Play Guitar Podcast

Latest Episodes:

3 Overlapping Exercises That UNLOCK the Fretboard - 484 Sep 23, 2026

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The same note can be played on different guitar strings, but each location gives you a different sound and a new way to move around the fretboard. In this episode, we'll explore how the strings overlap and use three exercises to find shared notes, connect scale patterns, and play the same melody in different locations.

▶▶ Last call for one-on-one Play Guitar Coaching! Get in before I switch to group coaching: https://www.playguitaracademy.com/play-guitar-coaching

LEARN guitar notes on the fretboard: https://www.playguitaracademy.com/blog/how-do-i-learn-guitar-notes-on-the-fretboard

SHOW NOTES FOR THIS EPISODE- https://www.playguitaracademy.com/blog/3-overlapping-exercises-that-unlock-the-fretboard-484

PLAY GUITAR ACADEMY - Instant access to the tabs, backing tracks, and guitar pro files from all my lick videos, Monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q&A. https://www.playguitaracademy.com

1-on-1 Guitar Lessons - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/play-guitar-coaching

PLAY GUITAR PODCAST - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-guitar-podcast/id1341900209

https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxjU2Y0L8PoYiTKmCtvpt

YOUTUBE (SUBSCRIBE)- https://www.youtube.com/@playguitaracademy

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/PlayGuitarAcademy/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/playguitargroup/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/playguitaracademy

The MOST Overlooked Fretboard Trick - 483 Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

Most guitar players know the notes repeat after the 12th fret, but knowing it and actually using it are two different things. In this lesson, you'll use this overlooked fretboard trick with technique, scales, and arpeggios to make playing above the 12th fret easier.

▶▶ Want to get more comfortable with the scale patterns across the fretboard? Grab my free Big Four Scale Pattern Worksheet https://www.playguitaracademy.com/big_four_scale_worksheet How do I learn guitar notes on the fretboard: https://www.playguitaracademy.com/blog/how-do-i-learn-guitar-notes-on-the-fretboard

PLAY GUITAR ACADEMY - Instant access to the tabs, backing tracks, and guitar pro files from all my lick videos, Monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q&A. https://www.playguitaracademy.com

1-on-1 Guitar Lessons - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/play-guitar-coaching

PLAY GUITAR PODCAST - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-guitar-podcast/id1341900209

https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxjU2Y0L8PoYiTKmCtvpt

YOUTUBE (SUBSCRIBE)- https://www.youtube.com/@playguitaracademy

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/PlayGuitarAcademy/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/playguitargroup/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/playguitaracademy

SHOW NOTES - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/blog/the-most-overlooked-fretboard-trick-483

3 Easy Chromatic Fretboard Exercises (And Why They Open Up the Fretboard) - 482 Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

Learn three easy chromatic exercises that move across the guitar fretboard in completely different ways. Practice them slowly while saying the notes out loud to work on your technique, ear training, and fretboard mastery at the same time.

▶▶ Want a clear path forward with your guitar playing? Check out the Play Guitar Academy Toolkits: https://www.playguitaracademy.com

WANT TO GO DEEPER? - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/blog/how-do-i-learn-guitar-notes-on-the-fretboard

PLAY GUITAR ACADEMY - Guitar Toolkits, training, and resources to help you know what to practice and what to work on next. https://www.playguitaracademy.com

1-on-1 Guitar Lessons - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/play-guitar-coaching

PLAY GUITAR PODCAST - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-guitar-podcast/id1341900209

https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxjU2Y0L8PoYiTKmCtvpt

YOUTUBE (SUBSCRIBE) - https://www.youtube.com/@playguitaracademy

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/PlayGuitarAcademy/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/playguitargroup/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/playguitaracademy

How to Find the Notes on Your Guitar Fretboard - 481 Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

Finding the notes on your guitar fretboard doesn't have to mean memorizing every fret one at a time. In this lesson, I'll show you how to use the musical alphabet to find the natural notes on the fretboard, then use those notes to help you find the sharps and flats around them.

