1. Change the strings regularly - there is perhaps no more important aspect of playing a musical instrument than that of maintaining it properly. Guitar strings wear out with regular use and even more quickly become coated in grease and dead skin. So it is imperative that you wipe the strings after playing and also change the strings as often as needed. But how often do strings need changing? Well, if you only play your guitar a couple of times a month then you will probably get away with a couple of sets of strings per year. But if you play in a band a couple of times a week or more then you should renew the strings at least once a week. And forget the old wives tale about boiling strings, that is for fools and practical jokers; fit new strings every time.

I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks - John Lee Hooker

2. Play what is required, not what you like - Just because you have mastered that tricky right hand tapping technique does not mean that you should try to use it at every opportunity. Instead, concentrate on what feels and sounds right for the piece you are working on. It might not be as self satisfying to play five notes where you could have squeezed in fifty, but it can often be far more effective - and remember that you will always get the chance to impress your mates on another song.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

3. Practice effectively - Do you have a regular practice schedule? If not, then you should develop one! Your guitar practice should include different techniques, slow playing, fast playing, rhythmic playing, etc. Don't just play what you enjoy playing during solo practice sessions, but instead remember to devote some time to the stuff you find difficult. 

4. Play with the band, not over them - Never turn your amp up to eleven and expect the rest of the band to join you. Not only is it a recipe for tinnitus and premature deafness, but it will quickly get you replaced by a more considerate guitarist. An effective guitar player will be listening to the whole band, not just him/herself, and if the guitar sounds too loud the effective guitar player will turn the volume down to a level that matches the rest of the band! if you think you might be guilty of this then try listening objectively to the whole band next time you play and ask yourself if it sounds well balanced.

Fender Telecaster

5. Be original - Don't just copy your guitar heroes. Of course it is natural and essential to actively learn the chops of your favourite players, but don't just copy them verbatim; instead you should try to mix and match the techniques you have learned to develop your own original licks.

6 Keep an open mind and ear - Just because your favourite player uses a Marshall stack or a Mesa Boogie combo, and plays a Fender Stratocaster or a Gibson Les Paul doesn't mean that you have to do the same. All of the best player's sounds are unique and exclusive, and it goes far beyond the equipment used. Think of the different sounds produced by for example Jimi Hendrix, Hank Marvin and Eric Clapton - they are all Strat players but all sound different and apart from each other.

Jammin' on acoustic

7. Enjoy yourself - the fact is that successful guitar players actually enjoy what they do; think of Eddie Van Halen leaping around the stage with a wide smile on his face. I'm willing to bet that the reason he became such a great player in the first place is because he actually loves what he is doing. So when the time comes, go out and enjoy it!

Tony Williams is a musician, writer, and self-confessed eBay fanatic.

Robin Finck, is a guitarist who has been a member of many bands including Nine Inch Nails, and currently Guns N’ Roses. His nicknames include Finck, Queenie, and Ratt Finck.

Born on November 7, 1971 in New Jersey, Robin Finck lived there until his early teens before moving to Marietta, Georgia; near Atlanta. Finck started studying music during his early school years playing such instruments as the guitar, the keyboard and even the violin. Robin attended ‘George Walton Comprehensive High School’ (the same school attended by Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes) and impressed many of his fellow classmates with his guitar skills. Robin's music career officially began in 1987, when he was 15. In high school, one of the bands with which Finck performed was Prowess. Although they didn't show the potential that other Walton bands like The Black Crowes did, they still managed to stake their claim, playing covers by bands such as Iron Maiden at school talent shows.

In November of 1987, Finck reportedly attended a concert headline by Motley Crue. The opening band for the concert just so happened to ironically be, Guns N' Roses. Finck graduated high school in 1990; he would go on to play with several unsigned bands in the Atlanta area.

Although his intentions were to attend college, Robin never did, though he did attend Berklee for some summer workshops in music. Instead of college he dedicated most of his time and efforts to his band(s), or hanging around Oglethorpe University with his band mates. By this time, Prowess had changed their name to 'Bat Your Lashes'. With a strikingly odd Glam Metal image the band soon became 'Sik Dik'. Sik Dik, founded in the late 80’s by Michael Allen quickly dissolved.

Robin moved on and joined 'The Hookers' and 'Heroin' (also known as 'Impotent Sea Snakes' (ISS) when in drag). Still living in Atlanta Finck worked security at the Masquerade, a large club where ISS and Heroin frequently played.

Upon being asked to do so, Robin auditioned for Nine Inch Nails and was accepted into the group shortly thereafter, in late 1993, replacing former guitarist Richard Patrick. Robin’s first public appearance with NIN was at show in Los Angeles. In March 1994. NIN gave four "confidential" shows in California before hitting the road for real. In the course of an interview, the interviewer talked with each band member and said something about them. When it came to Robin, the interviewer said that when NIN had been in search of a guitarist they had decided to settle on  the white guy who looked the most like Whoopi Goldberg! Everyone, including Robin laughed.

Finck then toured with Nine Inch Nails on the Self Destruct Tour from March 1994 to February 1995. Finck returned to play with the original line up of Sik Dik, now known as Cosmic Fuk, in November 1994, for one gig.

The Goodies, who included Michael Allen, had just performed in a local club of Atlanta called  Louie's Red Dog Saloon. Right after the Goodies were finished with their performance, the original line up of Sik Dik came on stage "to recreate Cosmic Fuk , a rare treat since guitarist Robin Finck was snagged the year before by vampi re laureate Trent Reznor. Fincks' experience as a touring guitarist member of Nine Inch Nails added pomp and power to an already electrifying set" [quote from a local journalist].

