https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:41:28 +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/review-robbie-bashos-lost-live-recordings-unearth-a-sonic-treasure-trove/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-robbie-bashos-lost-live-recordings-unearth-a-sonic-treasure-trove/#comments Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146544 The five-CD box set 'Snow Beneath the Belly of a White Swan' reveals the depth of Basho’s live genius, showcasing the American primitive pioneer’s eclectic influences and transcendent performances.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-robbie-bashos-lost-live-recordings-unearth-a-sonic-treasure-trove/feed/ 2 146544 https://acousticguitar.com/charlie-musselwhite-finds-inspiration-by-going-home-on-mississippi-son/ https://acousticguitar.com/charlie-musselwhite-finds-inspiration-by-going-home-on-mississippi-son/#respond Tue, 16 Aug 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=131889 The mood on Charlie Musselwhite's Mississippi Son is laid-back, as the guitarist delivers fingerpicked country blues on both acoustic and electric guitars.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/charlie-musselwhite-finds-inspiration-by-going-home-on-mississippi-son/feed/ 0 131889 https://acousticguitar.com/tips-on-tone-john-leventhal-al-petteway-darrell-scott-12-more-pros-talk-acoustic-alchemy/ https://acousticguitar.com/tips-on-tone-john-leventhal-al-petteway-darrell-scott-12-more-pros-talk-acoustic-alchemy/#respond Thu, 09 Jun 2022 15:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=99579 “What is good tone? That’s a very good question, but difficult to answer succinctly,” says songwriter and record producer John Leventhal, known for his work with Rosanne Cash, William Bell, and other top artists. “It’s heartfelt and musical. It’s generally a fat tone, I don’t like thin tone. When it comes to acoustic guitar, I’m […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/tips-on-tone-john-leventhal-al-petteway-darrell-scott-12-more-pros-talk-acoustic-alchemy/feed/ 0 99579 https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-hank-williams-other-martin-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-hank-williams-other-martin-guitar/#respond Fri, 20 May 2022 19:02:22 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=132214 This Martin D-18 had a homecoming in 2009, but not before helping launch a country legend.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-hank-williams-other-martin-guitar/feed/ 0 132214 https://acousticguitar.com/george-harrisons-all-things-must-pass-deluxe-50th-anniversary-edition-is-a-solid-remix-plus-acoustic-demos/ https://acousticguitar.com/george-harrisons-all-things-must-pass-deluxe-50th-anniversary-edition-is-a-solid-remix-plus-acoustic-demos/#respond Tue, 11 Jan 2022 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=126963 This remastered, super deluxe 50th anniversary edition of George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" tamps down Phil Spector’s dense, reverb-heavy wall of sound.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/george-harrisons-all-things-must-pass-deluxe-50th-anniversary-edition-is-a-solid-remix-plus-acoustic-demos/feed/ 0 126963 https://acousticguitar.com/5-minute-lesson-practice-warm-up-tips-by-julian-lage/ https://acousticguitar.com/5-minute-lesson-practice-warm-up-tips-by-julian-lage/#respond Sat, 01 Jan 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=31177 In this 5-Minute lesson, guitarist Julian Lage explains the benefits of practicing quietly on the acoustic guitar.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/5-minute-lesson-practice-warm-up-tips-by-julian-lage/feed/ 0 31177 https://acousticguitar.com/encore-unheard-recordings-of-bahamian-guitar-and-singing-is-full-of-unreleased-treasures-from-idiosyncratic-folkie-joseph-spence/ https://acousticguitar.com/encore-unheard-recordings-of-bahamian-guitar-and-singing-is-full-of-unreleased-treasures-from-idiosyncratic-folkie-joseph-spence/#respond Sun, 21 Nov 2021 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=125726 "Encore: Unheard Recordings of Bahamian Guitar and Singing" is the latest archival release of music by Joseph Spence—the late Bahamian folk guitarist.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/encore-unheard-recordings-of-bahamian-guitar-and-singing-is-full-of-unreleased-treasures-from-idiosyncratic-folkie-joseph-spence/feed/ 0 125726 https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-jesse-colin-youngs-solo-acoustic-highway-troubadour/ https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-jesse-colin-youngs-solo-acoustic-highway-troubadour/#respond Thu, 01 Apr 2021 00:40:48 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=121749 Stripped-down classics were recorded with no overdubs.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-jesse-colin-youngs-solo-acoustic-highway-troubadour/feed/ 0 121749 https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-the-queen-of-folk-music-new-biography-spotlights-singer-guitarist-actor-and-activist-odetta/ https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-the-queen-of-folk-music-new-biography-spotlights-singer-guitarist-actor-and-activist-odetta/#respond Mon, 06 Jul 2020 17:52:55 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=117885 Ian Zack’s ‘Odetta: A Life in Music and Protest’ is an authoritative biography of this cultural icon.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-the-queen-of-folk-music-new-biography-spotlights-singer-guitarist-actor-and-activist-odetta/feed/ 0 117885 https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-james-taylor-takes-a-nostalgic-turn-with-american-standard/ https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-james-taylor-takes-a-nostalgic-turn-with-american-standard/#respond Mon, 15 Jun 2020 17:46:17 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=117858 In turbulent times, the mellow tones of James Taylor are a soothing balm. On American Standard, the popular singer, songwriter, and guitarist teams up with ace jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli to explore the Great American Songbook, including the rich repertoire found in such vintage musical theater hits as the Broadway blockbusters Oklahoma and Show Boat, […]]]> https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-james-taylor-takes-a-nostalgic-turn-with-american-standard/feed/ 0 117858 https://acousticguitar.com/small-town-talk-explores-the-lives-of-woodstocks-famous-inhabitants/ https://acousticguitar.com/small-town-talk-explores-the-lives-of-woodstocks-famous-inhabitants/#respond Sat, 28 Mar 2020 07:15:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=115665 In 1969, the forested artist community of Woodstock, in upstate New York, contributed its name to a nearby music festival that many regard as the apex of the 1960s counterculture.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/small-town-talk-explores-the-lives-of-woodstocks-famous-inhabitants/feed/ 0 115665 https://acousticguitar.com/7-essential-books-for-fans-of-delta-blues/ https://acousticguitar.com/7-essential-books-for-fans-of-delta-blues/#respond Sat, 29 Feb 2020 00:20:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=115377 If you're a fan of Delta blues, get your mojo working with these 7 essential Delta books.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/7-essential-books-for-fans-of-delta-blues/feed/ 0 115377 https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-hot-club-of-cowtowns-wild-kingdom-goes-beyond-django-wills/ https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-hot-club-of-cowtowns-wild-kingdom-goes-beyond-django-wills/#respond Tue, 07 Jan 2020 01:21:31 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=113224 To say Hot Club of Cowtown—guitarist Whit Smith, fiddler and vocalist Elana James, and upright bassist Jake Erwin—explores the past on their new album, Wild Kingdom (Gold Strike) is an understatement: one of the CD’s 11 originals, “Caveman,” imagines a prehistoric character who becomes famous for his cave paintings. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-hot-club-of-cowtowns-wild-kingdom-goes-beyond-django-wills/feed/ 0 113224 https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-sessions-presents-jonathan-butler/ https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-sessions-presents-jonathan-butler/#respond Sun, 08 Sep 2019 13:30:40 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=100324 Singer-songwriter and guitarist Jonathan Butler performs music often classified as R&B, jazz fusion, or worship.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-sessions-presents-jonathan-butler/feed/ 0 100324 https://acousticguitar.com/cd-review-francois-vola-back-to-bluegrass/ https://acousticguitar.com/cd-review-francois-vola-back-to-bluegrass/#respond Wed, 04 Sep 2019 16:53:16 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=111716 If it seems that the French Riviera is too far from the hollers of the Smoky Mountains to be authentic, think again]]> https://acousticguitar.com/cd-review-francois-vola-back-to-bluegrass/feed/ 0 111716 https://acousticguitar.com/book-review-a-definitive-look-at-the-life-of-blues-legend-robert-johnson/ https://acousticguitar.com/book-review-a-definitive-look-at-the-life-of-blues-legend-robert-johnson/#respond Mon, 19 Aug 2019 17:30:33 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=111690 Bruce Conforth and Gale Dean Wardlow's 'Up Jumped the Devil: The Real Life of Robert Johnson' ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/book-review-a-definitive-look-at-the-life-of-blues-legend-robert-johnson/feed/ 0 111690 https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-tommy-emmanuel-john-knowles-deliver-heart-songs/ https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-tommy-emmanuel-john-knowles-deliver-heart-songs/#respond Mon, 24 Jun 2019 15:40:52 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=111346 Acoustic guitar aces Tommy Emmanuel and John Knowles have teamed up on "Heart Songs" to put fans in a mellow mood on this collection of 14 sentimental fingerstyle instrumentals.