“He said, ‘It’s just rock ’n’ roll with lipstick on!’”: How Bowie and Lennon bonded to create a funky No.1 hit
“We spent hours and hours discussing fame," Bowie said
Artists
“He said, ‘It’s just rock ’n’ roll with lipstick on!’”: How Bowie and Lennon bonded to create a funky No.1 hit
“We spent hours and hours discussing fame," Bowie said
“Suddenly there were all these harmonies”: Jimmy Page and the Robinson brothers on Live At The Greek
A short film is up now on Youtube
Adrian Smith on how Steve Harris is the secret behind Iron Maiden’s triple-guitar attack
When your principal songwriter and driving force is directing traffic on bass, is it any wonder the guitars took a different path in search of brave new worlds to explore?
Did Sabrina Carpenter incorporate a melody from Zelda’s Lullaby into Espresso? We’re not so sure
New TikTok video argues that “Sabrina Carpenter is a nerd”
“I have to be careful what I say": Pete Townshend on Zak Starkey’s protracted dismissal from The Who
“He’ll be sacking me next,” quips the guitarist, “but that’s not to say that he sacked Zak”
Bassist Carol Kaye on why she’s “turning down” her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction invitation
Her proposed Musical Excellence Award doesn’t reflect “the work that studio musicians do and did in the golden era of the 1960s,” she believes
The unlikely encounter between a pre-fame Freddie Mercury and David Bowie at a London market
The future Queen frontman encountered his eventual Under Pressure collaborator when working as a shop assistant at Kensington Market
Music Tech
“Suddenly there were all these harmonies”: Jimmy Page and the Robinson brothers on Live At The Greek
A short film is up now on Youtube
“A worthy addition to Moog’s long history of analogue synths”: Moog Messenger review
It might look a little basic at first glance, but on closer inspection Moog’s latest is a smart and inspiring – if pricey – monosynth
“We’ll push the boat out here and say that this could be its finest synth plugin to date”: Cherry Audio ODC 2800 review
MusicRadar deals of the week: Bag a whopping $499 off one of our favourite Alesis drum kits, as well as hundreds off Taylor, Gibson, and Gretsch guitars
We've uncovered the very best offers on a range of music-making gear from the likes of Tama, Gretsch, Polyend, Martin and more
Expressive E launches its all new super-realistic virtual strings collection
These MPE-based string instruments aim to make nuanced and humanistic performances a reality
First trailer for Bruce Springsteen biopic shows The Boss recording Nebraska on his 4-track PortaStudio
Jeremy Allen White stars in the movie, which will be released in October
"Splice is now built directly into Pro Tools": Avid launches Pro Tools 2025.6 with Splice integration, AI speech-to-text engine and more
Avid teams up with leading sample platform in what the company calls a "game-changing integration bringing millions of sounds into the heart of Pro Tools"
Sonicware's LIVEN Evoke is a "nostalgia-evoking ambient music box" fusing acoustic and electronic sounds
The next synth in the Japanese manufacturer's super-affordable LIVEN series is billed as a "deeply expressive tool for composing cinematic ambient and post-classical music"
Haim push back again against people who question their songwriting, production skills and musicianship
“It sucks when people think that we don’t play our instruments”
Universal Audio's Anthem synth plugin promises to "put the biggest, baddest analogue sounds at your fingertips"
A growling analogue-modelled filter, flexible sequencer and vintage-style modulation effects give UA's new monosynth an edge
It’s a Beatles sons reunion: Zak Starkey, James McCartney and Sean Lennon unite on Rip Off
New Mantra Of The Cosmos track also features Shaun Ryder
“There’s a freedom of thought that doesn’t exist elsewhere”: How and why California became the heart of the synthesizer world
Many of the biggest players in the genesis of modern music-making hailed from California, but just what made the state such fertile ground for the synth pioneers to flourish?
Guitars
“At times it can really feel like more of a multi-effects pedal rather than just a straight reverb pedal”: Electro-Harmonix Oceans Abyss review
EHX brings us a reverb pedal with sliders, a screen, and all the potential to be a Strymon-killer
Adrian Smith on how Steve Harris is the secret behind Iron Maiden’s triple-guitar attack
When your principal songwriter and driving force is directing traffic on bass, is it any wonder the guitars took a different path in search of brave new worlds to explore?
