How to Make Real Progress on Guitar
When I first learned to play guitar, I was only focused on learning the parts of the songs I loved. Then it evolved to playing whole songs, singing while playing, and playing while standing up. I was starting to feel confident about my progress until I decided to record myself on video to be like other guitar players on YouTube. It was... enlightening.
Here, I’m going to be completely vulnerable with you. Below is a video of my playing from 2013, after 7 years of being self-taught.
Ready for Your Own Breakthrough?
Stop feeling stuck. Get a personalized assessment of your playing and a clear roadmap to the progress you've been dreaming of.
1. Realize Where You Are Right Now
Watching that video now, I cringe. I saw flaws in my technique, my timing, and a clear lack of confidence. The truth is a harsh reality, but it was the truth I needed to see. I needed real improvement, not just more techniques, licks, and songs. Like any self-taught player, I had no clue how to get there. I dove down the YouTube rabbit hole, getting lost in what to learn instead of actually making progress. It wasn’t until I started learning from a real teacher in 2015 that the real progress began.
2. Acknowledge How Far You've Come
It wasn't until later that I understood recording my playing was just as important for seeing how far I've come as it was for finding flaws. This became the motivation I needed to push forward. It’s important to acknowledge that you’ve tackled the challenge of starting with nothing to get where you are today. Continue to record yourself every week or month. These recordings don’t need to be perfect; they will serve as progress markers on your journey.
3. Focus on What You *Really* Need To Improve
Real progress is made by enhancing the *quality* of your sound, not the quantity of things you can play. Consuming more and more content from YouTube and lick courses felt like progress, but it was just a distraction. I was lost for years thinking this is how I would become like Mark Tremonti, Angel Vivaldi, or Eddie Van Halen. I don’t want you to make the same mistake. I swallowed my pride and accepted I needed help from someone who could project my guitar playing to the next level.
This is what I want for my students. I teach them the skills to elevate their playing to a level where they love the guitar every time they pick it up. The connection between the emotion you feel and the sound you make with the guitar is what it's all about.
Here’s the proof:
Conclusion
My focus at Osterloh Guitar Academy is to improve the quality of your music, not just to teach you the next song or lick. My advice to any player is to improve on what you already know versus learning more things superficially. This is how you will truly enjoy and enhance your experience with the guitar.
Want to Improve Your Guitar Playing Today?
If you’re looking to take the next step in your guitar playing, let's talk about getting you to the next level.
Book a Free Consultation