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Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Strum Magazine
GUITAR, STRINGS & MUSIC CULTURE

Classical Music

Blues, folk, bluegrass, rock and beyond traced through the playing: tunings, chord voicings, rhythm feel, and the records that set each template.

Two guitarists comparing wound bass strings in a music shop
Classical Music

Classical Bass Strings: Brass vs Steel

The wound strings on a classical guitar are not steel at all — the real choice is between bright bronze-family windings and warm silver-plated copper, and it changes your bass voice.

By Deshawn Carter
Luthier workshop with braced guitar tops clamped on the bench
Classical Music

Classical Guitar Bracing: Fan vs Lattice

Fan bracing is the Torres-era traditional voice; lattice bracing trades that warmth for volume — here is how the two systems work and who each suits.

By Deshawn Carter
Close-up of woven carbon fiber classical guitar body beside spruce top
Classical Music

Carbon Fiber vs Wood Classical Guitars

Composite guitars shrug off humidity and travel damage; wood still owns the traditional concert sound — the decision splits by climate and gig calendar.

By Oliver Grant
Timeline infographic of Agustin Barrios's life and touring career
Classical Music

The Story of Agustín Barrios, Mangoré

The Paraguayan guitarist composed over three hundred works, toured three continents in drag-inspired concert persona, and died obscure — then became the repertoire's centerpiece.

By Oliver Grant
Quiet practice room with classical guitar on a stand beside footstool
Classical Music

Rest Stroke vs Free Stroke on Guitar

Apoyando plants the finger on the next string for power; tirando sails past it for speed and polyphony — classical technique runs on the pair.

By Oliver Grant