available via KR Player app

By Chris Bird published 23 October 14

Prepare for your grades using your iPad

Animals As Leaders - The Joy Of Motion review

By Chris Bird published 19 March 14

Prog-metal titans return

Red Dragon Cartel - Red Dragon Cartel review

By Chris Bird published 28 February 14

Long-awaited return of Jake E Lee

Will it melt your face? Quite possibly...

Bruce Bouillet - The Order Of Control review

By Chris Bird published 26 February 14

Face-melting licks galore

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