https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:33:13 +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/explore-open-d-tuning-with-mary-flowers-colorful-arrangement-of-dinks-song/ https://acousticguitar.com/explore-open-d-tuning-with-mary-flowers-colorful-arrangement-of-dinks-song/#respond Wed, 18 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146307 With its simple, movable chord shapes—many requiring just two fingers—open-D tuning adds a shimmering quality to this traditional song.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/explore-open-d-tuning-with-mary-flowers-colorful-arrangement-of-dinks-song/feed/ 0 146307 https://acousticguitar.com/getting-started-with-alternate-tunings/ https://acousticguitar.com/getting-started-with-alternate-tunings/#respond Fri, 24 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142756 It can be intimidating to change all the notes that you’ve worked so hard to learn, but the new sounds and new ideas you'll discover make it worth the effort.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/getting-started-with-alternate-tunings/feed/ 0 142756 https://acousticguitar.com/explore-double-dropped-d/ https://acousticguitar.com/explore-double-dropped-d/#respond Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141082 Lowering your first and sixth strings from E to D opens up enticing new possibilities on both the low and high ends of the guitar.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/explore-double-dropped-d/feed/ 0 141082 https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-classic-a-dadgad-arrangement-of-pink-floyds-wish-you-were-here/ https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-classic-a-dadgad-arrangement-of-pink-floyds-wish-you-were-here/#respond Sun, 04 Jun 2023 12:06:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=123673 One of the pleasures of DADGAD and other open tunings is letting open strings add lush extensions to chords, as in this arrangement of "Wish You Were Here."]]> https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-classic-a-dadgad-arrangement-of-pink-floyds-wish-you-were-here/feed/ 0 123673 https://acousticguitar.com/woodshed-how-to-play-a-dropped-d-gospel-theme-as-recorded-by-bahamian-guitar-legend-joseph-spence/ https://acousticguitar.com/woodshed-how-to-play-a-dropped-d-gospel-theme-as-recorded-by-bahamian-guitar-legend-joseph-spence/#respond Fri, 12 May 2023 15:27:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=120066 Listen to any Joseph Spence song and you’ll find unexpected nuance and detail, no matter how many times you have heard it. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/woodshed-how-to-play-a-dropped-d-gospel-theme-as-recorded-by-bahamian-guitar-legend-joseph-spence/feed/ 0 120066 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-play-in-dropped-d-tuning/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-play-in-dropped-d-tuning/#respond Fri, 05 May 2023 18:08:00 +0000 http://acousticguitar.stringlettermusic.com/?p=1511 Once you’ve arrived at dropped-D tuning, indulge yourself with the huge D chord you now have at your disposal. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-play-in-dropped-d-tuning/feed/ 0 1511 https://acousticguitar.com/dans-kef-learn-to-play-a-mysterious-celtic-arrangement-for-solo-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/dans-kef-learn-to-play-a-mysterious-celtic-arrangement-for-solo-guitar/#respond Tue, 02 May 2023 14:04:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=120041 “Dans Kef” is in a sort of modified Orkney tuning I call Celto-Hawaiian, because it can sound like it’s from the islands. The tune is in fact a good case study in how to build your own Celtic arrangement.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/dans-kef-learn-to-play-a-mysterious-celtic-arrangement-for-solo-guitar/feed/ 0 120041 https://acousticguitar.com/which-alternate-tunings-are-most-commonly-used-in-blues/ https://acousticguitar.com/which-alternate-tunings-are-most-commonly-used-in-blues/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=116818 The two principal open tunings used in blues guitar playing have old, vernacular American names: Vastopol and Spanish.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/which-alternate-tunings-are-most-commonly-used-in-blues/feed/ 1 116818 https://acousticguitar.com/ease-into-alternate-tuning-with-this-open-d-minor-blues-guitar-lesson/ https://acousticguitar.com/ease-into-alternate-tuning-with-this-open-d-minor-blues-guitar-lesson/#comments Wed, 06 Apr 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=129181 In this guitar lesson, get a taste of open tunings by lowering your strings to open D minor, then playing a handful of chord shapes and applying them to a bluesy etude. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/ease-into-alternate-tuning-with-this-open-d-minor-blues-guitar-lesson/feed/ 1 129181 https://acousticguitar.com/add-some-color-with-open-g-tuning-dropped-d-and-other-easy-alternate-guitar-tunings/ https://acousticguitar.com/add-some-color-with-open-g-tuning-dropped-d-and-other-easy-alternate-guitar-tunings/#respond Fri, 18 Mar 2022 15:31:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=121649 Alternate tunings on guitar can open the door to new sounds, generate complex chords with easy fingerings, and extend the range of the instrument]]> https://acousticguitar.com/add-some-color-with-open-g-tuning-dropped-d-and-other-easy-alternate-guitar-tunings/feed/ 0 121649 https://acousticguitar.com/try-this-odd-tuning-to-learn-gorgeous-new-chord-voicings/ https://acousticguitar.com/try-this-odd-tuning-to-learn-gorgeous-new-chord-voicings/#respond Fri, 11 Mar 2022 16:30:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=118748 Let your ears guide you and you’ll find that alternate tunings will allow you to create chord voicings that are impossible in standard tuning.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/try-this-odd-tuning-to-learn-gorgeous-new-chord-voicings/feed/ 0 118748 https://acousticguitar.com/dadgad-guitar-essentials-acoustic-guitar-plus/ https://acousticguitar.com/dadgad-guitar-essentials-acoustic-guitar-plus/#respond Sat, 01 Jan 2022 19:25:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=129684 This is the perfect guide for getting to know DADGAD, whether you're just starting out in alternate tunings or have a bit of experience under your fingers.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/dadgad-guitar-essentials-acoustic-guitar-plus/feed/ 0 129684 https://acousticguitar.com/open-tuning-lesson-how-to-play-the-blues-in-dadgad/ https://acousticguitar.com/open-tuning-lesson-how-to-play-the-blues-in-dadgad/#respond Fri, 26 Nov 2021 16:11:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=123682 As you play through these examples, you’ll get a good sense of the abundance of bluesy possibilities inherent in this tuning.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/open-tuning-lesson-how-to-play-the-blues-in-dadgad/feed/ 0 123682 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-exploring-dropped-d-fingerpicking/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-exploring-dropped-d-fingerpicking/#respond Sun, 14 Mar 2021 13:04:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=107950 Fingerpicking and dropped-D tuning fit together like hand and glove. For evidence, just consider the long list of fingerpicking classics played in dropped D, which includes Jorma Kaukonen’s “Embryonic Journey,” Pete Seeger’s “Living in the Country,” the Beatles’ “Dear Prudence,” Bert Jansch’s “Black Water Side,” Bruce Cockburn’s “Wondering Where the Lions Are,” Ed Gerhard’s “The […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-exploring-dropped-d-fingerpicking/feed/ 0 107950 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-four-classical-and-traditional-songs-in-open-tunings/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-four-classical-and-traditional-songs-in-open-tunings/#respond Wed, 03 Feb 2021 20:21:52 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=122027 These approachable pieces will be great additions to your fingerstyle repertoire.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-four-classical-and-traditional-songs-in-open-tunings/feed/ 0 122027 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-j-s-bachs-minuet-in-d-minor-in-dadgad-tuning/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-j-s-bachs-minuet-in-d-minor-in-dadgad-tuning/#respond Fri, 24 Jul 2020 14:00:54 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=118808 Here's a fun introduction to Bach’s works that’s playable without much classical training—and enjoyable to listen to]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-j-s-bachs-minuet-in-d-minor-in-dadgad-tuning/feed/ 0 118808 https://acousticguitar.com/laurence-juber-dadgad-lesson/ https://acousticguitar.com/laurence-juber-dadgad-lesson/#respond Sun, 01 Sep 2019 09:43:34 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=107685 Juber is one of the world’s most celebrated fingerstyle guitarists, a two-time Grammy winner, who, over the course of more than two-dozen solo albums, has developed a distinct personal voice on the steel-string acoustic.