How to Create an Acoustic Guitar Cover
Acoustic guitar covers are the coolest way to make pop songs have a whole new meaning. Check out my tips to creating your own acoustic guitar song cover here!
Here's my new Orangewood Guitar !
If there's one Spotify playlist I keep returning back to every time I'm working, cooking, walking, driving, and hanging on my apartment balcony, it's the Acoustic Covers playlist. You can find it here!
Not only is it perfect for my every mood, but it also has some amazing acoustic guitar cover ideas to play! Acoustic covers are super interesting to me because they take a song with an entire band, and condense it into this brand new song that not only shows the beauty of the work of the songwriter, but also the creativity of the person covering it. You are basically working as a reverse band. This Spotify playlist has also given me some great ideas of how I can create acoustic guitar songs out of pop/ full band songs, and make fun covers that people know whether I'm playing a gig or with friends!
Here's some tips if you are wanting to create your own acoustic guitar covers!
1. Put the full band into your acoustic
When you are stripping down a song to just the acoustic part, you'll want to think about your rhythm a lot more than normal. In pop songs, a lot of times the bass and drums/beat make the song catchy and driving, You can do the same thing by thinking about the bass line in the song (like focusing on the low E and A being played like a bass) and transferring it to your acoustic. You can also slap the strings or pat your guitar to add in most percussion elements. I think the acoustic version of Attention by Charlie Puth nails this!
Watch my video to learn more about creating your own acoustic cover!
2. Decide on a Vibe
Now that you are doing an acoustic cover, you can give it any feel you want. I think it's really cool when artists take an upbeat song and slow it down for acoustic. It can reveal words that are written from a more heartbroken or wistful place that get lost in production and when the tempo is faster. I think the Gardiner Sister's do an awesome job at this (like their cover of My Love/Hotline Bling). It's interesting thinking about the way a songwriter may have even originally crafted the song to be acoustic.
3. Use Open Strings
My favorite thing on acoustic guitar covers is the sound of open strings ringing out to create a fresh, airy, and peaceful vibe. Most pop songs use barre or Jimi Hendrix-style chords that make for a more rhythmic/controlled sound on electric. I think using a capo is really great for covering these kinds of songs because you can change the song to using chords that naturally have more open strings.
4. Decide which pieces are essential for people to recognize it's a cover
There are certain times I have heard an acoustic cover that they have taken out parts of the song I think are completely essential to its whole feel. So don't just play the chords and sing the lyrics. Think about fun guitar parts or synth parts you can creatively recreate. I like Boyce Avenue's version of Cheap Thrills to demonstrate that, especially how strumming the chords in the beginning mimic the synth part in Sia's original version.
So here is my list of my fav covers on Spotify that you can play on acoustic guitar!
1. Photograph
The harmonies at the end of this song are insane and magical!
2. Send My Love
This cover is gorgeous and I love that it stays true to Adele in that it gives you all of the feels!
3. Concrete Jungle
I like what they did with the acoustic part in the beginning here. They still kept the song upbeat on acoustic which is nice to not always make the acoustic version really slow.
4. Want to Want Me
This one is so fun! This Cheap Trick song already reminds me of some of my favorite 80's movies and I love how this cover completellyyy changes the entire feel of the song.
5. Taylor Swift 1989 Medley
Who doesn't love the Gardiner Sisters! They are such a cute little family and their voices blend so well. I love this Taylor Swift mash up they do!
6. Can’t Help Falling In Love
When this movie first came out I swear I watched it like 10 times. This song is so gorgeous though and even though it’s being covered a lot right now, I still love it!
7. Time After Time
The perfect cozy fall music. I love Iron and Wine’s Cover of this song!
8. Rock Bottom/ Let It Go Mashup
I really like Landon Austin’s cover and always thing he partners with other people who have great voices!
9. If The World Was Ending
This is my friend Julie and she recently came out with this cover- I think it’s really pretty!
10. Every Breath You Take
I love this Police cover of this song! It has a really cool feel to it!
I hope you have fun creating your own acoustic covers and drawing from songs that inspire you! If your looking for songs to cover on acoustic, I think going back to 70's/80's/90's songs you or your parents love is always fun. Also choosing pop songs that are really produced and have synth-y parts can be fun because you can completely make up your own guitar part.
So have fun and please share with me if you do make a cover!
Watch this video to learn how to create a mashup!
5 Ideas to Spice Up Your Solo Gig
Acoustic gigs are SO much fun! They are simple to organize, usually pretty personal with the audience, and you can pretty do whatever you want! The only downfall of them is if you aren’t mindful of spicing things up, songs can end up sounding similar because you don’t have a band to play the parts, the show can drag because there aren’t surprises in dynamics, and they just aren’t as high energy because you simply don’t have as many people on stage. In this blop, you will find 5 tips on how to spice up your solo acoustic gig to make it more fun and lively!
