How to Record Acoustic Guitar at Home
Published · updated · by Loopin
A natural, full-sounding acoustic guitar recording depends far more on mic placement than on expensive equipment — a modest mic in the right spot beats a great mic in the wrong one.
Start at the twelfth fret, not the sound hole
Pointing a mic directly at the sound hole often captures too much boomy low end and not enough of the guitar's actual tonal character. Aim the mic instead roughly where the neck meets the body, around the twelfth fret, angled slightly toward the sound hole — this typically captures a more balanced, natural tone.
This is a reliable starting point, not a fixed rule — experiment by moving the mic a few inches in different directions and listening for where the tone feels most balanced for your specific guitar.
Keep reasonable distance from the instrument
A mic placed too close, right up against the guitar, tends to exaggerate certain resonances and picks up excessive finger and pick noise. Starting around 8 to 12 inches away generally captures a more natural balance, with room to adjust closer or further based on what you hear.
Too far away picks up too much room sound, especially in an untreated space — find the point that balances direct instrument tone against room character for your specific space.
Consider a second mic for a fuller picture
If you have access to two microphones, a second one aimed at the guitar's body, offset from the first, can add fullness and a sense of stereo width when blended with the primary mic — a common technique for a more three-dimensional acoustic recording.
This isn't required for a good result — a single well-placed mic captures a genuinely usable recording, but a second mic is a worthwhile addition if you have the equipment and want extra depth.
Address the room the same way you would for vocals
A room with hard, parallel surfaces adds unwanted reflections to an acoustic guitar recording the same way it does to vocals — soft furnishings, a rug, or recording in a smaller, more absorbent space all help for the same underlying reasons discussed for vocal recording.
This matters especially for acoustic guitar since the instrument's own natural resonance combined with room reflections can create a boomy, unfocused low end if the space isn't reasonably controlled.
Watch your gain and play a full dynamic range before recording
Play through your loudest strumming and your quietest fingerpicking before setting final levels, since acoustic guitar can have a wide dynamic range within a single performance. Set gain based on the loudest moment, leaving headroom, rather than based on an average playing level that clips during a big strum.
This quick check before hitting record prevents a frustrating clipped take partway through an otherwise good performance.
Frequently asked questions
Where should I point a microphone when recording acoustic guitar?
Roughly where the neck meets the body, around the twelfth fret, angled slightly toward the sound hole. Pointing directly at the sound hole often captures too much boomy low end relative to the instrument's actual tonal character.
How far should the microphone be from the guitar?
Around 8 to 12 inches is a reasonable starting point. Too close exaggerates resonances and picks up excess finger noise; too far picks up too much room sound, especially in an untreated space.
Do I need two microphones to record acoustic guitar well?
No, one well-placed mic captures a genuinely usable recording. A second mic offset from the first can add fullness and stereo width if you have the equipment, but it's an enhancement, not a requirement.