Iron Maiden’s signature sound is characterized by operatic vocals, galloping rhythms, and, of course, those intricate, fleet-fingered guitar harmonies. Adrian Smith’s role in Iron Maiden isn’t merely that of a guitarist, but a songwriter and occasional vocalist. Unlike most of his 80s metal contemporaries, Adrian Smith’s playing was firmly rooted in the blues, with Johnny …
If you compile a list of the greatest bass players to ever live, Geddy Lee would easily end up toward the top of the list. Lee’s sound was so unique that he inspired countless musicians, including Metallica’s Cliff Burton, Primus’ Les Claypool, Rage Against the Machine’s Tim Commerford, Iron Maiden’s Steve Harris, and Dream Theater’s …
I’ll say it now, buying a looper pedal might just be one of the best investments you’ll make as a guitarist. Adding a looper to your setup can be a great practice tool that helps you with your soloing and harmony, but it can also enhance your live performances by adding new dimensions to your …
Nita Strauss is one of the most audacious guitar heroes of our time, while her career during the 2000s wasn’t that of such a title, her true rise to prominence came with her tenure as Alice Cooper’s guitarist. At that point, there was no room for doubt of Strauss being one of the most talented …
Tube amps are often perceived as being louder than solid-state amps, which is technically true. A low-wattage tube amp, of say 10 or 15 watts, will actually sound as loud or louder than a solid-state amp of 50 watts or more. Speaker impedance, which is the amount of resistance that a speaker offers to the …
The 90s were certainly nothing short of an entire decade of musical talents changing the way we know and enjoy the rock genre and in this decade, music lovers were gifted with the virtuoso John Frusciante from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Though his trajectory with the band has been neck-deep in turmoil throughout the …
Hall of Fame lead guitarist Mike McCready holds an odd place in the realm of rock and roll. Joined by his ever enigmatic band, Pearl Jam, McCready has been consistently productive, inventive, and admired for over 30 years. Yet too many people who are not guitarists nor passionate Pearl Jam fans barely hold the faintest …
Learning to play an instrument is an extremely beneficial learning experience for kids. Think about all the toys and activities over the years that kids pick up briefly and move on from, where a musical instrument has the chance to last a lifetime. Choosing which guitar to buy can be overwhelming with so many options …
Blues legends are known to establish long and loyal connections with their instruments. Stevie Ray Vaughn, and his Strat-heavy collection of vintage and custom guitars, are an iconic representation of the blues mythos. Decades of jamming in murky, cramped, smoke-filled clubs, in and out of vans, car trunks, exposed to all kinds of weather, inevitably …
The classical guitar has been around for centuries but has notably undergone many changes over time. Much of this has been brought on by specific guitarists and composers who brought about or popularized changes to the instrument, technique, or repertoire. Many of those famous classical guitarists will be covered in this article. Special attention is …