Fav tele with Lambertones Pickups!
Acoustic gigs are SO much fun! They are simple to organize, usually pretty personal with the audience, and you can pretty do whatever you want! I have to say, I’ve been a part of quite a few acoustic gigs from songwriter nights, cocktail parties, small acoustic shows, house shows, and more. The only downfall of them is if you aren’t mindful of spicing things up, songs can end up sounding similar because you don’t have a band to play the parts, the show can drag because there aren’t surprises in dynamics, and they just aren’t as high energy because you simply don’t have as many people on stage.
As you all might already know, my sister and I started a band last year because we wanted to do something that was totally no pressure with music. It’s always important for me to have a good attitude about music and make sure it’s always staying fun! We played this regular gig a lot of last year and it was outside at the happiest little stage looking into a patio of an adorable healthy Mexican food place. Not only did we get paid and get free margs (heyooo!) every time, but we also got a lot of experience changing things on the fly when the equipment wasn’t working, since what people would be interested in, and being very connected to a small group of people. From this gig, we’ve gotten to play at a lot of other Nashville venues and feel way more comfortable playing music together as a result of this acousticy gig!
I wanted to pass some of my favorite things I’ve learned through experiences like this to you! I didn’t include harmonies on this list since it’s aimed at a solo gig, but that would be amazing if you can add that! So I wanted to write this blog for the player who is looking for some fun ways to give their audience a more fun and entertaining show!
Tip 1: Using Effects
The H( is absolutely incredible! It took my a while to fully realize what all I could do, but now that i’ve spent some time with it, I love it!
Making an acoustic pedalboard is a great idea! Adding reverb, compression, EQ, and maybe chorus (or really whatever else you want, can make a huge difference in your sound and make your guitar sound a lot bigger. Making a little pedalboard is very simple and you don’t need too much to get started!
Here are somethings I would suggest!
P.S. I know a lot of you reading this are not new to these effects, but I wanted to explain a little for the newer players!
1) A DI- This is the most essential! Direct Inject boxes help balance your sound going into a PA. This a good idea as more a necessity type pedal so it sound cleaner. I liked this article about DI boxes from Sweetwater!
2) Reverb
Reverb is my favorite effect. You can take it a million directions from a cool shimmery effect, to sounding like you are in a large concert hall, to just a little to make your guitar sounds a little bigger. Reverb sounds AMAZING on acoustic because it just adds takes up a lot of room so it doesn’t sound so small.
3) Delay
Like reverb, the delay also takes up a lot of room and is more like echos on your guitar. You can think about these like reverb would be hearing yourself singing in a stairwell or somewhere with acoustics, whereas delay is the actual repeats of your notes back. Just a little bit of delay on occasion is usually good for acoustic gigs.
4) Compression
Compression is something that I didn’t realize I needed for a long time and I also had a hard time hearing it work it’s magic. I just like a little compression. If you are confused about compression, basically what it does is squishes your note to make it more consistent. So you wind up having a more consistent sound because it squeezes any random frequencies together but can also sound shrill if you aren’t careful.
5) Chorus
Chorus is a cool almost 80’s- y sounding effect that makes your guitar sound retro and awesome!
There are so many more but you get the point!
7) A vocal harmonizer pedal
I don’t have one of these but have seen other people use them and they sound SWEET! Not something you would need to use on every song, but a super cool idea for a slower or vibey song when you don’t have that other person there to add the harms.
Tip 2. Playing some songs on electric
A lot of people think of electric as an instrument you layer in with other things, but just playing with an electric sound super cool! It’s important to get your tone right so it sounds good by itself (typically in a band you want your electric brighter/higher and solo you might want to leave in more low end!). If you have something like the HX Stomp, it makes it as easy as just switching guitars an settings for this. On an electric, if I’m playing solo, I’ll try to using open voicings (aka chords that use open strings!) to make it sound more full.
Tip 3. Befriend your audience
I love this about small venues because you can really see people’s faces and a lot of times it’s more laid back than being up high on a stage. You can be a lot more engaging and interactive in these kind of settings which I feel like always makes things more fun for your audience!
Tip 4. Use a looper
Loopers are so so cool! I’m honestly still getting the hang of mine (my HX Stomp has one)! But you can make cool rhythms on your strings and add a lot to give an overall band like the effect of your playing. They do take some practice to use because your timing has to be spot-on in starting, playing and stopping the loop or it sounds weird. But it’s definitely worth it because you can add a lot of dynamics and beats to your playing.
