Video Lesson: Inside Nick Drake’s Idiosyncratic Guitar Style
Unorthodox tunings made it possible for Nick Drake to create complex harmonies from one- and two-fingered chord shapes, freeing him to concentrate on his highly detailed picking patterns.
These articles originally appeared in the March-April 2019 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine.
Weekly Workout: How to Use Harmonics to Add Texture to Your Playing
Learn how each type of harmonic—natural, harp, percussive, and pinch—is produced and how it can be used to add textural interest to your guitar playing.
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Great Acoustics: Guild M-20; the ‘Nick Drake Guitar’— or Not?
After Nick Drake appeared seated with a Guild M-20 on the cover of 'Bryter Layter,' the instrument became closely associated with the singer-songwriter.
Guitar Talk: Eric Skye on Intentional Limitations and the Blues
Skye is among a handful of artists to have been honored with a Santa Cruz Guitar Company signature model. Since its introduction in 2011, he has used the guitar exclusively when straddling the worlds of fingerpicking and flatpicking—in traditional acoustic and more adventurous jazz contexts—which he does with apparent effortlessness.
How to Promote Your Music
It’s easier than ever to put your music out into the world... but building a career is still work, just as it has always been.
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Southern Journeys: Alan Lomax’s Steel-String Discoveries
Folklorist Alan Lomax is primarily recognized, when at all, by the instrumental role he played in launching the careers of some America’s—and the world’s—most beloved guitarist-singers. Indeed, it’s difficult to overestimate the role that he and his father, John A. Lomax, played in shaping musical history as they traveled the back roads of the southern United States collecting traditional music under the auspices of the Library of Congress.
‘Landslide’: A Fleetwood Mac Classic, Distilled to Its Essence
“Landslide,” with its gently rolling arpeggios and moderate clip, has earned its status as one of the great ballads in the rock canon.
Home Recording for Acoustic Guitar: The Best Ways to Capture Your Music
Here are some tools and techniques for home recording to make your acoustic guitar sound great.
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Campfire Songs: Strum “Home on the Range” with 5 Easy Chords
Few songs are as evocative of the ideal of the American West as this old ode to frontier life
World Premiere: Learn to Play Buck Curran’s ‘Song for Liam’
To transfer “Song for Liam” from his mind to the guitar—namely, a Yamaha F310, a modest instrument whose heavy overtone content appeals to him—Curran chose DADGAD tuning, with a capo at the third fret, exploiting the open strings for both melodic and textural effect.
Gear Review: Collings C100
When you think of the Collings guitar company, one of the things that stands out is nonpareil workmanship. The new C100 is certainly no exception. Although it’s not a fancy guitar by any means, everything about it shouts “quality.” The mahogany back, sides, and neck and Sitka spruce top are…
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Gear Review: CEntrance MixerFace R4 Mobile Recording Interface
It's a truly mobile recording interface and mixer, steps beyond what’s typically available for mobile phone and tablet recording.
Gear Review: CloudVocal iSolo Choice Wireless Microphone System
The CloudVocal iSolo Choice is a wireless condenser microphone specifically designed to capture the full dynamics and tone of an acoustic guitar, attach and detach easily from your instrument, and free you from dangling wires.
Gear Review: Taylor Grand Pacific 717 and 517e Builder’s Editions
Both guitars will surprise longtime Taylor players, who’ll certainly recognize the premium build quality, firm intonation, and note integrity on the Grand Pacific.
Learn to Play ‘The Choice Wife’: A Celtic Classic by Any Name
This arrangement makes an excellent introduction to fingerstyle Celtic guitar—and a sweet selection to add to your repertoire.
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Video Lesson: Chord-Building Basics
The guitar is a wonderfully flexible instrument that allows for full, rich harmonies with easy fingerings. Yet so many guitarists stop there.