Mike Dawes | Guitar World

Mike Dawes starts an acoustic jam with Tommy Emmanuel on live TV – in the wrong tuning – but styles it out like a boss

By Jonathan Horsley published 17 May 23

It is every player’s worst nightmare but when disaster strikes you've just got to stay calm and hope Tommy Emmanuel is sitting beside you to assist with fine-tuning

Guitarist Mike Dawes performs onstage at Saban Theatre on June 07, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California.

Mike Dawes: “Guitar right now is heavily edited, very engineered to engage, snippets of sound – the result is music that doesn’t sound like a journey”

By Alison Richter published 18 November 22

Fresh off the back of his latest EP with Tommy Emmanuel, the fingerstyle acoustic virtuoso reflects on the state of the guitar in the social media age, the benefits of practicing songs in the wrong tunings, and why every solo guitarist should have an imaginary drummer

Mike Dawes (left) and Tommy Emmanuel cover The 1975's Be My Mistake

Hear Tommy Emmanuel and Mike Dawes' spellbinding acoustic cover of The 1975's Be My Mistake

By Jackson Maxwell published 21 September 22

Pristine and reflective, the recording is an incredible showcase for Emmanuel, who does his best "mandolin impression," while putting on a masterclass in articulation

Matt Tuck performs with Bullet for My Valentine at the Resurrection Festival on June 29, 2022 in Viveiro, Spain

From serene acoustic duets to sizzling drop-tuned action: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Jonathan Horsley, Matt Owen, Sam Roche, Jackson Maxwell published 6 August 22

Start the month off on the right foot with hot new songs from Alter Bridge, Bullet For My Valentine, Chat Pile, Winter, The 1975, Cecil Alexander, Boris, Black Anvil and more

Watch Tommy Emmanuel and Mike Dawes’ thrilling acoustic cover of Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit

By Jonathan Horsley published 23 June 22

In this GW premiere, the acoustic virtuoso duo combine powers to rework the era-defining grunge anthem, with spectacular results

Mike Dawes (left) and Tommy Emmanuel perform live at the Triple Door in Seattle

Watch Tommy Emmanuel and Mike Dawes give Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit a virtuosic acoustic makeover

By Jackson Maxwell published 19 January 22

At a recent Seattle gig, the acoustic masters took on the ultimate grunge standard, and re-tooled it beautifully to fit their respective styles

Watch Mike Dawes transform All Along the Watchtower into a mesmerizing fingerstyle masterclass

By Matt Owen published 15 October 21

The acoustic virtuoso, in the presence of Rick Beato, demystifies his approach to rearranging rock hits with a spellbinding cover of the Bob Dylan/Jimi Hendrix classic

Guitarist Bill Steer of Carcass performs at The Warfield on March 23, 2016 in San Francisco, California.

From extreme-metal riff fests to A-list acoustic collabs: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Matt Owen, Michael Astley-Brown, Sam Roche published 24 June 21

Get weekend-ready with this week's latest and greatest guitar tracks from Journey, Gang of Youths, Carcass, Bullet For My Valentine, Mike Dawes and Tommy Emmanuel, and more…

From industrial doom to swampy acoustic blues: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown, Jackson Maxwell, Sam Roche, Matt Owen published 27 May 21

Treat your ears to a bumper installment of weekly six-string servings, courtesy of Ariel Posen, Night Ranger, Chelsea Wolfe, Wye Oak, Mike Dawes featuring Jack Gardiner and Plini… and more!

Mike Dawes joins forces with Jack Gardiner and Plini for trailblazing acoustic/electric single, Push

By Michael Astley-Brown published 21 May 21

The spellbinding track teams Dawes’ percussive wizardry with otherworldly leads from the two electric virtuosos

Mike Dawes performs awe-inspiring percussive acoustic rendition of Van Halen's Jump – including the solos

By Sam Roche published 26 October 20

The acoustic virtuoso delivers his touching tribute to the late, great Eddie Van Halen

Mike Dawes offers an intimate look at his acoustic arrangement secrets in this mind-blowing live premiere

By Michael Astley-Brown published 3 September 20

The percussive mastermind debuts Somebody That I Used to Know from new live album, Shows & Distancing: Live in the USA

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 published 3 April 20

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 published 9 August 19

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 published 28 June 19

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 published 25 June 19

Get some Travis picking under your belt.

Tommy Emmanuel Announces New U.S. Tour Dates

By Richard Bienstock published 27 February 19

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 published 22 February 19

Experimenting with new tunings can open up new creative avenues.

Mastering Two-Handed Percussive Techniques

By Mike Dawes published 8 January 19

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 published 17 December 18

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