National Guitar Day

What you’ll find in this article about National Guitar Day: Inspiration | Iconic Movie Scenes | Fabric Inspiration

February 11 is National Guitar Day, a perfect excuse to celebrate one of the most iconic instruments of all time. The guitar has shaped nearly every genre of modern music, from folk and blues to rock, country, and pop. Even better, the acoustic guitar holds a special place in pop culture, especially in movies, where it often symbolizes creativity, rebellion, romance, and raw emotion.

For me, National Guitar Day felt like the perfect moment to combine two things I love: music and design. That inspiration turned into my newest fabric collection, featuring colorful acoustic guitars in playful, modern patterns designed for makers, quilters, and music lovers alike.

Whether you’re here for our colorful fabric designs, movie trivia, or creative inspiration, National Guitar Day is the kind of holiday that hits all the right notes.

If the acoustic guitar isn’t your thing, learn about the man who crafted the iconic Gibson guitar:  Les Paul: Guitar Legend, Musical Inventor & Design Inspiration

Inspired by National Guitar Day: Colorful Acoustic Guitar Fabric

As a designer, I’m always looking for fun ways to stretch my creative muscle and transform everyday items into fun, colorful designs that can be used in fashion, crafts, quilts, and home decor.

National Guitar Day gave me the perfect theme for a new fabric design: acoustic guitars in bold colors in a fun pattern with a lot of movement, available in multiple colorways and on both light and dark backgrounds.

This collection was designed to feel joyful, energetic, and versatile. It works beautifully for:

• Quilts and throw blankets for music lovers
• Tote bags, zipper pouches, and backpacks
• Clothing like skirts, shirts, and pajamas
• Home décor such as pillows, curtains, and wall hangings
• Craft projects for teachers, classrooms, and music rooms

Movies Featuring Acoustic Guitars

Thanks to Brickwall Pictures for sharing this list with us

National Guitar Day meets the movies. Explore iconic films with unforgettable acoustic guitar scenes, from Forrest Gump to Inside Llewyn Davis.

Forrest Gump (1994)

Few movies are as emotionally iconic as Forrest Gump, and one of its most unforgettable moments involves an acoustic guitar. In a heartbreaking scene, Jenny performs “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan naked on stage, hidden behind the acoustic guitar she’s strumming. Music is used as both expression and escape. The acoustic guitar becomes a symbol of her vulnerability, artistic spirit, and inner struggle.

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

This film is basically a love letter to acoustic folk music. Set in the Greenwich Village folk scene of the early 1960s, Inside Llewyn Davis follows a struggling musician trying to survive through live performances and couch surfing. Nearly every major scene features acoustic guitar performances, recorded live on set. The opening and closing performances in the club are especially memorable and feel painfully intimate.

Once (2007)

Once is built entirely around acoustic music. The story follows two struggling musicians who connect through songwriting and street performances. Their song “Falling Slowly”, performed with acoustic guitar and piano, became an Oscar-winning hit, for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song. The film feels less like a movie and more like a documentary about how music brings people together.

August Rush (2007)

This modern fairy tale follows a musical prodigy searching for his parents through sound and rhythm. Acoustic guitar scenes play a major role, especially with Jonathan Rhys Meyers’ character, a struggling guitarist. The movie treats the guitar almost like a magical instrument, capable of connecting people across time and distance.

Walk the Line (2005)

This biopic of Johnny Cash “Walk the Line,” shows his rise from poverty to superstardom. Many early scenes feature Cash performing solo with an acoustic guitar before finding mainstream success. The stripped-down performances emphasize the storytelling roots of country and folk music.

A Star Is Born (2018)

Multiple versions of A Star Is Born exist, but the 2018 film stands out for its acoustic performances. Bradley Cooper’s character often uses an acoustic guitar in quieter scenes that contrast with the film’s massive concert moments. The acoustic moments feel personal and raw, especially in songwriting scenes between the two leads.

