>Freeware tip: string theory

From our experience, guitarists can never have enough sonic colours with which to experiment. While we’ve picked six examples of freeware to cover any guitarist’s main bases, there are tons of other freeware options out there, and we’d recommend you try them all, even if you’re dissuaded by off-putting branding. Amp sims that might be overlooked for being a bit too ‘metal’ include Emissary by Ignite Amps, a tasty modelling of a tube-amp that features sparkling clean tones, alongside its emphasised crunch, or the fire-soaked NRR1, built by a death metal guitarist and clearly focused on hugesounding distortion. Conversely, there’s the slick, tweedy tones of Ice from Shattered Glass Audio, modelled on a Fender Tweed Champ – many a surf rocker’s go-to. It’s often very fun to go off-road. They’re free after all, so easy-come, easy-go!