The Acoustic Asylum

Distractions are everywhere – especially in the guitar world! Today’s episode is dedicated to avoiding all these crazy distractions when improving our guitar playing! There’s one really big tip I want to share today. …And it’s been working like a charm for my students – especially for Ryan, who is a super busy father, coach of the kids’ soccer team, and is very busy with his career. Listen to Ryan’s experience and how he is now on the path to achieving his guitar goals simply because we have been doing one simple and specific thing each week. Use the simple tips in the podcast and you too will get some clarity in your playing!   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

Let’s talk about chord progressions.   …And specifically, two super popular chord progressions that I love and that get used in a tonne of songs!   When I started off learning guitar, I never used to think about chord progressions. That was a huge mistake because learning just a few chord progressions could have saved me a tonne of time… It would have given me a better understanding of how music works, improved my aural skills, and given me more confidence.   Listen today and discover how to put this simple knowledge into practice and have lots of fun with these two chord progressions!   The funny thing is both of these chord progressions use the exact same four chords… yet when you change up the order of the chords, the whole tone of the song changes. It’s simple, but it’s powerful stuff!   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

Today, I want to talk a little bit about connecting the dots in music.   One of the key things about music and being a musician is being able to know where the notes are that you hear in your head. This ability is what separates a beginner guitarist from an intermediate guitarist.   In today’s episode, I give you a little way of testing your aural skills. I play a little riff and set you the challenge of trying to work it out by ear. It’s as simple as starting out by finding the first note. I’ll also give you some advice on how to work stuff out without just randomly trying to guess the notes.   This episode will help you learn how to work stuff out by ear and improve your aural skills, which will help you enjoy your playing more!   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

Have you ever learnt something on the guitar, enjoyed it, but then later on… forgotten all about it?   …You’ve spent all that time learning it, only to not play it again, and then, of course, you have to spend time re-learning it. That’s the sort of madness that would make the malevolent Gatekeeper of the Acoustic Asylum proud.   Well, today I want to show you a simple plan to help you so you never forget to practise the things you love. As well as that, I’m sharing a story about Led Zeppelin getting lost in Iceland, why some folk should not try to be too organised, and how I started learning guitar with a dusty old book in pre-internet times (and how that was a good thing in some ways).   It’s a fun episode with my tips as well as me talking about various guitar styles such as acoustic, blues, rock, classical, Travis picking, fingerpicking, and even flamenco guitar!   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about a guitar hero of mine, Kurt Cobain, who passed away thirty years ago, on April 5th.   I have many guitar heroes, people like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Chet Atkins, and so many more, but Kurt Cobain was one of my favourites. He was in the band Nirvana and he was only 27 years old when he died. In this episode, I talk about my own discovery of Nirvana and Kurt Cobain, and I also talk about the album Nevermind. Nirvana did some really cool stuff, including some amazing covers, and you could see the direction they were heading in before Kurt died.   Kurt Cobain was a really underrated guitar player. A lot of people have tried to teach or recreate his solos, but unsuccessfully. He was a student of classic music, which showed in his playing. Whether or not you’re a Nirvana fan, I think there is a lot to appreciate listening to Kurt’s music. Sometimes it’s good to look back at your early guitar heroes who made you passionate about music.   This episode is all about guitar heroes and the journey of discovering music.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

Let’s talk fingerstyle arrangements.   There’s a secret to playing fingerstyle arrangements… Especially ones that sound great, but aren’t painstaking to learn. In this episode, I’m sharing with you these secrets all broken down into three simple steps.   You’ll discover some key advice the great guitarist, George Benson, once shared on a TV show called Guitar Star. Plus, I talk about what you can do today to start making more progress on the guitar, why listening to very experienced guitarists may not be such a good thing… …And you’ll get to hear my brand new and exciting Travis picking arrangement of “You’ve Got to Walk That Lonesome Valley”, which I hope will bring a smile to your face today.   This episode will help you learn how to play fingerstyle arrangements and have more fun on the guitar.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful free eBook called 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/ 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!

