History's greatest rock guitarists, from Eric Clapton to Pete Townshend, have something important to teach every player about making memorable music on guitar. And now, in one bumper volume, you can read insightful interviews with some of the greatest guitarists ever to put pick to string – from BB King to Gary Moore – carefully selected from three decades of Guitarist magazine archives. But there's more: this very special compendium also features masterclass lessons in how to play in the style of the legendary players featured in it, with fully tabbed lessons supported by audio to make learning easier. It adds up to an incredible picture of how the great players of our time see the art of playing guitar – and offers a powerful boost to your own playing skills through the many lessons that accompany the interviews.
WELCOME TO GUITAR GODS
Guitar Gods
DIVINE INSPIRATION • Why the qualities you need to sell out stadiums night after night can help any guitar player sound better in their own home
JEFF BECK • On an endless quest to find fresh talent and to conquer new musical horizons, Jeff Beck tells us why he never sought the limelight, why he ignored Eric Clapton’s advice, and how he expresses his true identity on his latest album, ‘Loud Hailer’
Beck’s Blues • Jeff Beck takes the guitar beyond its limits, referencing the numerous styles in his repertoire to form his iconic signature technique
ERIC CLAPTON • In 1994, Guitarist caught up with Eric Clapton for the first time to talk about his music, his influences, his gear, and that ‘Clapton is God’ thing. From insight on his great friend Jimi Hendrix, to what it was really like to “survive” the 70s, Clapton tells us how “things have come full circle”
The Summer Of ’66 • In this masterclass of tone and technique, we channel our hero, Eric Clapton, during the year that electric guitar changed forever
ALBERT COLLINS • With his unusual tuning, distinctive sound and trademark walks into the audience, Albert Collins is one of the underrated greats of blues music. Here, he tell us how he worked day jobs to play guitar at night, what Hendrix was like to play with, and the reason behind all those ‘cool cuts’
DAVID GILMOUR • David Gilmour’s new solo album, ‘Rattle That Lock’, is the follow-up to 2006’s ‘On An Island’. Here, he gives Guitarist an insight into his songwriting and recording process, discussing changes in his technique, the importance of early demos, and the gear he used to create the album
THE MACHINES • We join David Gilmour’s long-serving tech Phil Taylor to examine in full detail the gear that the Pink Floyd legend used to summon up the soundscapes of the final Floyd album ‘The Endless River’
GUTHRIE GOVAN • He’s got a brand-new Charvel solidbody and has just finished packing a huge amount of upper-crust chops into a second album with the super‑talented Aristocrats trio. We meet the inimitable Guthrie Govan to find out more from the lord of the ’board…
Beyond Shred • If there’s an envelope to be pushed, Guthrie will find it. We delve into his far-ranging style with some examples from the man himself…
BUDDY GUY • It’s a long road from the plantations of the Deep South to the White House, and 77-year-old blues titan Buddy Guy has battled every step of the way. Taking in poverty, tragedy, Strats and Cadillacs, Guitarist settles down to hear how Buddy forged his heavyweight guitar style in the tough clubs of 50s Chicago – learning at the speaker grilles of the greats, including Muddy Waters and Guitar Slim, to become a master in his own right…
BB KING • He’s the most influential living blues guitarist, revered by everyone from Clapton to Slash. Still performing seven decades after he began, BB granted Guitarist an exclusive interview at the Royal Albert Hall, during the making of...