Originally Posted by: maggiorIt demonstrated to me that I needed to learn to use what I knew already better...not more shapes or scales.[/QUOTE]
Well said!
[quote=SJWeissen]
I found it to be a real combination of both that helped me "get it". I thought learning all the shapes and knowing all the notes on the fret broad would just make my playing better. I found that wasn't really the case, and that I needed to spend time working on my phrasing and personal lick library. The combination of those two thing however was huge.

Another great observation! Thanks for these great replies guys. :)