Tip 5. Mix up the types of songs you are playing
My sis and I try to tailor our setlist to the demographic of every gig. Also, we will change it up by observing the audience and just seeing if they are bopping to a faster song than we will keep playing those for a bit. We also try to play covers that fit the age group of who we are playing for so there’s something for everyone. Since performing is a gift to the audience, I think covers are fun when they don’t know your songs yet and that’s not what they want to hear, so choosing good ones is essential! I have heard (in Nashville at least) a lot of people hating on covers, but I feel like I have 1) learned most of what I know by in-depth learning other artist’s songs 2) Love when other bands cover a song I love 3) Know that not all gigs you get are looking to really listen to my songs, but might just want to have some nice vibey music to set a good mood
So those are my top tips for making your solo gigs more interesting and fun! This kind of gigs are an amazing way to grow, see what type of songs feel best playing live, work on not feeling nervous on stage, get songs really tight, learn o troubleshoot with sound issues, and meet amazing people. So don’t underestimate them! I love the quote (I can’t completely remember it tbh) about it being all the little unimpressive things that lead to the impressive things. I think a lot of times with music, it can be easy to start thinking that if you are famous and playing to a lot of people then you are more valuable, but sometimes these smaller types of gigs can be the ones where you really can connect with someone and that’s truly what it’s about. I hope you liked these tips and thanks a ton for reading!! You rock!
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My Best Songwriting Tips (first thoughts as a beginner!)
When I first started wanting to write songs, I remember sitting on my couch and having NOTHING good I wanted to put on paper. Since my sister and I started writing together, I have some tips for those of you that want to get started songwriting but don’t know where to begin!
When I first started wanting to write songs, I remember sitting on my couch and having NOTHING good I wanted to put on paper. It wasn’t that I didn’t have any ideas, but I felt like they were all dumb! Ugh. After sitting there for like half an hour not being able to think of anything, I finally decided to take a break. How could I constantly have 1 million things to say and yet when I actually needed to express that, I had nothing. After a bit more time writing though, something changed for me with songwriting- suddenly it became way easier to think of ideas and melodies that didn’t feel forced/awkward.
I am not a professional songwriter, but I am someone who has just started and got over some hurdles with writing. Now I’m finding I actually LOVE writing songs and plan to do that a lot more this year.
Starting at a blank page is the WORST!
If you want to start writing, I wanted to give you my tips as someone who was recently in your shoes and wondering how to get started!
1) Don’t worry if your ideas Don’t feel song worthy
I think this is THE BIGGEST tip I have discovered! The worst thing is a co-write (when multiple people are writing a song together) where no one wants to say their ideas!. If you take the vulnerability leap and are the first to say your stupid ideas, then it’s usually a lot easier for other people to go off that or at least have a starting point. You don’t have to say anything so poetic or deep, but sometimes just getting out how you feel about something in normal language can lead to other great ideas. It’s a lot easier to come back to a song once you have something down!
Know your guitar better to write better songs!
Check out my new acoustic course to grow from a beginner to an intermediate acoustic guitar player!
2) Use your voice memos
There are a lot of ways of writing songs, but one of my favorites has been recording voice memos. I don’t know why, but I always have my best melody ideas in the car or walking my dog. I have hundreds of voice memos now of little song melodies (that sound absolutely terrible with the sound of traffic all around me lol). I have been liking storing these up because then when I go to sit down a write, I have something to go off of. I have also found the melodies I can actually remember without having to go back and listen are usually the winners!
3) Be open to change
This is my sister Molly! We just started songwriting together and it’s been the best!
Since my sister and I started writing, there are a lot of ideas I think are great and vice versa that one person really doesn’t like. Since we are sisters, we are probably WAY too real with each other which is actually really good because you don’t have to worry about hurting anyone’s feelings. I love my friend Laura’s practice with her friend, where each session they get one veto for an idea. That way you don’t end up disagreeing about everything. Bb being flexible with your ideas and figuring out how to work with the other person you can get a more creative song by doing things you aren’t used to ( but obviously still be honest if you have an idea you're really attached to!).
Free Beginner Electric Guitar Guide!
Getting into electric is so fun (and a little intimadating!). Let me guide you through it here!
4) Play them out
Us getting some practice playing out new songs out and about!
At a recent gig my sister and I had, we got to play all our freshly written songs! (You can also sign up for a writer’s night if you don’t have any gigs lined up.) It really helped us see which songs of ours felt most singable and naturally melodic. After the gig, we had a clear idea of which songs we would keep and which songs to retire.
