Sam and Karl give you a simple framework for improving your playing. You'll learn how to think about your guitar playing by wearing either a harmon, rhythm or melody hat.

Is the trick to achieving your guitar goals... to not have guitar goals? This week, Sam and Karl take a deep dive into the concepts taught by James Clear in his best-selling book, Atomic Habits. The four main topics of discussion are:

• The power of 1% changes over time
• Screw goals, focus on systems
• Identity change is the north star of habit change
• 4 laws of habit change

They apply each of these to guitar learning and share insights into their own (never-ending) guitar journey.

Feeling stuck in your guitar journey? For this special holiday monopod, Sam walks you through the top four problems guitarist hit which holds back their progress, and how to solve them.

1. You don’t have a consistent practice routine
2. You learn with you your eyes, not your ears
3. Inefficient practicing
4. Your rhythm is weak

Take your guitar skills to the next level with Pickup Music by starting your 14-day free trial today.

Did Adam Neeley and Andrew Huang correctly decode Christmas music? Sam and Karl take a deep dive into what makes christmas music... christmas music.

Learn holiday songs on guitar with a free 14 day trial. Sign up today.

Sam's four core Christmas characteristics:

1. Tin Pan Alley Jazz harmony
2. Swing feel
3. Bells
4. Christmas lyrics

The more of these a song has, the higher chance Santa is about to arrive down your chimney.

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Listen to Karl's holiday playlist

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Andew Huang Youtube video

Adam Neely YouTube video

Can you play Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix? What does 57% swing feel like? Is your vibrato a nervous habit? This week, Sam and Karl discuss 6 things every intermediate guitarist should know!

Take your guitar skills to the next level with Pickup Music by starting your 14-day free trial today.

What do you do when grandma tells everyone you're a rockstar at the family reunion and asks you to perform? Are you ready to step into the spotlight?

In this episode, Karl sits down with Kyle Sparkman (Head of Community at Pickup) to chat about how to stay cool when performing in front of others. They discuss the importance of being prepared, tips to perform at your best, and how filming yourself practicing can help you become a better performer.

Take your guitar skills to the next level with Pickup Music by starting your 14-day free trial today.

This week, Sam sits down with LA-based touring and session guitarist, Donnie Laudicina to chat about what it takes to make a living playing guitar and mastering your craft.

Donnie Laudicina is a touring and session guitarist based in Los Angeles, CA. He has performed and recorded with artists around the world, including Ashe, DPR Ian, Willie Jones, Aaron Lindsey, Justin Bernardez, Grace Gaustad, Cody Dear and more. Years of experience in the industry have allowed him the opportunity to perform on some of the world’s biggest stages (Rose Bowl, Coachella, Outside Lands, Bonaroo, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Lincoln Center, C2C festival). He’s opened for acts such as Nelly, Flo Rida, Phoebe Bridgers, Jon Stewart, The Lumineers, and Jesse McCartney.

Donnie graduated from UCLA in 2016 with a BA in Jazz Guitar Performance. He spent his college years studying under the likes of Kenny Burrell and Wolf Marshall, legendary players who helped him build the skills necessary for success in the industry.

Looking to develop the six-string skills needed to carve out a career as a touring/session guitarist? Check out a free trial to Pickup Music.

Today, Sam and Karl chat about the biggest mistake most guitarists make: not working on your sense rhythm and pocket.

They're joined by Los Angeles-based touring and session guitarist, Donnie Laudicina who shares tips on how you can sharpen your rhythm skills.

Topics covered:

– Metronome tips

– How to practice time feel

– How to lock in with a live band

– Tips to play like Cory Wong Looking to make guitar gains?

Get daily practice plans with step-by-step lessons so you know exactly how to lock down your rhythm with a free trial to Pickup Music.

In this episode, Karl sits down with GRAMMY-winning session guitarist and bandleader, Andrew Synowiec. Andrew has played on iconic films and tv shows like Frozen, Coco, Spider Man, Mission Impossible, The Simpsons, The Walking Dead, and many more.

He’s also performed or recorded with artists like The Who, Alanis Morissette, Lil Nas X, Robbie Robertson, Ariana Grande, Michael Bublé, Elton John, Giorgio Moroder, Carole King, and Marc Anthony just to name a few...

Andrew provides insight into what being a top-call session musician in LA actually involves these days. He also provides some gear, recording, and workflow tips that you can apply to your home recording setup. Finally, they discuss the writing and recording process for his new album FUN, which is available to purchase or stream on all platforms.

For more information about Andrew:

https://andrewsynowiec.com/

https://www.instagram.com/andrewsynowiec

Want to learn how to express yourself on your guitar? Start your free trial at Pickup Music today.

On today's pod Karl sits one more time with UK based guitar teacher Jack Handyside to talk about how to get the most out of Jam sessions.

Pickup Music Members get access to the 10 minute warmup. Start your free trial today