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-tommy-emmanuel-john-knowles-deliver-heart-songs/feed/ 0 111346 https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-mimi-fox-this-bird-still-flies/ https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-mimi-fox-this-bird-still-flies/#respond Thu, 13 Jun 2019 19:36:49 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=111359 The seasoned jazz guitarist largely foregoes flash here for stunning lyrical solos that often exude a sense of quietude]]> https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-mimi-fox-this-bird-still-flies/feed/ 0 111359 https://acousticguitar.com/playlist-album-review-steve-james-blues-and-folk-songs-vol-1/ https://acousticguitar.com/playlist-album-review-steve-james-blues-and-folk-songs-vol-1/#respond Mon, 15 Apr 2019 23:13:56 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=110282 An engaging primer on solo acoustic blues, featuring a collection of blues, rags, and ballads.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/playlist-album-review-steve-james-blues-and-folk-songs-vol-1/feed/ 0 110282 https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-greg-brandts-bubbles-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-greg-brandts-bubbles-guitar/#respond Sun, 18 Jun 2017 14:42:02 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=102658 Maybe it’s the glint in his eye, but you get the impression that luthier Greg Brandt has a whimsical soul. And one look at his guitar “Bubbles” confirms it.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-greg-brandts-bubbles-guitar/feed/ 0 102658 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-talk-tom-brosseau-on-his-north-dakota-impressions/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-talk-tom-brosseau-on-his-north-dakota-impressions/#respond Thu, 08 Jun 2017 16:18:59 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=102527 Fresh from releasing North Dakota Impressions, the last album in an ambitious trilogy, Tom Brosseau stopped by the Acoustic Guitar studios to talk about the regional, literary, and design influences behind this project. Watch a recent AG Session with Brosseau here.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-talk-tom-brosseau-on-his-north-dakota-impressions/feed/ 0 102527 https://acousticguitar.com/gear-review-elliott-elite-and-integrity-capos-are-elegant-in-their-simplicity/ https://acousticguitar.com/gear-review-elliott-elite-and-integrity-capos-are-elegant-in-their-simplicity/#respond Wed, 24 May 2017 20:00:20 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=102220 Screw operation is among the oldest approaches to capo design. The primary advantage of this capo type is its precision, which allows the tension to be set exactly the right amount, generally resulting in excellent tuning stability.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/gear-review-elliott-elite-and-integrity-capos-are-elegant-in-their-simplicity/feed/ 0 102220 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-talk-classical-guitarist-jason-vieux-on-playing-more-musically-video/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-talk-classical-guitarist-jason-vieux-on-playing-more-musically-video/#respond Wed, 26 Apr 2017 18:00:25 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=102047 “A lot of experimentation mixed with, hopefully, a good teacher that plays well can be a path to finding your tone or sound,” says the Grammy-winning guitarist.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-talk-classical-guitarist-jason-vieux-on-playing-more-musically-video/feed/ 0 102047 https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-sessions-presents-tall-heights/ https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-sessions-presents-tall-heights/#respond Tue, 18 Apr 2017 21:07:32 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=102000 Tim Harrington and Paul Wright share captivating vocal harmonies and lush original songs as Tall Heights.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-sessions-presents-tall-heights/feed/ 0 102000 https://acousticguitar.com/video-review-seagulls-coastline-momentum-offers-an-affordable-workhorse-of-a-dreadnought/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-review-seagulls-coastline-momentum-offers-an-affordable-workhorse-of-a-dreadnought/#respond Thu, 13 Apr 2017 20:26:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=101902 This slope-shouldered dreadnought sports Adirondack spruce bracing, a compound-curve top that increases structural integrity, an Indian rosewood fingerboard, a compensated TUSQ saddle, a custom-polished finish, a double-function truss rod, and a set-neck system that resists warping and changes due to climate. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-review-seagulls-coastline-momentum-offers-an-affordable-workhorse-of-a-dreadnought/feed/ 0 101902