Steel String Guitar Voicing

This course, meant for the intermediate to advanced steel string guitar builder, contains just under 4 hours of quality instruction with all the information needed to make your steel string guitar soundboard the best it can possibly be.

Buy Now $97.90 10 Lessons 3:51:37

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About This Course

Welcome to the Robert O’Brien Online Steel String Guitar Voicing Course. This course was filmed during a master class I gave in my shop way back in the beginning of 2013. I have hesitated to edit it and make it available for a couple of reasons. First of all, I was concerned that the viewer wouldn’t be able to benefit as much as those that actually attended the class. It was a “hands on” class and obviously you as a viewer are not able to be involved in that process. Second, it was filmed in standard definition before I made the switch to high definition cameras. Recently I ran across this footage on my old hard drive and decided that neither of the two reasons I have mentioned were good enough to not make this footage available to others. In fact, the participants in this class have urged me to make it available. There is a ton of valuable information available in this course. Just the information on how to select soundboard material alone is worth the price of this video course. I think you will agree and know you will benefit from the information I present here gathered from years of experience building steel string guitars.

This course is meant for the intermediate to advanced steel string guitar builder and contains just under 4 hours of quality instruction with all the information needed to make your steel string guitar soundboard the best it can possibly be.

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It has never been easier to learn the art of steel string guitar voicing. Happy Building!

As I reached the stage of voicing the top and back, I went over these chapters again and again until the point where I caved in and purchased your Steel String Guitar Voicing online course. Mr. O'Brien, Robert, maestro, thank you so much. Over the years, I've felt a void, big lack of lack of understanding, as to the purposes of the bracing for the top and back and how this contributes to the pump tonal qualities of the build. And I want to thank you for being who you are. You have brought me to a whole next level. Mario
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I took your course on top tuning and you're quite a resource thanks for your work. Thanks a lot! Josh
Robbie’s courses are excellent and well worth the investment, I have “both” of his steel string classes and both are great. To compliment the course the Voicing class is also excellent for getting the best out of the build. Bruce in Canada
Until I enrolled in your "steel guitar voicing" course I was never able to actually direct my thicknessing and bracing to the character of the plates I had chosen. No where else have I encountered your ability to share what you hear and feel through audio-visual media, My most recent build, a Indian RW/Sitka Dreadnought (with my first French polish, thanks to you) was strung up shortly after Christmas and I have to say (more with surprise than pride) that it is the sweetest most articulate guitar I have ever played, including the Brazilian RW Gurian Jumbo I had for a number of years. So, thank you for what I would have to call "life changing" knowledge! Tim - Vancouver Island
I downloaded the voicing O'Brien video's. I like them. He is into my style of building. Down to earth. And a plus: He has a great narrating voice. FWIW. Herman
I'm really enjoying the Voicing class. I know that the class is more aimed at intermediate and advanced builders but as a novice I've learnt a huge amount and probably shaved years off the process of developing that sensitivity to the properties of the materials we use. Nick
I must say after reading countless complex methods of voicing etc that your class was a fantastic eye opener. Your way of teaching is wonderful. Your way of teaching is a nicely distilled and simplified take that helped to sort through the mounds of voicing techniques. Again I cannot say how much I enjoyed your class enough. After countless online videos, articles, books and how to's on voicing, your class made it click! You are a fantastic teacher and I look forward to learning more! Have a great day and Happy making! Aaron
I bought 2 of your courses the voicing a steel string guitar & The inlay course Both courses are really good. Scott
As I reached the stage of voicing the top and back, I went over these chapters again and again until the point where I caved in and purchased your Steel String Guitar Voicing online course. Mr. O'Brien, Robert, maestro, thank you so much. Over the years, I've felt a void, big lack of lack of understanding, as to the purposes of the bracing for the top and back and how this contributes to the pump tonal qualities of the build. And I want to thank you for being who you are. You have brought me to a whole next level. Mario
I took your steel string bracing course and finally grasped an understanding of getting a voice out of a top. You did a great job explaining that in a format that was understandable. Thank you. Now, after looking at all the Cool courses, Roy
I just purchased your Steel String guitar voicing class. Great stuff!!! Jay
On our last build my father and I made a bridge out of black walnut and it came to about 18 grams. It has a very explosive sound. I know it also has to do with the voicing, which I learn from your online voicing soundboards class, which is probably the best purchase I've done in the last few years. Thanks for releasing that video out for us to buy! Josué
Just finished watching the online course for voicing steel string guitars. It was very informative and presented in a way that was easy to understand. Jan Michael Torres
First I'll say thank you for your online courses. I've taken your class on voicing and chisel sharpening and my shop is better for it. Your class on voicing was awesome! Made instant improvements to my work. Matt
Great class and learning experience! Peter
Steel String Guitar Voicing
3:51:37
Intro 2:36
Lesson 1: How to select soundboards 44:28
Lesson 2: Students select their soundboards 9:49
Lesson 3: Thicknessing 29:42
Lesson 4: Soundhole and cutting to shape 9:32
Lesson 5: The X brace 28:18
Lesson 6: The other braces 27:53
Lesson 7: Voicing discussion 11:44
Lesson 8: Shaping braces 52:53
Lesson 9: Final thoughts 6:06