Pickup Music Pod for Guitarists

Today we have another episode hosted by Pickup Music's very own production director, Júlio Mendoza!

Júlio is joined by guitarist, producer, songwriter and all-round shred-master, Myrone (AKA Pat Lukens), to talk about the journey of him becoming a full-time musician, the role that Metal guitar played in that journey, and sharing some advice on what you can do to achieve your own musical goals!

The Metal Learning Pathway is available now, check it out:

https://www.pickupmusic.com/master-classes/metal-learning-pathway

Today's episode is hosted by Pickup Music's very own production director, Júlio Mendoza!

Júlio is joined by guitarist, producer, songwriter and all-round shred-master, Myrone (AKA Pat Lukens), to discuss essential guitar techniques for playing Metal guitar.

The Metal Learning Pathway is available now, check it out:

https://www.pickupmusic.com/master-classes/metal-learning-pathway

In today's episode, Dr. Molly Miller is back in the studio with Karl and Sam after the release of her latest album to discuss the challenges and rewards of releasing music in 2024.

'The Ballad of Hotspur' (Molly's latest album):

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/0z3IUb8e4M6nFPLL8CuwWO?si=k_LuFmfbQLWxKH2jciIIjg

Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/the-ballad-of-hotspur/1707859409

YouTube: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l-jpJ8eR66Ez63Sqzi-yGytqduUobddxo

Karl sits down with Spencer Askin (aka Shreducation Nation) to wax poetic on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater II... Jk, they're gonna help you get better at guitar!

Be sure to check out The 3:2 System at Pickup Music with a 14-day free trial today!

Insta link

YT Channel

Tik Tok

In 2019, Fender released a study claiming that 90% of guitarists quit within 1 year... Karl and Pickup team member, Kerri Stewart, sit down to discuss their top tips for beginner guitarists.

From must-know technique tips, to prioritizing rhythm over perfection, to the psychology of practicing, there's a lot of topics covered!

Kerri Stewart is an LA-based guitarist and educator. She's toured all over the world with artists like Dylan Gardener, Alex Lahey and pop superstar Conan Gray. Kerri also teaches privately and provides 1:1 Feedback videos for members at Pickup Music.

Kerri's Instagram

Karl and Sam discuss the pros and cons of learning jazz.

Jazz Learning Pathway with Pickup Music https://www.pickupmusic.com/master-classes/jazz-bootcamp

In this 8-week program, Cecil Alexander and Sam Blakelock will show you how to navigate the world of jazz rhythm and lead playing. You'll leave this Learning Pathway with the skills to solo over any jazz standard using advanced vocabulary.

Diana Krall Live in Paris with Anthony Wilson

Joe Pass: Virtuoso

Wes Montgomery: The incredible Jazz guitar of Wes Montgomery<...

Karl sits down with Los Angeles based vocal coach Savannah Wilder. Savannah shares her top tips for breath work, warm-ups, and how she believes anyone can learn to sing! Then Karl and Savannah discuss their respective journeys with developing singing and playing coordination. So sit back and enjoy or... warm-up those pipes and sing along! It's time for another episode of the Pickup Music Pod.

Savannah Wilder: https://www.instagram.com/sav.wilder?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Savannah's vocal studio: https://www.instagram.com/singwithsav?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

In today's episode, Karl and Sam sit down with Dr. Molly Miller and discuss the CAGED system, what makes it so effective, and how to use it to break out of the Intermediate plateau!

Take a deep dive into the music theory of chords and scales. You'll learn how to know exactly what scale to play over any chord in a key.

Welcome to Season 2! Sam and Karl share their favorite solos from some mind blowing guitarists.

We talk about:

https://www.pickupmusic.com/

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:

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.

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:

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...

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 wi...

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 rhy...

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, rec...

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

On this week's pod Karl sits with UK based guitar teacher Jack Handyside to talk about the art (and the business) of teaching guitar including its ups and downs, plus their opinion on the future of guitar education.

Start your free trial to Pickup Music.

Ever wondered how pro guitarists like Mateus Asato or Cory Wong warm up on guitar? This week, Karl walks us through a fun project he's been working on; The Ultimate 10 Minute Warmup.

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

Guitarist and pedal steel player Dan Kalisher (Noah Cyrus, Grace Potter, Don Felder) shares insights on the six areas to develop as a musician and how imagination and uniqueness might be the most important tool in mastering your skills.

