Paul Davids Top 30 Songs for Acoustic Guitar: Level Up Your Playing

Paul Davids is a name synonymous with high-quality guitar education online, primarily known for his engaging YouTube channel and comprehensive courses tailored for electric guitarists. But can his teaching methods and philosophy benefit acoustic guitar players? Absolutely. While a direct “Paul Davids Top 30 Songs For Acoustic Guitar” list might not exist in the way you’d expect, we can explore how to apply his principles and techniques to elevate your acoustic guitar playing and discover your own top songs in the process.

Acoustic guitar performance inspired by Paul Davids’ teaching methods.

Many guitarists, especially beginners, find themselves lost in a sea of online lessons, often scratching the surface with free content that entertains but lacks depth. Moving beyond basic chords and strumming patterns on acoustic guitar requires a structured approach, and that’s where understanding the essence of instructors like Paul Davids becomes invaluable. He, along with figures like Tomo Fujita, represents a gold standard in online guitar education, focusing on building fundamental skills rather than just teaching you to play specific songs.

While Tomo Fujita, a Berklee College of Music professor, offers “Guitar Wisdom” with a focus on musicality and a deep understanding of music theory, Paul Davids, through courses like “Next Level Playing,” emphasizes a step-by-step, visually rich, and technically sound approach. Both are masters in their domain, but for acoustic guitarists seeking to truly level up, understanding how to adapt Paul Davids’ methodologies can be transformative. His courses, though often demonstrated on electric guitar, are built on core musical principles that are universally applicable, and brilliantly adaptable to the nuances of acoustic playing.

Adapting Paul Davids’ “Next Level Playing” for Acoustic Guitarists: 30 Concepts to Explore

Paul Davids’ “Next Level Playing” course is structured to take intermediate electric guitarists to an advanced stage, focusing on improvisation, sound creation, and jamming skills. Although designed with electric guitar in mind, the underlying principles are incredibly potent for acoustic guitarists aiming for mastery. Here are 30 concepts, inspired by Paul Davids’ teaching style, that acoustic players can focus on to discover their own “top songs” and elevate their overall playing:

I. Foundational Acoustic Techniques (Concepts 1-10):

1. Acoustic Tone Control: Master fingerstyle and pick techniques to produce a range of tones on your acoustic. Explore dynamics and articulation, moving beyond simple strumming.
2. Clean Fingerpicking Patterns: Develop dexterity and independence in your picking hand with classic fingerstyle patterns. Practice Travis picking, alternating bass, and arpeggio-based approaches.
3. Hybrid Picking for Acoustic: Incorporate hybrid picking (using pick and fingers) to add percussive elements and dynamic textures to your acoustic rhythm playing.
4. Acoustic Strumming Variations: Go beyond basic down-up strumming. Learn rhythmic variations, percussive strums, and dynamic control in your strumming patterns.
5. Open Tunings Exploration: Experiment with open tunings (like DADGAD, Open G, Open D) to unlock new sonic landscapes and chord voicings unique to acoustic guitar.
6. Capo Usage Mastery: Understand how to use a capo effectively to change keys and create brighter tones without altering fingerings you’re comfortable with.
7. Harmonics on Acoustic: Learn natural and artificial harmonics to add chime-like tones and expressive nuances to your acoustic melodies and solos.
8. Percussive Acoustic Techniques: Incorporate body percussion – tapping, slapping, and brushing the guitar body – to create rhythmic layers and percussive grooves.
9. Muting Techniques for Clarity: Master palm muting and finger muting on acoustic to control sustain and create rhythmic chugs and percussive sounds.
10. Developing a Consistent Practice Routine: Like Paul Davids emphasizes structured learning, create a daily practice routine focusing on technique, ear training, and repertoire building for acoustic guitar.

