https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Fri, 22 Aug 2025 17:33:45 +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/review-classical-guitar-great-sharon-isbin-elevates-new-release-from-composer-karen-lefrak/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-classical-guitar-great-sharon-isbin-elevates-new-release-from-composer-karen-lefrak/#respond Fri, 22 Aug 2025 17:33:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=148484 Consisting of world premiere recordings of three works based around Cuban rhythms, ‘Romántico’ features the exquisite classical guitar work of the reliably great Isbin.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-classical-guitar-great-sharon-isbin-elevates-new-release-from-composer-karen-lefrak/feed/ 0 148484 https://acousticguitar.com/new-releases-showcase-the-expressive-power-and-global-reach-of-the-nylon-string-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/new-releases-showcase-the-expressive-power-and-global-reach-of-the-nylon-string-guitar/#respond Wed, 14 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147884 Recent albums by Carlotta Dalia, the Mēla Quartet, Dale Kavanagh, and George Sakellariou reveal the instrument’s versatility.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/new-releases-showcase-the-expressive-power-and-global-reach-of-the-nylon-string-guitar/feed/ 0 147884 https://acousticguitar.com/teja-gerken-doug-youngs-the-water-is-wide-bridges-familiar-tunes-and-fresh-arrangements/ https://acousticguitar.com/teja-gerken-doug-youngs-the-water-is-wide-bridges-familiar-tunes-and-fresh-arrangements/#respond Fri, 25 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147649 Longtime collaborators bring clarity, care, and quiet invention to a wide-ranging set of acoustic guitar duets.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/teja-gerken-doug-youngs-the-water-is-wide-bridges-familiar-tunes-and-fresh-arrangements/feed/ 0 147649 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-talk-arlen-roth-reflects-on-a-lifetime-of-making-and-teaching-music/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-talk-arlen-roth-reflects-on-a-lifetime-of-making-and-teaching-music/#respond Fri, 21 Mar 2025 15:40:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=147381 More than a prolific solo artist and first-call sideman, Roth is one of the industry's most influential modern guitar instructors.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-talk-arlen-roth-reflects-on-a-lifetime-of-making-and-teaching-music/feed/ 0 147381 https://acousticguitar.com/review-sharon-isbin-and-amjad-ali-khan-live-in-aspen/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-sharon-isbin-and-amjad-ali-khan-live-in-aspen/#respond Fri, 13 Dec 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=146196 East meets West in this fascinating collaboration of classical guitar and sarod, captured live at the Aspen Music Festival.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-sharon-isbin-and-amjad-ali-khan-live-in-aspen/feed/ 0 146196 https://acousticguitar.com/review-stephane-wrembels-triptych-triology-is-his-finest-work-yet/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-stephane-wrembels-triptych-triology-is-his-finest-work-yet/#respond Wed, 23 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=145705 The guitarist-composer has outdone himself with his latest project, a three-album release called ‘Triptych Phase I,’ ‘Phase II,’ and ‘Phase III.’ ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-stephane-wrembels-triptych-triology-is-his-finest-work-yet/feed/ 0 145705 https://acousticguitar.com/review-sue-foley-honors-women-of-the-blues-and-beyond-on-one-guitar-woman/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-sue-foley-honors-women-of-the-blues-and-beyond-on-one-guitar-woman/#comments Fri, 16 Aug 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=145601 For her latest release, Foley has shifted gears and recorded a true solo album, with just her voice and a single, warm-sounding nylon-string acoustic.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-sue-foley-honors-women-of-the-blues-and-beyond-on-one-guitar-woman/feed/ 2 145601 https://acousticguitar.com/review-julian-lage-speak-to-me/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-julian-lage-speak-to-me/#respond Wed, 19 Jun 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=144525 Whether you’ve been out of the Lage loop or you’re simply Lage-curious, this album feels like the perfect vehicle to explore his talents as a player, collaborator, and composer.