Sponsored by Santa Cruz Guitar Company: Over nearly 50 years, Santa Cruz Guitar Company has set the standards for modern acoustic guitar building. For over a decade, part of that standard has been pioneering the use of Plek technology to maximize precision in our builds. Every single instrument that leaves our…

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: Altered tunings can provide a wealth of inspiration when it comes to composing and exploring new avenues on the guitar, forcing you to think differently about chord voicings and making possible parts that are unplayable in standard tuning. Open D – where the guitar is simply tuned to…

Sponsored by MusicNomad: Not only is it fun, but a properly setup guitar takes your playing and sound to a whole new level.  KEEP IT SIMPLE, SETUP (KISS)™ demystifies the setup process with innovative, precision  gauges combined with step-by-step general guidelines anybody can follow to help setup their guitar or…

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: No matter what level you’re at, your playing will always benefit from a good warm-up before practice or performance sessions. We all know that warming up can be dull though, so fresh inspiration is always welcome—and that’s just what Elixir Strings artist Scott Goldbaum delivers with this short…

Sponsored by Taylor Guitars: With its unique combination of two humbuckers, an acoustic body sensor and five-way switching to control active pickups, the Taylor T5z hybrid hollowbody electric-acoustic guitar has always been a dynamic musical shapeshifter. Capable of producing warm acoustic tones, searing electric leads and a range of possibilities…

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: Once you’ve mastered the basics of 12 bar blues, adding in turnarounds at the end of a chord progression to return to the start is a great next step. Turnarounds are a distinctive element of both electric and acoustic blues and can be used in all sorts of…

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: When it comes to fingerstyle guitar, the traditional alternating thumb technique is a tried and tested way of filling out the bass parts with your picking hand. It provides a rhythmic drive and can outline simple basslines, perfect for solo performances. As with all techniques though, it’s good…

Sponsored by Taylor Guitars: With its solid mahogany top, sapele back and sides, tone-enhancing V-Class interior bracing, and signature Taylor craftsmanship, the new AD27e yields rich, warm midrange tone with commanding volume and a focused voice. The Grand Pacific dreadnought body shape delivers clear low-end power with minimal ringing overtones,…

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: Drop D tuning (where the lowest string is tuned down a whole step – giving DADGBE from low to high) is an interesting way of adding some extra low end tone to an acoustic guitar. It also opens extra possibilities for creating interesting basslines outside the scope of…

Sponsored by Taylor Guitars: It’s finally here: the Builder’s Edition 814ce, an ultra-refined evolution of Taylor’s flagship Grand Auditorium acoustic-electric guitar. Featuring back and sides of solid Indian rosewood paired with an Adirondack spruce top, this model yields a powerful, yet sophisticated voice with warm lows, pristine trebles and a…

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: In this acoustic guitar lesson, Marc Seal teaches us common bass-style techniques like slapping and popping to coax some different sounds from your acoustic. Add some plucking and percussive clicking and you are ready to put it all together in a riff that will really improve your fingerstyle…

Sponsored by MusicNomad: MusicNomad is raising the bar to a new higher standard with the introduction of an extensive range of Guitar Fret Care Products. For over a year, they have been researching, developing, prototyping, testing and collaborating with some of the top techs in the world to create this…

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: While alternate tunings like Drop D and DADGAD are commonly used by solo acoustic guitarists, there are plenty more options that will open new creative possibilities. In this video, Elixir® Strings artist Tom Anello opts for DADGCE for a beautiful version of Childish Gambino’s “Redbone.” If you haven’t…

Sponsored by Taylor Guitars: Guitar players like singer-songwriter Heather Nation love Taylor’s GS Mini guitars for their portable size that doesn’t sacrifice bold, punchy sound. For musicians of all styles and skill levels, the GS Mini offers a travel-friendly option that’s ready to go at a moment’s notice, perfect for…

Sponsored by Fishman: Tailored specifically for acoustic guitars, Fishman AFX Mini Acoustic Pedals allow you to explore new textures, rhythms, and spaces without sacrificing your tone. Fishman AFX Minis are infused with over 4 decades of acoustic-centric design experience. We’ve helped millions of acoustic musicians achieve incredible sound simply by…

Sponsored by Santa Cruz Guitar Company: Come visit the Santa Cruz Guitar Company this week at The NAMM Show in Anaheim, California! We are located in Hall D, Booth 5102 along the entrance. SCGC is returning to the annual music industry conference for the first time in three years and…

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: The phrase ‘diatonic dissonance’ might be intimidating, but it’s a common sound in 1970s progressive rock. Characterized by a tension between notes, dissonance sounds particularly ‘other worldly’ when played on a 12-string guitar, as Elixir® Strings artist and educator Shawn Persinger demonstrates here. Playing chord progressions reminiscent of…

Sponsored by ToneWoodAmp: ToneWoodAmp has been leading a revolution in acoustic guitars with the invention of a compact box that creates effects, unplugged—NO AMP REQUIRED!  Hear it from musician James Thomas: “I travel with this amazing unit, it’s one of my most valuable guitar companions.” The ToneWoodAmp is the first and…

Sponsored by Thompson Guitars: The OM model was based on the 000-12 Fret, but Martin shortened the body rather than moving the bridge to accommodate a 14-fret neck. It produces more bass than a 000-12 or smaller models and has a very balanced tone. Listen to some musicians with a…