Want to go deeper? Read my complete guide to learning the notes on the guitar fretboard. https://www.playguitaracademy.com/blog/how-do-i-learn-guitar-notes-on-the-fretboard

PLAY GUITAR TOOLKITS - Stop wondering what to practice. Play Guitar Toolkits give you the lessons, exercises, practice routines, and resources you need to make progress in one organized system. https://www.playguitaracademy.com

BLUES ELEVATION TOOLKIT - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/blues-elevation-toolkit

CHORD ELEVATION TOOLKIT - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/chord-elevation-toolkit

PLAY GUITAR ACADEMY - Never wonder what to practice again. https://www.playguitaracademy.com

1-on-1 Guitar Lessons - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/play-guitar-coaching

PLAY GUITAR PODCAST - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-guitar-podcast/id1341900209

https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxjU2Y0L8PoYiTKmCtvpt

YOUTUBE (SUBSCRIBE) - https://www.youtube.com/@playguitaracademy

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/PlayGuitarAcademy/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/playguitargroup/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/playguitaracademy

LOVIN' My Pentatonic Scales! - 480 Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

Pentatonic scales may be simple, but those five notes can give you a lifetime of musical possibilities. In this episode, we'll explore how pentatonic patterns open up across the fretboard and become more useful as your playing grows.

▶▶ Ready to explore beyond one pentatonic pattern? Get my free Big Four Scale Pattern Worksheet and start connecting the pentatonic scale across the fretboard. https://www.playguitaracademy.com/big_four_scale_worksheet

SHOW NOTES FOR THIS EPISODE- Follow along with the complete Five Pattern Scale System guide: https://www.playguitaracademy.com/blog/guitar-scales-the-five-pattern-system

PLAY GUITAR ACADEMY - Instant access to the tabs, backing tracks, and guitar pro files from all my lick videos, Monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q&A. https://www.playguitaracademy.com

1-on-1 Guitar Lessons - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/play-guitar-coaching

PLAY GUITAR PODCAST - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-guitar-podcast/id1341900209

https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxjU2Y0L8PoYiTKmCtvpt

YOUTUBE (SUBSCRIBE)- https://www.youtube.com/@playguitaracademy

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/PlayGuitarAcademy/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/playguitargroup/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/playguitaracademy

You're Closer to Understanding Guitar Scales Than You Think - 479 Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Guitar scales can look like an endless collection of patterns, keys, and sounds to learn. In this episode, you'll discover how much of that knowledge is connected—and why the scale work you're doing now can take you much farther than you think.

▶▶ See how much of the work is already connected. Get my free Big Four Scale Pattern Worksheet and compare the five patterns for Major, Natural Minor, Major Pentatonic, and Minor Pentatonic. https://www.playguitaracademy.com/big_four_scale_worksheet

SHOW NOTES FOR THIS EPISODE- Follow along with the complete Five Pattern Scale System guide: https://www.playguitaracademy.com/blog/guitar-scales-the-five-pattern-system

PLAY GUITAR ACADEMY - Instant access to the tabs, backing tracks, and guitar pro files from all my lick videos, Monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q&A. https://www.playguitaracademy.com

1-on-1 Guitar Lessons - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/play-guitar-coaching

PLAY GUITAR PODCAST - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-guitar-podcast/id1341900209

https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxjU2Y0L8PoYiTKmCtvpt

YOUTUBE (SUBSCRIBE)- https://www.youtube.com/@playguitaracademy

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/PlayGuitarAcademy/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/playguitargroup/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/playguitaracademy

When the Guitar Fretboard Finally Starts to Make Sense - 478 Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

The guitar fretboard gets much easier to understand when the things you've learned start connecting. In this episode, I'll show you how patterns, landmarks, and relationships can turn a confusing collection of frets into one connected map.

