https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Wed, 16 Oct 2024 21:11:42 +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/learn-to-comp-like-jazz-legend-freddie-green/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-comp-like-jazz-legend-freddie-green/#respond Sun, 20 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=145776 Green’s rhythm style—quarter-note strums in 4/4 time (aka “four to the floor”)—seems simple enough. But it’s rarely mastered.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-comp-like-jazz-legend-freddie-green/feed/ 0 145776 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-add-jazz-flavors-to-the-12-bar-blues-form/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-add-jazz-flavors-to-the-12-bar-blues-form/#comments Tue, 02 Jul 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=144751 In this lesson, we’ll explore how you can spice up your blues with a range of jazz ingredients, starting simply and then progressing to more advanced concepts.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-add-jazz-flavors-to-the-12-bar-blues-form/feed/ 1 144751 https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-building-colorful-chords-from-the-harmonic-and-melodic-minor-scales/ https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-building-colorful-chords-from-the-harmonic-and-melodic-minor-scales/#respond Fri, 17 Feb 2023 16:13:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=121903 In this advanced guitar lesson, meet the melodic and harmonic minor scales and then explore the harmonies that can be generated from them. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-building-colorful-chords-from-the-harmonic-and-melodic-minor-scales/feed/ 0 121903 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-strengthen-your-picking-skills-through-efficient-patterns/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-strengthen-your-picking-skills-through-efficient-patterns/#respond Fri, 28 Oct 2022 16:19:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=127044 In this guitar lesson you'll learn economy picking, which includes alternate and sweep picking styles, as well as legato techniques for your fretting fingers.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-strengthen-your-picking-skills-through-efficient-patterns/feed/ 0 127044 https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-add-jazzy-walking-bass-lines-to-your-accompaniments/ https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-add-jazzy-walking-bass-lines-to-your-accompaniments/#respond Fri, 10 Jun 2022 15:50:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=118761 Learn how to play walking bass lines with chords—a cool approach to have up your sleeve, no matter what style you play.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-add-jazzy-walking-bass-lines-to-your-accompaniments/feed/ 0 118761 https://acousticguitar.com/picking-approaches-guaranteed-to-add-excitement-to-your-single-note-lines/ https://acousticguitar.com/picking-approaches-guaranteed-to-add-excitement-to-your-single-note-lines/#respond Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:08:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=120999 This technique involves using a plectrum to play a series of single notes on adjacent strings in a consecutive motion, resulting in a fast, fluid sound. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/picking-approaches-guaranteed-to-add-excitement-to-your-single-note-lines/feed/ 0 120999 https://acousticguitar.com/gear-review-yamaha-cg-ta-transacoustic/ https://acousticguitar.com/gear-review-yamaha-cg-ta-transacoustic/#respond Wed, 18 Dec 2019 21:00:41 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=113164 Yamaha's CG-TA TransAcoustic guitar is the company's first nylon-stringed model in its popular TransAcoustic lineup of guitars, which include built-in effects.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/gear-review-yamaha-cg-ta-transacoustic/feed/ 0 113164 https://acousticguitar.com/woodshed-learn-a-jazz-meets-punk-version-of-when-johnny-comes-marching-home/ https://acousticguitar.com/woodshed-learn-a-jazz-meets-punk-version-of-when-johnny-comes-marching-home/#respond Fri, 14 Dec 2018 17:47:20 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=109140 This arrangement is in the guitar-friendly key of E minor and includes a steady eighth-note bass line that nods to the Clash version.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/woodshed-learn-a-jazz-meets-punk-version-of-when-johnny-comes-marching-home/feed/ 0 109140 https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-get-to-know-your-fretboard/ https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-get-to-know-your-fretboard/#respond Tue, 13 Mar 2018 17:12:22 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=105906 If you'd like to strengthen your knowledge of the fretboard, try viewing it through a handful of different perspectives.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-get-to-know-your-fretboard/feed/ 0 105906 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-use-the-whole-tone-scale/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-use-the-whole-tone-scale/#respond Wed, 18 Oct 2017 20:18:15 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=104119 The scale is known for its ambiguous, dreamlike quality and has been used to great effect by composers such as Claude Debussy and jazz musicians like Thelonious Monk.