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Funky Fingerstyle Guitar

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You are here: Home / Archives for Guitar / Gear Reviews

Gear Reviews

Tips For Buying an Acoustic Guitar

By Adam Rafferty 28 Comments

Tips for buying an acoustic guitar - Adam RaffertyThe big question to ask yourself when buying a guitar is “Where will I play it?”

Will you be playing it on stage & at live gigs, or at home in your studio or living room?

Then you can think about the guitar choice…
[Read more…] about Tips For Buying an Acoustic Guitar

Should You Use a Thumb Pick for Fingerstyle Guitar?

By Adam Rafferty 51 Comments

10-14-thumbpick

Tony Robbins says the more you tell yourself you “should do something” you end up “should-ing all over yourself!”

So – you’re not going to get a “you should” or “you shouldn’t” with this article.

I’m just going to help you think it through.

[Read more…] about Should You Use a Thumb Pick for Fingerstyle Guitar?

Home Studio Gear For Recording Great Sounding Fingerstyle Guitar

By Adam Rafferty 43 Comments

Home Studio Gear For Recording Great Sounding Fingerstyle Guitar

I call this an “update” because you may have read my earlier post or seen my videos on recording fingerstyle guitar for Youtube videos.

Here, I will describe my home studio setup with getting a great sound in mind.

Please comment below if you have a suggestion or want to mention your gear – or, especially if anything I am saying is not accurate!

Hey – I just made current, all new PDF which gives all the details on the gear that I used to record my new CD “Play Pretty for the People.”

If you are thinking about recording at home, you will love this guide. I list my home gear (guitars, strings, software, mics, and more…). Enjoy! 🙂

swa-7-tools-crop

Find out what simple (and affordable) equipment I use at home to record to get a CD quality fingerstyle guitar sound.

Get the Free PDF – Instantly!


The Attitude

All kinds of gear sounds great for fingerstyle guitar.  There are many ways to do record it, mine is just one…here goes.

Continue Reading

6 Pieces of Guitar Gear I Can’t Live Without

By Adam Rafferty 30 Comments

6 Pieces of Guitar Gear I Can’t Live Without

Hey Gang!

I was just peeking through the mountain of “Fanbridge”  questions that I have, and I came across a recurring theme…

Question:  “Adam what guitar / strings / gear do you use?”

I get asked about this 10 times a week.

With the “mountain”  of gear that one sees in catalogs & stores it is easy to get confused.

Since I carry most of my stuff myself (no car – yep, I’m a a New York guy), it has to be portable, easy and sound great.

All of what I am listing fits in a backpack (except the guitars), and I am ready to play any size concert hall or festival.

Keep in mind, this list WILL change, and “there is more than one way to do it” – but this has been working for me.

Continue Reading

How To Record Guitar For Youtube Videos

By Adam Rafferty 18 Comments

Since the original 2009 post is outdated, I have made 2 NEW walkthrough videos showing how I do all my process.  Check these newer videos out, and be sure to get the current “7 recording tools” cheat sheet.

Watch the Videos & Get Cheat Sheet HERE

Here is a quick rundown of my non-recording gear (guitar, camera, lights.)

    • Maton Michael Fix Model Guitar – https://maton.com.au/product/ebg808c-micfix
    • Canon Vixia HF M40 – https://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/camcorders/consumer_camcorders/vixia_hf_m40
    • Flashpoint Lights with Stands – I use 2  – https://www.adorama.com/FPCL4K.html

Click Here for my “7 Recording Tools” Cheat Sheet.

