There's no feeling quite like getting up on stage and pouring your heart out. Playing live with a band – or as a solo musician – is supposed to be transcendent, but if something goes wrong, it can sour the experience for you and your audience. Well, don't worry, Guitar World is here to make sure all your shows from this day forward go off without a hitch – as long as you avoid making these ten live mistakes every guitarist makes.
I've been playing guitar in bands – of varying quality – for the best part of 20 years. From punk to metal, blues to alternative, '70s classic rock and '50s rockabilly, I've done a wide range of concerts in my time. Away from playing guitar in bands, I also have a passion for live sound, having worked as a sound engineer in a number of venues around Scotland. So, with that in mind, the tips in this guide come from a place of real-world experience and are things I've either done myself while on stage or have witnessed from the other side of the mixing desk.