Today, I want to talk about licks and the importance of having just ONE powerful lick in your tool belt.   So many people want to teach you dozens of licks, sometimes more... but the problem is, many licks don't work... at least not in a practical setting. That's why having one lick you can use, jam, and mould into different forms is super powerful. In this episode, I take one of my favourite simple licks and give you multiple examples of how to jam it.   Plus, I share with you a secret of why treating lead guitar like rhythm guitar is super important and some words of wisdom from the great Tommy Emmanuel… And stick around till the end where I tell you all about some tips from my brand new spiral-bound book, The Six String Lifer's Handbook.   This episode will help you learn how to have one lick you can jam with and develop.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about a little tone test I’m doing on three different acoustic guitars.   It’s really important to find a guitar that suits you and inspires you to pick up the guitar every day. One of the best ways to choose a guitar is to try out several guitars and do a little tone test on them. In today’s episode, I’m showing you how to do this by doing a little tone test of three of my acoustic guitars so that you can hear the difference.   We look at the importance of trying out different styles of playing on the guitar to get a feel for the tone and to be able to see how it fits your style of playing and what you are looking for. I do a quick bit of strumming and play some blues on each of the guitars, which highlights the differences in tone of the three acoustic guitars. I also give some tips and advice on what type of pieces and how many to play when trying out a guitar.   This episode will help you learn how to do a tone test when trying out different guitars.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about Rule #11 of the Asylum, which is all about the break / blast method.   When people practise, they tend to play everything too fast, causing everything to be full of buzzing notes. Today we are looking at how to avoid this when practising. Most of your practice should be slow and methodical. Practising slowly allows you to focus on all the details and consciously think about what you are doing.     However, we also look at how in your practice routine, every now and then, you should play fast. The reason why is that it feels different. When you just practise slowly, you can get into the bad habit of letting your fingers drift slowly, and then when you go to play at regular speed, your fingers aren’t ready. Playing fast will fire your fingers up, test your muscle memory, and it’s fun.   This episode will help you to learn how to use and apply the break / blast method to your practice routine.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about overcoming your biggest guitar-playing hurdles.   Last week, I sent out an email asking everybody what their biggest hurdle was in guitar playing. Loads of people replied, and I decided to pick out some of those and address them in today’s podcast episode. These include questions about how you can practise guitar without your guitar on hand, when you should start introducing fingerstyle to your playing, how to practise with a metronome, and more.   In the episode, I go over the questions and give you tips and advice on how to overcome the biggest guitar struggles. I discuss some tips from Jeff Beck, advice on how to play challenging chords, how to make switching between chords easier, and much more. Give it a listen and start solving some of your guitar-playing struggles.   This episode will help you to learn how to overcome some very common guitar-playing hurdles and enjoy your playing more.      You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about ear training, working out songs by ear, and a fun little challenge.   Today, we are looking at the importance of ear training, and how ear training can help you work out songs by ear. Working out songs by ear (without using TAB, without using videos) is a wonderful skill that everyone should develop. Even if you’re at the beginning of your guitar journey, it’s important to start working on this skill as it will bring you many hours of joy to be able to work out songs you love by ear.   In the episode, I go over tips that will help you work out a song by ear. It’s as simple as starting by trying to work out the first note or chord. I also give you a little challenge in the episode that you can work out by ear. I tell you what string the melody is being played on, and you simply need to try to find the patterns and work it out by ear. A really useful tip is to break it up into smaller chunks.   This episode will help you to learn all about ear training and how to start working songs out by ear.     You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about Rule #10 of the Acoustic Asylum. It’s based on a famous boxing quote that can be applied to guitar playing.   Today, we are looking at a famous old quote by Muhammad Ali, which is also rule #10 of the Acoustic Asylum. This is a very powerful rule and, in the episode, we go into depth looking at how you can apply it to your playing.   For most people, when they play guitar, their fingers are stiff and rigid, making playing painful. By remembering to let your fingers move around in a relaxed way, you can avoid all the tension. In the episode, I give you some tips on how to keep your fingers relaxed. We also look at how to keep your playing sounding powerful by using dynamics. Take a listen and learn these helpful tips!   This episode will help you to learn all about Rule #10 of the Asylum and how to apply it to your guitar playing.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about a movie-inspired tip that will help your guitar playing. It’s about working your way backwards to find the root cause of an issue and fix it.   Today, we are looking at a super useful tip inspired by the movie Memento. It’s all about going backwards to check more than just the surface issue. Taking a look at more than just “fixing” your fingers when you play will help you have a whole-body approach to playing.   We tend to just focus on one thing, but in this episode, I talk about the importance of looking at the whole process. Everything from your seating position to your posture can affect your playing and your tone. Take a listen to discover more about this super useful tip that can help improve your playing.     This episode will help you to start looking at the whole process when you are practising so you can have a whole-body approach to playing.     You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about the famous character Pennywise the Clown from the horror movie It and how he can inspire you to be a better guitarist.  Today, we are looking at how to make 2024 the best year possible for you when it comes to playing guitar.   It’s a new year and a new start. It’s “go-time”, which means it’s the best time to take action and start the year committing to your guitar playing. To help you with that, today I am delving into Stephen King’s character Pennywise the clown and how his story can help you improve your guitar playing.     One of the things we are talking about is the importance of resolution in playing music. Music is often about building tension and resolution. We also look at not giving up when learning, especially songs, and how choosing the right song is key. Finally, we look at facing your fears about guitar playing and overcoming them.   This episode will help you to understand the importance of tension and resolution in music, the importance of not giving up on what you’re learning, and facing your fears so you can enjoy practising and playing the guitar more.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

Merry Christmas! Today, let's dive into a celebration of festive joy. In this podcast I share some tips, advice, and the unveiling of the Nice and Naughty list of 2023. On the Nice list, we honour the great musicians we lost this year. These include a diverse range from Tony Bennett, Burt Bacharach, David Crosby, Gordon Lightfoot, and the legendary Jeff Beck. I recall the awe-inspiring performance by Jeff at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club which left a powerful mark on me when I first embarked on my guitar teaching journey. Also on the Nice list is the incredible Jamie Andreas, the dedicated guitar teachers around the globe, and, of course, you!  However, let's not overlook the Naughty list, where I candidly share a famous name who has earned a spot on my not-so-favourable roster. We'll also delve into the enchanting realm of guitar-playing gifts, exploring both the thoughtful presents and the quirky offerings that our families love to surprise us with. Beyond that, we'll take a glimpse into the future, discussing the exciting prospects awaiting us in 2024. I'll be sharing some cool stuff and insights, urging you to start contemplating and planning ahead for 2024 to ensure it becomes the absolute best year you can imagine! You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/ 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!

This week’s episode is all about nostalgia and some powerful tips. Today, we are looking at some of the main 10-second tips I’ve shared over the years that can quickly and easily help you improve your playing.   I had a little trip down memory lane today, which inspired me to take a look at some of the tips I have shared over the years. I’ve been sharing 10-second tips in my emails for a while now, and I thought I’d select some of the most powerful ones to go over with you. These include tips such as, “The Magic Number 7”, “The Snowball Effect”, “The Power of the Breath”, “Finishing on a High”, and more.   These tips cover topics about memorising what you’re learning, looking back and forth at your hands when playing, the cumulative effect of being consistent with your practice, how to use a metronome, how to improve your weak pinky, and many more tips for different areas of your playing. Take a listen and apply these to start improving your guitar playing today.   This episode will help you to understand and apply these quick and powerful tips to your playing to make sure you can enjoy your guitar playing to the fullest.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about not letting negative thoughts win. Today, we are looking at how to overcome defeatist thinking and not give up on your guitar-playing dreams.   I’ve spoken about the Gatekeeper before in these podcasts, and today we are looking at what to do when he is winning. Over the years, I’ve heard people say things like “I wasn’t meant to play the guitar.” I always say anyone can play the guitar as long as they are physically able to play and mentally able to process the information.   However, the randomness of everything available to learn guitar can make it challenging, and it can be difficult to stay positive on the journey. So, I talk about how to avoid getting lost in this process, I also talk about a funny story of me getting into trouble at school for printing off dozens of pages of TAB. The guitar should be a source of joy and fun, and in this episode, I give you some tips and ideas on how to make sure you’re enjoying the journey.   This episode will help you learn how to stay persistent with your guitar dream, how not to give up, and keep improving on your guitar-playing journey.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about warm-ups. Today, we are looking at tips that will help you warm up your hands before you play.   There’s nothing worse than trying to play with cold hands. This can be frustrating, painful, and can even lead to injuries. It’s especially challenging in wintertime when it’s freezing cold outside. It’s important to get your hands and fingers warmed up to a decent temperature. To help you do this, I give you some useful warm-up tips to get the blood flowing in your fingers.   