Epiphone guitars have quite the reputation. But does their street cred match up with how they sound? Check out my list of the 10 best Epiphone acoustic guitars ever made. @OfficialEpiphone guitars are kinda known as the less desirable branch of the Gibson family. They aren't as expensive, are made with cheaper parts (usually), and don't have the same prestige as a Gibson guitar. But does that really matter? Doesn't it all come down to the sound? Fortunately for you, that's probably the biggest consideration I have when I'm making recommendations. So, after reviewing thousands of guitars in my lifetime, I've gained a certain understanding of what to look for in a guitar. As a result, this is my list of the 10 best Epiphone guitars out there. The prices on this list run from as high as $6,000 to, well, much more affordable than that. There's a little something for everyone here so be sure to check out the whole episode. Featured in this episode... - Epiphone - Gibson - GemsOnVHS - National Guitars - Recording King Guitars
Learning closed position, moveable chords can unlock your understanding of the fretboard. More importantly? You will be able to play a song or lick in any key, anywhere on the fretboard. In this lesson behind the lick, you'll learn all about closed position moveable patterns. Closed position movable patterns involve NO open strings. That means that you can easily move the pattern to a different key without a capo or a changing your tuning. Closed position patterns truly unlock the fretboard for you. When you play in closed position, you learn a pattern rather than specific frets or open string patterns. This means that you can play in a variety of keys. When you start playing with others or you want to sing along, you'll find you mind need to play in different keys. If you've learned a scale, chord pattern, or lick in closed position, this transition will be very easy. I want you to try learning closed position. You may find that you'll have even more flexibility on the fretboard. F...
Charlie Parr is one of the most under-the-radar living guitar legends out there. He's known for his wild country blues and roots sound. In this video, you'll learn how to sound like this guitar legend and learn some tips and tricks from my years of knowing and playing with him! Charlie Parr is first and foremost a folk artist. He's incredible talented, humble, and dedicated to carrying on the traditions of folk music. Whether its hill country blues or a one of his original compositions, I highly recommend you check him out! Once you've gotten a taste of his sound, you're probably wondering how you can incorporate his techniques and style into your own playing. Luck for you, that's why I made this episode. I'll be serving 10 guitar lessons to help you emulate Charlie Parr. But more importantly, you'll learn how to find your own sound via the wisdom of Charlie Parr — just check out the episode and you'll know what I mean! Featured in this episode... - Charlie Parr - Smithsonian Fol...
Gibson has an incredible history of making some of the best acoustic guitars. But after 100 years, which ones are their best acoustic guitars ever made? Whenever I talk about Gibson Guitars, I'm always sure to upset, puzzle, dazzle, and mystify some folks. So, before you go any further, I want you to know this is just my perspective on things. Take it for what it's worth. I've played thousands of guitars for even thousands of more hours. When I made this list I wanted to remove some of the super expensive, vintage Gibson acoustic guitars that are truly cost prohibitive. Many Gibson acoustic guitars are just way too expensive, but just know I considered putting them on this list. From the Keb Mo signature to the True Vintage J-200, there are some incredible guitars on this list. Be sure to watch the full episode to see if your favorite Gibson acoustic guitar is on this list! In addition to talking about some of the best acoustic guitars Gibson has made, we'll take a look at some comm...
Drop D tuning can open up an entire new sonic soundscape, but do you know how best to practice your shapes and scales in this alternate tuning? On today's episode of Acoustic Tuesday, you're going to get a lesson behind the acoustic guitar lick of the week. Every Tuesday, I offer you a quick lesson on learning an awesome lick. But this week, you'll get to see the theory, rationale, and benefits behind learning the lick this week. Specifically, this lick focuses on drop D tuning for the acoustic guitar. Drop D tuning is when you turn your low E string to a low D. This gives you awesome bass sounds and can infuse your playing with bluesy mojo sounds. If you aren't a fan of the blues (to which I say, check yourself!), drop D tuning is used in a variety of different genres. From American Primitive to modern fingerstyle, you're sure to find a great way to apply drop D tuning to your playing. Besides covering drop D tuning, you'll also hear from TAC Family member Shannon and how building ...
