Learn “Cam Ye O’er Frae France,” a Dropped-D Arrangement of an Irreverent Scottish Song
Popular versions have been performed by Steeleye Span, Ewan MacColl, and Dick Gaughan
These articles originally appeared in the January-February 2021 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine.
Try This Simple Trick to Restring Your Acoustic Guitar with Ease
All guitarists have one thing in common: we eventually need to change our strings. Here's how to restring an acoustic guitar.
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“John Henry”: Play This Acoustic Guitar Tribute to an American Folk Hero
Passed down from the late 1800s, the folk ballad “John Henry” tells the story of a Black steel driver who dies in an effort to best a steam drill in laying down steel for the construction of a railroad. Henry is thought to have been a real person, whose proof…
Classical Guitar Builder Joshia de Jonge on Experimentation and a Life of Lutherie
Classical guitar builder Joshia de Jonge talks about experimenting in her own shop after years of working alongside her father & other facets of a life of lutherie.
Ask the Expert: What’s the History Behind Solid Headstocks and Banjo Tuners on Guitars?
It is often said that early Martin guitars with 12-fret necks typically have slotted pegheads similar to classical guitars, while those with 14-fret necks only have solid pegheads. But this does not, in fact, correspond to the reality of Martin history.
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‘Home Sweet Home’: Try a Flatpicking Workout Inspired by a Banjo Classic
Try this flatpicking acoustic guitar workout for "Home Sweet Home," inspired by the banjo classic.
Guitar Talk: Gene Bertoncini and His Unique Nylon-String Approach to Jazz
Over his 5-decade career, guitarist Gene Bertoncini has worked with many musical greats in many different styles, from jazz—his specialty—to pop to Brazilian.
Guitar Review: PRS’ Punchy Tonare Parlor SE P20E Evokes a Bygone Era at a Budget Price
The PRS Tonare Parlor SE P20E guitar evokes the spirit, sound & form factor of a classic parlor while bearing the imprint of PRS’ signature aesthetics and playability.
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Top Gear: The Best Acoustic Guitars and Accessories of 2020
In the midst of a global pandemic, the guitar market soared with high demand for a range of offerings. Here's the best acoustic guitars and accessories of 2020.
Video Lesson: An Easy Introduction to the Sophisticated Art of Ragtime Guitar
For a gentle introduction to ragtime, I composed a simple G-major instrumental, “Davis Street Rag,” in which the syncopation always occurs in a predictable place, the “and” of beat three.
Great Acoustics: Preston Thompson Masterpiece #2 Koi Pond
Dedicated to the shop’s founding luthier and namesake, who died in 2019, the Koi Pond guitar is a stunning piece of art that's meant to be played.
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Album Review: Pharis and Jason Romero’s ‘Bet on Love’ Is Open and Imaginative
“Watch lights turn into stars,” Pharis Romero sings in “Hometown Blues,” the opening song on on the folk duo’s latest Lula Records release, Bet on Love. In a phrase, she encapsulates the album: cozy but curious, intimate but open, homespun but imaginative.
Guitar Talk: Lianne La Havas Draws from Bossa Nova and Samba in Her Nylon-String Guitar Work
British singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas’ third album, a self-titled song cycle that chronicles the full arc of an intense relationship, is dreamy for several reasons
Guitar Review: Gibson’s 50s LG-2 Pairs Vintage Vibe with Modern Playability
The new 50s LG-2 is no exception. As soon as I picked it up, this guitar felt instantly familiar, and it was easy to imagine that I was holding a new old stock guitar, straight from the 1950s. After years of trying out heavily played vintage models, I feel like I know well just how this guitar will age after years of playing.
Learn Sweep Picking to Add Excitement To Your Guitar Playing
This technique involves using a plectrum to play a series of single notes on adjacent strings in a consecutive motion, resulting in a fast, fluid sound.
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Video Lesson: Chord-Melody Made Easy(ish) on Acoustic Guitar
Knowing inversions is essential to understanding chord-melody, as it assures that you will have an appropriate voicing to place below the melody.
Video Lesson: Ben Harper Teaches His #1 Anthem “Better Way”
Released as the first single from Ben Harper’s album Both Sides of the Gun, “Better Way” topped the AAA charts in 2006, but the song’s call to stand up for your rights and ideals continues to reverberate. The (Dixie) Chicks have covered “Better Way” as a rocking show finale, as…
Gear Review: Gold Tone’s F-6 Mando-Guitar Makes it Easy for a Guitarist to Sound Like a Mandolinist
The F-6 is a reimagination of the older mando-guitar. It promises a little more room to move, as well as a comfortable playing experience, all at an affordable price.