First I'd like to say Hi to this forum, since its my first post. Secondly I really wonder how guitarist get to the next level. I'm sure the days of my beginner level playing are over, and now stuck on this intermediate stage. What I mean by that is, I've been playing the scales and lots of other different exercises to help my solo-ing along with my metronome.

Well I can pick once per beat on 240bpm, (I can't do multiple picking per beat like my old teacher, if I could I wouldn't be posting this up.) I found the teacher a bit arrogrant so I no longer take lessons, and he seemed to lose the drift of the direction where he was going to lead me.

So what really happens from here? Do I continue doing these exercises and one day I wake up and find my fingers moving like Kirk's? To be honest I do get frustrated doing the scales over hour after hours, day after day (yes.. I'm a guitar obessed madman, just eagered to make it to the next level). So if the pros out there got encouragement, tips on exercise techniques (besides, alternate picking, scales) please do tell.

Help... :(