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65 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Who Was Sierra Hull's Biggest Musical Hero?
4 november 2026 · 26 min
Sierra Hull is a true mandolin prodigy who has blossomed into one of the most important voices in modern acoustic music. With six career Grammy nominations under her belt including a staggering four nods for her recent independent release. She is carrying the torch of bluegrass into the future while collaborating with everyone from Béla Fleck to Brad Paisley. Lees meer
In this episode, Sierra shares the deeply emotional, full-circle story of finally designing her own signature Gibson mandolins and how she composed a three-part bluegrass concerto called The Movements.
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with a Sonora mentor.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/cyrb?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/cyrb/looper?d=1📍 Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
1:30 - How Sierra Composed a Bluegrass Concerto ("The Movements")
5:10 - Using the Notes Behind the Nut to Write a Melody
7:05 - Recording the Concerto Live in the Studio
8:55 - Designing Her Signature Gibson Mandolins
13:45 - Inspiring the Next Generation of Female Mandolin Players
15:50 - The Experience of Four Grammy Nominations
17:40 - Getting a Last-Minute Call to Tour with The Flecktones
21:10 - Opening for Brad Paisley in Scandinavia
23:15 - Returning to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival & The Ryman
24:00 - Recording New Covers (Ray Charles & The Grateful Dead)
25:00 - Co-Headlining with The Milk Carton Kids🎸 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: https://open.spotify.com/show/033GDhrc6VzGdJREjOS52A📍 Filmed live at DelFest 2026, County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland
🎥 Host: Spencer Handley
Guest: Sierra Hull
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How I Used Metal Exercises for Fingerstyle | Joe Robinson
2 november 2026 · 1 uur 13 min
Joe Robinson, an Australian guitar virtuoso who has redefined modern fingerstyle playing. After winning Australia's Got Talent at 17, he moved to Nashville to forge his own independent path. In this episode, Joe breaks down the intense mechanical discipline required to play at an elite level and why he encourages his students to practice composing counterpoint using Guitar Pro software. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/bbyf?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/bbyf/looper?d=1📍 Chapters:
1:55 - Using John Petrucci Exercises for Fingerstyle
3:30 - Discovering Jerry Reed and Tommy Emmanuel
5:30 - The Brutal Advice Tommy Emmanuel Gave Joe
9:00 - The Australian Fingerstyle and "Pub Rock" Scene
11:00 - Winning Australia's Got Talent (And Rejecting Sony Music)
20:00 - The Sonic Magic of Pre-War Martin & Gibson Acoustics
26:40 - The "Autodidact" Mindset: Why Joe Reads 80 Books a Year
30:05 - Fingerstyle Vocabulary: Travis Picking & The "Roll"
33:00 - Why Joe Teaches Arrangements Without Thumb Picks or Barre Chords
41:40 - Borrowing the "Rest Stroke" from Gypsy Jazz Players
47:45 - Practicing Standing Up (And Using a Mirror)
53:00 - How to Be a Great Student & Find Mentors
1:07:25 - Composing Counterpoint Using Guitar Pro🎸 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: https://open.spotify.com/show/033GDhrc6VzGdJREjOS52A📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee.
🎥 Host: Spencer Handley
Guest: Joe Robinson
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley… -
The Viral Solo That Broke Telluride | Mountain Grass Unit
1 november 2026 · 52 min
Mountain Grass Unit has rapidly evolved from touring in a Volkswagen to playing the country's biggest festivals. In this episode, Drury Anderson, Luke Black, Josiah Nelson, and Sam Wilson share wild stories from the road, including backing Kesha at the Bonnaroo Super Jam and getting a surprise Grand Ole Opry invite from Del McCoury. They also dive into bluegrass mechanics, explaining the aggressive rhythm of "Mash" bluegrass, and revealing why they ditched click tracks for their new Vance Powell-produced album to capture a purely organic sound. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with a Sonora mentor.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/hsb3?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/hsb3/looper?d=1📍 Chapters:
0:00 - Intro & The Rise of Mountain Grass Unit (From VWs to Sprinters)
5:16 - Becoming Kesha's Backing Band at Bonnaroo
8:10 - Getting Invited to the Grand Ole Opry at DelFest
11:00 - Breaking Down Luke's Viral Telluride Solo
14:40 - Tony Rice Licks, Mixolydian Runs, and Billy Strings Vamping
28:46 - How the Upright Bass Supports the Guitar Solo
29:45 - What is "Mash" Bluegrass? (Mash vs. Traditional)
33:15 - How Music Theory Helps Bluegrass Jams
41:40 - Fiddle vs. Guitar: The Mastery of Josiah Nelson
47:20 - Recording the New Album with Vance Powell
49:00 - Why They Ditched the Click Track in the Studio
50:20 - Sam’s Accounting Degree and Running the Band's LinkedIn Page🎸 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: https://open.spotify.com/show/033GDhrc6VzGdJREjOS52A📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee.
🎥 Host: Spencer Handl… -
How Guthrie Govan Mastered the Fretboard | Brett Papa
1 november 2026 · 1 uur 21 min
Brett Papa, one of the most successful guitar educators on the internets sits down to detail the grueling, blue-collar hustle that launched his channel. He reveals how he survived on 4 hours of sleep while working at Divided by 13 to film videos at 2 AM, how Marty Schwartz mentored him in the "wild west" days of YouTube, and the business philosophy that changed his life. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with a Sonora Mentor.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/4x4a?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/4x4a/looper?d=1📍 Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction & The Magic of Guitar
1:40 - Working at Divided by 13 & The Start of YouTube
3:30 - Mentorship from Marty Schwartz
6:45 - Helping Tim Pierce Start His YouTube Channel
10:30 - How Guthrie Govan Introduced Brett to the CAGED System
19:00 - The Art of Interviewing and Producing Session Legends
22:30 - Discovering the Hidden Nuance of Pro Players
28:00 - The 10-to-1 Ratio of Creating Value
33:00 - The Hustle: 3 Jobs and 4 Hours of Sleep
38:30 - Taking Initiative and Controlling Your Destiny
46:00 - The Humility of Dann Huff
1:03:50 - Demystifying the CAGED System & Chord Shapes
1:12:00 - Connecting Pentatonic Scales to CAGED Chords🎸 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: https://open.spotify.com/show/033GDhrc6VzGdJREjOS52A📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee.
