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Jack White Guitar Tuning – Here’s What He Uses Most…
What guitar tuning does Jack White use? Here’s a look at all the different tunings he used in The White Stripes, The Dead Weather, and The Raconteurs, as well as his solo records… Jack White’s new album Fear of The Dawn has just landed and it is as weird and eclectic as you’d expect. As…
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Jack White LOVES Horrible, Difficult Guitars – Here’s Why…
Arguably one of the most well-known guitarists of the last 20 years, Jack White has a rather odd relationship with guitars – he likes them cheap and nasty… If you have millions in the bank, the potential for deals and endorsements with every major guitar brand on the planet, choosing to play god-awful guitars that make…
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Adam Jones Pedalboard: What Does TOOL Guitarist Use?
Adam Jones has a killer, near-instantly recognizable guitar tone that is built on very specific amps, cabinets, and, of course, pedals. Here’s a complete breakdown of Adam Jones’ pedalboard… I was lucky enough to catch TOOL last week. I had amazing seats right at the front, so I could literally see everything Adam Jones was…
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Kurt Cobain NEVER Used Stock Fender Pickups – Here’s Why…
No one has ever said that Fender’s stock pickups are crap, but Kurt Cobain clearly wasn’t a fan. Here’s why Kurt ALWAYS swapped out his Fender’s pickups for something a little nastier… Kurt Cobain is well known for using Fender guitars. During his painfully short career, he used Strats, Jaguars, Mustangs, and even a self-built…
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Why Kurt Cobain ONLY Played “Crap” Fender Guitars…
Kurt Cobain’s favorite guitar was the Fender Mustang – but not for the reasons you think… When Nevermind dropped, Kurt Cobain’s money worries were over. He was a career musician that, unlike 99.9% of his peers at the time, was able to make a handsome living writing and playing music. From his humble beginnings in Aberdeen,…
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Pallbearer Gear & Guitars Guide: Dialin’ In The DOOM…
What guitars and gear to Pallbearer use to dial in its incredible guitar tone? Here’s a guide to ALL the guitars, gear, and pedals used by one of the best doom bands around, Pallbearer… If you haven’t heard Pallbearer, you’re missing out on some of the most iconic and best doom metal of recent years.…
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Johnny Depp’s Amazing Guitar Collection Revealed
Johnny Depp is an actor but he also loves his guitar and also plays in a band called Hollywood Vampires. Depp also has a wonderfully extensive guitar collection too, as you’d expect… Johnny Depp is one of the most well-known faces on the planet. Famed for his acting abilities, charitable inclinations, and iconic roles in…
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Spark Amp Amp List – All The Amps & What They’re Based On
Positive Grid’s Spark Amp comes with a huge range of simulated amp tones, as well as effects. Here’s a full breakdown of ALL the amps you get access to inside the Spark Amp The Spark Amp is perhaps one of the most divisive products to ever hit the market. I cannot remember anything ever dividing…
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New DOWN Album “Potentially” In The Works
As supergroups go, they don’t get much better than DOWN. But it has been A LONG time since the last DOWN album landed. Is there hope for a new DOWN album? Here’s what you need to know… DOWN is perhaps one of the only supergroups in existence that not only lived up to expectation but…
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How TOOL’s Adam Jones Practices Guitar
Adam Jones is one of the most influential guitarists of the last 20 years. Not bad considering TOOL’s rather meager back catalog. But how does Adam Jones ensure his chops stay nice and frosty? Like everybody else, he practices – he practices a lot. But it is Jones’ approach to how he practices that he says…
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Is EZdrummer 2 Worth It? My Personal Experience
If you play guitar and regularly write and record songs, but you don’t have access to a drummer, EZdrummer 2 will quickly become your new best friend – here’s why… Back in the day when I started in music production, MIDI drums positively sucked. They just sounded terrible, only being marginally better than a click track.…
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The Greatest Meshuggah Meme of ALL TIME…
There are plenty of great Meshuggah memes on the internet but it is one of the newest that takes the title of the greatest Meshuggah meme of all time… Meshuggah’s new album, IMMUTABLE, dropped recently and, as you’d expect, it is bloody incredible. I had high expectations ahead of its release, this band does not…
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Ben Weinman’s Guitar is Utterly Stunning – Here’s Why…
What guitar does Ben Weinman of The Dillinger Escape Plan use? A damn sexy one made by ESP – here’s everything you need to know The Dillinger Escape Plan was one of the most innovative and brilliant bands to emerge on the metal scene in the last 20 years. I can still remember the first time…
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ESP vs LTD – What’s The Difference!?
