Acoustic Guitar Recording Guide

Recording acoustic guitar should be simple… but in reality, it’s one of the easiest instruments to get wrong.

Boomy lows, harsh highs, lifeless DI tracks, rooms that sound terrible on mic – most of the time, the problem isn’t your gear, it’s the decisions you make before and during recording.

In this short, focused course, I’ll walk you through a practical, real‑world approach to recording acoustic guitars that actually sound musical and mix‑ready, whether you’re working in a home studio or a professional space.

Drawing on nearly two decades of producing and recording artists, I’ll show you how to get better results from the gear you already have – without relying on endless plugins or complicated setups.

What you’ll learn

By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:

• Plan your recordings so you’re not “fixing it in the mix” later

• Choose the right playing style (pick vs. fingers) and control your dynamics for a more consistent, professional sound

• Make the most of an untreated room by finding the best recording spot and minimising unwanted reflections

• Understand the differences between condenser, ribbon and dynamic microphones and pick the right type for your guitar and space

• Use practical mic placements (single‑mic, dual‑mic and simple stereo techniques) to capture a balanced, natural tone

• Layer and double‑track acoustic guitars to create width, depth and richness without cluttering the arrangement

• Shape your sound in the mix with EQ (including Pultec‑style tone shaping), compression and gentle saturation

• Choose and dial in different reverb types (room, plate, hall, spring) so your acoustic sits naturally in the mix

Who this course is for

• Home producers and songwriters who want their acoustic tracks to sound more like “records” and less like rough demos

• Musicians who mainly work in the box and want to start using mics and rooms more effectively

• Intermediate users who understand the basics of recording but struggle to get consistent acoustic guitar results

• Anyone who wants a clear, step‑by‑step framework instead of random YouTube tips

How the course is structured

The course is split into short, focused lessons you can watch in one sitting or dip into as needed:

• Setting the mindset and expectations for recording acoustic guitar

• Preparing your performance and choosing the right space

• Understanding microphone types and how they affect your sound

• Practical mic placement techniques that work in real rooms

• Layering strategies for bigger, wider and more interesting guitar parts

• Mixing essentials: EQ, Pultec‑style tone shaping, compression and saturation

• Reverb choices and settings to place your guitar in the right space

• Final thoughts and next steps to keep improving your recordings

You don’t need expensive gear to benefit from this course – just a DAW, at least one microphone, and a willingness to experiment.

If you’re ready to make your acoustic guitar recordings clearer, more musical and more professional, enrol now and let’s get started.