WASH HANDS BEFORE EVERY PRACTICE.
1. Go as slowly (and deliberately) as you can at first to get the chords/fingerings in your brain.
2. On "the NEXT time you go to practice", start with a metronome setting that you first feel is rediculessly slow and practice your piece 17 times WITHOUT any mistakes. (If you make a mistake, stop - drop your hands and let the blood flow, re-focus, then continue. Remember - 17 x's !)
3. After #2 above, put down instrument for at least one hour ( or the next day) then when you return, increase metronome speed in small increments - each time, practicing at that speed for 17 times with NO MISTAKES.
4. Do the above until you can pick up your guitar and do that piece in the time you want until you feel it is "part of your Natural abilities ( like walking).
By doing this, I have proven to three instructors that my students/friends can master a piece/practice/lick in 2/3rds the time it takes most others. After 5 months of this, They have a faster ability to retain and repeat ANYTHING they come across.
One side effect though is that after a year or two, they start branching out into other styles and genre's because they feel they are unlimited.
DO not under-estimate the hidden benefits of a metronome.
All these great instructors mention the use of a metronome on nearly ALL lessons. Not using a metronome is Tthe ONLY MISTAKE you could make toward being a true musician.
IF YOU WANT SPEED AND NATURAL SOUNDING ABILITY, DO IT THE FASTER AND POSITIVE WAY. - GO EAST BY HEADING WEST !
I'll see you at Carnegie !