ESP and LTD guitars are both made by the same company, ESP, but the difference between the names can throw off some newer guitarists, so what is the difference between ESP and LTD? You like guitars. You’re just getting into certain brands. And you’ve seen some of your favorite guitarists – guys like James Hetfield, Bill…
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Epiphone Les Paul Prophecy Colors: What’re Your Options?
The Epiphone Les Paul Prophecy is one of the best modern electric guitars on the market right now – especially for metal. But what colors is the Epiphone Les Paul Prophecy available in? Between 2020 and 2022, there were a lot of guitars released. Plenty of them were very impressive. But one of our favorite guitars…
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Is Spark Amp Battery Powered? What You Need To Know
Positive Grid’s Spark Amp is a very cool practice amp, with a futuristic twist that involves amp sims and your phone. But is the Spark Amp battery powered? I remember when Positive Grid’s Spark Amp launched at NAMM. I watched the launch with high expectations. But what Positive Grid unveiled was way beyond what I…
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John Frusciante Explains How To Play “Can’t Stop” Properly
John Frusciante explains why 99.9% of guitarists are playing “Can’t Stop” completely wrong… John Frusciante has some of the best muting techniques in the business – both left and right-hand muting. And this, he says, is the reason why nearly everybody that learns “Can’t Stop” gets it completely wrong. But what is the correct way…
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The Guitar Pedals Jimi Hendrix Used To Create His Iconic Sound
Jimi Hendrix had an iconic guitar tone, a deafening, heavy, fuzzed-out sound that redefined an entire genre of music. But what pedals did Jimi Hendrix actually use? Jimi Hendrix is one of the key influences of nearly every guitarist working today, whether they know it or not. Hendrix’s flair for ripping through pentatonic scales, for…
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Why John Mayer DITCHED Fender For PRS
John Mayer used to play Fender Stratocaster guitars but in 2014 he turned his back on the iconic brand and switched to PRS guitars – here’s why… Getting a signature model with Fender is a bit like getting an endorsement deal with Nike if you’re an athlete. It’s a big deal, figuratively and literally. Fender is…
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Jimi Hendrix’s PREFERRED Guitar Tuning – And Why He Used It…
What guitar tuning did Jimi Hendrix use? Here’s an overview of Hendrix’s preferred guitar tuning and why he used it… Hendrix was one of the greats, a legendary pioneer when he was alive and he is now regarded as one of the greatest of all time. During his all-too-short career, Hendrix redefined rock music from…
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What Guitar Amps Do Meshuggah Use? A Guide For Djenters…
What guitar amps does Meshuggah use? Good question. Here’s the skinny on Meshuggah’s amazing custom-built guitar amps… How do you sound like Meshuggah? First, you’ll need a PHD-grade understanding of timing and rhythm; second, you’ll need an 8-string guitar, this is a must; and third, you’ll need a killer guitar amp to dial in Meshuggah’s…
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Meshuggah IMMUTABLE Review: Djently Does It…
Here’s my review of Meshuggah’s new album IMMUTABLE, a killer record from one of the best and most iconic and experimental metal bands on the planet. Meshuggah has been caving people’s heads in for three decades, and its latest album shows no signs of the band letting up. I first “got into” Meshuggah back in…
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5 Reasons Why The Orange Crush Amp is The Perfect Amp
Is the Orange Crush amp any good? Personally, I think it is the perfect practice amp – here are five simple reasons why… You can really get lost when looking at practice amps. As of right now, there are literally hundreds of potential options and, annoyingly, most of them are very, very good. You have amazing…
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Why Jimi Hendrix ONLY Played Fender Guitars
Jimi Hendrix was one of the finest guitarists to ever walk the earth. We lost him early. But his legacy and influence lives on. But why did Jimi Hendrix only ever use Fender guitars? As of 2022, Fender is one of the biggest, most well-known, and, compared to Gibson, one of the most profitable and…
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Best Strings For Drop D Tuning: Get Perfect Tension & Tone
If you’re tuning down to Drop D from standard tuning, you might want to think about switching up your strings. But what are the best strings for Drop D tuning? Let’s find out… Drop D tuning is an immensely popular guitar tuning used by loads of players in quite a few different genres of music…
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Best Strings For Drop Tuning: From D Standard To Drop A…
