Originally Posted by: UllR
CSchlegel, I have watched all of fundamentals 1 and 2 and the rock fundamentals and a lot of the blues videos.
[/quote]
Good deal! Thanks for the reply.

Originally Posted by: UllR
I do understand the Major WWHWWWH and Minor WHWWHWW. I think I pretty much have the CMaj and AMin diatonic scales down. It is just easier to learn the Pentatonic and just memorize the shapes/patterns. But I guess that is not helping to memorize the notes. I think I hear the sound much better than I remember where certain notes are.[/quote]
That's good news. In fact, the patterns are just helpful perceptual guides that we use in order to get to the real use: to create sounds we like. So, the goal is to learn to associate & integrate these thing together.

1. Patterns on the guitar.
2. Sounds they make.
3. Physical motions required to use those patterns to make sounds.
[QUOTE=UllR]
I always have to stop and figure out where and which note it is. I think I just feel like I should be soloing with slath when in reality I can play happy birthday.

That's an understandable frustration. Let's take a step back & look at the big picture.

Improvisation has two basic components.

1. Knowledge of the scale or key & the chord progression.
2. An existing repertoire of licks that you can already play.

So you need to be able to do pentatonic patterns & licks like this at a moment's notice. You need to have licks like this completely under your command & play them like they are second nature in time with a beat.

www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=185
www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=722
www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=737
www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=843
www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=914

Those kinds of licks are the raw materials & skills that will form your tool kit when you improvise.

Once you gain those physical skills, then you start to work on the conceptual side. You need to understand how to use those scale patterns & the circled numbers that are the scale degrees & intervals; to do something with those pentatonic pattern skills! These tutorials cover the foundation basics of how to approach improvising with those tools.

www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=876
www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=483
www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=491

The next step is to practice with the goal of experimentation, trial & error. This is how you build a repertoire of licks that you can already play, a vocabulary of things you can play at the drop of a hat. Improvisation is mostly playing pieces of things you already know, but mixing them up on the spot, artfully rearranging them.

Consider this tutorial.
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1614

That whole tutorial is only about one lick. But it's such an important, widely used lick, you have to know it if you are going to play standard rock or blues guitar. This is the kind of thing you need to know stone cold up & down. You have to be able to play it anywhere, anytime with lots of variations.

Now, if all this is too advanced, don't worry! Try starting with these simpler tutorials that are aimed at teaching the exact same thing, but from a more beginner level. If you work through these, you can eventually get to the more advanced stuff!

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=170
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=918
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=189
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=723
[QUOTE=UllR]
Anyway I think I am just looking for " THE ANSWER " you know how can I learn faster and what should I focus on and in what order. Anything worthwhile usually takes hard work and time so I guess I will keep plugging away.

I understand! We've all been there as learning guitarists. :) Give these ideas some time & effort. Be patient with yourself. Ask more if necessary & let me know how it goes.

Best of success & Happy New Year! :)