Andy Fraser 
Rather than a specific guitar for punk many believe that any old guitar will do the job. However, just like any genre of music certain guitars are better suited to the punk rock sound. In fact some of the best guitars for punk rock may surprise you. I’ve played or owned all of the guitars …
Finding the best tube amp for home use is, as I’m sure you know, not easy. One of the age old problems when playing the guitar is how to get a great tone at an acceptable volume. Most of us play and practice at home and so need an amp that isn’t going to upset …
The body shape of an electric guitar is important. It affects the size, weight and comfort when you play it. There is also the visual appeal, which while less important than how it plays, still matters. So let’s take a look at each of the different electric guitar body shapes and sizes. I went through …
As a guitarist there can be nothing worse than being in the middle of a gig and breaking a string, having a cable fail or losing something and realizing you don’t have a replacement. Being unprepared is a musicians worst nightmare but happens far too often. You should always have a fully stocked gig bag! …
If there’s one thing pretty much every guitarists wants it’s more guitars. Buying and owning guitars is so addictive there’s even a (joke) condition about it: GAS – Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. But whilst that might be a bit of fun there is a serious question behind it – how many guitars do you really need? …
Learning the order of the guitar strings as well as their names and numbers is something you should have memorized as soon as possible. It might be boring but it’s a fundamental piece of knowledge that is only going to help with understanding the guitar. I took far longer than I should I have to …
If you’re not that familiar or experienced with amplifiers it can be intimidating trying to understand them. With so many different types of guitar amps, various sizes and speakers, not to mention the almost endless number of brands, it can be confusing! I found it took me a while to make sense of all the …
If you’re a beginner on the guitar then learning your basic chords is essential. They’re used in countless songs and form the foundation for even more advanced chords and techniques. Yes, I know it’s much more fun to try and go straight into learning solos and riffs. If I’m honest that’s exactly what I did! …
Are you new to the guitar or thinking about whether to try playing? Almost everyone at the start wonders how long it takes to learn guitar. There’s no harm in admitting we want to get good at something as quickly as possible. Unfortunately it’s never that easy. So, how long does it really take to …
Taking care of your guitar is important. You want it to sound its best and last as long as possible, right? So you do the right things like storing it properly, keeping it at the correct temperature and humidity etc. But what about the strings and the tension they put on the guitar? Do you …