Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: What do you get when you mix a fingerstyle acoustic award winner in Toronto, a prog-hop artist from LA, an extreme shredder in Vienna and more? That was exactly what guitarist/composer Chris Woods set out to discover when he started writing ‘Octet.’ Written by The Chris Woods Groove…

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: This essential blues style is based on a straightforward 12-bar blues progression, making it easy for even beginners to understand this acoustic blues shuffle tip from Elixir® Strings artist Mandy Rowden. But while the idea might be uncomplicated, nailing the feel will take some time, so take it…

Sponsored by Taylor Guitars: When Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug founded Taylor Guitars in 1974, they did it with barely more than an idea and a dream. Named after the guitar shop where Taylor Guitars was born, the American Dream Series represents Taylor’s commitment to creating through adversity and meeting…

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: Learning where to place your fingers to play chords is one thing, but as your playing develops, it really helps to know how those chords are made.  Guitar virtuoso and Elixir® Strings artist Shawn Persinger explains the basic theory behind chords on the guitar, which will help you…

Sponsored by Taylor Guitars: Meet the Taylor GT, a new acoustic body shape designed from the ground up to provide an accessible, exciting playing experience for guitarists of all styles. Crafted with a reduced scale length of 24-1/8″, the compact GT offers a fun, relaxed feel that will appeal to…

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: Calum Graham, touring guitarist, composer and Elixir® Strings artist, shows how to incorporate harmonics with fretted notes when playing a major scale. By combining the two approaches you can achieve a stunning ‘layered’ playing feel with the harmonic notes ringing out and sustaining over the punchier fretted notes.…

Sponsored by Taylor Guitars: Designed with a reduced scale for portability and comfort, the all-new Taylor GT embodies the spirit of spontaneous musical creativity that drives artists and guitar-builders alike. The GT (Grand Theater) is a new acoustic guitar body shape constructed with a scale length that falls between the…

Sponsored by Fender: In this episode of Fender Sessions: Fender Next alum Ashley McBryde performs three songs from her latest album “Never Will” at the Virgin Hotel Nashville and talks using songwriting as therapy, defying music industry standards and why she will “always try anything twice”. SHOP FENDER:

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: Using just two chords, Chris Woods of The Chris Woods Groove Orchestra demonstrates how to start connecting chords in the key of E minor. Connecting chords with simple melodic patterns is a great way to add interest to your rhythm guitar parts. Chris, UK acoustic guitarist and composer,…

Sponsored by Taylor Guitars: Made with back and sides of sustainably sourced Urban Ash and a solid mahogany top, the Builder’s Edition 324ce combines the tone-enhancing power of V-Class bracing with a new tonewood whose midrange-focused sonic profile will please guitar players from across styles and genres. The mahogany top…

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: Double stops are a great way of creating fills and extra interest in acoustic guitar accompaniments and solos. Watch as Austin’s Mandy Rowden, award winner and Elixir® Strings artist, breaks down how to harmonize the G major scale on the guitar and shows us how to apply that…

Sponsored by Fender: In this video, flatpicking phenom Billy Strings dials in a rosewood auditorium – a Nashville staple with its accented highs and tight low end – to match his bluegrass style. Learn more about the American Acoustasonic Series here:

Sponsored by Taylor Guitars: When Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug founded Taylor Guitars in 1974, they did it with barely more than an idea and a dream. Named after the guitar shop where Taylor Guitars was born, the American Dream Series represents Taylor’s commitment to creating through adversity and meeting…

Sponsored by Elixir® Strings: Renowned educator, Grammy-winner and producer Massimo Varini explains how to play floating scales using unusual chromatic passing tones. Watch as he demonstrates three examples using open strings in this quick acoustic guitar lesson.  “Elixir Strings have unbeatable durability and an awesome sound. They are really comfortable and feel…

Sponsored by Taylor Guitars: Born from adversity, the American Dream Series represents the most accessible line of solid-wood, USA-made guitars ever released by Taylor. Featuring three new guitars with the round-shoulder dreadnought Grand Pacific body shape, the American Dream Series is made with solid tonewoods boosted by the tone-shifting power…