No. 317, July/August 2019
On the Cover: Richard Thompson. Guitarist Richard Thompson’s eclectic approach to the acoustic guitar draws from the popular and traditional music of his native Britain, American country and rock, the classical music of Europe and India, and beyond. In this feature lesson, Mac Randall examines the fresh musical ideas of this “old folkie.”
Special Focus: Modern Learning Tools and Apps for Guitar. Online courses and new apps are making it easier than ever to learn guitar on your own terms. We survey the online lesson landscape.
Songs:
- Richard Thompson – “She Twists the Knife Again”
- Robert Johnson – “I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom”
- Patriotic classic – “America the Beautiful”
- Mark Goldenberg – “Ask the Fist”
- Doc Watson – “Black Mountain Rag”
- Campfire classic – “This Little Light of Mine”
- Joe Robinson – “Let the Guitar Do the Talkin’”
Features: Slide Masters: Six guitarists who use bottleneck slide in fresh and unexpected ways; Alex de Grassi & Andrew York discuss their Mendocino Guitar Workshop, which caters to both steel-string and classical players; Woodshed: Jazz guitarist Mimi Fox teaches her stirring arrangement of “America the Beautiful;” Makers & Shakers: Tony Klassen on recreating vintage magic at New Era Guitars.
Lessons:
- Weekly Workout: How to play slide guitar in a range of styles
- Here’s How: A jazzy introduction to reading lead sheets
- The Basics: Fred Sokolow shows how to make the pentatonic scale work in almost any situation
Gear Reviews:
- Iris Guitar Company OG Standard
- Martin OM-28 Modern Deluxe
- Palmer Acoustic Pocket Amp
- MagSlide Magnesium Slide
