The Guitar Underground

The Guitar Underground is a podcast about guitar, creativity, and inspiration. Hosted by guitarist and educator Neil Santos, the show explores smarter ways to practice, think, and grow on the instrument while connecting guitar to life, mindset, and community.

The Guitar Underground is a music podcast hosted by Neil D Santos, with 30 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Neil D Santos hosts The Guitar Underground, a music show with 30 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #2

  Stop Waiting for Your Solo: How to Play Better Rhythm Guitar

  Sep 11, 202645 minS2

  Are you actually playing rhythm guitar, or are you just sitting in "solo limbo" waiting for your turn to shine? Learning how to level up your rhythm playing will transform your guitar skills faster than learning another scale or lick. In this episode of The Guitar Underground, Neil Santos breaks down the 5 core principles and 5 actionable practice tips to make your rhythm guitar playing responsive, dynamic, and engaging. Stop relying on the same repetitive strumming patterns for an entire song. Learn how to use space as an active musical tool, respond intelligently to lead lines, and use your rhythm section to set up the ultimate solo. What You'll Learn: The 5 foundational principles of dynamic rhythm guitar playing. How to use silence and space as an active part of your musical vocabulary. Why changing rhythmic textures prevents songs from sounding musically flat. How to support a soloist instead of competing with them. Practical backing track exercises (including the 80/20 rule and no-solo improvisation). Take the Pentatonic Personality Quiz: Head over to https://pentatonicway.com/pentatonic-personality-quiz/?source=YouTube to find your personality type and get your immediate next steps in a FREE 3-day course! Subscribe to the Guitar Underground so you never miss a lesson on mastering the neck! NEIL'S MUSIC Random Song Generator - RSG1: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3vh18GjU86yALZvarx4ihaNeil D Santos - Found Art: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5sBzdvFdkgfiRp9AuR4tToWhile My Guitar Gently Weeps - Beatles Jam Band: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3aEaXwykLlZJ1C4v8ZR6JT NEIL'S BOOKS: The Guitar Simplified - https://amzn.to/3Mz7KupThe Lefty Guitarist's Survival Handbook - https://amzn.to/4tZHolY STUFF NEIL USES: Fender 57’ Reissue Stratocaster - https://amzn.to/4tL5MYlVega Trem VT1 Special Standard Tremolo Bridge for Strat-Style Guitars - https://amzn.to/4awaYYFMichael Kelly Patriot Decree Electric Guitar - https://amzn.to/4aOdQyQLine 6 HX Stomp XL - https://amzn.to/3MEsIbcHeadRush FRFR108 MKII - 2000W Guitar Amp - https://amzn.to/4tZpwYqTC Electronic DITTO+ LOOPER - https://amzn.to/3MtnNtDTech 21 Richie Kotzen RK5 Signature Fly Rig v3 Multi-effects Pedal - https://amzn.to/4kMdZaAGravity Guitar Picks - https://amzn.to/4cFUG0DObsidianWire Custom '5-Way' Solderless Wiring Harness - https://amzn.to/46lKJScCanon EOS M50 Mirrorless Camera - https://amzn.to/4rAmBD7Shure MV7X XLR Dynamic Microphone - https://amzn.to/4aU6A5TBehringer UMC202HD Audiophile USB Audio Interface - https://amzn.to/4crblFfBehringer XENYX 802S Analog 8-Input Mixer - https://amzn.to/4ryJLtL Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Guitar Underground 00:35 Are You Playing Rhythm or Waiting to Solo? 04:08 Principle 1: Rhythm Is Listening, Not Just Strumming 10:15 Principle 2: Space Is Something You Play 14:58 Principle 3: Stop Playing the Same Rhythm All Song 20:35 Principle 4: Respond to the Soloist, Don't Compete 24:43 Principle 5: Use Rhythm to Build Your Solo Before It Arrives 29:00 The Pentatonic Way Personality Quiz 30:03 Tip 1: Practice the 80/20 Rule 32:43 Tip 2: Create 3 Rhythmic Versions of One Progression 35:36 Tip 3: Have a Conversation with the Soloist 38:00 Tip 4: No-Solo Improvisation Practice 40:19 Tip 5: Use the Last 4 Bars to Prepare Your Solo 42:15 Why Rhythm Playing Is the Ultimate Life Solo #GuitarLessons #RhythmGuitar #GuitarTips #IntermediateGuitar #GuitarUnderground

