The Steve Stine Podcast

Steve Stine
  • 4.8 (79)
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  • Updated Biweekly

The Steve Stine Podcast is about more than just music — it’s about life, faith, and finding meaning in the everyday. Join Steve as he shares honest stories from decades of experience as a musician, educator, husband, father, and believer navigating the highs and lows of life. Each episode offers heartfelt conversations about purpose, spirituality, personal growth, and staying inspired — even when life gets messy or uncertain. Whether you’re picking up a guitar, walking through a season of change, or just looking for encouragement to keep going, you’ll find something here to lift your spirit. With special guests, personal reflections, and real-world insights, this podcast is for anyone seeking a deeper connection to their creativity, their calling, and their faith.

  1. 4d ago

    Four Practical Steps To Make A Major Pentatonic Solo Musical

    Send Steve a Text Message Your major key solo sounds “happy,” but it does not sound believable. That is the gap we close here, using a track in A major and a chord progression that stays diatonic and musical: A major, C sharp minor, D major, and E major. We start with the practical foundation most players skip, knowing the key, hearing the chords, and understanding why those changes matter even if you are “just jamming” over a backing track. From there, we zoom in on rhythm subdivision, because feel is the fastest way to sound more professional. We talk through locking your phrases to eighth notes, then adding sixteenth-note energy without forcing your picking hand. If fast picking is not there yet, we show how hammer-ons and pull-offs can create that same rhythmic spark while keeping your time solid. Next, we build your fretboard roadmap with an A major pentatonic position that is not the usual default box. You learn how to meander through the shape, find the A notes as targets, and then branch into nearby positions for smoother movement. Once that is stable, we add a few diatonic notes to create half steps and real melodic color, without falling into the trap of sounding like you are running a scale. Finally, we connect soloing to harmony by targeting notes for each chord change, either through chord-tone theory or by visualizing chord shapes near your scale position. We also add “vocal tools” like bends, vibrato, slides, and legato, then tie everything together with the practice mindset that matters most: isolate, repeat, and automate so it shows up when you are nervous or playing with others. If this helps, subscribe, share it with a guitarist friend, and leave a review so more players can find it. Thanks for being here!! I will continue to do my best to bring you the best, most informative guitar discussions to help you along your guitar journey! The more you share this podcast with others, the more I can continue to grow this channel and offer the best information and advice I can to you. Thank you! Steve Links: Check out the GuitarZoom Academy: https://academy.guitarzoom.com/ Steve’s Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/stinemus... GuitarZoom Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/guitarz0... Songs Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/GuitarSo... .

  2. Jul 9

    Stop Panicking And Start Organizing Your Gig Prep

    Send Steve a Text Message Thirty songs for Saturday. A totally different set for Monday. No rehearsals. If that sounds familiar, you already know the real enemy isn’t your technique, it’s the scramble to keep everything in your head while you switch styles and expectations from gig to gig. We talk through the exact approach we use to stay organized, reduce panic, and get songs back under our fingers fast when we’re playing with multiple bands or rotating church sets.  We start with a simple habit that pays off immediately: building dedicated Spotify playlists for each musical situation so we can learn faster through focused listening. We explain what to listen for beyond the guitar part, how to mentally map the song form, and how to flag the moments that usually cause train wrecks on stage like stops, endings, dynamic shifts, and solo sections. If you’re working on cover songs and want better guitar memorization, this step alone can make practice feel far more efficient.  Then we get practical about cheat sheets. Rather than drowning in full tabs, we show how to make compact charts that capture only what you need: the tricky riff, the odd chord, the key center, the tone change, or the one bar that always derails you. We also share why iPad chart organization (using apps like forScore) and a MIDI page-turn pedal can keep you confident while still letting you watch the band and react to live cues. Finally, we cover a “future you will thank you” move: recording quick videos of your own playthroughs and saving them to Google Drive so you can instantly relearn parts months later.  If you want a cleaner gig prep workflow, less stress, and more musical freedom on stage, listen now, then subscribe, share the episode with a gigging friend, and leave a review with your go-to method for remembering songs. Thanks for being here!! I will continue to do my best to bring you the best, most informative guitar discussions to help you along your guitar journey! The more you share this podcast with others, the more I can continue to grow this channel and offer the best information and advice I can to you. Thank you! Steve Links: Check out the GuitarZoom Academy: https://academy.guitarzoom.com/ Steve’s Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/stinemus... GuitarZoom Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/guitarz0... Songs Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/GuitarSo... .