🎥 Host: Spencer Handley
Guest: Brett Papa
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #BrettPapa #Gu…
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The System That Unlocked the Fretboard | John Osborne
1 november 2026 · 1 uur 3 min
John Osborne, the lead guitarist and one-half of the Grammy-winning country duo Brothers Osborne. Known for his blistering Telecaster chops and soulful musicianship, In this episode, John sits down to discuss the journey to the top of the country charts was anything but a straight line. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/bbyf?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/bbyf/looper?d=1📍 Chapters:
0:57 - Live Acoustic Performance
3:20 - Building the "Frankenstein" 1968 Telecaster
5:55 - Learning to Play the B-Bender
9:25 - B-Bender Music Theory & Pedal Steel Emulation
14:38 - Playing Upright Bass & Quitting Classical Music
19:56 - The Origin of Brothers Osborne
27:54 - Burnout, Tinnitus, and Hitting Rock Bottom on Tour
34:06 - Doing a Heroic Dose of Psilocybin Mushrooms for Anxiety
44:04 - Producing Records & Playing in the Key of C
48:54 - The CAGED System: The "Idiot's Guide to Music"
53:10 - Bill Kirchen’s Kazoo Trick (Singing Your Solos)
56:39 - Arranging Guitar Parts Like a Painter
1:01:41 - Outro & Live Acoustic 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: https://open.spotify.com/show/033GDhrc6VzGdJREjOS52A📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee.
🎥 Host: Spencer Handley
Guest: John Osborne
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #JohnOsborne #BrothersOsborne #Telecaster #BBender #CAGEDSystem #GuitarLesson #MentalHealth #Psychedelics #CountryGuit…
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What They Don't Tell You About Blues | Southern Avenue
1 november 2026 · 40 min
Grammy-nominated Memphis blues band Southern Avenue’s Tierinii and Ori discuss the gritty origins of the band, from growing up in a strict religious household to learning blues guitar in Israel and eventually moving to Memphis to chase the American Dream. Lees meer
They also reveal the story behind writing music for Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, their approach to creating a concept album, and why they’re proud to be a blue-collar band that “came from nothing.”
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with a Sonora mentor.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/xqe4?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/xqe4/looper?d=1📍 Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction at DelFest
1:25 - Ori's Mentor: A James Brown Guitarist in Tel Aviv
3:30 - Tierinii’s Upbringing: Getting in Trouble with the Church
6:25 - Why Tierinii Pursued Secular Music Over Gospel
8:55 - Writing Music for the Secret Hollywood Movie "Sinners"
12:35 - Moving to Memphis to Chase the American Dream
17:10 - What the City of Memphis Means to the Band
20:50 - Recording the Concept Album "Family"
22:35 - Touring with Willie Nelson & Bob Dylan
25:40 - Finding Their True Sound (Ignoring the "Cool Kids")
28:20 - "We Came From Nothing": The Blue-Collar Hustle
29:10 - Ori on the Responsibility of Playing the Blues as an Israeli
31:55 - Navigating Politics and Internet Trolls on Tour
35:45 - The Importance of Writing a Concept Album🎸 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: https://open.spotify.com/show/033GDhrc6VzGdJREjOS52A📍 Filmed live at DelFest 2026, County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland
🎥 Host: Spencer Handley
Guest: Ronnie … -
The Bill Monroe Movie You'll Never See | Ronnie McCoury
31 oktober 2026 · 29 min
In this episode, Bluegrass royalty Ronnie McCoury sits down at DelFest to discuss the realities of carrying on a massive family legacy, how his dad taught him to play with a "loose wrist," the challenges of replacing a 33-year band member and the tragic collapse of a highly-funded Bill Monroe biopic Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora Mentor:
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/tpqb?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/tpqb/looper?d=1📍 Chapters:
0:00 - DelFest Highlights & Curating the Lineup
6:00 - Growing Up McCoury: Learning Mandolin from Del
10:30 - The Jump to Nashville in 1985
12:00 - Del's Mandolin Advice: "Loose as a Dish Rag"
14:15 - Teaching the Next Generation: Heaven McCoury
16:15 - Why The Travelin' McCourys Were Really Formed
21:55 - The Lost Bill Monroe Movie Tapes
25:00 - How to Replace a 33-Year Band Member
27:35 - The Future of the McCoury Legacy🎸 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: https://open.spotify.com/show/033GDhrc6VzGdJREjOS52A📍 Filmed live at DelFest 2026, County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland
🎥 Host: Spencer Handley
Guest: Ronnie McCoury
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Camera/Sound: Ben Bingham
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley#RonnieMcCoury #DelMcCoury #DelFest #BillMonroe #EarlScruggs #Bluegrass #BluegrassMandolin #McCouryFamily #JasonCarter #RalphStanley #PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #DelFest2026 #BluegrassLegacy #MusicHistory #Mandolin #MusicPodcast #BluegrassFamily #GrandOleOpry #Delfest #Cartervintageguitars #Sonoraguitarintensive
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What Bill Monroe Warned Me About | Peter Rowan
31 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 4 min
In this episode, Peter Rowan joins us at DelFest to break down the origins of classic songs like "Panama Red" and "The Walls of Time," the harsh wisdom of Bill Monroe, and how ancient philosophy shapes his songwriting and life on the road. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/6dns?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/6dns/looper?d=1📍 Chapters:
0:00 - Joining Bill Monroe & The Grand Ole Opry
1:32 - Touring with the Sam Grisman Project
7:00 - Reggae, Flamencon & World Music Influences
11:58 - The True Story of Writing "Panama Red"
13:40 - Pitching Songs to Jerry Garcia & New Riders
15:57 - Bill Monroe's Warning: "Don't Go Too Far on the Limb"
18:39 - Finding His Voice in Old & In the Way
25:40 - Studying Epic Ballads & Transcendentalism
31:45 - Ethnobotany, Sacred Literature & Counter-Culture Lore
42:00 - The Philosophy of Tibetan Buddhism in Daily Life
58:58 - Writing "The Walls of Time" with Bill Monroe🎸 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: https://open.spotify.com/show/033GDhrc6VzGdJREjOS52A📍 Filmed live at DelFest 2026, County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland
🎥 Host: Spencer Handley
Guest: Peter Rowan
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Camera/Sound: Ben Bingham
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #CharlieStarr #BlackberrySmoke #DaveCobb #SouthernRock #MarshallTuckerBand #ToyCaldwell #GuitarLesson #SongwritingTips #DelFest #BluegrassMusic #MusicLegend
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End of an Era for Blackberry Smoke | Charlie Starr