In addition to preventing injury, warm-ups also help you to get the most out of your guitar practice. In today’s episode, I talk about the different issues that might come up when you dive straight into your practice without a warm-up. I talk about ways to avoid the “Death Grip”, strumming mistakes, and other bad habits taught by the “Gatekeeper” of the Acoustic Asylum.   This episode will help you start every practice session with a warm-up so that you can get the most out of your guitar playing and avoid injury and pain.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about gratitude and the power of gratitude. Today, we are looking at thankfulness as a guitarist, how gratitude can make people happier, and more.   Gratitude is a powerful thing. Being grateful can help you be happier, physically healthier, and feel more optimistic about the future. The guitar can be a frustrating instrument, but focusing on gratitude can help you improve your attitude toward your guitar playing. Every time you overcome a little hurdle, remember to celebrate it and be grateful, even if it’s something small, like being able to play a chord.   In today’s episode, I talk about how writing down what you’re grateful for can help you on your guitar journey, I talk about three things I’m grateful for, a trip I took that made me fall in love with music, and more.   This episode will help you realise the power of gratitude, the importance of celebrating when you overcome little hurdles, and how to look forward with positivity.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about the musical magic of the ‘No Chord Fingerstyle’ method and Christmas songs. Today, we are looking at the main reasons why you should learn a couple of Christmas songs and how you can do this.   Apart from the wonderful joy and cheer of being able to play a Christmas carol, it’s also a great way of measuring your progress each year when Christmas rolls around. It can be hard sometimes to see your progress day-to-day, but dusting off the old Christmas songs is a great way of seeing how far you’ve come.   In today’s episode, I talk about what Christmas songs to learn and how to learn them, the benefits of measuring your progress, where to start if you’re a beginner, and how to “embellish” your Christmas tunes if you can already play them. I also talk about the histories of some famous Christmas songs, the new course I’m releasing called Christmas Crackers, and I’ll play a little medley of the songs in the course for you. To round off the episode, I reveal “The Gatekeeper’s” favourite Christmas song, so take a listen to find out which one it is.   This episode will help you realise the benefits of tracking your progress, how Christmas carols can help you do this, and where to start if you want to learn some holiday tunes.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about the fretboard. Today, we are looking at learning the fretboard, which is the key to being a solid intermediate guitarist.   A lot of people struggle to learn the fretboard. In this episode, I talk about some of the mistakes people make, I give you some tips, and I talk about the massive benefits of mastering the fretboard to keep you motivated to learn the fretboard. Learning the fretboard will allow you to navigate it smoothly, it will make your playing more accurate, it will allow you to transpose your music, and so much more.   The key thing about mastering the fretboard is that it allows you to play with confidence, which will improve your tone and overall playing. Knowing the fretboard will also help you bring music to life and have fun while playing. In the episode, I also talk about some of the common mistakes guitarists make when learning the fretboard and some tips to avoid making them.   This episode will help you realise the importance of knowing the fretboard. It will allow you to apply your theory knowledge into practice, become a more confident guitarist, and enjoy playing more.     You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

