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Free skills assessment with a Sonora mentor: https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/82xn?d=1 Six-time Grammy Award winner and legendary producer John Leventhal joins Playback Sessions in New York for a rare look behind 40 years of instinct-driven production. A masterclass on restraint and finding your musical identity, he breaks down the hard lessons he learned along the way. 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/82xn?d=1 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ Free Tool for looping videos on YouTube and Instagram https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/82xn/looper?d=1 00:00 – Intro 1:19 — The Hardest Record He's Ever Made 5:01 — Making a Solo Album During the Pandemic 7:42 — Being the Artist for the First Time 9:05 — Why He Deleted His Best Guitar Take 13:11 — How He Learned to Do Less 18:39 — Performance: Original Hymn 25:40 — I Never Practiced 29:44 — The Epiphany That Changed His Career 35:28 — Why Chasing Hits Always Fails 40:04 — Hybrid Picking and Vintage Acoustics 45:36 — Good Time Trumps Everything 52:22 — Playing Behind Ry Cooder 1:00:38 — The 8-Year Broadway Musical That Got Killed 1:03:08 — Thoughts on AI and Modern Music 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley Guest: John Leventhal Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producer: Spencer Handley Camera/Sound: Moti Margolin #JohnLeventhal #PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #MusicProduction #Songwriting #AcousticGuitar #VintageGuitar #RosanneCash #ShawnColvin #AmericanaMusic #GuitarLesson #MusicTheory

Oz Noy, a Berklee professor and NYC veteran joins Playback Sessions for a masterclass on finding your unique voice in a crowded room. From the terrifying reality of his first nights in the NYC jazz scene to the brutal decision to sell his prized Gibson 175 to survive it, the Berklee professor holds nothing back. 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ Free Tool for looping videos on YouTube and Instagram https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 00:00 – Intro 01:36 – The Pat Metheny Show That Made Him Quit School 03:12 – Why He Moved to New York at 24 05:02 – The Intimidation of the NYC Jazz Scene 06:22 – Selling the Gibson 175 to Find His Voice 08:54 – Jamming with Eric Johnson and Warren Haynes 11:01 – The Night He Played Eric Johnson's Rig 14:33 – Early Influences: Al Di Meola & George Benson 17:22 – How He Approaches Harmony 19:12 – The Deepest Lesson from Pat Martino 22:34 – The Missing Skill in 95% of Guitar Students 27:16 – Playing "Outside" vs. Playing Colors 31:18 – Think in Numbers, Not Note Names 38:43 – What a Master Practices Today 40:38 – The Endless Chase for Mastery 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley Guest: Oz Noy Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producer: Spencer Handley Camera/Sound: Moti Margolin #OzNoy #JazzGuitar #GuitarLesson #JazzImprovisation #GuitarTechnique #BerkleeGuitar #MusicTheory #PlaybackSessions #GuitarPlayer #LearnGuitar

Patreon CEO Jack Conte joins Playback Sessions and addresses the existential threat generative AI poses to the creative economy. After facilitating over $11 billion in payouts to creators, Conte details the raw reality of discovering generative models scraping and cloning his band's signature sound without consent, credit, or compensation. 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ InstaLoop Pro: https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 0:00:00 – Opening 0:01:27 – Creators Have Earned $11 Billion on Patreon 0:02:08 – It Feels Like Resetting the Scoreboard to Zero 0:02:29 – A New Way to Take Advantage of Creative People 0:03:25 – Hopeful for Solutions: Products, Legislation, Demand 0:03:40 – Creators Take a Right Hook and Have to Bleed 0:05:09 – The Batching Secret: 100 Music Videos a Year 0:06:05 – Jack's Superpower: Improvising on the Spot 0:16:39 – Acting in Accordance With What He Believes 0:17:01 – The Silent Films Analogy: 1927 and What It Means Now 0:18:51 – 50,000 Musicians Lost Their Jobs in Three Years 0:19:52 – "Canned Music": The Campaign Against Recorded Sound 0:21:43 – Patreon Will Be Dead in 3 Years. 100%. Dead. 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley Guest: Jack Conte Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producer: Spencer Handley ##JackConte #PatreonCEO #AIandMusic #CreatorEconomy #PlaybackSessions #Pomplamoose #ScaryPockets #AICreativity #MusicAndTechnology #MusicBusiness #CreatorRights #FutureOfMusic #AITraining #IndependentMusician #MusicPodcast #SilentFilms #Patreon #MusicianLife #AIDebate #JackConteInterview # Sonora