▶▶ Ready to start building your own fretboard map? Get my free Big Four Scale Pattern Worksheet with all five patterns for Major, Natural Minor, Major Pentatonic, and Minor Pentatonic. https://www.playguitaracademy.com/big_four_scale_worksheet

SHOW NOTES FOR THIS EPISODE- Follow along with the complete Five Pattern Scale System guide: https://www.playguitaracademy.com/blog/guitar-scales-the-five-pattern-system

PLAY GUITAR ACADEMY - Instant access to the tabs, backing tracks, and guitar pro files from all my lick videos, Monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q&A. https://www.playguitaracademy.com

1-on-1 Guitar Lessons - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/play-guitar-coaching

PLAY GUITAR PODCAST - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-guitar-podcast/id1341900209

https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxjU2Y0L8PoYiTKmCtvpt

YOUTUBE (SUBSCRIBE)- https://www.youtube.com/@playguitaracademy

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/PlayGuitarAcademy/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/playguitargroup/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/playguitaracademy

Why I Recommend Learning the Five Pattern Scale System - 477 Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

The Five Pattern Scale System helps you stop seeing isolated scale shapes and start seeing one connected fretboard. In this episode, I'll explain why I recommend learning all five patterns and how they create the foundation for improvisation, intervals, arpeggios, CAGED, and so much more.

Ready to connect the entire fretboard? Check out the Blues Elevation Toolkit, where I'll guide you step by step through the complete Five Pattern Scale System and show you exactly what to practice next. https://www.playguitaracademy.com/blues-elevation-toolkit

FIVE PATTERN SYSTEM POST - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/blog/guitar-scales-the-five-pattern-system

PLAY GUITAR ACADEMY - Instant access to the tabs, backing tracks, and guitar pro files from all my lick videos, Monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q&A. https://www.playguitaracademy.com

1-on-1 Guitar Lessons - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/play-guitar-coaching

PLAY GUITAR PODCAST - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-guitar-podcast/id1341900209

https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxjU2Y0L8PoYiTKmCtvpt

YOUTUBE (SUBSCRIBE) - https://www.youtube.com/@playguitaracademy

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/PlayGuitarAcademy/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/playguitargroup/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/playguitaracademy

The Future of Guitar Learning (And Why Everything Is Changing) - 476 Jul 30, 2026

Show notes

For over 35 years I've watched guitar education evolve through private lessons, books, VHS tapes, DVDs, websites, YouTube, memberships, apps, and now AI.

Information has never been easier to access.

So why are so many guitar players still asking the same question...

"What should I practice today?"

In this episode I share why I believe guitar learning is entering a new era, why information alone isn't enough anymore, and why I completely rebuilt Play Guitar Academy around training instead of simply delivering more lessons.

If this conversation resonates with you, I'd love to invite you to learn more about the Academy Training Dojo.

🎸 Learn more here: https://www.playguitaracademy.com/academy-training-dojo

Why The Best Solos Don't Start With Scales - 475 Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

Many guitarists believe better solos come from learning more scales, but great improvisation often starts somewhere else entirely. In this episode, we'll explore why the melody may be the most overlooked tool for creating solos that sound musical, memorable, and connected to the song.

Discover how to use melody to create expressive blues solos with Blues Solo Breakthrough: https://www.playguitaracademy.com/bluessolobreakthrough

SHOWNOTES: https://www.playguitaracademy.com/blog/5-things-to-practice-every-single-day-save-decades-of-frustration

PLAY GUITAR ACADEMY - Instant access to the tabs, backing tracks, and guitar pro files from all my lick videos, Monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q&A. https://www.playguitaracademy.com

1-on-1 Guitar Lessons - https://www.playguitaracademy.com/play-guitar-coaching

PLAY GUITAR PODCAST - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/play-guitar-podcast/id1341900209

https://open.spotify.com/show/0MxjU2Y0L8PoYiTKmCtvpt

YOUTUBE (SUBSCRIBE) - https://www.youtube.com/@playguitaracademy

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/PlayGuitarAcademy/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/playguitargroup/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/playguitaracademy