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  Episode #1

  Stuck On Guitar? 5 Dead-Simple Ways to Finish 2026 Strong

  Sep 4, 202636 minS1

  Struggling to make real progress on guitar this year? It’s time to revisit your guitar goals and make the final months of 2026 count! In Season 2, Episode 1 of The Guitar Underground, host Neil Santos breaks down why standard guitar goals fail and how intermediate players can simplify their approach to stay on track. Neil shares a personal, honest update on his own 2026 guitar goals—including recording a Beatles tribute album, launching a podcast, and pivoting through unexpected roadblocks like surgery and band changes. You'll get 5 actionable, practical steps to re-evaluate your playing, diagnose what's holding you back, and shrink your goals into bite-sized wins. Plus, join the September to December challenge to finish the year as a more confident, capable guitarist! What You’ll Learn: How to audit your 2026 guitar goals and clear out the clutter Why pivoting your goals is a sign of clarity, not failure How to measure real playing progress instead of chasing perfection 5 actionable tips to fix your practice routine and break plateaus The 4-month challenge to transform your guitar skills by year-end Take the Pentatonic Personality Quiz: Head over to https://pentatonicway.com/pentatonic-personality-quiz/?source=YouTube to find your personality type and get your immediate next steps in a FREE 3-day course! Subscribe to the Guitar Underground so you never miss a lesson on mastering the neck! NEIL'S MUSIC Random Song Generator - RSG1: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3vh18GjU86yALZvarx4iha Neil D Santos - Found Art: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5sBzdvFdkgfiRp9AuR4tTo While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Beatles Jam Band: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3aEaXwykLlZJ1C4v8ZR6JT NEIL'S BOOKS: The Guitar Simplified - https://amzn.to/3Mz7Kup The Lefty Guitarist's Survival Handbook - https://amzn.to/4tZHolY STUFF NEIL USES: Fender 57’ Reissue Stratocaster - https://amzn.to/4tL5MYl Vega Trem VT1 Special Standard Tremolo Bridge for Strat-Style Guitars - https://amzn.to/4awaYYF Michael Kelly Patriot Decree Electric Guitar - https://amzn.to/4aOdQyQ Line 6 HX Stomp XL - https://amzn.to/3MEsIbc HeadRush FRFR108 MKII - 2000W Guitar Amp - https://amzn.to/4tZpwYq TC Electronic DITTO+ LOOPER - https://amzn.to/3MtnNtD Tech 21 Richie Kotzen RK5 Signature Fly Rig v3 Multi-effects Pedal - https://amzn.to/4kMdZaA Gravity Guitar Picks - https://amzn.to/4cFUG0D ObsidianWire Custom '5-Way' Solderless Wiring Harness - https://amzn.to/46lKJSc Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless Camera - https://amzn.to/4rAmBD7 Shure MV7X XLR Dynamic Microphone - https://amzn.to/4aU6A5T Behringer UMC202HD Audiophile USB Audio Interface - https://amzn.to/4crblFf Behringer XENYX 802S Analog 8-Input Mixer - https://amzn.to/4ryJLtLChapters00:00 Welcome Back to Season 2! 04:21 Hosting Audit: My 2026 Guitar Goals 04:55 Goal 1: The Podcast & Building Relationships 08:17 Goal 2: Live Gigs, Studio Album & Pivoting 13:48 Goal 3: Pentatonic Community & Writing a Book 19:11 Free Tool: Pentatonic Personality Quiz 20:51 Tip 1: Define What Your Goal Actually Means 22:49 Tip 2: Measure Progress, Not Perfection 25:01 Tip 3: Find the ONE Thing Holding You Back 27:53 Tip 4: Shrink the Goal Until It's Doable 30:21 Tip 5: Give Yourself Permission to Pivot 31:59 The 4-Month Guitar Challenge #GuitarGoals #GuitarTips #LearnGuitar #IntermediateGuitar #PentatonicScale

