https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Wed, 06 Nov 2024 16:48:40 +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/live-workshop-holiday-songs-for-fingerstyle-guitar-with-sean-mcgowan/ https://acousticguitar.com/live-workshop-holiday-songs-for-fingerstyle-guitar-with-sean-mcgowan/#comments Fri, 01 Nov 2024 22:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146122 In this live workshop, ‘Holiday Songs for Fingerstyle Guitar’ author Sean McGowan explores an arrangement from the book and gives an inside look into his arranging process.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/live-workshop-holiday-songs-for-fingerstyle-guitar-with-sean-mcgowan/feed/ 1 146122 https://acousticguitar.com/how-great-literature-and-simplicity-can-inspire-depth-in-your-music/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-great-literature-and-simplicity-can-inspire-depth-in-your-music/#respond Sun, 03 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142708 Poetry and literature can serve as a wellspring of inspiration for musicians and composers alike. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-great-literature-and-simplicity-can-inspire-depth-in-your-music/feed/ 0 142708 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-a-looper-on-acoustic-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-a-looper-on-acoustic-guitar/#respond Fri, 02 Jun 2023 15:16:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=125825 When used properly, a looper pedal can transform the sound of your acoustic guitar into something new and beautiful, while making your performances more dynamic.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-a-looper-on-acoustic-guitar/feed/ 0 125825 https://acousticguitar.com/for-the-sake-of-the-song-accompaniment-tips-and-techniques/ https://acousticguitar.com/for-the-sake-of-the-song-accompaniment-tips-and-techniques/#respond Fri, 21 Apr 2023 16:25:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=104522 Mark Erelli, Shawn Colvin, Anaïs Mitchell, Martin Sexton, and Anthony da Costa talk about technique for guitar accompaniment in their songs]]> https://acousticguitar.com/for-the-sake-of-the-song-accompaniment-tips-and-techniques/feed/ 0 104522 https://acousticguitar.com/7-tips-to-make-cover-songs-feel-like-your-own/ https://acousticguitar.com/7-tips-to-make-cover-songs-feel-like-your-own/#respond Sun, 12 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=135140 As a songwriter, do you stick to your guns and your own songs—or cave and just deliver the hits everyone can sing along with? There’s a healthier way to look at covers: as a creative vehicle that can actually enhance rather than compete with your songwriting. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/7-tips-to-make-cover-songs-feel-like-your-own/feed/ 0 135140 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-create-literature-inspired-narrative-compositions-for-solo-acoustic-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-create-literature-inspired-narrative-compositions-for-solo-acoustic-guitar/#respond Thu, 15 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=132748 In this lesson, guitarist-composer Charlie Rauh teaches how he used the writings of Anne Morrow Lindbergh in writing new music for solo guitar.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-create-literature-inspired-narrative-compositions-for-solo-acoustic-guitar/feed/ 0 132748 https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-building-dynamic-song-arrangements/ https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-building-dynamic-song-arrangements/#respond Sat, 12 Mar 2022 16:14:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=117797 Even if you’re accompanying a song with one guitar, you can create the same kind of journey on your instrument that a full band arrangement would.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-building-dynamic-song-arrangements/feed/ 0 117797 https://acousticguitar.com/how-three-guitar-duos-work-together-to-create-tapestries-of-sound/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-three-guitar-duos-work-together-to-create-tapestries-of-sound/#respond Mon, 23 Jul 2018 18:15:38 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=107235 From interlocking rhythms to wide, piano-like harmonies and melodic counterpoint, two guitars—skillfully and tastefully employed—can cover a tremendous amount of musical territory.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-three-guitar-duos-work-together-to-create-tapestries-of-sound/feed/ 0 107235 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-make-the-most-of-playing-with-two-guitars/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-make-the-most-of-playing-with-two-guitars/#respond Fri, 20 Jul 2018 23:13:41 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=107255 Creating a full-fledged duo sound doesn’t necessarily require playing anything tricky or fancy.