How to make Real progress at 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, playing while standing up. I was starting to feel confident about my progress and then I started to record myself video to be like other guitar players on Youtube.

It was enlightening on where I was and what I needed to improve…

Here I’m going to be completely vulnerable with you… Below is a video of my playing from 2013 @ 22 years old… after 7 years of self taught progress:

1st: Realize Where Am I Right Now?

I saw my flaws of technique, timing, rushing some parts, lack of confidence… watching this now in 2021 is kind of cringing that I thought I was much better something than what I was. The truth is a harsh reality, but it was the truth I needed to see. I needed real improvement and not more techniques, licks, and songs. Like any self taught guitar player I had no clue how to get there… During college I tried the Youtube route for progress…I found myself diving down the rabbit hole of what to learn vs making progress. It wasn’t until I started learning from a real teacher in 2015… that the real progress began.

2: Acknowledge How Far Have I Come?

It wasn't until later, I understood recording my playing was just as important to see how far I've come and to know that I've made real progress. This was the motivation I use to help over come my first thoughts to push forward. It’s important to know you’ve tackled the challenge of starting with nothing to where you’re today. Continue to record progress every week or month, these recordings doesn’t need to be perfection. These will serve as progress markers as you continue to make progress forward.

3. What Do You Need To Improve??

The real progress is made by focusing on enhancing your sound when you play.

Consuming more and more content from Youtube and lick courses is just a distraction that felt like progression. I was lost in years content thinking this is how I would become like Mark Tremonti, Angel Vivaldi, Eddie Van Halen, or Eric Johnson. I don’t want you my reader to fall for the same mistake I made… I swallowed my pride and accepted I needed help from someone who can help project my guitar playing to the next level!

This is what I want for my students, I teach them the important skills to project their playing to a level where they love the guitar every time they pick it up! I can teach any student to play chords in a song or any lick in a song... it's how they play those chords and licks becomes the reason why they loving playing guitar. The connection between the emotion you feel and the sound you make with the guitar becomes incomparable.

Here’s the proof:

My focus @ OsterlohGuitarAcademy.com is to improve the quality of your music... Not just to teach you the next song or lick.

It would be my advice to any player to improve on what you already know vs learning more to enjoy and enhance your experience with the guitar.

Want to improve your guitar playing today?? Send a message to Osterlohguitaracademy@gmail.com and I promise to elevate your guitar playing to the next level!

All the best in your playing

Travis Osterloh