Doug Smith is one of the best fingerstyle acoustic guitarists of this decade! He is redefining the instrument with a mixture of styles from Alex de Grassi to Michael Hedges. One of the smoothest and technically advanced guitarists around! If you don’t know him, but like acoustic guitar, do yourself a huge favor and get to know Doug Smith!
Doug Smith:
Interested to know if you have any tabs to any of your tunes that you or others can make available.
Thanks,
Mike Lynch, West Chester, PA
hi Doug…
my name is Bill Maxwell and i’ve been playing/writing acoustic music for about 37 years. i first heard you on a sampler cd from acoustic guitar magazine a few years ago, but for about a month or so, i didnt pay much attention specifically to who played the song ‘Renewal’, i just always enjoyed listening to it.
later, i found myself going back to the cut over and over again, because it was generally uplifting, and i was drawn to the sound of your guitar.
keep in mind that i dont usually try to learn whole songs from artists, because i prefer to write my own. i usually just listen for inspiration’s sake, and then try to apply ideas to my own writing skills.
still couldnt quite get this song out of my mind, so i began listening with the intent of trying to learn it.
about that same time i received a flyer from somewhere and your picture, as well as some discography was mentioned. then the song ‘Renewal’ kinda stuck out on the page. i became more interested.
then i noticed your guitar in the photo. a Goodall. see, i bought a lefty version about 6 months ago, and have been so pleased with it, i couldnt put it down. and to connect the song ‘Renewal’ to a Goodall, somehow piqued my interest even more.
so, for Christmas, i asked my Dad to order a couple of cd’s by you and certainly have enjoyed listening to more of your ‘hard work’. i almost have ‘Renewal’ pegged, but i need lots of reps to get from beginning to end without stopping. i did figure out the DADGAD tuning and fret 3 capo before i got started. that was a relief, by the way.
just want you to know how much i appreciate your work/craft and especially all the unbelievable hours it takes to put songs together, practice them and then present them in an effective manner.
i know youve heard it a lot, but to me, it means more when someone actually tries to play your stuff. i’m really very humbled by it. harder to find stuff that tugs on your heart like this when you get older.
blessings.
Bill Maxwell.
Bill,
I know exactly what you mean about Renewal. It is a theme song for life, for me. If you write Doug personally, he’ll send you the tab for it. He performs guitar clinics often and that is often the song he uses and he hands out tablature for it to everyone in the room! Keep up the hard work of learning Doug Smith songs. You can find out more about Doug at http://DougSmith.findhere.org
Marty
: hi Doug…
: my name is Bill Maxwell and i’ve been playing/writing acoustic music for about 37 years. i first heard you on a sampler cd from acoustic guitar magazine a few years ago, but for about a month or so, i didnt pay much attention specifically to who played the song ‘Renewal’, i just always enjoyed listening to it.
: later, i found myself going back to the cut over and over again, because it was generally uplifting, and i was drawn to the sound of your guitar.
: keep in mind that i dont usually try to learn whole songs from artists, because i prefer to write my own. i usually just listen for inspiration’s sake, and then try to apply ideas to my own writing skills.
: still couldnt quite get this song out of my mind, so i began listening with the intent of trying to learn it.
: about that same time i received a flyer from somewhere and your picture, as well as some discography was mentioned. then the song ‘Renewal’ kinda stuck out on the page. i became more interested.
: then i noticed your guitar in the photo. a Goodall. see, i bought a lefty version about 6 months ago, and have been so pleased with it, i couldnt put it down. and to connect the song ‘Renewal’ to a Goodall, somehow piqued my interest even more.
: so, for Christmas, i asked my Dad to order a couple of cd’s by you and certainly have enjoyed listening to more of your ‘hard work’. i almost have ‘Renewal’ pegged, but i need lots of reps to get from beginning to end without stopping. i did figure out the DADGAD tuning and fret 3 capo before i got started. that was a relief, by the way.
: just want you to know how much i appreciate your work/craft and especially all the unbelievable hours it takes to put songs together, practice them and then present them in an effective manner.
: i know youve heard it a lot, but to me, it means more when someone actually tries to play your stuff. i’m really very humbled by it. harder to find stuff that tugs on your heart like this when you get older.
: blessings.
: Bill Maxwell.
:
In August 1999, Mauel Guitars were shown at the Healdsburg Acoustic Guitar Festival. One of the highlights of this annual event is a showcase with top players demonstrating some of their best tunes on some world-class guitars. For 1999, we were thrilled to have Doug Smith, a superb fingerstyle player from Portland, OR play four of his pieces on two different Mauel guitars.
To hear these presentations, go to the Audio Page of my website at http://www.svlg.org/member/mauel and enjoy.
Hank Mauel
I may be slightly biased but Doug’s music touches your soul. Everyone who sees and hears him perform for the first time is amazed at this "best kept secret" in the USA. And it just keeps sounding better all the time!
I second that! Doug is likely one of the best fingerstyle players there is today! He’s and immaculate technician and a soulful writer. He’s also a very nice guy and an excellent teacher! He’s well worth getting to know if you don’t already!
Doug Smith has the tone of Christopher Parkening and the mechanics of Carlos Barbosa-Lima, in other words Doug kicks!I have heard and seen lots of todays acoustic guitarist and being a musician can say Doug Smith is a creative force. Come to the South and play at one of the Nashville hangouts, we would love to have you.
Respectively
Scott Welch
Doug Smith has the tone of Christopher Parkening and the mechanics of Carlos Barbosa-Lima, in other words Doug kicks!I have heard and seen lots of todays acoustic guitarist and being a musician can say Doug Smith is a creative force. Come to the South and play at one of the Nashville hangouts, we would love to have you.
Respectively
Scott Welch
Doug Smith has the tone of Christopher Parkening and the mechanics of Carlos Barbosa-Lima, in other words Doug kicks!I have heard and seen lots of todays acoustic guitarist and being a musician can say Doug Smith is a creative force. Come to the South and play at one of the Nashville hangouts, we would love to have you.
Respectively
Scott Welch
Doug Smith has the tone of Christopher Parkening and the mechanics of Carlos Barbosa-Lima, in other words Doug kicks!I have heard and seen lots of todays acoustic guitarist and being a musician can say Doug Smith is a creative force. Come to the South and play at one of the Nashville hangouts, we would love to have you.
Respectively
Scott Welch