https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Mon, 25 Nov 2024 19:40:49 +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/guitar-basics-how-to-connect-chords-with-bass-runs/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-connect-chords-with-bass-runs/#respond Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146316 We’ll start off with a series of examples that use a bass run to connect two chords, and then we’ll try out bass runs in a few classic progressions.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-connect-chords-with-bass-runs/feed/ 0 146316 https://acousticguitar.com/add-a-blues-flavor-to-your-rhythm-with-simple-chord-embellishments/ https://acousticguitar.com/add-a-blues-flavor-to-your-rhythm-with-simple-chord-embellishments/#respond Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=145783 In this lesson we’ll work with some "blue" notes that you can use to add bluesy colors to open chord shapes. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/add-a-blues-flavor-to-your-rhythm-with-simple-chord-embellishments/feed/ 0 145783 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-use-sus-and-add-embellishments-with-open-chord-shapes/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-use-sus-and-add-embellishments-with-open-chord-shapes/#respond Sun, 04 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=145271 Sus and add chord voicings are used all the time to add variety to rhythm patterns and create riffs.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-use-sus-and-add-embellishments-with-open-chord-shapes/feed/ 0 145271 https://acousticguitar.com/decorating-open-chords-with-hammer-ons-and-pull-offs/ https://acousticguitar.com/decorating-open-chords-with-hammer-ons-and-pull-offs/#respond Sun, 23 Jun 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=144766 This basic lesson focuses on using hammer-ons and pull-offs with open chords—creating classic sounds heard throughout roots, country, and rock guitar styles.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/decorating-open-chords-with-hammer-ons-and-pull-offs/feed/ 0 144766 https://acousticguitar.com/reading-rhythms-will-improve-your-guitar-accompaniment-chops/ https://acousticguitar.com/reading-rhythms-will-improve-your-guitar-accompaniment-chops/#comments Fri, 24 May 2024 14:26:23 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143911 Practicing rhythmic fundamentals can show immediate results and also gives you a structure to internalize new rhythmic patterns.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/reading-rhythms-will-improve-your-guitar-accompaniment-chops/feed/ 1 143911 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/take-your-sight-reading-to-the-next-level-with-duets-in-higher-positions/ https://acousticguitar.com/take-your-sight-reading-to-the-next-level-with-duets-in-higher-positions/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143520 In this final installment of our three-part lesson on developing sight-reading skills, we'll move up the neck and try out some new rhythms and harmonies]]> https://acousticguitar.com/take-your-sight-reading-to-the-next-level-with-duets-in-higher-positions/feed/ 0 143520 https://acousticguitar.com/level-up-your-lead-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/level-up-your-lead-guitar/#comments Fri, 15 Mar 2024 04:52:52 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143212 Make your riffs and solos more musical, memorable, and fun to play! This course is free for you thanks to sponsorship from Elixir® Strings.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/level-up-your-lead-guitar/feed/ 11 143212 https://acousticguitar.com/getting-started-with-classical-guitar-tremolo-picking/ https://acousticguitar.com/getting-started-with-classical-guitar-tremolo-picking/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141878 Though commonly associated with classical guitar, tremolo technique can be used on steel-string acoustic or even electric guitar to give the impression of a sustained voice. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/getting-started-with-classical-guitar-tremolo-picking/feed/ 0 141878 https://acousticguitar.com/visualize-and-connect-chord-shapes-all-around-the-neck-for-melodic-improvisation/ https://acousticguitar.com/visualize-and-connect-chord-shapes-all-around-the-neck-for-melodic-improvisation/#comments Fri, 08 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141107 Being able to visualize chords all over the neck as they happen is a great foundation for building melodic lines.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/visualize-and-connect-chord-shapes-all-around-the-neck-for-melodic-improvisation/feed/ 2 141107 https://acousticguitar.com/try-these-5-simple-steps-to-sing-and-play-guitar-at-the-same-time/ https://acousticguitar.com/try-these-5-simple-steps-to-sing-and-play-guitar-at-the-same-time/#respond Thu, 31 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141139 Learning to sing and play at once can seem daunting, but the simple steps outlined in this lesson can make the process much more enjoyable.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/try-these-5-simple-steps-to-sing-and-play-guitar-at-the-same-time/feed/ 0 141139 https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-basics-a-gentle-introduction-to-barre-chords/ https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-basics-a-gentle-introduction-to-barre-chords/#comments Thu, 24 Aug 2023 00:19:20 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141117 In this lesson you’ll learn a handful of essential barre chord shapes and use them to play the swing favorite “After You’ve Gone.”]]> https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-basics-a-gentle-introduction-to-barre-chords/feed/ 3 141117 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-these-essential-americana-accompaniment-patterns-in-d-major/ Wed, 12 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=139302 Make your I-IV-V boom-chuck accompaniments in D sound more interesting by adding some variety to your bass lines.]]