As we ring in another new year, many people may feel compelled to reflect on their previous year. Some tried to kick a bad habit. Some tried to take on a good routine... Some realized they completed all of their new years resolutions and others realized they gave up too quick.

But how did Dr. T & Jason do on their New Years Resolutions? Do they have new ones for 2022? How has the podcast done over the past year? Whatever happened to the Gloknob? And New Year New Tone… whats on the list? Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Jason, on the Tweed Couch.

It seems there is always something. Managing the home, kids activities, maintenance of vehicles, work, sleep... There is always something that can get in the way of becoming a better player or simply getting to play the instrument that we love.

Of course, it's not that these things aren’t important either. A matter fact they are likely more important which is why it is so frustrating to not be able to get the time to practice and see your gear collect dust. This can leave you discouraged and uninspired.

But how do we find time to play guitar? Are we just organizing our day wrong?  What if you have a limit on space or how loud you can play? Are there tools to aid in motivation? Do you need special equipment? And how much time is enough time to practice?

Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Paul, on the Tweed Couch

My start into the music world came as a teenager playing campfire songs for my friends in the church youth group. Soon that turned to playing in a garage band with some friends. We played a pretty eclectic catalog of Skynyrd, Nirvana, Police, Sublime, Tom Petty… My brother joined a music ministry group and that is when I started really paying attention to Christian music like Jars of Clay, Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, and Third Day.

Of course at that time, late 90 and early 2000’s, worship music was very different than it is now. Most of the music at that time was chasing the sounds of popular music out in the secular world. The more Christian music evolved and was played on the radio, the more churches began welcoming it into their worship centers and sanctuaries to use in service. This caused a need for contemporary styled musicians and fortunately for the churches there were many musicians looking for a place to play.

But is there a worship music sound? Is there certain gear or tones associated with it? What stereotypes are there? How different is playing worship music than secular music? Is there a difference between being the worship leader and the worship director? And how do you prepare yourself for leading worship?

Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Barber, on the Tweed Couch.

As mentioned in the podcast intro, I am not a licensed therapist. What I am is a Doctor of Chiropractic. With that said, I couldn’t get anyone to do a group therapy session with me… so I think I will do another ailment that plagues the musician and this problem is: Low Back issues.

But what causes low back problems?  Should I go see a doctor? Can low back problems be prevented? Is there a way to treat it at home? Can you play with a brace? And did Web MD really diagnose low back pain as subacute bacterial endocarditis, pyelonephritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or Lupus? Well we will discuss this, and more, on this episode of the tweed couch.

For years I have wanted the much hyped Gibson Les Paul 1959 Reissue. Of Course, there are many reasons to want this iconic, desirable Holy Grail guitar. And honestly there were even more reasons that held me back from purchasing but today was my day!

But… What makes an R9 different? How close is it to the real deal? Is it really worth about $7k usd? Did I actually pay that much? What compelled me to get an R9 now? Did I have to sell gear to get it? Where did I buy it? And… Is it worth the hype?

Well we will discuss this and more, on the Tweed Couch.

There are times in everyone's life when they know exactly what they want and this is no different for a guitar player. It could be a guitar like their hero, an amp with all the features, the pedals with the cool name and sound, or other gear that fits the look and mojo. Whether it be for tone or the aesthetics, we are puting compromise aside and diving in deep to the what and the why of no compromise purchases.

But how do you decide what you should be picky about? Is it really worth it? What if you can’t afford a no compromise purchase? Is it better to have quantity or quality of gear? If you could dream big, what would be next? And should you think of no compromise purchases as potential heirloom’s?

Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Jason, on the Tweed Couch.

Have you ever owned a guitar that you loved but wished were a little different? Maybe you wanted a guitar you couldn’t necessarily afford. It could be that you have particular wants but the guitar doesn’t exist. If any of this sounds like you then you are probably in the market for a Partscaster.

But what is a parstscaster? Are there any iconic players who use them? What have we owned and why? Does a partscaster have to come from a Fender guitar? Do they make them in lefty? At what point does a guitar go from modded to being called a partscaster? And how much should you spend?

Back in the last week of July, my 13 year old cork sniffer Owen and I traveled to Nashville, Tennessee and visited 6 guitar shops in one day. We checked out the iconic stores of Gruhn’s and Carter Vintage. We toured the more modern stores of Gibson Garage and Guitar Center. We looked outside the box and made our way to Corner Music and Fanny’s House of Music .

But what are these guitar stores like? Should you go? Are they able to create their own identity in a town filled with guitar shops? What is each store's niche? Is Guitar Center dead? Did we buy any new gear? And what is the difference between a mandolin and a mandola?

Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with Owen, on the Tweed couch.

There is nothing more frustrating than putting your heart and soul into a guitar performance just to find out afterwards that you were barely heard. It is easy to blame the drummer banging on their skins. It is easy to blame the bass player who thinks the low end is where you find the energy. Its easiest to blame the keyboard player who believes they need to play all the bass notes and the middle melody… but most likely the person we blame the most... is the sound guy out front.

But is it true that you get what you pay for? Could the issue be the guitar’s tone? What is the most important thing to hear in a band mix? Which instrument is most likely to ruin the sound? Does the room make that big of a difference? Is it the equipment's fault? And, could the problem be your monitors?

Well we will discuss this, and more on this group therapy session with John, on the Tweed couch.