“I asked if there was another way of expressing whether God was ‘just a slob like one of us’”: Inside a ’90s classic
"I knew that we were going to be hearing this for the rest of our lives”
Artists
“I asked if there was another way of expressing whether God was ‘just a slob like one of us’”: Inside a ’90s classic
"I knew that we were going to be hearing this for the rest of our lives”
“In the ’80s, everybody came out with a power ballad. And we had a great one”: How a soft rock classic was created
But was that song really about a nun who sells dope to school kids?
"The greatest pop record ever made”: How The Beatles created Strawberry Fields Forever – John Lennon's masterpiece
Lennon called it “psychoanalysis set to music”
They set the boyband template, but The Monkees also introduced the world to the synth
People initially labelled them a fabricated band, but we’ve got the Monkees to thank for being pop's first ever synth players
“The record company said, ‘It’s too long.’ But we said, ‘We don’t care!’”: How Lynyrd Skynyrd created a legendary epic
"Ronnie said, 'Just go till I tell you to quit!'"
“Quiet, intense, intuitive, constant and hugely creative": Perry Bamonte, of the Cure, dies aged 65
Guitar and keyboard stalwart passes away
The true meaning and dense theory of one of Gary Numan’s most beloved tracks
The true meaning and dense theory of one of Gary Numan’s most beloved tracks
Music Tech
“Offers excellent input flexibility, remote control and tank-like construction”: Fiio SP5 review
These flexible desktop speakers could be just what you need to up your game
They set the boyband template, but The Monkees also introduced the world to the synth
People initially labelled them a fabricated band, but we’ve got the Monkees to thank for being pop's first ever synth players
“Built upon the strengths of the original, it takes this vintage classic to contemporary heights”: Cherry Audio Mercury-8 review
Completing the Mercury trilogy, Cherry Audio answers the prayers of its user base, with a recreation of the mightiest of ’80s polysynths
Got a new piano or keyboard for Christmas but struggling to get started? Here's my pick of 12 accessories that will make learning easier
From a sturdy bench to crystal clear headphones, a reliable sustain pedal and online learning software, these are the must-have piano accessories to help you get started
It turns out there’s a reason André 3000 turned up at the 2025 Met Gala with a grand piano on his back
After the flutey New Blue Sun we now have 7 piano sketches
“I wanted to call it Taylor’s Version”: John Fogerty has 'done a Taylor Swift' and rerecorded his hits
Get ready for The Creedence Clearwater Revival revival...
"The answer might sound a little boring, but it's probably my iPhone": Modeselektor on their go-to instrument
Based in a new studio, Berlin’s favourite sonic troublemakers crash the DJ-Kicks series with a shape-shifting techno-industrial mix. We sit down with Sebastian Szary to find out more
This deep dive into a classic Beatles song reveals 4 synth parts that we’d never even noticed before
Anthony Marinelli’s video might change the way you listen to George Harrison’s ode to sunny positivity
“People have been imitating my sound for a long time, but now someone can type a prompt and make a song that sounds like Chris Lake – that's wild!”: Chris Lake on how AI is putting music-making “under threat”
One of house music’s most established talents., Chris Lake released his debut album this year after 20 years in the game. Danny Turner finds out more
AmenBreak VST is a break-slicing, sample-mangling junglist powerhouse - and there’s a free version
LET'S GO!
Guitars
D’Angelo was so in awe of Prince that he refused to play his guitar on the one occasion they shared a stage
Newly released audio features D’Angelo discussing the show, which took place in 1997
“I turn this thing on, I don’t want to stop playing”: Keeley Electronics has made Andy Timmons fall in love with reverb with his new signature Nocturne pedal
Robert Keeley gives reverb the Halo treatment for an all-new signature reverb that has officially made a convert of Timmons
It’s official! Neural DSP’s John Mayer Archetype plugin suite is here – and with Dumble, Klon and Reverberator captures, it is the motherlode for boutique electric guitar tone
Neural DSP bags its most high-profile artist yet and present players with a cornucopia of gourmet tone options
Paul McCartney's favourite bass company is in trouble – Höfner's future uncertain as it files provisional insolvency proceedings
The German brand behind McCartney's iconic 500/1 Violin Bass has been in existence since its founding by Karl Höfner in 1887
Burned out recording vocals? Myles Kennedy shares his top for getting the perfect take
Kennedy says Alter Bridge producer Michael 'Elvis' Baskette knows his voice better than anyone and has worked out how to get it sounding 100 per cent on record
Olivia Rodrigo explains why she loves playing her custom Ernie Ball Music Man St Vincent Goldie signature model
She also discusses her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame performance of a White Stripes song and duetting with The Cure’s Robert Smith at Glastonbury
Joe Walsh on the best guitar solo he ever recorded (and how it officially made the talk box a thing)
How a fateful night at a Nashville party gave Walsh the sound he was looking for, and an all-new sound for rock guitar
“For me, the amplifier is even more important than the guitar”: Joe Perry on the evolution of electric guitar tone
The Aerosmith guitarist is a self-confessed gear obsessive and makes the case that, historically, the speaker is the most vital component in your signal chain
Harley Benton just put a Vega-Trem on YouTuber Carlos Asensio's $700 signature guitar: is this the best-value S-style on the market?
