The Acoustic Asylum

Ep101 – The Rules of the Asylum: Rule #16 – Find Your Treasure

In today’s episode, I want to talk about a new rule of the Asylum. It’s called Find Your Treasure. There are going to be certain things that are like gold to you, things that you love to play, little riffs or styles that you enjoy. It’s key to find these early on in your playing.
 
In the podcast, I’ll show you some examples of things you might enjoy, things that could become your treasure, and I offer some advice on how to find your treasure. When you find your treasure, this will make your guitar journey more enjoyable. These are the small things you can have fun with and that you’ll want to play forever. Enjoy the episode!
 
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!

Ep100 – The Hundredth Episode

Today we’re celebrating a really big milestone of the Acoustic Asylum podcast – Episode 100! I started this podcast two years ago on a bit of a whim. In these one hundred episodes, I’ve covered some really cool topics. I’d like to thank everyone for listening and coming along on this journey!
 
I want to give you something to celebrate – I’m giving away a physical copy of my book 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum. In the episode, I look back at my own journey with teaching and playing guitar, and things that we all share in common when it comes to struggles and overcoming challenges. Take a listen, and learn how you can win a copy of my book!
 
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!
 

Ep99 – A Love Letter to Dyads

Today’s podcast is all about dyads. In case you aren’t familiar with them, dyads are just two-string chords. In the episode, I discuss a number of ways you can use dyads, such as bass & treble string dyads, and in particular, I’ll talk about twisted dyads.
 
Playing dyads is a fantastic way of unlocking the fretboard. Dyads free you up to play mini chords up and down the fretboard. In the episode, I also play some examples to show you how you can add more drama and interest to your playing. Take a listen and have a go at playing dyads!
 
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!

Ep98 – The Rules of the Asylum: Rule #15 – Stop Driving With the Brake On!

In today’s episode, I talk about a new rule of the asylum that can help guitarists let go of the brake they’re holding on their playing. One common issue is that players let themselves get frustrated. In the episode, I offer some advice on how to overcome frustration.
 
A lot of guitarists make life harder for themselves by comparing themselves to others. So in today’s podcast, I offer some advice on how to avoid this and some good reminders that can help you on the journey so you don’t hold yourself back.
 
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!

Ep97 – The Guitar Struggles Shared By the Stars

In today’s episode, I talk about a legendary musician who once struggled on the guitar. Even brilliant guitarists experience challenges. They make it look easy, but when you get to the root of it, they all struggle. I offer some perspective and advice on the shared challenges faced by every guitarist.
 
Most guitarists struggle in the early years. One great piece of advice is to not worry about what happened in the past, and focus on improving the key elements in your playing now. It can also be useful to remember the human side of stars who have struggled. I make some suggestions on how to find out more about legendary musicians’ experiences learning guitar.
 
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!
 

Ep96 – The Rules of the Asylum: Rule #14 - Embrace the Magic Number 7

Today’s episode is about a powerful little thing that will help you learn faster and enjoy your playing more. The magic number 7 is very simple, it’s about memory. A lot of people struggle to learn seven things at once and remember them. To beat the barrier of this magic no. 7, you want to break things up.
 
When it comes to guitar playing, people often just try to learn a song and remember it in one go. If they then try to play it again later, they’ll struggle to remember anything. If you’re learning a big piece of music, break it up. In the episode, I go into detail on how and why you should do this, and how this can help you to improve your playing overall.
 
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!
 

Ep95 – Why Learning Guitar As an Adult Can Be Harder

In today’s episode, I want to share some things I’ve noticed over the years about the difference between adults and kids learning to play the guitar and why sometimes it is harder learning the guitar as an adult. A big thing I’ve noticed is that kids are often more patient than adults. They don’t mind playing the same piece again and again, whereas as adults, we often rush into wanting to learn as many songs as possible.
 
Another thing I’ve noticed is kids don’t beat themselves for making mistakes. Whereas as adults, we sometimes focus on perfection. It’s a useful mindset to have – embarassing mistakes, and not being too negative about it. I share some more details on why learning guitar as an adult might be harder, and what you can do to make it easier for yourself.
 
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!

Ep94 – The Rules of the Asylum: Rule #13 – Grow Your Guitar Playing Like Bamboo

In today’s episode, I share another rule of the Acoustic Asylum. The rule is all about growing the bamboo. Bamboo is a plant that takes a long time to grow underground before you can see it flourishing above ground, and guitar playing is very similar to this. A lot of the time in the early days, it is about getting the solid foundations of guitar playing, so you can reap the benefits later on.
 
I discuss the importance of “Core Fundamental Technique” and how laying these good foundations of technique can help you in the future. One of the examples I go into is chord changes. Learning basic chord changes and perfecting them allows you to experience exponential growth in the number of songs you can play. Finally, I discuss the natural ebb and flow of playing guitar and the importance of holding onto your belief in the journey.
 
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!

Ep93 – Making 2025 the Best for Your Guitar Playing

Happy New Year! Today’s episode is all about how to get the most out of your guitar playing in 2025. I offer some advice on how you can improve your guitar playing by being consistent. It’s about staying persistent and seeing incremental improvements.
 
It can be tough to stick with it and do the hard work. You might ask yourself, is it worth it? Of course it’s worth it, being able to play an instrument is up there with the best achievements people have. So, it’s important to remember the 1% rule of making things even a little bit better. If you do that, you will succeed!
 
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!

Ep92 – Christmas Joy and Motivation

Today’s episode is all about the joy of Christmas and that warm and fuzzy feeling of the holidays. In the episode, I talk about guitar Christmas gifts, motivation for 2025, and the struggle we all might face in finding motivation to practise.
 
If you struggle, it’s important to remember that it’s temporary. It’s important to think of it as a test that you can overcome. I talk about the Krampus and the Gatekeeper’s attempts to hold you back. It’s important to just enjoy and embrace the good feelings of the holidays that can help you stay motivated.
 
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!