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Guitar playing tips and inspiration to play guitar consistently, have more fun and see more progress with your guitar routine. Every week your host, Tony Polecastro (from tacguitar.com) shows you a new guitar lick and shares new guitar gear and acoustic guitar music he‘s recently found. Tune out the overwhelm of online guitar lesson noise and let Tony be your guide to focus, fun and progress every Tuesday at 10am.
Episodes
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
Tuesday Jan 04, 2022
Learning guitar in 2022 is no different than learning guitar in 2021. But you're different. Your life is different now. Your guitar journey is either developing or just getting starting. By following the 5 mantras in this episode, you'll prime yourself for consistent progress, fun, and focus on your guitar journey.
I've had a rollercoaster of a year in 2021. But the thing that I kept the same was consistent progress in playing guitar. Even with a new child and all the pandemic-related disruptions, I made sure to play (almost) every single day. Because any amount of time playing guitar is better than no time playing guitar.
So, after having a successful year teaching, learning, and sharing some of my insights, I've found 5 mantras that can help you on your guitar journey. Whether you're lost on the path to guitar geekdom or you just need a little inspiration, turn to these mantras. Let them guide you. Let yourself discover what you need to do on your guitar journey. The rest will follow.
In addition to sharing these insights with you, I cant wait to show you the first Tuesday Guitar Lick Challenge of 2022. It's going to be a blast! I strongly encourage you to follow along, even if you aren't part of the TAC Family yet!
Featured in this episode...
- Mule Resonator Guitars
- Driftwood Guitars
- The North American Guitar
Tuesday Dec 28, 2021
Tuesday Dec 21, 2021
Tuesday Dec 21, 2021
If you haven't had one of these experiences in your guitar journey, you need to check out this video. From meeting the most eclectic, creative, and supportive people to having a first gig, these are the guitar geek experiences that change lives.
I've created this episode as a retrospective to spark reflection. While I draw some insights and lessons from my own personal experiences, this is a great moment for you — yes, YOU! — to think about experiences you've had on your guitar journey...
Which moments have shaped you? Which experiences taught you the value of music? How many friends have you made through your music?
These are all great launching points for introspection. And, since it's the end of the year, I think there's no better time to start reflecting on the year. By the end of this episode, you'll have examples of experiences that change a guitar geeks life. But I want you to reflect and think about the experiences that have changed your life.
In addition to covering these pivotal moments in our guitar journey, we'll cover a stellar blues lick titled "Sleigh Bells." The holidays are upon us, so we'll have that motif every day this week at TAC. But additionally, we'll be "breaking" some "rules" in music — and it totally works! Just be sure to watch the episode to see why it works...
Featured this week...
- Madi Diaz
- Eric Clapton
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
Tuesday Dec 14, 2021
In this episode, we explore the idea of sustainable guitars — something guitar geeks should be thinking about for the future...here's why.
We'll take a look at some great companies like Taylor Guitars and Tom Sands that are creating instruments with sustainable materials such as reclaimed wood and ethically sourced materials, and more.
I've always been fascinated by tone woods. From their acoustic properties to their aesthetic qualities, I loved learning about different kinds of tone woods. But recently I've been thinking more about where tone woods come from, how they're harvested, and what us guitarists can do to make sure there are guitars for future generations.
This video won't seek to provide definitive solutions to the issues of deforestation or other negative aspects of the guitar industry. Instead, I want this to be the launch-pad for further conversations.
Feel free to share resources, makers, luthiers, and others who are helping ensure that there are guitars for our grandchildren and their grandchildren to play.
Tuesday Dec 07, 2021
Tuesday Nov 30, 2021
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
Tuesday Nov 23, 2021
Streaming music has a lot of benefits. But it can also have some downsides. In this video, I explain the five main disadvantages to streaming music and show you how to avoid them.
Music streaming, whether it's through Spotify or Youtube, has to be one of the greatest expansions in music consumption. For a few bucks a month, you have access to millions of songs. You have seemingly infinite choices.
But there are plenty of negatives to this easy consumption of music. Do you remember the days where you had to go to a music store, search for an album, purchase the album, and invest time into making that album worth it?
With streaming, you lose all of the process and ritual that made the discovery of new music magical. We've lost the cultural touchstone of sharing music through word of mouth recommendations. Instead, we're fed recommendations by an algorithm — which is incredibly helpful at times, but lacks a human touch.
