Beyond Flattops: The Magic of Resonator, Baritone, and Archtop Guitars
The wide tonal palette of acoustic guitars includes archtop, resonator, and baritone colors. Here's more about the history, makers, and players of these instruments.
Guitar Guru: Do the Tonewoods and Thickness of My Guitar’s Back Have an Impact on its Sound?
Q: “I noticed that some guitars have very stiff backs and there is no difference to the sound whether the back is held against your body or away from it. What are the advantages of stiff vs. active backs?”—Seth Brockman, Tulsa, Oklahoma A: To understand how backs function, look first…
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Guitar Guru: Dana Bourgeois on the Sweet Sound of 12-Fret Guitars
To my ears, guitars with 12 frets clear of the body sound fuller and richer than 14-fret models. Is there any way to get 12-fret sound in a 14-fret guitar?
Video Instruction Series: All About Mic Placement for Home Recording
There are many types of microphones, but the most popular type for recording acoustic guitar is the cardioid condenser mic. Inexpensive models such as the Audio-Technica AT2020 or AT2021 start at under $100. If your budget allows, consider popular models like the Shure SM81 or Neumann KM 184. High-end mics…
How To Choose and Use a Guitar Capo
Capos are valuable tools for changing the tuning of your guitar, and as such, you should learn how to use a capo and not view them as “cheaters.”
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Home Recording for Acoustic Guitar: The Best Ways to Capture Your Music
Here are some tools and techniques for home recording to make your acoustic guitar sound great.
How to Pack a Guitar for Shipping
You can’t control everything that happens to a guitar while it’s in transit, but there are steps you can take to protect it during shipping and handling.
Same Guitar, New Sounds: A Guide to Strings
Simply changing to a different set of strings may be the easiest and most cost-effective way to improve the sound of your guitar.
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A Guitarist’s Guide to the Benefits of Single-Miking
In an era of in-your-face beats and cage-rattling bass drops, when even nominally acoustic performers often stand behind banks of pedals, it’s hard to overstate how radically different it feels to perform with a single microphone. There’s no line of stands, no mess of cables, no DIs, no monitors. Rather…
Why Won’t My Guitar Stay in Tune?
Q: About six months ago, I bought a Gibson Hummingbird from the 1990s. Even though it was a little beaten up by the previous owner, it’s a solid guitar. It initially was a little fussy about staying in tune, but lately it’s gotten worse, and it’s particularly frustrating onstage. Why…
Mariachi Instruments Guitar Players Should Know About
A typical modern version of a mariachi instrument has guitar-like additions not found on its traditional counterpart, including a truss rod and inlaid frets.
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5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Skype Lessons
Thanks to today’s technology, players don’t have to limit themselves to traditional face-to-face lessons. Here are some helpful virtual lesson tips
Everything You Need to Know About Microphone Phantom Power
Most of the time, phantom power just does its job silently, but a bit of knowledge can help when things go wrong or when choosing the gear with which you work.
How to Buy Your Next Acoustic Guitar
Here are a few tips to help you navigate the different marketplaces, so you can make the smartest choices when it comes to purchasing your next instrument.
Acoustic Guitar Tonewood Primer: How to Pick the Right Materials for Your Optimal Sound
As the acoustic guitar has evolved, so has the variety of different tonewoods used in guitars. Here's how to find the right tonewood to get your optimal sound.
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Intro to Flash Recorders. Plus 10 Ways They Can Aid Students & Teachers
One of the best ways to improve as a musician is to record your own playing. Sure, it can be frustrating and disappointing when you hear that you’re out of tempo, out of key, or out of tune. But knowing your weaknesses is the first step to improvement, and hearing a well-played number is its own reward.
Pedal Power: How to Enhance Your Plugged-In Tone on Acoustic Guitar
Learning how to get the biggest, fattest, and most pleasing tone will allow you to enjoy playing through an amp or PA that much more
Finding the Best Guitar Pick for You
The importance of your guitar pick—this tiny and usually inexpensive accessory— in shaping tone cannot be overstated.
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Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About DIY Guitar Kits
If you've ever thought about building your own acoustic guitar from scratch, here's your guide to DIY guitar kits.
Video Instruction Series: 7 Lessons on Recording at Home
Doug Young demonstrates how to set up your own home studio and how to use your gear to make recordings that sound great.
Tips on Recording Acoustic Guitar with Pickups
Most people find that microphones capture the sound of their guitar more realistically than pickups, but pickups can be effective in some recording situations.
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Video Instruction Series: Mix, Master, and Publish Your Recording
Once you have completed a track, you’re ready to mix and get it ready for release.
Video Instruction Series: Tracking and Editing in the Home Studio
It takes experience to find the right balance between obsessively fixing every little thing and letting small issues go.
Video Instruction Series: How to Set Recording Levels
Learn to check that levels are balanced between channels and how to speed up the process of setting up mics.
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Video Instruction Series: Prepare Your Room for Recording
Carving out a dedicated space for recording, even if it’s the corner of a bedroom, allows you to start recording more quickly when inspiration strikes.
