Online programs for finding chords and chord names, for guitar, piano, bass, ukulele, mandolin, banjo and more.

Site dedicated to all types of fingerstyle guitar. You'll find high quality Fingerstyle TAB and MIDI in the Blues, Jazz, Celtic, and Contemporary styles. There is also tutorials, forums, and book/video/software reviews. If you like fingerstyle guitar, you'll love this site.

Chord finder, including split chords and chord variations. Also features standard and exotic guitar scales.

Everything you ever wanted to know about vintage Martin, Gibson and many more.......MK

A series of lessons on blues guitar, music theory, chord progressions etc

Great tone and playability and quality beyond reproach. Breedloves have a very distinctive appearance which seems to be one you either love or hate, but at least it doesn't resemble a Martin. Nothing wrong with that, but the distinctive quality carries over into the bracing and shapes too. Great stuff, even if you hate the way they look..........Spaw

Custom Made in the UK in the heart of the West Country. Brook have been handcrafting acoustic guitars in their workshop for the last twenty years and have gained a reputation for exceptional value and quality.

Performance Quality Instruments.....MK

Martin's online catalog. What is there to say? Unless you were perhaps born under a rock. Nice pix. Screensavers too.....Spaw

This site was taken down in 2005. Use the Wayback Machine to see the site at that time, use the following URL:

https://web.archive.org/web/20050901073504/http://hatbox.lib.virginia.edu:80/gtr

(edited by Will Fly)

Buy Classical and Classical Electric Guitars, Flamenco Guitars, Guitars & Accessories from Spain by Guitars from Spain, Inc.

Some would argue its the best high line guitar going. Outstanding tone, fit, finish, and playability. Big bucks, but absolutely top line guitars.........Spaw

Yep.......he's reorganized and still very much in the business of making some very fine guitars........MK

Dreadnautilus guitars are manufactured by Fred Carlson - info at the Beyond The Trees website.

Ed or one of the custom luthiers in his coalition will build you a really cool electric guitar, sometimes for less than what you'd pay for a Les Paul off the rack. He also carries the name brands. He's a collector, and has lots of pictures of vintage and unusual guitars. Lots of info on woods, necks, and opinionated comment on guitar construction from Ed himself (including an explanation of the relatively rare set-thru-body method of attaching neck and body). Located in Connecticut, a few minutes' drive from NYC. GUEST

Yeah, they ain't what they used to be we all know, but they are still a nice instrument at a very affordable price. Nice site here too.....Spaw

Primarily focused on the "Kentucky Thumbpicking" or "Muhlenburg Sound" played by Kennedy Jones, Mose Rager, Ike Everly, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Tommy Flint, and many others. The site includes instructional material as well as a huge collection of carefullly transcribed tabs for some the the best known tunes played in the Thumbpicking style. The site also includes some bluegrass and country tabs including some 5-string banjo.

Simply a fantastic resource for anyone trying to do some repairs themselves and wanting to provide the best of care for their instrument. Frank Ford is a superb luthier (Gryphon is linked from this site) and his advice is well written and illustrated. If you have a question, this is the first place to go....Spaw

Learn how to play the guitar online for free. Learn tuning, tabs, chords, easy songs and riffs, guitar notes and much more.

This domain is now for sale and the site has gone down. To see it in March 2018, go to:

https://web.archive.org/web/20180324235843/http://www.guitarforanyone.com/

(edited by Will Fly)

A very popular UK based guitar company. Excellent instruments with a lot of thought put into their application and sound. Also mandolin family instuments........JonF/Spaw

Well...Doc Watson plays 'em........What else need be said? Exceptionally beautiful instruments and a wonderfully historic and informative site..........Spaw

guitars with a special plastic internal bracing, making them cheaper to produce. This thread talks about them. Grab

A venerable old name in guitars, banjos, and mandolins. Nice website with good pix and frequently updated. Like Martin, unless you were born under a rock, what else can I say?....Spaw

Excellent guitars that generally rank among the most desired. Several 'Catters swear by theirs and the company reputation is superior.........Spaw

John Greven of Portland, Oregon is making some damn fine instruments these days......MK

George Gruhn has almost literally written the book on Vintage pricing. Located in Nashville, this is always a great place to check-in occasionally. Sells new vintage and often has some "Opry" star instruments. Be forewarned though, they know exactly what things are worth.....Spaw

Guild is still making fine, solid, and very durable, beautiful instruments after several corporate changes. Their 12's are still considered to be one of the best going and almost a benchmark. Nice site and lots of great information.....Spaw

Fine new and vintage stringed instruments, representing some of the best and leading edge luthiers.......MK

This database covers hundreds of dealers throughout the US. Use the search engine to locate a guitar by make,model,and year. A fun site to hang around. Lots of dealer listings.......Spaw

Includes many tips on guitar maintenance

Great article by Erwin Somogyi about the differences and advantages.........MK

Article no longer available from current site, but can be seen as a 2016 entry in the Wayback Machine at:

https://web.archive.org/web/20180318012847/http://www.esomogyi.com/handmade.html

(edited by Will Fly)

Ian Chisholm has been making guitars and other stringed instruments for over 50 years and is based in Ditchling in East Sussex.

Carvin Guitars are now manufactured as part of the Kiesel Guitar Company's output.

