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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 Jun 08, 2021
Tuesday Jun 08, 2021
Could THIS single design element be the key between a crappy guitar and a guitar you never want to put down? I'm not kidding — this tiny change can have HUGE impacts on your acoustic guitar.
★ 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 the 4 underrated acoustic guitar design elements that have a massive impact on a guitars sound. In addition, you'll hear how one Tony's Acoustic Challenge member overcame an injury. Last but not least, you'll hear from Charlie Parr and Molly Tuttle on their new music releases.
This video is really geared towards acoustic guitar players interested in guitar builds. If you're looking for the reasons why different guitars sound better than others, most people chalk it up to the materials. But, in reality, the design elements of the guitar are just as important.
Too often in the acoustic guitar world, we fixate on tone woods and different materials. Instead, I think it is time guitar geeks start paying more attention to the design elements of a guitar like the bracing and binding.
While design elements of an acoustic guitar aren't as flashy or easy to understand as wood selection, if you can learn just a little from watching this video, you'll be well on your way to finding how an acoustic guitar sounds different from others.
Big thanks to Emerald Guitars, Bourgeois Guitars, Elderly Instruments , and Acoustic Letter for sharing these demo videos. Please check out those channels for more information!
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
Tuesday Jun 01, 2021
Stop fearing the metronome and start having fun when you practice guitar with it! Seriously, if rhythm and timing is what you need to work on, you gotta learn how to play with a metronome.
★ Learn more about starting your Guitar Journey: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
In this video, you'll see five steps to help you understand timing and how to easily play with a metronome. Learning how to play with a metronome is key to learning rhythm and timing. Neglect it, and you'll be fighting an uphill battle — trust me!
For each of these lessons, you'll see I play with a metronome and the different practicing techniques I use to have fun while working on my timing.
One of my favorite exercises, "Boil the Frog," will have you increasing the beats per minute (bpm) by tiny increments, so that you barely notice that the tempo is increasing. Don't miss this exercise!
After we cover how to play with a metronome without wanting to smash your guitar, you'll get to hear from TAC Family member Sarah and how she uses TAC to see consistent fun, focus, and progress.
Last but not least, we'll cover acoustic guitar news you can use. This includes a heartfelt announcement, a new building to be on the lookout for courtesy of Eddie's Guitars.
Tuesday May 25, 2021
Tuesday May 25, 2021
Martin Guitars makes some of the most famous, most recognizable guitars in the world. But are luthiers taking Martin's general design to make better Martin guitars than Martin can make?
★ Learn more about starting your Guitar Journey: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
Now, I love Martin Guitars. Specifically, I love their bluegrass dreadnoughts that have become the gold-standard in the acoustic guitar industry. But, given the reach and breadth of Martin's market share, I think it's fair to shed some light on the smaller builders.
That's why in today's episode, you're going to see 6 guitar makers who are making better Martin guitars than martin.
If you've ever wondered which guitars are better than Martin, specifically when it comes to bluegrass dreadnoughts, this video is for you!
I'll share with you 6 guitar makers, where they're located, their building philosophy, and a quick review of one of their best bluegrass dreadnoughts.
You'll get a chance to hear from Collings Guitars, Bourgeois Guitars, Thompson Guitars, and so many more!
Tuesday May 18, 2021
Tuesday May 18, 2021
Are you ready to learn some of the most important singer-songwriter lessons from the legendary Townes Van Zandt?
In this video, you'll have the opportunity to see 6 vital lessons for anyone who wants to play guitar or write music. So many of these lessons have to do with the "meta" side of playing, rather than the technique.
★ Learn more about starting your Guitar Journey: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
Whether you've heard of Townes Van Zandt or not, this episode will open you up to new possibilities on your guitar journey. I'll feature archival interviews with Townes and a whole host of other characters.
By the end of this video, you'll be filled with inspiration and ideas for your own guitar journey.
Besides taking a deep-dive into Townes Van Zandt's career, you'll also get the chance to hear about a Tony's Acoustic Challenge Family member who is rocking their guitar routine day-in and day-out.
Last but not lease, you'll get your weekly dose of acoustic guitar news you can use!
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Tuesday May 11, 2021
Worried that you can't use effects pedals on acoustic guitar? Or that you're going to use the wrong ones? This video will have 6 side-by-side comparisons of effects pedals, how they work, and how they sound on an acoustic guitar!
★ Learn more about starting your Guitar Journey: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
The land of effects pedals is typically ruled by electric guitar players. But, it's time that you start to feel comfortable with using effects on the acoustic guitar!
Using effects pedals can unlock TONS of creative potential on your acoustic guitar. To help you understand this, the video will have side-by-side comparisons of what an acoustic guitar sounds like with 6 different effects pedals.
The last thing I want you to do is by a pedal you'll never use. The demos on this video will give you a wide brush-stroke of what these pedals can do for your guitar and your sound.
As always, you'll also hear about Tony's Acoustic Challenge Members and how they TAC, as well as the latest acoustic guitar news you can use!
Highlights this week include Watchhouse , The North American Guitar and their new digital magazine, and plenty more!
