
Hello. Welcome to the Acoustic Guitar for Singer-Songwriters course. This video will tell you a bit about me and why I created this short video course.
Let's get our selves in tune shall we :)
The thumb is one of the most useful digits on our hand and it offers a lovely soft tone as an alternative to a plectrum. Learn how to use it here.
Learn to use hammer-ons and pull-offs to enhance your chords. Tab included.
Master the use of your thumb with this walk through and exercise with Tab
The claw drop technique is a great way to add heft to your right hand work
An exercise for Claw Drop mastery with tab
A flamenco technique adapted for acoustic guitar
An embellishment to the theme
Ways to use your index finger as a plectrum and incorporate it into your daily routine
Ah that old technique of alternative the 6 and 4 strings with the thumb is a golden skill that brings so much dynamism to your playing.
Incorporate chords into your routine
Incorporate melodic lines into your routine
Learn the complex riff from my song 'Unbelievable Ways' with this tab workout.
Learn the beautiful tuning of CGCGCE
Learn the beautiful tuning of CGCGCC with the 2 top strings tuned to the same pitch
Learn the rootsy tuning of CGDGBD
One of my favourites and popular in folk and song - DADGAD
Learn the main riff of my song 'Dirty Sleeves' in DADGAD
An almost heavy metal sounding technique to get your thumb doing an alternating motion.
Open strings runs with hammer-ons and pull-offs are a lot of expressive fun///
Incorporate harmonics into your riffs
This is such a useful technique to get down and will really open up your repertoire to new directions.
A short run through of my live looping rig
A showcase of some tips'n tricks
Hello, my name is Stephen William Hodd. I write, produce, and release my own music under the name HODD and have been a music professional for over three decades. I grew up in the vibrant Irish music scene, surrounded by luminaries like Glen Hansard, Damien Rice, and many more. As an artist, I’ve had the privilege of opening for legends such as Paul Brady, Mark Knopfler, Bonnie Raitt, Rodrigo y Gabriela, and Damien Rice, among countless others. As a guitarist, I’ve toured the world with Passenger and Lou Rhodes. I’ve also produced numerous albums for indie-folk artists and have just released 'Better Man'—a collection of new songs by HODD.
I’ve learned from the best and have honed my own style of playing. For me, the song is king, and the acoustic guitar is the finest way to accompany your words as they take listeners on a journey.
Join me as I walk you through my favorite techniques and explore the reasons behind them. We’ll dive into fingerstyle, rolling thumb, thumb strumming, and many more foundational techniques that will elevate your playing to the next level.
Live performances and my own playful sense of humor will guide you on your quest to become a fluid player who knows when to play and when to hold back.