Ever wondered what slide is the best for playing slide guitar? Brass? Bronze? Glass? Heavy? Light? All this will — and more — will be covered in this episode of Acoustic Tuesday! Bottleneck slides are perhaps the most important piece of gear for playing slide guitar...besides your guitar, of course! That's why I've dedicated a whole episode to discussing the importance of picking out the right slide. There are so many choices out there. It can be totally overwhelming. And sometimes, when you're overwhelmed, you just go with the cheapest price. I'm here to advise you against doing that. Instead, take a look at these 10 slide manufacturers to see what to look for in a high-quality slide that can work within your budget. I'll also add that I have a preference for bronze or brass slides. I explain why in the video, but it ultimately boils down to a combination of tone and feel. I really love the heavy feeling of a slide that sits comfortably on my finger and has enough weight that it ...
Resonator guitars have so many myths tied to them. They have to be played differently. They're way too expensive. They are only good for one style. But is any of this actually true? On today's episode of Acoustic Tuesday, you'll get a chance to see my top 10 favorite resonator guitars. This list is made up of many different resonator guitars at different price points. Every guitar on this list is a great bang for your buck regardless. I love resonator guitars because they have some great punchy tones. Like a banjo, the decay on resonators can be really quick, but as a soon as you add a slide, the tone morphs so much. But this brings us to the first common misconception: resonators have to be played with a slide. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Resonator guitars can be played like a normal guitar. Sure, using a slide gives it a very bluesy or country sound, but in reality, they sound just as good without a slide. You don't need any different techniques really. There's also a...
Synthesizers. BOOMING snare hits. Shredding. The 80s aren't known for acoustic guitar playing. But that's will change in this episode of Acoustic Tuesday! We'll be taking a look at the 10 best acoustic guitar albums of the 80s, paying close attention to some of the best flatpickers and fingerpickers of that decade. I'm not talking about one-off power ballads that use an acoustic guitar in the intro. I'm talking about whole albums that pushed the genre of acoustic guitar music. You'll recognize some classics on here like Tony Rice's "Church Street Blues," and Michael Hedge's "Aerial Boundaries." With each of the albums chosen, I'll highlight my favorite song off the album in the hopes that you can check them out for yourself. In addition to discussing the 10 best acoustic guitar albums of the 80s, you'll hear a very important story from TAC Family member Johnny. He noticed that he actually enjoys playing guitar now more than he did when he was younger. Why is this? Be sure to listen ...
Santa Cruz Guitar Company has been making some of the best guitars on the market for almost 50 years. Check out this episode to see why these guitars make tones like no other guitar can. From the classics like the Vintage Southerner to the tiny but mighty Firefly, there's something for everyone on this list. I've had the pleasure of playing many guitars in my life, and @SantaCruzGuitarCo has always had high standards, and excellent craftsmanship. In addition to talking about my 8 favorite guitars from this small-bench, boutique luthier, I have a whole slew of new music releases that I'm excited to share with you. From Pharis and Jason Romero to John Moreland, there's some awesome music for you to listen to this week! Featured in this Episode Santa Cruz GuitarCo Eddie's Guitars Tom Sands Adrian Bellue Pharis and Jason Romero Smithsonian Folkways John Moreland Jeffrey Foucault
Harmonics on acoustic guitar can be tricky! You can't rely on the gain of your amp, which means accuracy is super important. This episode will cover everything you should practice to start playing harmonics on acoustic guitar. Before we go any further, you might be wondering what harmonics are. Harmonics create a bell-like tone you can make on your guitar by gently placing your finger above certain positions on the fretboard and plucking the string. It creates an overtone on the guitar. The end result is an airy, bell-like tone. Between natural and false harmonics, there's a whole sonic landscape to discover with harmonics. The only problem is that playing harmonics on an acoustic guitar is much harder. Electric guitars benefit from having amplification, which means harmonics can be played even if you miss the sweet spot of where the harmonic is. Natural harmonics are located on the 12th, 5th, and 7th frets on a guitar. There are other locations, too, but these are the common places...