SONGSMITHS

Need some acoustic inspiration? Look no further! Ben Howard and John Smith are amongst the most inventive out there

Ben Howard and John Smith are great examples of modern acoustic singer-songwriters who elevate the role of the guitar from a simple accompaniment device to a sophisticated compositional tool. Both are expert players who write technical acoustic parts that seamlessly integrate with their vocals and lyrics. It’s a rare mix of virtuosity with songwriting chops.

With influences ranging from classic songwriter/guitarists like

John Martyn, Richard Thompson and Joni Mitchell to more niche but revered fingerpickers like Eric Roche, both Howard and Smith provide a masterclass in how electrifying an acoustic guitar can be in the right hands. There is so much to learn from these two from unexpected production techniques like delay and filtering to percussive slapping, altered tunings, challenging picking parts and rich, deep chord voicings. We’ll take you through the most important parts here.