Acoustic Guitar

Latest Episodes:

Naima Bock | The Acoustic Guitar Podcast Sessions Apr 11, 2024

Show notes

Catch up with singer-songwriter Naima Bock in this bonus Acoustic Guitar Sessions episode. We enjoy an impromptu performance of a new song—“Showers”—then discuss Bock’s roots in Brazilian and British folk music and get a rundown of her guitars and gear. Listen to her album Giant Palm and visit NaimaBock.com to learn more.

Support the show:

Join our community on Patreon, where you’ll find bonus podcast episodes, exclusive guitar workshops, and plenty more great perks.
Make a donation on PayPal
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (This helps other guitarists find the show and helps us. We really appreciate it.)

Support the show

Alejandro Escovedo Mar 27, 2024

Show notes

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.

Support the show:

Listen to Part 2 on Patreon to learn about the guitars and gear Escovedo tours with, his memories of touring with John Prine, and how music can get us through hard times.
Make a donation on PayPal
Give a rating and review

Additional Resources:

Pre-order Echo Dancing on Bandcamp (or check your local record store or preferred music streaming platforms on March 29.)
Visit Alejandro Escovedo's website.
Watch our 2016 Acoustic Guitar Sessions video with Escovedo.
Read "Six-String Sagas" where 13 artists, including Alejandro Escovedo, share their guitar stories.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast theme music is composed by Adam Perlmutter and performed for this episode by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers.

This episode is hosted by Nick Grizzle and Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, produced by Tanya Gonzalez, and directed and edited by Joey Lusterman. Executive producers are Lyzy Lusterman and Stephanie Campos Dal Broi.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is produced by the team at Acoustic Guitar magazine, including:

Publisher: Lyzy Lusterman
Editorial Director: Adam Perlmutter
Managing Editor: Kevin Owens
Creative Director: Joey Lusterman
Digital Content Director: Stephanie Campos Dal Broi
Digital Content Manager: Nick Grizzle
Marketing Services Manager: Tanya Gonzalez

Special thanks to our listeners who support the show on Patreon.

Support the show

Flyte | The Acoustic Guitar Podcast Sessions Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

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.

Support the show:

Join our community on Patreon, where you’ll find bonus podcast episodes, exclusive guitar workshops, and plenty more great perks.
Make a donation on PayPal
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (This helps other guitarists find the show and helps us. We really appreciate it.)

Support the show

Songwriting Competitions Feb 28, 2024

Show notes

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.

Additional resources:

Listen to Part 2 on Patreon.
Visit Abby Posner’s website and watch the video for "Get Loud" - her 2023 USA Songwriting Competition grand prize winning song. Her latest album is Second Chances.
Visit the Singer and the Songwriter's website and listen to "The Art of Missing You" - their West Coast Songwriters International Song Contest winner. Their latest album is In the Bleak Midwinter.
Visit Jeffrey Pepper Rodger's website for an inside look at his song "Fly" - a grand prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
Learn more about the contests mentioned in this episode: John Lennon Songwriting Competition, Kerrville's Grassy Hill New Folk Competition, NewSong Music Performance & Songwriting Competition, USA Songwriting Competition, West Coast Songwriters International Song Contest.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast theme music is composed by Adam Perlmutter and performed for this episode by Thu Tran.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is produced by the team at Acoustic Guitar magazine, including:

Publisher: Lyzy Lusterman
Editorial Director: Adam Perlmutter
Managing Editor: Kevin Owens
Creative Director: Joey Lusterman
Digital Content Director: Stephanie Campos Dal Broi
Digital Content Manager: Nick Grizzle
Marketing Services Manager: Tanya Gonzalez

Special thanks to our listeners who support the show on Patreon.

Support the show

Fab Four on Six Strings | The Acoustic Guitar Podcast Spotlight on the Beatles Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

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.

Additional resources:

Access Part 2 of this episode on Patreon.
Visit Laurence Juber's website. Watch his Acoustic Guitar Sessions performance and pick up a copy of DADGAD Guitar Essentials to take an in-depth lesson with the fingerstyle master.
Visit Mimi Fox's website. Watch her perform “Blackbird” for Acoustic Guitar Sessions.
Visit Tim Spark's website. Learn how he arranged composer John Zorn’s avant-jazz project Masadafor acoustic guitar.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is produced by the team at Acoustic Guitar magazine, including:

Publisher: Lyzy Lusterman
Editorial Director: Adam Perlmutter
Managing Editor: Kevin Owens
Creative Director: Joey Lusterman
Digital Content Director: Stephanie Campos Dal Broi
Digital Content Manager: Nick Grizzle
Marketing Services Manager: Tanya Gonzalez

Special thanks to our listeners who support the show on Patreon.

Support the show

Get Gig Ready Dec 27, 2023

Show notes

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.

Additional resources:

Listen to Part 2, where our guests share gig horror stories and advice for guitarists just starting out.
Visit Pieta Brown's website and watch this Acoustic Guitar Sessions video for an intimate performance and to learn about her childhood, her family, and her guitars.
Visit Christopher Paul Stelling's website and read his interview with Ben Harper about songwriting, guitars, and growing up in a famous music store. Watch his latest Sessions video, too.
Visit Sean Rowe's website and watch his Acoustic Guitar Sessions performance, which features a trifecta of songs including a moving version of the Sade's “By Your Side.”

