GALLERY: Experience Music Project Guitar Collection

From Hendrix’s Woodstock Strat to Kurt Cobain’s Jaguar, the EMP Museum houses some of the most iconic and rare vintage guitars in the world.

Eddie Van Halen's 1984 Kramer

Eddie Van Halen's 1984 Kramer
This guitar was custom-made by Kramer for the legendary Eddie Van Halen and was subsequently used on the 1984 tour.

whats-new gear gear-galleries online-only

“You’re Not Playing Tennis!“—Conor Curley on Shredders & Sweatbands

First Look: Boss Space Echo RE-202

Rig Rundown: All That Remains [2022]

Get In Shape: A Guide to Breaking Out of Scales

Intermediate

Beginner

  • Use shapes and patterns to think outside of scale-based note selection.
  • Learn a handful of “outside” licks with a shape-based approach.
  • Break out of playing ruts by adding a new approach to your playing.
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Shapes can be unique and interesting, but the most common one that we run into as guitar players is that of a plateau. While growth and learning are exponential in the early days of discovering guitar, the true struggle for most players seems to be when they reach the middle to upper intermediate phase. Certain habits, muscle memory, go-to licks, and even practice routines
become second nature. This is what I refer to as “the big rut.” Every player has been at this point, where they’ve been spinning their wheels in the same tracks for so long that now they are simply stuck. Nowhere to go and nowhere to grow, seemingly. This is also the point where guitarists tend to start rapidly accumulating gear in hopes that something new will spark inspiration. (Not that you or I would ever do such a thing, right?)
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scales
intermediate technique outside playing scales

The Unadorned and Adored Wonders of the Acoustic Guitar

The emotional wallop of the acoustic guitar sometimes flies under the radar. Even if you mostly play electric, here are some things to consider about unplugging.

I have a love-hate relationship with acoustic guitars. My infatuation with the 6-string really blasted off with the Ventures. That’s the sound I wanted, and the way to get it was powered by electricity. Before I’d even held a guitar, I knew I wanted a Mosrite, which I was sure was made of fiberglass like the surfboards the Beach Boys, Surfaris, and the Challengers rode in their off time. Bristling with space-age switchgear and chrome-plated hardware, those solidbody hotrod guitars were the fighter jets of my musical dreams. I didn’t even know what those old-timey round-hole guitars were called. As the singing cowboys Roy Rogers and Gene Autrey strummed off into the sunset, the pace of technology pushed the look and sound of the electric guitar (and bass) into the limelight and into my heart. Imagine my disappointment when I had to begin my guitar tutelage on a rented Gibson “student” acoustic. At least it sort of looked like the ones the Beatles occasionally played. Even so, I couldn’t wait to trade it in.

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esoterica electrica
pro advice jol dantzig acoustic guitar gigging advice diy acoustic acoustic guitars acoustics playing guitar playing an acoustic guitar playing an acoustic esoterica electrica

10 Distortion Pedals Under $100

Need an affordable distortion pedal? Look no further.

We live in the golden age of boutique pedals that are loaded with advanced features—many of which were nearly unthinkable a decade or so ago. But there’s something that will always be valuable about a rock-solid dirt box that won’t break your wallet. Here’s a collection of old classics and newly designed stomps that cost less than an average concert ticket.

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distortion pedals
pedals tools for the task boss electro-harmonix tc electronic earthquaker devices jhs ibanez mxr dunlop nobels rat fender distortion pedals
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