If you've ever asked a pro what was the best way they got good real fast, the vast majority say is when they first joined a band.

Why? B/c being with a group of people jamming, you force yourself/brain to [u]adapt[/u] to the tune the drummer or bassist is playing. As the group plays, they evolve together and thusly learn their instruments better.

This is no different than Hendrix walking around the whole day in his house with a guitar strapped messing around learning the fretboard and its notes until it became an extension of his arm.

Of course you need to do [u]structured[/u] lessons as presented here exceptionally well, but then you need to practice. And when you practice, practice [u]really[/u] [u]slowly[/u]--baby level (another pro trick). be patient. Slower then a wee bit faster until you climb that hill. Use a metronome to keep your beat on track.

Be [u]PATIENT[/u] and work at it (no patience = no progress). Don't assume you'll learn whatever it is in a day or a week. It may take months. The brain has to adapt and the muscle memory has to kick in over time (like a bodybuilder building muscle). The more you practice, the more you'll advance in technique.

For riffing about, I use backing tracks and also the Digitech Trio+ (not the inferior Trio) which has been a [u]huge[/u] hit since recently released. It's basically like a band that [u]adapts[/u] the built-in drums and bass to [u]your[/u] riff in whatever genre you wish. It's very clever and has an auto looper to practice/layer your riff. This pedal is no different in concept than having an all-valuable band to force train your mind to evolve. Take a 30-60min riff lesson you learned that day and then immediately apply it to the Trio+ pedal for another while and off you go with evolution. Check it out:

https://youtu.be/wKwqg0U7ZLU?t=7m24s

And remember, it's a lifestyle. It takes years and decades to get where you may want to go. Even experts/guitar Gods still critcise themselves unmercifully--but that's how they got good in the first place--by always pushing the envelope. If you don't have that patience to be methodical and put in the hours consistently, then you'll be one of those 88% of victims that Fender says give up within a year.

So good luck and have patience and understanding with yourself.

[P.S. Also check out Rocksmith 2014 game/software. It's a good supplement to the all-important lessons (not a replacement) and a really fun way to learn mechanics of songs you love: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NWZR3rh06c&list=PLkTijIFpb637_jSnwBpwghkRIQrNanu3t]