Blog

How to Improve Playing Speed: A Complete Guide for Musicians

Improving your playing speed as a guitarist can be frustrating at times, but rewarding in the end. It is a journey that combines practice, technique, and smart self-analysis. Whatever instrument you play,  becoming faster and cleaner takes commitment and the...

How to Know Your Guitar Frets Are Dying

Playing guitar should feel natural, with every note ringing clearly and smoothly. But sometimes, an unwanted buzz, muted note, or sudden loss of sustain interrupts the music. For many players, this points to one of the most frustrating problems: dying frets. These...

How to Clean an Acoustic Guitar

Cleaning your acoustic guitar helps preserve its sound and beauty for years to come. A clean, well-maintained instrument is easier to play and has a richer, more consistent tone. While consistent maintenance is important, the key to a beautiful instrument is using the...

The Science of Sound: How Does a Guitar Work?

The guitar is one of the most popular and versatile instruments in the world, found in nearly every genre of music from country and blues to rock and classical. But have you ever wondered how this six-stringed instrument actually produces sound? Whether you're a...

Why Do Guitars Lose Their Tune?

Your guitar is an intricately designed instrument that will provide the desired chords and tone when properly tuned. Unfortunately, as any musician knows all too well, there are times when even the most cherished instrument will fail to hold its tune properly. This can be the result of all sorts of issues. Here are some common reasons to consider that will cause your guitar to slip out of tune more often than it should.

Tools Needed to Build Your Own Guitar

Have you ever wondered what it takes to build your own guitar? Crafting an instrument from scratch is a blend of artistry, precision, and passion. Whether you’re a musician seeking a custom instrument or a beginner exploring the world of luthiery, the process starts...
Student Spotlight: Dave Sabella
Student Spotlight: Dave Sabella

Dave Sabella comes to Guitar Craft Academy with an entire career already under his belt. After working in the advertising industry his entire professional life, he’s branching out into a new career as a luthier. Even as he’s still learning the basics of guitar...

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Faculty Spotlight: Brian Bonds
Faculty Spotlight: Brian Bonds

Brian Bonds' name will be familiar to Florida Georgia Line fans — he played guitar and was musical director for the Nashville-based country group for five years. Now an in-demand Nashville session player and producer, Brian has joined the Guitar Craft...

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Tech Tip from Dave Johnson: Slide Away
Tech Tip from Dave Johnson: Slide Away

(Dave Johnson is an instructor at Guitar Craft Academy Nashville and the owner of Scale Model Guitars in Nashville.) Even after more than a decade as a luthier, I still learn new things here and there where I can't believe I never knew about them before. My...

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Student Spotlight: Brandon Edwards
Student Spotlight: Brandon Edwards

Brandon Edwards grew up in Stanford, Kentucky — just down the road from Montgomery Gentry's Eddie Montgomery, a Danville native — so it's fair to say that music's always been part of his life. "I got fascinated with Les Pauls — seeing how you could move a...

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Tech Tip: Designing a Guitar Body Using Rhinoceros
Tech Tip: Designing a Guitar Body Using Rhinoceros

Most manufacturers and some independent luthiers use CNC machines to build their guitars. The process starts with drawing a design on the computer. My favorite program for doing this is Rhinoceros. Rhino (for short) is a powerful 3-D drafting and rendering program...

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