  3. Jul 2

    Why Your Guitar Solos Don't Sound Musical (And How to Fix Them)

    Send Steve a Text Message Your guitar solo can have the “right” notes and still feel wrong. The gap is usually groove. We jump into a practical, no-hype approach to soloing that starts where real music starts: locking to the beat. Using a “Groovy Fine Blues in B Minor” backing track as the example, we focus on finding the quarter note, then treating the eighth note as the true pulse for most lead guitar. From there, we show how the B minor pentatonic becomes a usable palette when your timing is solid, even if you only touch a couple of strings and a small note set. We also get specific about how to create motion without falling into frantic shredding. If 16th notes at tempo feel out of reach, we talk through how to imply that subdivision with hammer-ons and pull-offs so your lines still carry energy. Then we zoom in on phrasing: thinking like a singer, leaving space, and using silence as part of the message. A simple idea like repetition, in rhythm or in note choice, turns a few notes into something listeners can actually remember. From there, we build the next layers that make solos sound “human”: dynamics through pick attack and volume control, plus vocal tools like slides, bends, and vibrato that help the guitar sing instead of sounding like typed notes. We wrap by looking at register, when to stay low and quiet, when to climb for impact, and how intentional practice with one good backing track can beat mindless track-hopping. If this helps, subscribe, share it with a guitarist friend, and leave a review with the one groove or phrasing habit you are fixing next. Thanks for being here!! I will continue to do my best to bring you the best, most informative guitar discussions to help you along your guitar journey! The more you share this podcast with others, the more I can continue to grow this channel and offer the best information and advice I can to you. Thank you! Steve Links: Check out the GuitarZoom Academy: https://academy.guitarzoom.com/ Steve’s Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/stinemus... GuitarZoom Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/guitarz0... Songs Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/GuitarSo... .

  4. Jun 25

    A Practical Plan For Learning Guitar As An Adult

    Send Steve a Text Message You can love guitar for decades and still feel like you’re spinning your wheels. Ken joins me to talk through that exact frustration, from years of casual playing with no structure to a clear, focused plan that finally makes progress feel real. His story starts with classic rock inspiration and a powerful family moment, then turns into the question so many players avoid: what are you actually practicing, and why?  We dig into the practical stuff that moves the needle for adult guitarists: bar chords that don’t fall apart, switching cleanly between open chords and barre shapes, and using the metronome as a daily anchor. Ken shares how he builds confidence the honest way, by improving execution, and how small technical choices can remove the “I’ll never get this” feeling. We also talk about the underrated breakthroughs that come from learning musical details like arpeggios, slash chords such as D/F sharp, and simple chord colors that make familiar songs sound alive.  The heart of the conversation is goal-based practice. Ken’s main targets are personal and concrete: play a short concert for his wife and be able to sit down and play with his son. That leads to SMART goals, better routines, smarter song selection, and a plan for year two that expands into soloing skills, scales, and eventually bigger musical situations like a church band. If you’re searching for guitar motivation, a structured practice routine, and a way to stop wasting time on random lessons, you’ll get plenty to borrow here.  If this helped, subscribe, share it with a guitarist who feels stuck, and leave a review so more players can find the path forward. Thanks for being here!! I will continue to do my best to bring you the best, most informative guitar discussions to help you along your guitar journey! Please like, share and subscribe to get the word out about this podcast, and please check out the GuitarZoom Academy if you are ready to achieve your guitar goals!! GuitarZoom Homepage The more you share this podcast with others, the more I can continue to grow this channel and offer the best information and advice I can to you. Thank you! Steve Links: Check out the GuitarZoom Academy: https://academy.guitarzoom.com/ Steve’s Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/stinemus... GuitarZoom Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/guitarz0... Songs Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/GuitarSo... .

