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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 Feb 28, 2023
Tuesday Feb 28, 2023
Huss and Dalton has been making beautiful, fine-tuned acoustic guitars for decades now. But how do you tackle their catalogue and find the right one for you and your budget?
On today's episode, I'll walk you through my 5 favorite Huss and Dalton guitars. The origin of this episode is born from a major snafu on my end. However, Huss and Dalton's incredible customer service and lasting value they provide to customers led me to making this episode.
Huss and Dalton is known for making powerful guitars. Every guitar I play from them is also extremely comfortable. The neck feels like butter, and construction is incredibly solid. Whether you're looking for crystal-clear flatpicking tones or smooth, deep fingerpicking tones, I strongly recommend you check out Huss and Dalton's acoustic guitars.
The one guitar that I currently own on this list is a true anomaly in my taste. I've always felt like on paper, the guitar that I own would be one I hate. However, this guitar sounds like nothing I've heard given its wood and construction. Seriously, you might be just as surprised as I was when you hear this bad boy.
Submit your guitarsenal at the link below!
https://airtable.com/shrpAVAi9HUGVUW8b
Featured in this episode...
- Eddies Guitars
- Peghead Nation
- Jeremy Sheppard
- Mark Manson
- Ariel Posen
- Paul Davids
- Ron Sweeney
- The Milk Carton Kids
- Colter Wall
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Muddy Waters is one of the most, if not the most, influential blues guitarist. But what acoustic guitar lessons can we learn from his approach to music?
In this episode, we'll cover 10 aspects of Muddy Waters' playing. Each lesson focuses on a different technique, approach, or stylistic choice. From minimalism to alternating octaves, there's something to learn no matter your skill level.
So much of the blues is rooted in history, and there are plenty of blues musicians prior to Muddy Waters that informed his playing style. Much of this lesson is informed by "Can't Be Satisfied" by Robert Gordon. If you want to learn more about Muddy Waters and his influences, be sure to check out this book!
Besides learning guitar-specific techniques, you'll also see specific examples of Muddy Waters' approach to music. Some of these are a little philosophical and heady, but they're super important. From learning the meaning perseverance to finding your musical family, I hope you resonate with one of these Muddy Waters' lessons.
Featured in this episode...
- Active Melody
- Play Country Blues
- Mule Resonator Guitars
- Thompson Guitars
- Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley
- Mighty Poplar
- Joseph The Band
- Free Dirt Records
- Compass Records
- Nickel Creek
- Candy Rat Records
- Caitlin Canty
- Pisgah Banjo Company
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
Tuesday Feb 14, 2023
The world is filled with endless ways to discover new music. With algorithms, recommendations, and endless scrolling, where can you turn to find consistently high-quality musical inspiration?
In this episode, we'll be covering the 13 best places to discover new music. The best part about this list is, they're all YouTube channels! Whether you live in the remote forests of Alberta or the land down under, as long as you have an internet connection you can discover new music!
I chose this list of publications, record labels, documentarians, and otherwise guitar geeks because of their consistent quality and curation. There are so many artists out there, and I believe these channels are constantly working to uncover and highlight new guitarists every day.
I've also found that the actual quality of the video, recording, and art direction for the shoots are incredible. There's always new music to be heard and most of the options have an extensive backlog of featured artists.
If there are any channels that you think I overlooked, please let me and the TAC Family know by dropping a comment below. I'm always on the hunt for new music and places to find out, and I'm sure there are other TAC Family members out there who are, too!
Featured in this episode...
- @CarterVintageGuitarsNashville
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Tuesday Feb 07, 2023
Imagine a world where carpal tunnel, aching shoulders, and back pain from playing simply vanished. Turns out you can make that world a reality with a few tweaks to your playing routine!
On today's episode, we're scaring off the pain gremlins with some tips, tricks, and pointers on preventing use injuries while playing guitar. Before I go any further, though, you need to know that I am not a doctor. If you want to try any of these physical exercises or stretches, please check in with your physician first.
Poor posture, tension, and repetition are the trifecta of any overuse injury. Any combination of these causes can result in an injury that can set you back on your acoustic guitar journey. This episode will focus on injury prevention. Rather than diagnose any pain you may feel, I'll outline some basic steps to improve posture, reduce tension, and decrease overuse injury.
One of the easiest things you can do is incorporate stretching into your playing routine. Before you start playing, try taking a deep breath, rolling your shoulders back, stretching your neck, and trying one of the stretches I demonstrate for forearms — after you talk to your physician, of course.
We hold so much tension throughout the day. Let guitar playing be a moment you can check in with yourself. Deep breaths, light stretching, and relaxing can change how you play and improve your playing longevity.
Submit your guitarsenal at the link below!
https://airtable.com/shrpAVAi9HUGVUW8b
Featured on this episode...
- Michael Watts
- Fretboard Journal
- Beard Guitars
- Greensky Bluegrass
- Gibson Guitar
- Mark Agnesi
- Eastman Guitars
- Jack White
- Ariel Posen
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Tuesday Jan 31, 2023
Which is better to buy: vintage guitars or new guitars? While it might seem obvious to some, you can evaluate the strengths and weaknesses on an 8-point rubric. And when you walk it through these considerations, you might be shocked at the results.
Figuring our whether a vintage or new acoustic guitar is right for you can be as standardized as you want it to be. You can go by feel, you can do a pros and cons list, or you can borrow my 8-point guide to determine your direction.
I get asked all the time which is a better purchase: vintage or new. It truly depends on what you're looking for. There are some broad generalizations you can make, but if you like a guitar even though it's outside of your preconceived idea of what you should purchase, don't feel limited.