5) Try different styles of writing
I used to think of guitar parts first, but I realized I actually do better when I start with the melody/lyrics first. Otherwise, my song doesn’t sound singable. You might be the opposite, but try a few different ways and see what you like! Sometimes the process is trial and error, but it’s worth changing things up to refresh your creativity!
If you want to get into songwriting, I hope this gives you some good tips for starting out! If you have any songs you’ve written you want to share, I would love if you dropped them below! Thanks so much for reading!
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Best Acoustic Guitars Under $500
A lot of people I have talked to mention getting a really cheap acoustic guitar to start and figure it will have to SOUND cheap. But there are so many great acoustic guitar options out there under $500, you shouldn’t have to buy something that doesn’t sound good just because you aren’t ready to invest a lot of money into a high-end guitar. All of these acoustic guitars are awesome prices and sound wonderful so you stay inspired while you are learning how to play!
Me playing my Orangewood Oliver Jr!
A few years ago, my mom went shopping in Costco and was having trouble with her engagement ring feeling loose on her hand (probably because Costco is always freezing cold!). She remembers adjusting her ring a lot and when she got home, she realized it wasn’t on her finger anymore (the nightmare amiright?!). She called Costco, searched everywhere, and finally came to the heart-wrenching conclusion that her tiny marquee style ring was lost forever. It was absolutely devastating! This ring had been through 30 years of marriage and was smaller and simpler than a lot of rings people are getting now. There were all these specific stories and memories that ring had been a part of and it carried this special timeless look that represented her and my dad’s relationship. It took her two years to find a "new" antique ring that seemed to have character and stories of its own, and the process of finding something that fit her perfectly took a long time. Though she now loves her new ring, her first ring showed her journey of years in a relationship and though it was really simple, the first ring she ever got would always be the most special.
I think the process of acoustic guitar shopping is very similar to finding a special ring like this (minus the whole marrying someone forever thing…). Each guitar is so unique (and even when guitars are exactly the same make, they might vary!) and when you spend a lot of time with a specific guitar, it becomes like a journal holding all these special and personal things and ideas you’ve played on it.
A lot of people I have talked to mention getting a really cheap guitar to start and figure it will have to sound cheap.
But there are so many great acoustic guitar options out there you shouldn’t have to buy something that doesn’t sound good just because you aren’t ready to invest money into a high-end guitar. All of these guitars are awesome prices and sound wonderful so you stay inspired while you are learning!
In this blog, I want to help you find your perfect acoustic guitar under $500!
With all that being said, I feel like I’m about to guide you into Ollivanders wand shop and help you become acoustic guitar wizards! Here we go!
For each of these acoustic guitar choices, I based it on what I thought were the best acoustic guitars that will give you the feeling of playing something unique and beautiful like a freshly bought journal waiting to be written in. All of them are affordable that if you are a newer player, they won't break the bank!
Also, I am using affiliate links in this blog, so make sure you use them if you decide to purchase any online!
If you want to score an awesome deal on a used acoustic guitar, make sure you check Reverb.com for a guitar that may be out of your price range new, but affordable used!
So here are my favorite acoustic guitars under $500:
Here’s a lil vid of my jamming out with my Orangewood Oliver Jr (named Pipin!) :)
I was amazed at the quality of this acoustic! It really sounds beautiful!
This is a gorgeous guitar and a cool innovative brand to match! Orangewood is a new company that launched just a few years ago! They are a digital-first/ community-driven guitar brand whose vision is to make quality acoustic guitars for more affordable prices so more people can learn guitar. They have blown up quickly and I can see why! After playing the Echo, I couldn't believe how inexpensive it was. They also have a cool way to give back when you buy a guitar called the "Giving Guitar," you can check out here.
Bonus! Get 10% off at check out using the code: haleysfriends10
Taylor GS Mini
$499
Very high quality and beautiful
Environmentally responsible
Small body
Here is the GS Mini Aocustic Guitar in Mahogany, but they have a lot of different wood options!
Taylor is the BEST! Though they have the reputation of making your DREAM acoustic more than your first acoustic guitar, they do have some extremely affordable options. I have the GS mini bass guitar and it sounds incredible (and I have 2 of their other acoustics!). Really everything they make is perfect and they are very innovative in there building techniques (check out their V -Bracing techniques!). They also are making huge efforts to replant ebony trees in Cameroon and currently supply many other well-known guitar companies with their wood.
Breedlove Discovery Concert
$349
Innovative bridge system
Lots of options in the $500 price range
All-around well set up
Here is the Discovery Concerto in Sitka Spruce and Mahogany
I think Breedlove makes amazing and high-quality products and some of my guitar students use them. The Pursuit or Discovery series of theirs isn't too expensive for beginners and I know there are a lot of artists (especially in country music especially) who use them. They started in 1992 and have been dedicated to high quality and innovative products since!
