Arturia's limited-edition DrumBrute Impact 1984 gives its analogue drum machine an '80s facelift
Orange-accented off-white stylings reimagine this boisterous budget beatmaker, originally unveiled in 2018
Artists
"Reggae is more freeform than the blues": Bob Marley and the Wailers' Catch a Fire, track-by-track
Seminal reggae breakthrough broken down, plus listen to crucial live versions of extra track
Beyoncé to tour Cowboy Carter in 2025: Here are the global venues and dates - and how to get tickets
It’s time for Queen Bey to hit the rodeo…
"I aggravated it so I could drive back to London and go to the match": Bill Wyman once faked toothache to skip the Stones and watch the cup final
The famously laconic ex-Rolling Stones bassist reveals just how far he’d taken his eye off the ball
Here are all the winners in the 2024 Drumeo Awards. Did your favourite sticksmith make the cut?
The drum and percussion learning platform just announced its big winners from last year’s votes
Recently unearthed footage shows Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham discussing the making of Rumours
He also tells the tale of how he and Stevie Nicks ended up joining Fleetwood Mac in the first place
Cream legend Jack Bruce’s EB-1 violin bass to go on display at the Gibson Garage London
The life of the late Cream bassist will be commemorated with an all-star jam to raise funds for the Jack Bruce Foundation as the Gibson Garage London celebrates its first anniversary
“We used to play that song faster…”: Slipknot’s Eloy Casagrande reveals the secret lessons he gave his Sepultura replacement
The drummer dishes the backstory on his Slipknot switch and what he really thinks of Greyson Nekrutman…
Music Tech
Arturia's limited-edition DrumBrute Impact 1984 gives its analogue drum machine an '80s facelift
Orange-accented off-white stylings reimagine this boisterous budget beatmaker, originally unveiled in 2018
"We’ve heard your frustrations": Native Instruments responds to customer concerns over Maschine+
"We want to reinforce our strong commitment to Maschine", reads the company's post on its community forum
Recently unearthed footage shows Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham discussing the making of Rumours
He also tells the tale of how he and Stevie Nicks ended up joining Fleetwood Mac in the first place
"In the studio, everyone is a sad, tragic animal that has no idea what they’re doing - no matter how successful they are": Mogwai producer John Congleton
Following their chart-topping success in 2021, instrumental post-rock quartet Mogwai return with The Bad Fire. Danny Turner dives into the album's creation with the band and renowned producer John Congleton
“A brilliant piece of kit that’s more than a match for the demands of the modern producer/engineer”: Universal Audio Apollo x4 Gen 2 review
The next generation of Universal Audio Apollo is here, and we got hands-on ahead of launch to put it through its paces
Polyphia's Tim Henson teases new 8-string meisterworks that could require a whole new guitar to play along
Never a band to take it easy, their latest output could rock both music and hardware to the next level
Kays Catalogue classic the JEN SX1000 just got reborn as a plugin and iOS app
This 1978 £99 synth-for-the-masses has been rebuilt and ramped up for a whole new generation
George Michael’s backing singer says that he was "very particular on vocal sound"
Jo Garland confirms that it’s her voice that you can hear singing the re-recording of Patrice Rushen’s Forget Me Nots refrain on Fastlove
“It’s easy to be a show-off with production. In electronic music right now, that’s what a lot of people are doing - but that’s just ego”: Ela Minus looks inwards on new project DÍA
The Colombian hardware synth-head on her soul-searching second album, demolishing the ego, and why she can’t stand Dave Smith’s presets
MusicRadar deals of the week: Score £160 off select PRS guitars, £134 off the popular Novation Circuit Rhythm, and $200 off the Pioneer DJ PLX-CRSS12
We've uncovered the very best offers on a range of music-making gear from the likes of Novation, PRS, Pioneer, Fender and more
Guitars
“Surely the most versatile version yet”: DOD 250 Overdrive/Preamp 50th Anniversary review
A stone-cold pedalboard classic celebrates 50 trips round the sun with a collectable edition that reminds us what the fuss is about
The Gibson Custom Shop unveils its first Heavy Aged Murphy Lab acoustic guitars for
These stunners from Gibson's Bozeman, Montana facility go heavy on the mojo for that thoroughly played-in vintage vibe
Framus reissues John Lennon’s record-breaking $2.85m “Help” Hootenanny 12-string
Framus unveils a period-correct replica of the most expensive Beatles instrument sold at auction, the 12-string that Lennon played on Help! and Rubber Soul – and there’s a six-string too
Cream legend Jack Bruce’s EB-1 violin bass to go on display at the Gibson Garage London
The life of the late Cream bassist will be commemorated with an all-star jam to raise funds for the Jack Bruce Foundation as the Gibson Garage London celebrates its first anniversary
Brian May recalls the time he played live through Hendrix’s Marshall – and it didn’t go well
Hendrix might have had the Marshall stack under his spell but the Queen says he struggled to play a chord
Jerry Cantrell reveals how Jeff Beck and Martin Scorsese influenced new solo album I Want Blood
How archive footage of Beck with a curious piece of vintage gear and Scorsese's cinematic sensibility helped Cantrell jemmy open the doors of inspiration
Becoming Led Zep film makers describe "intense" first meeting with Jimmy Page
First officially sanctioned Zep doc is out this week
"In the studio, everyone is a sad, tragic animal that has no idea what they’re doing - no matter how successful they are": Mogwai producer John Congleton
Following their chart-topping success in 2021, instrumental post-rock quartet Mogwai return with The Bad Fire. Danny Turner dives into the album's creation with the band and renowned producer John Congleton
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
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
Fingerboard care basics: 6 things you need you need know about how to clean and condition your guitar fretboard
A string change is the ideal opportunity to get your 'board back to its best
Proggy pentatonic! How to use the good ol’ pentatonic scale in cool new ways
Get strumming: The 22 essential beginner, blues and folk guitar chords every guitarist should learn first
Inspiration for every skill level
30 essential acoustic guitar chords, with charts
Massively expand your musical vocabulary and songwriting options with these beautiful acoustic guitar chords
"You can learn hundreds of songs with a few easy chords and some basic rhythm playing chops"
Master five classic songs with just a handful of chords
"If your guitar isn't in tune you'll never sound good": 4 causes of your strings going out of tune and how to solve them
The biggest cause of frustration for guitar players? The struggle to stay in tune is real, but there are ways to make things easier
Latest Tuition
“Maybe I’ll write out five or six chords, then discipline myself to write something only with those chords involved”: Why David Bowie’s restrictive songwriting strategies provide a lesson for us all
Sometimes imposing rules can force us out of our creative comfort zones. It's a tactic David Bowie used to birth some of his most celebrated songs.
