YouTube is a magical place.
A bottomless dojo of shiny techniques, “secret tricks,” and thumbnails screaming WATCH THIS BEFORE YOU PRACTICE AGAIN!!!
For a curious guitarist, it feels like entering a mega-temple where every room has a different sensei.
And every sensei is yelling:
“Over here! No, here! No, THIS is the real way!”
Soon you’re jumping from pentatonic hacks → alternate-picking drills → funk grooves → sweep arpeggios → something about modes…
and instead of levelling up, you’re just collecting techniques like you’d be collecting Pokémon figures.
You’re practicing a lot.
But you’re not progressing.
Why?
Because you’ve fallen into the Random Tutorial Trap — a state of constant motion without direction.
Like switching martial arts schools every couple of weeks.
A little Shotokan, a little Judo, a little Wing Chun, a little Capoeira, sprinkled with two classes of Arnis because the sticks looked cool.
Fun? Sure.
Effective? Not really.
In martial arts, lineage gives you coherence: one system, one philosophy, one progressive structure.
Guitar works exactly the same.
There’s nothing wrong with exploring.
But when exploration becomes the whole path… there is no path.
So how do you escape the YouTube dojo?
You don’t need to swear off tutorials forever. Exploring is important and fun as well.
You just need to stop letting randomness be your sensei.
Here are the three exits:
1. Follow a roadmap
A clear structure transforms chaos into clarity.
Scale grounding → technique foundations → rhythm mastery → expressive vocabulary → creative integration.
When you know what to learn next, the noise disappears.
2. Find a teacher or mentor
Someone who sees your blind spots.
Someone who cares about your progression more than the algorithm does.
A real teacher – be it guitar or martial arts – cuts through confusion and keeps you accountable — even when your motivation wobbles.
3. Build your own system
If you’re experienced, design a personal curriculum.
What are your goals?
What behaviours, skills and knowledge support those goals?
Which exercises actually move the needle?
You’re crafting your own martial art — your own ryuha.
That’s how mastery is born.
The takeaway:
Stop collecting tricks. Start walking a path.
Randomness can spark curiosity, but only direction builds progress.
The guitar isn’t a maze of infinite doors.
It’s a road — and the moment you choose one, everything becomes clearer, simpler, and far more powerful, efficient and effective.
Cosmin