https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Fri, 12 Jan 2024 19:21:40 +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/remembering-legendary-luthier-frank-ford-1944-2023/ https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-legendary-luthier-frank-ford-1944-2023/#comments Fri, 05 Jan 2024 06:15:12 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143150 The legacy Frank leaves behind is much greater than just the story of his work—it is also a legacy of community, innovation, education, and friendship.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-legendary-luthier-frank-ford-1944-2023/feed/ 3 143150 https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-michael-chapdelaine-1956-2023/ https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-michael-chapdelaine-1956-2023/#comments Sun, 31 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143106 Author and guitar lover Joseph Skibell says farewell to guitarist-composer Michael Chapdelaine, his teacher, friend, and musical mentor.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-michael-chapdelaine-1956-2023/feed/ 7 143106 https://acousticguitar.com/rising-classical-virtuoso-plinio-fernandes-explores-the-music-of-his-native-brazil-through-a-baroque-lens/ https://acousticguitar.com/rising-classical-virtuoso-plinio-fernandes-explores-the-music-of-his-native-brazil-through-a-baroque-lens/#respond Sun, 24 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142827 Fernandes discusses his new album, his classical foundation, and the auspicious career opportunities now unfolding before him.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/rising-classical-virtuoso-plinio-fernandes-explores-the-music-of-his-native-brazil-through-a-baroque-lens/feed/ 0 142827 https://acousticguitar.com/tommy-emmanuel-shines-with-a-team-of-top-acoustic-players-on-accomplice-two/ https://acousticguitar.com/tommy-emmanuel-shines-with-a-team-of-top-acoustic-players-on-accomplice-two/#respond Sun, 17 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142835 The Australian guitarist tells the story behind his latest self-produced album featuring David Grisman, Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, and others acoustic greats.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/tommy-emmanuel-shines-with-a-team-of-top-acoustic-players-on-accomplice-two/feed/ 0 142835 https://acousticguitar.com/how-guitar-virtuoso-hiroya-tsukamoto-arrived-at-his-unique-acoustic-style/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-guitar-virtuoso-hiroya-tsukamoto-arrived-at-his-unique-acoustic-style/#comments Fri, 01 Dec 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142849 Each step of his musical journey has shaped his approach as a composer and performer.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-guitar-virtuoso-hiroya-tsukamoto-arrived-at-his-unique-acoustic-style/feed/ 2 142849 https://acousticguitar.com/sharon-isbin-has-expanded-the-reach-reputation-and-repertoire-of-classical-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/sharon-isbin-has-expanded-the-reach-reputation-and-repertoire-of-classical-guitar/#comments Fri, 20 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141916 Isbin’s widespread career is full of collaborations both inside and outside of the classical guitar world.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/sharon-isbin-has-expanded-the-reach-reputation-and-repertoire-of-classical-guitar/feed/ 2 141916 https://acousticguitar.com/john-lennon-a-songwriters-legacy/ https://acousticguitar.com/john-lennon-a-songwriters-legacy/#comments Mon, 09 Oct 2023 17:32:19 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142240 What gives this music such vitality and allure, even for those who didn't grow up with Beatlemania in the 1960s?]]> https://acousticguitar.com/john-lennon-a-songwriters-legacy/feed/ 1 142240 https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-al-petteway-prolific-guitarist-and-teacher-1952-2023/ https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-al-petteway-prolific-guitarist-and-teacher-1952-2023/#comments Mon, 09 Oct 2023 16:00:54 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142227 On September 25th, the acoustic music community lost a great luminary with the passing of guitarist and composer Al Petteway.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-al-petteway-prolific-guitarist-and-teacher-1952-2023/feed/ 7 142227 https://acousticguitar.com/ralph-towner-is-still-defying-categorization/ https://acousticguitar.com/ralph-towner-is-still-defying-categorization/#comments Sun, 08 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141935 At 83, the prolific guitarist/composer continues to write and record vital, involving pieces. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/ralph-towner-is-still-defying-categorization/feed/ 3 141935 https://acousticguitar.com/twanguero-records-nylon-string-album-in-costa-rican-rainforest/ https://acousticguitar.com/twanguero-records-nylon-string-album-in-costa-rican-rainforest/#comments Wed, 04 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141946 The Latin Grammy-winning guitarist discusses the recording and guitar techniques behind his new album, ‘Carreteras Secundarias, Vol. II.’]]> https://acousticguitar.com/twanguero-records-nylon-string-album-in-costa-rican-rainforest/feed/ 1 141946 https://acousticguitar.com/dom-flemons-the-american-songster/ https://acousticguitar.com/dom-flemons-the-american-songster/#respond Sun, 03 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141176 The multi-instrumentalist scholar talks about how he found his own voice through the study of old and new songs, and what makes the ideal acoustic guitar. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/dom-flemons-the-american-songster/feed/ 0 141176 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-talk-jimmy-buffett-on-his-evolving-collection-of-golden-era-instruments/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-talk-jimmy-buffett-on-his-evolving-collection-of-golden-era-instruments/#comments Sat, 02 Sep 2023 14:15:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=122610 Jimmy Buffett passed away September 1, 2023 at 76. Today, we're revisiting this conversation with the "Margaritaville" singer-songwriter about his collection of rarified golden-era guitars.