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  Episode #29

  The Secret to Unlocking Guitar Modes Using Pentatonics

  Jul 31, 202650 minS1

  Are you struggling to understand guitar modes and tired of memorizing endless scale shapes? Discover how to use the pentatonic scale as your master roadmap to unlock modal soloing effortlessly! In this episode of Guitar Underground, Neil Santos breaks down why learning seven completely new scales is holding you back and how your trusted pentatonic boxes are actually the key to making modes click. Stop aimlessly running up and down the fretboard and start target-hitting the specific "personality notes" that give each mode its distinct, emotional color. Whether you're trying to master Dorian, Lydian, or Mixolydian, this practical breakdown will give you complete fretboard clarity. What You'll Learn: Modes vs. Shapes: Why modes are about perspective, not new fretboard patterns. Danger Notes: How pentatonics naturally eliminate harsh musical tension. Personality Notes: The single note trick to transform any pentatonic shape into modal magic. Chord Context: Why backing tracks matter more than scale formulas. Superimposing Pentatonics: How stacking two pentatonic scales unlocks full modal soloing. Take the Pentatonic Personality Quiz: Head over to https://pentatonicway.com/pentatonic-personality-quiz/?source=YouTube to find your personality type and get your immediate next steps in a FREE 3-day course! Subscribe to the Guitar Underground so you never miss a lesson on mastering the neck! NEIL'S MUSIC Random Song Generator - RSG1: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3vh18GjU86yALZvarx4ihaNeil D Santos - Found Art: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5sBzdvFdkgfiRp9AuR4tToWhile My Guitar Gently Weeps - Beatles Jam Band: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3aEaXwykLlZJ1C4v8ZR6JT NEIL'S BOOKS: The Guitar Simplified - https://amzn.to/3Mz7KupThe Lefty Guitarist's Survival Handbook - https://amzn.to/4tZHolY STUFF NEIL USES: Fender 57’ Reissue Stratocaster - https://amzn.to/4tL5MYlVega Trem VT1 Special Standard Tremolo Bridge for Strat-Style Guitars - https://amzn.to/4awaYYFMichael Kelly Patriot Decree Electric Guitar - https://amzn.to/4aOdQyQLine 6 HX Stomp XL - https://amzn.to/3MEsIbcHeadRush FRFR108 MKII - 2000W Guitar Amp - https://amzn.to/4tZpwYqTC Electronic DITTO+ LOOPER - https://amzn.to/3MtnNtDTech 21 Richie Kotzen RK5 Signature Fly Rig v3 Multi-effects Pedal - https://amzn.to/4kMdZaAGravity Guitar Picks - https://amzn.to/4cFUG0DObsidianWire Custom '5-Way' Solderless Wiring Harness - https://amzn.to/46lKJScCanon EOS M50 Mirrorless Camera - https://amzn.to/4rAmBD7Shure MV7X XLR Dynamic Microphone - https://amzn.to/4aU6A5TBehringer UMC202HD Audiophile USB Audio Interface - https://amzn.to/4crblFfBehringer XENYX 802S Analog 8-Input Mixer - https://amzn.to/4ryJLtL Chapters 00:00 - Intro: Unlock Modes Using the Pentatonic Scale 02:48 - Fact 1: Modes Are Perspectives, Not New Shapes 06:50 - Fact 2: How Pentatonics Remove "Danger Notes" 11:01 - Fact 3: The "Personality Note" of Every Mode 17:43 - Fact 4: Why Chords Dictate the Modal Sound 22:08 - Fact 5: Hear the Emotion Before Memorizing Theory 24:19 - The Pentatonic Way Quiz & Free Course 25:19 - Method 1: Adding Personality Notes to Pentatonics 33:39 - Method 2: Combining Two Pentatonic Scales for One Mode 48:21 - Final Thoughts & Season Wrap-Up #GuitarModes #PentatonicScale #GuitarLessons #MusicTheory #FretboardMastery

