Mike Dawes | Guitar World

From polyrhythmic acoustic tapping to seven-minute math-rock odysseys: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown, Jackson Maxwell, Sam Roche

These new, guitar-heavy tracks will leave you feeling inspired, even in this difficult time

Mike Dawes: What's on My Playlist

By Guitar World Staff

Mike Dawes filled us in on who he's listening to at the moment. Take a look!

Uncovering Nik Mystery: Mike Dawes Discusses His New Band with Jukka Backlund and Periphery's Spencer Sotelo

By Richard Bienstock

Nik Mystery, in the words of Mike Dawes, “is about as far removed from solo fingerstyle guitar and [Periphery’s] progressive metal as anything.”

How to Fingerpick Like Merle Travis

By Mike Dawes

Get some Travis picking under your belt.

Tommy Emmanuel Announces New U.S. Tour Dates

By Richard Bienstock

Virtuoso guitarist will be joined by Jorma Kaukonen, Mike Dawes and others on the run.

New Horizons in Acoustic Guitar: Using Unusual Techniques and Tunings

By Mike Dawes

Experimenting with new tunings can open up new creative avenues.

Mastering Two-Handed Percussive Techniques

By Mike Dawes

Learn how to emulate the sounds of a kick drum, snare drum and everything in between on an acoustic guitar.

How to Combine Melody, Chords and Percussive Sounds

By Mike Dawes

Learn how to develop a melody and harmonic framework coupled with fingerstyle ideas and percussive elements.

How to Develop a Simple Melodic Idea

By Mike Dawes

Learn how to put the melody first when writing a piece.

Watch Mike Dawes' New "Encomium (Reverie)" Video

By Jackson Maxwell

The lovely video for the opening track on Dawes' 2017 album, 'Era,' was directed by Merrick Winter.

Utilizing Two-Handed Polyrhythms for Solo Guitar Performance

By Mike Dawes

Lesson: Mike Dawes' One-Handed Harmonics

By Acoustic Nation

Mike Dawes: The Influence of Celtic Music on My Acoustic Playing

By Mike Dawes

More on the Intricate Two-Hand Tapping in “Boogie Shred”

By Mike Dawes

Intertwining Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs with Both Hands

By Mike Dawes

On 'Era,' Mike Dawes Takes a Fingerstyle Journey, Literally and Figuratively

By Adam Perlmutter

Several years ago, U.K.-based fingerstyle virtuoso Mike Dawes was visiting a lavatory at New York’s Blue Note, the venerable jazz club, when inspiration struck.

Watch Mike Dawes' Incredible Acoustic Cover of Metallica's "One"

By Guitar World Staff

To celebrate the upcoming September 15 release of his latest album ERA, guitarist (and frequent Guitar Worldcolumnist) Mike Dawes posted this solo-acoustic performance of Metallica's "One."

The Latest from ToneWood Amps at the 2017 Summer NAMM Show

By Guitar World Staff

How to Create Independent Polyrhythms

By Mike Dawes

Back in my October 2016 column, I detailed some of the concepts I utilize in the song “The Impossible,” from my album What Just Happened.

Boogie Shred: Exploring Percussive Acoustic Guitar Techniques

By Mike Dawes

People often ask me how to play "Boogie Shred" from my album What Just Happened?