Guitar legend Al Di Meola joins Playback Sessions to deconstruct the surreal launch of his career: from the LSD-fueled demo tape, to a sold-out Carnegie Hall debut at just 19 years old. He breaks down his strict compositional rules, explains why modern technology is destroying guitar progress, and reveals the untold history behind the legendary Guitar Trio with Paco de Lucía and John McLaughlin. 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ Free Tool for looping videos on YouTube and Instagram https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 00:00 – Opening 0:01:01 – Al Was a Berkeley Student Who Loved Return to Forever 0:03:52 – Slipped Acid on New Year's Eve: The origin of the legendary demo 0:04:52 – Michael Finds Chick Corea's Management With One Phone Number 0:05:20 – Chick Calls Al at Berkeley: No Tryout. Just Come. 0:06:55 – Practice Practice Practice? No — Acid Acid Acid 0:07:11 – I Was 19 and Definitely Not Ready 0:09:31 – Imposter Syndrome Playing With Jazz Legends 0:11:12 – Recording Next Door to John Lennon 0:16:03 – Finding Paco de Lucía in a Madrid Record Shop 0:20:33 – Forming the Guitar Trio With McLaughlin and Paco 0:24:48 – Hybrid Picking: How Al Developed His Right Hand 0:48:11 – "You Can Never Start With A Melody" 1:04:19 – The Problem With Modern Shredders 1:17:15 – Bruce Springsteen Surprised Everyone in Minneapolis 1:20:30 – Searching For The Unreleased Acid Tape 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 📍 Filmed at Al Di Meola's home studio 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley Guest: Al Di Meola Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producer: Spencer Handley Camera/Sound: Moti Margolin #AlDiMeola #ReturnToForever #ChickCorea #PacoDeLucia #JohnMcLaughlin #FusionGuitar #GuitarInterview #PlaybackSessions #JazzGuitar #GuitarTechnique #HybridPicking #FlamencGuitar #MusicHistory #GuitarPodcast #CarnegieHall #FridayNightInSanFrancisco #GuitarLegend #SpencerHandley #CarterVintage #GuitarCulture #Sonora

Mentor: Robb Cappelletto who taught Billy Strings joins Playback Sessions to share the teaching philosophy behind one of the greatest players alive and why most guitar teachers are wasting their students' time. 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment?source=robb-video 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ Free Tool for looping videos on YouTube and Instagram https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 00:08 – Opening: Billy Strings' Secret Teacher Revealed 00:21 – Robb: I Practiced More for Billy's Lesson Than My Own 01:22 – Goal: Teaching Students to Teach Themselves 02:25 – Good Teachers vs Bad Teachers 04:07 – I Am Both Your Boss and Your Student 05:18 – Nothing Bothers Me More Than "Because I Said So" 08:17 – Billy's First Lesson: What Rob Discovered 10:38 – Robb's Morning Practice Routine 16:02 – How Robb Structures Billy's Learning Journey 18:13 – The Spiral Method Explained 22:23 – The Biggest Misconception About Practice 28:49 – Why Theory as a Starting Point Creates Boring Players 30:44 – Time Is the Most Important Thing on Any Instrument 33:13 – The 8% Speed Rule: Ego Is What Stops You 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee. 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley Guest: Robb Cappelletto (Billy Strings' Guitar Mentor) Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producer: Spencer Handley Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy #BillyStrings #GuitarLesson #PlaybackSessions #GuitarTeacher #GuitarTechnique #LearnGuitar #GuitarPractice #MusicEducation #EarTraining #GuitarTips #BluegrassGuitar #TimeAndTone #GuitarPhilosophy #MusicPodcast #GuitarImprovisation #PracticeRoutine #SonoraGuitarIntensive #SpencerHandley #CarterVintage #GuitarCulture #RobbCappelletto

Patreon CEO Jack Conte joins Playback Sessions and reveals the brutal reality of navigating a multi-billion-dollar tech platform through an era of total disruption. After building a network that has paid out over $11 billion to online creators over the last 13 years, Jack pulls back the curtain on the chaotic operational realities of executive leadership. 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ InstaLoop Pro: https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 00:00 – Intro 01:04 – Welcome: Jack Returns to His Old Stomping Grounds 01:41 – Life Now: Patreon, Pomplamoose & Scary Pockets 02:40 – The Reality of CEO Burnout (Feeling Underwater) 04:50 – Jack's "Brain Dump" System to Not Lose His Mind 06:28 – The EA Firewall That Makes Everything Possible 07:40 – Batched Production: 100 Music Videos a Year 10:55 – Jack's Superpower: Improvising in the Studio 19:19 – Band vs. Boardroom: What Actually Translates? 23:05 – I Feel Like I Broke Out of Jail 27:36 – Going to War With the Algorithm 30:17 – "We Are Lab Rats" (The Social Media Crisis) 43:15 – Why Jack Switched From ChatGPT to Claude 46:55 – How AI Dropped Jack's Cholesterol 40 Points 57:57 – The Silent Films Analogy & What AI Means for Music 1:03:08 – Survive or Die: Why Creators Must Adapt to AI 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley Guest: Jack Conte Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producer: Spencer Handley #JackConte #CreatorEconomy #MusicBusiness #AI #Patreon #ScaryPockets #MusicProduction #SocialMediaAlgorithm #IndependentArtist #PlaybackSessions #TechCEO #MusicPodcast #PlaybackSessions #Pomplamoose #JackConteInterview

