Acoustic

How to Play Bentonia Blues

September 14, 2019

Ryan Lee Crosby

Toss aside the rules and tune down your guitar.

How to Write a Song

September 7, 2019

Lindsay Ell

Nashville recording artist Lindsay Ell shares tips on how she beats writer’s block ... and how you can, too.

Decoding Django’s Gypsy Chords

April 20, 2019

Doug Munro

Investigate one of the most under-appreciated elements of Gypsy jazz by grabbing a fistful of new chord shapes and ideas.

Trash or Treasure: Epiphone PR7E

July 15, 2018

Zachary Fjestad

A reader’s curious preschooler finds an old guitar in a spare room. The reader smartly inquiries about its value before handing it over to a 4-year-old.

Free Your Mind: A New Way to Approach Open Strings

December 10, 2016

Luke Brindley

Find new horizons with a few basic scales, some adventurous tunings, and a healthy dose of unfretted notes.

Acoustic Adventures: Harmonic Visions

March 12, 2016

Jon Stickley

There are sparkling, harp-like notes lurking just above your fretboard that can add a magical touch to any composition. We’ll show you where they are and how to coax them out.

10 Commandments of Bluegrass Guitar

November 21, 2015

Andy Falco

Essential tips for nailing that “high, lonesome” sound.

Acoustic Soundboard: (Scale) Length Matters

October 14, 2015

Mark Dalton

String scale length certainly affects playability, but it also has a huge role in a guitar’s sound.

Acoustic Adventures: A Twist on the Traditional

September 12, 2015

Dustin Prinz

A quick look at how to work vintage blues/rock and psychedelia into acoustic riffs.

Pluck ’Em! A Crash Course in Country Guitar

September 20, 2014

Troy Nelson

Grab a Tele and dig into this comprehensive look at the art of twang.

Acoustic Adventures: Leo Kottke's Invisible Thumb

March 15, 2014

Shawn Persinger

Discover the secrets of fingerstyle master Leo Kottke.

Rhythm Rules: Syncopated 16th-Note Rhythms

August 17, 2013

Alex Nolan

Stay in the pocket! Learn how 16th-note rhythms work in funk, rock, and acoustic music.

Peavey Vypyr VIP 2 Amp Review

July 10, 2013

Lyle Zaehringer

This latest iteration of the Vypyr line of amps is designed and built to handle electric 6-string, acoustic, and bass guitars.

Martin Guitars Unveils Ed Sheeran Signature LX1E Guitar

July 9, 2013

Press Release

Singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran teams up with Martin for a new signature model.

The DuncanAfrica Society

July 7, 2013

Lindsay Tucker

Canadian luthier Jay Duncan makes the world a better place by helping others build sustainable communities, one guitar at a time.

A Very Golden Anniversary

June 29, 2013

Rick Turner

We welcome Rick Turner to our Acoustic Soundboard column in his 50th year as a luther—what would you like to know about building acoustics?

Cole Clark Angel AN2A3BB Acoustic Guitar Review

June 22, 2013

Adam Perlmutter

A smart, modern acoustic-electric grand auditorium that’s beautifully built and supremely playable.

Factory Tour: Fender Acoustic Custom Shop • Guild Guitars • Ovation

June 18, 2013

Charles Saufley

On the shores of the Farmington River in New Hartford, Connecticut, three legendary acoustic brands have amassed a formidable army of guitar-building talent that seems destined to take flattops into a new golden age.