What is Twitter, and why should you care? Well, let’s start by addressing the first part of that question. Twitter is something like a micro blog. Users post their thoughts in 140 characters or less, and “followers” read them. You can follow whoever you want, and anyone can follow you (though you can require permission for followers). You can update your status and see others’ status on the web, in dedicated Instant Message-like applications, and from your cell phone. You can send messages to other Twitter users and post links and photos as well.

Tweets A look at what you can expect to see on Twitter. This will be the 1st time I won’t be playing Hamers with Living Colour since I switched from ESP 20 yrs ago. Yikes!!! – vurnt22 (Vernon Reid) But seriously you best believe that if I had a Mini Me, his primary purpose would be to change strings regularly. – greghoweguitar Using my Port City - regular size 4x12 with 2 Eminence (Cannabis Rex’s) on top and 2 Eminence (Governor’s) on bottom. Blows everything away – greghoweguitar who is interested in a custom chapman stick cable? message me – solidcables I’m not going to announce this until next week, so the early word goes to you Twitterers! The EHX Merch Shop – EHX Got a Fender guitar and not sure of its age? Check out our Product dating page – Fenderuk Managed to lay a few guitar tracks for my sixstringbliss submission, at this rate I should hit the August deadline ;) – guitarnoize Listening to Richie Kotzen: Live in Sao Paulo. Could really use some bigass backing vocals but still rocks. – iheartguitar Writing on twitter about writing in the magazine about twitter. Confused yet? Here’s some bass porn to help out... – premierguitar

The more important part of the question, however, is “Why should you care?” This is a bit more complex. There are many different appeals to the service. For guitarists, a major one is the ability to follow other guitarists. John Mayer, Vernon Reid [Living Colour], Greg Howe and Jeff Beasley all update with mixed frequency.

A number of gear companies also have Twitter accounts. Taylor, Fender UK, Gibson, Epiphone, Dean, DigiTech, Simple Amps, Solid Cables, Suhr, Electro-Harmonix and Warmoth, to name a few, post regularly. Many post news about their endorsed artists and links to information about new gear.

Perhaps the most interesting reads, however, are the many guitar bloggers on Twitter. Bloggers like I Heart Guitar’s Peter Hodgson and Guitar Noize’s Jon Bloomer both post regularly, from what they’re listing to at the moment to guitar news and everything in between.

Of course, Premier Guitar is on there as well. Besides updating every time we post an article, we’ll also post pictures of gear we get in for review, what we’re digging on at the moment, and day-to-day life at the Premier Guitar offices.

If you’re looking to get started with Twitter, head to twitter.com and set up an account. Then, we suggest checking out a blog that Jason Shadrick of National Guitar Workshop posted listing a number of guitar-related Twitter users at  www.jasonshadrick.com.

Of course, once you’re set up, visit twitter.com/premierguitar and follow us—and say hi while you’re at it.