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-julian-lage-speak-to-me/feed/ 0 144525 https://acousticguitar.com/review-andy-mckees-tripliciti/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-andy-mckees-tripliciti/#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=144424 There’s so much thoughtful and imaginative fretwork on this tremendously collaborative album that it’s worth devoting your full attention to it.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-andy-mckees-tripliciti/feed/ 1 144424 https://acousticguitar.com/review-tim-sparks-lost-and-found/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-tim-sparks-lost-and-found/#respond Sun, 24 Mar 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143845 You may think you know these songs, but Sparks and company take them to unpredictable and unexpected places.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-tim-sparks-lost-and-found/feed/ 0 143845 https://acousticguitar.com/review-plinio-fernandes-spellbinding-bacheando-explores-the-lasting-influence-of-j-s-bach/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-plinio-fernandes-spellbinding-bacheando-explores-the-lasting-influence-of-j-s-bach/#respond Fri, 23 Feb 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143767 ‘Bacheando’ is a collection of works by Bach and by a few notable modern Brazilian composers who were deeply affected and influenced by Bach.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-plinio-fernandes-spellbinding-bacheando-explores-the-lasting-influence-of-j-s-bach/feed/ 0 143767 https://acousticguitar.com/review-teja-gerkens-test-of-time-is-a-sonic-marvel-from-top-to-bottom/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-teja-gerkens-test-of-time-is-a-sonic-marvel-from-top-to-bottom/#respond Fri, 26 Jan 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=143437 The Bay Area fingerstyle guitarist’s third solo album features a terrific mix of styles and influences and definitely lives up to its title.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-teja-gerkens-test-of-time-is-a-sonic-marvel-from-top-to-bottom/feed/ 0 143437 https://acousticguitar.com/review-william-lee-ellis-ghost-hymns/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-william-lee-ellis-ghost-hymns/#comments Wed, 15 Nov 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142698 The guitar work throughout shows Ellis’ impressive range, and the large selection of instruments gives each song a distinctive feel.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-william-lee-ellis-ghost-hymns/feed/ 1 142698 https://acousticguitar.com/review-the-blue-album-by-spanish-virtuoso-pablo-sainz-villegas-is-an-intriguing-often-meditative-sonic-journey/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-the-blue-album-by-spanish-virtuoso-pablo-sainz-villegas-is-an-intriguing-often-meditative-sonic-journey/#respond Mon, 06 Nov 2023 17:58:46 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142540 These 14 pieces share a serene, mysterious, contemplative quality that's both compelling and pleasantly mind-opening.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-the-blue-album-by-spanish-virtuoso-pablo-sainz-villegas-is-an-intriguing-often-meditative-sonic-journey/feed/ 0 142540 https://acousticguitar.com/review-hayden-pedigo-the-happiest-times-i-ever-ignored/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-hayden-pedigo-the-happiest-times-i-ever-ignored/#respond Fri, 13 Oct 2023 23:47:51 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=142347 Inventive sonic and instrumental touches throughout elevate what feels like a solo acoustic guitar album to something more expansive.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-hayden-pedigo-the-happiest-times-i-ever-ignored/feed/ 0 142347 https://acousticguitar.com/ralph-towner-is-still-defying-categorization/ https://acousticguitar.com/ralph-towner-is-still-defying-categorization/#comments Sun, 08 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141935 At 83, the prolific guitarist/composer continues to write and record vital, involving pieces. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/ralph-towner-is-still-defying-categorization/feed/ 3 141935 https://acousticguitar.com/review-molly-tuttle-city-of-gold/ https://acousticguitar.com/review-molly-tuttle-city-of-gold/#comments Sun, 24 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=141751 The group's sophomore album may very well eclipse the unexpected success of its predecessor.