Innehållsförteckning för January 2021 från Total Guitar

Simon Neil, best known as the heavily-tattooed singer and guitarist of Scottish power trio Biffy Clyro, has released a signature distortion pedal, created by guitar tech Richard ‘Churd’ Pratt. The Booooom/Blast pedal (named after Biffy’s 2009 song Booooom, Blast And Ruin) was designed from scratch by Churd, with the band choosing to produce it for general release. Each model is individually painted and signed by Neil and comes with a handwritten thank-you note. “The aim was to capture Simon’s sound in a box,” explains Churd, “so anyone can play guitar and sound like him. It was much easier said than done! It’s one of the most transparent, loud overdrive pedals on the market. With so many distortion pedals you get loads of fuzz and saturation, but with this the guitar…

FENDER BAR STOOL £85 Even the most ambitious of guitar players need to sit down at some point and this 30-inch Fender Bar Stool is guaranteed to ooze class wherever you keep it. There’s a Custom Shop logo version too, but we think there’s something really quite classy about the fiesta red of the classic Fender design. G7TH CAPO PERFORMANCE 3 (18K GOLD) £47 Capos have come a long way in the last few decades – in both functionality and aesthetics. Gone are the ugly metallic braces of old, some looking more like something encountered while strapped in the dentist’s chair. The new flagship from G7th has their Adaptive Radius Technology which allows the capo to adapt to the curve of the fretboard. We’re sure you’ll agree this…

They’re not a power couple in the Kim and Kanye sense, but Tyler Bryant and Rebecca Lovell are serious players with big reputations – Rebecca starring with her sister Megan in the acclaimed roots-rock duo Larkin Poe, and Tyler, with his band The Shakedown, having played on some of the world’s biggest stages as opening act for AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses. So it made sense for the two of them to work together, and that’s what happened this year. Rebecca plays and sings on Pressure, the new album from Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown. And Tyler has had a hand in the making of Larkin Poe’s acoustic covers album Kindred Spirits. Speaking together from their home in Nashville, they talk TG through their musical dynamic as a married couple,…

We live in a world where we’re always looking for shortcuts to help us make the most of the limited time we have. It’s no different with the guitar – we all want to take the time to do things the right way, but sometimes you just want to get on and play. After all, the best thing about playing the guitar is the time you spend actually jamming the riffs, songs and solos you love. So, over the following pages, you’ll find 50 lessons to help you do just that – easy, quick shortcuts and simple lessons to help you play better, sound better and get more from your gear. There’s something for everyone to learn and hopefully it’s all good fun too.…

String bending is a feature of guitar playing that sets it apart from other instruments. An expressive and musical way to move between notes, the more you practise the technique, the more expressive your playing will become. You probably already use bends in your solos, but following our short example here will help you improve your accuracy for four different intervals. Before you tackle the solo take a look at the tab and practise each bend on its own, aiming to hit the right target note each time. TRACK 13 First up is a quarter tone – a very slight bend played with the first finger in this case. Next is a semitone bend (a one-fret pitch change). The third finger is probably the best here but practise with…

Chord progressions are the basis of songwriting and also the key to learning the songs that you want to play. Whatever the style, be it rock, pop, folk, metal, and so on, there are plenty of chord sequences which are used time and time again. If you’re writing your own music you’ll no doubt be looking for flashes of inspiration for your own brand new chord sequences, but these standards can serve as a great starting point too - just try a sus chord or a major/minor variation to make each progression your own. Here are four classics, complete with simple backing tracks to get you underway. LESSON 47 TRACK 28 THE THREE-CHORD TRICK The three-chord trick is commonplace in blues and can also be heard regularly in punk and…

“Wilson from DiMarzio lives right next to my studio in NY and brought a panel of pickups so I could compare them whilst recording. I realised when using old gear that it’s not too hot. For instance, passive pickups versus active pickups. The passive pickup has more dynamics, it’s not compressed, it’s not powered or whatever, whatever is going on in there. So already, I knew that I liked old stuff. When I tried the PAF in a guitar, I did some takes and I thought, ‘Okay, I want to go down that road for my signature pickup.’ I basically A/B’d all DiMarzio’s pickups and chose my favourite one, and did a twist on that for the bridge pickup. As for the neck pickup, which I use so rarely anyway,…

