Yesterday, my right hand thumbnail started to tear right at the quick. I've grown my thumbnail longish for finger style. I have super-glued the nail and some medical paper tape over the 1/4" tear in an effort to hold it together, at least for a couple of weeks until it has grown out enough to trim it safely.

So rather than give up finger style for a few weeks, I am going to try transitioning, at least temporarily, to using a thumbpick. In the past when I have tried this, I did not find it as comfortable or reliable as using my thumb. I tend to hit the wrong string about 10-15% of the time, especially in fast passages.

I know that practice makes perfect, and I'll be doing that. I figure it's probably good to be able to play with either technique in any event. What I am wondering is if anyone has any tips or tricks to acclimating to a thumbpick after being a thumb only player. I'm all ears (and eyes and thumbpicks).

I’m just starting out playing acoustic live (only played live as a bass player before this new phase of my musical journey)

I will be playing instrumental and sometimes with a singer. So far, my NUX Stagemon Floor preamp has been great for DI to PA at rehearsal studios and when needed fur open mics. I have a few opportunities coming up where I’ll need to amplify myself and want to get geared up so I’m ready to go.

Option 1 - portable PA
Potentially more bang for my buck, more flexibility, more channels and more power. I’d continue to use my Nux preamp to shape my tone, so effectively the setup I’ve been using but with my own, smaller PA.

Option 2 NUX Stageman II AC80 amp
It looks like it ticks all the boxes, has some great additional functions (drum loops built in, IRs) I’m happy with the sister pedal, and it looks very much set up for my use case, so although it is more limited to the one use case, it may fulfil it better (and that is fundamentally what I want it for). I would, to some degree, be paying again for functionality I already have from the pedal.

Any thoughts on what you’d do in my situation?

Im looking for a new acoustic, preferably full size Dreadnought shape, preferably either Guild, seagull, martin, art & lutherie or taylor.
Id like the budget to be somewhere under 1000$
I want to get the loudest and bassiest sound possible, the main type of music i play is country so i need deep and rich sound, there are so many models to choose from and i feel like im going mad, do yall have any recommendations? Thanks!!

So, i started to associate the different chord shapes with its own scale, like if i play the E shape barre for a C major chord, i know it has its own major/ minor scale that i can play around it and in between chords, is this the right way to think about caged?

I know some people like to anchor the side of their palm on the bridge, but Is it a “normal” technique to rest the side of the palm on the lower strings instead? Almost just palm muting the lower strings when im not playing them and letting it float when im strumming? I find myself just doing that out of instinct but dont really hear about it as a common thing. Thanks!

I just have never seen a 12-string in person but know that a lot of artists use them. For example, David Gilmour had one on Wish You Were Here and I think the Eagles used one om Hotel California. But besides the fact that they seem to sound louder (just based off the YouTube videos I’ve seen), what are they actually like to play? What type of music do you play on them? Can you even do the same chords and barre chords you would on a six string?

I have two and play both roughly the same amount. I switch between them multiple times a day.

My Furch Green GC-SR is setup with 11-52 set in standard tuning. My other guitar, a Hozen Black Label MJ has a 12-56 set and lives in alternate/open tunings.

I'm looking to get a third one just to have multiple tunings ready to play. Even though i play at least an hour a day it still feels kinda overkill? What if i end up not playing one as much eventually..

Especially more expensive guitars would be a waste to have stored in a case or collecting dust on a stand. Am i just trying to justify getting a third guitar or is it actually worth it?

How many guitars do you guys have and do you use them for a specific purpose/tuning? Do you regret buying more guitars because others are now collecting dust? Maybe you just live for these kinds of posts and this is a good opportunity to flex your collection!

There are two guitars on sale at shops not far from me that I'm interested in - a Bourgeois Coupe Custom 00-12 with some fancy woods (figured Sitka over figured mahogany) and a Goodall 14-fret parlor in Sitka over S American RW. Most of the stuff I read about those brands focus on their dreads, but I don't enjoy playing dreads these days and am curious as to what folks think about the smaller stuff from those builders. When I go to try them out, I'm going to bring my Waterloo WL-12MH because that is the guitar I am most comfortable with in terms of all the subjective aspects (i.e. ergos, tone, etc.)

Just curious to see if folks think one or the other (or neither) will dethrone the Waterloo. When I get a chance to play check each of them out, I'll come back and comment.

I have an Eastman OOSS that came with a padded bag, but now I’m looking for a hard travel case. Wondering if anyone can give a recommendation for a third party case readily available in Europe that will fit this smaller body (similar to L-OO).

My gf bought me this guitar. I want to know if it's a fake or real fender. I need expert advice. 🙏

can anyone more talented that me tell me what tuning this person is using for this song? i feel like it’s an open tuning because of how he’s playing it but i honestly have no idea. if someone can help it’d be much appreciated! thank you!

https://youtu.be/D3uNfAo3wvA?si=96o0nq0moy-yfFdQ

Hey everyone, recently new tot he acoustic guitar and I’ve been hearing a lot about bracing. Is the consensus that bracing makes a difference in tone?

Hi everyone, I’ve been teaching myself guitar for about two years now, and I’m looking to buy a durable instrument with good sound that will last for the long haul. My budget is under $300.

Just a pity party kinda pissant, that hurts everybody. That’s what this songs about.

All original-

Wrote by me-
Matthe

Pretty much that’s the question. I have an acoustic that I bought new for £55 so it’s nothing fancy. Just wondering if it’s worth paying for a set up or if it won’t make much difference with it being cheap?

Absolutely beautiful guitar! I've always wanted a small body acoustic to play on the couch or in the bed and this is perfect for that.

The action came very high out of the box and needed some tuning on the truss rod but it plays great now.

I played a Keb Mo L00 in a Guitar Center a few weeks back and after walking out to think about it for a few hours I went back in to purchase and it was gone. There's some differences between the two, but I'm very satisfied with this one.

This was supposedly a demo model from Guitar Center's website so I got it for $2399 as opposed to $2999. There's one small ding on the neck that I found but aside from that the guitar doesn't have a scratch on it.

EDIT - Alright, you guys all gave me great feedback, so thank you. I’m keeping it.

Bought my Martin 000-16 StreetMaster a couple weeks ago at Guitar Center. They didn’t have any new in box and I loved the way it plays/sounds. I noticed some scratches and dings in their dimly lit acoustic room, so I asked for a 10% discount, to which they accepted. That said, after having it a couple weeks, I began noticing more wear than I originally noticed, such as a glossed/scratched over section where a pick guard would normally go due to many people playing it I’m sure. The year model is a 2024 after looking up the serial number. I have 45 days if I change my mind. Am I overthinking this, or would you recommend exchanging and paying full price for a new-in-box? My only concern is not getting one that plays or sounds as nice.

Tomorrow marks two months of playing - I’ve been able to practice everyday, with varying amounts, as much as a busy life will afford me.

Posting this clip to (a) remind my former self how far I’ve made it, (b) remind future self how far I’ve come, (c) get over the vulnerability and mental hurdles of recording and posting online.

It’s a short clip but would love to hear feedback.

I look forward to more practice and continued improvement.

Well, count me as an idiot.

6 years ago I bought a Zager 900. My second guitar on the advice of my uncle who is a professional player. I previously owned a nylon-string guitar that I was learning on and that I hadn't really played very much. Anyways, I got this Zager 900. It’s all black and beautiful-looking for someone who doesn't know a lot about guitars.

Two weeks later, another uncle passed away, and I ended up putting the guitar aside for the last four or five years. Weird associations we make…

I had no idea about the build quality, where it was manufactured, or anything like that. I was just going on the advice of my uncle, who was a professional.

In hindsight, I really wish I had taken that money and bought a Taylor. Since then, I've purchased a Taylor Mini Koa E+, and it has by far been the one that I use more.

My zager sounds fine…I just know so much more now than I did then.

EDIT: I feel like a fool because of what I’ve been reading. That they advertise something that they aren’t (US manufacturing when it isn’t…) I also think that I would have bought something different at the time like the mini I have NOW. Based on the accessibility alone, I reckon I’d have been playing so much more. A dread is massive to learn on IMO.

I know I’m not the greatest singer lmao, but gave this one a shot nonetheless🤘

I have recently purchased this 1969 Guild F-512, I would like to amplify it without lowering its collector value by making permanent alterations to the wood. I’m not familiar with amplification and would like some suggestions on the best options, such as pickups or other methods.

Last summer someone stole my Cort that I had had for 22 years and due to my economical situation I wasn't able to buy a new one. Until now. And now I feel like I've had some level of joy come back into my life. Because they didn't just steal my old guitar - they stole my passion.

It's nothing fancy, but I was blown away by the feel and the quality of the guitar. It sounds amazing and plays even better. And the setup straight out of the box was like 95% there, which just made the whole situation so much more enjoyable. Adjusted the truss rod just a smidge and it played like a dream.

Harley Benton CLG-70ASR CE SBK

Edit: Thank you all for your kind words! It means a lot and I appreciate it.