https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Wed, 15 Oct 2025 21:37:12 +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/when-im-sixty-four-learn-a-fun-hybrid-picked-arrangement-of-this-time-honored-beatles-tune/ https://acousticguitar.com/when-im-sixty-four-learn-a-fun-hybrid-picked-arrangement-of-this-time-honored-beatles-tune/#comments Wed, 08 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=148277 “When I’m Sixty-Four” makes a great guitar song—whether played with a pick, fingers, or hybrid style, as it’s arranged here.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/when-im-sixty-four-learn-a-fun-hybrid-picked-arrangement-of-this-time-honored-beatles-tune/feed/ 2 148277 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-create-a-solo-using-scale-notes-and-chord-shapes/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-create-a-solo-using-scale-notes-and-chord-shapes/#respond Wed, 01 Oct 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=148313 Even if you usually stick to rhythm playing, all you need to craft cool, musical solos are some straightforward ingredients that are right at your fingertips.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-create-a-solo-using-scale-notes-and-chord-shapes/feed/ 0 148313 https://acousticguitar.com/meet-jesse-welles-fiery-folksinger-on-the-rise/ https://acousticguitar.com/meet-jesse-welles-fiery-folksinger-on-the-rise/#comments Wed, 20 Aug 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=148362 Welles, 32, is a genuine phenomenon—an internet-era troubadour clearly in the tradition of Guthrie, Dylan, Prine, and Ochs (and Cobain, too), yet also very much of this moment.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/meet-jesse-welles-fiery-folksinger-on-the-rise/feed/ 18 148362 https://acousticguitar.com/review-heather-maloney-mourns-and-celebrates-her-father-on-exploding-star/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-heather-maloney-mourns-and-celebrates-her-father-on-exploding-star/#respond Wed, 04 Jun 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147728 The singer-songwriter’s new album is a beautiful and emotionally deep piece of work—suffused with sadness yet ultimately conveying a feeling of celebration of familial love.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-heather-maloney-mourns-and-celebrates-her-father-on-exploding-star/feed/ 0 147728 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-play-simon-and-garfunkels-bossa-nova-inspired-ballad-so-long-frank-lloyd-wright/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-play-simon-and-garfunkels-bossa-nova-inspired-ballad-so-long-frank-lloyd-wright/#respond Fri, 30 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147781 The guitar part is challenging yet satisfying to learn, full of unusual changes and rich voicings.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-play-simon-and-garfunkels-bossa-nova-inspired-ballad-so-long-frank-lloyd-wright/feed/ 0 147781 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-play-simple-but-musical-solos-with-just-five-notes-in-open-position/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-play-simple-but-musical-solos-with-just-five-notes-in-open-position/#respond Fri, 23 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147784 Welcome to a new Basics series that offers entry points into the world of soloing—for newcomers to lead playing as well as those looking to strengthen their foundations. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-play-simple-but-musical-solos-with-just-five-notes-in-open-position/feed/ 0 147784 https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-the-groundbreaking-folk-pop-singer-songwriter-jill-sobule/ https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-the-groundbreaking-folk-pop-singer-songwriter-jill-sobule/#comments Fri, 16 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147920 A champion of outsiders and an early crowdfunding trailblazer, Sobule’s 35-year songbook married sly humor, weird chords, and unforgettable hooks.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-the-groundbreaking-folk-pop-singer-songwriter-jill-sobule/feed/ 4 147920 https://acousticguitar.com/hone-your-hybrid-picking-on-jason-isbells-lighthearted-love-song-foxes-in-the-snow/ https://acousticguitar.com/hone-your-hybrid-picking-on-jason-isbells-lighthearted-love-song-foxes-in-the-snow/#respond Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147302 Set to a bouncy minor-key groove, “Foxes” features some fine picking and is very fun to play, with a melodic solo that could stand on its own as an instrumental.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/hone-your-hybrid-picking-on-jason-isbells-lighthearted-love-song-foxes-in-the-snow/feed/ 0 147302 https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-jason-isbells-1940-martin-0-17/ https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-jason-isbells-1940-martin-0-17/#comments Sun, 20 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147246 Isbell owns some prized vintage guitars, but when it came to recording his latest solo acoustic album, the singer-songwriter turned to this smaller and plainer 0-17.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/great-acoustics-jason-isbells-1940-martin-0-17/feed/ 1 147246 https://acousticguitar.com/jason-isbell-takes-the-solo-spotlight-on-foxes-in-the-snow/ https://acousticguitar.com/jason-isbell-takes-the-solo-spotlight-on-foxes-in-the-snow/#respond Sun, 13 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147370 Isbell sheds light on the creative choices behind his new solo album, a stunning close-up portrait that shows why he's one of today’s most revered singer-songwriters.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/jason-isbell-takes-the-solo-spotlight-on-foxes-in-the-snow/feed/ 0 147370 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-play-melody-and-chords-together/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-play-melody-and-chords-together/#respond Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147321 When playing accompaniment, you have melody notes literally at your fingertips in and around the chord shapes—you just need to find those notes and spotlight them. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-play-melody-and-chords-together/feed/ 0 147321 https://acousticguitar.com/joe-caruso-of-the-music-emporium-helps-guitarists-connect-with-their-perfect-instruments/ https://acousticguitar.com/joe-caruso-of-the-music-emporium-helps-guitarists-connect-with-their-perfect-instruments/#comments Sun, 02 Mar 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146943 You’d be hard pressed to find a better selection of top contemporary instruments—or a more inviting space in which to put your hands on them.