Acoustic Tuesday Show With Tony Polecastro

In this episode of Acoustic Tuesday, we'll be exploring the life stories, unique styles, and techniques of 11 more incredible acoustic blues guitarists. By the end of this series, you'll have a wealth of 33 blues artists to add to your listening list! In this special episode, we'll be diving into some rare, intimate concert footage from acoustic blues musicians throughout the past century. Many of these guitarists have been lost to history, with only a few archival records remaining. I'll be sharing their captivating life stories, how they were discovered or rediscovered, and the invaluable contributions they made to the world of blues music. Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of these 11 acoustic blues legends: Kid Bailey Sylvester Weaver Bo Carter Son House Frank Stokes Pink Anderson Reverend Gary Davis Blind Willie Johnson Sam Chatmon Josh White Reverend Robert Wilkins Don't forget to check out parts 1 and 2 of this series if you haven't already, and let me know what you think in the comments! Subm

Think you know the blues? Think you know acoustic blues? Chances are you haven't heard these insanely good blues guitars. It's time to get inspired. In this episode, we'll be exploring 11 phenomenal acoustic blues artists who will not only inspire you but also help you play better. I've handpicked these legends from all corners of the U.S. and spanning the last 100 years, to give you a true taste of acoustic blues history.  Featuring breathtaking concert footage and unforgettable recordings, you'll experience the incredible artistry of these musicians up close and personal. Some of the notable names we'll be discussing include the likes of Robert Belfour, Barbecue Bob, Charley Patton, and Mississippi John Hurt — just to name a few.  So grab your guitar, sit back, and get ready to be inspired by the captivating sounds of these acoustic blues masters. Whether you're an experienced player or just starting out, you'll walk away with new insights and a fresh perspective on your own playing. Featured in this episod

Do you dream about bluesy and dirty tones, but feel like your guitar isn't right for it? Boy howdy, do I have some guitars you NEED to hear.  We're exploring three phenomenal instruments from Mule Resophonic Guitars. Get ready for an in-depth comparison of these unique resonator guitars, showcasing their distinct sounds and features. The first guitar we'll be discussing is my beloved Mule Tricone resonator. This was the first Mule guitar I ever got my hands on, and it's a true work of art. Handmade with an all-steel body, this tricone resonator in a single cone resonator body offers a deep, bluesy tone that'll make you fall in love with resonators and slide guitar all over again. Next up is the Mule Mavis resonator guitar – a super-slim, acoustic-electric marvel. If you're looking for versatility, this guitar has got you covered. We'll be exploring the wide range of tones this beauty can produce, from warm and mellow to bright and punchy. Finally, we'll be checking out the Blue Mule Resonator. This gem sports

Ever thought that a laminate guitar might be too "cheap" or catered to beginners for your guitar collection? Just wait until you hear this resonator guitar. In today's episode, we're going to dive into a comparison between two stunning resonator guitars from my personal collection—both of which are from @nationalguitars . The first contender is a gorgeous National Supro Collegian resonator guitar. This beauty sports a striking duco finish that immediately catches your eye. With a rosewood fingerboard and a mahogany neck, it has plenty of bark and bite that you'd expect from a top-notch resonator guitar. We'll explore its unique tonal qualities and discuss why this guitar is perfect for those who love that classic resonator sound. Our second guitar is the elegant National Estralita Deluxe resonator guitar. This one has a deeper, more mellow tone that sets it apart from its competition. Although it's a laminate guitar, don't let that deter you from considering it as a viable option! We'll delve into the

We're taking to the skies as I share my top 10 tips for flying with your acoustic guitar! Join me as I walk you through the best practices and pro-tips I've picked up on my own journeys, ensuring your precious instrument arrives safe and sound at your destination. Whether you're a touring musician or simply taking your guitar on vacation, these tips are essential to keeping your guitar protected and your travels stress-free. I'll cover everything from shipping your guitar to "green tag gate checking," and even the secret of asking for the closet. Here's a quick rundown of what we'll discuss in this episode: - Packing your guitar

Today, I'm excited to share two beautiful guitars that, on paper, I hated. Seriously. But sure enough, I bought them. So what changed my mind? Why are they two of my favorite guitars now? This episode is dedicated to judging a book by its cover, and why you shouldn't do it. Here's the skinny: I spent most of my career as a guitarist convinced that maple was not the tonewood for me. I avoided it like the plague. And then I discovered a guitar that aversion completely on its head.  It was a custom Martin OM with a maple body back and sides. This guitar is a true work of art, with its maple tonewoods and beautiful finish. I'll be demonstrating its sound and feel, as well as discussing the process of how this guitar entering my arsenal. Next up is the Huss & Dalton L13 Crossroads Deluxe. This guitar is simply stunning, with a solid Adirondack spruce top and solid East Indian rosewood back and sides. I'll be giving you an in-depth review of its tone, playability, and overall craftsmanship. As always, I'll be p

