Learn How to Play Joe Robinson’s Showstopping “Let the Guitar Do the Talkin’”
It’s one thing to play blazingly fast Travis picking, and quite another to sing at the same time, as Joe Robinson does.
Great Acoustics: 1948 Levin De Luxe Archtop
Levin instruments have been played by many of the finest European guitarists. The 1948 Model 1 De Luxe archtop shown here sat at the very top of the Levin line.
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Ask the Expert: How to Minimize String Breakage—and What to Do When it Happens
Is it safe for the guitar, the strings, and the player to switch back and forth between standard and open tunings? Ask the Expert!
The Best Websites and Apps for Learning Guitar
It's never been easier to teach yourself guitar, mostly because of the wide variety of apps, software, and websites to learn from.
Slide Masters: 6 Guitarists Who Play Bottleneck Style in Fresh and Unexpected Ways
Six acoustic guitarists show the wide range of concepts, sounds, and inflections that can be brought to life with slide technique.
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Guitar Lesson: Make the Minor Pentatonic Scale Work for You
Here's how to make the minor pentatonic scale, aka the blues box, work in almost any musical situation.
‘Sunset Avenue Sessions’ is a Charming Set of Country-Flavored Covers and Originals
This trio is made up of the three clearly capable country-oriented singer-songwriters Lizanne Knott, Jesse Terry, and Michael Logen
Video Lesson: A Jazzy Arrangement of “America the Beautiful”
As with learning anything new, when tackling this jazzy arrangement of 'America the Beautiful,' take it slowly and work on getting a beautiful tone in both hands.
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Campfire Songs: Learn the Gospel Classic ‘This Little Light of Mine’
To work up “This Little Light of Mine,” first make sure that you are familiar with all the chord shapes and can switch between them with relative ease.
The Andrew Collins Trio Spreads Its Wings Wide on Double Album ‘Tongue & Groove’
This double set of 11 vocal songs (Tongue) and 11 instrumentals (Groove) is the best of both worlds
Album Review: History Springs from John Smith’s Picking and Singing on ‘Hummingbird’
Smith comes home to the progressive folk guitar that inspired him
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Gear Review: Palmer Acoustic Pocket Amp
Most gigging acoustic guitarists know the importance of a great-sounding, reliable preamp/DI box. Not only will a DI allow you to directly interface with a house PA system via the XLR output, but the preamp can help you sculpt the best possible sonic reproduction of your guitar via EQ,…
Album Review: Tommy Emmanuel & John Knowles Deliver ‘Heart Songs’
Acoustic guitar aces Tommy Emmanuel and John Knowles have teamed up on "Heart Songs" to put fans in a mellow mood on this collection of 14 sentimental fingerstyle instrumentals.
Marley’s Ghost’s ‘Travelin’ Shoes’ Gives Praise to a Hallelujah Revival
The album summons a sound akin to a gospel revival through precise picking, acapella embellishments, and soothing songs of praise
Acoustic Classic: Richard Thompson’s “She Twists the Knife Again”
The transcription here, which captures the song note for note, comes from 'Acoustic Classics II' (2017).
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Lesson: How to Make Sense of Lead Sheets
If you have a solid foundation but want to learn more about reading charts, then this lesson, based on an actual lead sheet, is for you.
Album Review: Joe Robinson’s ‘Undertones’ is Dense with Brilliant Moments
The original songs on Undertones are pleasant enough, but Robinson’s guitar playing is what really does the talking, to borrow his phrase
Mimi Fox’s ‘This Bird Still Flies’ is a Quietly Adventurous Acoustic Outing
The seasoned jazz guitarist largely foregoes flash here for stunning lyrical solos that often exude a sense of quietude
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Album Review: Hayes Carll ‘What It Is’
With Hayes Carll's dust-dry Texas delivery, this album knows how to rock when it needs to rock, dance when it needs to dance, and lean in close when he needs to promise.
Steel-String Master Alex de Grassi and Classical Guitarist Andrew York Team Up For Annual Camp
For the fourth consecutive year, steel-string fingerstylist and composer Alex de Grassi Andrew York are teaming up to mentor intermediate and advanced players at the Mendocino Guitar Workshop.
Tony Klassen of New Era Guitars Is a Revivalist of Under-Appreciated Designs
The Indiana-based luthier, who runs a one-man operation, produces impressive reproductions coveted by collectors and pros alike
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Gear Review: Martin OM-28 Modern Deluxe
The Martin OM-28 Modern Deluxe is a lightweight orchestra-bodied guitar, with a blend of vintage and modern features that merge to form a unique, cutting-edge composition.
Pickin’: Learn Doc Watson’s Hot Take on ‘Black Mountain Rag’
Go with whatever pick suits you best, and remember to use alternate picking on the eighth notes—down on the downbeats and up on the upbeats.
Acoustic Classic: ‘I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom’
Capturing that almighty triplet groove is what’s most important to playing this blues standard well.
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Video Lesson: How to Play Bottleneck in a Range of Styles
Slide/bottleneck guitar can evoke flavors ethereal and lyrical or aggressive and bombastic. From Santo & Johnny’s “Sleepwalk” to Elmore James’ “Dust My Broom” and on to Debashish Bhattacharya’s Indian slide musings, this approach delivers a wide spectrum of sounds, emotions, and cultural touchstones.