“We assumed we would just be four friends making music in a basement forever. One day we get a phone call from a booking agent in Nashville. A week later he says, ‘Hey, Dan Auerbach wants to get lunch,’” says Heavy Hours guitarist AJ Yorio, explaining how they came to co-write with the Black Keys frontman. “The way we’re used to writing songs, the music takes about a month and then the lyrics take another month. Dan was like, ‘Alright, let’s try and write a song before lunch,’ so that was wild.” The Black Keys connection began a whirlwind that has seen the band collaborate with Simon Felice (The Lumineers, Bat For Lashes) and David Rhodes (Peter Gabriel). Their third single, Desperate Days has been released to streaming ahead of…

There were many classic albums reissued this year: Lou Reed’s New York, full of brilliant guitar interplay from Lou and Mike Rathke; The Rolling Stones’ Goats Head Soup, with the previously unreleased track Scarlet featuring Jimmy Page; and a Dire Straits box set including all of the band’s studio albums, with Mark Knopfler at his early peak. But for Total Guitar, the best of the bunch, and certainly the rowdiest, was Motörhead’s Ace Of Spades. The three members of Motörhead’s classic line-up are no longer with us – bassist/vocalist Lemmy Kilmister, drummer ‘Philthy Animal’ Taylor and guitarist ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke. But the 40th anniversary edition of Ace Of Spades stands as a monument to the band’s awesome power, and to the talents of one of rock’s most underrated guitarists. Fast…

When the nominees for the 2021 Grammys were announced in November, there was an immediate backlash from artists who felt snubbed – including The Weeknd and Halsey – and fans outraged on their behalf. But if the Grammys committee got one thing right, it was in recognition of female guitarists – as illustrated by the nominees for Best Rock Performance. For the first time in history, the shortlist for this category is comprised entirely of female or female-fronted acts. And although the favourite to win is singer and pianist Fiona Apple, there are some serious guitar players among the other nominees. KYOTO – PHOEBE BRIDGERS Bridgers plays non-standard shapes high on the neck mixed with capo’d open strings for the jangly, propulsive chords. THE STEPS –…

Have you heard?! Guitar brands are hell-bent on not only giving us a ridiculous level of quality and features packed into tiny packages, but they also want to make sure that no matter how we choose to practise, we’re able to make everything talk to everything else. That’s exactly what the Pocket GT from Boss does. On the face of it, it’s a pocket-size effect/amp modeller loaded with 108 different models. That in itself is impressive, given that these sounds have trickled down from Boss’ GT sound engine. Then consider that it’s also an audio interface for recording to your computer. But this is a new decade, so of course it doesn’t end there. The Pocket GT can also hook up to your phone, and via the free Boss Tone…

STEVE MORSE ON THE POWER OF THE MOON FROM DEEP PURPLE’S WHOOSH! “It’s so unusual-sounding with really interesting dynamics. In the choruses there are these close clusters, which are fifths with the ninth or second added, that Don [Airey, keyboards] and I are playing together. That’s one of the signature things we do, sometimes we’ll have a part that’s almost like a sub-melody. It’s a line that doesn’t feel typical for guitar or organ.” JOHN PETRUCCI ON THE ODDFATHER FROM TERMINAL VELOCITY “It has something that I really haven’t done before – the middle section has a breakdown that goes into this open-string, right hand hammer-on part that is extended. It builds and builds until you get to the main solo. So in order to play that song, you’d have…

In 2020, a lot of musicians have had a lot of time on their hands, but for The Struts, ten days was all it took to cut one of the best rock records of the year. “It was essentially recorded live,” says guitarist Adam Slack of the band’s third album Strange Days, for which they decamped to producer John Levine’s home studio. And as Slack explains, it was a very different experience to making their 2018 breakthrough record Young & Dangerous. “Usually, in the past, I’ve done like twenty guitar tracks, harmonies galore and all that,” he says. “But this time there’s one guitar track on every song, all one live take. I did some overdubs but I didn’t go crazy. John felt we should try and make it sound…

AMPS, PEDALS & EFFECTS LESSON 01 Set your amp tone up for the stage, not the bedroom We hate to say it, but all those hours you spent painstakingly tweaking your amp to sound perfect when you’re rocking out at home were fun, but they’re not necessarily going to help you very much when you come to play in a live environment. To make your amp sing in a gig or practice, you have to think about your place in the mix. So, for simplicity’s sake let’s say the bass and drums take up the low frequencies, while the cymbals and vocals occupy the highs – where does that leave you? The middle! So, when you’re setting your amp’s eq at a gig, give the mid control a twist…

