Complete Guide on How to Record Acoustic Guitar for Beginners & Pros 2025

Want to capture the perfect acoustic sound? Learn how to record acoustic guitar using pro mic placements, gear, and recording techniques.

Introduction

Learning how to record acoustic guitar is an essential skill for musicians, producers, and songwriters looking to capture the beauty of an acoustic performance. Unlike electric guitars, which can be recorded directly through an amp simulator or DI (direct input), acoustic guitars rely entirely on natural resonance, microphone placement, and room acoustics to achieve a rich, professional sound.

I have spent years experimenting with different recording techniques, microphones, room setups, and post-processing methods to perfect the process of how to record acoustic guitar. Through trial and error, I’ve learned that small changes—like adjusting mic position or switching strings—can make a huge difference.

In this in-depth guide, we will cover everything you need to know about how to record acoustic guitar, including:

• Choosing the right guitar for recording
• Understanding tonewoods and their effect on tone
• Preparing your guitar for optimal recording sound
• Selecting the best microphone and placement techniques
• Setting up an ideal recording environment
• Mixing and mastering acoustic guitar for a professional final product

If you’ve ever struggled with getting a clear, natural, and warm acoustic guitar sound, this guide is for you.

Choosing the Right Acoustic Guitar for Recording

Not All Guitars Record Well

When learning how to record acoustic guitar, the first thing to consider is the instrument itself. While all acoustic guitars may sound good when played live, not all of them record well. Some guitars project well in a room full of people but sound dull or muddy when captured through a microphone. Others may have too much low-end resonance, making them difficult to mix, while some cheaper guitars with laminated tops can sound thin and lifeless when recorded.

One of the most important things I’ve learned in how to record acoustic guitar is that a guitar with a balanced frequency response is ideal. You don’t want a guitar that is too boomy or one that has too much treble, as both can make mixing a nightmare. A guitar that offers consistent tone across the frequency spectrum will make the recording process much smoother.

Additionally, the size and body shape of the guitar can also affect the recording quality. Here’s how different guitar shapes impact the recorded tone:

• Dreadnought (e.g., Martin D-28, Gibson J-45) – Powerful, loud, with strong bass response. Great for strumming but may need careful mic placement to avoid excessive boominess.
• Grand Auditorium (e.g., Taylor 814ce) – Well-balanced, good for fingerpicking and strumming, and a great choice for all-around recording.
• OM (Orchestra Model) (e.g., Collings OM2H) – Focused and articulate, excellent for detailed fingerpicking recordings.
• Parlor (e.g., Fender CP-60S) – Smaller and midrange-focused, great for vintage tones and solo performances.

A smaller-bodied guitar (like an OM or Grand Auditorium) often records better because it has less overpowering bass and clearer mids. If you’re mainly recording fingerstyle guitar, you’ll want a guitar with great articulation and sustain.

Best Acoustic Guitars for Recording

Through years of trial and error, I’ve found that certain guitars simply record better than others. Below are some of my personal favorites that consistently deliver high-quality recordings:

• Martin D-28 – A legendary dreadnought with rich, warm lows and full-bodied sound. Ideal for bold strumming and flatpicking in folk and country recordings.
• Taylor 814ce – An all-around great guitar for studio recording, offering bright, clear highs and well-balanced mids. Perfect for fingerstyle playing and acoustic pop music.
• Gibson J-45 – Known as the “workhorse” acoustic, it has a strong midrange presence and warm bass, making it an excellent choice for singer-songwriters and folk musicians.
• Yamaha FGX800C – A budget-friendly option that still delivers rich tone and solid projection. Surprisingly good for both fingerpicking and strumming at an affordable price.
• Collings OM2H – One of the best studio guitars, delivering exceptional clarity, sustain, and harmonic richness. Ideal for professional studio recording.
• Taylor GS Mini – A compact yet great-sounding guitar with strong midrange focus, ideal for travel recordings or musicians on the go.

If you’re serious about how to record acoustic guitar, investing in a high-quality instrument is one of the best decisions you can make. Even if you don’t own a top-tier guitar, choosing one with solid construction, a balanced sound, and a good setup will go a long way in improving your recordings.

