Play Happy Traum’s Fingerstyle Arrangement of “Worried Blues” on Acoustic Guitar
In this acoustic guitar lesson, roots guitarist Happy Traum teaches a fingerstyle version of the traditional song “Worried Blues”
NEW GEAR
Review: Santa Cruz Guitar Company Happy Traum Signature Model HT/13
Beautiful. Resonant. Comfortable. Balanced. Sweet. Loud! These were the words that immediately came to mind as I played the Santa Cruz HT/13 guitar for the first time
Guitar Review: Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Hummingbird
The street price on Epiphone’s "Inspired By Gibson" Hummingbird acoustic guitar? Just $799—and you get much of the vibe of its costlier Gibson counterparts.
MORE GEAR
Ask the Expert: Why Does My Plugged-In Acoustic-Electric Guitar Sound So Uneven?
From the March/April 2021 issue of Acoustic Guitar | By Martin KeithQ: “I recently had the action adjusted on ... Read More...
How to Keep Acoustic Guitar Tuners Moving Smoothly
Here's how to keep the tuning components on your acoustic guitar moving smoothly, from cleaning to proper lubricant selection for both modern and vintage guitars.
FROM THE LATEST ISSUE
José González Draws from Wide Range of Influences, Including Tuareg Guitar, on ‘Local Valley’
Much of the charm of Local Valley, the fourth album from the Swedish-Argentinian singer-songwriter José González, comes from its intimate production values.
ACOUSTIC AMPLIFICATION
Get Heard: A Guide to Acoustic Guitar Pickups and Amplification
Here we cover the 3 main elements of an acoustic guitar amplification system: pickups, preamps/DIs, and amplifiers/PA systems.
30 Years of Trends and Innovations in Acoustic Guitar Design, Amps, and Accessories
There have been a lot of surprising changes in the acoustic guitar world over the past three decades affecting everything from how guitars are built to how we listen to and create music.
Budget Amplifiers and Pedals for the Acoustic Guitarist
By Adam PerlmutterIn recent posts we’ve looked at both large- and small-bodied affordable guitars—from PRS’ neat new parlor to Epiphone... Read More...
Guitar Guru: Should I Put a Pickup on My High-End Instrument?
By Dana BourgeoisQ: Onstage, miking an acoustic guitar can be problematic. Today, we have a wide variety of pickup options, and in the ... Read More...
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HERE'S HOW
Am I Too Old to Learn Guitar?
If we, at whatever age, are truly determined to make music come out of those six strings, we will.
GET STARTED ON GUITAR
While My Guitar Gently Smirks: Ben Fong-Torres Reflects on Learning Guitar as an Older Adult
From the February 2019 issue of Acoustic Guitar | BY BEN FONG-TORRESI love guitars, and I’ve had a few sitting in... Read More...
FEATURED LESSON
Learn to Play D Major Chords Up and Down the Neck | Chord by Chord
Welcome to the third installment of Chord by Chord, a series designed to build your fretboard familiarity and understanding of harmony. Today I’ll show you how to play a D major chord in a few different places on the fretboard, with the note D always at the bottom.The WorkThe D chord is a ... 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...
Video lessons week by week, Chord by Chord. Sign up free!
SESSIONS
Christopher Paul Stelling Performs 2 New Songs | Acoustic Guitar Sessions in Place
Watch Christopher Paul Stelling play 2 new fingerstyle guitar pieces from his new album, Forgiving It All, on a vintage 1941 Martin 00-18.
Sarah McQuaid Performs “Autumn Leaves“ | Acoustic Guitar Sessions in Place
For this Acoustic Guitar Sessions in Place Sarah McQuaid performs a DADGAD arrangement of "Autumn Leaves" in the historic St. Buryan Church, in Cornwall, England.
FEATURED SONG
Lesson: How to Play the Guitar Rag ‘Jitters’
From the April 2017 issue of Acoustic Guitar | BY MARY FLOWERThrough the years, I’ve played all kinds of music, but in the 1980s, I focused heavily on blues and ragtime guitar. I was fortunate enough not just to meet some of my heroes, such as John Cephas and John Jackson, but to teach alongside ... Read More...
NEWS & REVIEWS
These 3 New Releases Show Diverse Approaches to Fingerstyle Guitar Mastery
John Pizzarelli's Better Days Ahead, Matthew Stevens' Pittsburgh, & Steve Gibb's The Boatman each highlight mastery of the fingerstyle guitar in their own right.
POPULAR STORIES
Video Lesson: Exploring Blues Turnarounds
In this acoustic guitar lesson you'll learn a bunch of blues-based turnarounds in different keys—great moves to have at your fingertips when playing the blues.
How to Use a Looper to Create Soundscapes on Acoustic Guitar
When used properly, a looper pedal can transform the sound of your acoustic guitar into something new and beautiful, while making your performances more dynamic.
Learn 6 Ways to Play A Major 7 | Chord by Chord
In this guitar chord lesson, designed to build your understanding of harmony and the fretboard, you'll learn six ways to play Amaj7 on the acoustic guitar.
Cameron Mizell and Charlie Rauh Perform “Local Folklore“ | Acoustic Guitar Sessions in Place
For this Acoustic Guitar Session in Place, Cameron Mizell and Charlie Rauh perform “Local Folklore” on a pair of Collings guitars.
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.
Ask the Expert: When Is it Time for a Re-Fret? And What Is “Back Buzz?”
Should you keep the vintage frets on your vintage Gibson for the sake of the guitar’s authenticity? What's causing that mysterious metallic fret buzz? Ask the Expert!