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/review-molly-tuttle-city-of-gold/feed/ 1 141751 https://acousticguitar.com/jaimee-harris-boomerang-town-finds-the-dark-and-light-in-emotional-journey/ Tue, 04 Jul 2023 15:17:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=139515 Every song on this country-leaning folk Americana album is propelled by acoustic guitar and other, mostly spare instrumentation.]]> 139515 https://acousticguitar.com/raphaella-smits-feels-right-at-home-playing-argentine-music/ Sun, 18 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=135757 The eight-string guitarist's latest album, ‘Che Argentina,’ is a passion project devoted to 20th-century works by seven Argentine composers.]]> 135757 https://acousticguitar.com/multiple-layered-guitars-stand-out-on-steve-dawsons-eyes-closed-dreaming/ https://acousticguitar.com/multiple-layered-guitars-stand-out-on-steve-dawsons-eyes-closed-dreaming/#respond Tue, 30 May 2023 15:32:12 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=139531 As with all of Dawson’s projects that I’ve heard, his layered guitars sit front and center, but he’s also supported by a fine cast of other players.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/multiple-layered-guitars-stand-out-on-steve-dawsons-eyes-closed-dreaming/feed/ 0 139531 https://acousticguitar.com/elsie-franklin-miss-rhythm-review/ https://acousticguitar.com/elsie-franklin-miss-rhythm-review/#respond Tue, 25 Apr 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=136114 Half the songs on Miss Rhythm are originals, though if you didn’t see the writing credits, you could easily be fooled into thinking that they were pulled off scratchy 78s from the ’20s or ’30s.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/elsie-franklin-miss-rhythm-review/feed/ 0 136114 https://acousticguitar.com/irene-gomez-songs-of-my-life-canciones-de-mi-vida-review/ https://acousticguitar.com/irene-gomez-songs-of-my-life-canciones-de-mi-vida-review/#respond Tue, 18 Apr 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=136126 The nimble and expressive Colombian classical guitarist Irene Gómez has always played a diverse repertoire, as befits a musician whose varied guitar education included programs in her native country, in France, and at Juilliard in New York, where she studied with Sharon Isbin.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/irene-gomez-songs-of-my-life-canciones-de-mi-vida-review/feed/ 0 136126 https://acousticguitar.com/rory-blocks-aint-nobody-worried-salutes-10-of-her-favorite-female-singers/ https://acousticguitar.com/rory-blocks-aint-nobody-worried-salutes-10-of-her-favorite-female-singers/#respond Tue, 28 Mar 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=134916 Ain’t Nobody Worried, the third installment in Rory Block’s Power Women of the Blues series, takes the acoustic slide guitar master and blues belter in some unexpected but completely rewarding new directions.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/rory-blocks-aint-nobody-worried-salutes-10-of-her-favorite-female-singers/feed/ 0 134916 https://acousticguitar.com/great-picking-singing-and-songs-on-kin-ya-see-that-sun-a-fitting-tribute-to-the-late-maggie-roche/ https://acousticguitar.com/great-picking-singing-and-songs-on-kin-ya-see-that-sun-a-fitting-tribute-to-the-late-maggie-roche/#respond Tue, 07 Mar 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=135387 The album brings together 15 previously unreleased live and studio tracks by two of the three singing Roche sisters, Terre and Maggie, who were a performing folk duo dating back to their teen years.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/great-picking-singing-and-songs-on-kin-ya-see-that-sun-a-fitting-tribute-to-the-late-maggie-roche/feed/ 0 135387 https://acousticguitar.com/kate-koenigs-immortal-rhythm-is-a-compelling-slice-of-alternative-folk-autobiography/ https://acousticguitar.com/kate-koenigs-immortal-rhythm-is-a-compelling-slice-of-alternative-folk-autobiography/#respond Tue, 28 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=135398 Kate Koenig describes Immortal Rhythm as “alternative folk," and there is a folk purity to the mostly crystalline vocals and much of the fingerpicked and strummed acoustic guitar parts.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/kate-koenigs-immortal-rhythm-is-a-compelling-slice-of-alternative-folk-autobiography/feed/ 0 135398