Originally Posted by: mdrose725

This is not due to any of the instruction and I have definitely learned to correct some bad habits but I finally (with a new job) am able to dedicate true time to practice and developing the weaker parts of my playing. My question (and maybe some others have)...I know all my basic open chords, as well as bare chords along 6th and 5th strings to include minor and 7th shapings for them. Chord changes, shapings and voicings at different locations are something I practice regularly. Sometimes for 20-30 minutes, sometimes for 3 to 4 hours, just however I am feeling. Individual finger dexterity, scales (major, minor, blues, chromatic) and speed and confidence with these as well as learning the fretboard as a whole are necessities as well. I am more confused as to if I should simply begin at step one in Beginning Fundamentals 1 and go through everything or if there are suggestions for lessons I should focus on while keeping up with the things I have already learned? I only ask because with some of the things, I find it very hard to focus (i.e., learning the open chords) while my mind is drifting more to those things I know I am struggling in. Any help, from students or instructors, in how to atack my lessons would be welcome. Best regards to all who reply.

-Michael

GF I is going to get you through your basic open chords and effcient changing between them. Sounds to me like you are already there, so I don't know that GF I will be very beneficial to you Maybe jump into GF II and also work up some songs to keep from getting bored?

My availablity to practice sounds much like yours and I also tend to meander a a bit. I have learned (accepted) to call this my "creative" time. Sometimes it is fruitful (I have the begginings of some interesting riffs worked up), sometimes the only thing to show for it is having my fingers on the fretboard for a while!

Regardless, I try to hit a couple of GT lessons, some scales, and work on a couple of sections of songs each session. I try to limit my "creative" time, but I can start to meander at any time! When I do, it means I was probably getting bored with whatever lesson, scale or song I was on, and so I just move to the the next thing on my list when I am finally able to re-focus.

Fortunately, I love playing scales, and this has been immensely beneficial to my progress as you can well imagine.

Sorry to digress - or should I say meander :-) , but I think from re-reading your post that your are ready for GF II.