The Acoustic Asylum

Ep136 – The Joy of Getting Lost on the Guitar (The Right Way)

In today’s episode, I talk about the good side of getting lost in my garage. I often talk about avoiding YouTube rabbit holes, but the difference is getting lost in content that is contained, like books and magazines. The point with the guitar is to be selective, but also to have fun.
 
So if you have a bunch of courses or books on guitar playing, great! Turn off the internet and use them. Once a month,
 have a dabbling day and go through your materials in a no-pressure way. You might discover some new things or rediscover some things you’ve forgotten. Make sure though not to let yourself feel overwhelmed.
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, you can get my free “guitar secrets” video course, which will help all beginners or those who are “stuck”. Get the course for free, exclusively at - https://fingerstyle101.com/secrets/
 
Like this episode? Your reviews for this podcast mean the world to me, so please let us know what you thought about the Acoustic Asylum!

Ep135 – The Rules of the Asylum: Rule #26 – Stop Going Through the Motions

In today’s podcast episode, we have a quick rule of the Asylum: do not just go through the motions. You should make the effort to make sure every single note shines. I’ll show you some examples of how to liven up your strumming and playing.
 
I talk about some easy ways you can experiment and practise to bring your music to life. It’s all about enjoying your playing, but also finding a way to add that wow factor. Give it a listen and discover how you can make your playing sound better!
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, you can get my free “guitar secrets” video course, which will help all beginners or those who are “stuck”. Get the course for free, exclusively at - https://fingerstyle101.com/secrets/
 
Like this episode? Your reviews for this podcast mean the world to me, so please let us know what you thought about the Acoustic Asylum!

Ep134 – The Insanely Cool Power of Bass Runs

Today, we’re talking about a cool, fun technique you can do on the guitar: bass runs. Bass runs are a great way of linking chords together and making them sound much more melodic and interesting.
 
In the episode, I show you some simple examples of how to try this out. I use two chords to show you how to easily link them, and talk you through how to play this at home. Take a listen and give it a go!
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, you can get my free “guitar secrets” video course, which will help all beginners or those who are “stuck”. Get the course for free, exclusively at - https://fingerstyle101.com/secrets/
 
Like this episode? Your reviews for this podcast mean the world to me, so please let us know what you thought about the Acoustic Asylum!

Ep133 – Start 2026 With a Bang (The Tip Nobody Talks About)

In today’s episode, I’ll talk about making 2026 the best year for you on the guitar. It’s great to have a plan for the coming year, however, I want to talk about what you’ve achieved in the past year and how you’ve progressed.
 
Chances are, in 2025, you practised a hundred hours, and you’ve got to take some time to take stock. Did you master a chord change? Did you learn a barre chord? Did you learn a song? All of these are worth celebrating. Take a listen to hear how to take stock of your past year and how to carry on into the new year!
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, you can get my free “guitar secrets” video course, which will help all beginners or those who are “stuck”. Get the course for free, exclusively at - https://fingerstyle101.com/secrets/
 
Like this episode? Your reviews for this podcast mean the world to me, so please let us know what you thought about the Acoustic Asylum!

Ep132 – Avoid the Mishaps of Santa’s Workshop: How to Pick a Good Guitar

With the arrival of Christmas, Santa’s elves are getting busy. While they are skilled at all kinds of fun toys, they are not the best luthiers, i.e., they’re not the most skilled guitar builders.
 
So to avoid getting a patchy guitar from Santa’s workshop, I’m offering some advice on how to pick a proper guitar. Take a listen and hear all about my experiences with Santa’s elves.
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, you can get my free “guitar secrets” video course, which will help all beginners or those who are “stuck”. Get the course for free, exclusively at - https://fingerstyle101.com/secrets/
 
Like this episode? Your reviews for this podcast mean the world to me, so please let us know what you thought about the Acoustic Asylum!
 

