From the publishers of Acoustic Guitar magazine
www.acousticguitar.com
|
ENTER TO WIN A JOHN MAYER MARTIN GUITAR! 
Enter by December 31, 2006, and you could be the lucky winner of a Special Edition OMJM John Mayer Martin guitar (retail price $3,999) and 12 sets of Martin phosphor-bronze light-gauge Eric Clapton signature strings (retail price $165). Total retail value $4,164. Enter the giveaway by clicking here or by clicking on the “Win” button in the left-hand menu bar at http://www.acousticguitar.com/ Return to Top |
|
SPONSOR: WorkshopLive
www.workshoplive.com Return to Top | |||
|
NEW AT ACOUSTICGUITAR.COM 
The August issue of Acoustic Guitar is on newsstands now. Access these features, articles, and lessons online: (To access special reader/subscriber features, including audio files and lessons, enter leo when prompted.) NEW OLD-SCHOOL FLATTOPS Michael John Simmons surveys the cadre of dedicated luthiers painstakingly replicating vintage steel-string acoustics modeled after legendary Martin, Gibson, and Stella guitars from the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s. NEW GEAR: Doug Young assesses the graceful looks and balanced tones of the Larrivee LSV-11E fingerstyle guitar. Hear how it sounds online. HERE’S HOW: Whether you favor natural or synthetic nails, “Fingernails 101” offers key points to keep in mind about using and maintaining them.  LUTHIER’S WORKBENCH: Eighteen years after he set out to redesign the resonator guitar, Tim Scheerhorn continues to push the envelope of resophonic design. Read Steve Romanoski’s profile.  READER’S RIG: New England–based guitarist Jeff Snow relies on a 1993 Taylor 812C and a Peavey mixer for his full-time gigging and teaching schedule. We frequently feature one of our readers’ rigs in the magazine and on our website. To be considered, send a description of your setup to editors.ag@stringletter.com LESSONS AND MUSIC TO PLAY: (To access special reader/subscriber features, including audio files and lessons, enter leo when prompted.) ¦ THE BASICS: In Transposing Made Easy, David Hodge outlines a handy guide that will make it easy for you to change keys so you can play or sing a piece more readily.  ¦ WOODSHED: Building Extended Chord Voicings. Extended chords don’t have to be complicated. Learn how these chords are constructed, then build them all using just several basic chord shapes. By Sean McGowan. With music to “Theo Brown.”  ¦ LICK OF THE MONTH: Vicki Genfan, the queen of alternate tunings demonstrates how they can lend a fresh sound to single-note lines by letting you use many open strings (in this case played as harmonic taps). Also in the August issue: Six-String Schizoid—Dave Grohl, who helped change rock history as drummer for Nirvana and reinvigorated hard rock as the melodic mastermind of the multiplatinum-selling Foo Fighters, talks to Shawn Hammond about his melodic sensibility, why it was easy to “unplug” his hits, and how the band’s latest acoustic recordings showed him that “the intensity of a quiet dynamic can be as powerful as a Motorhead record”; Storyteller—a feature lesson with jazz giant Ralph Towner, who sat down with Scott Nygaard to share his insights on telling stories with your instrument, using open-structure voicings, and “uncovering an idea” in creating music; a new African blues instructional DVD from Corey Harris; lots of gear and CD reviews, and more. Subscribers gain access to even more online features, including audio files and lessons, via the password included in each issue of Acoustic Guitar. http://www.acousticguitar.com Return to Top |
|
VOTE AND WIN! 
