Hello All - I’m an Acoustic Guitar

I can fit in almost anywhere in any kind of music and I will enhance and enrich the overall sound of your band . That’s why folks want me around. Some folks like me out front leading the pack others like me off to the side mixed in with my electric cousins. Some folks prefer me with nylon strings and others like me with the old fashioned steel strings. Either way my sound is natural and pure even when you run me through an amplifier. Here is a few things you need to know about me.

Handle me with Care – We all know to take care of our instruments. Sometimes they come easy but if their quality they don’t come cheap. Think of me as a piece of fine china. Treat me well and I WILL treat you well. It’s a good idea to keep a special eye on me and whose handling me at gigs. I’m not for everybody and I can’t take a lot of bumps and rough handling. All us guitars are meant to be played so even if I’m your secondary instrument make sure we meet up if even for a short period on a regular basis. If you keep me polished up and change my strings when they go flat I will dazzle you and your listeners with my sound.

Flat Pick or Finger pick – No matter where you put me in the band you will have a couple of options on how you perform with me. Some folks just like to strum chords with a flat pick because they ring out so nicely and add great texture and colors to a song. If you are willing to spend a little more time in practice with me though you can also learn how to finger pick and I will takes you places that are only limited by your imagination Most folks as their playing time and ability increases will do a little of both playing styles depending on what the song calls for, .

Steel or Nylon - As an acoustic instrument I come in many shapes and sizes but the fundamental difference and starting point is whether you want me with Steel or Nylon strings. If you are not familiar with the difference you should go to a music store and sit down briefly with one of each. It is a completely different feel designed to support a completely different style of music and play.

If you plan on playing commercial music such as folk, rock, country, country rock, blues just to name a few you will want me with steel strings. If you are going to be playing flamenco, or classical guitar you will want me with nylon strings. Jazz players have been known to mix us up.

The Capo - My neatest trick – Musicians attracted to an acoustic mix in their music are constantly looking for ways to get a fuller and more harmonious sound in their song presentation. I can offer you a way to not only accomplish that but also to change my tone in subtle ways. A Capo is a device that fits tightly on the neck of an acoustic guitar and serves to raise the pitch of the guitar as well as change the tone. As an example: If my electric counterpart is playing a basic I-IV-V chord pattern such as the chords E-A-B7 you can put a Capo on me at my fourth fret and if you play the chords C-F-G7 we will be playing in harmony and have a very bright and full sound. If you want to know what I sound like on record listen to the beginning of the song “Here Comes The Sun” written by George Harrison of Beatles fame. You will hear me in all my glory.

How to Buy me – You probably already have my cousin the electric guitar, but you have been eying me in the music store now and then. You may have even played another person's acoustic guitar or tried me out in the store. In any event you very much liked what you heard and the ideas for band performance and your own personal songwriting has led you to a decision. It’s time to buy. The phrase GOOD entry level guitar can mean different things to different people and there are many, many such guitars on the market.

Let’s keep it simple you want an acoustic guitar made of wood that breathes and resonates sound. Common woods used by the Luthiers are Spruce, Mahogany, Maple or Rosewood. Tuning Hammers should be strong and firm and the guitar should have a bridge set up that keeps the strings comfortably close to the fretboard. If you want all these characteristics to endure spend just a bit more than you had in mind. Oh and one last thing …I almost forgot. The sound, components and construction are all very important BUT once you have found all these things in two or three guitars in the store remember the all important, does it feel right in your hands. Take the time to play all three and you will know which one is THEE ONE.

I’LL SEE YOU SOON!!!