Watch the two talented musicians talking shop and trading licks.
By Andy Kahn Jun 13, 2025 • 12:00 pm PDT
Guitarist Matt Sweeney recruited fellow guitarist Jason Isbell for the latest installment of Sweeney’s Guitar Moves video series. Isbell brought an acoustic guitar to the session to show off his technique.
Sweeney, whose deep resume includes currently touring with The Hard Quartet, also brought an acoustic guitar to the Isbell meeting. The conversation between the two skilled musicians gave insights into the creative process that are interesting to both guitar players and non-players alike.
Isbell explained the roots of his learning to pick from his grandfather and uncle. His relatives instructed him to master the picking pattern of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man,” which became foundational to his approach.
Isbell singled out the old-timey “The Bells of St. Mary’s” to showcase a song that helped him develop both his right and left hand, including the importance of learning barre chords. Sweeney asked Isbell for advice to someone just starting to learn to play acoustic guitar.
“Get it set up,” Isbell instantly responded. “Spend the $50 or $80 or $100 bucks and before you leave the music store, let them set it up for you. Set the action right. Make sure the frets are level, make sure it’ll stay in tune. That is so huge, and I wish somebody would have told me that when I was a kid.”
Additional subjects Isbell and Sweeney touch on were the influence of guitarist Richard Thompson, DADGAD tuning and the Nashville studio number system. Talk of Neil Young’s “Cortez The Killer” and Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” also briefly entered the conversation, alongside demonstrations throughout the deep-dive discussion.
Watch Jason Isbell’s appearance on Matt Sweeney’s Guitar Moves series:
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