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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 Aug 17, 2021
Tuesday Aug 17, 2021
In this video I'm going to talk about 5 common mistakes people make when they first learn how to play guitar. I'll share the top tips and tricks that will help you avoid those mistakes, and get your playing off to a great start!
Deciding to learn how to play the guitar is the first step on your guitar journey. But too often, you might go about your guitar journey in a way that will slow progress, derail your learning, and lead to frustration.
To help avoid any of that from happening, I want you to be aware of the most common guitar learning mistakes. In addition, I'll give you tips on how to shift your mindset, make the necessary changes, and get your guitar journey back on track!
Learning acoustic guitar isn't easy, it doesn't happen overnight, and can be a challenging instrument to learn. Fortunately, if you make a few adjustments in your approach to learning it, you can find fun, focus, and progress every day you play guitar! Just watch the video to start learning and playing!
Besides talking about guitar learning mistakes, you'll get to hear about TAC Family member Dennis's story of perseverance on his guitar journey. To round things out, you'll get the hottest and latest acoustic guitar news you can use!
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
After selling acoustic guitars around the U.S. for 15 years, I've come to realize not all guitars are made equal. But when it comes to value and price-point, Yamaha is always one of the top contenders. In this video I review 5 different models and share why each of these guitars has left such a huge impact on me!
Being in music retail helped me see why cheaper isn't always better. But I was always surprised at the quality of Yamaha acoustic guitars. In fact, one of my favorite Yamaha acoustic guitars in today's list is also one of the cheapest guitars that I've ever put my "stamp" of approval on!
The beauty of Yamaha acoustic guitars is that they offer a little something for every kind of guitar player. Whether you have small hands, you just started playing, or you're looking to upgrade from your current guitar, it feels like there's a Yamaha acoustic guitar for almost every occasion.
That's why I took the time to make a video on my 5 favorite Yamaha Acoustic Guitars. And, while I technically am looking at nine different guitars, many of these models are similar enough that they basically are the same guitar.
If I've left out your favorite Yamaha acoustic guitar model, be sure to let me know in the comments!
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
Tuesday Aug 03, 2021
Have you ever wanted to take your slide guitar playing to the next level? In this video, you're going to hear everything you need to know about weissenborn-style guitars. From its history, top builders, and entry level models, this episode will hit on the essentials of weissenborn-style guitars.
Weissenborn-style guitars are a type of lap slide guitar that were originally designed by Hermann Weissenborn in the 1920s. These guitar were unique in that they were played in your lap and the neck was entirely hollow. This resulted in many different brands of guitar making weissenborn-style models that are absolutely stunning.
This video features six weissenborn-style builders that are sure to please any guitar player who is interested in playing slide guitar. Even if you aren't able to get your hands on a weissenborn, I also want to talk about some of the essential pieces of gear for turning your guitar into a lap slide guitar.
In addition to talking about this unique style of lap slide guitar, I also want to share with you an incredible story from within the Tony's Acoustic Challenge community, Molly Tuttle and the comment she left behind on our special episode on clawhammer guitar, and the hottest acoustic guitar news you can use.
Tuesday Jul 27, 2021
Tuesday Jul 27, 2021
In this video, I give you a list of 10 things every guitarist needs in their case. These are the essentials that will make your life easier at gigs, jam sessions, and rehearsals.
Each of these items are in my case wherever I go. From the case itself to sentimental mementos to finger clippers, I'll cover why every guitar player needs to have these things in their case.
In addition to talking about the essential things every guitar player needs in their cases, you'll also get my recommendations for which ones to buy. To be totally clear, each tool or item I recommend works for me and my style of playing — it may not work best for you, so be sure to experiment and explore!
Besides talking about essential tools, I want to share with you an incredible TAC Family story. It's inspirational, it's heartwarming, and it's a great way to charge your guitar journey with positivity.
Last but not least, you'll get updates from Heartbreaker Guitars on their latest guitars, including Furch Guitars, Santa Cruz Guitars, and more!
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
The acoustic guitar has been a staple of Hollywood soundtracks for decades. But who are the artists behind some unforgettable soundtracks? In this video I share my top 5 favorite acoustic guitar heroes!
★ Learn more about starting your Guitar Journey: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
A good acoustic guitar in a movie's soundtrack has a huge impact on the movie. From setting the scene to becoming the subject of movie, there are so many incredible acoustic guitarists who've scored movie soundtracks. From Neil Young to Dire Straits' Mark Knopfler, I've got a great list of unsung guitar heroes behind some incredible movies.
One of my favorite parts about acoustic guitarists who work in film is the emotional depth they can bring to any moment in a movie. Each of the acoustic guitarists on this list brings another level of emotion to each of the featured movies, and I truly hope you enjoy!
If there's an acoustic guitarist who worked on a film that I missed, be sure to let me know in the comments below!
In addition to featuring the acoustic guitarists behind some of my favorite soundtracks, I want to take a moment to talk about two huge obstacles on any guitar journey: the "drone zone" and distraction.
The drone zone can derail any guitar journey fairly quickly. Be sure to watch the video to get the full scoop on how one TAC Family member was able to overcome being stuck in the drone zone.
To finish things off, you'll get your weekly dose of guitar geek news, including highlights from some metal acoustic guitarists!
