Category: Learn Acoustic Guitar
Resources for the acoustic guitarist who wants to learn basic music theory without getting overly complex.
81 articles on Learning Acoustic Guitar
Dive into the articles (we have over 80 on learning the acoustic guitar) and take the steps to becoming the next Tommy Emmanuel, Paul Simon or Davey Graham.
Guitar Keys Learn Acoustic Guitar
The Key of F Major for Guitar
The key of F major includes the notes: F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E When assembled sequentially the notes form the F major scale. The F Major Scale Step Pattern The F Major scale, like all major scales, follows the familiar pattern of whole, half, whole, whole, whole, […]
Guitar Keys Learn Acoustic Guitar
The Key of E Major for Guitar
The key of E major comprises the following notes: E – F# – G# – A – B – C# – D# When assembled in order of pitch the notes form the E major scale. The E Major Scale Step Pattern All major scales follow the familiar pattern of whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. […]
Guitar Keys Learn Acoustic Guitar
The Key of Eb Major for Guitar
The notes in the key of Eb major are: Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D When assembled sequentially the notes form the Eb Major Scale. The Eb Major Scale Step Pattern Like all major scales, the Eb major scale follows a pattern of whole steps and half steps, as follows: whole, half, whole, whole, whole, […]
Guitar Keys Learn Acoustic Guitar
The Key of D Major for Guitar
The notes in the key of D major are D, E, F#, G, A, B, and C#. When assembled sequentially the notes form the D major Scale. The D Major Scale Step Pattern The D major scale, like all major scales follows the pattern of whole steps and half steps irrespective of the key: whole, half, whole, […]
Guitar Keys Learn Acoustic Guitar
The Key of Db Major/C# Major for Guitar
The notes in the key of Db Major/C# Major are Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, and C. When assembled in order of pitch the notes form the Db Major Scale. The Db Major Scale Step Pattern Major scales follow the same pattern of whole steps and half steps regardless of the key: whole, half, whole, whole, […]
Guitar Keys Learn Acoustic Guitar
The Key Of C Major For Guitar
The notes in the key of C Major are C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. When assembled in order of pitch the notes form the C Major Scale. The C Major Scale Step Pattern The step pattern for the C major scale begins on C, followed by a whole step up to D, followed by […]
Songwriting Learn Acoustic Guitar
How Songwriters Make Money Writing Songs
Ever wondered how songwriters make money? How much songs may earn per stream, and how songwriters break into the industry? In the following article, we’re going to delve into the world of songwriting, and in particular how to make money writing songs, along with additional information on the business side of songwriting. Is there money […]
Songwriting Learn Acoustic Guitar
How to Promote Your Music for Free Online
Learn how to promote your music on major streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music, without spending a dime. The music industry, thanks to the arrival of social media and streaming platforms, has undergone major changes in recent years. Previously artists and bands that wrote and performed original music would gain exposure, almost exclusively, by […]
Songwriting Learn Acoustic Guitar
How to Write Vocal Melodies Over Chords
Without question, the most important but challenging aspect of songwriting is coming up with a great vocal melody. Think of any of your favorite songs and I’d be willing to bet it’s the vocal melody that first comes to mind. There are countless articles, and books that have been written on the finer details of […]
Guitar Keys Learn Acoustic Guitar
The Most Important Chords In Any Key
It’s easy to become lost within the unfathomable amount of options music theory offers us. If you don’t have some kind of direction to go in you may end up just kind of stabbing around in the dark hoping to piece together something cohesive. This is where some general knowledge of keys, commonly used chords […]
Songwriting Learn Acoustic Guitar
The Most Successful Songwriter of all Time
The world of music has been blessed with a wide array of incredibly diverse, and talented songwriters spanning multiple eras of music. But who stands above all as the most successful? In the following article, we’re going to take a closer look at some of the greatest songwriters of the past and present, and give […]
![Open F Tuning [Complete Guide]](https://theacousticguitarist.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/open-f-tuning-banner-image-300x131.gif "Introductory Guide to Open F Tuning [FACFCF] 14")
Alternate Tunings Learn Acoustic Guitar
Introductory Guide to Open F Tuning [FACFCF]
In the following guide, we’re going to take a closer look at the less common, open F tuning. However, if you’re looking for a quick overview read below. Open F Tuning requires your guitar to be tuned to an F Major chord consisting of the notes F, A, and C. Tune the 6 strings of […]
Guitar Keys Learn Acoustic Guitar
The Key Of A Major For Guitar
The notes in the key of A Major are:A, B, C#, D, E, F#, and G# When these notes are assembled in order of pitch (ascending or descending) the notes form the A major Scale. A major consists of three sharps: F#, C#, and G#, as demonstrated by the key signature preceding the notes in the […]
Understanding Rhythm Notation for Guitar
You’ve probably heard it said a thousand times, that music is a combination of harmony (chords), melody (notes), and rhythm. If you play guitar, even if you don’t read music, it’s simple enough to learn the chords and/or melody of a song using chord charts, or guitar tablature. But, rhythm notation is a little trickier. […]
The Caged System Learn Acoustic Guitar
CAGED Minor Chords
The CAGED system is a great way to break up the fretboard into smaller, more manageable sections. But in our other articles on the CAGED system, we’ve only discussed major chord shapes. Does the CAGED system also work for minor chords? Absolutely. We can use the caged system for playing 7th, suspended, extended, and minor […]
How to Read Strumming Patterns for Guitar
When learning a new song from a chord book or guitar tab, we often lack the detailed rhythmic information that standard music notation provides. However, some tabs compensate by including strumming notation. If you’ve always just skipped over this stuff, investing time in learning it is highly beneficial. Understanding the various symbols in strumming patterns […]
Acoustic Grunge [The Ultimate Guide]
Today we’re going to revisit one of my favorite periods of music, the grunge era. In particular, we’ll be looking at the significance of the acoustic guitar and its contribution to grunge during the 90s. We’ll also take a look at some landmark albums, and MTV unplugged performances from grunge icons such as Pearl Jam, […]
Fingerpicking Learn Acoustic Guitar
How to Fingerpick Without Hitting The Other Strings
One of the more challenging aspects of fingerpicking is playing without unintentionally hitting the wrong strings. When first getting started with fingerpicking this can feel like an insurmountable problem. With this in mind, in the following short guide, we’ll discuss how to fingerpick without hitting the surrounding strings along with some basic tips on how […]
Fingerpicking Learn Acoustic Guitar
The Importance of Good Hand Position for Fingerpicking Guitar
In the following short guide, I’m going to demonstrate the correct fingerpicking hand position, explain why this is so important, and answer some common questions surrounding the position of the picking hand when playing in this style. Below is a quick rundown: Perfect your fingerpicking hand position by giving a “thumbs up” with the picking […]
Fingerpicking Learn Acoustic Guitar
An Introduction to Fingerpicking On Guitar
Fingerpicking involves playing a constant alternating 4/4 bass pattern on the lower three strings with the thumb while playing rhythm and syncopated melody on the top three strings using the index, ring, and middle finger. Due to the focus on thumb and finger independence rhythm and melody are played simultaneously giving the impression more than […]