Learn “In the Pines,” a Haunting Folk Song Recorded by Musicians from Lead Belly to Nirvana
The arrangement of this song, also known as "Where Did You Sleep Last Night," is inspired by Nirvana’s version.
Adam Perlmutter
Adam Perlmutter holds a bachelor of music degree from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and a master's degree in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory. He is the editor of Acoustic Guitar.
The Year in Gear 2023: Guitars, Amps, Pedals, and Accessories for a Wide Variety of Styles and Budgets
In this annual year-in-gear retrospective, we take you on a tour of the exciting new acoustic guitars and accessories introduced in 2023.
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Ralph Towner Revisits the Oregon Classic “Guitarra Picante” on Solo Guitar
Originally released in 1991 and re-released on this year's ‘At First Light,’ this challenging tune features nearly three dozen different chords.
Adam Levy Performs and Teaches “Sidewalk Chalk” | Acoustic Guitar Sessions
“Sidewalk Chalk” is a lovely waltz with a beautiful set of chord changes. It’s also quite approachable and, like so much of Levy’s work, is a joy to play.
Learn to Play Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”
Lightfoot recorded the song on a 12-string—specifically, a Gibson B-45-12—but it will work just as well on a six-string.
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Review: Tascam’s Portacapture X6 and X8 Recorders Are Ideal for Acoustic Guitar—and a Whole Lot More
Both models offer ease of use, excellent sonics, and ability to capture wide dynamic ranges
Dom Flemons Brings a Deep Knowledge of Roots Music to His Work as the American Songster
The multi-instrumentalist scholar talks about how he found his own voice through the study of old and new songs, and what makes the ideal acoustic guitar.
Julian Lage on How to Play His Position-Shifting Guitar-Bass Duet “Double Southpaw”
With its "quirky rhythmic and harmonic twists and turns," this piece moves all around the fretboard.
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Video Lesson: Learn a Fingerstyle Arrangement of “It Is Well with My Soul” in Double Dropped-D Tuning
The arrangement is fairly undemanding of both the picking and fretting hands and makes strategic use of the open strings.
Tips on Playing “Shake Sugaree,” an Elizabeth Cotten Fingerpicking Staple
Cotten plays “Shake Sugaree” on a guitar tuned down a whole step, using chord shapes in the key of C major that sound in Bb.
Julian Lage Champions the Steel-String Acoustic on His Latest Blue Note Release
Lage talks about his uncommon use of the steel-string guitar in the evolution of his ensemble, as well as collaborating with his wife, singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy
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Learn “Doc’s Guitar”—Doc Watson’s Fingerstyle Tour de Force
The brilliance of Watson’s right-hand technique can be clearly heard on this punishingly fast instrumental
Great Acoustics: Steve James’ Collings Custom C10 was His Main Steel-String Companion for 30 Years
The 1991 Collings Custom C10 (serial number 524) was James’ main flattop for three decades, and the one he considered his best.
Learn “Talco Girl,” Steve James’ Rootsy Character Study in Dropped-D Tuning
One of James' most popular tunes, “Talco Girl” is supported by a guitar accompaniment that would make a smart instrumental composition on its own.
‘Myriad Worlds’ Is a Bold Debut from Percussive Fingerstyle Guitarist and Composer Janet Noguera
Noguera's debut release showcases her effortless-sounding use of tapping and drum-like effects on her Lowden and Maton guitars.
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Learn to Play Mary Flower’s ‘Waltz,’ a Jazzy Roots Piece in Dropped D Tuning
“Most of the time I have no idea how the music comes from my fingertips while writing. It’s not like I’m going for some genre or sound. It just happens!”
Learn How to Play Joe Robinson’s Showstopping “Let the Guitar Do the Talkin’”
It’s one thing to play blazingly fast Travis picking, and quite another to sing at the same time, as Joe Robinson does.
![Cover artwork for the ablum 'Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1]](https://i0.wp.com/acousticguitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/TRAVELING-WILBURYS-VOL-1.jpg?fit=750%2C568&ssl=1)
Learn to Play “Handle With Care,” the Traveling Wilburys’ Impromptu Hit
George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan had so much fun recording this song that they ended up making a band together.
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Fanø/Black Sea Dress: Learn to Play this Pair of Miniatures from Charlie Rauh
While hybrid picking lends a certain definition and crispness, especially on the bass notes, straight fingerpicking will work equally well on the two pieces.
Sunny War’s “No Reason” Is Built from a Cool and Distinctive Riff
It has a non-Western vibe, but at the same time connects to the Travis picking tradition
Improviser Grant Gordy Thrives in the String-Band Ensemble Setting of His Latest Work
Since Grant Gordy's 2010 self-titled debut album, he has used bluegrass as a foundation while stretching out far beyond the genre’s confines to find his voice as an improviser, composer, and arranger.
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A Visit with Archtop Luthier Tim Frick
For the last decade, luthier Tim Frick has quietly been pushing the envelope on the design of the archtop guitar.
How to Play “Willin’” — Little Feat’s Trucking Anthem in Open-G Tuning
This guitar lesson is based on Little Feat’s original recording of "Willin'," a duet with George on vocals and acoustic guitar and Ry Cooder on bottleneck electric guitar.
Steve Nall Steps into a Big New Role at Collings Guitars
Steve Nall recently took over selecting tonewoods and voicing the tops and backs of all Collings acoustic guitars after working for decades with mentors Bill Collings and Bruce VanWart.
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How to Best Take Care of Your Guitars—When They’re Not in Your Hands
With a little thought into how you store and display your guitars, you can keep them in optimal shape, ready to receive your ideas when inspiration strikes.