Vintage guitars have tons of strengths, some that, in your mind, may outweigh all of the strengths of buying a new guitar. Whichever decision you think is right is the important one. If you disagree with my rubric, that's totally fine. I invite you to share yours in the comments and let people know how your rubric worked for you!
Featured in this episode...
- Riddy Arman
- WesternAF
- Dust to Digital
- Sweetwater
- Mule Resophonic Guitars
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
Tuesday Jan 24, 2023
How many times have you been told to humidify your guitar? How do you know if you need to? What if I told you there was a simple rule to keep your guitar in good condition for generations to come?
On today's episode, we're talking about the **special** relationship between humidity and your acoustic guitar. You've likely heard plenty of horror stories about too much humidity or not enough humidity. But what's the goldilocks range?
I've heard from plenty of guitar makers, players, and collectors about humidity over the years. Between temperature and humidity, there's a safe range for almost all instruments that exists between 66–77 degrees Fahrenheit and 40-55 percent humidity.
I'll cover why this band of ideal conditions is best for guitars. But if you're wondering how you can maintain this temperatures and humidity best, I'll also cover humidifiers and key signs to look out for.
Humidifying your guitar is important. If it's not taken care of, you can damage your guitar severely. Worst case scenarios include cracking and separating. Best case scenarios are reversible changes.
Submit your guitarsenal at the link below!
https://airtable.com/shrpAVAi9HUGVUW8b
Featured in this episode...
- Gryphon Strings
- Bourgeois Guitars
- Kyle Orla
- Gwenifer Raymond
- Bluegrass Life
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
Tuesday Jan 17, 2023
How do you learn a new song? Where do you begin and how do you set yourself up for success? On this episode, I'll show you how to break any song down into five essential guitar skills.
Learning a new song is a daunting process. There are so many elements of a song to consider. From determining the style you need to play to the technical aspects of soloing and improvising.
By using this simple framework, you can establish a starting point for learning a song. Rather than focusing on a song note for note, this step-by-step guide gives you a plan. When you focus on these specific categories, the easier learning songs becomes.
Instead of being caught of guard by a tricky technique or feeling overwhelmed by the shear amount of music you have to learn and memorize, breaking a song into manageable categories is an easy way to learn it. So what are you waiting for?
Submit your guitarsenal at the link below!
https://airtable.com/shrpAVAi9HUGVUW8b
Featured in this episode...
- Rob Ickes and Rrey Hensley
- Jeffrey Foucault
- Tony Rice
- Adrian Bellue
- Sam Bush
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Tuesday Jan 10, 2023
Do you ever dream of having a guitar only to realize it's five—maybe 10!—times outside your budget? It's probably because of one of these seven factors that determine a guitar's price.
In this episode, we'll explore why some guitars are more expensive than others. After decades of experience playing, buying, and selling, I've picked up on seven main factors that determine price.
Some of the factors are fairly fixed. Some of them are tied to market conditions. But all of them come together to determine the price of a guitar. I'm not saying this is a definitive list. Instead, it's a great starting place for anyone who is wondering why a guitar is as expensive or cheap as it is.
I see so many guitarists dismiss a guitar based on its price. Instead of balking at a number or judging it on its value, ask yourself why. Why does it cost that much? Is it because of branding? Materials? Endorsements? Manufactured scarcity? The list goes on.
Also featured in this episode...
- Music Emporium
- Emily Hopkins
- Polar Bear Effects
- Candy Rat Records
- Chris Thile
Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
Tuesday Jan 03, 2023
Learning how to play guitar ain't easy. It's like hopping on a train: difficult to get on, easy to fall off, but there's nothing like it once you're on.
On today's episode, I'll go over the common pitfalls beginner guitarists face at the start of their journey. From never setting a goal to the comparison mindset, discover how you can thrive in your guitar journey.
I've seen thousands of beginner guitar players play for a few weeks and then never pick up the guitar. This episode will guide you away from that outcome and towards a rewarding, lifelong journey of guitar playing.
As much as techniques and warmups might make a difference in your journey, I highly encourage you to think of the more meta—or mental—aspect of playing. Uncover your why. Set a routine. Ask questions. It's these small elements of a guitar journey that make all the difference for learning how to play guitar.
Get your guitarsenal shirt at the link below!
https://tonypolecastro.com/product-category/apparel/unisex-mens-tee-shirts/
Submit your guitarsenal at the link below!
https://airtable.com/shrpAVAi9HUGVUW8b
Featured on this episode...
- Will McNicol
- Jake Eddy
- Trey Hensley
- Herbie Hancock
Tuesday Dec 27, 2022
Tuesday Dec 27, 2022
You've got the inspiration, the drive, and the courage to record your first song on acoustic guitar. But how do you truly record your guitar's tone without being a sound engineer?
On this episode of Acoustic Tuesday, you'll get a crash course in using microphones to capture the sound that you want out of your acoustic guitar. From choosing the right microphone to placement in your recording space, we'll go through the basics you need to know.
One brief disclaimer though: I am not a sound engineer. I'm a working musician who's learned over the years how to get the sound that I want depending on my gear and space. There are plenty of more in-depth perspectives out there on YouTube, so if you're looking for a scientific analysis of recording acoustic instruments this is not it.
Now with that out of the way, I wanted to show you how different microphones and placements sound. I'll play the same licks, back to back, within different recording configurations. I hope this demonstration will point you in the right direction!
Submit your guitarsenal at the link below!
https://airtable.com/shrpAVAi9HUGVUW8b
Featured in this episode...
- Shure
- Ear Trumpet Labs
- MattyGrove
- WesternAF