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Tuesday May 04, 2021
Ever looked at an instrument and thought, "What can I learn from this thing?" Today, we're looking at the instruments used in Mariachi Music and how you can get inspired to try new things on your guitar after studying these instruments!
★ Learn more about starting your Guitar Journey: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
From the more familiar bajo sexto to the vihuela, this video will take a close look at the instruments that make up a traditional mariachi music. From there, you'll join me in the studio to see how you can apply instrument-specific techniques to the acoustic guitar.
You'll learn how to arpeggiate like mariachi harp, strum like a vihuela player, and provide rock solid rhythm like a bajo sexto player!
In addition to looking at guitar lessons from mariachi music, you'll hear about how TAC Family members overcame their fear of playing for others. It's not always easy to put yourself out there, but after hearing this story, I think you'll be a little more inspired.
Last but not least, you'll hear from Daisy Tempest of Tempest Guitars on how to design a custom guitar. You'll also hear about The Infamous Stringdusters new album and Submarine Pickups' new state-of-the-art pickup technology!
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
Tuesday Apr 27, 2021
I am so excited to share this with you, I just had to make a video about it! This is the easiest way EVER to make a vintage guitar. The process involves torrefaction which is like smoking meat: drying out the wood but at high temperatures instead of low ones (yes, that's what smoking does too!).
★ Learn more about starting your Guitar Journey: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
Torrefaction produces an authentic-looking finish that feels and sounds like old-growth timber. I couldn't believe how simple it was when I saw the pictures and heard the results.
On today's episode of Acoustic Tuesday, you're going to have the chance to evaluate whether this simple technique can create an instant vintage-sounding guitar.
By using this rapid-aging technique, luthiers have been able to create guitars that sound almost identical to some of the most universally loved guitars: prewar Martins and Gibsons.
Once we're done discussing torrefaction, you'll get to hear about TAC Family member Jo and her guitar journey.
Last but certainly not least, I'll fill you in on some of the latest guitar geek news and announcements.
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
Tuesday Apr 20, 2021
There's nothing like two musicians, in a room together, with just their voices and instruments. This video will cover the 10 BEST Acoustic Dio albums ever recorded. If I left your favorite one out, be sure to leave a comment!
Here's the Spotify Playlist featuring my favorite songs from the featured albums:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2yqwz33TEAJZ1UpZTwWVWq?si=W6RXf020TdukEkBtrEwAWQ
★ Learn more about starting your Guitar Journey: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
All of the albums I picked were selected because they are outstanding. I had to leave tons of albums out of the list, but I believe this list has 10 of the best examples of musicianship and collaboration in acoustic music.
In this video, you'll also have the chance to hear from TAC Family member Kurt. After struggling to find a way to fit guitar into his life, he's thriving and collaborating with family and friends through music!
For our acoustic guitar news you can use, you'll hear from @Heartbreaker Guitars on their latest Bourgeois arrival that is just truly stunning. You'll also hear @Trey Hensley playing his new @Thompson Guitars .
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
Tuesday Apr 13, 2021
If you're a guitar player, improper fretting technique can cause frustration, injury, and fatigue. All of these things can hold you back from achieving your guitar goals. In this video, I'll show you how to fix your fretting problem!
★ What kind of guitar player are you? How should you practice? Take the quiz today: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
Fretting technique gets overlooked too often when you play guitar. In reality, having proper fretting technique sets you up for sustained success and enjoyment on your guitar journey.
So...why would you continue to play with improper fretting technique? Sometimes the answer to this question lies in the complexity of fretting technique.
To make things easy, this video will break down fretting technique by addressing the 3 most common problems I see with guitar players of all ages and sizes. I'll offer a few solutions for each problem, as well as a possible solution if none of these technique checks improve your sound!
In addition to learning how to fret the guitar properly, I've got plenty of guitar news that you can use! From new music to drool-worthy guitars, you're not going to want to skip this week's segment!
Credits:
Eric Bibb - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gsPyQWXAc0
Larrivee Guitars - https://www.instagram.com/p/CMc6yv7MJ_Q/
Adrian Bellue - https://www.instagram.com/adrianbellue/
Amber Russell - https://www.instagram.com/amberrussellmuzic/?hl=en
Tommy Emmanuel and Hensley + Ickes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPdwqQG2tb0
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Tuesday Apr 06, 2021
Acoustic guitars are some of the most popular instruments in the world, and there's a reason for that! It's because they're incredibly versatile. In this video, we'll be looking at 8 acoustic guitar builders who have revolutionized the way these instruments sound.
★ What kind of guitar player are you? How should you practice? Take the quiz today: https://tonypolecastro.com/
★ Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday
★ FOLLOW on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tac.guitar/
Now, I want to be clear about something: we're not talking about Martin or Gibson copies. You know what these guitars are.
Instead, we're talking about modern acoustic guitars. And to kick things off, there's no better place to start than with Ervin Somogyi. From there, we'll explore seven more luthiers who are changing the game when it comes to making some of the finest, high-quality guitars.
Thank you to Heartbreaker Guitars for providing the Acoustic Guitar newscast today, and special thanks to Jon Gomm for being an incredible human being