Jedd Hughes, one of the most respected songwriter-players in the business joins Playback Sessions for a cinematic conversation behind the career nobody fully knows. 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ Free Tool for looping videos on YouTube and Instagram https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 00:00 – Intro 02:11 – Guitar Party: The Night That Almost Broke Me 04:52 – Selling Out NYC & Chicago Through YouTube 07:26 – Guitar Party Songwriting: One Song a Day 11:48 – Moving to Nashville With $800 13:07 – Bought All 10 Patty Loveless Albums for the Audition 16:30 – The Hootenanny Tour & Meeting His Heroes 23:51 – How Jedd Got the Vince Gill Gig 31:49 – What Playing With Vince Gill Taught Me 40:27 – Night Shades: Making a Record in Isolation 41:42 – Writing With Guy Clark for 10 Years 43:50 – Live Performance: Love and You Is the Only Way to Fly 48:07 – The Songwriting Process Explained 55:38 – The D-Tuning Trick That Unlocks New Ideas 1:22:55 – Vince Gill Gave Me Danny Gatton's Guitar 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee. 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley Guest: Jedd Hughes Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producer: Spencer Handley Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy #PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #JeddHughes #VinceGill #Songwriting #AcousticGuitar #NashvilleSessions #DannyGatton #GuitarLesson #AIinMusic #RodneyCrowell #GrandOleOpry

Marty Schwartz, possibly the most-watched guitar teacher on the planet joins Playback Sessions for an honest conversation about what it really takes to learn guitar, build a career from scratch, and why 30 years later he's still going back to the pentatonic scale. 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ Free Tool for looping videos on YouTube and Instagram https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 0:00 - The Joy of Playing Guitar 1:25 - The Biggest Mistake Beginner Guitarists Make 6:10 - The "Five Minutes a Day" Practice Rule 11:45 - The "Land of A7" and Chord Substitutions 20:25 - Top 5 Pentatonic Blues Licks 26:20 - The "Rockstar Bend" and Extending the Scale 28:45 - The Dickey Betts Transition Lick 31:40 - Why Marty Stayed Independent (And Producing Masterclasses) 40:00 - The Search for Inspado & Marcus King 46:40 - Seeing His Picture on the Carter Vintage Wall of Fame 49:05 - The Unbelievable Encounter with Slash 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee. 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley Guest: Marty Schwartz Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producer: Spencer Handley Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy #PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #MartySchwartz #MartyMusic #GuitarLesson #PentatonicScale #BluesGuitar #Slash #GunsNRoses #BeginnerGuitar #GuitarTheory #DickeyBetts

Corey Congilio joins Playback Sessions for a masterclass in the one concept that unlocks more interesting blues playing. Plus the real story of how Corey went from getting fired in Nashville to building a career entirely on his own terms. 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ Free Tool for looping videos on YouTube and Instagram https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 📍 Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 02:13 – Getting Into Music at Age 13 05:19 – Surviving Cancer & Choosing Guitar 08:33 – Nashville Baptism by Fire & Getting Fired 10:26 – The Fishman Demo Breakthrough 21:54 – Forced Into Being an Artist 24:50 – The Blues EP & Recording at Blackbird 28:06 – Advice for Musicians in 2026 33:51 – Arpeggios: The Pass Key to Everything 36:00 – Mixing Arpeggios With Pentatonic 37:26 – Arpeggio Substitutions Over Dominant Chords 40:07 – D Minor 7 Over G7 Explained 49:47 – Applying It to Funk & One-Chord Grooves 53:16 – Barry Harris Pivot Technique & Robben Ford 54:11 – Working Class Guitar & What's Coming Next 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee. 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley 🔥Guest: Corey Congilio Editor: Carl Reeverts Executive Producer: Spencer Handley Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy #CoreyConglio #BluesGuitar #PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #GuitarLesson #BluesImprovisation #GuitarTechnique #WorkingGuitarist #MusicCareer #GuitarPodcast #Arpeggios

