Badi Assad

06/01/23 • 29 min

Tune in for a fascinating conversation – plus inspiring demonstrations – with nylon-string guitarist and singer Badi Assad. We talk composing and arranging, how to sing and play at the same time, and the importance of emotion and experimentation.

Support the show:

Listen to Part 2 on Patreon, where Assad explores her approach to re-interpreting pop songs on guitar.
Make a donation on PayPal
Give a rating and review

Additional resources:

Listen to Ilha on Amazon, Apple, or Spotify.
Check out Badi Assad's website.
Watch her Acoustic Guitar Sessions videos.
Find the music for Assad's composition "Farewell" in the Acoustic Guitar archives.

This episode is hosted by Nick Grizzle and Elton Bradman, produced by Tanya Gonzalez, and directed and edited by Joey Lusterman. Executive producers are Lyzy Lusterman and Stephanie Campos Dal Broi.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is produced by the team at Acoustic Guitar magazine, including:

Publisher: Lyzy Lusterman
Editorial Director: Adam Perlmutter
Managing Editor: Kevin Owens
Creative Director: Joey Lusterman
Digital Content Director: Stephanie Campos Dal Broi
Digital Content Manager: Nick Grizzle
Marketing Services Manager: Tanya Gonzalez

Special thanks to our listeners who support the show on Patreon.

Support the show

Support the show:

Listen to Part 2 on Patreon, where Assad explores her approach to re-interpreting pop songs on guitar.
Make a donation on PayPal
Give a rating and review

Additional resources:

Listen to Ilha on Amazon, Apple, or Spotify.
Check out Badi Assad's website.
Watch her Acoustic Guitar Sessions videos.
Find the music for Assad's composition "Farewell" in the Acoustic Guitar archives.

This episode is hosted by Nick Grizzle and Elton Bradman, produced by Tanya Gonzalez, and directed and edited by Joey Lusterman. Executive producers are Lyzy Lusterman and Stephanie Campos Dal Broi.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is produced by the team at Acoustic Guitar magazine, including:

Publisher: Lyzy Lusterman
Editorial Director: Adam Perlmutter
Managing Editor: Kevin Owens
Creative Director: Joey Lusterman
Digital Content Director: Stephanie Campos Dal Broi
Digital Content Manager: Nick Grizzle
Marketing Services Manager: Tanya Gonzalez

Special thanks to our listeners who support the show on Patreon.

Support the show

Previous Episode

Doc Watson Memories

To celebrate 100 years of Arthel Lane “Doc” Watson, we invited 11 distinguished guests to share their stories and reflect on his legacy. You'll hear from a range of talented musicians, producers, and makers—including bluegrass titan Peter Rowan, monumental mandolinist Sierra Hull, flatpicking ace David Grier, and more. From poignant memories to laugh-out-loud moments, we explore this great guitarist’s far-reaching and enduring influence on roots music and our lives.

Support the show:

Join our community on Patreon
Make a one-time donation on PayPal
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (This helps other guitarists find the show and helps us. We really appreciate it!)

Thanks to our guests: Alan Barnosky; B Townes; Beppe Gambetta; David Grier; David Mathis; John Leventhal; Lindsay Craven; Mitch Greenhill; Peter Rowan; Sierra Hull; Tommy Emmanuel.

Additional Resources:

Read this 1993 interview with Doc Watson from the Acoustic Guitar archives.
Take a flatpicking master class with Alan Barnosky, where you'll learn to think and play like the greats, including Watson.
Learn more about Merlefest.
Learn more about the Doc Watson Signature Model from Gallagher Guitar.

Recommended Listening:

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast theme music is composed by Adam Perlmutter and performed for this episode by Alan Barnosky.

This episode is hosted by Nick Grizzle, produced by Tanya Gonzalez, and directed and edited by Joey Lusterman. Executive producers are Lyzy Lusterman and Stephanie Campos Dal Broi.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is produced by the team at Acoustic Guitar magazine, including:

Publisher: Lyzy Lusterman
Editorial Director: Adam Perlmutter
Managing Editor: Kevin Owens
Creative Director: Joey Lusterman
Digital Content Director: Stephanie Campos Dal Broi
Digital Content Manager: Nick Grizzle
Marketing Services Manager: Tanya Gonzalez

Special thanks to our listeners who support the show on Patreon.

Support the show

Next Episode

My First Guitar, Luthier Edition

It’s our first birthday! If you’ve been listening since the beginning, you remember "My First Guitar," where we heard stories from some incredible players. Now we bring you the luthier edition, with 15 outstanding makers reflecting on what they learned from and loved about building their first guitars.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is a listener-supported show:

Additional Resources:

Learn more about the luthiers who generously shared their stories in this episode:
- Bob Benedetto; Dana Bourgeois; Leo Buendia; Monica Esparza; Jayne Henderson; Kenny Hill; Isaac Jang; Joshia de Jonge; William "Grit" Laskin; Linda Manzer; Raymond Morin; Steve Nall; Shelley Park; Rachel Rosenkrantz; Erich Solomon.
Scroll through the gallery of first guitar photos.
Explore our library of stories on guitarmakers and guitarmaking.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast theme music is composed by Adam Perlmutter and performed for this episode by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers.

This episode is hosted by Nick Grizzle, produced by Tanya Gonzalez, and directed and edited by Joey Lusterman. Executive producers are Lyzy Lusterman and Stephanie Campos Dal Broi.

The Acoustic Guitar Podcast is produced by the team at Acoustic Guitar magazine, including: