The first task was to decide what to use for reference material. I chose a book entitled ' Building Your Own Acoustic Guitar: Complete Instructions and Full-Size Plans' by Jonathan Kinkead. I selected that book after reading about a few others on Amazon but my purchase was rather impulsive. It walks the reader through building a style of guitar similar to the Martin OM(orchestra model), which is a smaller guitar with a more body. The book includes lots of photos and even full scale plans, which are handy, but, while sufficient, lacks information I need.
The next task, which was the source of some consternation, was to select the wood to use for the body of the guitar. The book recommends specific wood, Sitka Spruce for the top and Rosewood for the back and sides. I, being the rebel, didn't want to do that, so I chose different wood.
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I chose Western Red 'Sinker' Cedar for the top (or sound board as it is called) and Claro Walnut for the sides and back. I purchased both from suppliers on E-bay. The Cedar top is supposed to create a 'warm' sound. I don't really know what that means but that didn't seem like a bad thing to me. 'Sinker' means it came from a Cedar log salvaged from a lake or river bottom and is therefore, probably pretty old. That idea appealed to me. Claro Walnut is highly figured walnut from the American Northwest.
Bigstock photo
There’s this one thing that is so completely awesome about the guitar.
I love the fact that you can choose to be in two complete different worlds. One moment I plug in my electric guitar to make it rock, scream, tear up the place and feel ecstatic.
And the other time I want to indulge in beautiful acoustic guitar songs and get swept away by melody, harmony and lyrics. It’s the best of both worlds.
Today were gonna look at same great songs to do the latter.
As with all lists on this blog they are here to give you inspiration. The lists are in no particular order and totally incomplete. And it doesn’t matter, what matters is that you grab your guitar out of the stand and start playing it after reading and listening to this post.
Maybe you’ll hear a song or artist you haven’t heard before and find yourself pleasantly surprised. Probably you haven’t heard some of the songs for quite a while and it makes you feel good to hear them again. You might consider learning one of these songs and adding them to your repertoire or get inspired to write a song of your own.
Whatever it is…
Enjoy!
1 – Hotel California – (Hell Freezes Over) – Eagles – Tabs
2 – Blackbird – Paul McCartney – Tabs
3 – Angie – Rolling Stones
4 – Heart of gold – Neil Young – Tabs
5 – More than words – Extreme – Tabs
6 – Wonderwall – Oasis – Tabs
7 – Layla (Unplugged) – Eric Clapton – Tabs
8 – To be with you – Mr. Big
9 – Under the bridge (acoustic) – Red Hot Chili Peppers – Tabs
10 – Working class hero – John Lennon – Tabs
11 – Crazy little thing called love – Queen – Tabs
12 – The Times They Are A Changin’ – Bob Dylan
13 – Dust In The Wind – Kansas – Tabs
14 – Daughters – John Mayer
15 – Everlong (acoustic) – Foo Fighters – Tabs
16 – The scientist (acoustic) – Coldplay
17 – The River (acoustic) – Bruce Springsteen
18 – Ain’t No Sunshine – Bill Withers
19 – When the stars go blue – Ryan Adams – Tabs
20 – Teach your children – Crosby, Still, Nash & Young – Tabs
21 – Cannonball – Damien Rice – Tabs
22 – Trouble – Ray La Montagne – Tabs
23 – Jolene – Dolly Parton – Tabs
24 – Wild horses – The Stones – Tabs
25 – Redemption Song – Bob Marley
26 – Free fallin’ – Tom Petty – Tabs
27 – She Talks To Angels – Black Crowes
28 – Fire and Rain – James Taylor – Tabs
29 – Give a little bit – Supertramp
30 – Pride and joy (acoustic) – Stevie Ray Vaughan – Tabs
31 – Sound of silence – Paul Simon
32 – Sweet home Chicago – Robert Johnson – Tabs
33 – Patience – Guns N’ Roses – Tabs
34 – Country roads – John Denver
35 – Have you ever seen the rain – CCR – Tabs
36 – Yellow (acoustic) – Coldplay
37 – The needle and the damage done – Neil Young – Tabs
38 – Horse with no name – America
39 – Banana Pancakes – Jack Johnson – Tabs
40 – About a girl – Nirvana – Tabs
41 – American Pie – Don Mclean
42 – Jack and diane – John Mellencamp – Tabs
43 – Iris – Goo goo dolls
44 – Wanted (Dead Or Alive) – Bon Jovi
45 – Both sides now – Joni Mitchell
46 – Tears In Heaven – Eric Clapton – Tabs
47 – Maggie May – Rod Stewart – Tabs
48 – Good riddance (time of your life) – Greenday – Tabs
49 – The A team – Ed Sheeran
50 – I Will Follow You Into The Dark – Death Cab for Cutie
What’s your favorite acoustic guitar song?
Please share in the comments.
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