Today is, of course, Halloween… It’s a time of year that I love. In honour of this night, here is something fun to help you improve your guitar playing on this fateful night…   Beware of these evil creatures lurking right now who are looking to ruin your guitar playing. These include the ‘Death Grip Demon’, ‘Ghostly Guitarists’, ‘The Devil on Your Shoulder’, ‘Hellhound Helpers’, the ‘Time Troll’, and more.   Don’t forget about the leader of this ghastly pack – the ‘Gatekeeper’ of the Acoustic Asylum. He has a sinister snarl as he’s prowling the streets tonight, looking for new inmates for the asylum.   Those who have tried and failed at learning to play guitar many times are at his mercy. Guitar playing can be challenging, but never entertain the idea of giving up…Because the ‘Gatekeeper’ and his friends are ready to strike and call time on your guitar playing.   Listen today for help with beating these demons once and for all.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about memories and music. Today, we are looking at how music is the soundtrack to our lives.   Music is incredibly important to so many of us, and having all those little songs that we associate with different events in our lives is very powerful. Being a guitarist, one of the best things is that you can play these songs on the guitar or start learning them. Playing the songs that you love, even if you can’t play them exactly as the original artists, is a great motivation.   Being a musician also allows you to analyse the songs that you love, so you are able to understand them. Listen to the music you love, it can help your playing both when your motivation is high and when you are struggling. In the episode, I also talk about the origin story of the “Gatekeeper”, who is a recurring character of the Acoustic Asylum podcast, as well as the importance of enjoying your playing.   This episode will help you realise all the ways in which listening to the music you love can help your guitar playing and help you enjoy every moment of playing the guitar.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about improving the fundamentals. Today, we are looking at 10 powerful tips that will help your playing every single day.   On the guitar, people often try to run before they can walk. However, making little improvements regularly will help you compound your skills over time. Today, we are looking at 10 tips that focus on improving the fundamentals of your playing.   These tips include playing with the least amount of pressure (which will help end the so-called “Death Grip”), a special tip inspired by the movie The Shining, a simple strumming tip, the importance of not looking back and forth between hands, and many other tips that focus on your picking tone, relaxation, learning a lick, and much more.   This episode will help you learn how to focus on the fundamentals on a daily basis so that the small improvements compound over time and your skills improve greatly.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about Rule #9 of the Acoustic Asylum. Today, we are looking at the importance of playing along with others.   Music is all about the social aspect and playing along with others is a great way of enjoying music and exercising your guitar skills. If you play along with others, you will improve your playing, pick up little tips, you’ll notice what you need to work on, and most importantly, you’ll have fun.   In today’s episode, I talk about how to transition from never having played along with anyone to playing with other people. One of the tips I share is about playing with recordings, which is a great first step towards playing with others.   I also share some little examples for you to play along with me and start your adventures of playing with others. We’re going to do a bit of blues, a bit of strumming, and a bit of fingerpicking. So, give it a listen and get ready to play along with me.   This episode will help you take that first step to start playing with others, gain greater confidence, and have fun while doing so.   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about the number 13. Today, we are looking at turning an unlucky number into a lucky one and how you can win a paperback copy of my latest book.   There are many negative associations with the number 13, but not everything about the number 13 is bad. The 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum book is a guide that is full of great tips, some of which I share in this episode. Listeners who leave the podcast a review on Apple Podcasts will also get a chance to win a paperback copy of the book. Simply leave the podcast a review on Apple Podcasts and let us know by emailing hq@acousticasylum.com or replying to any of our emails.   In this episode, I share some tips about playing and I give you a quick ear training test to check out your aural skills and have some fun. One of the tips I share is the main piece of advice I give all students to make sure they always enjoy practising and playing the guitar. I also share why you shouldn’t rely on your eyes when playing guitar and how closing them can help heighten your skills. Finally, I talk about the importance of slowing down.   This episode will test your ear training skills, it will help you discover simple tips that will improve your musicality and make daily practice more enjoyable.   Don’t forget, you can get the PDF copy for free (at https://acousticasylum.com/) and you can enter the draw to win a paperback copy of the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum, by leaving a review and letting us know by emailing us at hq@acousticasylum.com or replying to any of our emails. You can join the mailing list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about music theory. Today, we are looking at why music theory is important, why it is so useful, and why you should learn it.   There are plenty of benefits and practical advantages to learning some music theory. For example, it can save you tonnes of time and help you avoid certain mistakes. But perhaps most importantly, it offers a lot of clarity on the different elements that are so key to guitar playing. Some guitar pros might say they never studied theory, but in the episode, I talk about why they might not be fully explaining one key thing. We’ll take a look at how music theory isn’t just theory, it’s practical. I also share some snippets of music, including some cool chord progressions and some advice on how theory can help you avoid creating awful sounds on your guitar.   This episode will help you gain clarity on how best to learn theory, how it can help you on your guitar-playing journey, and how it will make seeing and achieving progress easier for you.   Don’t forget, you can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s episode is all about the “10x Method”. Today, we are looking at a framework that ties together all the different ideas I teach into one solid plan you can use.      Focused practice is key to improving your playing. The 10x Method is a structured, simple plan that summarises all the key elements that will help you improve on your guitar-playing journey. It will also help you solidify things you already know and remember more. If you are familiar with my teaching methods, you might recognise some of the elements that make up the 10x Method, such as the Five Times Rule, the importance of slowing down, etc.   In today’s podcast episode, I’m taking you through the 10x Method, looking at breaking things down into smaller chunks and learning a smaller part, the importance of visualisation, slowing down the tempo, checking your posture, and playing your small chunk 10 times in a row, without errors.   I’m sharing this method with you, along with some examples of how to apply it, so you can start applying it to your playing right away.   This episode will help you make your practice time much more effective. Using the 10x method will make your playing sound smoother. It will solidify the different parts of your practice into one, and you will see instant progress in your playing.   Don’t forget, you can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

