Acoustic Tuesday Show With Tony Polecastro

It's the king of the flattops, but could the Gibson J200 also be the king of the (guitar) world? Find out by tuning into this episode dedicated to the Gibson J200! The J200 has been used by incredible musicians throughout the decades. It's got a massive, iconic tone that has carved out its place in the guitar world and pop culture. It's an incredible guitar, which is why I decided to dedicate this episode to it! From the mysterious history of the Gibson J200 to the way it melded into pop culture around the world, I really cannot stress how much of an impact this guitar had. It's beautiful, stylish, and able to produce a monster tone for an acoustic guitar. One of biggest reason I love the Gibson J200 is that it's a blank slate. There are so many customizations for the guitar that it can truly be anything you want it to be. Subtle but stylish? Check. Dressed to the nines and flashy? Can do. In addition to talking about the Gibson J200, you'll have the chance to learn a new lick and get a roun

Drone strings aren't used by many guitar players, but it is a crucial tool for helping you practice and even perform! This video will cover all the basics of using drone strings, when to use them, and how to use this technique to the greatest effect. I love drone strings because they add so much body to your playing. Depending on what key you're playing in, drone strings can make a huge difference. They can fill out your sound, give you a nice bass-y foundation, and make your playing much more musical. One of the easiest ways to start experimenting with drone string playing is tune your low E string to a low D. Then, you can play an D minor scale on the middle D string. This can give you a load of melodic phrases. You can apply this technique to any of your open strings. But there's one important thing to remember: drone strings don't have to be lower than the string your playing melody on. You can use an open G string and play the G minor or major scale on the A string. My hope is that you

No, we're not covering Bob Dylan or Simon & Garfunkel. We're going deeper in the vault. So, are you ready to experience the 10 best, rare acoustic albums from the 1960s? The '60s were an incredible decade for music. There was so much change, so much turbulence that fueled creative expression and artistic freedom. While titans like The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan typically dominate the music conversations of the decade, I want to try something different this episode. Instead of rehashing the genius of those artists, I want to take a closer look at some lesser known albums. From Son House to John Fahey, the artists featured in this episode eschewed mainstream success. However, their impact on the genre of acoustic music is huge.  Some of these artists and albums you may have heard of. Some of them may be completely new to you. And that's okay! Part of my mission is to inspire and help you live your best acoustic life. And one way to live your best acoustic life is to expand your music horizons

Hybrid picking, also known as Chicken picking, is a tricky picking technique. But it doesn't have to be. This episode will break down this complex technique into 4 simple steps so you can add this technique to your acoustic guitar repertoire! The basic premise of hybrid picking is to use both your flatpick and your fingers to play a picking pattern. The result is a super-fast, textured, and pronounced sound that is different from both fingerstyle and flatpicking. It's extremely fun once you get it under your belt, and it's sure to turn some heads when you bust it out. Hybrid picking is difficult because it requires you to maintain control over your flatpick strokes while still executing a fingerpicking pattern. However, when done properly, you'll be able to play some great riffs. For example, this week's TAC Guitar Lick Challenge uses hybrid picking! By the end of this episode, you'll have four actionable steps to work towards to help you hybrid pick. So, whether you're just looking to add a new

Larrivee Guitars makes incredible guitars that fly under the radar way too often. In this episode, you'll see 5 Larrivee guitars that you must hear. From the classic Larrivee 000-50 Traditional to the robust SD-40, you're going to fall in love with at least one of these guitars!  @LarriveeMedia  has been making high-quality guitars for decades. Hailing from Canada, Larrivee was founded by master luthier Jean Larrivee in 1967. The level of craftsmanship and quality is absolutely superb.  Each of the Larrivee guitars on this list offers a different price point and different style. I'm hoping you'll find something that works for your playing needs. Additionally, none of the guitars on this list are subpar — really, truly!  I especially recommend watching to the end of the Larrivee segment so that you can hear about the first solid-wood guitar I bought. That guitar, which I wish I had never sold, was a true swiss army knife  of a guitar. Balanced, clear, and able to handle a variety of styles, that Larrivee wa

Doc Watson is perhaps one of the most versatile guitarists to grace the music world. In this video, I'm going to extract 9 huge takeaways from Doc Watson's extensive career. You'll learn how to apply these lessons to your guitar journey to help you find more fun, focus, and progress every day. I chose Doc Watson because he had such a vast career. Whether he was playing banjo, guitar, country music, blues, or somewhere in between, Doc was a legendary musician. The techniques he used changed many genres and inspired generations of guitarists — myself included! Doc Watson also had some unique approaches to music. I love the way he weaves jokes into he sets, never afraid to use humor. Doc wasn't afraid to tell authentic stories. And, it just so happened that his stories were often humorous, contributing to his incredible stage presence. While Doc Watson passed away almost a decade ago, guitarists worldwide are still inspired every day by the way he played and the way he lived. I hope you learned some invaluabl

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 shar

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

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 gran

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

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 su

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 g

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