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/laurence-juber-dadgad-lesson/feed/ 0 107685 https://acousticguitar.com/word-premiere-tackling-kinloch-nelsons-solitudes/ https://acousticguitar.com/word-premiere-tackling-kinloch-nelsons-solitudes/#respond Fri, 19 Jul 2019 19:43:45 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=111824 You won’t be able to play this piece effectively unless you approach it with a meditative spirit and, most important, a delicate touch. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/word-premiere-tackling-kinloch-nelsons-solitudes/feed/ 0 111824 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-go-from-standard-to-open-g-tuning/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-go-from-standard-to-open-g-tuning/#respond Sun, 07 Jul 2019 16:28:40 +0000 http://acousticguitar.stringlettermusic.com/?p=1457 Here's how to get into open G tuning on guitar and then play a basic I, IV, V chord progression using the open G chord.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-go-from-standard-to-open-g-tuning/feed/ 0 1457 https://acousticguitar.com/copelands-fancy-a-spirited-guitar-original-with-deep-country-blues-roots/ https://acousticguitar.com/copelands-fancy-a-spirited-guitar-original-with-deep-country-blues-roots/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2019 23:04:21 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=110300 The sound of Leonard Copeland’s guitar has remained iconic, and this piece by Steve James reflects that.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/copelands-fancy-a-spirited-guitar-original-with-deep-country-blues-roots/feed/ 0 110300 https://acousticguitar.com/spanish-fandango-learn-a-19th-century-acoustic-classic-in-open-g-tuning/ https://acousticguitar.com/spanish-fandango-learn-a-19th-century-acoustic-classic-in-open-g-tuning/#respond Thu, 18 Oct 2018 22:54:45 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=108252 Henry Worrall scored his biggest hit with this tune, a bright melody in triple meter, played in open-G tuning.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/spanish-fandango-learn-a-19th-century-acoustic-classic-in-open-g-tuning/feed/ 0 108252 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-nathan-salsburgs-b-b/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-nathan-salsburgs-b-b/#respond Mon, 17 Sep 2018 23:04:14 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=108081 Having accidentally overindulged on a giant bowl of rice and beans, Nathan Salsburg sat down uncomfortably with his guitar one night and got to work. Despite his dyspepsia, a new composition soon announced itself: “Bean Bloat.” By the time Salsburg recorded the tune for his most recent album, Third, he hadn’t found a name he […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-nathan-salsburgs-b-b/feed/ 0 108081 https://acousticguitar.com/laurence-juber-performs-the-beatles-day-tripper/ https://acousticguitar.com/laurence-juber-performs-the-beatles-day-tripper/#respond Thu, 16 Aug 2018 18:27:50 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=107735 Though Juber plays the original guitar riff with a bit more finesse than the Beatles did, he maintains the proper spirit and unrelenting groove.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/laurence-juber-performs-the-beatles-day-tripper/feed/ 0 107735 https://acousticguitar.com/midsummer-moon-watch-al-petteway-perform-an-atmospheric-open-c-instrumental/ https://acousticguitar.com/midsummer-moon-watch-al-petteway-perform-an-atmospheric-open-c-instrumental/#respond Thu, 22 Mar 2018 17:32:14 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=106131 Some 20 years ago, Al Petteway tuned his guitar to an open Csus2 chord—low to high, C G C G C D—and started exploring this rich alternate tuning.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/midsummer-moon-watch-al-petteway-perform-an-atmospheric-open-c-instrumental/feed/ 0 106131 https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-classic-george-harrisons-within-you-without-you-arranged-for-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-classic-george-harrisons-within-you-without-you-arranged-for-guitar/#respond Fri, 22 Dec 2017 20:27:43 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=105110 Like the Indian traditions it’s based on, “Within You Without You” has no chord changes—the melody unfolds over a drone.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-classic-george-harrisons-within-you-without-you-arranged-for-guitar/feed/ 0 105110