We’ll examine the techniques and approaches that made the acoustic guitar an essential component of the swing era, while tracing its journey through the big band era and its lasting impact on jazz.
Freddie Green is synonymous with swing guitar. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1911, Green enjoyed a 50-year career holding down the rhythm chair of Count Basie’s famed big band.
The F-6 is a reimagination of the older mando-guitar. It promises a little more room to move, as well as a comfortable playing experience, all at an affordable price.
D’Addario was the first major manufacturer to offer casein plectrums, including a heavy 2.00mm 351-shape guitar pick ($21.99 street) with a faux-tortoiseshell appearance, beveled edges, and embossing to provide grip—with prices lower than their typical boutique counterparts.
SonoTone, a small-batch guitar-string company based in Massachusetts, prides itself on design and tone, as well as the pitch accuracy of its handiwork. Developed to faithfully produce authentic vintage tones from the 1950s–’70s, SonoTone’s American-made strings are available in two types for acoustic guitarists: phosphor bronze Symphonic and Concert brass.