Ep131 – How to Unlock Your Secret Guitar Superpower

I’ve spoken before about the Gatekeeper of the Acoustic Asylum. The Gatekeeper represents a lot of what’s out there in the guitar world. So today’s episode is all about beating the Gatekeeper as he tries to take your dreams and crush them.
 
The best way to defeat the Gatekeeper is to become the best guitarist you can be. One way you can do this is by working out melodies as a way of honing your skills. In the episode, I offer you some tips and tricks on working out melodies and honing your skills to develop your guitar superpowers. Take a listen and unlock your superpower!
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, you can get my free “guitar secrets” video course, which will help all beginners or those who are “stuck”. Get the course for free, exclusively at - https://fingerstyle101.com/secrets/
 
Like this episode? Your reviews for this podcast mean the world to me, so please let us know what you thought about the Acoustic Asylum!
 

Ep130 – Time Management Secrets to Get the Most Out of Your Playing

If you’ve followed my lessons and podcast for a while, you’ll know about my T.E.S.T. method. Today we’re going to talk about one of the key elements of the method – Time Management. So many people struggle with it, often they don’t have a practice routine.
 
In the episode, I give you some advice on how to tackle this common issue. You can create a “to-do” list, which will really help you organise what you need to focus on. This will help your practice be more structured and productive. Take a listen for detailed advice!
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, you can get my free “guitar secrets” video course, which will help all beginners or those who are “stuck”. Get the course for free, exclusively at - https://fingerstyle101.com/secrets/
 
Like this episode? Your reviews for this podcast mean the world to me, so please let us know what you thought about the Acoustic Asylum!

Ep129 – An Interview on Flamenco, Lifelong Learning, and New Goals with Tomas Michaud

Today, I'm bringing you a fantastic interview with Tomas Michaud. Tomas is a flamenco guitarist who has some great advice to offer on all things guitar. In the episode, we talk about Tomas’ continued journey of learning as an established and incredible tutor and guitarist.
Tomas offers some excellent tips on how to avoid getting too fixated, but still stay motivated. We also chat about fun topics such as the reality of touring, the beginning of the guitar journey, going off on tangents, favourite chords, and more! Take a listen and enjoy!
If you enjoyed this podcast, you can get my free “guitar secrets” video course, which will help all beginners or those who are “stuck”. Get the course for free, exclusively at - https://fingerstyle101.com/secrets/
Like this episode? Your reviews for this podcast mean the world to me, so please let us know what you thought about the Acoustic Asylum!

Ep128 – The Rules of the Asylum: Rule #25 – The Magnifying Glass

In today’s episode, we’re talking about a rule of the asylum, which is using the magnifying glass. A lot of people learn songs by practising the whole song. However, if you’re struggling with a song, it’s a really good idea to break it down.
I talk about how to break down a song, giving you several examples of how to simplify learning a song. It’s all about working on the individual parts that make up the whole of the piece. This will highlight any underlying issues, so you can fix them. Take a listen and enjoy!
If you enjoyed this podcast, you can get my free “guitar secrets” video course, which will help all beginners or those who are “stuck”. Get the course for free, exclusively at - https://fingerstyle101.com/secrets/
Like this episode? Your reviews for this podcast mean the world to me, so please let us know what you thought about the Acoustic Asylum!

Ep127 – When Words Fail, the Guitar Speaks (How to Play Expressively)

In today’s episode, I’m going to talk about David Gilmour and a very interesting quote of his. A lot of people think they might have anything in common with David Gilmour, but there's a reason it's worth learning about your guitar heroes. 
 
You don't need to be as famous as David Gilmour to express yourself on the guitar. There's so much you can do! I'll show you a couple of examples of what you can jam. It's a great way to have fun and express yourself. Take a listen and enjoy!
 
If you enjoyed this podcast, you can get my free “guitar secrets” video course, which will help all beginners or those who are “stuck”. Get the course for free, exclusively at - https://fingerstyle101.com/secrets/
 
Like this episode? Your reviews for this podcast mean the world to me, so please let us know what you thought about the Acoustic Asylum!