31 oktober 2026 · 26 min
Charlie Starr of Blackberry Smoke sits down to discuss the band's 25th anniversary and their latest transitional chapter. Charlie shares the story behind his spontaneous, bucket-list performance with Del McCoury and dives deep into his work with the Toy Factory Project, a supergroup honoring the Marshall Tucker Band. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/93w8?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/93w8/looper?d=1📍 Chapters:
0:01:46 - The Bathroom Break That Led to a Bucket List Stage Moment
0:02:34 - Musical Lineage: A Bluegrass Dad and a Rock & Roll Mom
0:05:51 - The Formation of The Toy Factory Project Supergroup
0:08:40 - Deconstructing Toy Caldwell's "Cornbread Jazz" Chords
0:12:06 - Honoring the Brit Turner Era With Volume 1
0:13:06 - Blackberry Smoke's Next Chapter After 25 Years
0:17:27 - Why Iconic Bands Hated the "Southern Rock" Label
0:18:58 - Tom Waits' "Rain Dogs" Strategy to Break Muscle Memory
0:20:17 - Exploring Jazz Influences: Kenny Burrell, Coltrane, & Sun Ra
0:24:09 - Dave Cobb's Studio Advice: "Perfection is Boring"🎸 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: https://open.spotify.com/show/033GDhrc6VzGdJREjOS52A🎥Filmed live at DelFest 2026, County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland
🎙️ Host: Spencer Handley
Guest: Charlie Starr
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #CharlieStarr #BlackberrySmoke #DaveCobb #SouthernRock #MarshallTuckerBand #ToyCaldwell #GuitarLes…
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5 Levels of Jazz Guitar (Complete Masterclass w/ Cecil Alexander)
30 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 29 min
Cecil Alexander, elite jazz guitarist and Berklee faculty joins Playback Sessions for a 5-level jazz guitar masterclass built for blues and rock players. From pentatonic foundations to third substitutions, plus a close look at his custom Alexander Polyov guitar and the reverse-angle picking style nobody else uses. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/b53r?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/b53r/looper?d=1📍 Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
1:05 - Cecil's Custom Neck Guitar
6:00 - How Grant Green Unlocked Jazz for Cecil
10:42 - Level 1: Escaping Pentatonic Boxes
17:03 - Level 2: The Arpeggio Roadmap
28:40 - The "Avoid Note" Rule (Why the Root Clashes)
33:47 - Level 3: Pivot Arpeggios & Triplet Variations
44:27 - Level 4: Chromaticism, Enclosures & Bebop Scales
51:18 - The George Benson Picking Technique
1:08:15 - Level 5: Altered Scales & Substitutions
1:16:53 - How to "Side-Slip" Outside the Changes🎸 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: https://open.spotify.com/show/033GDhrc6VzGdJREjOS52A📍 Filmed live at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville, Tennessee.
🎥 Host: Spencer Handley
Guest: Cecil Alexander
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #SonoraGuitarIntensive #CecilAlexander #JazzGuitar #5Levels #JazzGuitarLesson #BebopGuitar #GrantGreen #JazzTheory #GuitarImprovisation #JazzForBluesPlayers #DonnaLee #McCoyTyner #Coltrane #SideSlipping #ChordSubstitutions #CarterVintage #JazzGuitarRoadmap #Berklee #GuitarMasterclass
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How to Keep a Band Alive for 33 Years | Gaelic Storm
30 oktober 2026 · 28 min
Gaelic Storm has been touring relentlessly for over three decades, but the music industry looks very different today than it did when they started. In this episode, sitting down with us at Del Fest 2026 right after an insane 75-minute set in the pouring rain, the band opens up about the brutal economics of the streaming era, how they write their genre-bending tunes, and the hilarious stories of how their members hustled their way into the group. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/u7z2?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/u7z2/looper?d=1📍 Chapters:
0:01:00 – Welcome to Del Fest: 75 Minutes in Torrential Rain
0:01:51 – "I've Been in This Band 33 Years — I'm Going Home"
0:02:20 – Sole Founding Member: "I've Scared Everybody Else Away"
0:03:25 – The Irish Band Whose Songwriters Weren't Irish
0:07:00 – One Song in Cork Changed Everything (The Titanic Connection)
0:08:55 – Jimmy Crowley Sang at His Dad's Graveside
0:11:28 – Learning Traditional Irish Fiddle Since Age 7
0:12:19 – "I Thought Playing Trad Wouldn't Pay — So I Got a Corporate Job"
0:13:04 – Auditioning for Gaelic Storm
0:14:20 – 1.2 Million Streams. The Streaming Math.
0:16:11 – "The Model Doesn't Work" — Moving to Singles From Pete's Basement
0:21:02 – How Patrick Met His Wife (The Shot for the Drummer Story)
0:23:24 – The Gaelic Storm Spin: Take Any Song and Make It Yours
0:25:55 – 25 Rock Bands and Then There's Us🎸 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: https://open.spotify.com/show/033GDhrc6VzGdJREjOS52A📍 Filmed live at DelFest 2026, Coun…
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How We Unexpectedly Fixed Our Sound | The Infamous Stringdusters
30 oktober 2026 · 34 min
For 20 years, The Infamous Stringdusters have been pushing the boundaries of bluegrass music. In this episode, the guys dive into the realities of longevity in the music business, why they left a traditional record label to forge their own path, and the unexpected creative freedom that came from losing their mandolin player. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/m96r?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/m96r/looper?d=1📍 Chapters:
0:00:09 – Hot Take on AI
0:01:30 – The 20th Anniversary Album: 20 Tracks for 20 Years
0:02:00 – What Making This Album Really Meant to the Band
0:04:02 – Why AI Is Actually Making People Want Acoustic Music
0:04:29 – Going Back to Raw: No Effects, No Processing
0:26:52 – Why Removing an Element Freed Their Music Up
0:28:01 – The Next Generation: Who's Pushing Bluegrass Forward
0:28:39 – The Period When They Stopped Saying "Bluegrass"
0:29:00 – Now Bluegrass Is Cool Again: The Trickle-Down Effect
0:29:53 – "40 for 40": Still Making Music in 20 Years
0:30:32 – The Americana Label: Where It Goes 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: https://open.spotify.com/show/033GDhrc6VzGdJREjOS52A📍 Filmed live at DelFest 2026, County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland
🎥 Host: Spencer Handley
Guest: The Infamous Stringdusters
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Camera/Sound: Ben Bingham
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #TheInfamousStringdusters #BluegrassMusic #MusicBusiness #DelFest #Aco…
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12-Week Blueprint for Fingerstyle Mastery | Adam Miller
30 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 19 min