There are plenty of reasons to like streaming music, but there is a dark side to all the convenience that streaming music provides. This episodes seeks to address some of those issues.
In addition to talking about the dark side of music streaming, you'll get a big update from Heartbreaker Guitars on everything from new models to supply chain explanations.
Featured in this episode...
- Heartbreaker Guitars
- Furch Guitars
- Molly Tuttle
- Chicago Music Exchange
- Billy Strings
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
Quit doom scrolling and start learning! And don't worry — you don't have to stop scrolling! Today, you'll hear about 10 must-follow guitar builder accounts on Instagram and Facebook that will inspire, educate, and entertain you with stories about building guitars.
Each of these guitar builders, or luthiers, was selected because they have beautiful images, incredible stories, and insights on the creation of the most magical instrument.
My goal is to help immerse you in the world of guitars. So, even if you aren't playing or sitting with the guitar in your lap, you can still learn about different aspects of the guitar.
These luthiers have incredible stories to share with the world, and I want to help them get the word out! And, I want to help you discover a new world of guitar builders that you may have not even known about.
And, let's be real for a second...we could all use some positivity in our social media feeds, which is another reason I wanted to share this list with you. All of the luthiers are sure to share incredible photos, stories, and demos of some incredible guitars played by incredible musicians.
Without further ado, here's the list:
- @hallandguitars (https://www.instagram.com/hallandguitars/)
- @ejhendersonguitars (https://www.instagram.com/ejhendersonguitars/)
- @matsudaguitars (https://www.instagram.com/matsudaguitars/)
- @prewarguitars (https://www.instagram.com/prewarguitars/)
- @Mule Resonator Guitars (https://www.instagram.com/muleresonatorguitars/)
- @Greenfield Guitars (https://www.instagram.com/greenfieldguitars/)
- @benjaminpaladacciguitars (https://www.instagram.com/benjaminpaldacciguitars/)
- @dionguitars (https://www.instagram.com/dionguitars/)
- @tempestguitars (https://www.instagram.com/tempestguitars/)
- @Tom Sands (https://www.instagram.com/tom_sands_guitars/)
Also featured in this Episode...
- @Eric Clapton and his '68 Martin D-45
- @Jake Workman and "Whiskey Before Breakfast"
- Ryan Acker's "Ear to the Ground"
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
Tuesday Nov 09, 2021
It doesn't matter what you're playing, where you are, or how long you have left on the clock. Here's a list of 5 ways to keep practicing your guitar — even during the busy holiday season!
The holidays can be a time where you feel like you're too busy to play guitar. Between travel, visiting family, and balancing everything else in life, this time of the year can derail your guitar routine.
Fortunately, this episode is going to walk you through five common scenarios you might face during the holiday season. And, for that matter, you might encounter these situations any time during the year!
The important thing to remember is that there are so many ways to "play" guitar — even when you don't have a guitar with you. And, if you're lucky enough to have the guitar by your side, there are plenty of tips in this video to help you make progress even in the most stressful moments of the day.
To prove my point, you'll also hear from TAC Family member Dirk who overcame an enormous interruption to his guitar routine.
Additionally, you'll get all the best acoustic guitar news to close out today's show. Featured in this episode…
- LEGO and their Fender Guitar
- Nora Brown
- Michael Watts and an interview with Irvin Somogyi
- Casimi Guitars
- John Lee Hooker Graphic Novel
Tuesday Nov 02, 2021
Tuesday Nov 02, 2021
I love acoustic guitar covers. They're so good for calming my nerves, and they always sound so nice. But with so many to choose from, it can be hard to find the best ones! So in this video I'm sharing ten of my favorites that are perfect for relaxing or inspiring you to pick up your guitar.
So, how are we going to talk about these acoustic guitar covers? We'll talk about the cover, why I picked it, and give you a quick sample in the video to see if it's up your alley.
All of the songs I pick today highlight some incredible acoustic guitarist. There isn't a dull moment in this countdown, and I promise the list gets better and better the closer we get to the #1 spot!
In addition to talking about acoustic guitar covers, you'll get a chance to work on a guitar lick title "You Hoser"...I'll explain it all in the video! But just know that you'll be flatpicking up a storm in the key of G.
Last but not least, you'll get my picks for acoustic guitar news you can use. Featured in this Episode...
- Brennen Leigh on Western AF
- Joni Mitchell's Latest Release
- Guild Guitars and their Bob Marley Model