How to measure your skills

I am very pleased with Guitartricks, very good lessons, good instructors, good content all. The problem I am facing is how to determine my level of skill, when should I practice more on a certain skill or when is it enough to move to a next challenge. I own a guitar for over thirty years now, had private lessons for 2 years but some how I don't get past a certain point of skills on the guitar. What is the best way, looking at the content of Guitartricks, to proceed and pass a "dead end" and move on?
Somebody suggestions?

Originally Posted by: GielPetI own a guitar for over thirty years now, had private lessons for 2 years but some how I don't get past a certain point of skills on the guitar.

I'm curious as to what particular point you seem to get stuck on. As for me, I'm finding it difficult increasing the speed at which I can change chords.

I think the main reason for me making no progress is that my ability's in the other fields of music, that is hearing the right kind of pitch, feel for ritme, holds me back.

I found that when I practice chord canges a lot by just looking at my left hand (I'm righthanded!), by "teaching" my left fingers, over and over again, where they have to go. Every time while practising for a couple of minutes just on those fingers from my left hand, increased my chordchanges speed.

Originally Posted by: GielPetI am very pleased with Guitartricks, very good lessons, good instructors, good content all.[/quote]
Good to hear!
[QUOTE=GielPet]The problem I am facing is how to determine my level of skill, when should I practice more on a certain skill or when is it enough to move to a next challenge.

If you have not yet, I encourage you to go through Guitar Fundamentals 1 & 2. That way you can learn or firm up your basic skills & knowledge.

http://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=1
http://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=2

After that pick a Style Course (Rock, Blues, Country).

http://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=rock1
http://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=blues1
http://www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=country1

All of these are designed with the premise "if you can do this, move forward" curriculum in mind. So you can confidently use those courses, learn the skill or knowledge presented in each lesson, and then click the next button to learn more! Every lesson in all the courses build on previous lessons.

Beyond that, and most importantly, what are your goals with the guitar? If you can clarify what you are after I am sure we can point you in the right direction.

Originally Posted by: CSchlegel
Beyond that, and most importantly, what are your goals with the guitar? If you can clarify what you are after I am sure we can point you in the right direction.

In the early days my goal was to (just for the fun) make music with a few friends of mine. Now (30 years later) I like to play on my own. There ar a few goals that I have in mind. On the accoustical guitar (classic) there are a few songs I like to master in the line of the one I like most e.g. "Asturias" , another one beeing Una Limnos por el Amor de Dios (Barrios Mangore) just as a few examples I like to play.
On the other hand I like to play along with records on my electric guitar like solo's from santana, eagles, Rolling Stones etc.

The site is set up with many courses that are meant to be a step-by-step process so you can measure your progress. Guitar Fundamentals is set-up specifically to prepare you for the rest of the courses on Guitar Tricks. Take those lessons in a step by step fashion and don't move on to the next lesson until you have the previous lesson down. All too often students want to jump from lesson to lesson; which is OK in most cases, but if you want to measure your progress and refrain from laying dormant in your playing, take it step by step.

If you have yet to do so, go through Guitar Fundamentals 1 and 2 and take each lesson at a time, not moving on to the next lesson until you understand the lesson you just did. As always, use the forum and Christopher to answer whatever questions you have before you move forward.

Originally Posted by: GielPetOn the accoustical guitar (classic) there are a few songs I like to master in the line of the one I like most e.g. "Asturias" , another one beeing Una Limnos por el Amor de Dios (Barrios Mangore) just as a few examples I like to play.

OK, serious classical guitar stuff! I have a list of classical tutorials here:

http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28987

If you want to play classic rock stuff, your best bet is the Rock Style courses!

Probably the best way to track your progress is to maintain a progress log. Note your max notes-per-minute every week and watch it increase.

That works for speed, anyway. For something less tangible like improvising, it's best to record yourself once in a while and go back an listen to your old recordings. You'll hear clear improvement over time