Berklee Online presents
A picture of a heart inside the strings of an acoustic guitar, showcasing the love that Berklee Online instructors have for guitar.

Top Guitar Songs—According to Berklee Online Faculty

We polled members of the Guitar Department at Berklee on the guitar-based songs they love the most. Some of the usual suspects are there—Hendrix and Van Halen, etc.—but you may be surprised by some of the songs that strike a chord with your instructors, including some acoustic picks!

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Fender Stratocaster is shown, showcasing the middle pickup, which Mark Hopkins says is a hidden secret!

Fender Stratocaster Guitar Pickups Secret: The Magic of the Middle

If you own a Fender Stratocaster, you’ve probably already delved into the differences between the pickups. But listening to the tone of most guitarists you see playing a Strat, you’ll notice that the middle is probably the most overlooked pickup. Here is what makes it so special.

Left: O.C.E. They Don’t Compare (distortion), Right: O.C.E. Wrench (fuzz)

Distortion and Fuzz Guitar Effect Pedals: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to guitar effects, most guitarists will begin their journey with distortion, fuzz, or overdrive. So what’s the difference? Guitarist and gear fanatic Mark Hopkins weighs in.

Guitar Pedals, Rated by Berklee Guitar Instructors!

Best Guitar Pedals According to Berklee Instructors

If you could only use one pedal for the rest of your guitar-playing life, what would it be, and why? That is precisely what we asked a number of the course authors in the Berklee Guitar department. Their answers may surprise you!

Neil Larocque on Getting Through 2020 with His Guitar

Student Neil Larocque talks about being separated from his family in China during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how playing guitar helped him through.

A person playing acoustic guitar.

Acoustic Guitar Techniques to Move Past Beginner Level

To get your acoustic guitar sounding like Joni Mitchell’s, Nick Drake’s, James Taylor’s, and Lindsey Buckingham’s, here are three acoustic guitar techniques that you can start practicing today.

Eddie Van Halen in His Own Words: Remembering a Rock Legend

Steve Morse reflects on the death of Eddie Van Halen with seven quotes that he collected throughout his three decades as rock critic at the Boston Globe.

Acoustic blues guitar with a slide.

How to Play Acoustic Blues Guitar

Learn the history and techniques to start playing acoustic blues guitar with these four tips from Berklee Online guitar instructor Dan Bowden.

Ritzy Bryan of Joy Formidable Talks Music Business, Relationships, and Finding Her Sound

Ritzy Bryan of the Joy Formidable discusses why her Welsh heritage is so important to her music, how her time on Atlantic Records helped inform her understanding of the music business, and how her guitar acrobatics hurt her Fender as well as the forehead of Joy Formidable bassist Rhydian Dafydd. 

Chilean artist Nano Stern

Nano Stern Talks Life on Tour and Musical Traditions

Chilean artist Nano Stern stopped by Berklee Online on the eve of his sixth US tour to play some music, discuss life on tour, and talk about musical traditions from Latin America.