This week’s podcast episode is all about Rule #8 of the Asylum. Today, I’m sharing some thoughts on how to develop good rhythm.   Often people feel they “lack rhythm” and get frustrated about this, especially since good rhythm skills are crucial for absolutely everything. The good news is, I truly believe no one is born with rhythm, rather good rhythm has to be developed.   This means you can start developing your rhythm today. So, I’ll show you a simple exercise to start improving your rhythm. I’ll talk about how to use a metronome so you can feel confident as you work on your rhythm skills.   I share a two-chord test you can apply regularly to see how your rhythm is improving. We’ll look at a fun rhythmic shift that can make your scales sound more interesting.   I’ll also tell you about The Gatekeeper’s backstory – why he has no rhythm and the evil dance he does when he locks someone up in the Acoustic Asylum. (Check out the earlier podcast episodes to discover more about The Gatekeeper!)   This episode is very practical and will be really useful for you if you want better rhythm skills. It’s a great opportunity to start improving your sense of rhythm, which will help improve your overall playing.   Don’t forget, you can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

Today’s episode is all about Rule #7 of the Asylum. In this podcast, I’m sharing a few examples of how failure isn’t permanent.   I sometimes see that people learning guitar are scarred by past experiences. If they failed with one of many elements of the guitar, it still haunts them. This nearly happened to me as well. After all, it took me three attempts to learn the guitar. Do not let yourself get bogged down by the past.   Sometimes a break can recharge your batteries. The important thing is to keep trying. Failing is okay, just remember to try again.   I also talk about a little demon I conquered in my own life over the weekend, one that has been nagging me for the past 7 years. It involved swimming in freezing cold water, and all kinds of other crazy stuff.   This episode will be helpful if you ever suffer from self-doubt or you feel your confidence is low. It will help you stay resilient and strong on your guitar-playing journey.   Don’t forget, you can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

Today’s episode is a very special one. In this podcast, I’m sharing my backstory of how I started teaching guitar full time and why we all need a moment of reflection when learning the guitar.   It’s a bit of a longer episode, but I’m not just waffling on for the sake of it. I’m sharing my story to hopefully inspire you. That’s because, even if you struggle on the guitar some days, you no doubt have come a long way since you began. These moments of reflection are super important to help drive you forward so you can be the best guitarist possible and learn guitar with more joy.   …Inside I talk about things such as the horrific job I left ten years ago to teach guitar full-time… I also talk about a student of mine called Graham whose wife was diagnosed with dementia so they changed their lives and lived it to the fullest… And I talk about one of my longest-term students, called Cos, who struggled to make progress at first but then rapidly improved due to one simple shift in thinking.   Plus, I reveal some of the new and exciting things coming up, such as my plans to work with a dementia charity, how I aim to revolutionise the guitar tuition world, and my new No Chord Fingerstyle course.   I hope this episode inspires you and I want to say a HUGE thank you for being part of the journey with me. I’m super excited for the next ten years and I hope they’ll be even more exciting and downright awesome for you and your guitar playing.   Don’t forget, you can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

I’m a huge fan of testing students on their knowledge of the guitar. Testing, quizzes, and ear training challenges are a powerful and proven way to improve your guitar playing and your musicality.   In today’s episode of the Acoustic Asylum podcast, we’re talking about testing. Not only am I talking about the power of the tests, but you’ll get a fun five-question guitar ear training game. Plus, I’m sharing my recent experience of trying out learning another language (which reminded me of the importance of testing).    In this episode, you’ll get ear training exercises to test you on major, minor, and dominant 7th chords, guitar riffs, a mini chord progression, and more…   If you want more ear training tests specifically made for guitarists, you can check out Episode #4 of this podcast, you can go to my Guitar Domination blog for more, or you can check out the Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy where there are lots of fun tests like this.   Take the test today and don’t forget, you can get more tips, advice, and a powerful free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

When it comes to learning how to play the guitar, lots of people have an opinion. Many of these folks have good intentions and will happily give you advice… but their advice can be dangerous.   In this episode, I explain why you should be wary of the advice of others. I’ve heard many people tell others, “You need to learn five scales,” or “You should learn modes”. Advice like that can be bad… especially if you can only just barely play a C Major chord!   Have a listen to hear some examples of students who were given advice which held them back, plus some useful tips on how to make progress with your playing no matter where you are right now. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer vast number of things to learn on the guitar, this episode is for you!   You can get more tips, advice, and a powerful new free eBook on the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum from me, Dan Thorpe, by joining the email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

Moveable guitar chords are incredibly fun. They will help you be more creative, give you ideas on how to make a song of your own, and they’ll help you “unlock” the guitar fretboard.   In this episode, we’re taking four different guitar chords and playing them around the fretboard. There are no barre chords needed as we’re just moving the guitar chord shapes up the neck and playing them with open strings.   If you’ve ever wondered how to start a song, what chords to begin with, or how the pros do it, you’ll enjoy this episode. We focus mostly on the E chord on the guitar (as this is a great one to begin with and you’ll hear why), plus there are examples using the A minor chord, the C chord, and the D chord.   Not only that, but I’m even sneaking in a tiny little ear training test anyone can do, you’ll hear the chord the “Gatekeeper” of the Asylum would play if he were writing you a love song, and I announce the winners of the 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum paperback book competition. Listen today and enjoy!   You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

Today we are talking about how to get started playing in the style of Jimi Hendrix, some ear training exercises, and a 3-minute guitar practice routine.   These three topics are the focus of the brand-new Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy lessons for August, and today I’m sharing some powerful tips from those lessons.   These tips include how to methodically transform a boring old chord progression into something more exciting. I’m also giving you some powerful tips on “Immersive Listening” which is where you listen to songs both emotionally and intellectually to help improve your aural skills on the guitar… And you’ll discover why a good guitar practice routine can be essential for your playing. Not only that, I also share a little story about Dave, who was one of my most successful students and what you can learn from him on the guitar.   Plus, I share the winner of the book competition from last week. If you’ve left the podcast a review, you might well be the winner, so do give it a listen. If you haven’t yet reviewed the podcast, then please do so as you could win next week.   For more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe, join the free email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