HSS Tesla pickups with coil-split, roasted maple neck, rolled fingerboard edges, Luminlay side markers... this is on tricked-out S-style – and then you have the Vega-Trem
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
How Tom Morello used his guitar to drill into the off-limits domain of the turntablist
The Rage Against the Machine axe-man’s most memorable moment saw him emulate a DJ scratch breakdown using a trick that few have fully mastered
With a massive 89% discount, $99 for a year's worth of Guitar Tricks online lessons is the best way to upgrade your guitar playing this Black Friday
Guitar Tricks is our number one online tuition platform for guitar players
What are the best online guitar lessons in 2025? I review guitar gear for a living and these are my favourite lessons platforms
My pick of the best online guitar courses will get your playing up to speed from the comfort of your own home, whether you're a beginner, intermediate, or advanced player
Ignite your inner guitar god for just 27 cents a day with TrueFire’s July 4th sale - save 60% on online lessons
With over 84,000 lessons at your disposal, this is one of the best value guitar tuition subscriptions online right now
Can you fix your guitar's frets yourself? We try three innovative approaches from MusicNomad to investigate how they might conquer a major cause of fret buzz
Uneven frets are a common issue with our guitars, but MusicNomad has come up with different ways to empower players to deal with it themselves
How to play like George Harrison on The Beatles' Abbey Road
Learn the guitar style of the most expressive and accomplished playing The Beatle would ever commit to tape
How to play guitar like David Gilmour: Bluesy diads, slides, quarter-tone blues curls and more
Tackle the expressive phrasing and minor pentatonic tricks of one of rock's finest guitarists, David Gilmour
Latest Tuition
How to emulate the sound of Gary Numan’s synth-pop classic Cars
We lift the bonnet on a foundational piece of synth genius, and demonstrate how you can achieve its distinctive sound yourself in your DAW
How unquantizing your tracks can make them stand out from the AI-dominated crowd
If your music is sounding a little mechanical, maybe it deserves a sprinkle of organic nurturing. We invite you to un-click the quantize!
Stuck for ideas? Here's how to create fresh basslines and melodies with Ableton Live 12’s MIDI tools
In our latest video tutorial, we explore how to use Live generative MIDI tools and hardware-inspired sequencers to create riffs and patterns
7 great house and techno tips from Don’t Be Afraid label boss Semtek (aka DJ Persuasion)
The producer, DJ and founder of one of the UK's most respected underground labels revisits a 2012 release to explore what he's learned in 15 years of releasing house and techno
Four big-name guitarists spill their recording secrets
With insight from Paul Gilbert, John 5, Adam Dutkiewicz and Marty Friedman on their approaches to the recording process
37 heavyweight bass production tips
More than three dozen priceless nuggets of bass recording and production wisdom
Creating chords for electronic music: 3 ways to generate more interesting progressions in Ableton Live 12
Let’s explore how Live’s MIDI effects can help us write better progressions
25 recording tips and tricks everyone should know
Get better takes in the studio and on the stage, with our essential advice for producers and DIY music-makers
Produce better music with our ultimate compression cheat sheet
Confused about where to start with compressors and dynamics effects? We'll guide you through the essential features and settings
Ever wondered how a microphone really works?
If microphone terminology confuses more than it helps, this guide will illuminate the microphone basics
How to stress test a laptop for music production in any DAW - and why every producer should do it
Get the most out of your machine and find out how far your laptop can really take your recordings
Never miss a MusicRadar thing: Google has made it easier to keep us in your feed
How to make MusicRadar.com a preferred source
Why imposing hard limitations could be the secret to finishing more music
We’re all struggling to fit in music-making between our other time consuming responsibilities. Optimise your process by cutting back on the options
5 creative ways to use distortion in Ableton Live: From punchier drums to dub techno delays
Let's explore how devices including Saturator, Roar and Erosion can help bring a track to life
How to think like a human drummer when building software beats
Ditch the repetitive loops and unlock more dynamic rhythms
10 tips for recording perfect drums
Essential information for anyone who wants to capture a kit
“At certain points in music history it became fashionable to place accents on certain beats”: How to score a drum part
We explore the theory behind beats, and how we score kicks, snares, hats and percussion
Latest Reviews
“Offers excellent input flexibility, remote control and tank-like construction”: Fiio SP5 review
These flexible desktop speakers could be just what you need to up your game
“Built upon the strengths of the original, it takes this vintage classic to contemporary heights”: Cherry Audio Mercury-8 review
Completing the Mercury trilogy, Cherry Audio answers the prayers of its user base, with a recreation of the mightiest of ’80s polysynths
“Not the most thunderous of kits. Not particularly loud, but sophisticated, rounded and darkly inviting": Slingerland Radio King drum set review
Drum Workshop brings back to life the most historic brand in drum set history with this warmly re-imagined Radio King outfit
“The modelling offers sumptuous guitar tones with plenty of variety”: Blackstar Beam Solo review
Blackstar may be late to the guitar headphone amp party, but its offering has some seriously good sounds
“These are classy sounds with no danger of single coil hum... a near-perfect function-gig guitar”: PRS Fiore HH Satin review
PRS’s under-the-radar Fiore, the signature guitar of Mark Lettieri, gets a dual humbucking makeover and packs serious punch
“Virtually every sound I conjure recalls a classic player or style”: Gibson Les Paul Special Double Cut review
Along with the punk classic Les Paul Junior double-cut, the twin pickup Special is now readily available from Gibson USA. It might be stripped down but it’s a great platform for its two P-90s.
“The overall sample quality is decent, focusing on natural sounds within a mixed bag of styles, and promising to keep the majority happy”: EFnote Mini review
A fantastic looking ‘acoustic style’ e-kit, perfect for kids and adults alike
“Not having to reach for a USB cable feels like the advent of a new era for electronic drums, and we might be about to see a lot more e-kits out in the wild as a result.” Roland TD516 review
Roland unlocks the tonal backbone of its flagship V71 for the new 5 Series. Is this the electronic drum set that finally keeps us away from the computer?