“It’s a favourite with jazz and funk players, but it's just at home in hits by artists such as Jessie Ware”: Expand your chordal colours with 9ths
Building an extension to a chord doesn’t require planning permission, but it might require a degree of design. We add 9ths to our extension palette
“If you're listening to amazing gear through terrible monitors, you've wasted your cash”: Why monitors are the most important part of your studio
Don't know where to begin with buying and using studio monitor speakers? Listen up
“The net result of this process is a progression which sounds smoother, calmer and more musical”: The value of adding chord inversions
If your chord progressions sound a little clunky, try approaching your harmony in an inverse way.
How to connect your audio interface to your computer – for both PC and Mac users
My guide to hooking up your audio interface to a laptop or computer, step-by-step
“When used in conjunction with other unextended chords, it will sound amazing”: How to enhance your songwriting with major sevenths
From bossanovas to Carole King and even James Bond villains, the major seventh can completely change your song’s mood.
How to connect a MIDI keyboard to your audio interface
Learn how to hook up your MIDI keyboard to your audio interface - no matter how complex your setup
“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 connect your audio interface to your iPhone or iPad
My expert guide to hooking up a mobile music-making rig using an iPhone or iPad
“Let's go back to the mid-'80s where dance music began”: Your guide to creating a classic house track from scratch
Produce an authentic-sounding house track with a dose of acid in 10 easy steps
How to make 8-bit video game sounds in your DAW with a free synth
It's relatively easy to brew some authentic Nintendo console-esque sounds with modern software. Here's how to rustle up some chiptune seasoning
How to create low-key ambient techno beats in your DAW
Creating an ambient techno groove can be far from a chilled affair, so we take you through the basics of generating a low-key pattern.
The music theory behind laying down the perfect groove explained
If you’ve ever wondered why your tracks don’t have that extra exuberance, it could just all be a matter of groove.
Fingerboard care basics: 6 things you need you need know about how to clean and condition your guitar fretboard
A string change is the ideal opportunity to get your 'board back to its best
Use this classic free Computer Music synth to generate movement across your track
One of the magazine's most beloved freebies is the perfect tool for creating a sense of movement in your mixes
“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
“If you like someone’s work, the important thing is to be exposed to everything that person has been exposed to”: Understanding Bob Dylan's take on incorporating your inspirations
What can songwriters learn from Bob Dylan's view on absorbing influences?
Make your instrument sounds go further with this slick modulation hack
Sometimes the best way to make your track feel more kinetic is to eschew plugins and get creative with your instruments
Latest reviews
“Surely the most versatile version yet”: DOD 250 Overdrive/Preamp 50th Anniversary review
A stone-cold pedalboard classic celebrates 50 trips round the sun with a collectable edition that reminds us what the fuss is about
“A brilliant piece of kit that’s more than a match for the demands of the modern producer/engineer”: Universal Audio Apollo x4 Gen 2 review
The next generation of Universal Audio Apollo is here, and we got hands-on ahead of launch to put it through its paces
"It’s got the looks, the feel, and - most importantly - the sound to rival its valve-powered namesake, all in a compact, road-ready package": Laney Lionheart Loudpedal
Laney broadens its pedal amp range with a nod to its modern classic - but how does it compare to the real deal?
“Makes you want to play and play”: TC Electronic 2290 P Dynamic Digital Delay review
The 2290-P is TC's latest reissue of the classic rack unit. Have they finally nailed it?
"The Layers is a subtle and unique pedal, with a lot of expressive depth": MXR Layers review
MXR's soundscaping pedal will sample, modulate, pitch-shift and stack your sound for lush, rich textures
“A well-made and affordable headphone that is light, comfortable and a reliable choice for studio recording”: Tascam TH-11 review
Choosing studio headphones can be a confusing process. We size up this latest budget design
“Forget the name on the headstock, at this price this Les Paul is a steal”: Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul Standard review
Epiphone's latest collaboration with Joe Bonamassa sets its sights on his rare-finish, P-90-equipped 1955 Gibson Les Paul
"It costs too much and we don't need it but, yes, we really do want one": Teenage Engineering OP-XY review
It's a mobile music-making and performing wonder, but two grand can get you an awful lot other studio gear
“The VQD could well unlock drumming for people who otherwise can’t possibly play a kit at home”: Roland VQD106 review
If noise annoys those around you when you’re drumming, this ultra-quiet electronic set has the solutions - plus, watch our volume comparison video with a standard e-kit