Understanding the Role of Tonewoods

How Tonewoods Affect Your Recording

The type of wood used in your guitar greatly influences how it will sound when recorded. While playing live, certain tonal characteristics may be masked by room acoustics, but when you place a microphone in front of your guitar, every detail of the wood’s tone will be captured.

Here’s a breakdown of how different tonewoods impact recorded sound:

• Spruce (Most Common Top Wood) – Bright, clear, and responsive. Great for recording detailed strumming and fingerpicking.
• Mahogany (Back & Sides) – Warm, midrange-focused sound that works well for folk, blues, and country recordings.
• Rosewood (Back & Sides) – Deep bass, rich mids, and sparkling highs. Perfect for complex recordings that need depth.
• Cedar (Top Wood) – Softer, warmer, and darker in tone. Best for fingerstyle guitarists and classical players.
• Maple (Back & Sides) – Bright, focused, and tight. Commonly used in stage acoustics where clarity is needed.

My Personal Favorite Tonewood Combination for Recording

In my recordings, I prefer a spruce top with rosewood back and sides because it provides clarity, sustain, and depth, making it easier to mix. The spruce top ensures articulation, while the rosewood body adds richness and low-end warmth, making it an ideal choice for professional recordings.

If you’re trying to determine which tonewood combination is best for you, consider the genre of music you’ll be recording and whether you need clarity, warmth, or depth in your recordings.

Preparing Your Acoustic Guitar for Recording

Even the best guitar won’t sound great if it’s not properly prepared. Here are a few essential steps to ensure your guitar is recording-ready:

1. Change Your Strings

New strings can dramatically improve the quality of your recording. If your strings are old, your recordings will lack sustain, brightness, and clarity. I always replace my strings a day before a recording session to allow them to settle while maintaining brightness.

Best Strings for Recording:

• Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze – Long-lasting brightness, great for extended recording sessions.
• D’Addario EJ16 – Bright and punchy, excellent for strumming and aggressive playing.
• Silk & Steel Strings – Softer, warmer tone, perfect for fingerstyle recordings.

If you’re wondering how to record acoustic guitar with clean, crisp tones, fresh strings are a must.

2. Tune Before Every Take

Even if your guitar was perfectly tuned five minutes ago, slight movements in the strings can cause subtle pitch shifts. A slightly out-of-tune recording can ruin an otherwise perfect take.

Tuning Tips for Recording:

• Use a clip-on tuner like TC Electronic PolyTune or a DAW tuner for precise tuning.
• Retune between every take to ensure consistency.
• Consider tuning slightly flat if using a capo, as capos can slightly raise pitch.

If you’re recording multiple guitar layers, keeping everything in perfect tune ensures that your recordings blend seamlessly.

3. Maintain Proper Humidity

Acoustic guitars are highly sensitive to climate changes. If your guitar is exposed to excessive humidity or dryness, its tone may change, affecting resonance, sustain, and tuning stability.

Best Practices for Guitar Humidity Control:

• Keep guitars stored at 45-55% humidity to avoid wood swelling or cracking.
• Use a guitar case humidifier if you live in a dry climate.
• Avoid leaving your guitar near direct sunlight, heaters, or air conditioners.

A properly humidified guitar ensures that its tone remains consistent throughout the recording process.

Selecting the Right Recording Space

Why Room Acoustics Matter

One of the biggest mistakes I made early on when learning how to record acoustic guitar was neglecting room acoustics. I used to think that a great microphone and a high-end guitar were enough, but I quickly learned that a bad-sounding room can ruin even the best recording setup.

A poorly treated recording space can introduce unwanted reflections, excessive reverb, and muddiness into your recording. If your room is too echoey, your acoustic guitar will sound distant and unnatural. On the other hand, if your space is too dead, your guitar can sound lifeless and dry. The key is finding a natural balance where your room enhances your guitar’s sound instead of distorting or coloring it negatively.