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/joe-caruso-of-the-music-emporium-helps-guitarists-connect-with-their-perfect-instruments/feed/ 1 146943 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-play-lisa-loebs-enduring-pop-folk-hit-stay-i-missed-you/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-play-lisa-loebs-enduring-pop-folk-hit-stay-i-missed-you/#respond Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146972 First released in 1994 with the movie ‘Reality Bites,’ “Stay” is in the long lineage of breakup songs, but in many respects is far from a conventional pop song. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-play-lisa-loebs-enduring-pop-folk-hit-stay-i-missed-you/feed/ 0 146972 https://acousticguitar.com/new-yorks-acoustic-guitar-project-takamine-has-inspired-92-songs-and-counting/ https://acousticguitar.com/new-yorks-acoustic-guitar-project-takamine-has-inspired-92-songs-and-counting/#respond Sun, 16 Feb 2025 14:40:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146869 This well-used dreadnought is the original guitar of the Acoustic Guitar Project, which challenges songwriters to write and record a song in one week on a specific instrument.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/new-yorks-acoustic-guitar-project-takamine-has-inspired-92-songs-and-counting/feed/ 0 146869 https://acousticguitar.com/lisa-loeb-looks-back-at-her-multifaceted-career-and-ongoing-education-as-a-guitarist-and-songwriter/ https://acousticguitar.com/lisa-loeb-looks-back-at-her-multifaceted-career-and-ongoing-education-as-a-guitarist-and-songwriter/#respond Fri, 14 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147030 In the 30 years since releasing her breakthrough hit, “Stay,” Loeb has thrived as a musician, film/TV/voice actor, theater writer and composer, radio host, and entrepreneur.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/lisa-loeb-looks-back-at-her-multifaceted-career-and-ongoing-education-as-a-guitarist-and-songwriter/feed/ 0 147030 https://acousticguitar.com/break-it-up-how-to-spotlight-chord-embellishments-by-playing-across-chord-shapes/ https://acousticguitar.com/break-it-up-how-to-spotlight-chord-embellishments-by-playing-across-chord-shapes/#respond Sun, 09 Feb 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147005 By breaking up strums and playing single notes across chord shapes, you can bring melodic lines out of your accompaniment and make embellishments pop.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/break-it-up-how-to-spotlight-chord-embellishments-by-playing-across-chord-shapes/feed/ 0 147005 https://acousticguitar.com/courtney-hartman-the-acoustic-guitar-podcast/ https://acousticguitar.com/courtney-hartman-the-acoustic-guitar-podcast/#respond Wed, 15 Jan 2025 12:20:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146823 Spend some time catching up with guitarist and singer-songwriter Courtney Hartman.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/courtney-hartman-the-acoustic-guitar-podcast/feed/ 0 146823 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-play-gillian-welch-and-david-rawlings-powerful-new-folk-rocker-empty-trainload-of-sky/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-play-gillian-welch-and-david-rawlings-powerful-new-folk-rocker-empty-trainload-of-sky/#respond Wed, 08 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146270 As with all of the duo’s songs, the basic ingredients of “Empty Trainload of Sky” are dead simple, with just two sections and four chords. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-to-play-gillian-welch-and-david-rawlings-powerful-new-folk-rocker-empty-trainload-of-sky/feed/ 0 146270 https://acousticguitar.com/inside-the-songwriting-and-guitar-craft-of-gillian-welch-and-david-rawlings/ https://acousticguitar.com/inside-the-songwriting-and-guitar-craft-of-gillian-welch-and-david-rawlings/#comments Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146442 Rawlings and Welch go deep about the writing and recording of their latest songs and the vintage guitar discoveries that helped shape them.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/inside-the-songwriting-and-guitar-craft-of-gillian-welch-and-david-rawlings/feed/ 2 146442 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-connect-chords-with-bass-runs/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-connect-chords-with-bass-runs/#respond Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146316 We’ll start off with a series of examples that use a bass run to connect two chords, and then we’ll try out bass runs in a few classic progressions.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-connect-chords-with-bass-runs/feed/ 0 146316 https://acousticguitar.com/review-audigo-wireless-microphone-and-app/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-audigo-wireless-microphone-and-app/#comments Wed, 30 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=145718 Audigo lets you record and sync audio and video, use EQ and effects, and share the final product—all on your phone. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-audigo-wireless-microphone-and-app/feed/ 2 145718 https://acousticguitar.com/pat-metheny-explores-baritone-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/pat-metheny-explores-baritone-guitar/#comments Sun, 27 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=145848 The groundbreaking guitarist goes deep on his latest solo ventures—and why every one of his 50-plus releases feels like a single album.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/pat-metheny-explores-baritone-guitar/feed/ 1 145848 https://acousticguitar.com/add-a-blues-flavor-to-your-rhythm-with-simple-chord-embellishments/ https://acousticguitar.com/add-a-blues-flavor-to-your-rhythm-with-simple-chord-embellishments/#respond Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=145783 In this lesson we’ll work with some "blue" notes that you can use to add bluesy colors to open chord shapes. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/add-a-blues-flavor-to-your-rhythm-with-simple-chord-embellishments/feed/ 0 145783 https://acousticguitar.com/play-kacey-musgraves-dreamy-ballad-too-good-to-be-true/ https://acousticguitar.com/play-kacey-musgraves-dreamy-ballad-too-good-to-be-true/#respond Fri, 04 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=145209 This intimate song is built on layers of acoustic guitar, with fingerstyle parts that are so closely entwined it’s often hard to pick out the individual instruments.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/play-kacey-musgraves-dreamy-ballad-too-good-to-be-true/feed/ 0 145209 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-use-sus-and-add-embellishments-with-open-chord-shapes/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-use-sus-and-add-embellishments-with-open-chord-shapes/#respond Sun, 04 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=145271 Sus and add chord voicings are used all the time to add variety to rhythm patterns and create riffs.]]> 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