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-make-the-most-of-playing-with-two-guitars/feed/ 0 107255 https://acousticguitar.com/mining-tradition-a-songwriting-tip-from-pete-seeger-via-woody-guthrie/ https://acousticguitar.com/mining-tradition-a-songwriting-tip-from-pete-seeger-via-woody-guthrie/#respond Sun, 24 Dec 2017 19:00:29 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=98302 Explore what Pete Seeger, citing Woody Guthrie, called "the genius of simplicity."]]> https://acousticguitar.com/mining-tradition-a-songwriting-tip-from-pete-seeger-via-woody-guthrie/feed/ 0 98302 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-get-more-from-your-accompaniment-by-strumming-less/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-get-more-from-your-accompaniment-by-strumming-less/#respond Fri, 01 Dec 2017 17:35:36 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=104463 Vary your fretting- and picking-hand technique to create accompaniment parts that are more dynamic, supple, and nuanced, both harmonically and rhythmically.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-get-more-from-your-accompaniment-by-strumming-less/feed/ 0 104463 https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-how-to-write-a-bridge-using-examples-from-the-pop-and-rock-canon/ https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-how-to-write-a-bridge-using-examples-from-the-pop-and-rock-canon/#comments Mon, 14 Aug 2017 01:16:59 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=102963 There’s no formula for constructing a bridge, but taking a close look inside some classic songs can help you get started.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-how-to-write-a-bridge-using-examples-from-the-pop-and-rock-canon/feed/ 7 102963 https://acousticguitar.com/the-secret-sauce-in-jj-cales-cocaine-use-the-flat-vi-chord-in-your-blues-rock-songs/ https://acousticguitar.com/the-secret-sauce-in-jj-cales-cocaine-use-the-flat-vi-chord-in-your-blues-rock-songs/#respond Sun, 05 Feb 2017 19:00:18 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=98166 The bVI chord is most often heard in edgy rock tunes. One function of the bVI is to lead to the V, before resolving to the I. You can hear this in J.J. Cale’s “Cocaine.” ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/the-secret-sauce-in-jj-cales-cocaine-use-the-flat-vi-chord-in-your-blues-rock-songs/feed/ 0 98166 https://acousticguitar.com/using-familiar-songs-as-songwriting-templates/ https://acousticguitar.com/using-familiar-songs-as-songwriting-templates/#respond Sun, 25 Dec 2016 19:00:35 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=98152 One good way to defamiliarize a familiar song is to switch the key, putting it into a different register and zone on the guitar.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/using-familiar-songs-as-songwriting-templates/feed/ 0 98152 https://acousticguitar.com/5-ways-to-transform-your-acoustic-guitar-into-your-songwriting-partner/ https://acousticguitar.com/5-ways-to-transform-your-acoustic-guitar-into-your-songwriting-partner/#respond Wed, 12 Oct 2016 18:18:04 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=98704 The guitar can do much more than accompany your voice and fill in the chords—it can spark ideas and help guide you throughout the process of developing them into complete songs]]> https://acousticguitar.com/5-ways-to-transform-your-acoustic-guitar-into-your-songwriting-partner/feed/ 0 98704 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-unlock-i-iv-v-chord-progressions/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-unlock-i-iv-v-chord-progressions/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2016 03:09:57 +0000 http://acousticguitar.stringlettermusic.com/?p=811 The chord trinity known as I–IV–V is one of the most useful theoretical concepts for any musician. The I–IV–V is a skeleton key for countless songs in folk, country, rock, blues, and beyond, revealing the basic similarities of, say, “Louie Louie,” “Ring of Fire,” “Man of Constant Sorrow,” and “I Fought the Law.”]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-unlock-i-iv-v-chord-progressions/feed/ 1 811 https://acousticguitar.com/play-like-the-allman-brothers-and-neil-young-with-flatted-iii-vi-and-vii-chords/ https://acousticguitar.com/play-like-the-allman-brothers-and-neil-young-with-flatted-iii-vi-and-vii-chords/#respond Sat, 03 May 2014 02:57:53 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=2832 If you’re working on a song that uses the I, IV, and V, try substituting the bVII for the V to give the progression a different feel.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/play-like-the-allman-brothers-and-neil-young-with-flatted-iii-vi-and-vii-chords/feed/ 0 2832