Sony Music Masterworks released Not Our First Goat Rodeo, the long-awaited follow-up album to the GRAMMY Award-winning The Goat Rodeo Sessions, with Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile. NOT OUR FIRST GOAT …
Show Some Love: Fresh Acoustic Guitar Shirts and Hats
If you're like me, you've been living in t-shirts for the last several months. As so many of us are stuck at home, with no desk jobs or fancy events to show up for, we're living in t-shirts, hats, and a dim sense of petrified wonder at what may …
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What Fingerboard Radius Is Best For Fingerpicking?
Let's take a quick look at what a "fingerboard radius" is, how it effects your playing, and which radius (if any) is the best fit for contemporary fingerstyle players. A quick public service announcement: Obviously, I cannot tell you the "best" …
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5 Reasons For Guitar Players To Take Piano Lessons
GUEST POST - There is no denying it. A boxy and bulky piano simply does not have the same sex appeal as a sleek and slender Fender or Les Paul, and that may be enough to turn you away from the musical instrument altogether. However, you should not be …
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How to Care For and Maintain String Instruments
GUEST POST - The life span of any string instrument is greatly affected by how the player takes care of it. Just like a vehicle, it also needs proper maintenance and special attention to ensure it will sound its best through the years. It’s a …
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Arturia Keystep – Ideal Guitar Sidekick
I’ve recently been trying out the Arturia Keystep portable USB MIDI controller. Here’s how I used it, and what worked. What is the Arturia Keystep? The Arturia Keystep is a portable musical tool combining the functionalities of a keyboard …
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An Tran releases “Stay, My Beloved”, Fingerstyle Guitar Tribute to Vietnam
Frameworks Records and An Tran recently announced the release of the debut album from Vietnamese classical guitar virtuoso, An Tran. Stay, My Beloved is an album featuring all Vietnamese guitar music. An Tran’s debut album, Stay, My Beloved, …
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Can’t Compose But Want To Create New Music? 5 Options For Finding The Right Collaboration
GUEST POST - Composing music on your guitar may sound like a difficult task, but it can be easier than you think, at least, with some help. Anyone with musical talent and the ability to play chord progressions can easily create their own music. It …
Travel Guitar vs Guitalele: Things You Must Know
GUEST POST - In this world there are a LOT of options for playing guitar. Today, we are going to present some guidance on a few of those options - the difference between a "travel guitar" and a "guitarlele". Choosing the right small-size …
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We’re On Medium.com!
For those of you hip to the Medium.com vibes, The Guitar Journal is now maintaining a regular publication over there called simply The Guitar Journal (medium.com/the-guitar-journal). If you're already a part of Medium, pop on over to our profile …
It’s Going To Get Loud: Review of Ian Port’s Homage to Electric Guitar
Ian S. Port's book, "It's Going To Get Loud" (2019), is a long-needed deep dive into the rivalry between Leo Fender and Les Paul - the fathers of the electric guitar. As a young guitar player, even if you're unaware of the history, you can feel …
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Our hearts all go out to those affected by the coronavirus.
It is costing lives, health, and dramatically affecting many people's work and basic finances. Yet the odd reality is that many of us find ourselves stuck at home right now, trying to fill the time. What a contrast. Just to be clear, there are …
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Flashback Album Review: Leo Kottke’s “6- and 12- String Guitar”
Leo Kottke's album, "6- and 12-String Guitar", was released in 1969, clocking in at a crisp 36 minutes long. While this album was well-received in it's own time, it has grown even more loved with time. It is seen as a landmark in acoustic fingerstyle …
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Woodpecker Instruments Releases New 31” Travel Guitar
Woodpecker Instruments is a new brand specialized in travel guitars and ukuleles. Adding to the company’s line of travel guitars, Woodpecker has unveiled the new 31” Woodpecker Travel Koa. Here at the The Guitar Journal, we love travel guitars …
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