Latest articles by Jimmy Leslie
How the Fingerstyle Slap Technique Can Light a Fire Under Your Acoustic Playing
Inspired by funk slap bass licks, this technique can add some serious dynamics to your tunes.
Trey Anastasio: "During a Lot of Phish Jams, I’ll Land on a Simple Phrase, Almost Childlike, and Then Run with it"
The Phish frontman talks all things acoustic – his expressive new solo album, 'Mercy,' the guitar that completely changed his music landscape, and his "holy grail" Martin.
GP Presents the Waybacks feat. James Nash in Berkeley, CA – Win Tickets!
Guitar Player welcomes the Americana maestros to the Bay Area’s legendary folk venue, the Freight & Salvage, next Friday, July 8.
Fender Smolder Acoustic Overdrive Review
Has Fender engineered the acoustic overdrive solution we've been waiting for?
GP Presents Con Brio Feat. Benjamin Andrews This Sunday, June 19, in San Francisco, CA – Win Tickets!
Guitar Player welcomes the Bay Area’s most rockin’ soul ensemble to the epicenter of jazz in their home region, SFJAZZ.
Writing and Recording Acoustic Rock, Part 2
How revelations with tuning, guitars and friends inspired the Spirit Hustler track “Circlin’ the Sun.”
Lava ME 3 Review
The era of the smart acoustic-electric guitar is upon us and this progressive instrument is a game-changer.
“There Was Something Special About ‘Get On Board’”: Ry Cooder Talks New Collaborative Album
The guitarist reunites with Taj Mahal for ‘Get On Board: The Songs of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.’
“It’s Okay to Sound Different from the Record”: Ry Cooder Reveals His Stage and Studio Secrets
Discover the source of the authentic guitar tones heard on his new album with Taj Mahal, ‘Get On Board: The Songs of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.’
Eric Johnson on His Acoustic Evolution, the Essence of Songwriting and Recreating His Legendary Virginia Strat
On EJ Vol. II, Johnson doubles down on his acoustic playing while taking the electric guitar into bold, new territory. Can he have it both ways?
Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster Review
Fender's boundary-pushing Acoustasonic format was a big success on the Tele. Will the Strat follow suit?
GP Presents Andy McKee & Yasmin Williams this Thursday, May 5, in Berkeley, CA – Win Tickets!
Guitar Player welcomes the YouTube king and the prodigious lap tapper to legendary acoustic hotspot Freight & Salvage.
Gibson Generation Collection Review
These flat-tops are a fastball down the middle, with one exceptional curve in the form of the Player Port.
Writing and Recording Acoustic Rock, Part 1
Frets Editor Jimmy Leslie shares the lessons he learned creating Spirit Hustler’s inspired recording “The Spirit of ’69.”
Jam-Jazz Cat Scott Metzger Steps Out With New Album ‘Too Close To Reason’ Armed With a Vintage Martin
This intimate solo debut highlights the unique charms of a 1955 Martin 000-18.
Flat-Top Revelations from ‘The Beatles: Get Back,’ Part 2
More acoustic guitar insights from the ‘Let It Be’ studio session footage.
GP Presents John Scofield This Thursday, April 14, in San Francisco – Win Tickets!
'Guitar Player' welcomes the jazz guru to the City by the Bay for an Easter Weekend run of shows at SFJAZZ starting with a solo guitar performance on Thursday.
Martin SC-13E Special Burst Review
With its well-balanced tone this acoustic-electric sounds as sweet as it looks.
Essential Plucking Patterns for Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar
Your path to finger freedom continues with multi-string approaches that bring arpeggios to life.
Jake Shimabukuro teams up with Warren Haynes, Sonny Landreth, Willie Nelson, Jack Johnson, Vince Gill, Billy Strings and others
The uke superstar hosts an all-star line-up on his new album ‘Jake & Friends.’
Martin SC-13E Review
A revolutionary new design that updates the acoustic-electric guitar for a new generation.
Martin Grand J-16E 12-String Review
This ergonomically engineered 12-string ticks a lot of boxes both onstage and in the studio.
Flat-Top Revelations from ‘The Beatles: Get Back’
Some acoustic guitar insights from the ‘Let It Be’ studio session footage.