  5. Jun 18

    King Of Guitar Rabbit Holes Learns To Focus

    Send Steve a Text Message Your hands know what to do until someone is watching, and then everything tightens up. That’s where this conversation with Stan goes immediately: intimidation, shaky confidence, and the quiet fear that you’re the only one who doesn’t “get it.” Stan is a retired guitarist and a longtime student inside Guitar Zoom Academy, and he shares the parts most players don’t say out loud, including how easy it is to drift when you have unlimited online guitar lessons at your fingertips. We dig into the moment Stan realized he didn’t need more content, he needed a funnel. He talks about spending months chasing rabbit holes, then choosing to back up and rebuild from major scales, cleaner chord changes, and fretboard connectivity. We also talk about the push-pull between learning shapes, learning note names, and simply wanting to play music that feels good. Along the way, Stan shares how his family keeps him going, why “progress over perfection” finally clicked, and how recording yourself can reveal growth you can’t feel day to day. The other big theme is community. Stan explains why access to instructors, live help, open rooms, and replayable classroom recordings can change the trajectory for adult beginner guitar and intermediate players alike, especially if you’re a visual learner who needs repetition and feedback. He also offers straight advice for anyone on the fence about joining an online guitar academy: the resources work when you show up and ask. If you want more confidence on guitar and a clearer practice routine, listen now, then subscribe, share this with a friend who’s stuck, and leave a review with the one skill you’re focusing on next. Thanks for being here!! I will continue to do my best to bring you the best, most informative guitar discussions to help you along your guitar journey! Please like, share and subscribe to get the word out about this podcast, and please check out the GuitarZoom Academy if you are ready to achieve your guitar goals!! GuitarZoom Homepage The more you share this podcast with others, the more I can continue to grow this channel and offer the best information and advice I can to you. Thank you! Steve Links: Check out the GuitarZoom Academy: https://academy.guitarzoom.com/ Steve’s Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/stinemus... GuitarZoom Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/guitarz0... Songs Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/GuitarSo... .

  6. Jun 11

    Learning Guitar After Retirement

    Send Steve a Text Message You can spend 30 years with a guitar in your hands and still feel like you’re guessing. That’s why this conversation with Perry lands so hard. He grew up in Casper, Wyoming with music in the house, built a band in the early 80s, and even got the kind of wild, last-minute call every guitarist dreams about: his group stepped in as a backup band for Blue Oyster Cult when another act didn’t show. Amazing story, but it also revealed something deeper. Surviving a gig is not the same as understanding your instrument. Perry takes us through Arizona stage tech work, a move to Alaska, an electronics degree, and a 30-year career with the FAA. When retirement hits, the desire to really learn guitar comes roaring back but the local scene feels tense and unwelcoming. So he makes a different choice: an online guitar academy built around structure, coaching, and a supportive guitar community. We talk about the shift from playing by ear and memorizing parts to understanding chord structures, smoother chord changes, key changes, and why ear training becomes the next mountain to climb. Perry shares how much more confident he feels now, how jam sessions turn lessons into real music, and why songs like As My Guitar Gently Weeps and Purple Rain are perfect vehicles for growth. If you’re an adult guitar learner chasing real progress, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a guitarist friend, and leave a review with the one skill you want to master next. Thanks for being here!! I will continue to do my best to bring you the best, most informative guitar discussions to help you along your guitar journey! Please like, share and subscribe to get the word out about this podcast, and please check out the GuitarZoom Academy if you are ready to achieve your guitar goals!! GuitarZoom Homepage The more you share this podcast with others, the more I can continue to grow this channel and offer the best information and advice I can to you. Thank you! Steve Links: Check out the GuitarZoom Academy: https://academy.guitarzoom.com/ Steve’s Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/stinemus... GuitarZoom Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/guitarz0... Songs Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/GuitarSo... .