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-talk-jimmy-buffett-on-his-evolving-collection-of-golden-era-instruments/feed/ 1 122610 https://acousticguitar.com/the-milk-carton-kids-deepen-their-sound-and-songwriting-on-i-only-see-the-moon/ https://acousticguitar.com/the-milk-carton-kids-deepen-their-sound-and-songwriting-on-i-only-see-the-moon/#respond Sun, 27 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141195 Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale, aka the Milk Carton Kids, discuss the creative process behind what is perhaps their strongest set of songs to date.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/the-milk-carton-kids-deepen-their-sound-and-songwriting-on-i-only-see-the-moon/feed/ 0 141195 https://acousticguitar.com/christopher-mallett-shines-a-light-on-pioneering-black-american-guitarist-and-composer-justin-holland/ https://acousticguitar.com/christopher-mallett-shines-a-light-on-pioneering-black-american-guitarist-and-composer-justin-holland/#respond Sun, 20 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141155 Mallett breathes new life into music that has languished since Holland’s passing more than a century ago.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/christopher-mallett-shines-a-light-on-pioneering-black-american-guitarist-and-composer-justin-holland/feed/ 0 141155 https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-robbie-robertson/ https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-robbie-robertson/#respond Tue, 15 Aug 2023 17:01:37 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141606 Robertson passed away August 9, 2023. Republished here is the cover story for our September 2011 issue, in which the legendary guitarist opened up about the Band, collaborating with Eric Clapton, and his collection of vintage Martins.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-robbie-robertson/feed/ 0 141606 https://acousticguitar.com/julian-lage-champions-the-steel-string-acoustic-on-his-latest-blue-note-release/ Fri, 04 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=139328 Lage talks about his uncommon use of the steel-string guitar in the evolution of his ensemble, as well as collaborating with his wife, singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy]]> 139328 https://acousticguitar.com/a-guide-to-playing-guitar-throughout-your-lifetime/ Wed, 02 Aug 2023 15:03:10 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=139332 Five high-achieving guitarists share how they maintain and continually improve their skills, while offering advice applicable to players of all styles.]]> 139332 https://acousticguitar.com/how-nickel-creeks-sean-watkins-sara-watkins-and-chris-thile-made-their-most-ambitious-album-yet/ Sun, 16 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=139343 On ‘Celebrants,’ their first new record in nine years, the trio rekindles their connection and explores new territory.]]> 139343 https://acousticguitar.com/john-oates-explores-the-music-of-mississippi-john-hurt/ Fri, 07 Jul 2023 15:45:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=139375 He will forever be best known as half of Hall & Oates, but John Oates has carved a distinct identity as a proponent of classic Americana]]> 139375 https://acousticguitar.com/spainandtheguitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/spainandtheguitar/#comments Wed, 05 Jul 2023 13:54:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=107225 Many significant developments in classical guitar design and technique flourished in Spain during the past few centuries, but the story indeed began many years—perhaps millennia—earlier.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/spainandtheguitar/feed/ 1 107225 https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-roots-and-blues-legend-steve-james/ https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-roots-and-blues-legend-steve-james/#respond Fri, 23 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=135696 The acoustic music world lost one of its most colorful figures when Steve James passed away on January 6, 2023, at 72.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-roots-and-blues-legend-steve-james/feed/ 0 135696 https://acousticguitar.com/raphaella-smits-feels-right-at-home-playing-argentine-music/ Sun, 18 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=135757 The eight-string guitarist's latest album, ‘Che Argentina,’ is a passion project devoted to 20th-century works by seven Argentine composers.]]> 135757 https://acousticguitar.com/larkin-poe-from-bluegrass-to-blues-rock/ https://acousticguitar.com/larkin-poe-from-bluegrass-to-blues-rock/#respond Wed, 07 Jun 2023 12:36:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=127226 To learn more about Larkin Poe's journey from acoustic roots music to amped-up rock, we caught up with the sisters by phone from their home bases in Nashville.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/larkin-poe-from-bluegrass-to-blues-rock/feed/ 0 127226 https://acousticguitar.com/how-guitar-duo-rodrigo-y-gabriela-is-informed-by-eastern-spiritual-practicesand-thrash-metal/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-guitar-duo-rodrigo-y-gabriela-is-informed-by-eastern-spiritual-practicesand-thrash-metal/#respond Sun, 21 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=135764 On their latest release, In Between Thoughts... A New World, the spiritually inclined pair have invested their pan-genre musical values with some of their own more metaphysical ones. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-guitar-duo-rodrigo-y-gabriela-is-informed-by-eastern-spiritual-practicesand-thrash-metal/feed/ 0 135764 https://acousticguitar.com/christie-lenee-explains-sounds-and-textures-on-coming-alive/ https://acousticguitar.com/christie-lenee-explains-sounds-and-textures-on-coming-alive/#respond Wed, 10 May 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=135773 The albums is an extension of Lenée’s current fascinations, which include experimenting with fingerstyle on the 12-string and an ongoing exploration of alternate tunings. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/christie-lenee-explains-sounds-and-textures-on-coming-alive/feed/ 0 135773