Whether you identify as a purist or you're curious about this technique, flatpicking can take your playing to the next level.  In this video, we dive into the fascinating world of flatpicking and explore the techniques that make this style of guitar playing so popular. We'll discuss the best ways to explore this incredible technique. I'll guide you through essential flatpicking aspects like alternate picking, crosspicking, and flatpicking runs, providing detailed instruction and practical tips to help you master these skills. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced guitarist, this video is the perfect introduction to flatpicking and a valuable resource for improving your technique. If you're ready to take your guitar playing to the next level, be sure to try all seven exercises! Submit your guitarsenal at the link below! https://airtable.com/shrpAVAi9HUGVUW8b Featured in this episode... - Dolly Parton   - Billy Strings   - Normans Rare Guitars   - Trey Hensley   - Gryphon Strings   - Molly Tuttle  

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

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' lesso

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

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 breat

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

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

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 Be

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 yo

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 di

Grab your guitar and add some "Big Bill-isms" into your life! It's time to infuse the Chicago acoustic blues legend Big Bill Broonzy into your life.  Before I go any further I want to acknowledge Chris Walz from Old Town School of Folk Music and Tom Feldman from Play Country Blues. Many of the lessons I teach today come from these two. I'm grateful for their instruction and be sure to check out their channel's below. Now, back to Big Bill Broonzy. There are so many elements that make up his signature sound. He's got a big, full, sound. But he also nimbly executes rolls for a melodic flare.  I spend a few of the lessons focusing on thumb technique. That's because Big Bill Broonzy drove so many of his songs with the bass line on his thumb. You can't not hear it. Be sure to pay attention, but don't be afraid to modify or play things in your own style! Submit your guitarsenal at the link below! https://airtable.com/shrpAVAi9HUGVUW8b  Featured in this episode... - Old Town School   - Play Country Blues   - Buffalo

In true countdown fashion, I'll be ranking 11 of my favorite Martin Guitars. There are hundreds of guitars, lines, and years to choose from. Which one will take my number one spot? Martin Guitar has been in the business longer than most American companies. With immigrant roots, Martin Guitars revolutionized the guitar multiple times in the 1900s. From dreadnought builds to X bracing, they've made some incredible strides. Today, they're one of the most recognizable acoustic guitar brands. They're prized for their value, playability, and collectability. So, given all this, how could I possibly pick my favorite martin — let alone, narrow it down to just 11? Obvious price is a huge concern. I could sit here and pick out museum quality, six-figure guitars. But I won't. Instead, I'm picking guitars that might be attainable for you. That's right. We're not just daydreaming here. This could be how you find your favorite Martin! Overall, I wanted these 11 guitars to represent the wealth of offerings that Mart

You already know listening to music makes you a better musician. But what happens when you listen to some of the most revolutionary, insane, and technically dazzling acoustic guitar music? This episode is dedicated to some of the best acoustic guitar instrumental albums. I'll go through 12 different albums that any acoustic guitar player needs to know. I know I've done episodes like this before. All I'll say is that this is filled with deep cuts that you probably haven't heard before. Why? Because these beautiful records are honest, stunning expressions of what the acoustic guitar can do. Many of the albums are filled with originals. Some songs are solo acoustic guitar. Some have a jazz foundation. But all of them will blow your mind as a guitar geek. From Ariel Posen to Bill Frisell, I want this list to inspire you. I want you running to the record store and hunting one of these albums down — if not more! Whether you're lost or looking to expand your creative potential, you're bound to find something

Why do you sound so good in the shower? Can you replicate that sound on your acoustic guitar? What's stopping you from getting that cathedral sound? It all comes down to reverb pedals. On this episode, we'll talk about using reverb pedals on acoustic guitar. Using pedals on guitar feels like mixing oil and water, but it's easy and intuitive once you understand how to do it. Reverb can feel like a particularly tricky effect on the acoustic guitar, but I promise it's worth adding. I'll start by giving a quick rundown of how reverb works. From there, you'll hear when to use reverb. Finally, you'll get the top five reverb pedals I recommend to students and friends. Whether you want something simple or a complete mind-bending reverb pedal, I have a recommendation for you.  Reverb on acoustic guitar shouldn't be an afterthought in you rig. Even if you're new to guitar, it's worth springing the funds for. Here's why: if it helps you pick up the guitar, play, and find joy in your guitar playing, then just do it.  You