John Fahey used the term "American primitive guitar" to describe the style of composition he developed in his releases from the 1950s onwards.

Fahey employed traditional country blues fingerpicking techniques, which had previously been used primarily to accompany vocals, on solo guitar, in combination with nontraditional harmonic and melodic material.

[2] Besides Fahey, other notable representatives of this genre include Kottke, Robbie Basho, Bob Hadley and Peter Lang,[3] who released recordings on Fahey's Takoma Records label.

Fahey himself rejected any influence upon or responsibility for the genre, referring to it derisively as "hot tub music" and feeling that any association with New Age meant that he had failed as an artist.

[4] Peter Lang, a guitarist associated with the genre, described American primitive guitar, writing: ".