Guitar Lesson: Exploring John Prine’s Simple but Distinctive Acoustic Approach
This lesson takes a tour of John Prine’s music by way of his guitar style, using examples drawn from some of his most-loved songs.
Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers
Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, founding editor of Acoustic Guitar, is a grand prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and author of The Complete Singer-Songwriter, Beyond Strumming, and other books and videos for musicians. In addition to his ongoing work with AG, he offers live workshops for guitarists and songwriters, plus video lessons, song charts, and tab, on Patreon.
For the Sake of the Song: Accompaniment Tips and Techniques
Mark Erelli, Shawn Colvin, Anaïs Mitchell, Martin Sexton, and Anthony da Costa talk about technique for guitar accompaniment in their songs
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The Guitar-Tuning Odyssey of Joni Mitchell
The melodies and harmonies of Joni Mitchell's music rarely unfold in ways that our ears have come to expect. Here's a look at her guitar tuning Odyssey.
Writing Songs with Sunny War, Madison Cunningham, and Adam Levy | The Acoustic Guitar Podcast
Join our illustrious panel for an in-depth conversation on songwriting. While each of our guests has a unique perspective and process, they share the belief that you can write songs, too.
7 Tips to Make Cover Songs Feel Like Your Own
As a songwriter, do you stick to your guns and your own songs—or cave and just deliver the hits everyone can sing along with? There’s a healthier way to look at covers: as a creative vehicle that can actually enhance rather than compete with your songwriting.
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12 Ways to Challenge Yourself and Discover New Territory on Guitar
We talked to a group of artists and educators who share their favorite exercises, strategies, and tricks for helping get beyond the comfort zone and discover new territory on the guitar.
Learn to Play Madison Cunningham’s “Life According to Raechel”
Learn to play the hushed, sparse, gorgeously melodic song that Madison Cunningham wrote in honor of her grandmother.
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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Using Slash Chords to Strengthen Your Bass Lines and Chord Progressions
Slash chords are a small change to a chord voicing that can have a big impact on the sound of a progression, as we’ll explore in this guitar lesson.
Exploring James Taylor’s Singular and Sophisticated Guitar Style
In James Taylor’s music, the guitar provides much more than accompaniment. Learn how to play like James Taylor in this acoustic guitar lesson.
Three New Solo Guitar Arrangements of Christmas Carols for 2022
Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers shares three new solo guitar arrangements of Christmas Carols: "What Child Is This?," "O Little Town of Bethlehem," and "Jingle Bells."
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Is My Child Old Enough to Learn Guitar?
If your child (or grandchild or other kid in your life) has expressed an interest in playing guitar, you may be wondering if they’re too young to begin lessons.
How Madison Cunningham Uses Unusual Tunings and Beater Guitars to Discover Fresh Sounds
Madison Cunningham is a true triple-threat musician: a singer and inventive songwriter, a wickedly good guitarist, and a seeker of unconventional riffs and tones.
Sarah Jarosz | The Acoustic Guitar Podcast
Join us us for an in-depth discussion on the songwriting process and the importance of following your ear with trailblazing singer-songwriter Sarah Jarosz.
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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Guitar Lesson: Use Bluegrass Flatpicking to Add Excitement to Your Accompaniments
In this guitar lesson, learn how to use bluegrass flatpicking to add riffs and fills on top of your playing to create the exciting sound of multiple instruments.
Announcing the Winners of Will Ackerman’s Tuning Challenge
Will Ackerman’s solo guitar piece “I Had to Go There” is in a rare tuning: F C Eb Ab C Eb. The guitarist invites you to give song’s tuning a try and share what you discover.
How to Play Neil Young’s Luminous Love Song “Harvest Moon“
With its graceful melody and romantic glow, the song is an acoustic repertoire staple—sung at countless weddings and song circles.
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Letters from Pete: How Pete Seeger mentored and inspired generations of musicians
Tony Trischka grew up with Pete Seeger’s banjo ringing in his house, by way of his parents’ records of the Weavers, the Almanac Singers, and Seeger’s folk songs for children. In 1962, at age 13, Trischka started getting serious about…
A Visit To the Studio of Guitarist, Producer, and Windham Hill Founder Will Ackerman
It’s hard to picture a more idyllic environment for making music than guitarist Will Ackerman’s Imaginary Road Studios in Windham County, Vermont.
Am I Too Old to Learn Guitar?
If we, at whatever age, are truly determined to make music come out of those six strings, we will.
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My First Guitar | The Acoustic Guitar Podcast
Listen to the first-ever episode of The Acoustic Guitar Podcast, a new monthly show from your friends at Acoustic Guitar magazine.
Indie Folk Songwriter Joan Shelley Heads Home with ‘The Spur’
The Spur is a batch of songs that reflect on putting down roots, coming out of what Joan Shelley calls a “period of opposite extremes—of creative hyper-connection and physical isolation."
How to Play James Taylor’s Timeless Cowboy Lullaby “Sweet Baby James”
Here are some tips on how to play "Sweet Baby James,” the 1970 title track of James Taylor’s second album. Taylor himself has called it his best song.
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Watch Joan Armatrading Play Her Classic Ballad “Love and Affection”
Watch Joan Armatrading play "Love and Affection" on her Ovation 12-string guitar, and learn some tips for playing the song with her rich chord voicings.