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FREE - “Discover the 7 Tools You'll Need to Record Awesome Fingerstyle Guitar - At Home!”
Learn how you can get great results with very affordable equipment. I'll show you exactly what I used at home to record my most recent CD. Enjoy!
Start playing "Simplicity" and "Vitamin E Blues" - in just minutes...for FREE!
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Discover 5 Powerful Techniques that Will Make You Sound Like a Full Band on a Single Guitar. Learn to play Bass Lines, Melodies and Grooves at the Same Time - Guaranteed!
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FREE - Get PDF tabs and 9 Step-by-Step Video Lessons for "Vitamin E Blues" - Instantly...
Your PDF tabs and video links will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
Get the FREE PDF and Start Playing "Simplicity" for Solo Guitar in Just Minutes!
You will love learning and playing this song...and your friends and family will listen in amazement as YOU play it!
Learn to play "Silent Night" for Fingerstyle Guitar - Instantly!
You'll get a PDF and 8 Video Guitar Lessons, FREE.
Learn to play "Silent Night" for fingerstyle guitar - Instantly!
You'll get a PDF with complete guitar tabs and 8 video guitar lessons - free.
FREE - “Discover the 7 Tools You'll Need to Record Awesome Fingerstyle Guitar - At Home!”
Learn how you can get great results with very affordable equipment. I'll show you exactly what I used at home to record my most recent CD. Enjoy!
Start playing "Simplicity" and "Vitamin E Blues" - in just minutes...for FREE!
Your tabs will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - Instantly!
Discover 5 Powerful Techniques that Will Make You Sound Like a Full Band on a Single Guitar. Learn to play Bass Lines, Melodies and Grooves at the Same Time - Guaranteed!
Watch these FREE guitar lesson videos revealing my “secrets” to guitar technique, groove, and effective practice so that you can improve YOUR playing, INSTANTLY!
We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See our terms and privacy here.
FREE - Get PDF tabs and 9 Step-by-Step Video Lessons for "Vitamin E Blues" - Instantly...
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Get the FREE PDF and Start Playing "Simplicity" for Solo Guitar - Instantly!
You will love learning and playing this song...and your friends and family will listen in amazement as YOU play it!
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FREE - Get PDF tabs and 9 Step-by-Step Video Lessons for "Vitamin E Blues" - Instantly...
Subscribe to my newsletter and get Instant Access to the Free PDF and videos! Links will come INSTANTLY via email. Grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
FREE - Get the Tabs and MP3 for
"Just A City Boy" - Instantly...
Your PDF tabs and mp3 will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
FREE - Get the Tabs and MP3 for
"Ciao Bella" - Instantly
Your PDF tabs and MP3 will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
FREE - Get the Tabs and MP3 for
"Listen to Your Heart" - Instantly...
Your PDF tabs and mp3 will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
FREE - Get the Video Lessons, Tabs and MP3 for
"Shelter Island" - Instantly...
Your PDF tabs and video links will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
FREE - Get the Tabs and MP3 for
"America" - Instantly...
Your PDF tabs and mp3 will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
10 Tips for Healthy Guitar Practicing
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Learn to play "O Come All Ye Faithful" for Fingerstyle Guitar, Instantly!
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Learn "Angels We Have Heard on High" for Fingerstyle Guitar, Instantly.
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FREE - Get the PDF Tabs for this "E7 Groove"
Instantly...
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Learn to use harmonics, slaps and percussion!
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Download The "Groove Scales PDF" and Watch Your Technique Improve Effortlessly!
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Learn this simple yet powerful warm up technique in minutes...
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Download The "4 Levels of Thumb Picking" and Watch your Technique Improve Dramatically!
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Full chord progression as played in the video is included in the tabs.
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Discover Lush Guitar Harmonies With a Simple
One Finger Move...
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You'll also get the 'move' as well on D, G, C, E and A minor chords in the tabs!
Learn to play "O Holy Night" for Fingerstyle Guitar - Instantly!
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Give Your Technique and Fretboard Knowledge a Boost - Quickly and Easily....
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You'll get the 3 octave G scale with all tabs and fingerings - Instantly!
Learn to Play Arpeggios "Magically" on the Guitar - In Just Minutes...
It's actually so easy to understand and play arpeggios using this technique, that you'll feel like you're cheating! :-) Enjoy!
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Are You Curious About the Jazz Solo from
my "Black Orpheus" Video?
Tabbed out just for you! Here's the improvised solo from "Black Orpheus" plus a lead sheet of the alternate chord changes I use. Enjoy!