https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Fri, 22 Mar 2024 14:36:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/acousticguitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/AG_Favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 https://acousticguitar.com 32 32 103806923 https://acousticguitar.com/everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-harmonics-and-how-to-play-them-on-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-harmonics-and-how-to-play-them-on-guitar/#respond Fri, 22 Mar 2024 14:36:13 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143938 When played clearly, harmonics sound bell-like and chimey, and they sustain to add a harp-like effect to your sound.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-about-harmonics-and-how-to-play-them-on-guitar/feed/ 0 143938 https://acousticguitar.com/expand-your-range-on-guitar-with-this-picking-hand-fretting-technique/ https://acousticguitar.com/expand-your-range-on-guitar-with-this-picking-hand-fretting-technique/#comments Sat, 03 Feb 2024 13:15:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143511 Sean McGown shows how to facilitate chord clusters and voicings that are normally impossible to play on the guitar without using a capo or alternate tuning.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/expand-your-range-on-guitar-with-this-picking-hand-fretting-technique/feed/ 1 143511 https://acousticguitar.com/play-a-jazzy-fingerstyle-rendition-of-over-the-river-and-through-the-woods/ https://acousticguitar.com/play-a-jazzy-fingerstyle-rendition-of-over-the-river-and-through-the-woods/#respond Wed, 08 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141848 Originally published in 1844, the song remains a popular favorite among children and adults to celebrate Thanksgiving and the Christmas season. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/play-a-jazzy-fingerstyle-rendition-of-over-the-river-and-through-the-woods/feed/ 0 141848 https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-al-petteway-prolific-guitarist-and-teacher-1952-2023/ https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-al-petteway-prolific-guitarist-and-teacher-1952-2023/#comments Mon, 09 Oct 2023 16:00:54 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142227 On September 25th, the acoustic music community lost a great luminary with the passing of guitarist and composer Al Petteway.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-al-petteway-prolific-guitarist-and-teacher-1952-2023/feed/ 7 142227 https://acousticguitar.com/beyond-flattops-the-magic-of-archtop-guitars/ https://acousticguitar.com/beyond-flattops-the-magic-of-archtop-guitars/#respond Fri, 03 Mar 2023 17:33:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=116893 Though long favored by jazz and swing guitarists, the archtop is currently enjoying a revival among roots and Americana musicians, flatpickers, and singer-songwriters.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/beyond-flattops-the-magic-of-archtop-guitars/feed/ 0 116893 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-generating-challenging-picking-exercises-from-ninth-chords/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-generating-challenging-picking-exercises-from-ninth-chords/#respond Sun, 05 Feb 2023 14:50:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=113291 Let’s take a close look at a common extended chord—containing a note beyond the seventh, the venerable ninth. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-generating-challenging-picking-exercises-from-ninth-chords/feed/ 0 113291 https://acousticguitar.com/christmas-classics-3-acoustic-guitar-fingerpicking-arrangements-to-play/ https://acousticguitar.com/christmas-classics-3-acoustic-guitar-fingerpicking-arrangements-to-play/#respond Mon, 21 Nov 2022 17:45:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=121481 Learn sophisticated solo-guitar arrangements of "O Come, All Ye Faithful," "Joy to the World," and "Silent Night."]]> https://acousticguitar.com/christmas-classics-3-acoustic-guitar-fingerpicking-arrangements-to-play/feed/ 0 121481 https://acousticguitar.com/fun-and-challenging-counterpoint-exercises-on-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/fun-and-challenging-counterpoint-exercises-on-guitar/#respond Wed, 05 Oct 2022 14:33:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=133518 Contrapuntal lines are not necessarily intuitive for most guitarists, but the approach is certainly worth the investment and yields dividends equivalent to sonic gold.