Chris Bird
Chris has been the Editor of Total Guitar magazine since 2020. Prior to that, he was at the helm of Total Guitar's world-class tab and tuition section for 12 years. He's a former guitar teacher with 35 years playing experience and he holds a degree in Philosophy & Popular Music. Chris has interviewed Brian May three times, Jimmy Page once, and Mark Knopfler zero times – something he desperately hopes to rectify as soon as possible.
Latest articles by Chris Bird
![Close up of a Taylor GS Mini acoustic guitar lying on a wooden floor](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5xhDoTERV3yy5MWEQhWAYi-320-80.jpg)
Best acoustic guitars 2025: Super steel string acoustics for all players and budgets
By Chris Bird last updated
Our pick of the very best flat tops from Taylor, Martin, Gibson, Fender and loads more
![A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fthQF7xz7V5coEShUuRUQZ-320-80.jpg)
Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
By Chris Bird last updated
Find the top electric guitar for your budget and playing style, whether you play rock, metal, blues or beyond
![Close up of bass strings and a pickup](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AHffnZdtHbTEy2RBNbwVpd-320-80.jpg)
Best bass strings 2025: Electric and acoustic bass strings encompassing every tone and budget
By Chris Bird last updated
Breathe some fresh life into your bass with our pick of the best bass strings on the market
![An IK Multimedia Axe I/O audio interface for guitar on a flight case](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/S6UxACHwrockaSghcfefNS-320-80.jpg)
Best guitar audio interfaces 2025: Record killer guitar parts at home with our top picks
By Chris Bird last updated
The best audio interfaces for guitar from IK Multimedia, Focusrite, UAD and more
![Jack White](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A4T3SCAdQKDdUVjpyKqnM4-320-80.jpg)
The minor pentatonic is the essential scale for guitar solos: we'll show you how to get to grips with it today
By Chris Bird published
If you learn one scale on the guitar then it should be this
![Close-up of a Sterling by Music Man Ray4 bass guitar's body against a reddish brown background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ReWYiiWjCaxgujxoBLobk-320-80.jpg)
Best cheap bass guitars 2025: Top budget basses for every style of player
By Chris Bird last updated
Take a tour through our pick of the best budget bass guitars for beginner to intermediate players
![Signature Fender guitar on a gold background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4HE9mgzfW69hLH8BgSjNmn-320-80.jpg)
Best budget signature guitars 2025: Sound like your guitar heroes for less
By Chris Bird last updated
From a PRS for Mark Tremonti fans to a Slash-approved Epiphone, these are the best cheap signature guitars around
![Rival Sons](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3KK58dbhWB9HMHXVGqcrQZ-320-80.jpg)
8 essential contemporary blues guitar licks to learn
By Jon Bishop, Chris Bird published
The styles and techniques of the current crop of blues guitarists with audio and tab
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zhhMVxiPUdYw9x6Spx63mG-320-80.jpg)
5 ways to improve your guitar recordings
By Rob Laing, Chris Bird last updated
Pro tips and useful tricks you can use at home and in the studio
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/B8XV2LJzgeTqzyk7x4qU7C-320-80.jpg)
Cory Wong: “The key to it all, the starting point for understanding, is just to listen”
By Chris Bird last updated
We talk to the Vulfpeck guitarist and modern funk whiz
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eU9HEVZGfPmvXzrfJigkPk-320-80.jpg)
10 ways to improve your guitar practice now
By Charlie Griffiths, Chris Bird, Rob Laing last updated
Improve your routine with our quick lessons and tips
![Best budget signature guitars](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4HE9mgzfW69hLH8BgSjNmn-320-80.jpg)
Best Budget Signature Guitars
By Chris Bird published
From a PRS for Mark Tremonti fans to a Slash-approved Epiphone, these are the best cheap signature guitars around.
![Best cheap bass guitars 2020: top budget basses for every style of player](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ReWYiiWjCaxgujxoBLobk-320-80.jpg)
Best Budget Bass Guitars
By Chris Bird published
Take a tour through the best budget bass guitars for beginner and intermediate players
![18 best electric guitars: our pick of the best guitars to suit all budgets](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HXMgnyz8VqoDe2zoYbqwfT-320-80.jpg)
Best electric guitars
By MusicRadar, Chris Bird published
Find the best electric guitar for your budget and playing style, from rock and metal to blues and beyond
![Best bass strings 2020: vintage and modern string sets for every style and budget](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fhdskjgsY7jUsfwkSUMwWY-320-80.jpg)
Best Bass Strings
By Chris Bird published
Give your bass a boost with our pick of the best bass guitar strings around
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SZH6NWBcvnZgAjjJWkq85R-320-80.jpg)
"We’ve been making guitars for 70 years. We'll be teaching people how to play for the next 70" - Fender CEO Andy Mooney on the company's mission
By Chris Bird published
Chief Executive talks Fender Songs and how the iconic guitar company is trying to reach out to new potential players
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UfSBN3wi4j3RrQYiC4LEtW-320-80.jpg)
Easy guitar theory: Chord structures
By Chris Bird published
Learn how to build some of the most commonly used chords with 5 different chord structures and accompanying arpeggio patterns
![Fender Songs](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RGfnQY25nNUK6BGzp6GLVc-320-80.jpg)
New Fender Songs app features over 750k songs to learn
By Chris Bird published
Slow down to learn, complete with lyrics plus chord boxes
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pK6bsXkzp6p3749FFcgVYm-320-80.jpg)
Me and my guitar: Joey Landreth
By Chris Bird published
The Canadian alt-country star on his custom-made go-to Goldtop
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/V28sYGYxTQJPmmiXPTbQQG-320-80.jpg)
10 ways to get more from your guitar
By Chris Bird, Rob Laing published
How to sound better using what's right in front of you
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BeadJUDdQtPqQfub7tHY8P-320-80.jpg)
Blur the line between rhythm and lead guitar with these smart playing approaches
By Chris Bird published
10 ideas that will help you handle both roles in your band
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zgoSLBThGPBJug4TeLEc4Y-320-80.jpg)
Guitar basics: getting started with rhythm guitar
By Chris Bird published
Try some rhythm basics with a lesson on strumming and staying in time
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/0bfc8c6e49b8701b59af4fb77fa03c49-320-80.jpg)
A-Z of classic rock guitar
By Chris Bird, Simon Bradley, Rob Laing, Stuart Williams, Henry Yates published
Music styles don't come much wider, cooler or more inspirational than the behemoth that is classic rock
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