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Album Recommendations 4 - Ska Music Special
Ska music is a very important style. Not only do I have personal connections with the genre having played in and written for Ska band for...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 254 min read


Create Atmospheric Soundscapes Using Delay and Reverb
Creating atmospheric soundscapes on guitar involves crafting rich, immersive tones that transport the listener. Two of the most important...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 245 min read


Guitar Heroes: John McLaughlin
In each and every genre of music, you will find gatekeeping fans that immediately dismiss a musician purely for the fact that they are...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 235 min read


What Are Power Chords and Why Are They Important?
Power chords are a fundamental building block for guitarists, especially those interested in playing rock, punk, metal, and other...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 227 min read


Unanswered Questions 2: Genres, Pedals, Secondhand Guitars and Orientation
Recently I put a blog post together answering some questions that many people would be too worried to ask. I thought it would be a good...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 184 min read


Learning Music Written for Other Instruments
When a guitar player plays their favorite pentatonic scale, and a piano player does the same, the notes will be identical; the A minor...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 167 min read


Capo Magic!
What is a Guitar Capo and How Do You Use It? For beginner guitarists, learning to play different songs in various keys can feel like a...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 127 min read


Dealing With Jealousy
To kick off this blog post, let me first repeat myself by saying that there is no such thing as one person being better than another...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 116 min read


The World’s Most Expensive Guitars
Guitars—those six-stringed marvels—have gone way beyond just being musical instruments. They've become symbols of rock 'n' roll,...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 106 min read


Spotlight on Student Talent: April 2025 Student Recital Highlights
This past April, the Franciscan Chapel Center in Roppongi was filled with music, energy, and the unmistakable buzz of live performance as...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 101 min read


Setting Up to Record At Home
Being able to record your guitar playing at home is a great skill to have, and allows you to better keep track of your practice,...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 96 min read


The Most Iconic Guitarists in Rock Music: From Rock 'n' Roll to Modern Rock Legends
The electric guitar is one of the most iconic instruments in rock music, serving as the driving force behind some of the most memorable...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 89 min read


Detroit: The Motor City’s Musical Legacy
Detroit, Michigan, also known as "The Motor City," holds a rich musical legacy that spans multiple genres. It is famously the birthplace...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 57 min read


Guitar Heroes: Mikio Fujioka (藤岡幹大)
It was many years ago that I discovered the music of Babymetal - I believe it was around the time they were touring Europe after the...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 46 min read


Austin: The Live Music Capital of the World
Austin, Texas, has earned its title as the "Live Music Capital of the World," known for its eclectic music scene that embraces genres...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 37 min read


Creating Your Own Backing Tracks
In a recently published blog post, I spoke about using a basic home recording set-up to record your own backing tracks. Today we will be...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 26 min read


How to Amplify an Acoustic Guitar
Amplifying an acoustic guitar is a crucial step for musicians who want to ensure their sound is heard clearly in a variety of settings,...

The American Guitar Academy
Jul 16 min read


Neon Nostalgia: The Timeless Groove of Japan’s City Pop
I. City Pop? City pop is a genre of Japanese music that emerged in the late 1970s and gained widespread popularity in the 1980s....

The American Guitar Academy
Jun 287 min read


Open Strings - Your New Best Friend
You may have read that title and thought “Duh! I l know about the open strings. It was lesson one!” - you would be correct. However,...

The American Guitar Academy
Jun 275 min read


An Overview of Japanese Popular Music
Welcome to the vibrant world of Japanese pop music! J-pop is a genre that seamlessly blends traditional sounds with modern influences,...

The American Guitar Academy
Jun 269 min read
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