MusicRadar deals of the week: Bag a whopping $499 off one of our favourite Alesis drum kits, as well as hundreds off Taylor, Gibson, and Gretsch guitars
We've uncovered the very best offers on a range of music-making gear from the likes of Tama, Gretsch, Polyend, Martin and more
Bassist Carol Kaye on why she’s “turning down” her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction invitation
Her proposed Musical Excellence Award doesn’t reflect “the work that studio musicians do and did in the golden era of the 1960s,” she believes
EarthQuaker Devices joins forces with Rancho de la Luna for the return of a lost fuzz classic
The Fuzz Face-inspired Dirt Transmitter returns, complete with its second-generation Bias control – and some new artwork to celebrate Catching's legendary Joshua Tree studio
Jason Isbell has some advice for any young player who has just bought their first acoustic guitar
How a little investment at the guitar store can help you start playing and keep playing
Cornerstone’s revamped Imperium V2 is a Dumble x TS-style stompbox that really is a 2-in-1 overdrive
A high-end twofer overdrive for the discerning guitarist, now with four I/O connections for maximum versatility
Guitar Lessons & Tutorials
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
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
10 music theory tricks every producer and songwriter should know
Spruce up your chords and snazz up those scales with our simple but powerful techniques
“When you want a boring sound to sound rhythmic and exciting - reach for the delay”: How to understand and use delay effectively in your productions
It's one of the most widely used effects for producers, synthesists and guitarists alike, but how does it work?
Want to record some real musicians in your studio? Here’s how to prep for success
One of the biggest learns when becoming a producer is just how you manage - and work with - real musicians.
Here's how to compress your mix bus for sonic punch
What does mix bus compression do, how do you use it, and which compressor should you use?
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: Full Bucket FB-3300
Classic synthesizer plugins offer a great entry point for unusual and rare synth designs, and this Korg design is one of the rarest
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
Technically capable, but struggle to make your tunes sound musical? 5 simple music theory hacks to make your tracks stand out
Level up your music-making with these simple but effective tricks that can be easily used by those with zero knowledge of music theory
Play mono synth properly: the skills you need
How playing mono synths differs from standard keyboards
Fantastic (free) plugins and how to use them: Newfangled Audio Pendulate
This free mono synth plugin is creative, chaotic and fun to use. It’s time to go West (Coast)
"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
“If you don’t have an idea, go mow the lawn": Follow Neil Young’s lead to demolish those frustrating songwriting barriers
It’s true, sometimes working relentlessly on perfecting a song or track that you’re just not feeling can do more harm than good
Latest reviews
“A worthy addition to Moog’s long history of analogue synths”: Moog Messenger review
It might look a little basic at first glance, but on closer inspection Moog’s latest is a smart and inspiring – if pricey – monosynth
“At times it can really feel like more of a multi-effects pedal rather than just a straight reverb pedal”: Electro-Harmonix Oceans Abyss review
EHX brings us a reverb pedal with sliders, a screen, and all the potential to be a Strymon-killer
“We’ll push the boat out here and say that this could be its finest synth plugin to date”: Cherry Audio ODC 2800 review
“One of the most iconic synthesizers of all time, in a highly usable and great sounding piece of software”: GForce Software Oberheim TVS Pro review
Introducing a software rebirth, based on a hardware reissue. GForce presents two seminal voices in a single legendary Oberheim
“A good all round headphone suited to recording, mixing and mastering”: Adam Audio H200 Headphones review
Adam Audio has properly entered the headphone market, and the new team has made a strong start
“One of the most alive-feeling synths I’ve tried – even when it’s picking a fight”: Erica Synths Steampipe review
This digital physical modelling synth is designed with wind instruments in mind – but there’s more versatility here than meets the eye
“There is no question that there’s enough quality audio here to cater for every musical taste and presents a massive amount of editing options”: Alesis Strata Club review
Alesis continue to expand its BFD-powered Strata range with this stripped-back, 4-piece e-kit
"Up there as one of the better value for money metal guitars that you can currently buy": Spira S-450 TPP review
From the team behind JET guitars comes new brand Spira. Created to serve the heavier side of music, and applying an impressive spec in a budget-friendly, metal package
