The story of Gene Krupa, the king of swing
Krupa was "a dazzling blitzkrieg of cymbal and snare drum violence", and one of the most influential drummers ever
Artists
The story of Gene Krupa, the king of swing
Krupa was "a dazzling blitzkrieg of cymbal and snare drum violence", and one of the most influential drummers ever
Prince’s ability to keep time when he was recording drums was remarkable, says his engineer
“He would say ‘OK, that’s so close, cut it one more time,’ and I wouldn’t do it because I physically couldn’t cut a 16th of an inch without chowdering the tape”
"I wanted to make the greatest rock record that I'd ever heard": How Bruce Springsteen saved his career with Born To Run
The Boss spent six months working on the album's title track
Read our classic interview with Wrecking Crew legend Hal Blaine
"We got the job done, and we made a hell of a lot of money doing it"
“A strange new land with a human living and feeling its way through its mysterious spaces”: Welcome to Brian Eno and Beatie Wolfe’s new album
Apparently, new album contains 11 new ‘nongs’ "exploring an intimate and unfamiliar new sonic world"
The genius behind John Bonham’s towering When The Levee Breaks drum sound
It’s one of the best drum recordings in history, but the resulting sound was just as much a feat of engineering as it way playing
Music Tech
Prince’s ability to keep time when he was recording drums was remarkable, says his engineer
“He would say ‘OK, that’s so close, cut it one more time,’ and I wouldn’t do it because I physically couldn’t cut a 16th of an inch without chowdering the tape”
“A strange new land with a human living and feeling its way through its mysterious spaces”: Welcome to Brian Eno and Beatie Wolfe’s new album
Apparently, new album contains 11 new ‘nongs’ "exploring an intimate and unfamiliar new sonic world"
“We decided that our audiences would come along with us”: Paul McCartney on how the avant garde influenced the Beatles
I Am The Walrus drew from John Cage
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a massive $1,000 off Roland V-Drums, up to $320 off a range of Fender guitars, and so much more
We've uncovered the very best offers on a range of music-making gear from the likes of Fender, Roland, Yamaha, Beyerdynamic and more
Spotify responds to Apple Music’s new AutoMix feature by turning your playlists into ready-made DJ sets
You now have BPM and key information for all your playlist tracks, too
"They may be the spiritual successor to Sony’s Scheps-approved mixing cans, but they tread their own path": Sony MDR-M1 review
Sony’s new studio cans nod to the legendary MDR-7506, swapping forensic mids for balance you can wear all day
“I actually don’t know who this is” Some Fortnite players have never heard of Gorillaz
Others think they’re a “late 90s band”
Loopcloud's Flip Sample feature transforms any sample from its library with a single click
The sample platform says the new tool "bridges the gap between browsing and producing", allowing users to slice, sequence, and reimagine samples on-the-fly
"It is not a polite instrument – nor is it clean, safe, or obvious": Cherry Audio revives the cult classic Crumar Spirit in its latest plugin
That's the Spirit
Breakout producer Silva Bumpa on the secret to creating sub bass and UKG rhythms
The fast rising producer reveals his top tools and techniques in our new video interview
Guitars
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score a massive $1,000 off Roland V-Drums, up to $320 off a range of Fender guitars, and so much more
We've uncovered the very best offers on a range of music-making gear from the likes of Fender, Roland, Yamaha, Beyerdynamic and more
PRS swaps maple for mango to give its “flagship” Custom 24 a 40th anniversary satin nitro makeover
The Mango tops on the Custom 24 Satin are exquisite, but they’re only making 500 of ‘em
Orbit Culture show us their ESP guitars – and tell us why the EverTune bridge is a game-changer
Richard Hansson and Niklas Karlsson on why passive humbuckers are better for downtuned riffs, James Hetfield's influence, and why baritones and extended range guitars are too much guitar
“I was playing the Fender Strat that Jimi Hendrix gave me”: Billy Gibbons on the making of ZZ Top's greatest blues song
"For some reason the guitar wasn’t working through the amp," Gibbons recalled
Cesar Gueikian teases Gibson Custom Shop replica of Marty McFly’s “1955” Back To The Future ES-345
And could there be an Epiphone version too?
