Not Making Progress in Your Guitar Playing?
Mar 15, 2025You’ve been playing guitar for a while.
In the past you saw your playing improve, but now you feel stuck.
You want to take your playing to the next level.
But you don't have clear guidance.
You practice but don’t get the results you want.
You're frustrated with your technique.
How can you change this?
I can help. I’ve been teaching guitar professionally for 25 years.
During that time, I've gained clarity on what helps guitarists make progress.
Here are three things that will help:
1. Determine the Next Level
You can’t take your guitar playing to the next level if you don’t know what the next level is.
One simple way to define level is to use repertoire systems like Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) and Associated Boards of Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). If you’re currently playing level 3 pieces well but struggle with level 4 pieces, then taking your playing to the next level means learning to play level 4 pieces well.
If you want to learn a piece not listed in RCM or ABRSM, look for a piece that is slightly beyond what you’re currently playing. But make sure it seems attainable.
One way to do this is to notice how many aspects of the piece are different from anything you’ve ever played before. If only 1 or 2 aspects are new to you, it may be a good choice. If 3 or more aspects are new to you, it may be too hard.
Once you’ve defined the next level, you can get there faster if you improve two things: practice strategies and technique.
2. Improve Your Practice Strategies
Often you may jump from one piece of music to another. I get it. It’s fun to start new pieces.
But when you’re frustrated that you’re not making progress, put more thought into how you practice.
Get clear on the result you want to accomplish in today’s practice time. Notice whether you’re making progress and change your approach as needed.
Keep changing your approach until you get the result you want.
3. Improve Your Technique
The goal of playing music is not playing exercises.
But practicing core elements of technique like scales, arpeggios, and slurs can dramatically increase your ability to play more difficult music.
As these technique elements are improved, you have more freedom to express the music the way you wish.
7 Steps to Next-Level Classical Guitar Playing!
To help you improve your practice strategies and technique, I created a course called 7 Steps to Next-Level Classical Guitar Playing.
In this course, I give you 7 clear action steps. Some of the steps are focused on improving your practice strategies while others are focused on improving your guitar technique.
Each step can be completed quickly, but the resulting improvements will enhance your guitar playing for months and years to come.
For each step, I provide a video walking through the step as well as a PDF download with everything you need for that step.
If that sounds good, here’s how you can get started:
1. Choose Your Option
a. Virtuoso: $347
This includes the 7 Steps to Next-Level Classical Guitar Playing course AND 7 private lessons with me (30 minutes each). I personally go over each of the steps with you and discuss any other questions you have as well! Click here to choose Virtuoso.
b. Performer: $137
This includes the 7 Steps to Next-Level Classical Guitar Playing course along with 7 video reviews from me. As you are working through the course, when you have a question, you can send me a video of your playing (up to 7 total). I will watch your video and email you written comments giving specific guidance on how to improve your playing! Click here to choose Performer.
c. Self-Guided: $67
With this option, you work through the 7 Steps to Next-Level Classical Guitar Playing course on your own. The course is designed with clear instructions so that you can do that! Click here to choose Self-Guided.
2. Select Your Payment Method.
You can choose credit card, debit card, or other payment options.
3. Click Into the Course
If you don't do the 7 Steps to Next-Level Classical Guitar Playing course, how are you going to take your playing to the next level?
You could keep watching YouTube or TikTok videos on guitar.
Many of those are great, but you're often at the mercy of whichever video you stumble across. As a result, you don’t have clear and meaningful structure for how to take your playing to the next level.
For that reason, watching videos alone often means staying stuck in your current playing level.
On the other hand, if you move forward with the 7 Steps to Next-Level Classical Guitar Playing course, you’ll learn how to select music that’s a good fit for your current playing level.
You’ll learn how to practice music so that you master it and can then move on to more difficult music.
You’ll learn the most important techniques to practice to take your guitar playing to the next level.
If you’re tired of not making progress in your guitar playing, feel free to choose one of these three options to get started:
a. Virtuoso: $347
This includes the 7 Steps to Next-Level Classical Guitar Playing course AND 7 private lessons with me (30 minutes each). I personally go over each of the steps with you and discuss any other questions you have as well! Click here to choose Virtuoso.
b. Performer: $137
This includes the 7 Steps to Next-Level Classical Guitar Playing course along with 7 video reviews from me. As you are working through the course, when you have a question, you can send me a video of your playing (up to 7 total). I will watch your video and email you written comments giving specific guidance on how to improve your playing! Click here to choose Performer.
c. Self-Guided: $67
With this option, you work through the 7 Steps to Next-Level Classical Guitar Playing course on your own. The course is designed with clear instructions so that you can do that! Click here to choose Self-Guided.
If you have questions, let me know.
Keep making music!