In my experience, the best way to learn guitar is to focus on proper technique, play the songs you love, jam with others, and develop rock-solid self-belief. In today’s episode of the Acoustic Asylum, we are talking about the topic of self-belief… and specifically why you MUST ignore the “talent myth”.   Many guitarists believe they do not have enough talent or that they were not born with the necessary skills to succeed on the guitar. Some of you may be conscious of these thoughts, but most people are not.   In this episode, I share four examples with you of why I firmly believe “talent is overrated”. There are some surprising stories from the likes of Mozart, Clapton, and others.   Give it a listen, soak up the info, and if you do, you may find your journey on how to learn guitar will be that much more enjoyable.   You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

If you want to learn guitar while having more fun, then I urge you to try playing some enjoyable guitar games. Many people take guitar playing seriously. We are all guilty of this sometimes, but today I want to share with you some ideas on how you can have more fun, be creative, and solidify your guitar skills.   These simple guitar games I’m sharing can even help you improve faster and give you some light relief as you’re learning to play guitar or improve your skills. Plus, these tips can help slam the brakes on frustration with almost immediate effect.   In this episode, we talk about guitar string notes, chord changes, guitar vibrato, beginner guitar chords, and memorising the notes on the guitar neck.   These are all tried and tested fun guitar games I’ve used with students in my studio as well as some games I enjoy playing myself. Enjoy!   You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

Slow chord changes are the bane of most guitarists’ lives. Never has one specific element of guitar playing caused more toe-curling frustration, sky-rocketing blood pressure, and pained looks in the eyes of guitarists than slow chord changes.   Well, if you struggle with your chord changes, today’s episode of the Acoustic Asylum will help. Inside, I talk about the two core elements that are essential to improving your chord changes. I give you an incredibly powerful exercise you can do along with me, and I even share an important lesson from the 90s horror movie classic, The Blair Witch Project. Yes, this episode has it all.   Getting smooth and fast chord changes is one of the secrets to escaping the Acoustic Asylum for good and freeing yourself to enjoy playing many campfire classics and strum your heart out (as well as improve your all-around technique). Listen today, enjoy, and start mastering those chord changes once and for all.   You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here – https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

In this new episode, we are talking about expectations. Today, I want to give you a reality check on the truth about learning guitar. I want to tell you why you should be aware of what others say about how long it took them to get good at guitar… And I want to give you some tips, advice, and hope so you can go about your journey in the most enjoyable way possible.   I also share two stories about two of my old students, Dave and Paul. Both of these stories will highlight the important points in the podcast and help you set more realistic expectations and avoid the pain of eternal frustration!   Don’t forget you can get a free copy of my eBook 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum for FREE. To get it, simply leave the podcast a review and let us know by emailing hq@acousticasylum.com. We will then send it over.   You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here - https://acousticasylum.com/   Like this episode? Remember, your reviews for this podcast mean the world to me, so please let us know what you thought about the Acoustic Asylum!

In today’s brand-new episode of the Acoustic Asylum, I want to share with you some important tips on avoiding a few issues many people make when learning/playing songs. I’ve been guilty of some of these issues in the past and I’ve made one of these mistakes recently.   Have a listen to discover exactly what this issue is, discover some simple advice from the great guitarist George Benson, and an unusual little tip inspired by the movie Kill Bill. I even play some snippets of a really fun arrangement of a Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley tune. If you ever struggle to make your songs sound like actual songs, then the tips inside will really help.   You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here - https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

Learning guitar can be like a wild rollercoaster ride. Some days you might feel wonderful and other days you may feel hopeless and frustrated. Well, this is quite natural as the journey of learning guitar is a crazy one – as you will already know. This is the story of what happened to one of my most promising students, as I’ll tell you about in the episode.                                  …But I’m also sharing some tips with you that can help you be more measured in your approach, stop you from feeling the big “crash” when things go bad, and make the journey more enjoyable. You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here - https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

Today, we’re talking about rule #3 of the Acoustic Asylum. It’s a super simple little rule that most guitarists sadly ignore. Yet, if you follow this rule, you’ll be more motivated, inspired, and resilient with your playing.   Little rewards on the guitar go a long way. Of course, when you achieve bigger goals, give yourself a bigger reward. Either way, rewarding your success is key. No one else will do it for you. Enjoy each moment and savour each victory! In fact, this is such an important thing to do that I’ve created the “5 Song Club”. Listen to today’s episode to find out more about it and the power of rewards!   You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here - https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