Megan and Rebecca Lovell of Larkin Poe join Playback Sessions for one of the most honest conversations we've had on the show. Two sisters, one band, fifteen years of label deals, genre pivots, and near-breakdowns on the road 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ Free Tool for looping videos on YouTube and Instagram https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 📍 Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:05 – Touring While Pregnant 05:27 – Early Musical Background 07:00 – Transition from Classical to Bluegrass 10:11 – Going Electric & Finding Their Sound 15:49 – Label Experience & Creative Control 17:43 – Starting Their Own Label 26:18 – Authenticity vs Industry Expectations 28:04 – The "Small Batch" Mindset 34:30 – Writing "Little Bit" 39:42 – AI vs Human Imperfection 43:51 – Imposter Syndrome & Practice 49:48 – Learning Through Covers 54:11 – Grammy Win & What Changed 1:12:06 – T-Bone, Tyler Bryant & What's Next 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee. 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley 🔥Guest: Larkin Poe (Megan Lovell + Rebecca Lovell) Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producer: Spencer Handley Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy #PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #LarkinPoe #BluesRock #AmericanaMusic #IndependentArtist #LapSteel #GuitarLesson #Songwriting #ElvisCostello #MusicBusiness #RootsRock #GrammyWinner #Megan Lovell #Rebecca Lovell

Margaret Glaspy joins Playback Sessions for an honest, wide-ranging conversation about making music by accident, the creative power of letting go of the plan, and what it feels like to learn how to write songs all over again. 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ Free Tool for looping videos on YouTube and Instagram https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 📍 Chapters: 0:00 — Intro 2:36 — James Bay, Madison Cunningham & Norah Jones Just Showed Up 4:01 — Too Shy to Ask Anyone — What This Album Changed 6:42 — "Play It Like a Funeral" — The Take That Made the Record 9:25 — How She Chose the Songs (Pure Stream of Consciousness) 12:34 — Jesus, Etc. — Why She Asked Norah Jones 15:52 — Jeff Tweedy Heard the Cover and Cried 18:59 — East Coast vs. West Coast — What the Studios Say About Us 26:15 — How Making Covers Rewired Her Songwriting 29:33 — The Album Title — Found in the Library of Congress 34:16 — Her Writing Process: More Prolific Than Ever 42:07 — What Actually Blocks Her From Finishing Songs 43:01 — The 15-Minute Rule That Changed Everything 46:14 — Straight to the Typewriter — Her Daily Creative Ritual 50:23 — What's Coming: New Record, Touring, Joe Henry 53:20 — "I Feel Like I'm Learning to Write Songs Right Now" 54:11 — Where to Find Margaret Glaspy 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley 🔥Guest: Margaret Glaspy Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producer: Spencer Handley #PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #MargaretGlaspy #Songwriting #SongwritingTips #AcousticGuitar #IndieMusic #FolkMusic #MusicProduction #Typewriter #WriterBlock #NorahJones #JamesBay

Tim Stafford joins Playback Sessions for a powerful, honest conversation about the real cost of touring, lessons from legends like Tony Rice and Doc Watson, and what it takes to stay grounded in music after decades on the road. 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ Free Tool for looping videos on YouTube and Instagram https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 📍 Chapters: 0:00 — Intro 0:41 — Live Performance: "The Blue Grays" 5:55 — Welcome — One of Bluegrass's Most Prolific Songwriters 6:15 — How It Started: Got Bumped on Banjo, Picked Up Guitar 8:55 — The PhD He Almost Finished Instead 9:35 — Writing 300 Songs With One Co-Writer 11:00 — Inside a Co-Write: The Actual Process 18:51 — Do You Know When You're Writing a Hit? 20:41 — What He Learned in Alison Krauss's Band 23:11 — How Blue Highway Started — "I Had No Intention of Starting a Band" 26:47 — His Son Didn't Recognize Him at the Airport 30:16 — Tony Rice's Rhythm Changed All of Bluegrass 39:21 — Writing the Tony Rice Biography — 10 Years 42:07 — Roy Orbison Stopped the Bus for Tony Rice 49:53 — Who Actually Coined the Word "Bluegrass"? 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee. 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley 🔥 Guest: Tim Stafford Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producer: Spencer Handley Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy #PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #TimStafford #TonyRice #BluegrassHistory #Flatpicking #AcousticGuitar #Songwriting #BlueHighway #DocWatson #MartinGuitars #MusicHistory

