Learning Links
The instructional material available today for guitarists is abundant and of great quality. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced player, you can find what you're looking for. Instructional formats range from CD's to books and video. The following are links to sites that provide instructional material.
Learning Doc Watson's Styles
Visit our sister site DocsGuitar.com for a complete list of instruction materials for learning Doc's playing styles. Includes books, video, and covers both fingerpicking to flatpicking.
AcuTab Publications
AcuTab produces tablature transcriptions featuring the playing of popular bluegrass recording artists. Mainly focused on banjo, but some guitar info including a book on Tim Stafford. Webmaster's Note: website link was not operational on 6/17/2022
Bluegrass College
A subscription-based, online learning resource for bluegrass players on any instrument and level. Provides tab, online video lessons and various practice and jam tracks as part of the learning experience.
Folk of the Wood
Created by Mickey Cochran, a professional acoustic musician for over 20 years, Folk of the Wood is your venue to gain more knowledge and to find the tools of the acoustic trade.
Granger's Fiddle Tunes
Adam Granger has put together a remarkable collection of over 500 fiddle tunes in guitar tablature, with over 1000 indexed and cross-referenced titles.
JamPlay
This site offers on demand instruction in a variety of genres and techniques. There are thousands of lessons available from over 100 instrtuctors including Flatpicking chamption Tyler Grant. You can purchase courses individually or on a subscription basis.
Steve Kaufman
Steve is perhaps the most widely published teacher of flatpick guitar. He is also the only three-time winner of the National Flatpicking Championship. Be sure to check out his "Parking Lot Picker" series. These are perhaps the best instructional materials available to learn traditional bluegrass tunes that you'll find.
Homespun Tapes
Homespun Tapes is a leader in providing lessons in a variety of music styles and instruments. Their instructors are renowned performing artists who share their expertise with learning players.
Strum Machine NEW
Strum Machine offers backing tracks for Bluegrass and Old Time musicians. There are over 1000 pre-recorded tunes available, plus you can create custom tracks for any tune. The backing tracks feature real acoustic instruments (guitar, bass and mandolin) and you can select which ones are played. You can also easily change the tempo and key for each tune. Strum Machine is also reasonably priced.
TrueFire
TrueFire offers video guitar lessons from over 300 artists and teachers, including Grammy winners and session musicians. Their courses are composed of individual video lessons that include tab and tracks. You can purchase courses individually or on a subscription basis.
Mel Bay Publications
Mel Bay Publications is a major name in the music instruction field and publishes material for a wide variety of instruments and styles. Their publications feature carefully arranged material edited for maximum ease in learning.
Musician's Workshop
Musician's Workshop offers a variety of instructional materials for Bluegrass players. The materials are produced by Dan Huckabee, a regular columnist in Flatpicking Guitar magazine.
Musix
This is the web site of Dix Bruce, the well-known and popular author of a wide variety of instruction books and articles. The site features his books, compact discs, videos, music supplies and free downloads.