The famous Nine Inch Nails Self Destruct Tour reached its peak when the band performed, to critical acclaim, at Woodstock II on August 13, 1994.

In December of '94, the band had an accident on their way to New York and Robin received two broken fingers. Nevertheless he performed on December 10th - just a couple of days after the accident - with Twiggy Ramirez (bass), Dee Snider (vocals) and his former bandmate from Sik Dik, Michael Allen (drums). Their short lived band was dubbed Sick Muthaf**kers, a reference to a Twisted Sister song titled ‘SMF’. For the occasion Robin, who had cut his hair months before, wore a wig and bore a huge bandage around his fingers... It didn't keep him from giving an awesome performance.

Soon after Dissonance Tour was completed in October 1995 Robin signed on as a musical director for Cirque De Soleil, he would keep this job for the next two years. Finck is know for playing on the original tour of Quidam, a show produced and performed by Cirque De Soleil. Quidam kicked off its North American tour in Montreal, Quebec; the tour was to last three years. Robin may have performed in as many as 500 shows with them before leaving the tour in 1997.

After 18 months of working in the Circus band Robin received a call from Axl Rose, inviting him to the studio. After 8 weeks Robin left the circus and began playing and recording with Rose, drummer Josh Freese, and bassist Tommy Stinson. The band worked laboriously for many months, with little to show for their hard work. Days after his contract ran out on August 1, 1999 Finck officially left Guns N’ Roses, almost 2 years after joining it.

Just months after his departure from GNR Robin rejoined the Nine Inch Nails touring band as their Fragility Tour began. This tour would continue from November, 1999; until July of the next year. Guns N' Roses released its original song since 1991's Use Your Illusion albums with the release 'Oh My God' in November, 1999. The song included Robin on guitar according to Axl Rose, though Robin would deny his involvement.

On October 27, 2000 Robin Finck was officially announced as a guitarist in Guns N’ Roses, signaling his official return to the band. Months later on January 1, 2001  the new GNR line-up played their first gig at the House Of Blues in Las Vegas. Almost two weeks later on January 13 Guns N’ Roses played to 1.2 million people at Rock In Rio III. It was during 2001 that Robin married Bianca Sapetto, whom he met while working with Cirque du Soliel. In the year 2001, Robin contributed to the soundtrack 'Ghosts Of Mars' a major motion picture directed by John Carpenter, he would return to his industrial metal roots participating with such icons, as Scott Ian of Anthrax, Steve Vai, and Buckethead. Robin contributed in four songs on the soundtrack: Love Siege (w/ Buckethead), Fight Train (w/ Scott Ian) , Power Station (w/ Scott Ian) and Ghost Poppin' (w/ Steve Vai).

A Guns N’ Roses European tour, scheduled for May of that year was postponed and ultimately cancelled in November. The band played more shows in Asia and Europe in August before touring the United States in November – December. The tour was eventually cancelled after a riot in Philadelphia.

Guns N’ Roses went into hiatus in 2003 and much of 2004. Reportedly the band was recording material once again. A scheduled date to play Rock In Rio 4 in May 2004 was cancelled; with a statement issued by Axl Rose that guitarist Buckethead would no longer be a part of the band.

Also during 2003 Robin was credited as one of the writers for 'My Birthday Party,' a show involving acrobatics, storytelling, music, acting, and clowning. The show included former Cirque De Soleil acrobats and actor Viggo Mortensen, it was preformed at the Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica, California.

LedzAerial,  a physical, sensual, thrilling journey through the psychedelic and elaborate music of Led Zeppelin, premiered in April 2003 at The Key Club, located on Sunset Bd, LA. The show was followed by a tour which featured many people including Robin, Bianca Sapetto, Judith Flex (she created the show), Tim Alexander, Ana Lenchantin and Russ Stark. On February 28th 2006, a new version of the show was performed at the Key Club and Robin was credited as "Robin Fincke- guitarist Guns N' Roses, NIN." The show continued but Robin rejoined Guns N' Roses.

On Sunday June 8, 2003, Robin launched his official website robinfinck.com, the site showcases his talent as a writer, photographer, and artist. It also gives fans a glimpse as to what an interesting person he is and how diverse his tastes are.
In early 2006 Robin attended Quidam's tenth anniversary celebration, with original performers from the show.

In February 2006 several leaked Guns N’ Roses songs surfaced on a GNR fan site. One of these tracks, 'Better,' credits Robin as its major songwriter. The band resurfaced in May, playing four sold out shows at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom. They would continue with a successful tour of Europe throughout June and July, headlining the Download Festival and Rock In Rio Lisboa. A new-look Robin once again impressed audiences with his masterful guitar work and unbelievable stage presence.

http://www.robinfinckfans.com/main.htm

Written By The Members of RobinFinckFans.com (Oct.-Nov. 2006)

From Deep Purple to Rainbow, Blackmore's contribution to us remains virtually unmatched.  Please read on for a brief history of the heavy metal virtuoso.

1967 - RITCHIE BLACKMORE - who has previously played with such bands as the Outlaws, Screaming Lord Sutch, and Neil Christian & The Crusaders - is invited by ex-Artwoods/The Flowerpot Men keybordist Jon Lord (who was invited by The Searchers ex-drummer, Chris Curtis) to form a new band. Other musician's would be auditioned from a Melody Maker ad in Deeves Hall in Hertfordshire.