Here’s a handy table that details all the best strings for drop tunings – from D Standard to Drop A…. Chances are, if you’re on this site, reading about drop tunings on guitar, you like metal or doom or sludge and you want to start playing in lower tunings to dial in that HEAVY guitar sound.…
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Ghost IMPERA Review: The Classic Rock Album
Ghost is never static. It doesn’t do one thing and then run with it. Each successive album is different from the last. But how does its latest album, IMPERA, stack up against classics like Meliora? Ghost has changed quite a bit since it first exploded onto the global music scene back in 2014. Fronted by…
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The Guitar James Hetfield Could Not Live Without…
James Hetfield has a massive collection of guitars but he does have one guitar that he could not live without… When you’re the frontman and main riff writer of one of the biggest and most influential metal bands to ever exist, and you’ve been doing that for three decades, you tend to amass a huge…
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What Guitars Do Ghost Use? A Ghoulish Guide…
What guitars do Ghost use? In this guide we’ll look at what Tobias Forge uses to record Ghost albums and what his nameless ghouls use when they’re playing live – there’s some excellent gear coming! Ghost’s new album, IMPERA, is now out and the band, as ever, is pushing forward into new territory. In my review…
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Them Crooked Vultures New Album Update: What’s The Deal?
There is apparently a new Them Crooked Vultures album in the works. But when can we expect the new Them Crooked Vultures album to get a release date? Them Crooked Vultures, a super-group of epic proportions, featuring members of Led Zeppelin, The Foo Fighters, and Queens of The Stone Age, is apparently looking to sit…
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What Guitar Tuning Do Ghost Use? A Quick Guide…
From the brain of Tobias Forge, Ghost – previously known as Ghost BC – has produced some of the biggest metal albums of the past few years. But what guitar tuning do Ghost use? Let’s find out… Ghost has a unique, yet almost pastiche sound. You know you’re listening to Ghost usually within just a few bars.…
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How To Sound Like KYUSS: Dialin’ In The Desert Sound
If you play guitar and you’re after a guitar tone similar to KYUSS, you’ll need to know how Josh Homme set up his guitar and what gear he used – here’s everything you need to know… If you want to get that quintessential desert, stoner rock sound that was originally popularised by Josh Homme and his…
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15 Guitarists That Use Axe FX (+ Why The Switched)
Axe FX is used by all kinds of guitarists, from The Edge to John Mayer. But what metals bands use Axe FX? Here are some of the best guitarists that switched over to Fractal Audio’s Axe FX… Axe FX – for purists – is considered the forbidden fruit. But plenty of bands, including Metallica, have now…
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What Pickups Does James Hetfield Use? A Quick Overview…
James Hetfield is arguably one of the most influential guitarists of all time. His right hand is legendary, as are his riffs. But what pickups does James Hetfield use? Let’s find out… James Hetfield – alongside Lars Ulrich – is the brains behind some of the most influential metal songs ever committed to tape. Hetfield’s riffs are…
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What Pickups Does Josh Homme Use? Let’s Find Out…
Josh Homme has many guitars, most of them odd choices, and plenty of chops. But what pickups does Josh Homme use to dial in his iconic guitar tone? Let’s find out… Josh Homme basically invented dessert, stoner rock with his first band KYUSS. KYUSS then split over “creative differences” and Homme formed Queens of The…
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10 Bands That Play In D Standard
D Standard – AKA DGCFAD tuning – is one whole step down from standard tuning. It sounds lower and heavier. And here are 10 metal bands that play in D Standard When it comes to metal, sounding heavy isn’t just about down-tuning your guitars. It helps, sure, but it won’t make your riffs sound better if they’re…
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History of “The FORBIDDEN RIFF” – Satan, Page & Wayne’s World…
The forbidden riff is a well-known thing amongst guitarists and those that work in guitar stores. But how did the forbidden riff come to be a thing? Here’s the history of the forbidden riff… The forbidden riff isn’t actually forbidden, and it is actually one of the greatest rock songs ever committed to tape. If…
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New Queens of The Stone Age Album: Updates & Release Date
