How do you complete a lesson?

This is going to sound strange, but I have completed fundamentals 1 and 2 and am working on Country 1 now, but although I can play songs I have a hard time with vibrato, bending strings, and other areas. I saw that someone in here took an entire year to complete Fundamentals 1 and 2, and I completed Fundamentals 1 in about a week. Am I missing something? A lesson that might take 5 minutes to watch, I can play it but does it need to be mastered? How long did it take you to complete a lesson and how long do you work on it? Once I completed Fundamentals 1 and 2 I can play songs and know barre chords. Should I focus on learning more songs? I am not fast enough at fingering to play a lot of lead licks yet, and that is where I truly want to learn more. Any advice?

It took me roughly 3 months to finish Fundamentals 1. I wouldn't move past a lesson until I had it down really good. That doesn't mean I just repeated it over and over. I would play earlier lessons that I already knew to keep it fun then give the new stuff more time later in my practicing that night. I've been on Fundamentals 2 for about two weeks now. Even though I know how to play everything on Fundamentals 1, I still go back there everyday just to keep my "chops" up.

I just finished up the scale lessons in the beginning of Fundamentals 2. It's focused alot on single string playing of course so I wanted to keep my strumming up etc and that's why I go back to those lessons on Fundamenatals 1. I love playing Darling Destination but I can add more to it now strumming wise instead of just picking the bass note then strum. It's much fun for me to revisit those older songs.

Great questions! The general answer is that you have completed a lesson when you completely understand the idea and, or have mastered the skill in the lesson. It becomes second nature to you & you can do it automatically.

Just like Joesef said, it's okay to go forward & work on new things. But make time in your practice routine to review older material until you have it completely under your command.

Originally Posted by: johnv31552

... working on Country 1 now, but although I can play songs I have a hard time with vibrato, bending strings, and other areas.

[/quote]

Sounds like you hit your personal "wall" & that's where you need to focus on improving.

Originally Posted by: johnv31552 I saw that someone in here took an entire year to complete Fundamentals 1 and 2, and I completed Fundamentals 1 in about a week. Am I missing something?[/quote]

Not necessarily. Individuals learn & progress at different paces.

Originally Posted by: johnv31552 A lesson that might take 5 minutes to watch, I can play it but does it need to be mastered? How long did it take you to complete a lesson and how long do you work on it?

Keep working on it until you understand & can play the skill or idea like it's second nature. And even then it doesn't hurt to review the fundamentals. As long as you play the guitar you should work on basic fundamental skills. I've been playing 40 years & every day I'm still practicing scales, trying to learn new styles, songs & ideas.

[quote=johnv31552]

Once I completed Fundamentals 1 and 2 I can play songs and know barre chords. Should I focus on learning more songs?

Yes! You should always learn songs. That's the end goal of learning the instrument after all.

[quote=johnv31552] I am not fast enough at fingering to play a lot of lead licks yet, and that is where I truly want to learn more. Any advice?

You need to focus on those ideas & skills. Sounds like you need to work on basic scale patterns & lead licks. Anders has some great ideas in the Country & Blues courses for learning lead guitar skill. Also, try these tutorials & see if they help!

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=723

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1614

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1646

Hope this helps! Thanks to Joesef for a great reply!

Thanks Christopher! I appreciate the kind words.

That's just how I do it. Not saying it's the only way but it's my way. What works for me. I used to play bass in a band in the early 90's and played drums in junior high. I have some music experience under my belt but with guitar I knew a couple chords and would just strum them for a couple minutes and put the guitar down. Didn't know any songs etc. Wouldn't touch the guitar again for months.

But I decided to get serious about guitar when I joined here about 4 months ago. Even though I knew how to hold the guitar, knew what the components of the guitar were I still started from the very beginning because I wanted to take the whole course in. I'm in no hurry to blaze through it. I want to learn as much as I can. Even though I know all of the stuff from Fundamentals 1 I still blow notes here and there and yes it gets to me lol, but that just shows me I still need to work on some things. And that's why I still go back to those older lessons. It never hurts to do that. :)