In Today’s episode, I have some exciting news. I’m unveiling a brand-new guide to go along with this podcast. It’s called 13 Ways to Escape the Acoustic Asylum (And Ensure the Guitar Never Drives You Mad Again). Inside, you’ll discover 13 powerful ways to improve your playing, have more fun, and play real songs (as well as some original pieces of music). Plus, I’ll share tips to help you make all the songs you already know how to play sound even better.   Have a listen for more, and to get the guide, simply leave this podcast a review on Apple Podcasts (you can always ask a family member to review it on your behalf if you don’t have an iPhone but they do have one). Then get in touch (email us at hq@acousticasylum.com or contact me any way you like) and then, either myself or a member of my team will email the guide to you at first chance.   Your reviews for this podcast mean the world to me, so please let us know what you thought about the Acoustic Asylum!

Today I want to share with you some simple tips to help you improve three key aspects of your playing. We’re starting off by talking about songwriting, creating melodies on your guitar, and how being creative can even help you improve your brain age!   Then we move on to why foot tapping is essential for beginners and possibly even more important as you develop your guitar playing. Finally, we’re talking about barre chords, and one key benefit of learning them (which is something most people never really mention). Plus, I have a little surprise for you at the end of the podcast, so do listen to the end!     You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here - https://acousticasylum.com/   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!

In the latest episode, we are talking about the power of the breath and how it can benefit your playing. This also happens to be Rule #2 of the Acoustic Asylum to help you escape bad guitar-playing habits. People often forget to breathe and relax when they play. Instead, they end up hunched over and tense. Focusing on your breath can help improve your practice and overall playing. I talk about a number of breathing tips, including diaphragmatic breathing. These exercises will help you relax and let go of any tension. You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here - https://acousticasylum.com/ 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!

In this episode we are talking songwriting and specifically chord progressions. In case you don’t know, in the Fingerstyle 101 Facebook Group we are doing a songwriting challenge which is going to be lots of fun. The key of our song is G Major, but “where do you begin with writing songs?” you might wonder. Well, I often like to begin with a solid chord progression. So in today’s episode, I'm sharing with you the chords in the key of G, and a whole bunch of chord progressions for you to try, plus some tips on jamming them. Remember, creativity is good for the brain, soul, and fingers, so let’s get to it! I hope you enjoy it. You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here - https://acousticasylum.com/ 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!

Welcome to a new feature I’ve created for the podcast. It's the "Rules of the Asylum”.  On the guitar, there are many lessons, principles, and “rules” that I recommend students follow. I find the most successful students are the ones who follow these rules as closely as possible. Today we're talking about the #1 rule I tell everyone and I give some examples of the rule in the context of speeding up your chord changes, ear training, and some simple fingerpicking. You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here - https://acousticasylum.com/ 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!

'Pull-offs' are a powerful technique that every guitarist should learn... Yet, many beginners struggle with them. In this episode of the Acoustic Asylum I share with you the biggest mistake I see guitarists make when it comes to pull-offs (which can drive us mad) and exactly how to fix this mistake. I also share a simple 2-step process for mastering pull-offs and using them in your playing. Get good at pull-offs and you'll have a powerful technique you can use in your playing forever! You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here - https://acousticasylum.com/ 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!

Training your ears and improving your aural skills is one of the most underrated things you can do as a guitarist. Not enough teachers test their students on it and it's hard to test yourself. Therefore, here's a fun 10 question ear training test inspired by the quizzes inside the Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy. The test is suitable for all guitarists no matter if you've played for a week, a year, or a decade. Give the test a go, enjoy the podcast and if you do, don't forget to subscribe and leave it a review!

Today, we're talking about the power of mindset, and why you need to be careful of the ‘voice inside your head’ when you practice guitar. Not only that, but I share some specific tips on fixing mistakes (which will help with your self-belief and mindset). This includes a rather over the top analogy of treating mistakes like a zombie and blasting them in the head with a shotgun! It's fun stuff, don't miss it! You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here - https://acousticasylum.com/ 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!

Today we are talking five very powerful practice tips that I get all my students to follow. If you want to stay out of the 'Acoustic Asylum' and avoid the wrath of the "Gatekeeper", make sure you use these tips - they'll make you a better guitarist). You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here - https://acousticasylum.com/ 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!

Welcome to the Acoustic Asylum. We all know the guitar can send us crazy with frustration. Now it's time to break the chains and end the madness that is learning guitar. Your host Dan Thorpe explains this brand new concept, what this podcast is all about, and some of the secrets to guitar playing success... so you can cherish every single moment you pick up and play your guitar – starting today. You can get more tips and advice from Dan Thorpe by joining the free email list here - https://acousticasylum.com/ 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!