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  Episode #28

  Why Thinking Like a Painter Will Improve Your Guitar Playing

  Jul 24, 202636 minS1

  Stuck in a rut with your guitar solos and tired of endless scale memorization? Discover how thinking like a visual artist can transform your guitar playing, simplify the fretboard, and make your improvisation feel completely natural. In this episode of Guitar Underground, host Neil Santos explores how core artistic principles—like big shapes, negative space, limited palettes, and overall composition—directly apply to mastering the guitar. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by theory or looking for fresh inspiration, learning to approach your instrument through the lens of visual art will change how you see the fretboard forever. What You’ll Learn: Big Shapes Over Details: Why focusing on broad musical ideas beats note-by-note thinking. Negative Space: How intentional silence adds emotion and depth to your solos. Limited Palettes: How restricting your options unlocks deeper creativity. Composition First: Why listeners remember the overall song, not just fast licks. 5 Practical Exercises: Actionable ways to train your brain and fretboard visualization away from the guitar. Take the Pentatonic Personality Quiz:Head over to https://pentatonicway.com/pentatonic-personality-quiz/?source=YouTube to find your personality type and get your immediate next steps in a FREE 3-day course! Subscribe to the Guitar Underground so you never miss a lesson on mastering the neck! NEIL'S MUSIC Random Song Generator - RSG1: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3vh18GjU86yALZvarx4ihaNeil D Santos - Found Art: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5sBzdvFdkgfiRp9AuR4tToWhile My Guitar Gently Weeps - Beatles Jam Band: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3aEaXwykLlZJ1C4v8ZR6JT NEIL'S BOOKS: The Guitar Simplified - https://amzn.to/3Mz7KupThe Lefty Guitarist's Survival Handbook - https://amzn.to/4tZHolY STUFF NEIL USES: Fender 57’ Reissue Stratocaster - https://amzn.to/4tL5MYlVega Trem VT1 Special Standard Tremolo Bridge for Strat-Style Guitars - https://amzn.to/4awaYYFMichael Kelly Patriot Decree Electric Guitar - https://amzn.to/4aOdQyQLine 6 HX Stomp XL - https://amzn.to/3MEsIbcHeadRush FRFR108 MKII - 2000W Guitar Amp - https://amzn.to/4tZpwYqTC Electronic DITTO+ LOOPER - https://amzn.to/3MtnNtDTech 21 Richie Kotzen RK5 Signature Fly Rig v3 Multi-effects Pedal - https://amzn.to/4kMdZaAGravity Guitar Picks - https://amzn.to/4cFUG0DObsidianWire Custom '5-Way' Solderless Wiring Harness - https://amzn.to/46lKJScCanon EOS M50 Mirrorless Camera - https://amzn.to/4rAmBD7Shure MV7X XLR Dynamic Microphone - https://amzn.to/4aU6A5TBehringer UMC202HD Audiophile USB Audio Interface - https://amzn.to/4crblFfBehringer XENYX 802S Analog 8-Input Mixer - https://amzn.to/4ryJLtL Chapters 00:00 - Introduction & Why We're Doing Things Differently 04:09 - Concept 1: See Shapes Before Details 09:08 - Concept 2: Master Negative Space in Music 12:12 - Concept 3: Limit Your Palette to Gain Focus 16:39 - Concept 4: Composition Matters More Than Technique 19:57 - Concept 5: How Professionals Study Other Artists 22:20 - Free Pentatonic Quiz & Resource 23:33 - Tip 1: Sketch Your Solos Before You Play 25:20 - Tip 2: Leave Intentional Silence (The 2-Beat Rule) 27:38 - Tip 3: Restrict Your Notes and Techniques 29:56 - Tip 4: Analyze Solos Like a Visual Masterpiece 31:41 - Tip 5: Draw the Fretboard Away From the Guitar 33:55 - Final Takeaway & Closing Thoughts #GuitarLessons #GuitarSolo #Improvisation #GuitarTips #PentatonicScale

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  Episode #27

  How to Bridge Pentatonic Positions Effortlessly (No More Getting Stuck!)

