John Leventhal Gets a Surprise Birthday Present: Johnny Cash’s 1940 Martin D-18
Cash used this guitar in the series of critically acclaimed studio albums he made with producer Rick Rubin.
Adam Perlmutter
Adam Perlmutter holds a bachelor of music degree from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and a master's degree in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory. He is the editor of Acoustic Guitar.
Learn to Play John Prine’s “Hello in There” | AG Patreon Song of the Month
The transcription here captures Prine’s original studio recording note for note.
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Learn to Play “Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)” | AG Patreon Song of the Month
Add this classic country tune, replete with Jimmie Rodgers’ trademark yodeling, to your repertoire.
‘Acoustic America’ Exhibition Celebrates the Instruments and Players that Have Shaped Acoustic Music
The exhibition represents a good balance of musical instrument types and makers, time periods, and styles, grouped thematically and by era.
5 Minute Lesson: Julian Lage Teaches You How to Get Great Acoustic Guitar Tone
“This is a wonderful way to recalibrate with the instrument, let us calm down our nervous system, and get a bigger sound"
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Learn to Play “You Gotta Move” | AG Patreon Song of the Month
Learn to play an African American spiritual as interpreted by the legendary bluesman Mississippi Fred McDowell
Learn Sophisticated Chordal Ideas Through Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”
This gently rolling ballad is not only satisfying to play, it shows the musical benefits of learning pieces not originally composed for guitar.
Learn to Play “When the Levee Breaks” | AG Patreon Song of the Month
As I write this, California is seeing historic atmospheric rivers and treacherous flooding and I can’t help but think of this song from the blues canon.
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Learn to Play “Hotel California”| AG Patreon Song of the Month
This Eagles classic is one of the most requested song transcriptions from AG readers.
Muireann Bradley, Ireland’s Roots and Blues Prodigy | Acoustic Guitar Sessions
Bradley digs deep into classic roots tunes, and delivers inspired fingerstyle blues.
Learn “In the Pines,” a Haunting Folk Song Recorded by Musicians from Lead Belly to Nirvana
The arrangement of this song, also known as "Where Did You Sleep Last Night," is inspired by Nirvana’s version.
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The Year in Gear 2023: Guitars, Amps, Pedals, and Accessories for a Wide Variety of Styles and Budgets
In this annual year-in-gear retrospective, we take you on a tour of the exciting new acoustic guitars and accessories introduced in 2023.
Ralph Towner Revisits the Oregon Classic “Guitarra Picante” on Solo Guitar
Originally released in 1991 and re-released on this year's ‘At First Light,’ this challenging tune features nearly three dozen different chords.
Adam Levy Performs and Teaches “Sidewalk Chalk” | Acoustic Guitar Sessions
“Sidewalk Chalk” is a lovely waltz with a beautiful set of chord changes. It’s also quite approachable and, like so much of Levy’s work, is a joy to play.
Learn to Play Gordon Lightfoot’s “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”
Lightfoot recorded the song on a 12-string—specifically, a Gibson B-45-12—but it will work just as well on a six-string.
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Review: Tascam’s Portacapture X6 and X8 Recorders Are Ideal for Acoustic Guitar—and a Whole Lot More
Both models offer ease of use, excellent sonics, and ability to capture wide dynamic ranges
Dom Flemons Brings a Deep Knowledge of Roots Music to His Work as the American Songster
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.
Julian Lage on How to Play His Position-Shifting Guitar-Bass Duet “Double Southpaw”
With its "quirky rhythmic and harmonic twists and turns," this piece moves all around the fretboard.
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Video Lesson: Learn a Fingerstyle Arrangement of “It Is Well with My Soul” in Double Dropped-D Tuning
The arrangement is fairly undemanding of both the picking and fretting hands and makes strategic use of the open strings.
Tips on Playing “Shake Sugaree,” an Elizabeth Cotten Fingerpicking Staple
Cotten plays “Shake Sugaree” on a guitar tuned down a whole step, using chord shapes in the key of C major that sound in Bb.
Julian Lage Champions the Steel-String Acoustic on His Latest Blue Note Release
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
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Learn “Doc’s Guitar”—Doc Watson’s Fingerstyle Tour de Force
The brilliance of Watson’s right-hand technique can be clearly heard on this punishingly fast instrumental
Great Acoustics: Steve James’ Collings Custom C10 was His Main Steel-String Companion for 30 Years
The 1991 Collings Custom C10 (serial number 524) was James’ main flattop for three decades, and the one he considered his best.
Learn “Talco Girl,” Steve James’ Rootsy Character Study in Dropped-D Tuning
One of James' most popular tunes, “Talco Girl” is supported by a guitar accompaniment that would make a smart instrumental composition on its own.
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‘Myriad Worlds’ Is a Bold Debut from Percussive Fingerstyle Guitarist and Composer Janet Noguera
Noguera's debut release showcases her effortless-sounding use of tapping and drum-like effects on her Lowden and Maton guitars.
