No Cover Charge Podcast

Join Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols in Episode 21 of The No Cover Charge Podcast as they geek out over the Neural DSP Archetype: John Mayer X plugin. This is not sponsored! The boys just love tone! Expect epic jams, preset breakdowns, real amp comparisons, and surprises like... Jared playing a Silver Sky? Gasp! From buttery cleans to roaring drives, discover why this plugin captures John Mayer's iconic tones and what its potential may be.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The No Cover Charge Podcast on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠

The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.

Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.

Plug in and hang out.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 - John Mayer's Neural DSP plugin

1:19 - How good is this plugin actually?

2:08 - A Surprise For Jared

4:02 - The sound of three amps in the room

4:56 - Lead 2 Live Room preset

7:22 - Eflat Voodoo preset

10:13 - Golden Gate preset

10:45 - Just Plain Dumb preset

16:43 - Gravity Clean preset

18:09 - Gravity Lead preset

18:55 - ODX preset

19:42 - Hot Bridge preset

20:53 - Stately Blues preset

26:22 - Party Time preset

26:32 - Play Nice Voicings preset

28:30 - Funk Start Me Up preset

30:42 - John Will Be Loved preset

32:20 - Johnzilla 5 preset

32:32 - Johnzilla 1 preset

34:27 - Gnarly Slide preset

36:30 - Express Yourself preset

37:46 - Clean Your Room preset

39:15 - SRV 54 preset

39:49 - Green Zone Rhythm preset

43:11 - I Don't Trust Myself vibes

43:18 - Reflective Funk preset

44:00 - Tasty Trem preset

45:55 - This video wasn't sponsored, but we love this plugin

47:30 - Have you ever heard Wild Blue?

Looking to level up your guitar playing in 2026? 🎸In this episode of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols share 26 real-world guitar practice tips that go beyond boring routines and actually make you a better musician.From honing rhythm, melody, and tone, to mindset shifts, recording yourself, silent practice, and learning from non-guitar instruments, this episode is packed with practical advice for beginner, intermediate, and advanced guitar players alike.Whether you’ve got 15 minutes a day or you’re chasing your next breakthrough, these tips will help you practice smarter, stay inspired, and make real progress in the new year.

⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠The No Cover Charge Podcast on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠

The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.

Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.

Plug in and hang out.

In Episode 19 of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols sit down with Ben Travers, a monster guitarist, thoughtful musician, and Grammy-nominated songwriter — for a deep, honest conversation about guitar, creativity, technique, and the mental side of being a musician.

This episode goes far beyond chops. Ben opens up about insecurity, social anxiety, discipline, effective practice, alternate picking, theory vs feel, songwriting, touring realities, and what it really takes to keep growing as a guitarist in today’s world. Expect jaw-dropping playing, real talk, and practical insights you can apply to your own guitar journey.

Whether you’re into shredding, blues, songwriting, or just love thoughtful guitar conversations, this episode delivers.

Check out all things Ben Travers

⁠⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠The No Cover Charge Podcast on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠

The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge. Plug in and hang out.

What an incredible year it's been! Although we only launched this show a few months ago, it feels like something we'll be doing for a long time, thanks to you, our guests, and the power of ROCK. We are humbled and grateful for all of your support, and we'll see you in 2026! Happy New Year!Love,Tyler & Jared

⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠The No Cover Charge Podcast on Spotify⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge. Plug in and hang out.

In this episode of The No Cover Charge Podcast, Tyler Larson and Jared James Nichols take on the timeless creative challenge: writing a song in an hour. With no plan, no pressure, and a room full of guitars, amps, and pedals, they build a rock song from scratch in real time.

Watch as riffs turn into verses, choruses emerge organically, and a full song takes shape through tone chasing, odd time signatures, gear experiments, and pure musical instinct. This episode pulls back the curtain on the songwriting process, showing how musicians collaborate, problem-solve, keep it real, and follow inspiration wherever it leads.

If you love guitar tone, songwriting, creative process, or watching music get made from nothing — this one’s for you. The song isn't half bad either ;)

⁠Subscribe on Apple Podcasts⁠

⁠The No Cover Charge Podcast on Spotify⁠

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠TikTok⁠

⁠Facebook⁠

0:00 - Writing a Song in One Hour
0:31 - Rules of the Songwriting Challenge
0:48 - Guitar Pedals and Gear Overview
1:38 - Choosing Guitars and Amps for Songwriting
1:58 - How Guitar Tone Sparks Song Ideas
2:29 - Cranking a Marshall for Riff Writing
3:03 - Finding the Groove and Tempo
3:54 - Building the Main Guitar Riff
4:23 - Turning a Riff into a Song Structure
5:04 - Songwriting Advice: Don’t Overthink It
6:06 - Using Fuzz and Texture for Inspiration
7:52 - Creating Verses and Choruses
9:04 - Switching Guitar Amps for New Sounds
10:34 - Using Alternate Tuning for Songwriting
11:46 - Writing a Chorus That Hits Hard
13:01 - Adding Harmony and Movement
15:49 - Avoiding Blues Clichés in Rock Songs
17:16 - Choosing the Right Drum Groove
18:40 - Writing a Bridge That Creates Contrast
22:28 - Experimenting with Odd Time Signatures
24:57 - Locking in the Bridge Section
25:38 - Preparing for Guitar Solos
30:29 - Adding Ambient Guitar Layers
38:09 - Final Song Structure Comes Together
40:48 - Recording Guitar Solos
47:05 - The Creative Process Explained
51:40 - Final Song Reveal: Dr. Death

The No Cover Charge Podcast with Tyler Larson & Jared James Nichols is your all-access backstage pass to the world of guitar—and there's never a cover at the proverbial door. Hosted by two of the most passionate guitarists you'll find, Tyler and Jared deliver a mix of electrifying interviews with legendary guitarists, laugh-out-loud tales from the road, deep dives into guitar culture, and no-holds-barred gear talk.

Whether you're a lifelong shredder or just love music, you'll find something unexpected in every episode—a hidden gem, a new perspective, an epic jam, or a story that'll stick with you. It’s always a good time, and best of all? No cover charge.

Plug in and hang out.

Thank you to the sponsor of our show, ⁠Roswell Pro Audio!