Stupid Simple Guitar Newsletter
Stay on top of your guitar game with our weekly newsletter!
we're shutting down : (
After a year in business and on the cusp of releasing our brand new version of The Closet Rockstars Club we are shutting down... our waitlist 🥸
Our First 100 Founding Members waitlist has passed 100 people and so we will be locking down the waitlist in a few days.
If you've wanted to play full s...
Jul 20, 2026
"Close your eyes and forget about the notes," I whispered.
have you ever had that thing happen where your head gets in the way? you're trying so hard to get it just right, just perfect that you end up stressed and with an anything-but-perfect outcome?
this happens all the time in music.
i remember recording my first full-length album years ago. it cost...
Jul 15, 2026
My first snapped string (+ other reasons to play live)
I remember playing a show in Iowa. I had never heard of Ragbrai before, but you never forget performing for tens of thousands of bicyclists on a multi-day ride.
My friend was the star. I was there as second guitar and backup vocals. A local band was providing bass, drums and keys and I was suppo...
Jul 11, 2026
Happy 250th 🥳 (FREE lesson BORN IN THE USA 🇺🇸)
America is turning 250 years old tomorrow and it seemed fitting to give away a lesson on how to play Born In The USA by Springsteen. For all you American rock stars out there the weekend will likely be filled with barbecues, fireworks and (i hope) songs sung with friends.
Despite this song being...
Jul 03, 2026
This Saturday's Event Is Now Open
Okay friends! The time has come to open our Registration Event for our Summer Sprint: 90 Days to Play Guitar.
👉🏻 Join me this Saturday at 11am Eastern/8am Pacific for the event that could change your guitar game forever!
Not only will you have the chance to grab one of our limited seats (I can ...
May 27, 2026
Why must you play the guitar?
Why must you play the guitar?
When I ask folks over 50 this question, the answers usually sound like:
“I’ve wanted to play since I was a kid.”
“I don’t want to leave this world without finally doing it."
“I want to play songs my wife / kids / grandkids recognize.”
“It relaxes me after a long day....
May 26, 2026
Memorializing: v) preserve the memory of some one or thing
It's Memorial Day and if you have served in the military, first, thank you for your service and sacrifice. It is easy to forget that the freedoms we enjoy in this country came at a price and many are still paying that price today.
But what do we do on a day like this?
Visit the gravesite of los...
May 25, 2026
What is a summer sprint?
Maybe it's just me, but every summer I want to tackle new songs, learn new licks, climb new mountains with just my guitar on my back and have a meditative moment with me and my girl (yes, my guitar is female).
And I hear this a lot from beginner guitarists over 50 that, while the rest of the yea...
May 22, 2026
Summer of 69...
What is it about summer? Every year around this time I find myself wandering around outside in the sunlight - something we don't get here in Chicago for about 6 months out of the year - and I'm filled with all sorts of ambitions and dreams about the next three months.
Am I the only one?
I don't...
May 12, 2026
I got coffee with the Goo Goo Dolls Drummer on Monday
Earlier this week I met up with (former) drummer of the band, Goo Goo Dolls, Mike Malinin.
Mike recently moved to the Chicago area and was looking to connect with other artists so we sat down to talk music and life.
One of the things that surprise me was how down to earth the guy is - and I got...
May 07, 2026
You don't know what you don't know... neither did he
I talked to a guy recently who was in his sixties, top of his career and miserable. He had no more mountains to climb, no new hills to take and everything felt pretty meaningless. So his wife bought him a guitar. He had never been musical, but she knew he liked listening to the old rock classics....
Apr 24, 2026
Springsteen-Strength
In the summer of 1976, Bruce Springsteen was everywhere. His face was on the cover of Time and Newsweek in the same week — a feat no rock musician had pulled off before. Born to Run had made him a phenomenon. The world was waiting to see what he'd do next.
Then, almost overnight, everything stopp...
Apr 20, 2026
Stupid Simple Guitar Newsletter
