Benjamin John “Ben” Howard is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and composer from Devon. He self-released his debut EP Games in the Dark (2008) followed by two more EPs, These Waters (2009) and Old Pine (2010). He is currently signed to Island and Communion. His major debut studio album came in 2011 titled Every Kingdom followed by two more EP releases, Ben Howard Live (2011) and The Burgh Island E.P. (2012).
At the 2013 Brit Awards he received the Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act.
Howard plays guitar left-handed and makes extensive use of alternate tunings, such as CGCGGC (Old Pine, Everything), DADF#AD (In Dreams) and CGA#GFC (End of the Affair, Esmerelda). He also complements these tunings by using a partial capo for many songs (Further Away, Everything, End of the Affair) in order to use harmonic or bass notes otherwise unavailable.
He also has a distinctive percussive strumming style, called the “pick and go,” and Howard’s method of laying the guitar flat on top of his knees and playing it percussively was influenced by contemporary folk songwriter and guitarist John Smith.
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