Charles Atchison -Folk Artisan
You could be playing your favorite songs on a 3 string guitar, in less than an hour. It's that easy!
With my full color, 60 page book, you’ll learn the three basic shapes that are super easy to make, which allow you to play chords to nearly every song you can think of almost immediately!
The three basic shapes are your Major, Minor, and 7th chords. Each shape is movable up and down the neck. I teach seven easy to master shapes in total, and loads more tips, tricks, and exercises.
You'll learn to play rock classics like Born in the U.S.A. to bluesy tunes like Love Struck Baby, this method makes it super easy to play them with a rich, balanced tone. Included is the Chuck Berry style shuffle to add flair to your playing.
Follow this incredibly unique and easy to learn method and you’ll be playing your favorite songs faster than you ever thought possible!
Click here to download a PDF version for only $6.99
OR
Click here to buy a printed copy for only $12.99 + shipping
Both versions grant you access to private lessons, unlisted YouTube videos, tutorials, tablature and more via a secret Extra's area of this website.
Sneak peek of what's inside the book
The 3 string guitar is where I encourage every new guitar player to start, and my method can have even beginners playing popular songs in less than an hour. More than anything, it will help you fully understand the fretboard and see and understand chord shapes like you never imagined.
Don't have a 3 string guitar? Just remove the sixth, fifth, and first strings from a regular six string guitar, tune to my method, and get ready to play an instrument in a way you never thought you could.
Below are some tutorials utilizing DGD tuning and my method. Additional Private/Unlisted videos are available to everyone that has a copy of my 3 string guitar method book, via a private section of this site. Get your copy today!
Related 3 String Guitar Videos
Discover the newly updated The Folk Art Instrument Builders Reference: Revised Color Photo Edition
Now available as a vibrant PDF download. Originally published in black in white in 2015, this guide for folk art instrument enthusiasts has been reimagined in full color. Dive into a rich collection of techniques, designs, and resources for crafting traditional instruments, now brought to life with vivid illustrations and detailed diagrams. Perfect for builders, hobbyists, and folk art lovers, this 2025 edition offers an enhanced visual experience while preserving the timeless knowledge that made the original a go-to resource. Whether you’re crafting your first instrument or refining your skills, this updated reference is your essential companion. Download the PDF for instant access or order the print edition today!
Click here to download the full color 200 page book for only $7.99
Revised Color Print edition now available here for only $20.00 + shipping
The original black and white printed version is still available at Amazon.com
Sneak peek of what's inside
Reviews
All of the instruments played in these next two videos were created using mostly homemade and repurposed materials. It was way easier to build and record with them, than it was making the videos showing me playing each instrument all at the same time.
The Lucky Us Band
"The Lucky Us Band" was formed in 2012. I Joined them in October 2024 providing lead guitar and I get to sing several songs from our three hour 40 song set list.
Follow me and the band over here and watch for show dates if you are near K.C. Missouri
Homemade Instruments
I began my journey into instrument building by making some upgrades and modifications to my own guitars. Then I learned about cigar box guitars, their history, and impact on music, and then I was hooked. So much that so that I later wrote the book, "The Folk Art Instrument Builders Reference." You can view a gallery of a few my favorites builds here.
I built this custom baritone 27” scale, lap steel guitar for musician Justin Johnson using a 100 year old barometer, and a neck from an old, Johnson brand guitar. I added added a new fretboard, used red and white fret position markers to give the feeling of mercury rising up the neck.
For this instrument I developed a new method for semi-mounted re-positional pickup. Basically, this pickup can be moved, even during play, to any point under the strings, between the neck and the bridge position.The floating bridge sits atop the metal face plate, above a big hollow cavity, which served in making this a resonator/dobro style guitar and adds to its deep, haunted, tone.
This instrument by far took the most thought, planning, consideration, and focus than any other instrument I’ve ever built. The sound is out of this world and Justin utilizes the space behind the bridge and tailpiece to add some insanely cool vibrato/pitch changes using his hand.
Learn more about Justin at JustinJohnsonLive.com
Sam Wilson, better known as One-String Sam, captivated me with his incredible story and unique music. His life and legacy drew me into a deeper exploration of who he was and how his one-string guitar left an indelible mark on the blues world. This story shares what I discovered along the way and how his influence still resonates today.
Sign up for the newsletter and updates:
In addition to building instruments and folk art, I sometimes collect and sell authentic vintage cigar box instruments (and other antique handmade folk art and tramp art), memorabilia and ephemera ranging from books, postcards, records, cigar boxes, cups, plates and more.