> 139302 https://acousticguitar.com/add-bass-lines-to-boom-chuck-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/add-bass-lines-to-boom-chuck-guitar/#respond Wed, 08 Mar 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=135135 Learn how to use different kinds of bass lines to add variety to boom-chuck accompaniment in the keys of E and A major.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/add-bass-lines-to-boom-chuck-guitar/feed/ 0 135135 https://acousticguitar.com/lessons-how-to-use-a-capo/ https://acousticguitar.com/lessons-how-to-use-a-capo/#respond Thu, 02 Mar 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=110465 The capo is a small but powerful tool for guitarists that raises the notes of the open strings but retains the individual relationships between strings. Here's how to use one.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/lessons-how-to-use-a-capo/feed/ 0 110465 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-boomchuck/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-boomchuck/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=134219 In this guitar lesson we will break down the classic boom-chuck pattern heard throughout American roots music and begin to use it on songs. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-boomchuck/feed/ 1 134219 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-add-variety-to-basic-guitar-strumming-patterns-and-use-them-when-playing-songs/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-add-variety-to-basic-guitar-strumming-patterns-and-use-them-when-playing-songs/#respond Wed, 02 Nov 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=133536 Here are some patterns you can practice on their own and then use in traditional songs]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-add-variety-to-basic-guitar-strumming-patterns-and-use-them-when-playing-songs/feed/ 0 133536 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/guitar-basics-3-simple-tips-to-get-better-at-strumming/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-3-simple-tips-to-get-better-at-strumming/#respond Wed, 24 Aug 2022 15:15:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=132756 Learn to get comfortable holding a pick, then try some common strums of increasing complexity]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-3-simple-tips-to-get-better-at-strumming/feed/ 0 132756 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-sing-and-play-guitar-at-the-same-time/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-sing-and-play-guitar-at-the-same-time/#respond Wed, 22 Jun 2022 05:20:27 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=119115 In this lesson you'll learn how to sing and play a whole song with any set of strum patterns you like. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-sing-and-play-guitar-at-the-same-time/feed/ 0 119115 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-play-rock-solid-rhythm-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-play-rock-solid-rhythm-guitar/#respond Tue, 17 May 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=127841 In this guitar lesson you will focus on tightening up your timing on rhythm guitar using a variety of different strumming rhythms.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-play-rock-solid-rhythm-guitar/feed/ 0 127841 https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-5-steps-to-improving-your-acoustic-rock-arpeggio-technique/ https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-5-steps-to-improving-your-acoustic-rock-arpeggio-technique/#comments Fri, 11 Feb 2022 15:50:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=99222 This acoustic guitar lesson on fingerpicking arpeggios will benefit your rhythm and lead playing as well as your compositional ability and overall musicianship]]> https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-5-steps-to-improving-your-acoustic-rock-arpeggio-technique/feed/ 1 99222 https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-basics-how-to-train-your-fretting-fingers-for-maximum-efficiency-and-musicality/ https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-basics-how-to-train-your-fretting-fingers-for-maximum-efficiency-and-musicality/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2020 00:08:39 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=120071 Learn to use your fretting hand with maximum efficiency by understanding how that hand works mechanically and how it should interact with the fingerboard. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-basics-how-to-train-your-fretting-fingers-for-maximum-efficiency-and-musicality/feed/ 1 120071 https://acousticguitar.com/the-basics-start-playing-arpeggios-in-any-style/ https://acousticguitar.com/the-basics-start-playing-arpeggios-in-any-style/#respond Fri, 24 Jul 2020 14:02:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=118753 Start with chord shapes you already know. Learn a handful of fingerstyle picking patterns and then begin incorporating arpeggios into your vocabulary.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/the-basics-start-playing-arpeggios-in-any-style/feed/ 0 118753 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-6-steps-to-rock-solid-rhythm/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-6-steps-to-rock-solid-rhythm/#respond Sun, 28 Jun 2020 15:46:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=102599 THE PROBLEMYou’re dissatisfied with your rhythm playing. THE SOLUTIONSummarize the range of sounds you can get from your right hand—basically discuss the problem and emphasize that there are ways to fix it. Then break those problems down in a list (with music examples) of specificexercises or techniques that you can add to your arsenal. While these […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-6-steps-to-rock-solid-rhythm/feed/ 0 102599