  7. Jun 4

    How to Collaborate Remotely (Even If You’ve Never Done It Before)

    Send Steve a Text Message Remote collaboration sounds like magic until you try it and realize the real challenge is boring: everyone needs the same roadmap, the same tempo, and a track that starts cleanly. We walk you through the exact home recording process we use to prep a remote band collab, using a fast, punk-leaning version of “Help” (in the style heard in the movie “Yesterday”) as a simple, practical example.  We start where every successful remote recording starts: listen, confirm the key, grab a chord chart if it saves time, and lock in the BPM so the whole project stays tight. From there we build a scratch track in the DAW with a basic drum guide (EZ Drummer 3), clear section markers, and double-tracked guitars that make it easy for other players to follow the arrangement. We also show why a count-in and a consistent click track matter more than fancy tones when you’re sending files across the internet.  Then we get into the handoff that makes drummers happy: muting the guide drums, rendering the metronome to its own audio track, and panning click to one ear and guitar to the other for an effortless tracking mix. Finally, we explain the send-and-return workflow for stems, what to expect back from bass and drums, and how to mix everything together before sending a stronger reference to the singer. If you want remote music collaboration to feel simple, repeatable, and fun, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a musician friend, and leave a review with your biggest remote-recording challenge. Thanks for being here!! I will continue to do my best to bring you the best, most informative guitar discussions to help you along your guitar journey! The more you share this podcast with others, the more I can continue to grow this channel and offer the best information and advice I can to you. Thank you! Steve Links: Check out the GuitarZoom Academy: https://academy.guitarzoom.com/ Steve’s Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/stinemus... GuitarZoom Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/guitarz0... Songs Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/GuitarSo... .

  8. May 28

    Never Too Late For Lead Guitar

    Send Steve a Text Message A kid gets a guitar with strings so high it’s basically unplayable, struggles for two years, and then hears the sentence that can haunt a musician for decades: “Stop wasting your money, it’s hopeless.” Our guest Elad did what a lot of people do after that kind of moment, he quit. Then life happened in a big way: he grew up in the suburbs of New York, found himself pulled toward identity and purpose after the Yom Kippur War, immigrated to Israel, and helped build a brand new kibbutz in the Negev Desert from the ground up. Now he’s retired and back to the instrument, and the guitar story gets even more interesting. We talk about adult guitar learning and why confidence changes everything, how rhythm players hit a wall when lead guitar and improvisation enter the picture, and what it takes to move from “I need the chord chart” to “I can actually hear where this is going.” Elad shares a breakthrough moment: pulling apart a pentatonic solo by ear from a cover and getting it close in under an hour, something he says was impossible for him a year ago. We also dig into the unsexy parts of getting better: sloppy technique, unwanted strings ringing, speed limits, and how to stay motivated when progress is real but uneven. The thread that ties it together is community. Elad explains why posting imperfect videos helped him grow, why a non-judgmental guitar community matters, and how relationships inside an online guitar course can keep you practicing when willpower runs out. If you care about guitar practice habits, ear training, jamming, and realistic progress for older players, this conversation will hit home. Subscribe for more guitarist stories, share this with a friend who thinks it’s “too late,” and leave a review so more players can find us. What’s the one skill you want to stop saying “no” to on guitar? Thanks for being here!! I will continue to do my best to bring you the best, most informative guitar discussions to help you along your guitar journey! Please like, share and subscribe to get the word out about this podcast, and please check out the GuitarZoom Academy if you are ready to achieve your guitar goals!! GuitarZoom Homepage The more you share this podcast with others, the more I can continue to grow this channel and offer the best information and advice I can to you. Thank you! Steve Links: Check out the GuitarZoom Academy: https://academy.guitarzoom.com/ Steve’s Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/stinemus... GuitarZoom Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/guitarz0... Songs Channel → https://www.youtube.com/user/GuitarSo... .

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About

The Steve Stine Podcast is about more than just music — it’s about life, faith, and finding meaning in the everyday. Join Steve as he shares honest stories from decades of experience as a musician, educator, husband, father, and believer navigating the highs and lows of life. Each episode offers heartfelt conversations about purpose, spirituality, personal growth, and staying inspired — even when life gets messy or uncertain. Whether you’re picking up a guitar, walking through a season of change, or just looking for encouragement to keep going, you’ll find something here to lift your spirit. With special guests, personal reflections, and real-world insights, this podcast is for anyone seeking a deeper connection to their creativity, their calling, and their faith.

Information

  • Creator
    Steve Stine
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    401
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Steve Stine Guitar Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Steve Stine Podcast

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