II. Melodic and Harmonic Concepts for Acoustic Guitar (Concepts 11-20):

11. Acoustic Lead Lines in Different Genres: Explore playing melodic lead lines in genres like folk, blues, country, and fingerstyle acoustic.
12. Improvisation over Chord Progressions: Practice improvising melodic phrases over common acoustic chord progressions (e.g., G-C-D, Am-G-C-F) using scales and arpeggios.
13. Acoustic Blues Licks and Phrases: Learn classic acoustic blues licks and techniques, focusing on phrasing, bending (where applicable on acoustic), and vibrato.
14. Modal Playing on Acoustic: Explore different modes (Dorian, Mixolydian, etc.) to add harmonic color and depth to your acoustic melodies and improvisations.
15. Chord Melody Arrangements for Acoustic: Learn to create chord melody arrangements of your favorite songs, combining melody and harmony simultaneously on the acoustic guitar.
16. Understanding Acoustic Guitar Voicings: Study different chord voicings specific to acoustic guitar, focusing on open chords, inversions, and extended harmonies.
17. Developing Your Ear for Acoustic Tones: Train your ear to recognize different acoustic guitar tones, intervals, and chord qualities to improve your musicality.
18. Songwriting on Acoustic Guitar: Use your acoustic guitar as a songwriting tool. Experiment with chord progressions, melodies, and rhythms to create original songs.
19. Arranging for Solo Acoustic Guitar: Learn to arrange songs for solo acoustic guitar, incorporating bass lines, chords, and melodies into a cohesive performance.
20. Dynamics and Expression in Acoustic Performance: Focus on dynamics (loud and soft) and expressive techniques (bends, slides, vibrato – where applicable) to make your acoustic playing more engaging.

III. Advanced Acoustic Guitar Skills & Musicality (Concepts 21-30):

21. Alternate Tunings Songwriting: Write songs specifically in alternate tunings to leverage the unique sounds and chord possibilities they offer.
22. Complex Fingerstyle Pieces: Tackle challenging fingerstyle pieces that incorporate intricate patterns, harmonics, and percussive elements.
23. Acoustic Guitar in Different Keys: Practice playing and improvising in all 12 keys to become versatile and comfortable in any musical situation.
24. Recording Acoustic Guitar: Learn basic techniques for recording your acoustic guitar, experimenting with microphone placement and recording software.
25. Performing Acoustic Guitar Live: Develop stage presence and performance skills for playing acoustic guitar in live settings.
26. Collaborating with Other Musicians (Acoustic Focus): Explore playing acoustic guitar in ensembles, duos, or bands, focusing on blending with other instruments.
27. Analyzing Acoustic Guitar Masters: Study the playing styles of acoustic guitar masters like Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, Joni Mitchell, or John Martyn to learn from their techniques and musicality.
28. Developing Your Unique Acoustic Guitar Voice: Experiment and find your own unique sound and style on the acoustic guitar, blending your influences and personal expression.
29. Music Theory Applied to Acoustic Guitar: Deepen your understanding of music theory and apply it practically to your acoustic playing, songwriting, and arranging.
30. Consistent Learning and Exploration: Embrace a lifelong learning approach to acoustic guitar, continuously seeking new knowledge, techniques, and musical inspiration, much like the growth mindset encouraged by Paul Davids.

Developing acoustic guitar wisdom through consistent practice and exploration.

While Paul Davids’ “Next Level Playing” and Tomo Fujita’s “Guitar Wisdom” are distinct in their delivery and stylistic focus, both instructors champion a deep understanding of the instrument and a commitment to continuous improvement. Tomo Fujita’s emphasis on musicality and hearing music can be equally beneficial for acoustic players seeking a more intuitive and less technically driven path. His “Guitar Wisdom” encourages you to move beyond shapes and patterns, fostering a deeper connection with the musicality of the acoustic guitar.

Ultimately, finding your “top 30 songs for acoustic guitar” is a personal journey of discovery. By integrating the structured approach and technical clarity of Paul Davids with the musical depth and wisdom of instructors like Tomo Fujita, you can forge your own path to acoustic guitar excellence. Whether you choose to explore Paul Davids’ courses directly and adapt them, or draw inspiration from his teaching philosophy, the key is dedicated practice, consistent learning, and a passion for the acoustic guitar.