Riff Rundown: Mastodon's "Roots Remain" Bill Kelliher elaborates on how he uses open notes, bends, and hammer-ons for this Emperor of Sand track. | | How Yngwie Malmsteen Unleashes the Fury So how exactly does the undisputed king of neo-classical shred do his thing? It's mostly a combination of magic, dragons, and some hellacious picking. | | What the Ell? How to Keep Your Chops Up on the Road Whether you're a seasoned pro or weekend warrior, here are a few essential exercises to keep you on top of your game. | | Riff Rundown: Melvins' "Edgar the Elephant" Buzz Osborne, Jeff Pinkus, and Steven McDonald break down their individual parts before combining powers for a thunderous performance of the A Walk with Love & Death track. | | Twang 101: Vince Gill Very few country stars have the chops, skill, and taste of this award-winning picker, singer, and songwriter. Here's a look at how to cop his cosmic Tele vibe. | | Sweet Soul Music Prolific performer and teacher Shawn Persinger teaches you how to get inside the sounds of Cropper, Jamerson, Dupree, and more. | | Good Times, Odd Times: A Guide to Unusual Note Groupings You don't have to be a math major to escape the predictable and inject some excitement and variety into your lines. | | | | |