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
Tuesday Jul 13, 2021
You've been waiting for someone to show you how to play fast on guitar like a pro. Well, now's your chance!
The main thing that separates the pros from amateurs is their ability to play as quickly as possible without sacrificing quality. In this video I'll share some of my best tips and tricks for playing fast on guitar with precision.
★ Learn more about starting your Guitar Journey: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
There are four different approaches to playing fast that I want to cover. Starting with the metronome and ending with a fun exercise, you're going to walk away from this video with a few strategies to help you start playing fast.
In addition to developing your speed chops on guitar, you'll get to hear from a TAC Family member and how they were able to revamp their guitar routine.
Last but not least, we're covering a few geometric-inspired guitars. You'll see a beautiful guitar from Nathan Ball Guitars as well as a stunning Somogyi guitar demoed by Paul at Dream Guitars.
Tuesday Jul 06, 2021
Tuesday Jul 06, 2021
Alright...don't laugh at me, but I really think this song is absolutely foundational for learning guitar. And, even though everyone treats it like a punching bag, it's one of the best vehicles for learning chords, improvising, and phrasing.
Yep, we're talking about Darius Rucker and his hit classic "Wagon Wheel." Whether you're a beginner guitar player or experienced, you need to learn this song. There's so much to unpack in this simple, 4-chord song. The sky's the limit on this one, and it provides a solid framework for so many other songs.
Additionally, you'll get a chance to see what's going on inside the TAC community and hear from one of our members.
Last but not least, I'm dishing the latest acoustic guitar news you can use. There's plenty to cover this week, and I hope you enjoy!
Tuesday Jun 29, 2021
Tuesday Jun 29, 2021
Does the blues have the biggest impact on acoustic guitar? Check out this video to see the 10 best acoustic blues albums to ever be recorded — ever!
★ Learn more about starting your Guitar Journey: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
In this video, you're going to see how truly impactful and inspiring acoustic blues can be. Whether you started playing guitar because of the blues or you started listening to the blues because you played, this video is for you.
This list of the best acoustic blues albums was incredibly difficult to make. There's so much great acoustic blues out there! So, I had to leave plenty of great albums off the list.
If you notice that there's an acoustic blues album that I missed, please let me know in the comments!
Here's my list of the top 10 best acoustic blues albums:
- Mississippi Blues - Bukka White
- Leadbelly - Lead Belly
- Lightnin' Hopkins - Lightnin' Hopkins
- Trouble in Mind - Mance Lipscomb
- Skip James Today! - Skip James
- Live at Gaslight Cafe 1965 - Sun House
- Big Bill's Blues - Big Bill Broonzy
- Today! - Mississippi John Hurt
- The Complete Recorded Works Vol. 1- Charley Patton
- King of the Delta Blues Singers - Robert Johnson
If you want to learn more about these artists and their work, I highly encourage you to listen to more of their albums! Immersing yourself in guitar is a great way to stay motivated and keep rocking!
In addition to talking about the 10 best acoustic blues albums, you'll also hear about a TAC Family member who was a dabbler for 41 years — and how he finally committed to becoming a guitar player.
Last but not least, you'll get my curated collected of acoustic guitar news you can use!
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Tuesday Jun 22, 2021
Elizabeth Cotten is one of the most famous guitar players that has a style that is close to impossible to replicate. In this video, you'll learn about her life, her impact, how to play one of her songs, and some of her best albums.
★ Learn more about starting your Guitar Journey: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
Fingerpicking is a difficult technique to learn on guitar, especially when trying to copy Elizabeth Cotten's style. Because she played the guitar upside down, she played the bass notes with her fingers and her thumb played melody.
This is perhaps one of the most unique aspects of Elizabeth Cotten's fingerpicking style. There's plenty more to look at, and you'll get a chance to learn all about her and her playing style in this video.
To wrap up the lesson on Elizabeth Cotten, I'm recommending some of the best Elizabeth Cotten albums. Whether you've never heard of Elizabeth Cotten or you've been playing "Freight Train" for years, there's always something new to find when you listen to her music.
In addition to covering Elizabeth Cotten, I want to tell you about Jessica, a TAC Family member who created routines to find more fun, focus, and progress on her guitar journey!
Last, but certainly not least, you'll get your weekly dose of acoustic guitar news you can use!
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Tuesday Jun 15, 2021
Have you ever wondered how you can play clawhammer guitar like Molly Tuttle ? In this video, you'll get step-by-step directions on how to learn this incredibly rhythmic and melodic technique on guitar.
★ Learn more about starting your Guitar Journey: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
Clawhammer technique started off on banjo, but has since made its way into the guitar world. Named after the claw-like position your hand is in, clawhammer technique is technically challenging but incredibly rewarding.
The basic principle of clawhammer technique involves a brush, a thumb, and a note. These terms are each defined within the lesson. When you put these three terms parts together and practice them, you'll be well on your way to working your clawhammer guitar technique.
In addition to learning clawhammer guitar in this video, you'll also learn how to play a scale, a song, and a harmonized scale using clawhammer guitar technique. By the end of this video, you'll have an essential baseline of clawhammer guitar that you can use to learn more advanced techniques within the clawhammer world.
I also want to take a moment to highlight the work of Molly Tuttle, Michael Stadler, Steve Baughman, Chris Coole, Adam Hurt, and Cara Luft.