Adam Miller has spent over a decade touring internationally, carving out a niche as one of the most innovative fingerstyle players in the world. In this episode, he breaks down the reality of touring as an independent artist, his journey of meeting Les Paul on a whim, and the exact techniques he uses to bridge the gap between bass and guitar. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/h269?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/h269/looper?d=10:00:00 – Intro
0:05:11 – Started on Organ at 4: The Ear-Based Yamaha Method
0:06:03 – Guitar at 9: Learned Keyboard Layout Before Chords
0:07:00 – Mom Bought a Tommy Emmanuel Cassette
0:09:34 – Why Australia Builds So Many Great Fingerstyle Players
0:11:21 – Teenage Years: Playing Tommy by Ear Every Day
0:14:25 – Opening for Tommy Emmanuel at 19: Same Day They Met
0:16:39 – Lecturing Guitar at University for 9 Years
0:17:54 – Teaching Finger Independence: The Alternating Bass Method
0:20:46 – Learning Constant Bass Notes From Clapton's Unplugged
1:06:53 – Recording at Dave Grohl's Sound City Studio
1:08:30 – The Blanket Story: Improvised EP That Started With Tea
1:11:38 – Performance: Times Like These (Foo Fighters)
1:13:43 – Why He Ditched the Thumb Pick and Uses One Pick Only
1:17:32 – Performance: Love (Song Written for His Wife)🎸 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: Adam Miller
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Pro… -
I Quit Guitar at 6. One Song Brought Me Back | Heaven McCoury
30 oktober 2026 · 30 min
Bluegrass legend Del McCoury joins us at Del Fest to share the stories that defined a genre. From the night Bill Monroe walked into a small Baltimore bar and changed his trajectory, to the decades spent touring with his sons, Del opens up about his 87-year-old work ethic and his philosophy on legacy. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/cwzh?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/cwzh/looper?d=10:16 – The night Bill Monroe walked in
0:54 – The origins of Del Fest
3:45 – Cumberland, Maryland: The perfect location
6:11 – Politics and "Del's Army"
10:11 – Surviving the storm that hit the bus
12:06 – Work ethic at 87
13:58 – Legacy: Working with sons Ronnie and Rob
22:25 – The search for a new fiddle player
26:55 – Why Del doesn't use a set list
31:32 – Songwriting with Harley Allen
38:29 – The Bill Monroe story: Joining the band
41:41 – The moment he was told to drop the banjo🎸 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 DelFest, County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland
🎥 Host: Spencer Handley
Guest: Del McCoury
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Camera/Sound: Ben Bingham
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley#DelMcCoury #DelFest #BillMonroe #Bluegrass #PlaybackSessions #LesterFlatt #BluegrassGuitar #MusicHistory #BluegrassLegend # SpencerHandley #Cartervintageguitars #sonoraguitarintensive
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Why I Stopped Using A Set List | Del McCoury
29 oktober 2026 · 47 min
Bluegrass legend Del McCoury joins us at Del Fest to share the stories that defined a genre. From the night Bill Monroe walked into a small Baltimore bar and changed his trajectory, to the decades spent touring with his sons, Del opens up about his 87-year-old work ethic and his philosophy on legacy. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/cwzh?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/cwzh/looper?d=10:16 – The night Bill Monroe walked in
0:54 – The origins of Del Fest
3:45 – Cumberland, Maryland: The perfect location
6:11 – Politics and "Del's Army"
10:11 – Surviving the storm that hit the bus
12:06 – Work ethic at 87
13:58 – Legacy: Working with sons Ronnie and Rob
22:25 – The search for a new fiddle player
26:55 – Why Del doesn't use a set list
31:32 – Songwriting with Harley Allen
38:29 – The Bill Monroe story: Joining the band
41:41 – The moment he was told to drop the banjo🎸 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 DelFest, County Fairgrounds in Cumberland, Maryland
🎥 Host: Spencer Handley
Guest: Del McCoury
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Camera/Sound: Ben Bingham
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #DelMcCoury #BillMonroe #BluegrassMusic #DelFest #BluegrassGuitar #AcousticGuitar #RonnieMcCoury #RobMcCoury #GrandOleOpry
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Why I Switched To 4-Finger Strumming Method | Noé Socha
29 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 12 min
Noé Socha joins Playback Sessions to discuss his journey from a classical child prodigy in Italy to a soulful blues guitarist in New York City. We dive into his unique right-hand technique, his philosophy on improvisation, and the realities of building a career as a blind musician. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/f4x4?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/f4x4/looper?d=100:00 – Intro
01:05 – Live Performance: Walking Stick Blues
08:07 – Growing Up in Italy: Classical Beginnings
09:16 – Addressing Internet Trolls & "Fake Blind" Comments
10:43 – The impact of Bob Dylan’s freedom
12:47 – Learning the blues & finding his voice
14:46 – Being a Band Leader vs. A Side Person
17:18 – The Disadvantage of Braille Music
18:55 – Unique Technique: Emulating a Pick with Nails
23:18 – Influences: Tommy Emmanuel and Rico Zanella
25:06 – Overcoming Pressure as a Blind Musician
27:18 – Learning from Ray Charles and Snooks Eaglin
44:30 – Live Performance: Romance Among Thieves
1:04:30 – Live Performance: Spoonful
1:06:24 – Live Performance: Sound Painting Improvised Piece🎸 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: Noé Socha
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Moti Margolin#NoéSocha #BluesGuitar #PlaybackSessions #BlindMusician #FingerstyleBlues #GuitarTechnique #BluesGuitarist #MusicPodcast #ItalianBlues #BraileMusic #SimpleBlueBoy #SpencerHandley #CarterVintage #BlindGuitarist #GuitarCulture #…
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Why Vilray Plays This Cheap WW2 Guitar
28 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 4 min
Vilray joins Playback Sessions in New York to pull back the curtain on his unique songwriting process, his decade-long break from music, and the "subway" training ground that helped him find his voice. We dive deep into his character-study approach to songwriting and the reality of crafting music that sounds like a lost treasure from the 1940s. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/6597?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/6597/looper?d=100:00 – Intro
0:00:56 – Live Performance: Forever Never Lasts For Very Long
0:04:04 – Ben Affleck and J-Lo Inspired This Song
0:06:33 – The Wikipedia Songwriting Game With Lake Street Dive
0:07:36 – Stopped Writing Music for 10 Years
0:09:14 – A Broken Pinky Changed His Relationship With Music
0:12:52 – Writing Originals to Fool People Into Thinking They're Standards
0:13:13 – Rachel Price Saw the Show: "Let's Make Music Together"
0:17:41 – The Guitar: Gibson ES-125 and the P90 Secret
0:29:07 – "I'm Not a Singer. She Said: Now I Know You Are."