Find your guitar community on Instagram!
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Recording King Dirty 30’s Series 9 Parlor
$179.99
Lots of history in the brand
Vintage and bluesy looking
Vibrant sound and light-weight
This Dirty 30’s series of acoustic guitars has a lot of cool options!
I've heard from a lot of people at music stores that Recording King acoustics are made very simple but high quality. They have a long history and specialize in vintage designs. You can read a bit about their story here. What really sold me on them was when I heard my student’s Recording King acoustic! It sounded so full and gorgeous. I absolutely love this Dirty 30’s series they have- it’s so bluesy and retro! If you are buying a beginner guitar, it’s fun to have something that looks vintage and vibey!
Gretsch Guitars G9200 Boxcar Round-Neck Resonator Guitar
$399
Comfortable to play
1930’s vintage design
Gorgeous sound
I think the aluminium resonator cone on this is so cool!
Ok, this guitar just looks amazing! The aluminum resonator cone give it a really neat sound and it’s based on a 1930’s design. I have always loved Gretsch (I have wanted one forever!) and this guitar is perfect for any player in the county/ folk/ Americana scene!
Takamine G Series Acoustic Guitar
$479.99
Classic
Solid and reliable
Good electronics system
Here is the “Gloss Natural” color, but there are other options as well.
Both my hubby and mom have a Takamine and they are great! Simple and easy with a nice warm sound! This is a nice classic option for those looking to start playing acoustic guitar!
If you have been looking for an acoustic guitar, I hope that this blog helps you get closer to finding one that is perfect for you. Like I said, I highly recommend checking Reverb.com as well for deals on used guitars as well! My mom still has a special love for that first engagement ring and even though she can’t wear it anymore, it’s cool thinking about this object you choose is helping something impersonal start gaining a bit of its own story and history.
Thanks SO much for reading and I would love to hear your thoughts below!
How to Improve your Rhythm on Guitar
Your rhythm hand on the guitar doesn’t typically get as much attention as the fretting hand maybe because it’s not quite as flashy or noticeable! But I honestly think it’s possibly more important! In this blog, you’ll learn a few tips to improve your rhythm hand!
Always lovin’ ma Grand Pacific Taylor!
Your rhythm hand on the guitar doesn’t typically get as much attention as the fretting hand, maybe because it’s not quite as flashy or noticeable! But I honestly think it’s possibly more important! In this blog, you’ll learn a few tips to improve your rhythm hand!
I distinctly remember the first time I really realized how hard it was for me to stay on time was the first time I played to a click. I hadn’t done a lot of work formally with metronomes and TBH it kinda tripped me up! I remember playing along to the click and all of a sudden being off again in my own little world and having no idea how I got off!
If you need some help staying on time or getting better at creating complex rhythms on guitar, this post is for you!
Watch my YouTube video on this here!
I think the biggest issues that can sabotage your rhythm on guitar are:
Coordination
Multitasking
If you know when you are getting off time, then you probably have a sense of rhythm. So let’s break down some ways that you can improve, so you are more accurate and can create catchier and more complex rhythms when you are playing!
1) Practice videoing yourself with a click
I think when you are videoing yourself it can create a kind of pressure that is similar to being in a studio or performing live, and makes the multitasking aspect of playing along to a click a little more difficult! All you need to do is set up your phone and record yourself playing a whole song along to a click! It’s crazy how when you are playing you will start to notice when you are getting off time.
*Note- this is a lot more fun to practice with a friend!
I like this metronome app (there are a bunch of good ones though!)
This pulse watch from SoundBrennor is also a fun little rhythm tool! (Use my code HALEYPOWERS for free shipping!)
2) Making your rhythms more complex
Put on a metronome and keep the BPM the same. Then start adding more and more complexity in your strumming while the tempo stays the same. You can also slow down and begin adding a bit more complexity, as long as you have the basics down. Watch the video here (start at 5:25 for just this part!) for more on this!
i find learning new songs improves my rhythm tons! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run into rhythms that are like brain teasers- it’s always fun finding a new challenge!
3) Tap your foot to the song
Ok yes, I know this sounds like the advice of your flutophone teacher when you were 7 years old but this works so well! Physically doing something to keep the time is so incredibly helpful at making you stay on time and have the rhythm in your head.
I hope these short tips were helpful to you and thanks so much for reading! I would love to know anything that’s helped you with this! The fact you decided read a blog about guitar is clearly a sign you are improving and putting in the time to get better so be proud of yourself!