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/fun-and-challenging-counterpoint-exercises-on-guitar/feed/ 0 133518 https://acousticguitar.com/how-do-you-get-good-tone-30-ways-to-improve-your-acoustic-guitar-tone/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-do-you-get-good-tone-30-ways-to-improve-your-acoustic-guitar-tone/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2022 12:10:32 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=119141 Improve your acoustic guitar tone with these tips and techniques for fretting-hand, flatpicking, and fingerstyle playing for both your right and left hands.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-do-you-get-good-tone-30-ways-to-improve-your-acoustic-guitar-tone/feed/ 2 119141 https://acousticguitar.com/the-blues-in-jazz-using-the-classic-12-bar-form-as-a-gateway-to-bebop-improvisation/ https://acousticguitar.com/the-blues-in-jazz-using-the-classic-12-bar-form-as-a-gateway-to-bebop-improvisation/#respond Fri, 03 Jun 2022 16:18:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=105246 Explore comping and soloing strategies over a standard 12-bar jazz blues progression, as well as chord substitutions and variations.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/the-blues-in-jazz-using-the-classic-12-bar-form-as-a-gateway-to-bebop-improvisation/feed/ 0 105246 https://acousticguitar.com/coordination-in-fretting-and-picking-fingers/ https://acousticguitar.com/coordination-in-fretting-and-picking-fingers/#respond Mon, 14 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=124686 Take a deep dive into building independence among the fingers of both hands.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/coordination-in-fretting-and-picking-fingers/feed/ 0 124686 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-review-santa-cruz-ht-13-happy-traum-signature/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-review-santa-cruz-ht-13-happy-traum-signature/#respond Wed, 06 Oct 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=125742 Beautiful. Resonant. Comfortable. Balanced. Sweet. Loud! These were the words that immediately came to mind as I played the Santa Cruz HT/13 guitar for the first time]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-review-santa-cruz-ht-13-happy-traum-signature/feed/ 0 125742 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-guide-tone-voicings-on-your-acoustic-guitar-to-emulate-the-piano/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-guide-tone-voicings-on-your-acoustic-guitar-to-emulate-the-piano/#respond Sun, 03 May 2020 08:01:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=112128 How to Use Guide Tone Voicings in Fingerstyle Jazz guitar lesson music notation]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-guide-tone-voicings-on-your-acoustic-guitar-to-emulate-the-piano/feed/ 0 112128 https://acousticguitar.com/gear-review-henriksen-bud-head-amplifier/ https://acousticguitar.com/gear-review-henriksen-bud-head-amplifier/#respond Wed, 01 Apr 2020 17:39:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=116529 In the not-too-distant past, acoustic guitarists and singer-songwriters were relegated to hauling around large PA systems replete with a mixer, power amp, speakers, stands, plus duffle bags stuffed with a wide assortment of tangled cables—all in an effort to simply be heard in a rehearsal, club, or coffeehouse. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/gear-review-henriksen-bud-head-amplifier/feed/ 0 116529 https://acousticguitar.com/beyond-flattops-the-magic-of-resonator-baritone-and-archtop-guitars/ https://acousticguitar.com/beyond-flattops-the-magic-of-resonator-baritone-and-archtop-guitars/#respond Fri, 07 Feb 2020 14:13:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=113975 The wide tonal palette of acoustic guitars includes archtop, resonator, and baritone colors. Here's more about the history, makers, and players of these instruments.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/beyond-flattops-the-magic-of-resonator-baritone-and-archtop-guitars/feed/ 0 113975 https://acousticguitar.com/improve-your-technique-by-practicing-broken-thirds-scales-2/ https://acousticguitar.com/improve-your-technique-by-practicing-broken-thirds-scales-2/#respond Sat, 11 Jan 2020 09:21:29 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=112218 Scales are great for warming up and improving technical proficiency. Challenge yourself with new scales and patterns.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/improve-your-technique-by-practicing-broken-thirds-scales-2/feed/ 0 112218 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-a-sophisticated-arrangement-of-o-come-all-ye-faithful/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-a-sophisticated-arrangement-of-o-come-all-ye-faithful/#respond Wed, 11 Dec 2019 16:51:22 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=112628 This solo-guitar arrangement moves twice through the song’s simple verse/chorus form, set in the key of E major. The first verse features contrapuntal motion with inner lines moving under the melody. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-a-sophisticated-arrangement-of-o-come-all-ye-faithful/feed/ 0 112628 https://acousticguitar.com/guide-tone-voicings-2/ https://acousticguitar.com/guide-tone-voicings-2/#respond Sat, 16 Nov 2019 08:44:06 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=112179 Guide tones are simply the third and seventh notes of a chord (sometimes the third and sixth if the chord is a simple triad or sixth chord). Guide-tone voicings have long been popular with jazz musicians, including guitarists Grant Green, Jim Hall, and pianist Red Garland. Thelonious Monk often used guide tone voicings to inform and accompany his […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guide-tone-voicings-2/feed/ 0 112179 https://acousticguitar.com/palmer-acoustic-pocket-amp/ https://acousticguitar.com/palmer-acoustic-pocket-amp/#respond Tue, 25 Jun 2019 16:15:03 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=111124   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, blend well with other musicians […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/palmer-acoustic-pocket-amp/feed/ 0 111124 https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-how-to-play-thirds-up-and-down-your-acoustic-guitar-fretboard/ https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-how-to-play-thirds-up-and-down-your-acoustic-guitar-fretboard/#respond Sun, 23 Jun 2019 18:15:33 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=98722 Lines based on thirds present great material for picking- and fretting-hand exercises, and also provide a solid foundation for melodic ideas and solos.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-how-to-play-thirds-up-and-down-your-acoustic-guitar-fretboard/feed/ 0 98722 https://acousticguitar.com/gear-review-santa-cruz-parabolic-tension-strings/ https://acousticguitar.com/gear-review-santa-cruz-parabolic-tension-strings/#respond Wed, 27 Mar 2019 23:48:16 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=110271 When it comes to strings, guitarists seem to fall into one of two categories: some obsess about gauges and materials, while others tend to put on whatever is laying around or happens to be on sale at the local guitar store.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/gear-review-santa-cruz-parabolic-tension-strings/feed/ 0 110271 https://acousticguitar.com/horizontal-approaches-single-strings-pairs-and-basslines/ https://acousticguitar.com/horizontal-approaches-single-strings-pairs-and-basslines/#respond Fri, 22 Feb 2019 19:12:58 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=110009 A great way to break out of old scale and arpeggio patterns is by tackling one string at a time]]> https://acousticguitar.com/horizontal-approaches-single-strings-pairs-and-basslines/feed/ 0 110009 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learn-a-sophisticated-arrangement-of-joy-to-the-world/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learn-a-sophisticated-arrangement-of-joy-to-the-world/#respond Fri, 19 Oct 2018 23:10:13 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=108183 In this guitar lesson, you'll learn a fingerstyle arrangement of 'Joy to the World' set in dropped-D tuning.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learn-a-sophisticated-arrangement-of-joy-to-the-world/feed/ 0 108183 https://acousticguitar.com/the-acoustic-jazz-guitarist/ https://acousticguitar.com/the-acoustic-jazz-guitarist/#respond Sun, 01 Apr 2018 17:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=129838 Delve deep into the world of jazz guitar with this book of 10 extended lessons from master guitarist Sean McGowan.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/the-acoustic-jazz-guitarist/feed/ 0 129838 https://acousticguitar.com/review-collings-julian-lage-signature-om1-jl/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-collings-julian-lage-signature-om1-jl/#respond Mon, 12 Feb 2018 17:39:58 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=105573 Throughout the history of guitar making, collaborations between luthiers and guitarists have influenced the discipline and produced spectacular instruments. A brilliant example of this practice is the new Collings Julian Lage Signature OM1 JL, based on a deep exchange of ideas between the late builder and company founder Bill Collings and contemporary guitar phenom Julian Lage.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-collings-julian-lage-signature-om1-jl/feed/ 0 105573