The Steve Stine Podcast
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.
Episodes
364 episodes
Five Hidden Practice Mistakes That Hold Guitarists Back
Stuck practicing the same riffs and wondering why your playing won’t budge? We dig into the real reasons progress stalls and share a step-by-step way to turn scattered effort into steady gains. This isn’t about buying another pedal or memorizin...
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13:55
Two Essential Exercises to Get Your Technique Optimized
Tired of a stubborn pinky, tangled timing, and runs that fall apart when you speed up? We walk through a compact, repeatable practice plan that fixes the real causes of sloppy playing: uneven finger strength and poor synchronization between fre...
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9:19
What Is The Music Asking Of You? A Guide to Authentic Guitar Soloing
What makes a guitar solo truly musical? Is it technical prowess, scale knowledge, or something deeper? In this revelatory exploration of improvisation, Steve Stine strips away the technical complexities to focus on what really matters: creating...
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29:26
Authentic Expression: The Missing Piece in Guitar Improvisation
Moving beyond scales in improvisation requires balancing technical knowledge with creative expression. We need to develop both our "guitar brain" and our "music brain" to create authentic musical moments.• The guitar brain encompasses t...
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9:36
Start Playing Guitar at 40, 50, 60 & Beyond
Steve Stine shares seven essential tips for older adults beginning their guitar journey. The focus is on creating sustainable practice habits, maintaining physical comfort, and finding joy in the learning process regardless of age.• Sta...
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9:59
Guitar Tips I Would Tell My Younger Self
What would a seasoned guitarist tell their younger self after decades of playing? Steve Stine from GuitarZoom Academy dives deep into this thought-provoking question, offering valuable insights for players at any stage of their journey....
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6:50
What IS the GuitarZoom Academy (and can it help me)?
Ever felt stuck in your guitar journey despite watching countless tutorials or taking sporadic lessons? Steve Stine unpacks a revolutionary approach to guitar education that's transforming how passionate players finally break through their plat...
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16:30
Four Proven Techniques to Improve Your Guitar Playing Precision
Steve Stine shares four practical methods to improve finger dexterity that can be practiced in short bursts throughout the day without overwhelming yourself. These focused exercises target specific skills with both hands while emphasizing quali...
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17:59
The Day I Almost Quit Playing Guitar Forever
Two pivotal moments almost made me quit playing guitar – These challenges taught me valuable lessons about persistence, plateaus, and reconnecting with passion after difficult times.• Progress isn't linear – plateaus are normal and requ...
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12:37
Strings, Stages, and Smiling: My Guitar Journey
What does it really take to build a sustainable career in music while maintaining your sanity and relationships? In this revealing episode, Steve Stine pulls back the curtain on his musical journey and sets the record straight about a common mi...
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17:14
Your 30 Minutes of Guitar Practice Can Be More Effective Than You Think
Setting up the proper mindset for guitar practice transforms how effectively you use your available time. We explore strategies to optimize practice sessions regardless of whether you have 20 minutes or 2 hours to play.• Begin with a pr...
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10:02
Exploring Guitar Versatility: Miguel Navarro's Path Across Classical, Tango, and Rock
What happens when curiosity meets musical passion? For Miguel Navarro, it sparked a remarkable journey across genres, techniques, and even countries. In this captivating conversation with Steve, Miguel reveals the winding path that brought him ...
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22:07
Stop Playing Randomly and Start Practicing With Purpose
Creating an effective practice routine is essential for guitar progress. Daily and weekly practice structures help overcome the feeling of being lost and ensure you're working on the right things.• Practice fundamentals daily, focusing ...
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10:57
Honest Feedback Is the Secret Weapon Every Guitarist Needs
Have you ever hit a plateau in your guitar playing despite hours of practice? The missing piece might not be more practice videos or tab books, but something far more valuable: honest assessment and feedback.Steve Stine delves into why ...
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7:54
10 Practical Steps to Maintain Guitar Practice Momentum
Every guitarist knows the struggle of maintaining motivation when progress seems elusive. What starts as passion can easily transform into frustration when we hit plateaus or lose sight of why we picked up the instrument in the first place....
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19:34
The Three-Level Guitar Practice System
Struggling to make progress with your guitar playing? The missing piece might not be what you think. Guitar practice isn't just about putting in hours—it's about structuring those hours effectively across three critical domains of ...
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7:49
Unlock Your Guitar: Strategic Practice for Real-World Playing
Ever felt that frustrating disconnect between what you practice and what you can actually play in the moment? Steve Stein tackles one of the most overlooked aspects of guitar mastery: the crucial difference between long-term practice and short-...
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9:10
Pentatonic vs. Diatonic: Breaking Down the Barriers
Struggling with the divide between pentatonic and diatonic scales? You're not alone. In this eye-opening episode, Steve Stein demolishes the harmful myth that pentatonic scales are somehow inferior to modes or diatonic scales. Drawing from deca...
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6:05
Build Your Practice Routine with these 3 Steps
Ever feel like your guitar practice isn't getting you anywhere? You might be missing key components in your practice routine. Guitar practice isn't just about mindlessly repeating exercises—it's about strategically balancing three ...
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7:51
The 10-Minute Guitar Practice Revolution: Making Every Second Count
Finding yourself with only 10 minutes to practice guitar today? Don't put that instrument down! In this enlightening episode, Steve Stein tackles one of the most common challenges guitarists face: how to make meaningful progress when time is sc...
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9:35
Learning Guitar Alone Can Be Lonely - Get Connected!
Learning guitar with a support system provides the encouragement, motivation, and clarification needed to overcome common frustrations that lead players to quit. The ability to receive personalized feedback and solutions makes a dramatic differ...
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7:44
The Five-Phase Journey to Becoming a Confident Guitarist
What really holds most guitar players back? After teaching thousands of guitarists, I've discovered it's rarely about technical ability—it's about confidence. That feeling of certainty when you play, knowing who you are as a musician, and being...
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11:12
Why Your Guitar Playing Has Hit a Wall and How to Smash Through It
Every guitarist knows that dreaded feeling of hitting a wall—practicing regularly but seeing no real progress. In this candid discussion, Steve Stein from Guitar Zoom Academy tackles the frustrating phenomenon of guitar plateaus head-on, offeri...
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12:42
Guitar Practice Blueprint
Struggling to make real progress on guitar despite hours of practice? You might be approaching your practice routine all wrong. The secret to effective guitar practice lies in understanding the three essential tiers of musical deve...
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10:14
Balancing Long-Term Mastery and Short-Term Musical Functionality
Finding the sweet spot between expansive musical knowledge and practical application is the key challenge every guitarist faces. How do you balance mastering the entire fretboard while still being ready to perform this weekend? This episode tac...
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9:55