0:37:36 – Writing Commission Songs for Weddings and Anniversaries
0:41:02 – Live Performance: Hate Is the Basis of Love
0:43:00 – Writing Like You're Writing for Nat King Cole
0:47:15 – Live Performance: Is It Jim? (His Favorite Song)
1:00:47 – Live Performance: Closing Commission Piece🎸 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: Vilray
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Moti Margolin#Vilray #RachelPrice #La…
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I Learned This Too Late | Grant Gordy
28 oktober 2026 · 49 min
Grant Gordy joins Playback Sessions for a deep conversation about the gap between playing professionally and actually understanding what you're doing and why the practice tool most guitarists rely on might be working against them. Lees meer
🚀 Book a Free Skills Assessment with Sonora.
https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/p333?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/p333/looper?d=100:00 – Intro
1:16 — Growing Up in Portland, Dad's Blues Sessions
2:15 — Getting a Guitar at 13
3:31 — Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, and Early Guitar Culture
3:52 — Meeting Mike Marshall at the Mandolin Symposium
8:07 — Joining David Grisman's Band (Subbing Frank Venola)
8:31 — Filling Tony Rice's Seat
15:53 — David Said: "He Never Plays the Same Thing Twice"
16:55 — How Grant Practiced: Transcription Over Tab
24:01 — The Lesson That Changed Everything (Inversions)
25:22 — Diminished Harmony Deep Dive
35:18 — What Every Student Needs: Time Is a Listening Problem
38:06 — Metronome vs. Play-Alongs
43:08 — The Duo Record with Ross Martin
47:36 — Mr. Sun, Solo Guitar, and What's Coming in 2026🎸 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: Grant Gordy
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #GrantGordy #DavidGrisman #TonyRice #JazzGuitar #BluegrassGuitar #DiminishedChords #MetronomePractice #MusicTheory #AcousticGuitar #Flatpicking
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How To Make A Demo Grammy-Worthy | John Leventhal
26 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 7 min
Free skills assessment with a Sonora mentor: https://www.learnwithsonora.com/yt/82xn?d=1 Lees meer
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=100:00 – 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
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Oz Noy's Secret to Fretboard Mastery
19 oktober 2026 · 52 min
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. Lees meer
🚀 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
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Patreon CEO Jack Conte: Adopt AI or Die
18 oktober 2026 · 24 min
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. Lees meer
🚀 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 …
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Why AL Di Meola Says Fast Guitarists Fail
18 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 22 min
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. Lees meer
🚀 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 H… -
The 8% Rule Billy Strings Uses To Practice
18 oktober 2026 · 34 min
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. Lees meer
🚀 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…
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How Patreon CEO Jack Conte Runs Sessions Like a Kid
18 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 6 min
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. Lees meer
🚀 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 #IndependentAr…
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Jedd Hughes Wrote Stories About This as a Kid
17 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 31 min
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. Lees meer
🚀 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
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Why Marty Schwartz Doesn't Need YouTube Anymore
17 oktober 2026 · 54 min
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. Lees meer
🚀 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
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The One Concept That Unlocks Blues Playing | Corey Congilio
23 september 2026 · 57 min
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. Lees meer
🚀 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
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Larkin Poe Spent 15 Years Getting This Wrong
23 september 2026 · 1 uur 26 min
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 Lees meer
🚀 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
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15-Minute Rule for Writing Better Songs | Margaret Glaspy
22 september 2026 · 55 min
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. Lees meer
🚀 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 #S…
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The Airport Moment That Changed Tim Stafford's Life
22 september 2026 · 1 uur 16 min
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. Lees meer
🚀 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 #BlueHighwa…
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Why You Should Ignore Your Audience | Becca Stevens
22 september 2026 · 49 min
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. Lees meer
🚀 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
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Stop Practicing This Way If You Want to Play Fast w/ Andy Wood
22 september 2026 · 1 uur 41 min
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. Lees meer
🚀 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/@playba… -
Jimi Hendrix TONE Secrets Revealed by RJ Ronquillo
21 september 2026 · 27 min
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! Lees meer
🚀 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 #GuitarPe…
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How to Build a Music Career on Your Own Terms | Lindsay Ell
21 september 2026 · 59 min
Lindsay Ell joins Playback Sessions for an honest conversation about leaving her record deal, rebuilding her team, writing her most vulnerable music yet, and navigating fame and identity in the modern music industry. Lees meer
🚀 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
02:00 – Writing the Scariest Thing First
04:47 – “Fence Sitter” & Not Knowing
10:00 – This Record Feels Different
13:00 – When Art vs Success Collided
14:30 – Leaving Her Record Deal
16:00 – Rebuilding Her Entire Team
20:40 – Randy Bachman Mentorship
24:50 – First Stadium Show Disaster
27:20 – Playing Lead for Shania Twain
31:00 – Vision Boards & Manifesting
34:30 – You’re Not Entitled to Outcomes
37:00 – Why Commercial Music Repeats
39:30 – AI, Copyright & The Future
45:05 – Brad Paisley, Guitar Painting & 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🎥 Host: Spencer Handley
🔥 Lindsay Ell
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #LindsayEll #CountryMusic #IndiePop #Songwriting #ShaniaTwain #RandyBachman #MusicIndustry #GuitarLesson #WomenInMusic #FenderGuitars #NashvilleMusic
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The Right-Hand Shift That Changed Trey Hensley
20 september 2026 · 1 uur 12 min
Trey Hensley joins Playback Sessions for an honest conversation about impostor syndrome, rebuilding his right hand after injury, serving the song over speed, and how Tony Rice shaped his musical evolution. This is Trey at his most open, fear, growth, and identity included. Lees meer
🚀 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
00:25 – Live from Woodshed Experience
00:47 – Summer Touring + Teaching Camps
01:14 – Final Year of the Duo + New Records
01:35 – Acoustic vs Electric Recording Process
04:38 – What Producers Changed in His Playing
05:55 – Balancing Acoustic & Electric Identity
08:27 – Right-Hand Drills: Pick Direction & Tone
12:52 – The Injury That Forced Him to Rebuild
14:16 – Anchoring vs Closed Fist Technique
16:00 – Learning the Bluegrass “Bounce”
26:13 – Duo Arranging: Filling Space with Two Players
33:34 – Tony Rice: Innovation & Jazz Influence