*Prize winners will receive gift certificates courtesy of First Quality Music. Fill out and mail in the ballot in the July issue of Acoustic Guitar, or click here to enter online. Return to Top | ||
|
THE 2006 GUITAR MAKER DIRECTORY 
The Brand New 2006 Edition is Online Now! With links to more than 100 guitar makers. Click here to go to the Guitar Maker Directory Return to Top |
|
BULLETIN BOARD Instructional Book Review Brian Gore: Fingerstyle Guitar: Lessons in Technique and Creativity Gore, one of contemporary fingerstyle guitar’s most active performers and composers, has put together a detailed and well-organized compendium of techniques and advice that will benefit intermediate or advanced guitarists with an interest in this style. Harmonics, thumb slapping, and various percussive devices using the guitar’s neck and body are among the techniques Gore covers. However, Fingerstyle Guitar is not simply a collection of hot licks, and Gore consistently emphasizes taste and musicianship over flashy pyrotechnics. For example, about slapping and tapping techniques he writes: “Being able to articulate a melody … is the more important skill. … A great song needs a good melody, and everything else should support it.” Gore also lays out crucial basics of guitar playing, explaining in great depth the mechanics of proper sitting posture and hand position. He also discusses how to cope with stage fright, memorize music, and improve your approach to practice. His ideas on these and other elements of fingerstyle guitar—and music in general—are reinforced with quotes from other well-known fingerstyle players, including Pierre Bensusan and Peppino D’Agostino. A CD of musical examples is included with this essential, learner-friendly book on contemporary fingerstyle guitar. (Backbeat Books, www.backbeatbooks.com) —Ron Forbes-Roberts Return to Top |
|
GUITAR TALK Join the conversations about guitars, acoustic players, playing techniques, gigs, and workshops in the online forums at Guitar Talk. www.acousticguitar.com/ubbcgi/ultimate.cgi Return to Top |
|
SPONSOR: ACOUSTIC PRO MUSICIAN 
| ||
|
UPCOMING IN ACOUSTIC GUITAR 
September: Merle Haggard on songwriting; Pierre Bensusan’s fingerstyle secrets; the ABCs of amplifying your acoustic guitar; music to “Mama Tried,” “Me and Bobby McGee,” “If You Could Read My Mind,” a Bach bourée, and more; lessons on fluid flatpicking, bass-line harmonizing, and accompanying a singer; interviews with songwriters Jesse Harris and Vashti Bunyan; reviews of a new Höfner flattop and the National 14-fret Style O resophonic; and more. October: A feature lesson on the pioneering eccentric guitar style of the late John Fahey; folk-jazz diva Cassandra Wilson talks about her return to the acoustic guitar; new guitars from Guild and Alvarez-Yairi; introductions to ear training and reading tablature; the history of Gibson’s L-00 style guitars; a fingerstyle chord-melody lesson; music to John Fogerty’s “Bad Moon Rising” and John Fahey’s “Requiem for Mississippi John Hurt.” Return to Top |
|
SUBSCRIBE TO ACOUSTIC GUITAR: FREE TRIAL ISSUE! For a complimentary issue of Acoustic Guitar, click the link below. If you like it and decide to continue, pay just $32.95 for 12 issues and save 45% off the cover price. If for any reason you decide not to continue, simply write 'Cancel' on the invoice and owe nothing. The FREE TRIAL ISSUE is yours to keep, no matter what. Click here for your free trial issue! Current subscribers, take care of all your subscription needs online: pay your bill, renew, give a gift, or change your address. Click here for Subscription Services Return to Top |
|
GUITAR TEACHER 
Guitar Teacher is the only magazine dedicated to guitar instructors of all levels, in all styles. Each issue of Guitar Teacher includes practical advice on developing a teaching practice, useful reviews of instruction materials and methods, inspiring profiles of successful teachers, and other exclusive content written specifically for guitar educators. Guitar Teacher is a magazine that helps its readers attract and motivate students, whether they are beginner, intermediate, or advanced-level players of jazz, classical, or roots music. In short, Guitar Teacher is the perfect professional resource for your guitar education career. Click here for more information about the current issue. Click here for your free trial issue! http://www.guitarteachermagazine.com/ Return to Top |
|
PLAY GUITAR! 
The only magazine for beginning and developing guitarists. Subscribe at the Play Guitar! website www.playguitarmagazine.com Click here for your free trial issue! Return to Top |
|
THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR STORE  Authentic Acoustic Guitar sweatshirts, baseball caps, T-shirts, portfolio bags, CD cases, and other great gear. Receive a free designer key chain with your $30 purchase. Acoustic Guitar Online Store Return to Top |
|
STRINGLETTER.COM 
A full catalog of titles from Acoustic Guitar Books; instruction and repertoire books, DVDs, and videos from other publishers and your favorite artists. Click here. Return to Top |
|
BACK ISSUES OF ACOUSTIC GUITAR We have issues going back to 1990 when Acoustic Guitar first hit the stands. Get them while they last! Click here for back issues Return to Top |
|
ADVERTISE IN ACOUSTIC GUITAR Click here for advertising information Return to Top |
|
SEND US YOUR COMMENTS agnotes@stringletter.com Return to Top |
|
AG NOTES: SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, ARCHIVES To subscribe to the AG Notes, click here. To unsubscribe, please go to the link at the bottom of this email. Back issues of AG Notes are available online at: AG Notes Back Issues Return to Top |
Return to Top | ||
Got a question for Acoustic Guitar's editors? Please send us an email at editors.ag@stringletter.com or snail-mail Acoustic Guitar Editorial, PO Box 767, San Anselmo, CA 94979. We regularly print reader letters in our Mail column and reader questions and tips in Q&A.
Sponsor
When you're finally ready for the guitar you've always dreamed of................. Froggy Bottom Guitars