Even if you have the best microphone in the world, it can’t fix bad room acoustics. This is why choosing the right recording space is just as important as picking the right mic or guitar.

How to Optimize Your Recording Space

If you don’t have access to a professional studio, don’t worry! You can still create a controlled recording environment at home by making a few adjustments. Here’s how:

1. Pick a Quiet Room

Background noise is the enemy of a clean acoustic guitar recording. Even the soft hum of an air conditioner, computer fan, or distant traffic can get picked up by a sensitive condenser microphone.

Tips for a quieter recording environment:

• Turn off fans, AC units, and any unnecessary electronics.
• Record at night or during quiet hours when there’s less outside noise.
• Use a directional mic (like a small-diaphragm condenser) to focus on your guitar and reject unwanted sounds.

2. Use Soft Materials to Absorb Reflections

If you’ve ever clapped your hands in an empty room and heard a harsh echo, that’s because bare walls and hard surfaces reflect sound waves, creating unwanted reverb in your recording.

To fix this, you need to add sound-absorbing materials to your recording space.

Best materials for sound absorption:

• Rugs & carpets – Reduce floor reflections and unwanted bass buildup.
• Heavy curtains or blankets – Help absorb midrange and high-frequency reflections.
• Foam panels or acoustic panels – Minimize echo and provide a cleaner, controlled recording sound.

If you want to take it a step further, I recommend investing in bass traps in the corners of your room to prevent low-end buildup, which can make recordings sound muddy.

3. Avoid Bare Walls and Hard Surfaces

Rooms with hardwood floors, large windows, or concrete walls are problematic because they reflect sound waves aggressively, making it hard to get a clean, natural recording.

Solutions:

• If you have hardwood floors, lay down a thick rug.
• If your room has large windows, use heavy drapes to block reflections.
• Add bookshelves, plants, or furniture to break up sound waves and create a more natural reverb.

4. Record in a Walk-in Closet (DIY Vocal Booth)

One of the best low-cost solutions for home recording is using a walk-in closet as a makeshift recording booth. Why? Because clothing naturally absorbs sound and eliminates harsh reflections.

If you don’t have a walk-in closet, another trick is to hang thick blankets or duvets around you to create an instant recording booth. This technique is used by professional voice-over artists and can work wonders for acoustic guitar recordings as well.

Microphone Types for Recording Acoustic Guitar

Selecting the right microphone is one of the most crucial steps in learning how to record acoustic guitar. The type of microphone you use will significantly affect the final tone of your recording.

1. Condenser Microphones (Best for Studio Recording)

Condenser microphones are the go-to choice for recording acoustic guitar because they are highly sensitive and capture detailed, natural tones.

Best Condenser Microphones for Acoustic Guitar:

• Neumann KM184 – A small-diaphragm condenser known for its crystal-clear highs and natural tone.
• Audio-Technica AT4040 – A large-diaphragm condenser with a warm, full sound, great for strumming and full-bodied recordings.
• AKG C214 – A budget-friendly alternative to the legendary AKG C414, offering excellent clarity and detail.

I always recommend small-diaphragm condensers (SDCs) for fingerstyle recordings because they capture fast transients and articulation better. Large-diaphragm condensers (LDCs) are excellent if you want a fuller, richer tone.

2. Dynamic Microphones (Better for Live Sound, Not Ideal for Studio)

Dynamic microphones are more durable and reject background noise well, but they lack the detail and frequency response needed for professional acoustic recordings.

Best Dynamic Microphones for Acoustic Guitar:

• Shure SM57 – Works decently but lacks the high-end sparkle of a condenser mic.
• Electro-Voice RE20 – Offers a smoother, more balanced tone than the SM57 but still doesn’t match condenser clarity.

If you must use a dynamic microphone, I recommend blending it with a condenser mic to get a fuller sound.

Best Microphone Placement Techniques

Even if you have the best microphone, placing it incorrectly can ruin your recording. Proper mic placement is key to capturing a balanced, natural sound.

1. 12th-Fret Placement (Best for Clarity & Detail)

This is the most common mic position because it captures a natural balance of warmth and articulation.

