Category: Guides and How To

Guitar Guru: Do the Tonewoods and Thickness of My Guitar’s Back Have an Impact on its Sound?

Q: “I noticed that some guitars have very stiff backs and there is no difference to the sound whether the back is held against your body or away from it. What are the advantages of stiff vs. active backs?”—Seth Brockman, Tulsa, Oklahoma A: To understand how backs function, look first…

Dana Bourgeois
June 14, 2019

1976 Martin 000-28 12-fret acoustic guitar

Guitar Guru: Dana Bourgeois on the Sweet Sound of 12-Fret Guitars

To my ears, guitars with 12 frets clear of the body sound fuller and richer than 14-fret models. Is there any way to get 12-fret sound in a 14-fret guitar?

Dana Bourgeois
May 10, 2019

Video Instruction Series: All About Mic Placement for Home Recording

There are many types of microphones, but the most popular type for recording acoustic guitar is the cardioid condenser mic. Inexpensive models such as the Audio-Technica AT2020 or AT2021 start at under $100. If your budget allows, consider popular models like the Shure SM81 or Neumann KM 184. High-end mics…

Doug Young
May 4, 2019

How To Choose and Use a Guitar Capo

Capos are valuable tools for changing the tuning of your guitar, and as such, you should learn how to use a capo and not view them as “cheaters.”

Harvey Reid
March 18, 2019

Home Recording For Acoustic Guitar How To Best Ways Record Yourself

Home Recording for Acoustic Guitar: The Best Ways to Capture Your Music

Here are some tools and techniques for home recording to make your acoustic guitar sound great.

Doug Young
January 28, 2019

Preparing an acoustic guitar for shipment.

How to Pack a Guitar for Shipping

You can’t control everything that happens to a guitar while it’s in transit, but there are steps you can take to protect it during shipping and handling.

Mamie Minch and Mamie Minch
October 29, 2018

Same Guitar, New Sounds: A Guide to Strings

Simply changing to a different set of strings may be the easiest and most cost-effective way to improve the sound of your guitar.

Kate Koenig
December 20, 2017

A Guitarist’s Guide to the Benefits of Single-Miking

In an era of in-your-face beats and cage-rattling bass drops, when even nominally acoustic performers often stand behind banks of pedals, it’s hard to overstate how radically different it feels to perform with a single microphone. There’s no line of stands, no mess of cables, no DIs, no monitors. Rather…

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers
November 20, 2017

Why Won’t My Guitar Stay in Tune?

Q: About six months ago, I bought a Gibson Hummingbird from the 1990s. Even though it was a little beaten up by the previous owner, it’s a solid guitar. It initially was a little fussy about staying in tune, but lately it’s gotten worse, and it’s particularly frustrating onstage. Why…

Mamie Minch
September 30, 2017

Mariachi Instruments Guitar Players Should Know About

A typical modern version of a mariachi instrument has guitar-like additions not found on its traditional counterpart, including a truss rod and inlaid frets.

Greg Olwell
September 3, 2017

a guitarist seated in front of a computer taking a virtual lesson

5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Skype Lessons

Thanks to today’s technology, players don’t have to limit themselves to traditional face-to-face lessons. Here are some helpful virtual lesson tips

Louise Lee
June 7, 2017

Everything You Need to Know About Microphone Phantom Power

Most of the time, phantom power just does its job silently, but a bit of knowledge can help when things go wrong or when choosing the gear with which you work.

Doug Young
March 27, 2017

How to Buy Your Next Acoustic Guitar

Here are a few tips to help you navigate the different marketplaces, so you can make the smartest choices when it comes to purchasing your next instrument.

Adam Perlmutter
December 5, 2016

guitar luthier listening to sonic characteristics of tonewood

Acoustic Guitar Tonewood Primer: How to Pick the Right Materials for Your Optimal Sound

As the acoustic guitar has evolved, so has the variety of different tonewoods used in guitars. Here's how to find the right tonewood to get your optimal sound.

Adam Perlmutter
August 30, 2016

10 Tips for Flash Recorders Stage and Studio Audio Lesson Acoustic Music DIY

Intro to Flash Recorders. Plus 10 Ways They Can Aid Students & Teachers

One of the best ways to improve as a musician is to record your own playing. Sure, it can be frustrating and disappointing when you hear that you’re out of tempo, out of key, or out of tune. But knowing your weaknesses is the first step to improvement, and hearing a well-played number is its own reward.

Fran Guidry
June 28, 2016

Pedal Power: How to Enhance Your Plugged-In Tone on Acoustic Guitar

Learning how to get the biggest, fattest, and most pleasing tone will allow you to enjoy playing through an amp or PA that much more

Teja Gerken
March 23, 2016

Finding the Best Guitar Pick for You

The importance of your guitar pick—this tiny and usually inexpensive accessory— in shaping tone cannot be overstated.

Adam Perlmutter
March 7, 2016

Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About DIY Guitar Kits

If you've ever thought about building your own acoustic guitar from scratch, here's your guide to DIY guitar kits.

Greg Olwell
June 23, 2015

Video Instruction Series: 7 Lessons on Recording at Home

Doug Young demonstrates how to set up your own home studio and how to use your gear to make recordings that sound great.

Doug Young
April 3, 2013

Tips on Recording Acoustic Guitar with Pickups

Most people find that microphones capture the sound of their guitar more realistically than pickups, but pickups can be effective in some recording situations.

Doug Young
March 28, 2013

Video Instruction Series: Mix, Master, and Publish Your Recording

Once you have completed a track, you’re ready to mix and get it ready for release.

Doug Young
March 28, 2013

Video Instruction Series: Tracking and Editing in the Home Studio

It takes experience to find the right balance between obsessively fixing every little thing and letting small issues go.

Doug Young
March 28, 2013

Video Instruction Series: How to Set Recording Levels

Learn to check that levels are balanced between channels and how to speed up the process of setting up mics.

Doug Young
March 28, 2013

Video Instruction Series: Prepare Your Room for Recording

Carving out a dedicated space for recording, even if it’s the corner of a bedroom, allows you to start recording more quickly when inspiration strikes.

Doug Young
March 28, 2013

How to Get Started on Your Home Recording

Today, modest-priced gear is capable of producing recordings that are indistinguishable from their commercial big-budget equivalents

Doug Young
March 28, 2013