42:47 – Impostor Syndrome & The Mental Game
56:34 – What’s Next: New Record & Touring Plans🎸 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
🔥 Trey Hensley
Editor: Carl Reeverts
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #TreyHensley #Flatpicking #BluegrassGuitar #AcousticGuitar #GuitarLesson #GuitarTechnique #AlternatePicking #ImposterSyndrome #Songwriting #WoodshedGuitarExperience #TonyRic…
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Life After Hall & Oates | John Oates
20 september 2026 · 1 uur 8 min
John Oates joins Playback Sessions for an honest conversation about life after 50 years on stage, reinvention, creativity, and what it really means to move forward after massive success. This is about identity, evolution, and staying inspired long after the hits. Lees meer
🚀 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
02:45 – The Weight of Legacy
06:30 – Why Reinvention Matters
10:12 – Finding Identity Beyond the Duo
15:40 – Nashville & Creative Reset
20:55 – Staying Curious After Success
25:30 – Writing From Experience
31:10 – Americana Influence
36:42 – Music Industry Then vs Now
42:18 – AI & The Future of Music
48:55 – Racing, Passion & Balance
54:20 – Lessons From Decades Touring
1:00:05 – What Keeps Him Inspired
1:04:30 – Advice to Younger Artists
1:07:57 – Closing Thoughts🎸 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: John Oates
Editors: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy#JohnOates #HallAndOates #PlaybackSessions #Americana #Songwriting #ClassicRock #MusicPodcast #NashvilleMusic #CreativeLongevity #MusicIndustry
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The 2-5-1 Most Players Don’t Hear | Noel Johnston
20 september 2026 · 23 min
Noel Johnston joins Playback Sessions for a thoughtful conversation about exploration, 2-5-1 thinking, Mick Goodrick’s influence, and why memorizing licks isn’t enough. This episode dives into curiosity, harmonic awareness, and approaching guitar as a lifelong study. Lees meer
🚀 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 at The Woodshed Guitar Experience
00:45 – Rethinking Common Progressions
02:30 – Why Exploration Beats Memorization
04:10 – Learning From Listening Deeply
05:50 – Thinking in Harmonic Movement
07:15 – Breaking Out of Scale Boxes
08:45 – Developing Musical Curiosity
10:20 – Teaching Through Demonstration
12:05 – Exploration as Practice
13:40 – Mick Goodrick’s Influence
15:10 – “The Advancing Guitarist”
16:45 – Moving Beyond Patterns
18:20 – Modern Jazz Language
19:55 – How to Study Differently
22:45 – Final Thoughts🎸 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 @woodshedguitarexperience - Crossville, TN
🎥 Host: Spencer Handley
Guest: Noel Johnston
Editors: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producers: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy#NoelJohnston #PlaybackSessions #JazzGuitar #MickGoodrick #Improvisation #Fretboard #MusicEducation #ModernJazz #GuitarMindset #AdvancingGuitarist
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From Child Prodigy to 4x Grammy Winner | The Sarah Jarosz Story
19 september 2026 · 1 uur 1 min
Sarah Jarosz opens up about creativity, vulnerability, and learning to trust your musical instincts. From leaving your ego at the door to singing ideas before playing them, Sarah shares how letting yourself sound “stupid” is often the doorway to something real. Lees meer
🚀 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 – Singing ideas instead of playing them
05:40 – Why sounding bad is part of the process
09:30 – Learning to trust your first instincts
14:10 – Don’t edit yourself too early
19:45 – Vulnerability in songwriting
25:30 – Letting songs reveal themselves
31:10 – Confidence vs control
36:40 – Staying honest in the studio
42:20 – Advice for young musicians
47:10 – What creativity feels like when it’s right
51:30 – Final thoughts & wrap-up🎸 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: Sarah Jarosz
Editors: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #SarahJarosz #Songwriting #AcousticGuitar #Mandolin #OctaveMandolin #ImWithHer #ChrisThile #AmericanaMusic #BluegrassMusic #GuitarLesson #CreativeProcess
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The Risk That Changed Everything | Jared James Nichols
19 september 2026 · 1 uur 23 min
Jared James Nichols opens up about the real struggles behind finding his sound from early debt and self-doubt to ripping the neck pickup out of his guitar in search of clarity. Jared shares why picks never felt right, why speed was never the goal, and how embracing discomfort helped him build a voice that’s unmistakably his own. Lees meer
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https://www.learnwithsonora.com/skills-assessment👇 Want to go deeper? Join the Playback Sessions community for tabs, breakdowns, and more.
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https://looper.sonoraintensive.com/📍 Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome + Carter Vintage Guitars intro
05:45 – The tornado-destroyed “Dorothy” Les Paul
11:10 – Why Jared Never Used a Pick
12:17 – “My Tone Was Mushy”
14:10 – The Day He Ripped the Pickup Out
15:20 – Filling a Guitar with Car Bondo
33:13 – Entering the Les Paul Contest With No Plan B
42:29 – When Steven Tyler Walked In
45:23 – Truck Stops, Debt, and the Reality of Touring
1:22:33 – Wrap-up + where to follow Jared🎸 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: Jared James Nichols
Editors: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy#JaredJamesNichols #BluesRock #GuitarLesson #LesPaul #GibsonGuitars #FingerstyleGuitar #SteveVai #StevenTyler #LynyrdSkynyrd #GuitarTone #BluesGuitar #PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive
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The Guitar Lesson Tomo Fujita Gives Every Student
18 september 2026 · 1 uur 6 min
Legendary educator Tomo Fujita breaks down how he teaches guitar at Berklee College of Music and why most players are practicing the wrong way. He explains why mastering one thing deeply matters more than learning everything fast. This is a must-watch for guitarists who want real musicianship, not shortcuts. Lees meer
🚀 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
02:10 – Tomo’s first test for new students
05:05 – The questionnaire that reveals everything
09:40 – Amp setup: no reverb, more truth
12:00 – Fixing guitars before fixing technique
14:10 – “Do one thing really good”
18:45 – Why patience is the real skill
23:00 – How Tomo learned rhythm (the hard way)
27:30 – Metronome practice that actually works
31:00 – Why you can’t play outside without playing inside
36:40 – Practice vs performance mindset
44:00 – Music education today vs the past
48:10 – Teaching John Mayer foundations
56:40 – The philosophy behind Play by Feeling
1:05:10 – Final thoughts & Guitar Wisdom🎸 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: Tomo Fujita
Editors: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley#TomoFujita #GuitarLesson #BerkleeCollegeOfMusic #JohnMayer #GuitarPractice #GuitarSetup #MusicTheory #EarTraining #GuitarWisdom #BluesGuitar #GuitarTone #AlternatePicking #PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageG…
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Victor Wooten Explains What Most Musicians Miss
18 september 2026 · 1 uur 2 min
Victor Wooten shares his philosophy on learning music naturally by playing first and understanding later. From why one note can be enough, to how feel, timing, and space matter more than technique, Victor reframes what it really means to be musical. Insightful, grounding, and deeply human, this conversation will change how you listen, practice, and play. Lees meer
🚀 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
04:00 – Why music education often teaches things backwards
06:20 – “We teach the naturalness out of people”
08:30 – Playing music vs playing an instrument
11:00 – How Victor approaches music theory (and why charts matter)
16:30 – Learning feel, tone, and accent through bluegrass
22:10 – Making other musicians sound better
31:00 – Using space to make music more powerful