How to do it:

• Place the microphone 6-12 inches from the 12th fret (not directly in front of the soundhole).
• Angle the mic slightly toward the body for a fuller sound.

✅ Pros:

• Captures clarity without boominess.
• Works well for both strumming and fingerpicking.

2. Stereo Miking (For a Wide, Natural Sound)

Using two microphones creates a wider stereo image, making your guitar sound fuller and more immersive.

Common stereo mic techniques:

• X-Y Stereo (90-degree angle, capsules close together) – Produces a focused stereo sound without phase issues.
• Spaced Pair (One mic at 12th fret, another near the bridge) – Creates a wider stereo image but requires phase alignment.
• ORTF (110-degree angle, 17 cm apart) – Simulates natural human hearing, giving a realistic stereo effect.

✅ Pros:

• Great for solo acoustic guitar recordings.
• Adds depth and dimension to the mix.

3. Over-the-Shoulder Mic (Captures What You Hear)

Placing a microphone over your shoulder mimics what you hear as the player, creating a natural, intimate sound.

How to do it:

• Position the microphone behind and slightly above your right shoulder (if you’re right-handed).
• Aim the mic downward toward the 12th fret.

✅ Pros:

• Captures a realistic player’s perspective.
• Works well as a secondary mic for layering recordings.

Common Mistakes When Recording Acoustic Guitar (And How to Fix Them)

Even experienced musicians make mistakes when learning how to record acoustic guitar. Here are some of the biggest mistakes I’ve seen (and made myself!)—plus how to fix them.

1. Poor Mic Placement

Mistake: Placing the mic directly in front of the soundhole results in boomy and muddy recordings.
✅ Solution: Move the mic to the 12th fret or use stereo miking techniques.

2. Over-Processing with EQ and Compression

Mistake: Too much EQ or compression can make the guitar sound unnatural.
✅ Solution: Use subtle EQ adjustments and only apply compression where necessary.

3. Ignoring Room Acoustics

Mistake: Recording in a room with bad acoustics leads to poor-quality sound.
✅ Solution: Use soft materials, treat your space, or record in a closet for better isolation.

4. Using Old, Worn-Out Strings

Mistake: Old strings sound dull and lifeless in recordings.
✅ Solution: Change strings a day before recording to get a bright, fresh tone.

5. Rushing the Recording Process

Mistake: Not taking the time to experiment with mic placement, gain staging, and tone settings.
✅ Solution: Take your time! Experiment with different setups before committing to a final take.

FAQs

1. What is the best way to record an acoustic guitar at home?

The best way to record an acoustic guitar at home is to use a high-quality condenser microphone, position it around the 12th fret, and record in a quiet, acoustically treated space to avoid unwanted reflections and noise.

2. Which microphone is best for recording acoustic guitar?

A small-diaphragm condenser microphone like the Neumann KM184 or Audio-Technica AT4040 is ideal for recording acoustic guitar, as they capture clear, detailed sound with natural highs and midrange clarity.

3. How do I reduce background noise when recording acoustic guitar?

To reduce background noise when recording acoustic guitar, choose a quiet room, use sound-absorbing materials (rugs, curtains, foam panels), and record with a directional microphone to minimize unwanted sound capture.

4. What is the best EQ setting for acoustic guitar recordings?

For a balanced acoustic guitar mix, cut below 100Hz to remove rumble, slightly reduce 300-500Hz to eliminate muddiness, and boost 2-5kHz for added clarity and definition.

5. Can I record acoustic guitar without a microphone?

Yes, you can record an acoustic guitar without a microphone by using a pickup system (such as the LR Baggs Anthem) or an audio interface, but the best recordings typically come from a mic’d acoustic setup blended with a direct input (DI) signal.

Conclusion

Learning how to record acoustic guitar is a journey, but with the right guitar, mic, placement, and recording techniques, you can achieve professional-quality recordings even at home. Experiment, trust your ears, and practice to refine your sound.

For more recording tips and gear reviews, visit Guitar Viral and start recording like a pro today!