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Does this sound familiar? You've spent years learning your favorite songs. You can play chords, a few scales, and maybe even a solo or two. You should feel like a guitarist, but when you hit 'record' on your phone, the magic disappears. What you hear back sounds... amateur.
That was me. For 7 years, I was trapped in what I call the 'self-taught rut'—knowing a lot of things but having no idea how to sound good. After years of frustration, I discovered a simple framework that acts like roadside assistance for any stuck guitarist. I call it the Triple-A Guitar Roadside Assistance. It’s a three-step method to diagnose the problem, get you running again, and ensure you never get stranded again.
Step 1: Assess
Realize Where You Are Right Now
The first step in any journey is knowing your true starting point. It isn’t about beating yourself up; it's about making an accurate diagnosis so you can apply the right fix. For me, that meant facing the cringe.
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:
Watching that, I saw flaws in my technique, my timing, and a clear lack of confidence. It was the harsh truth I needed to see. Like many self-taught players, I realized I was stuck in a YouTube rabbit hole, consuming content without a real plan for progress.
Takeaway: An honest assessment is the most critical part of the journey. Without it, you’re just guessing.
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Step 2: Acknowledge
Fuel Your Motivation by Seeing Progress
Before you can fix what's broken, you must appreciate the machine you've already built. Acknowledging your progress isn't about ego; it’s about generating the motivation needed for the hard work ahead.
After the initial shock of my "cringe" video, I realized it was a powerful tool. It became my "before" picture. When you’ve tackled the challenge of starting from nothing, you've earned the right to see how far you've come. This is what stops you from quitting when things get tough.
Action Step: Start recording yourself regularly—even if it’s just a 30-second clip on your phone. Don't judge it. Just save it. These recordings will become your most powerful source of motivation, proving that your effort is paying off.
Step 3: Accelerate
Focus on Quality, Not Quantity
Real progress isn't about the quantity of new licks you learn; it's about enhancing the quality of your sound. This is the shift from being a content consumer to becoming a musician.
Consuming endless YouTube tutorials feels like progress, but it’s often just a distraction—like adding a new spoiler to a car with a sputtering engine. I was lost for years thinking another lick was the answer. The real acceleration happened only when I started working on the engine itself with someone who knew how to tune it.
The first step is to identify the specific problem. Do any of these common roadblocks sound familiar?
This is the most common plateau. You know chords and scales, but you don't feel like a "real" musician. The problem isn't a lack of information; it's the lack of a structured path to connect what you know. I teach the skills to elevate your playing to a level where you love the guitar every time you pick it up.
Running scales up and down isn't music. The secret is learning how to use them to create memorable melodies. I help my students bridge the gap between technical exercises and true musical expression, unlocking the creativity that's already inside you.
Songwriting feels mysterious, but it's a skill you can learn. It's about understanding how harmony and melody work together. I provide a clear framework that demystifies the process, so you can start creating the music you hear in your head.
It wasn’t until I started learning from a real teacher in 2015 that the real progress began. Here’s the proof of what focusing on quality can do:
Conclusion
My focus at Osterloh Guitar Academy is to improve the quality of your music, not just to teach you the next song. My advice is to improve on what you already know versus learning more things superficially. The Triple-A Method is your roadmap. This is how you will truly enjoy and enhance your experience with the guitar.
This Article is written by Travis Osterloh @ Osterlohguitaracademy.com...
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