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-use-the-whole-tone-scale/feed/ 0 104119 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-spin-endless-variations-on-a-simple-tune/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-spin-endless-variations-on-a-simple-tune/#respond Mon, 21 Aug 2017 23:53:29 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=103500 By taking a basic melody and changing the rhythms, pitches, and articulations, you can make some hip variations.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-spin-endless-variations-on-a-simple-tune/feed/ 0 103500 https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-an-intro-to-jazz-for-all-guitarists/ https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-an-intro-to-jazz-for-all-guitarists/#respond Sat, 15 Jul 2017 19:51:07 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=103113 Jazz is actually comprised of lots of little bits of language that, when strung together in different ways, sound as if they’re spontaneously composed.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-an-intro-to-jazz-for-all-guitarists/feed/ 0 103113 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-4-ways-to-improve-your-sightreading/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-4-ways-to-improve-your-sightreading/#respond Mon, 06 Feb 2017 18:57:07 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=101176 Playing by ear is a great skill to have, but being able to read music is an asset that will take you to the next level as a guitarist.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-4-ways-to-improve-your-sightreading/feed/ 0 101176 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learn-to-play-guitar-chord-melodies-like-chet-atkins-or-earl-klugh/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learn-to-play-guitar-chord-melodies-like-chet-atkins-or-earl-klugh/#respond Wed, 17 Aug 2016 17:38:35 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=88694 Learning to play chord-melody style—that is, expressing melodies in chords rather than single notes—is a formidable and valuable skill.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learn-to-play-guitar-chord-melodies-like-chet-atkins-or-earl-klugh/feed/ 0 88694 https://acousticguitar.com/the-basics-four-ways-to-silence-your-strings/ https://acousticguitar.com/the-basics-four-ways-to-silence-your-strings/#respond Mon, 18 Jul 2016 13:00:01 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=73258 Explore four solutions and subtle technique adjustments to deal with unwanted, distracting string noise when you play guitar.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/the-basics-four-ways-to-silence-your-strings/feed/ 0 73258 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-spice-up-your-guitar-playing-with-jazz-style-harmonic-flavors/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-spice-up-your-guitar-playing-with-jazz-style-harmonic-flavors/#respond Sun, 17 Jul 2016 13:00:26 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=73264 The concepts taught in this Weekly Workout will help you play with new depth and excitement.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-spice-up-your-guitar-playing-with-jazz-style-harmonic-flavors/feed/ 0 73264 https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-how-to-pick-like-jazz-great-george-benson/ https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-how-to-pick-like-jazz-great-george-benson/#respond Thu, 16 Jun 2016 18:30:30 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=61190 Learn the secrets behind George Benson's special way way with the plectrum to improve your own picking technique.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-how-to-pick-like-jazz-great-george-benson/feed/ 0 61190 https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-tone-is-in-the-hands-and-heres-how-to-find-it/ https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-tone-is-in-the-hands-and-heres-how-to-find-it/#respond Tue, 24 May 2016 23:05:20 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=52358 Whatever style you prefer—and regardless of whether you’re more of a soloist or accompanist—you should learn how to get these techniques under your fingers.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-tone-is-in-the-hands-and-heres-how-to-find-it/feed/ 0 52358 https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-basics-how-to-play-funk-unplugged/ https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-basics-how-to-play-funk-unplugged/#comments Thu, 11 Feb 2016 00:23:03 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=13694 Funk guitar might be most commonly associated with scratchy electric rhythms, but the acoustic guitar lends itself just as well to these cool percussive sounds.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-basics-how-to-play-funk-unplugged/feed/ 1 13694 https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-how-to-build-speed-flexibility/ https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-how-to-build-speed-flexibility/#respond Wed, 10 Feb 2016 23:44:19 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=13713 Whatever your style, if you work on these etudes diligently, you’ll develop speed, finger independence, and flexibility.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-how-to-build-speed-flexibility/feed/ 0 13713