Guitar Player

Guitar Player
Title	Guitar Player
Category	Music magazine
Frequency	Monthly
Language	English

Guitar Player is an American monthly magazine devoted to fretted string instruments, professional musicianship, instrument construction, recording, and music technology. The magazine features interviews, gear reviews, tablature, technique columns, and profiles of influencers across popular music, jazz, rock, blues, and experimental traditions. It serves as a nexus connecting readers with developments in instrument design, live performance, studio practice, and music publishing.

History

Founded in the early 1960s, the magazine emerged amid cultural shifts that included the British Invasion, the rise of folk revivalists, and changing recording techniques. Early coverage intersected with figures such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and brands like Fender Musical Instruments Corporation and Gibson Brands as electrified styles expanded. Over subsequent decades editorial direction responded to movements including punk rock, heavy metal, jazz fusion, grunge, and hip hop sampling, while industry consolidation linked publishers with periodicals covering Rolling Stone, Modern Drummer, and specialized trade shows such as the NAMM Show. Advances in digital photography, desktop publishing, and the internet altered production and distribution methods, aligning the magazine with online platforms, video content, and social media networks operated by companies like YouTube and Facebook.

Types of Guitar Playing (Techniques and Styles)

Coverage spans classical techniques associated with figures like Andrés Segovia and Julian Bream to electric approaches exemplified by Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Eddie Van Halen. Blues phrasing tied to B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Stevie Ray Vaughan contrasts with jazz vocabulary from Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, and Pat Metheny. Styles include fingerstyle traditions represented by Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel, alternate-tuning explorations from Nick Drake and John Fahey, and extended techniques used by Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew. Metal virtuosity reflects developments from Randy Rhoads, Dimebag Darrell, and Yngwie Malmsteen, while Americana and roots idioms connect to Doc Watson, John Prine, and Ry Cooder.

Instruments and Equipment

Articles detail acoustic and electric instruments from makers like Martin (guitar company), Taylor Guitars, Fender Stratocaster, and Gibson Les Paul, along with boutique luthiers and custom shops. Amplification histories reference Marshall Amplification, Vox, and Mesa/Boogie; effects discussions include devices by Boss Corporation, Electro-Harmonix, and innovators such as Les Paul and Seymour Duncan. Recording and signal chain topics intersect with studios like Abbey Road Studios and consoles from Neve Electronics, microphones by Neumann, and digital audio workstations including Pro Tools and Logic Pro. Pickup design, wood selection, and bridge systems are examined alongside hardware innovations from Floyd Rose and boutique pedal builders.

Education and Learning

Instructional content links to conservatories and schools such as Berklee College of Music, Juilliard School, and community programs like The School of Rock; method books from publishers like Hal Leonard are often reviewed. Pedagogy features include sight-reading, improvisation studies rooted in models by Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, and technique regimens inspired by teachers such as William Leavitt and Ted Greene. Online lessons and masterclasses connect the print medium with platforms like MasterClass and independent educators who publish on YouTube and artist websites; scholarship programs and workshops at festivals like Montreux Jazz Festival and Telluride Bluegrass Festival are profiled.

Notable Guitarists

Profiles and interviews have featured a broad spectrum of players, from pioneers like Les Paul and Django Reinhardt to modern innovators such as John Mayer, Kurt Cobain, St. Vincent (musician), Tom Morello, and Derek Trucks. Cross-genre spotlights include Carlos Santana, Paco de Lucía, Pete Townshend, Brian May, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Andreas Segovia—and contemporary figures who bridge genres and technology.

Performance and Careers

Coverage addresses touring logistics exemplified by major concert presenters like Live Nation and promotion strategies used by agencies such as William Morris Endeavor. Articles examine career development paths through session work in studios like Sun Studio and network television appearances on programs such as Saturday Night Live. Topics include contract negotiation, endorsements with manufacturers like Fender and Gibson Brands, sync licensing for media overseen by organizations such as ASCAP and BMI, and entrepreneurship in boutique teaching, recording, and custom instrument businesses.

Cultural Impact and Influence

The magazine documents how fretted-instrument practice influenced popular culture via movements tied to Woodstock, the British Invasion, and soundtrack composers for films by directors like Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese. It charts intersections with technology companies such as Apple Inc. for digital distribution and services like Spotify for streaming, and how guitar-centric aesthetics informed fashion, visual art, and protest music associated with events like Live Aid. The publication situates instrument builders, players, and industry institutions within broader cultural currents shaped by award bodies such as the Grammy Awards and institutions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Category:Music magazines