35:20 – Wrong notes, tension, and emotional impact
40:30 – Identity, confidence, and longevity as a musician
51:20 – Living and performing with focal dystonia
56:50 – What’s next: tours, camps, and new Wooten Brothers music
1:02:05 – Final thoughts & closing🎸 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
🔥 Victor Wooten
Editor: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #VictorWooten #BassGuitar #MusicTheory #FocalDystonia #Music…
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Bryan Sutton on What Separates Real Players
17 september 2026 · 1 uur 24 min
Bryan Sutton breaks down why groove can’t be rushed, why clarity matters more than speed, and how real musicianship is revealed through timing, restraint, and intention. Honest, thoughtful, and deeply musical, this episode is a must-watch for players who want their music to feel as good as it sounds. Lees meer
🚀 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
05:10 – Learning tunes by listening first
10:30 – Melody as the roadmap (not scale shapes)
17:10 – Finding your own voice beyond your heroes
26:50 – Balancing intuition and structure
35:50 – Imposter syndrome at every level
47:30 – Playing with Billy Strings & modern bluegrass
57:05 – Groove, pocket, and subtle timing
1:05:40 – Learning on the job vs formal practice
1:21:30 – Closing performance
1:23:10 – Outro & final thoughts🎸 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: Bryan Sutton
Editors: Carl Reeverts, Clayton Hopkins, Evan Bowser
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #BryanSutton #BluegrassGuitar #Flatpicking #AcousticGuitar #GuitarLesson #TonyRice #FiddleTunes #ImposterSyndrome #MusicTheory #RhythmGuitar #ArtistWorks #BluegrassMusic
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The Guitar Mistake Paul Gilbert Had to Unlearn
17 september 2026 · 58 min
Paul Gilbert gets real about melody, speed, and why great playing starts with listening. From kazoo wisdom to slide guitar and clean shred technique, this is a masterclass in musical thinking, not just guitar chops. Lees meer
🚀 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 – “I’m chasing my inner kazoo player”
3:00 – Losing (and rediscovering) your musical voice
5:30 – Why lyrics unlock better melodies
9:10 – Why exotic scales often fail
16:40 – Discovering slide as a new musical voice
23:30 – Finding melody across different songs
37:50 – How to actually build speed (clean first)
39:00 – Why sloppy fast playing doesn’t work
43:10 – Bottom-up vs top-down learning
48:20 – Melody vs speed in solos🎸 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: Paul Gilbert
Editor: Carl Reeverts
Executive Producers: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #PaulGilbert #GuitarLesson #ShredGuitar #GuitarScales #EarTraining #MrBig #RacerX #SlideGuitar #GuitarSpeed #IbanezGuitars #MusicTheory #GuitarPhrasing
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Guitar Lesson with Tommy Emmanuel
16 september 2026 · 1 uur 11 min
In this special episode of Playback Sessions, the legendary Tommy Emmanuel joins Spencer at Carter Vintage Guitars for an honest, joyful deep dive into creativity, tone, and musical freedom. Tommy shares the mindset, stories, and hard-earned wisdom behind his unmistakable sound from touch and dynamics to rhythm, emotion, and playing without fear. Packed with heart, humor, and inspiration, this episode is a masterclass in serving the music first for any guitarist who wants to express with authenticity, not just technique. Lees meer
🚀 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 & Tommy’s background
02:15 – The transition from sideman to solo artist
05:30 – What “voice” means on guitar
09:40 – Tone secrets: gear, dynamics & touch
14:05 – Fingerstyle technique vs “just playing”
18:50 – Embracing spontaneity in live performance
23:20 – The role of rhythm, melody & harmony in solo guitar
28:10 – Practice mindset: freedom over rigid routine
32:45 – Advice for rising guitarists: listen first, play later
35:00 – Closing jam & key takeaways🎸 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: Tommy Emmanuel
Editor: Carl Reeverts
Executive Producers: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy#TommyEmmanuel #PlaybackSessions #FingerstyleGuitar #AcousticGuitar #GuitarMasterclass #GuitarLesson #GuitarPodcast #GuitarTechnique #GuitarInspirati…
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Ariel Posen Breaks Down His Signature Slide Tone (5 Levels)
16 september 2026 · 1 uur 12 min
From Sideman to Slide Guitar Icon! Ariel Posen opens up about his journey from touring the world with other artists to building his own voice and his brand-new Fender Signature Guitar. In this Playback Sessions episode, Ariel breaks down the 5 Levels of Slide Guitar, revealing the techniques, tone secrets, and mindset that shaped his signature sound. Whether you’re chasing better tone, control, or creativity, this one’s packed with lessons straight from one of the most inspiring modern guitarists today. Lees meer
🚀 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 Ariel intro: sideman to signature Fender
00:38 Episode setup: 5 Levels of Slide + new guitar
01:15 Kickoff & Cory Wong camp recap
20:18 Signature Fender: concept & build journey
24:30 Pickups/electronics (P-90 bridge + JM-style neck in P90 housing)
35:40 Level 1: Right-hand muting (finger vs pick)
37:00 Level 2: Left-hand anchor, tip-of-slide, intonation, vibrato
48:50 Level 3: Vocal lines, scale glides, sequencing
59:40 Level 4: Hybrid playing (slide ↔ fingerstyle)
1:02:10 Level 5: “Behind the slide” pedal-steel illusion
1:06:50 Volume swells & tone control for expression🎸 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: Ariel Posen
Editor: Carl Reeverts
Executive Producers: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy#ArielPosen #SlideGuitar #GuitarLesson #FenderStratocaster #GuitarTechni…
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Mark Lettieri's Unconventional Guitar Practice Method
15 september 2026 · 36 min
Guitar virtuoso Mark Lettieri (Snarky Puppy, Fearless Flyers) joins Playback Sessions at Carter Vintage Guitars to talk about groove, tone, and the creative mindset behind his playing. From why he doesn’t follow a strict practice routine to how he developed his rhythm-first approach, Mark shares rare insight into building feel, navigating genres, and writing music that grooves. He also breaks down his solo record Can I Tell You Something and the story behind the “Shimmy Tiger”, his latest funky feline alter ego. Lees meer
🚀 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: Mark Lettieri joins Playback
00:15 – Why he doesn’t have a practice routine
02:45 – Developing groove and timing beyond metronomes
06:20 – Playing with Snarky Puppy & Fearless Flyers
10:30 – Tone talk: his pedalboard and dynamic control
15:00 – Writing process & recording workflow
18:50 – How to build “feel” in rhythm guitar
22:15 – Finding creative flow without overthinking
27:40 – On gear, strings, and chasing tone
30:10 – The story behind his solo album Can I Tell You Something
34:54 – The Shimmy Tiger artwork & his cat alter ego 🐅
35:31 – Closing thoughts + outro jam🎸 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: Mark Lettieri
Editor: Carl Reeverts
Executive Producers: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuit…
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What Dann Huff Does That 99% of Guitarists Don't Know
15 september 2026 · 1 uur 42 min
Grammy-winning producer and guitarist Dann Huff opens up about his legendary career, from fronting the 80s rock band GIANT to shaping the Nashville sound for artists like Keith Urban, Faith Hill, and Rascal Flatts. Dann shares rare insights on tone, humility, and imposter syndrome, revealing how even after decades of success, self-doubt never truly disappears. Lees meer
Discover Dann’s creative process behind his new solo record, the making of “Colorado Creepin’” and “Waiting a Whisper,” and how he balances chops, melody, and emotion in his playing. A must-watch for guitarists, producers, and anyone chasing purpose through music.
