Remembering the Groundbreaking Folk/Pop Singer-Songwriter Jill Sobule
A champion of outsiders and an early crowdfunding trailblazer, Sobule’s 35-year songbook married sly humor, weird chords, and unforgettable hooks.
How the Acoustic Guitar Kept the Pulse of the Swing Era
We’ll examine the techniques and approaches that made the acoustic guitar an essential component of the swing era, while tracing its journey through the big band era and its lasting impact on jazz.
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Remembering Folk Legend and Educator Happy Traum, 1938-2024
In this series of remembrances, some close friends and collaborators—and Happy’s musician son, Adam—share their reflections on the man and his music.
Remembering Happy Traum (1938–2024)
Happy Traum was a Renaissance man in both senses of the term, a person of wide and deep interests and pursuits and a man capable of invention and reinvention throughout the long life that just ended after 86 eventful years.
Remembering Innovative Guitar Repair Guru Frank Ford
The legacy Ford leaves behind is much greater than just the story of his work—it is also one of community, innovation, education, and friendship.
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Remembering Legendary Luthier Frank Ford, 1944–2023
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.
“Aren’t We Lucky?”—Remembering Michael Chapdelaine, 1956-2023
Author and guitar lover Joseph Skibell says farewell to guitarist-composer Michael Chapdelaine, his teacher, friend, and musical mentor.
John Lennon, A Songwriter’s Legacy
What gives this music such vitality and allure, even for those who didn't grow up with Beatlemania in the 1960s?
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Remembering Al Petteway, Prolific Guitarist and Teacher, 1952-2023
On September 25th, the acoustic music community lost a great luminary with the passing of guitarist and composer Al Petteway.
Guitar Talk: Jimmy Buffett on His Evolving Collection of Golden-Era Instruments
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.
Remembering Robbie Robertson
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.
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Spain and the Guitar: The Modern Classical Instrument Owes Much to Deep Iberian Roots
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.
Remembering Roots and Blues Legend Steve James
The acoustic music world lost one of its most colorful figures when Steve James passed away on January 6, 2023, at 72.
Remembering David Lindley
Renowned maxi-instrumentalist David Lindley passed away March 3, 2023 at the age of 78. Republished here is a profile and in-depth interview, which originally ran as cover story for our June 2000 issue.
Remembering Guitarist and Teacher Dix Bruce 1952–2023
The versatile, knowledgeable, and always cheerful musician and educator Dix Bruce passed away suddenly and peacefully in his sleep at age 70.
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Remembering Roots Musician Steve James 1950–2023
To his colleagues at Acoustic Guitar, Steve James was not only the knowledgeable, reliable author of 185 well-regarded articles and reviews, he was a cherished friend, close collaborator, and the source of endlessly entertaining tales from the road.
Chet Atkins’ Certified Guitar Players
Tommy Emmanuel, John Knowles, and Steve Wariner share the distinction of being Certified Guitar Players, anointed by Chet Atkins himself. Here they sit down, for the first time, to discuss Atkins.
Arlo Guthrie on Why ‘Alice’s Restaurant’ Has Endured: Listen to the Thanksgiving Classic
"The idea was to play something that would allow me to tell a long tall tale without it becoming distracting—or in other words, play something familiar. The actual fingerpicking is instantly recognizable now.”
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Island Style: How Hawaiian Music Helped Make the Guitar America’s Instrument
Many people think of the guitar as "America's instrument,” but the truth is the guitar was a relative latecomer to American music. Here, Michael Wright traces the instrument's origins
Mississippi John Hurt’s Influence on the 1960s Folk Scene and Beyond
In the folk music boom in New York in the 1960s, the music of guitarist Mississippi John Hurt was a huge influence on players like Happy Traum, John Sebastian, and others.
4 Contemporary Fingerstyle Masters Reflect on the Impact and Legacy of Guitar Revolutionary Michael Hedges
Contemporary fingerstyle guitar masters Andy McKee, Kaki King, Christie Lenée, and Mike Dawes reflect on the legacy of the revolutionary guitarist Michael Hedges.
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Remembering Guitar Innovator Rick Turner (1943–2022)
Remembering guitarist, luthier, electronics designer, and Acoustic Guitar contributor Rick Turner, who passed away April 17, 2022 at age 78.
Out of the Shadows: Undersung Women of Blues Guitar
Here we highlight female blues guitarists who helped shaped the blues; masterly musicians who don’t always receive the recognition they deserve.
Woody Mann (1952–2022): Remembering a Vital Fingerstyle Guitarist and Educator
Guitarist Woody Mann’s unique musical style was rooted in both traditional blues and progressive jazz, with many influences in between.
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Remembering David Surette, Humble Master of Folk Guitar and Mandolin
David Surette was renowned for his superb solo fingerstyle guitar arrangements of Celtic tunes, as well as the Grateful Dead guitar/mandolin duo Steve and Dave Play Dead.