Will Queens of The Stone Age make another album after Villains, and if so when can we expect a release date? Here’s everything that is currently known about the new Queens of The Stone Age album… The Queens of The Stone Age have been touring and putting out brilliant records since the 1990s. As bands…
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Why The Beatles Used Epiphone Guitars – Not Gibson
The Beatles were – and still are – one of the biggest bands to ever walk the earth. But why did The Beatles use Epiphone guitars and not the more expensive Gibson models? Let’s find out… If you were George Harrison or John Lennon in the 1960s and 1970s, the world was essentially your oyster. They had…
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Best FRFR Guitar Speaker Under $300
If you’re looking for a powerful FRFR guitar speaker but you DON’T want to break the bank, what is the best FRFR Guitar Speaker Under $300 right now? FRFR speakers might not have taken over from practice amps or amp stacks just yet, but they’re growing ever more popular as more and more guitarists turn…
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Guitar Fretboard: How To Learn The Notes (The EASY Way) – No Theory, Just One, Simple Actionable Hack…
With this simple trick, you can quickly expand how many notes you can find on the guitar fretboard. If you only know the low string, this will show you how to quickly find notes on the A and D strings too. It’s an awesome guitar fretboard hack! One of the most intimidating aspects of learning…
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3 Essential Guitar Muting Techniques That’ll Blow Your Mind
One of the main reasons why your playing doesn’t sound professional is that you’re muting sucks. Use these four amazing guitar muting techniques to improve your playing and sound by 1000%… Ever wondered why your guitar tracks sound messy? Or, when you plug into an amp, everything just sounds like a big hot mess, lacking…
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Drop D vs Drop C – What’s The Difference?
A lot of metal bands use Drop D or Drop C tunings. But what is the difference between Drop D vs Drop C tuning on the guitar? Let’s investigate… The popularity of alternate tunings like Drop D and Drop C has grown massively since the early 2000s. The rise of Nu Metal in the late-1990s…
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New OPETH Album: News & Latest Updates
In Cauda Venenum got a release in 2019. It’s now 2022. When can we expect a new OPETH album? Here are ALL the latest news and updates… OPETH is one of my favorite bands EVER. Blackwater Park, for me, is one of the greatest metal albums ever recorded. From the song composition to the production…
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Is A Gibson Les Paul Worth It? My 2 Cents…
A proper Gibson Les Paul will set you back THOUSANDS of dollars. They’re great guitars sure, some of the best on the market. But is a Gibson Les Paul worth all that money? Let’s find out… Everybody knows the Gibson Les Paul. Whether a Custom, Junior, or a Standard, Gibson’s Les Paul has been a…
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6 Epic Guitar Brands That AREN’T Gibson or Fender
If you’ve got $600 to $1000 to drop on a guitar, and you don’t want a Gibson or Fender, here are six amazing guitar brands you need to be looking at – they’re all brilliant… When you think of a guitar, an electric one, most players imagine a Fender Strat or a Gibson Les Paul. Gibson…
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New TOOL Album: Could We See Another One? Yes…
Fear Inoculum is TOOL’s latest record. Before that, it was 10,000 Days. The gap between these two records? A staggering 13 years. But is there hope for a new TOOL album? Let’s find out… TOOL is one of the greatest bands working today. Unlike pretty much every other metal and/or rock band on the planet,…
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Fuzz vs Distortion: Which is Best / What’s The Difference?
When it comes to pedals, things can get messy quickly – and expensive. But what is the difference between fuzz and distortion? And which is best for certain styles of music? Let’s find out… When it comes to pedals, modern bands tend to love them. You have bands like YOB or TOOL that simply wouldn’t be…
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Why YOB (Band) Is Essential Listening For Any Music Fan
Like metal but not heard of YOB? You’re missing out on one of the most innovative, brilliant bands making music right now – let’s get that fixed… I have sprawling love affairs with many bands. Some of these relationships go back decades, others are much newer. But I am always on the hunt for new artists…
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Why The Beatles ONLY Ever Used Vox Amps
Why did The Beatles only ever use Vox amps? Here’s the inside story on the real reason why The Beatles choose to use Vox amps – and it has nothing to do with guitar tone! Few other bands have as much lore as The Beatles. As one of the greatest and biggest bands to ever walk…