In this issue

Everything You Need To Get Gig‑Ready.

Open-Mic Songbook: Led Zeppelin – Going To California.

Gretsch G2655 Streamliner Center Block Jr Double-Cut P90.

“I WANT YOU TO FEEL THAT RAGE”

Mdou Moctar has been hailed as ‘the Hendrix of the Sahara’. And in his new album, Afrique Victime, he channels the spirit of revolution – with a tremolo-picking technique that has to be heard to be believed...

4 mins

“I'M PRETTY LIMITED WHEN IT COMES TO PLAYING SOLOS. BUT I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I'M DOING WHEN I PLAY A RIFF, WHICH IS CRUCIAL...”

Joe Duplantier is the mastermind who has made Gojira the most exciting metal band of the modern age. A self-taught guitarist who says, “I like to explore the instrument from a slightly different angle”, he tells TG about his new signature model and Gojira-branded plug-in, and discusses the creation of Fortitude – arguably the best metal album of 2021...

9 mins

Billy Gibbons

ZZ TOP’S LEGENDARY GUITARIST LEARNED FROM THE BEST. NOW, WITH A NEW SOLO ALBUM, BILLY GIBBONS IS PASSING ON HIS WISDOM TO TG READERS, INCLUDING ONE VERY SIMPLE, MONEY-SAVING DIY TIP: “SAW OFF THE LEG OF A KITCHEN STOOL,” HE SAYS, “AND YOU’VE GOT A NICE METAL SLIDE!”

10+ mins

“SINGING IS WONDERFUL, BUT THERE'S SOMETHING VERY CATHARTIC AND ZEN ABOUT PLAYING LEAD GUITAR”

Myles Kennedy is best known as a singer – for Alter Bridge and for Guns N’ Roses legend Slash. But on his new solo album, he’s taking the spotlight as a guitarist

5 mins

“The novelty of a post lockdown music environment is new for everyone. We're starting to enjoy music again”

In a small town in Wiltshire, something magical is happening. A band is playing a gig! And not just any old band – it’s Squid, whose new album Bright Green Field is arguably the best debut of 2021. Guitarists Louis Borlase and Anton Pearson tell TG how “lucky” and “emotional” they feel to be playing live again, and explain the band’s improvisational ethos: “It’s about putting adventure over precision.”

10 mins

“IT WILL BE TWO YEARS SINCE WE PLAYED A GIG. THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT'S HAPPENED SINCE I WAS FIFTEEN”

As the Manic Street Preachers prepare to tour again, guitarist/ vocalist James Dean Bradfield speaks to TG from the band’s rehearsal space in Wales and reveals how he gets his chops up - by jamming classic rock and soul tunes, and working that little finger...

7 mins

GET YOUR GEAR GIG-READY

Get your rig ready for action and prep for live performances with TG’s how to guide

10+ mins

“PEOPLE LOVE LIVE MUSIC BECAUSE IT'S NOT PERFECT”

The Darkness have played everywhere – from pubs and clubs to the giant stages of Download and Glastonbury. And so, as they get ready to rock again, frontman Justin Hawkins presents a handy refresher course for TG readers – on how, and how not, to play live. His motto: “A note played with supreme confidence, no matter how wrong it is, will always be the right one.”

7 mins

FENDER MUSTANG MICRO £89.99 Less is more...

Gear is subjective – we all gravitate to different things, sometimes surprisingly when it’s something we didn’t expect to like. But there’s a fundamental question we like to ask about new guitar gear; is it going to make a lot of people want to play more?

3 mins

CEDRIC BURNSIDE

Aged just 13, Cedric Burnside was immersed in playing blues music with his grandfather, aka “Big Daddy” - the legendary R.L. Burnside. Now commander-in chief of the second generation of Hill Country Blues, the younger Burnside’s latest album, I Be Trying, encapsulates the past, present, and future of a whole genre in a way that only he could. “It’s who I am,” Cedric says. “This Hill Country Blues stuff is definitely not new to me. I was born with it in my blood.”

2 mins

Read all stories from Total Guitar

Total Guitar Magazine Description:

Total Guitar Magazine is a monthly magazine published by Future. The magazine is aimed at guitarists of all levels, from beginners to professionals. Total Guitar Magazine features articles on a wide range of topics, including:

* Guitar reviews: The magazine reviews new and used guitars from all major manufacturers.
* Guitar lessons: Total Guitar Magazine provides guitar lessons on a variety of topics, such as scales, chords, and techniques.
* Guitar amps and effects: The magazine reviews new and used guitar amps and effects pedals.
* Guitar gear: Total Guitar Magazine covers all aspects of guitar gear, such as strings, picks, and cases.
* Guitar interviews: The magazine features interviews with guitarists from all genres of music.

Total Guitar Magazine is a must-read for anyone who is passionate about the guitar. The magazine is known for its high-quality journalism, its informative and engaging articles, and its commitment to providing its readers with the latest news and information about the guitar world.