A Mighty Wind (2003)

This mockumentary about folk musicians reuniting for a concert is packed with acoustic guitar performances. The film gently pokes fun at folk culture while clearly loving it. It’s one of the funniest and most affectionate portrayals of acoustic music ever put on screen.

Crossroads (1986)

Although famous for its final electric guitar duel, Crossroads begins as a story about learning blues traditions. Ralph Macchio’s character studies classical and acoustic guitar styles while chasing legendary blues history. He links up with a veteran blues player who he hopes can teach him a long-lost song by legendary Delta Blues virtuoso Robert Johnson.

School of Rock (2003)

While Jack Black’s character, Dewey Finn, is famous for his over-the-top air guitar and electric guitar antics, one of the key acoustic guitar moments actually belongs to Zack. Early in the film, Zack played by Joey Gaydos, is shown playing acoustic guitar in his elite private school’s concert band, performing in a formal, classical style before Dewey pushes him to break free and switch to electric guitar for the rock band.

Animal House (1978)

In one of the most infamous acoustic guitar moments ever filmed, a folk singer plays a gentle song on the stairs while surrounded by adoring girls. John Belushi’s character casually grabs the guitar and smashes it. It’s a perfect dichotomy of sensitive acoustic music culture in the 1970s vs. the rock-n-roll lifestyle of the frat house.

Learn More about another National Day that connects to Animal House: Louie Louie Day

Crazy Heart (2009)

This film follows a washed-up country singer whose life is slowly falling apart. Many scenes feature intimate acoustic performances in small bars and motels. The guitar becomes a symbol of both his talent and his emotional damage.

The Last Waltz (1978)

This legendary concert documentary includes several acoustic performances from rock’s greatest legends. The unplugged moments feel timeless and deeply emotional. It’s considered one of the greatest music documentaries ever made.

Desperado (1995)

Desperado is one of the most stylish action films of the 1990s, and it features one of the coolest guitar moments in movie history. Antonio Banderas plays a mysterious gunslinger who carries a guitar case that secretly contains weapons, turning the acoustic guitar into both a symbol of music and a literal tool of revenge. The contrast between the romantic image of a wandering guitarist and the explosive violence that follows is what makes the guitar so iconic in this film. The opening bar scene, where Banderas performs with a guitar before chaos erupts, perfectly blends music, danger, and cinematic flair.

Airplane! (1980)

Airplane! is one of the greatest comedy films of all time, and it includes a surprisingly sweet acoustic guitar moment in the middle of complete absurdity. In one scene, a flight attendant sits beside a sick young girl and gently sings “River of Jordan” while playing acoustic guitar to comfort her. The humor comes from how sincerely the scene is played, even as the lyrics and situation become increasingly ridiculous.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

The “Moon River” scene from Breakfast at Tiffany’s is one of the most iconic moments in film history. Audrey Hepburn sits on a fire escape in a simple black outfit, softly singing while playing acoustic guitar. The scene is quiet, intimate, and emotionally vulnerable, showing a completely different side of her character, Holly Golightly. The acoustic guitar becomes a visual symbol of longing, loneliness, and romantic dreaming. It’s been referenced, parodied, and celebrated for decades, and remains one of the most famous acoustic guitar scenes ever filmed.

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National Guitar Day Meets Creative Design

Acoustic guitars are powerful in film because they feel real. They strip away special effects, noise, and spectacle. What’s left is a voice, a story, and an instrument. That’s why they show up in campfire scenes, street performances, heartbreak moments, and musical origin stories. That emotional connection is exactly what inspired my acoustic guitar fabric designs. I wanted to capture the joy and personality of music in a visual way that people could actually use.

Each design is available in two different sizes. If you’d like a different size and/or colorway, just send me a message to coordinate.

National Guitar Day is about celebrating creativity in all its forms. Sometimes that’s through music. Sometimes it’s through film. And sometimes it’s through turning your favorite instruments into something you can sew, wear, decorate, and share.