  Jul 17, 202630 minS1

  Are you struggling to connect your pentatonic positions and feel like you're constantly trapped inside one small rectangle? In this video, we reveal the ultimate secrets to bridging the pentatonic positions so you can finally stop playing separate boxes and start seeing one connected, beautiful fretboard! Too many intermediate players memorize all five shapes but end up sounding completely mechanical when it's time to improvise. Guitar Underground host Neil Santos breaks down the 5 crucial facts of fretboard geometry—like how to use slides as natural bridges and find "hidden doorways" with shared notes—before walking you through 5 actionable practice tips. You'll learn exactly how to transition smoothly, build emotional momentum using pitch direction, and implement "connecting licks" to play more fluid, expressive guitar solos. 🎸 What You’ll Learn: Why the 5 pentatonic positions are just 5 views of the same landscape. How to use slides as natural roadways to glide between shapes seamlessly. The "Home Base" method for training your ears to hear overlapping notes. A step-by-step breakdown of the "Pentatonic Superhighway" in A minor. How to utilize direction and pitch to communicate emotion to your band. 🎸Take the Pentatonic Personality Quiz:Head over to https://pentatonicway.com/pentatonic-personality-quiz/?source=YouTube to find your personality type and get your immediate next steps in a FREE 3-day course!👉 Subscribe to the Guitar Underground so you never miss a lesson on mastering the neck! NEIL'S MUSIC Random Song Generator - RSG1: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3vh18GjU86yALZvarx4ihaNeil D Santos - Found Art: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5sBzdvFdkgfiRp9AuR4tToWhile My Guitar Gently Weeps - Beatles Jam Band: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3aEaXwykLlZJ1C4v8ZR6JT NEIL'S BOOKS: The Guitar Simplified - https://amzn.to/3Mz7KupThe Lefty Guitarist's Survival Handbook - https://amzn.to/4tZHolY STUFF NEIL USES: Fender 57’ Reissue Stratocaster - https://amzn.to/4tL5MYlVega Trem VT1 Special Standard Tremolo Bridge for Strat-Style Guitars - https://amzn.to/4awaYYFMichael Kelly Patriot Decree Electric Guitar - https://amzn.to/4aOdQyQLine 6 HX Stomp XL - https://amzn.to/3MEsIbcHeadRush FRFR108 MKII - 2000W Guitar Amp - https://amzn.to/4tZpwYqTC Electronic DITTO+ LOOPER - https://amzn.to/3MtnNtDTech 21 Richie Kotzen RK5 Signature Fly Rig v3 Multi-effects Pedal - https://amzn.to/4kMdZaAGravity Guitar Picks - https://amzn.to/4cFUG0DObsidianWire Custom '5-Way' Solderless Wiring Harness - https://amzn.to/46lKJScCanon EOS M50 Mirrorless Camera - https://amzn.to/4rAmBD7Shure MV7X XLR Dynamic Microphone - https://amzn.to/4aU6A5TBehringer UMC202HD Audiophile USB Audio Interface - https://amzn.to/4crblFfBehringer XENYX 802S Analog 8-Input Mixer - https://amzn.to/4ryJLtL CHAPTERS 00:00 – Bridging the Pentatonic Positions 01:49 – 5 Crucial Facts About the Fretboard 03:00 – Fact 2: Slides as Natural Bridges 04:01 – Fact 3: Hidden Doorways & Overlapping Notes 04:44 – Fact 4: Why Phrases Beat Patterns 06:18 – Fact 5: Pitch Direction & Musical Emotion 09:32 – Finding Your Guitar Personality (Free Lesson Course) 11:05 – Tip 1: Practice Connecting Only Two Boxes 16:06 – Tip 2: Using a Single Note as Home Base 19:00 – Tip 3: Forcing One Position Change Per Solo 22:48 – Tip 4: Connecting Scales with Slides Only 23:48 – Tip 5: The Pentatonic Superhighway (A Minor Connection Lick) 28:39 – Unlock Your Fretboard Freedom #GuitarLessons #PentatonicScale #FretboardFreedom #GuitarSoloing

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