I was feeling inspired this week - there was something happening - I grabbed my guitar and found it in standard tuning. That’s unusual for for me - I’m usually in DADGAD.
I didn’t want to interrupt the flow however…
Read moreApr 22 2024
I was feeling inspired this week - there was something happening - I grabbed my guitar and found it in standard tuning. That’s unusual for for me - I’m usually in DADGAD.
I didn’t want to interrupt the flow however…
Read moreFeb 29 2024
I’ve always been fascinated by the slightly wild classic acoustic guitar sound from live sessions by Yusuf/Cat Stevens
Bill Withers
David Bowie
A lot of what I’ve seen in these recordings goes against everything I’ve been taught about sound engineering…
Read moreNov 22 2023
I’ve had a lot of requests to look at some of my approach to harmonics - thank you to everyone who has been in touch.
The reward for your patience is this new video where I look at the harmonic…
Read moreJun 1 2023
I’ve really enjoyed exploring high-strung guitar as a texture in the studio. So much so that I’ve managed to sneak it into some unlikely places!
The time had come for me to get this guitar back into standard tuning but…
Read moreApr 7 2023
I am often asked how to create a huge acoustic guitar sound in the studio - in particular for full band mixes. There are several tricks that I employ and I reveal them in this lovingly crafted video just for…
Read moreJan 5 2023
Molly Tuttle is one of my favourite players right now - she's an incredible musician and one of the most exciting guitarists I have seen in recent years. I interviewed Molly for Guitar.com and during our chat she revealed that…
Read moreNov 17 2021
You can now watch the entire 4-episode guide to alternate tunings that I hosted for Guitar.com and Elixir Strings!
Oh yes you can!
In this final episode I explore some full-sounding textural tunings that you may have heard under the…
Read moreSep 2 2021
It has been several years since I first explored the topic of nailcare for the acoustic guitarist in a video. Many things have evolved since then and my approach to nail care and tone production is no exception.
In this…
Read moreAug 13 2021
Linda Manzer's Wedge design is an elegant ergonomic solution to the challenge of playing a large-bodied acoustic guitar.
Not to be confused with The Manzer Wedgie - a playground manoeuvre also invented by Linda some years previously - The…
Read moreJul 22 2021
Recent bouts of pondering coupled with conversations with friends led to a very real and pressing need to explore the tonal implications of flatwound strings on a flat top guitar. Because why not?
Obviously a set of flats isn't going…
Read moreJun 10 2021
I'm very happy to present the first episode of Guitar.com's guide to alternate tunings for acoustic guitar in association with Elixir Strings!
Yes, I have been a little quiet here, the main reason is that with the easing of the…
Read moreApr 24 2021
Practice - it's a huge topic for every musician and everyone approaches it in their own way.
I'm often asked to recommend ways to make practice more effective. I have found that nothing beats discipline, intent, focus and a little…
Read moreAug 6 2020
This morning the postman was on form! In amongst the usual stuff was this gorgeous creation, a Passerelle designed by my friend Kaki King and handmade in Bronze by luthier Rachel Rosenkrantz who you need to check out. Now. Seriously.
…
Read moreMay 14 2020
Nashville studio ace Rory Rositas has worked with many of the biggest names in acoustic music including Bryan Sutton, John Jorgenson and most recently Tommy Emmanuel whose wonderful new album The Best of Tommy Songs was tracked in only…
Read moreApr 15 2020
Back when that sort of thing was actively encouraged I was invited to Sound Network HQ London to film a comparison video of the DPA microphone range. DPA is a super-high end microphone company that sprung from the ashes…
Read moreMar 16 2020
I've been a fan of Chicago's Joel Paterson for a while now and it was a real pleasure to interview the man himself for The Guitar Magazine recently! Click on the pic below to go through to the full interview…
Read moreFeb 27 2020
Throughout my life as a player the archtop guitar has held a brooding and slightly intimidating mystique. Now, as I'm learning how to appreciate the subtleties and nuances of these beautiful instruments - built with an intent and technique far…
Read moreJan 20 2020
I was back at Surrey Studios this week to record The 5am Tango - which will be one of the 9 tracks on my next album HYLAB. I was really looking forward to this session as the good people…
Read moreJan 8 2020
It's been an exciting start to the year for me and I sincerely hope for you too!
Thank you to everyone for your messages over the holiday period. It was wonderful to hear from you all!
I've been busy in…
Read moreDec 19 2019
Dec 1 2019
Nov 29 2019
Nov 6 2019
And we're off! It's official, the first recordings have happened and I am very pleased with the results!
I spent a wonderful day back at Surrey Studios last week with the dream rhythm section that is Rex Horan (Double Bass)
…
Read moreAug 14 2019
Ben Walker has been one of my favourite players for a while now and it was a pleasure to finally get to meet him at his studio in Brighton this week.
Ben's beautiful new album Echo has just been released…
Read moreJul 3 2019
The desert is a weird place. And there's a lot of it. Especially in-between Phoenix and Spring Branch...
It was this desert that Jason Kostal and I would traverse in an epic 1000 mile road trip through Arizona, New Mexico…
Read more