Acoustic Guitar

Acoustic Guitar

Join us for conversations that explore why we play, collect, build, obsess over guitars and how rewarding it is to make music of our own. Each month, your hosts at Acoustic Guitar magazine connect you with great guitarists – from preeminent pickers and fingerstyle sensations to trailblazing songwriters, luthiers, and the acoustic guitar community at large.

Episodes

March 27, 2024 30 mins

We caught up with Alejandro Escovedo ahead of the release of Echo Dancing – his latest album in a legendary, genre-expansive career. Escovedo candidly discusses how painful personal experiences inform his songwriting, how he first picked up the guitar, why he prefers to play acoustic, and what makes Austin, Texas a great town for songwriters.

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Catch up with London-based indie folk duo Flyte in this bonus Acoustic Guitar Sessions episode. We talk first and favorite guitars, writing for two voices, and enjoy a performance of “Chelsea Smiles” from their latest album. Visit Flyte’s website to hear more of their music.

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February 28, 2024 33 mins

How does competition fit into the creative process? We're joined by Abby Posner, Rachel Garcia, and Thu Tran for a candid roundtable discussion all about songwriting competitions. Explore the highs and lows of participating in these events, how to pick which song to enter, and the impact contests can have on a guitarist's career. 

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Like so many musicians of a certain generation, our guests started playing guitar in large part because of the Beatles. Today, Laurence Juber, Mimi Fox, and Tim Sparks each take a different approach to arranging, adapting, reharmonizing, and reimagining these tunes. Tune in for a lively roundtable discussion, chock-full of inspiring musical examples, all about playing the music of the Beatles on acoustic guitar.

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December 27, 2023 34 mins

From the Newport Folk Festival to art museums in Norway and every open mic, stadium, and radio station in between – if it’s a gig, Pieta Brown, Christopher Paul Stelling, and Sean Rowe are ready for it! This roundtable of well-traveled acoustic guitarists has played tons of shows across the globe – and are here to share insights, stories, laughs, and ideas to get you ready to play out, too.

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November 29, 2023 27 mins

Catch up with one of your favorite bluegrass bands! Sara Watkins, Sean Watkins, and Chris Thile discuss breathing new life into classic tunes, what their kids really think of their music, and a whole lot more.

This episode is sponsored by ToneWoodAmp, a magnetically attached game-changing multi-effects device for acoustic guitars. Get reverb, delay, and more—no amp required! Learn more at tonewoodamp.com.

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October 26, 2023 33 mins

In this roundtable discussion, Diego Figueiredo, Gwenifer Raymond, and Yasmin Williams share their unique perspectives on composing for solo guitar. Through conversation and inspiring demonstrations, our guests explore the differences between improvising and refining a piece, techniques for making one guitar feel like a full band, and more.

This episode is sponsored by ToneWoodAmp, a magnetically attached game-changing multi-effects...

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September 27, 2023 37 mins

While both our guests are lauded for their electric guitar chops, this episode is all about playing unplugged. Join Eric Johnson and Gretchen Menn for a wide-ranging conversation exploring ego, joy, musical growth, and how to get good tone. (Hint: it's about a lot more than gear!)

Thanks to ToneWoodAmp for sponsoring this episode. Learn more about their magnetically attached, game-changing multi-effects device for acoustic guit...

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August 30, 2023 33 mins

Go behind the workbench to explore the unique challenges and joys of guitar repair and restoration!

What do Dana Bourgeois, Mamie Minch, and Martin Keith have in common? They’ve all been the author behind Acoustic Guitar magazine’s question-and-answer column “Ask the Expert,” for one. Now we find out what these guitar experts wish more people would ask about their instruments, and what advice they have for you.

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July 26, 2023 26 mins

We sat down with Bruce Cockburn after the release of O Sun O Moon – his latest album in a distinguished career spanning five decades. Cockburn discusses creativity, guitars, songwriting, and even gives us a lesson in EADGAD tuning.

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June 28, 2023 54 mins

It’s our first birthday! If you’ve been listening since the beginning, you remember "My First Guitar," where we heard stories from some incredible players. Now we bring you the luthier edition, with 15 outstanding makers reflecting on what they learned from and loved about building their first guitars. 

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June 1, 2023 29 mins

Tune in for a fascinating conversation – plus inspiring demonstrations – with nylon-string guitarist and singer Badi Assad. We talk composing and arranging, how to sing and play at the same time, and the importance of emotion and experimentation.

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May 17, 2023 36 mins

To celebrate 100 years of Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson, we invited 11 distinguished guests to share their stories and reflect on his legacy. You'll hear from a range of talented musicians, producers, and makers—including bluegrass titan Peter Rowan, monumental mandolinist Sierra Hull, flatpicking ace David Grier, and more. From poignant memories to laugh-out-loud moments, we explore this great guitarist’s far-reaching and enduring...

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April 26, 2023 31 mins

Join us for an illuminating discussion about the past and present of roots music with the American Songster himself: Dom Flemons. We explore the history behind the songs and instruments he's collected, his new album, Bob Dylan, and a whole lot more.

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April 12, 2023 24 mins

Join us for a lively, honest conversation with boundary-pushing guitarist Kaki King. Learn how she develops new tunings, the story behind the passerelle bridge, and why the third-to-last show is always the best performance of a tour.

Thanks to Elixir® Strings for sponsoring this episode. Get a set today at ElixirStrings.com.

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Join our illustrious panel for an in-depth conversation on songwriting. Each of our guests has a unique perspective and process – Sunny War forged her singular folk-punk style busking on the Venice Beach Boardwalk; Madison Cunningham won this year’s Grammy for Best Roots Performance; Adam Levy is a songwriter and guitarist who’s worked with Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman, and many others. What they all have in common is commitment to t...

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February 22, 2023 29 mins

Andrés Segovia was born on February 21, 1893. To mark his 130th birthday, we spoke with three contemporary guitarists who each studied with the Maestro: Lily Afshar, Liona Boyd, and Michael Chapdelaine. Each of our guests shares their unique (or infamous) experience and how playing for Segovia when they were students impacts the way they see music today.

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January 25, 2023 39 mins

Join us for a rollicking conversation and to hear some original tunes performed by the late legendary roots-and-blues raconteur Steve James.

In this episode, he shares stories and insights about his guitars and guitar heroes, treats us to some favorite songs and explains the writing process behind them, and entertains and educates us in the way that only Steve James can.

Please note: James passed away in January 2023; this recording ...

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December 28, 2022 33 mins

Let’s talk about New Year’s resolutions. Want to make the leap from beginning to intermediate player? Feel more confident soloing? Whatever intention you set, this episode offers not-to-be-missed tips and ideas for making 2023 your best year of guitar yet. Our panel of experts – featuring David Hamburger and Marlene Hutchinson – shares practical advice for setting, measuring, and achieving your guitar goals. 

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December 8, 2022 35 mins

Take a virtual road trip across the United States to visit four independent guitar stores and learn what makes them vital to the communities they serve. As you’ll hear, each of these shops is more than just a retail outlet – and each of these shopkeepers has a unique perspective on why that is and what to look forward to in the future.

Catch up with Richard Johnston of Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, California; Stan and ...

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