🚀 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 – Dann Huff’s legacy
01:15 From GIANT to Nashville’s sound
03:20 The making of his new record
05:40 Inspirations: Jeff Beck, Larry Carlton, Steve Lukather
08:10 Early Nashville days & first studio sessions
10:25 On intuition vs. theory
16:20 The evolution from guitarist to producer
24:00 Learning leadership & studio humility
30:00 Imposter syndrome and embracing imperfection
34:10 Chops vs. storytelling
38:00 The creation of “Colorado Creepin’”
41:10 Producing yourself vs. producing others
44:00 What makes a great producer
50:00 Lessons from failure in the studio
52:40 Listening to “Colorado Creepin’”
58:30 Tone talk – Strats, amps, and feel
01:06:00 The Jeff Beck influence
01:14:00 “Waiting a Whisper” breakdown
01:33:00 Dobro, dynamics, and space in music
01:38:00 On spirituality, growth, and gratitude
01:41:00 Where to find Dann’s record🎸 Follow Playback Sessions on socials:
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playbacksessions/
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/playbacksessions
-YouTube: … -
Can We Recreate the Perfect 80s Guitar Sound? | RJ Ronquillo
15 september 2026 · 13 min
RJ Ronquillo is a master of tone, gear history, and session playing styles. If you've ever chased the lush, hi-fi clean guitar sounds of 80s LA session legends like Dann Huff, Michael Landau, or Steve Lukather, this is the masterclass you've been waiting for. In this episode, RJ takes us through Carter Vintage Guitars to build the ultimate 80s clean rig. Lees meer
🚀 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 Today's Plan
00:46 Exploring the Eighties Clean Sound
02:28 Setting Up the Gear
03:49 Demonstrating the Sound
05:29 Fine-Tuning the Effects
09:50 Transatlantic Radio Band
12:19 Conclusion and Follow-Up🎸 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
Editor: Carl Reeverts
Executive Producers: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterVintageGuitar #SonoraGuitarIntensive #RjRonquillo #80sGuitarTone #GuitarPedals #ChorusPedal #JamesTylerGuitars #AOR #SessionGuitarist #StrymonTimeline
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The Most Essential Guitar Tones For Session Players | Rob McNelley
14 september 2026 · 1 uur 32 min
Rob McNelly is one of the most recorded guitar players in Nashville, playing on hit records for everyone from Bob Seger to Lady A and serving as the first-call session player for legendary producers like Dann Huff. Lees meer
In this episode, Rob pulls back the curtain on the Nashville session scene to break down how the pros actually craft guitar tone. He reveals the EQ frequency that fixes muddy guitars, why you must dial in a dry clean tone before touching your pedalboard, the volume pedal trick that keeps your gain stages clear[, and the massive difference between playing a live gig and layering a multi-platinum record
🚀 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 to Rob McNelley
01:20 Rob's Early Career and Move to Nashville
04:22 First Big Breaks and Touring Experiences
11:01 Transition to Session Work
19:02 Crafting the Perfect Guitar Tone
27:32 Exploring Gain Staging and Pedalboard Essentials
39:29 Dialing in Clean and R&B Tones
44:35 Mastering Delay and Slapback Effects
47:11 Exploring the Analog Man Pedal
47:34 Slapback Delay Techniques
48:19 Room Mics and Guitar Sound
50:12 Ethereal Guitar Effects
52:36 Volume Pedal Tricks
56:31 Cowboy Guitar Parts
59:52 Telecaster Sounds and Compression
01:08:15 Distortion vs. Fuzz
01:15:16 Essential Session Guitar Tones
01:28:40 Creative Projects and Collaborations🎸 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.
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Wagon Wheel Story That You Never Knew | Ketch Secor
13 september 2026 · 1 uur 15 min
A deep, soulful dive with storyteller, songwriter, and Old Crow Medicine Show frontman Ketch Secor. This episode covers his new record A Story the Crow Told Me, stories of Doc Watson, the making of Wagon Wheel, his love of education, Nashville’s changing spirit, and the deep roots of American music. Lees meer
🚀 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: Ketch Secor joins Playback Sessions
0:17 – A Story the Crow Told Me — the new record
1:05 – Meeting & playing for Doc Watson (life-changing story)
4:11 – From Nirvana to folk: how punk led him to old-time music
7:30 – The real story behind “Wagon Wheel”
17:36 – First Bob Dylan concert at age 12 – the spark that changed everything
21:09 – 🎵 “Junkin’” – song about finding lost 78s & musical treasures
33:04 – 🎵 “Hole in the Wall” – ode to small venues & the touring grind
36:19 – 🎵 “What Nashville Was” – tribute to a changing city
45:39 – 🎵 “Highland Rim” ft. Marty Stuart – wisdom from the hills
49:14 – 🎵 “Catch Me If You Can” – reflections on life on the road
54:20 – Old Crow Medicine Show Christmas Album 🎄
56:15 – Hosting Tennessee Crossroads (PBS)
1:12:10 – Ketch’s legacy: roots, truth & railroads🎸 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: Ketch Secor
Editor: Carl Reeverts
Executive Producer: Spencer Handley
Camera/Sound: Mitch Goudy#PlaybackSessions #SpencerHandley #CarterV…