Taylor’s New 400 Series Elevates the Classic Rosewood/Spruce Combo
Sponsored by Taylor Guitars: Taylor's 400 Series guitars have always offered players a reliable array of workhorse guitars that are up t... Read More...
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NEW GEAR
Review: The Phil Jones Bass X4 Nanobass Combo Amplifier May Be Light, but It’s No Lightweight
It doesn’t weigh much, but the Phil Jones Bass X4 Nanobass combo amp is no lightweight. Its ability to produce warm, clean lows is impressive for an amp its size.
Review: The Hill Guitar Company Companion Is an Exemplary Parlor-Sized Crossover Nylon-String Guitar
The Hill Guitar Company Companion is designed to be a professional-quality travel instrument for a classical guitarist or a crossover guitar for the steel-string player.
MORE GEAR
Ask the Expert: Can I Use Medium Strings on My Prewar Martin?
Will using medium strings on a 1936 Martin D-18 put too much pressure on the the instrument over time? Ask the Expert.
How to Take Care of Your Guitar in a Very Humid Environment
For those living in an overly humid environment, acoustic guitars can take on serious damage from the air around them. Here's how to take care of guitars in an extremely humid environment.
FROM THE LATEST ISSUE
Learn to Play the Fun and Breezy 19th Century Dance Tune “Jenny Jenkins”
“Jenny Jenkins,” which has been covered by the likes of Jerry Garcia (with David Grisman) and Lisa Loeb, is as simple as it is sweet.
SPONSORED LESSON
Sponsored by Elixir® Strings
PLAY LIKE YOUR FAVORITE GUITARISTS
How to Flatpick Like Roots Legend Norman Blake
Norman Blake is one of the great unsung heroes of 20th-century folk music. Here's a look at his life, music, and what you can learn from his guitar playing.
Video Lesson: Learn to Play Slide Like Jimmy Page
In this lesson, you'll get Jimmy Page's blues riffs and musical ideas under your fingers and learn how to take them somewhere new and exciting.
Remembering Folk Icon Elizabeth Cotten and Her Distinctive Guitar Approach
From the September/October 2020 issue of Acoustic Guitar ; excerpted from the February 1995 issue of AG | By Linda... Read More...
Molly Tuttle Teaches Tony Rice’s Distinctive Guitar Style
Molly Tuttle reflects on the life and guitar style of Tony Rice, as well as all the guitar players he inspired with his distinctive style of playing.
NEW BOOK ALERT
The world of popular music is filled with singer-songwriters who are not just brilliant wordsmiths but distinctive guitarists, and this eclectic guide covers some of the very best. Learn how these musicians support their songs with inventive accompaniments in a wide range of styles, tunings, and techniques—so many cool ideas that you can borrow for use in your own songwriting. Learn more.
HERE'S HOW
Virtual Jamming: The Latest Tools for Playing Together in Real Time
Here are some solutions for musicians looking for a way to play music together over the internet, hoping to be able to perform for others or just jam together.
GET STARTED ON GUITAR
Video Lesson: Get Rhythm, Part 1: Beats, Meters, and More
From the August 2018 issue of Acoustic Guitar | BY GRETCHEN MENN
THE PROBLEM
Rhythm is a shaky area for ... Read More...
FEATURED LESSON
Perfect Your Practice: Sharpen Your Time-Keeping Skills on Guitar
By Adam Perlmutter Developing a solid sense of time is essential for all musicians—and that’s especially true for those who play with others. There are many different ways to work on your internal clock, and in this installment of an ongoing series on practice, we’ll look at a few different appr... Read More...
CHORD BY CHORD
What is Chord by Chord? Introducing Acoustic Guitar’s How-To Video Series
Welcome to Acoustic Guitar’s Chord by Chord, a series of 62 brief lessons designed to build your fretboard familiarity, chord flu... Read More...
SESSIONS
John McCutcheon | Acoustic Guitar Sessions in Place
Playing his “favorite guitar in the world,” his trusty Huss & Dalton MJC, John McCutcheon deconstructs his song "Peekaboo" and shows how to play it slowly and up to speed.
Elijah McLaughlin Performs Two Stunning Fingerstyle Pieces | Acoustic Guitar Sessions in Place
For this AG Session, Elijah McLaughlin and Jason Toth of the Elijah McLaughlin Ensemble perform two fingerstyle pieces from the ensemble's latest album
FEATURED SONG
Campfire Songs: Learn ‘Streets of Laredo’ With Four Cowboy Chords
Learn to play 'The Streets of Laredo' (aka “Cowboy’s Lament”), in the key of C major, using four cowboy chords: C (I), G (V), F (IV), and D (II).
NEWS & REVIEWS
Different Cultures, Styles, and Tunings Elevate Walter Strauss’ Mesmerizing ‘For Melody, Wherever She May Find Me’
The California-based acoustic fingerstyle guitarist expresses himself in a joyous, ebullient chorus of guitar voices.
POPULAR STORIES
Great Picking, Singing, and Songs on ‘Kin Ya See That Sun,’ a Fitting Tribute to the Late Maggie Roche
The album brings together 15 previously unreleased live and studio tracks by two of the three singing Roche sisters, Terre and Maggie, who were a performing folk duo dating back to their teen years.
12 Ways to Challenge Yourself and Discover New Territory on Guitar
We talked to a group of artists and educators who share their favorite exercises, strategies, and tricks for helping get beyond the comfort zone and discover new territory on the guitar.
Remembering David Lindley
Renowned maxi-instrumentalist David Lindley passed away March 3, 2023 at the age of 78. Republished here is a profile and in-depth interview, which originally ran as cover story for our June 2000 issue.
Beyond Flattops: The Magic of Archtop Guitars
Though long favored by jazz and swing guitarists, the archtop is currently enjoying a revival among roots and Americana musicians, flatpickers, and singer-songwriters.
The Rich Musical Legacy of Doc Watson: A Rare Interview with the Legendary Guitarist
This article originally appeared in the March/April 1993 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine and was excerpted for the the Sep... Read More...
Video Lesson: How to Use a Capo to Play Music in All 12 Keys
The capo is a small but powerful tool for guitarists that raises the notes of the open strings but retains the individual relationships between strings. Here's how to use one.