It’s easy to forget that most popular music styles owe a debt to the blues. And it’s especially true for the guitar – a staple instrument in early blues, and, more importantly, whose musical development since the 50s has imparted blues phrasing into the heart of rock and metal. Hell, you don’t even have to like blues, but learning some fundamentals will give you a broader musical base to work from, whatever music you’re into. Listen to the audio track we’ve provided and try out the six blues ideas we’ve tabbed here. You’ll hear each line played twice followed by a two-bar space for you to repeat the riff or lick. TRACK 14 1. Start with this blues shuffle riff on the bass strings. It’s a good stretch workout…

The trusty wah pedal has many uses, from the percussion of clean mutes to full on expressive wailing distortion with your foot rocking. But, despite its versatility, there will come a time where you discover your wah pedal also sounds great ‘parked’ in a fixed position. Think the intro from Money For Nothing, and you’ll understand what it’s doing. Essentially, it turns your expressive wah pedal into a highly resonant filter, allowing you to really home in on certain parts of your guitar’s frequency in the same way as an EQ, but more pinpointed. That’s what the Q-Zone is all about. It comes equipped with three controls: Volume, Q Zone and Peak. Volume is simple – it’s obviously the output level of the pedal, but what about the other two?…

Gibson has announced a pair of Jimi Hendrix signature models, the 1969 Flying V in Aged Ebony and the 1967 SG Custom in Aged Polaris White. The guitars, which have been aged by Gibson Custom Shop’s Murphy Lab, recreate instruments used by Hendrix at two iconic shows. Back in 1969, Hendrix custom-ordered a left-handed Flying V direct from Gibson, which he used during the Band of Gypsys era, including his 1970 performance at the Isle of Wight Festival. It’s this model that Gibson’s latest effort recreates. Just 125 right-handed and 25 left-handed Flying Vs will be made, featuring an Aged Ebony finish, gold hardware and painstakingly replicated specs, including custom-wound humbuckers, a Maestro Short Vibrola tailpiece, and custom neck profile. The guitar’s Certificate of Authenticity includes an image of Hendrix…

“For the last seven years, I’ve been using the Line 6 Helix, on records and live,” Chris Robertson says. “But this time round there was a sound I kept hearing in my head and the only way I could get it was by setting an amp up and putting some microphones on it. So I used a ’66 Bassman through a 2x12 cabinet with a set of Eminence Screamin’ Eagle speakers in it. And then I used a Splawn Supersport 22 head on the standard overdrive channel... That’s pretty much all you hear as far the amps go. For effects, I used an original Uni-Vibe from the late 70s, as well as my signature Dos Fuzz by Analog Pedals, for more of a Scrambler and octave fuzz kinda sound. The…

In typical System Of A Down style, the band’s new single Protect The Land showcases Daron Malakian’s knack for slick hooks. You’ll be tuning to drop-C (CGCFAD) to play along – so, unless this is your regular tuning, the lower string tension will likely have an effect on your guitar’s setup. Heavier gauge strings will help when downtuning and a fixed bridge guitar is a better option than a vibrato-equipped instrument. The riff swaps between single notes and powerchords. Simple enough in itself, but take care to keep idle strings silent. We recommend using the underside of your fretting fingers to mute our those unneeded strings but note that even this can introduce noise – Daron slides between the opening notes and the high gain tone can exaggerate it. Follow…

KURT COBAIN’S 1959 MARTIN D-18E SOLD FOR $6,010,000 Back in June, the acoustic used for that classic Unplugged set ended up making history as the most expensive guitar ever sold – knocking David Gilmour’s $3.95 million Black Strat off the top spot. ELVIS’ MARTIN D-18 SOLD FOR $1,320,000 Setting a new record for Elvis memorabilia, this Martin acoustic was used extensively at Sun Studios in Memphis and on stage during the mid-50s. ERIC CLAPTON’S 1954 FENDER STRAT STARTING BID OF $1,000,000 Nicknamed Slowhand, this rare non-tremolo Strat was picked up by Clapton at the end of the 70s and used predominantly for slide in Open G. PRINCE’S ‘BLUE ANGEL’ CLOUD 2 SOLD FOR $563,500 Used by Prince at the height of his popularity, this guitar was seen on the Purple…