Best clip-on guitar tuners 2025: Top headstock and soundhole tuners to buy right now
Keep your tuning in check in all scenarios with the best clip-on tuners for guitar, bass and ukulele
Squier channels the Fender archive for 10 stunning yet affordable news Classic Vibe models
You know the drill, people... we've got Strats, Teles, a Jazzmaster and a Duo-Sonic, and refreshed basses in Squier's evergreen vintage-inspired range
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
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
30 essential acoustic guitar chords, with charts
Massively expand your musical vocabulary and songwriting options with these beautiful acoustic guitar chords
"You owe your guitar the chance to be its best": How to clean and polish your guitar frets a better way
We take a look at two different products that can help you get your frets gleaming and your guitar back to its best for smoother bends and clearer vibrato
Play like Jimmy Page! Exclusive video lesson
Key techniques guitar players can learn from the Led Zeppelin legend
How learning and understanding chord symbols can prove a major benefit for sharing your musical ideas
Chord hieroglyphics can take several forms. We unravel the mysteries of one of the most symbolic and common examples
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
Latest Tuition
Where to start with a drum kit
Before you start your drumming journey, let’s take a tour of the instrument it’s all about…
6 ways to bring your tracks to life with Ableton Live’s revamped Auto Filter
Let’s explore some sound design tricks and tips using the highlight of Live 12.2 update
How to get famous sounds and effects using only Logic’s stock plugins
If you’ve got Logic, you’re already more than capable of recreating Skrillex’s manipulated reverb, Billie Eilish’s formant shifting and much more…
How to emulate a classic analogue recording system entirely with plugins
It’s entirely likely that you could recreate many legacy analogue set-ups with just a few chained plugins. Here, we’ll show you how to get started
How to use reverb to build impressive-sounding filters, reverses, risers and pads
Create your own reverb effects with our step-by-step tutorial
“Learning how to mix is almost as important as hitting on your original musical idea”: New to the mixing process? Start here
Don't let a brilliant song be swallowed up in a bad mix by following our guide to the central principles of the process
How to master virtually any software synth
Don't let your software arsenal overwhelm you - sometimes the best route to creative success is to mine just one instrument
How to record virtual and live instruments more smoothly by taking stock of your sample buffer
Latency on your plugins and audio recordings can derail a developing musical idea - but if you get a handle on managing your sample buffer you’ll have a much smoother ride
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: The Wave Warden Odin 2
Hybrid synths offer a wealth of synthesis options and this one is absolutely free. What are you waiting for?
Don't know where to start with virtual instruments? We're here to help
Because there's never been a better, easier, more affordable time to make great music on your computer
8 things you can do with Ableton Live's updated Auto Filter device
Given a major overhaul in Live 12.2, Auto Filter features a variety of creative filter types, new modulation options and real-time visualization
The ultimate compression cheat sheet – go-to settings to help you make better music
Confused about where to start with compressors and dynamics effects? We'll guide you through the essential features and settings
Piano basics: the black notes - what are they for and how do you use them?
Fear of a black key?… Don't be afraid. Adding flats and sharps to your music will give it a new lease of life.
From Parlour to Jumbo: The beginner's guide to acoustic guitar body shapes (and which one is right for you)
There are key variables that affect how an acoustic guitar will sound - its projection and tonal characteristics in particular
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: TDR Nova
If regular EQ and compression aren’t delivering, then dynamic EQ might be the answer – and we have the perfect free plugin
The head of Audacity shares his top 5 tips for beginner podcasters
The man who leads development of the world’s most popular free and open-source audio editor offers his advice
The ultimate guide to pedal board essentials (and what order to put them in)
Here's what you need on board and where they all sit best for maximum effect
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
Latest reviews
“A versatile set with dry and dark tonal qualities”: Zultan 25 Series Cymbals review
Zultan delivers another extremely versatile cymbal range for a wallet-friendly price
"They may be the spiritual successor to Sony’s Scheps-approved mixing cans, but they tread their own path": Sony MDR-M1 review
Sony’s new studio cans nod to the legendary MDR-7506, swapping forensic mids for balance you can wear all day
“New look, features and MIDI out – this is a big update we truly rate”: Novation Launch Control XL 3 review
Novation’s Launch Control XL Mk 3 features a revamped design, more control and improved connectivity
“A quality, backpack-friendly controller that's under £50”: Arturia MicroLab Mk3 review
Sometimes only the most compact controller will suffice. We check out this latest candidate
“A classic Stage Rhodes, which plays like a dream and sounds every bit as classy as its timeless heritage would suggest”: Rhodes Stage 61 review
Owning a brand new Rhodes electric piano just became a viable alternative to the used market. We find out more, as we head for the Stage!
“It’s acoustic, it’s electronic, it’s in flux and it’s great”: Sonicware Liven Evoke review
Sonicware’s latest synth uses a Flux Oscillator that will take you and your tunes back to the future
“A highly flexible mic with an excellent overall delivery”: Warm Audio Fen-tone Ribbon Mic review
Ribbon mics are a great addition to your mic palette and this one could be the perfect combination of old and new
“Its authenticity is beguiling, as is its playability”: Rhodes Wurli review
If you prefer the sound of a Wurlitzer to a Rhodes, you’re in luck, because Rhodes now bring us a Wurli, in plugin form. Confused? We’ll explain!