(Will Fly)

German builder of extremely high quality instruments. Not as popular as some, but only because they aren't distributed as thoroughly. Nice and informative site with a good history and lots of background and pictures...........Spaw. See also Mooman's post below about Lakewoods.

Home page for these fine Canadian made guitars and some excellent reading material too. Jean Larrivee is a most respected luthier and his guitars are both original in structural design and of very high quality......Spaw

Excellent article on the causes of string buzzes........ JP

No longer available at the current URL - to see it, go to:

https://web.archive.org/web/20180130043824/http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Music

(edited by Will Fly)

Good article.....MK No longer available at the current UR. To see it from a 2018 entry, go to:

https://web.archive.org/web/20180418094645/http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthi

(edited by Will Fly)

Located in Manhattan, Mandolin Bros. is an old and well respected music store for folk instruments, Vintage and New. Very helpful staff and superb inventory. Another "must check" place. Also a great selection of strings and other gear.....Spaw

Want to know the difference in makes, models and scales of various Martins? (Well there might be 2 or 3 people here who would.) Here you go then.....(MK)

No longer available at the current URL. To see a record from 2011, go to:

https://web.archive.org/web/20111130230907/http://www.mimf.com:80/archives/marti

(edited by Will Fly)

Superb Django/Selmer influenced guitars......MK

Named for Chet Atkins' well-known moniker, the site includes material and links for fingerstyle guitarists that would be hard to find anywhere else.

Custom electric resonator guitars & parts

"The Mississippi delta was shining like a National Guitar"......Here's their website. Another good site even if you're just looking for historical info!......Spaw

Home page for Ovation, Takamine, Hamer, and Applause guitars. Kind of glitzy, but what do you expect? Good info though on ID'ing years, etc. .....Spaw

Pimentel guitars are each handcrafted in Albuquerque, New Mexico by Lorenzo Pimentel and his sons. Stunning in appearance and beautiful to listen to, models are available from classical (nylon strings) to 12 string to jazz fusion. Prices start at about $1,200 but vary widely as you choose the wood, the design, any special features, etc. If you want the best you have to check out my friends at Pimentel. These are amazing instruments! ...Freightdawg.

Nothing shabby here. another of the high liners with an outstanding reputation........Spaw

High end newer and vintage acoustics and electrics.......MK

Last web page is from 2005. To see it, go to:

https://web.archive.org/web/20040225022721/http://www.seriousacoustics.com:80/

(edited by Will Fly)

Canadian-made, affordable instruments which are comparable to Seagulls, Normans, etc.......MK

Our factory has built a stellar reputation in the market, because of the high quality handcrafting and varnishing applications that result in superior fidelity. We maintain a strict quality inspection system ! all processes are finished by handcraft. Always! Our guitar selection includes classical guitars, flamenco guitars, smallman guitars, 12-string guitars, parlor guitars, gypsy guitar,acoustic guitars, taylor guitars, hawaiian guitars,lap steel, resonator guitars, bass guitars and electrical guitars

Excellent UK based luthier, Stefan Sobell offers high quality guitars and mandolin family instruments. Like many others, a lot of great info found here, not to mention great instruments.......JonF/Spaw

Pre-war Stellas like Leadbelly's (not the post-war doorstops) Rolfyboy6

Stew-Mac is a supplier of all types of string repair parts located in Athens, Ohio. Also have a great assortment of books and tapes on everything repair related! Get on their mailing list. The online is not extensive, but their catalog is great!......Spaw

Home of the weird and cheap on the net. Old instruments from the 50s and 60s--only with the necks reset and the actions fixed. Definitely not for the precious. Where to get a Harmony Sovereign or a Kay or old Danelectro. Rolfyboy6

Up and coming with many models. Worth a look at the very least. Tacomas keep popping up in lots of places......Spaw

A major player in the guitar business, Taylor has gained wide respect and is often seen in abundance on the road circuit. Lots of big name artists (like Marion) playing Taylor nowadays. Lots of models and lots of quality. Tough combination to beat.....Spaw

One of several Thumbpickers groups organized by US state. This one (TFGA) also hosts an excellent PalTalk jam session nearly every night. Even if you don't play this style, you can hear some very good players by logging into their PalTalk jam session.

The Largest Selection of Handmade Guitars & Mandolins in the Country. Canada's largest dealer for Calton Cases.

The best vintage guitar shop in Toronto, Canada.....MK

EVERYTHING related to Martin Guitars. The ultimate Martin guitar-nerd hangout with every conceivable topic related to Martins. Occasional contributions from Frank Ford of Frets.com and also Dick Boak of the C.F. Martin Guitar Company......(JP)

Another nice selection of quality vintage acoustics, mandolins and more.......MK

The old gray mare she ain't what she used to be...but she ain't too bad either. Affordable instruments and like Epiphone and Sigma, not a bad choice at all. They also own Oscar Schmidt Autoharps which you can access from here as well.......Spaw

Located in the restored Ohio Canal town of Roscoe Village (Coshocton), Ohio, FOLK is definitely spoken here. High quality lines and as they say "comfortable" pricing on guitars, dulcimers, mandos, banjos,etc.....a real "folkies paradise" in the Lockkeepers house. Nice people & worth a visit!........Spaw

The always surprising Yamaha. Nice instruments that rival many of the big boys for sound and finish. I don't recall ever hearing a bad comment around here regarding them......Spaw