Once you can play something 150 times perfectly, you can move on... “It was a very fateful day when I learned how to alternate pick properly. While I was self-taught, I would occasionally take myself to a guitar shop in Highland Park, Illinois, if I wanted to learn a song – where a hippie stoner teacher would show me my favourite Alice Cooper and Black Sabbath songs that I couldn’t figure out on my own. One day he was off sick and so I got sent to a room with the other guitar teacher, who was Michael Angelo Batio... The famous four-necked guy before he was famous! I had one lesson with him. He sat me down and told me to play something. I scrambled my way through some leads,…

AMPS, PEDALS & EFFECTS Steely Dan – Reelin’ In The Years Elliot Randall attributes the tone on Reelin’ to his 1963 Fender Strat equipped with a retrofitted 1969 Gibson humbucker in the neck position, which he played through a cranked 400 watt Ampeg SVT bass amp. Not exactly a traditional rig, and, unsurprisingly, an unusual guitar sound. To get close to Randall’s tone, select a neck humbucker and set your amp’s EQ on the trebly side. A fuzz pedal may help you get closer to the sizzling highs of that dimed Ampeg. HOW SOON IS NOW? IS REGARDED AS A TREMOLO CLASSIC, BUT IT’S MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT Def Leppard – Photograph Phil Collen used his black Ibanez Destroyer alongside Steve Clark who played a Les Paul XR-1 (the forerunner…

The volume knob on your guitar is a powerful expression and tone shaping tool. You can use it to gradually fade notes in and as a way to reduce/increase your gain level. Ideally you want to be able to adjust the volume knob on the fly rather than stopping to do it. Depending on your guitar, the volume knob might be placed near to where you pick the strings or it may be further away. Wherever it is, get used to finding it by feel rather than by sight. This’ll help make it more automatic. LESSON 29 NOTE BY NOTE VIOLINING TRACK 10 Start with your guitar’s volume at zero, then play the note either by picking it or hammering-on with your fretting hand. Once the string is…

Guitarists often complain that their pinkie finger feels weak and difficult to control. For most players this crucial digit lags behind the other fingers in terms of strength and dexterity. If this sounds like you then take a look at these exercises which are designed to improve both your soloing and chord playing. Not feeling it? We hear you, but the improvements you’ll see are worth the time. Spend a couple of minutes on these exercises whenever you first plug in to see results without too much grind. LESSON 34 EASY DOWN-UP STRUMMING TRACK 15 Play the E5 with your first and second fingers and use your fourth finger to reach to the 11th and 12th frets. Too much of a stretch? Try playing higher up the fretboard.…

Alter your tone simply by changing where on the string you pick. Pick near the fretboard for a warm, round tone. Closer to the bridge gives you a twangy, trebly tone. You probably already know this, but how often do you exploit the effect? Combine near-the-neck picking with a neck pickup and a clean tone and you’ll have a warm bell-like sound suitable for jazz. Switch to picking near the bridge for country and surf style twang. Jam along with our one-note audio example to get a feel for it. TRACK 21 CHALLENGE! Apply this technique to our Blues Technique Challenge…

Kurt began the Lithium sessions with a Fender Stratocaster, before smashing it when the session broke down into Endless, Nameless. The intro and verse sections sound best played with a neck-position single-coil or a warm sounding bridge humbucker, with your amp set to a clean sound. The original guitar tracks were recorded through a Fender Bassman, and Lithiumis the only track on Nevermindthat uses an Electro-Harmonix Big Muff. To replicate the thick layers of distortion, we’d suggest switching channels on your amp or using a dedicated drive pedal. Just make sure to switch on the distortion at the right time (on the B chord) to coincide with the drum fills leading into the chorus.…

Welcome to the GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome*) Station! Every issue, TG scours the market for the hottest new gear and brings you transparent reviews that you can trust. From the smallest of accessories that make your life easier, to big investments, such as brand new guitars, amps and effects pedals – if it’s worth your attention, you’ll find it here! HOW WE TEST CURATION Our product selection is driven by our love of gear. We select the most exciting products on the market every month to bring you opinions you can trust. FACE-VALUE REVIEWS We’re not gear snobs here at Total Guitar. We judge it on whether it looks good, sounds good and plays well – not by the name on the headstock. NO SNAKE OIL You won’t find us…