On today's episode Nick Campbell (Scary Pockets, Charlie Puth, Vulfpeck) shares his thoughts and experiences on how he transitioned from being a guitar player to a bass player, how to learn music fast and the life on the road.

Sam and Karl chat about our new Bass for Guitarists Learning Pathway with Jonathan Colman. You'll learn how to get started playing bass by applying what you know on guitar.

Learn how to improve your groove and time feel with pro Los Angeles bass player Corbin Jones.

What to go deeper?

Take the Groove Learning Pathway with Pickup Music funk up your rhythm and lock into the groove.

This week, you'll learn about the 5 T's of guitar; Touch, Tone, Timing, and .... 'Tude.Want to break out of the intermediate plateau? Take the Intermediate Learning Pathway with Pickup Music. Try for free today.Correction: Nicklas Myhre is from Norway!

Kyle Sparkman, Head of Community at Pickup Music, joins us to share the 5 steps of songwriting. Find a groove with chordsFind a melodyAdd lyrics (optional)Build out song structureInstrumentation & dynamics

In this interactive episode, Sam and Karl will test your ear training. Can you name all the modes, chords and scales? Give it a try yourself plus get tips for developing your aural skills. https://pickupmusic.com/

Karl will break down iconic chord techniques and embellishments as heard in Jimi's most popular songs. https://www.pickupmusic.com/master-classes/hendrix-caged

This week, Sam and Karl are taking a look at some common roadblocks that hold back guitarists from making progress.Staying in your comfort zone Lack of organizationBeing a bedroom guitaristLearning licks/songs without conceptsStart a free 14-day trial at pickupmusic.com

Learn about the 5 levels of soloing on guitar with Sam and Karl:Copying solos & licksNoodling in the boxThe “Blanket Approach”The “Blanket Approach” 2.0Playing the changesPlus, two bonus advanced levels:Superimposing chordsPlaying "outside"In the Soloing Learning Pathway with Pickup Music, you'll master the art of the guitar solo – from simple pentatonic licks to advanced modal sounds. Start your free trial today.

True or false? Sam and Karl debunk the top 5 guitar myths:Learning guitar requires talentExpensive & vintage gear sound betterAnalog is always better than digitalHeavier gauge strings = better toneMore notes and faster notes = better guitaristReach your guitar goals with structured lessons and personalized feedback with a Pickup Music membership. Start your free trial today https://www.pickupmusic.com/

Karl shares his advice for recording guitar at home. For each topic we’ll go from “budget” to “mid-level” and then “pro” https://www.pickupmusic.com/

Is the CAGED system the holy grail of guitar learning? Can you use CAGED to understand the music of Jimi Hendrix?https://www.pickupmusic.com/master-classes/caged-bootcampThis week, Karl and Sam explore one the most popular topics for guitarists, the CAGED system.

Sam and Karl answer the question – should guitarists spend time developing their ear? Hear tips to improve your ear skills fast plus take exercises with Sam to train your ear.https://pickupmusic.com/

Karl and Sam examine reasons why guitarists should and shouldn't learn music theory. Plus, our list of the top four music theory topics every guitarist should know.

https://www.pickupmusic.com

Wes video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV0Qg0FTha8&ab_channel=macuser2

In this episode, Karl asks Sam to share his best tips for guitarists new to jazz.Take our 4-month Jazz Learning Pathway program to learn jazz guitar:https://www.pickupmusic.com/master-classes/jazz-bootcamp

In this episode, Karl and Sam shares their best advice for breaking out of the beginner stage of learning guitar.Learn beginner guitar in our 3-month guided online program: https://www.pickupmusic.com/level/brand-new

In this episode, Sam and Karl listen to Sam's mini-documentary on the history of neo soul guitar.

Want to learn Neo Soul? Become an expressive neo-soul guitarist in 3 months with our Neo Soul Learning Pathway, taught by Melanie Faye and Sam Blakelock.

https://www.pickupmusic.com/master-classes/neo-soul-pathway

Timeline:

The ‘Birth of Neo Soul’ (1995-2000)

The’ DVD era’ (2005-2008)

The ‘YouTube era’ (2007-2013)

The ‘Early Instagram era (2014-2018)

The ‘Late Instagram era (2018-2021)

/// Further reading and listening ///

The origin of "neo soul": h...