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast theme music is composed by Adam Perlmutter and performed for this episode by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers.

This episode is hosted by Nick Grizzle and Gretchen Menn, produced by Tanya Gonzalez, and directed and edited by Joey Lusterman. Executive producers are Lyzy Lusterman and Stephanie Campos Dal Broi.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is produced by the team at Acoustic Guitar magazine, including:

Publisher: Lyzy Lusterman
Editorial Director: Adam Perlmutter
Managing Editor: Kevin Owens
Creative Director: Joey Lusterman
Digital Content Director: Stephanie Campos Dal Broi
Digital Content Manager: Nick Grizzle
Marketing Services Manager: Tanya Gonzalez

Special thanks to our listeners who support the show on Patreon.

Support the show

Nickel Creek Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

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.

Additional resources:

Access Part 2 of this episode on Patreon.
Listen to Celebrants via Amazon, Bandcamp, or others.
Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers teaches you how to play guitar like Nickel Creek's Sean Watkins and interviewed the band for the July-August 2023 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine.
You'll find music to play for "This Side" in our 2002 Digital Archive and Chris Thile's "On Ice" in our 2005 Digital Archive.
Read a profile of the Watkins Family Hour on the site of our sister publication, Strings magazine.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast theme music is composed by Adam Perlmutter and performed for this episode by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is produced by the team at Acoustic Guitar magazine, including:

Publisher: Lyzy Lusterman
Editorial Director: Adam Perlmutter
Managing Editor: Kevin Owens
Creative Director: Joey Lusterman
Digital Content Director: Stephanie Campos Dal Broi
Digital Content Manager: Nick Grizzle
Marketing Services Manager: Tanya Gonzalez

Support the show

Solo Guitar Composition Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

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.

Additional resources:

Listen to Part 2, where our guests discuss first songs, life-changing compositions, favorite tunings, and advice for finding your own voice on guitar.
Visit Diego Figueiredo's website and watch this Acoustic Guitar Sessions video for his lightning-fast performance of the bossa nova standard, “One Note Samba.”
Visit Gwenifer Raymond's website and watch her video lesson on how to play John Fahey's "Uncloudy Day."
Visit Yasmin William's website and learn to play one of her compositions, "New Beginnings," a contemplative study in open-D tuning. Learn more about her unique Skytop Grand Concert built by luthier Eric Weigeshoff.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast theme music is composed by Adam Perlmutter and performed for this episode by Gwenifer Raymond.

This episode is hosted by Nick Grizzle, produced by Tanya Gonzalez, and directed and edited by Joey Lusterman. Executive producers are Lyzy Lusterman and Stephanie Campos Dal Broi.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is produced by the team at Acoustic Guitar magazine, including:

Publisher: Lyzy Lusterman
Editorial Director: Adam Perlmutter
Managing Editor: Kevin Owens
Creative Director: Joey Lusterman
Digital Content Director: Stephanie Campos Dal Broi
Digital Content Manager: Nick Grizzle
Marketing Services Manager: Tanya Gonzalez

Support the show

Eric Johnson and Gretchen Menn Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

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 guitars at tonewoodamp.com — get reverb, delay, and more, no amp required!

Additional resources:

Check out Eric Johnson's website.
Read this interview with Eric Johnson, which was the cover story of the February 2017 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine.
Check out Gretchen Menn's website.
Order a copy of The Way Music Works and Reading Between The Lines: The Acoustic Guitar Guide to Musical Literacy, both by Gretchen Menn.

Support the show:

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast theme music is composed by Adam Perlmutter and performed for this episode by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers.

This episode is hosted by Nick Grizzle, produced by Tanya Gonzalez, and directed and edited by Joey Lusterman. Executive producers are Lyzy Lusterman and Stephanie Campos Dal Broi.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is produced by the team at Acoustic Guitar magazine, including:

Publisher: Lyzy Lusterman
Editorial Director: Adam Perlmutter
Managing Editor: Kevin Owens
Creative Director: Joey Lusterman
Digital Content Director: Stephanie Campos Dal Broi
Digital Content Manager: Nick Grizzle
Marketing Services Manager: Tanya Gonzalez

Special thanks to our listeners who support the show on Patreon.

Support the show

Ask the Experts Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

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.
Support the show:

Listen to Part 2 on Patreon to hear some hair-raising repair horror stories, plus get actionable advice for you and your guitars.
Make a one-time contribution to the show on PayPal.
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (This helps other guitarists find the show and helps us. We really appreciate it!)

Additional resources:

Dana Bourgeois founded Bourgeois Guitars in 1974. He recently completed his 10,000th guitar, a custom OM Style 45.
Mamie Minch is the co-owner of Brooklyn Lutherie and an active blues player.
Martin Keith is a luthier, repair and restoration expert, and working musician.
Read a selection of past Ask the Expert articles.
Visit Frank Ford’s frets.com.
Get a copy of the Acoustic Guitar Owner’s Manual or download the complete edition of Acoustic Guitar Care & Maintenance.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast theme music is composed by Adam Perlmutter and performed for this episode by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers.

This episode is hosted by Nick Grizzle, produced by Tanya Gonzalez, and directed and edited by Joey Lusterman. Executive producers are Lyzy Lusterman and Stephanie Campos Dal Broi.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is produced by the team at Acoustic Guitar magazine, including: