Articles by: Ellie Rogers

Heriot's Debbie Gough on the 10 albums that changed her life and that Jackson shred collaboration video: "It was definitely one of the craziest experiences of my life"

By Ellie Rogers published 3 October 23

The whammy-wielding UK metaller talks Jackson American Series Virtuoso and why Haley Williams is a songwriting influence alongside Converge and the Dillinger Escape Plan

5 songs guitarists need to hear by... John Martyn

By Ellie Rogers published 8 August 23

Brilliant, inventive, troubled, there was never a folk guitar player like Martyn, whose appetite for experimentation created a sound that resonated far beyond guitar culture

"Chords are depictions of emotions" – 5 Joni Mitchell songs that showcase her guitar and songwriting genius

By Ellie Rogers published 17 July 23

A case of Joni – and her 55 different tunings

Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac performs on stage at The Hydro on October 3, 2013 in Glasgow, Scotland

Lindsey Buckingham: 5 Fleetwood Mac and solo songs you need to hear featuring the guitar maverick

By Ellie Rogers published 14 June 23

He goes his own way

Fender Steve Lacy People Pleaser Stratocaster

Steve Lacy on his new signature Fender Strat: "I kind of wanted to mix the old with the new – I think I always like that in everything that I do"

By Ellie Rogers published 17 May 23

The artist and producer brings an auteur's touch to his first signature guitar; he tells us about striking a balance

Voyager guitarists Simone Dow and Scott Kay on being the first prog-metal band in the Eurovision Song Contest: "We love a little bit of cheese every now and then, so why not throw that in with a nice little mountaintop solo?"

By Ellie Rogers published 9 May 23

The duo also explain why the key to a good guitar riff is the drums

Feist interview: "I was endeavouring to push myself harder in my guitar playing"

By Ellie Rogers published 4 May 23

In this guitar-focussed interview, Leslie Feist tells us how she used nylon strings, alternate tunings and a Spire digital eight-track to make a compelling musical statement on Multitudes

Ruston Kelly on the 10 albums that changed his life and how they inspired his new record: "If you really dig into the record, you can hear every single one’s influences"

By Ellie Rogers published 5 April 23

"I started a Dave Matthews covers band in my high school" – we pick through the DNA of Ruston's sprawling third album, The Weakness

"If you roll your guitar volume back and have a pedal on, it’ll buffer it and you’ll still have the high end" – Michael Landau talks Strats and shares his top 5 tips for guitarists

By Ellie Rogers published 3 April 23

We discuss tone and the 'Coma' Strat with a session giant

"With this record, I hope that people can feel my soul and my spirit because, in those solos, that’s what I’m really giving you" – Malina Moye on her new album and the 10 that changed her life

By Ellie Rogers published 17 March 23

An inspiring musician talks inspirations

"There is something about the clean sound on a Fender. I just don’t think it can be touched" – Samm Henshaw on embracing the guitar for his next record and being inspired to play by John Mayer (via Michael Jackson)

By Ellie Rogers published 8 March 23

"I have not played around with a proper amp for a very long time! It’s been plugins"

5 Rory Gallagher songs guitarists need to hear

By Ellie Rogers published 15 February 23

Check out these key tracks from the electric blues icon

"Aged 15, 16 and 17, I wanted to be Stevie Ray Vaughan – that’s all I cared about": Jared James Nichols on blues heroes, Zakk Wylde, Patsy Cline and the 10 albums that changed his life

By Ellie Rogers published 9 February 23

"I had a Tube Screamer as well and I still use it"

John Oates on 10 albums that changed his life, and the guitar that now feels like a part of him: "I bought my ‘58 Strat in 1972 for a hundred and twenty-five bucks and I’ve played it ever since"

By Ellie Rogers published 19 January 23

From James Brown to Joni Mitchell and Billy Strings: the key inspirations on one half of the best-selling musical duo ever, and a solo artist in his own right

5 songs you need to hear by Jeff Beck

By Ellie Rogers published 12 January 23

The guitar heroes' guitar hero had a discography and a bag of six-string tricks like no other

5 Prince deep cut songs for guitarists

By Ellie Rogers published 31 December 22

Best of 2022: Guitar gold mining from His Royal Badness’s catalogue

Dea Matrona: meet the young Belfast band keeping the fire of Rory Gallagher and Fleetwood Mac burning bright

By Ellie Rogers published 13 December 22

We talk to Orlaith Forsythe about how she honed her guitar and bass chops with 12-hour days busking

Hawxx: "We definitely have an awareness that the metal and rock scene has a really long way to go in terms of diversity and being a safe gig space for women, trans people and non-binary people"

By Ellie Rogers published 23 November 22

Interview: Guitarists Anna Papadimitriou and Hannah Staphnill on their musical mission, winning fans, playing fanned frets and joining the Jackson guitar roster ahead of their debut album

5 songs guitarists need to hear by the Grateful Dead

By Ellie Rogers last updated 14 November 22

A truly alternative movement as much as a band to their loyal following of Deadheads, but what about the songs? Newcomers can dig in for a long strange trip here

Bush's Gavin Rossdale on the 10 albums that changed his life, spending time with Prince and being inspired by PJ Harvey to buy Joe Walsh's Jazzmaster

By Ellie Rogers published 10 October 22

"All these records I’m talking about, I know them back to front"

5 songs guitarists need to hear by Tom Petty

By Ellie Rogers published 15 August 22

The places to start in the remarkable songwriting catalogue by an often overlooked guitarist

Sophie Lloyd shares her advice for future guitar YouTubers: "The hardest thing to do is to post that first video because it’s putting yourself out there and it’s quite scary – I’d say forget all of that, you just need to do it!"

By Ellie Rogers last updated 15 June 22

Interview: The UK guitarist talks playing, video tips and why learning by ear is the best way

Robin Trower interview: "I think you have to up your game every time"

By Ellie Rogers published 9 May 22

A blues rock icon on why he decided to upgrade his new album and the secrets of his guitar tone

Ry Cooder: 5 songs guitarists need to hear

By Ellie Rogers published 4 April 22

A master musician and an American treasure who’s enjoyed a sweeping, idiosyncratic career arc quite unlike any other guitarist on the planet

Envy Of None's Alex Lifeson and Maiah Wynne on the post-Rush album that was Lifeson's "life-saver"

By Ellie Rogers published 17 March 22

We catch up with the songwriting partnership ahead of the release of the band's debut album

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