Doug Young is an instrumental fingerstyle guitarist, composer and author currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Doug grew up in Northeast Ohio, where he performed in rock and jazz bands throughout the Midwest and East Coast. He now focuses on defining his own voice as an instrumentalist, creating compositions and arrangements that emphasize melody, tone, and phrasing.
Doug’s solo CDs include Laurel Mill (2003), named after a campground in the Santa Cruz Mountains where he spent time studying with Alex de Grassi, Closing Time (2011), Forever Christmas (2020) and Duets (2020) with Teja Gerken. His tune, Autumns Roads, from Closing Time won “Best Instrumental” from the International Acoustic Music Awards (IAMA).
Doug is an active teacher, and is the author of the best-selling Mel Bay instructional book, Understanding DADGAD: For Fingerstyle Guitar as well as Acoustic Guitar Amplification Essentials, from String Letter Publishing, along with a number of other books devoted to Fingerstyle Guitar. He has taught workshops at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival, Santa Barbara Acoustic Instrument Celebration, International Guitar Camp, the Marin Community Music School, and others. He is a Contributing Editor for Acoustic Guitar Magazine, for whom he has written well over 100 articles. He is currently teaching a course on Alternate Tunings for Peghead Nation.
Doug is also an experienced recording engineer who has taught workshops on recording for solo guitarists, and has also expanded into video production. His approach to recording has mirrored his musical history – he began engineering recordings for rock bands during his days in Ohio, but now specializes in capturing the nuanced sound of solo acoustic guitar.
What Others Say
“There is something wonderful about a great melody unrushed. It's the strong sense that every note counts, that every note has something to say. Listening to Doug Young play is hearing the importance of each note - full, rich tones, following and flowing, not crowding or bumping. Listening to Doug is hearing the guitar sing.”
- FreeSoloGuitar.com
"From the first notes of Doug Young's Closing Time listeners will feel embraced by the mellow warmth and good fellowship to which he pays tribute (The Gathering, for the Swannanoa Gathering, an annual musical event that takes place in Appalachian mountains). Young's exceptional clarity and fingerstyle finesse call to mind Laurence Juber, Leo Kottke, John Renbourn, and other greats, but the sensuousness of his tone is second to none.
- Minor 7th Magazine
"Doug Young is a first-class musician who has chosen the guitar as his instrument. He does not "play the guitar" as much as he "plays great music using the guitar." The difference is his great sense of melody and the feeling that goes into writing a top-notch song. On Closing Time his original songs are as memorable as they are instantly enjoyable, and his arrangements are second to none."
- Dave Walker, Dr Dave’s CD Reviews
"A near perfect reference CD for someone trying to capture the sound of an acoustic guitar. The recording is clean and clear but never sterile, rich and engaging but not muddy. It's downright inspiring just to hear those gorgeous tones."
- Fran Guidry, Bay Area guitarist
