No. 326 January/February 2021

Acoustic Guitar #326 – January/February 2021

 On the Cover: Ben Harper 

Catching up with the singer-songwriter, who recorded his latest album, Winter Is for Lovers, using a custom-commissioned one-of-a-kind Monteleone lap steel guitar

 Special Focus: The Year in Gear

AG’s annual survey of the best new guitars and accessories introduced in 2020 

Features, Lessons & Departments

• Guitar Talk: British singer-songwriter Lianne Le Havas on the role of the acoustic guitar in her music
• Gene Bertoncini: A chat with the legendary nylon-string jazz guitarist
• Andrew York: The classical-guitar great talks about his new video series and his love for mathematics, among other things
• Pickin’: Adapting Earl Scruggs’ banjo arrangement of “Home Sweet Home” for guitar
• Woodshed: Mary Flower teaches an approachable guitar rag in G
• Weekly Workout: Ron Jackson’s sweep picking boot camp
• Here’s How: Tips on basic maintenance and string changing
• The Basics: An intro to chord-melody playing by jazz guitarist Greg Ruby
• Makers & Shakers: A profile of Josiah de Jonge, a Canadian classical luthier

 6 Songs to Play

• “Better Way” – An optimistic classic by Ben Harper
• “John Henry” – A campfire arrangement of the traditional favorite
• “Davis Street Rag” – Ragtime for guitar
• “Home Sweet Home” – An Earl Scruggs classic
• “Cam Ye O’er Frae France” – An irreverent Scottish Song in dropped D
• “Whispering” – A jazz standard

 Gear Reviews

• Gibson 50s LG-2
• Goldtone F-6 Mando-Guitar
• PRS Tonare Parlor

 And More!