Becca Stevens joins Playback Sessions for a wide-ranging conversation about writing her most personal album through the loss of her mother and the birth of her children and why she almost never released it. 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ Free Tool for looping videos on YouTube and Instagram https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 📍 Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 02:15 – Becca’s Songwriting Philosophy 06:40 – The Inner Critic Explained 10:25 – How Artists Sabotage Their Own Songs 14:10 – Writing Songs That Feel Too Personal 18:20 – Processing Grief Through Music 22:45 – The Trap of Chasing Hits 27:05 – Why Writing for the Audience Fails 31:50 – “Serve the Song” Mindset 36:10 – Working with David Crosby 40:30 – The “Volcano” Writing Process 44:15 – Collaborating with Jacob Collier 48:25 – Creativity in the Studio 53:10 – When the Muse Shows Up 58:40 – Closing Performance 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee. 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley 🔥 Guest: Becca Stevens Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producer: Spencer Handley Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy #PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #BeccaStevens #Songwriting #AcousticGuitar #DavidCrosby #JacobCollier #SufjanStevens #MusicTheory #DADGAD #SingerSongwriter

Andy Wood, a virtuoso guitarist with deep musical roots in bluegrass, rock, country, metal, and fusion, shares transformative insights on technique, tone, and practice strategies in this episode. Wood discusses a pivotal mindset shift that improved his time feel, techniques from his mandolin playing that enhanced his right-hand precision, and his focus on depth over tone chasing. He also delves into his transition from sideman to artist, his alternate picking mechanics, and lessons from performing with top artists. With practical advice on practicing speed and maintaining precision, this episode offers essential tips for guitarists aiming to elevate their craft. 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ Free Tool for looping videos on YouTube and Instagram https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 📍 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and Overview 01:13 Transition from Sideman to Artist 02:27 Impact of COVID on Music Creation 08:25 The Importance of Image and Branding 10:31 Collaborations and Mentorship 15:04 The Role of Community in Music 29:27 Passing the Torch to the Next Generation 36:09 The Role of Patreon in Supporting Content 37:08 The Economics of Music and Events 44:35 Practicing Techniques and Speed 01:09:35 The Myth of Brute Forcing Practice 01:10:22 The Importance of Playing Clean 01:11:17 Playing with Ears, Soul, and Heart 01:11:58 Recording Yourself for Improvement 01:16:26 Transcribing and Lifting Vibes 01:20:17 The Value of Musicality Over Technique 01:35:49 The Role of Musicality in Performance 01:38:55 Upcoming Projects and Events 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee. 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley 🔥 Guest: Guest: Andy Wood Executive Producers: Spencer Handley Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy Editors: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser #PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #AndyWood #GuitarTechnique #AlternatePicking #GuitarLesson #RascalFlatts #SteveMorse #BrentMason #FastGuitar #ChickenPicking #GuitarTone

We dive deep into capturing the iconic Jimi Hendrix sound with RJ Ronquillo. From selecting the perfect Stratocaster to understanding Hendrix's pedal setup, we cover everything you need to recreate Hendrix's legendary tone. Discover the significance of reverse angled bridge pickups, specific pedal usage, and tuning techniques that form the essence of Hendrix's sound. RJ also demonstrates essential Hendrix playing styles, from rhythmic patterns to iconic licks, and shares his personal journey through Hendrix's musical legacy. A must-watch for any Hendrix enthusiast! 🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora. https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment 👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more. https://www.skool.com/playback-community-9570 ⏱️ Free Tool for looping videos on YouTube and Instagram https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/ 📍 Chapters: 00:00 Introduction at Carter Vintage Guitars 00:08 Essential Hendrix Gear 00:41 Choosing the Right Guitar 01:15 Dialing in the Hendrix Tone 04:20 Hendrix's Unique Playing Techniques 13:37 Rhythmic Mastery of Hendrix 19:20 Hendrix's Flashy Performance Style 21:32 Favorite Hendrix Licks and Riffs 23:31 Getting into Hendrix: Recommended Albums 25:05 Conclusion and Additional Resources 🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials: -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Playback-Sessions -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playbacksessionspodcast -Spotify: @ Playback Sessions Podcast 📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee. 🎥 Host: Spencer Handley 🔥 Guest: RJ Ronquillo Editors: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser Executive Producers: Spencer Handley Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy #PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #RJRonquillo #JimiHendrix #GuitarTone #Stratocaster #FuzzFace #GuitarLesson #BluesGuitar #GuitarPedals #HendrixChord #LittleRichard #GuitarTechnique