This is something that has helped me but then I'm mostly blues. It's called the one-four-five most of you're blues and basic rock are based on it. I'll try to explain a little.

1 4 5
ABCDEFG the notes: Playing in the key of A (the root note) The one is A, the four is D, and the five is E. Now you can just strum those notes and they will make a melody. This works respectivly down the notes. The key of D (one) count down 4 DEFG G is the four And A the five.
You may have heard a band member at some point say Lets play blabla song in the key of A start on the five that means the first chord you will play is E the five note. Google 145 guitar lesson or spell it out and I bet it comes up or youtube it. Learn all the notes on at least the 6 low E and 5 strings. 5th fret low E is A, 5th string A 5th fret is D 5th string 7th fret is E
for bar chords its the same for every note I know this is too much but think about it and try to google it. This helped me so much specialy when jammin.
Hope I did'nt confuse you I'm confused now I think Raggs

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Blues
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Man I saw that earlier post about getting bored with scales. of course scales get boring quickly, you can't put any soul into it i know. It's like doing maths puzzles if your new to them or you avoid them. I made the switch from viola to bass, and I've never looked back ! Although when it comes to scales the viola world has it so much easier. Classical viola you only need your major and minor and arpeggios etc - when i first switched to bass I was horrified at just how many new scales I had to learn. I found a good scales reference book at http://www.BassGuitar-scales.com which softened the blow in learning them all. Dude, you've totally gotta get out of the practice routine of just doing majors and pentatonics. That's mind numbing...

I'm almost exactly in the same point (and age) as the OP, without the feeling stagnant part. 2 years, lessons once a week, etc.

I had one question - I've learned several songs, with the exception, in many cases, of the solos, which I can't usually keep up with. My teacher tells me not to worry about that. For instance, I can do Highway to Hell to the record all the way through, albeit the solo is slower than Angus. Is that reasonable, or do folks on this board feel that I should be working the solos harder, too?

My teacher has really recommended the playing with others, but stressing that this playing would be rhythm and chords, not lead, for a while. I'm just starting to do that, thanks to the guitar store having some jam sessions (picture a 49 year old in the midst of a few dozen teenagers - kind of like Kramer in Seinfeld taking karate with a kids class - although unlike Seinfeld, the kids are better than I am). It's certainly a practice incentive.

I actually do scales when I get a little bored or frustrated with the songs I'm working on, instead of the reverse - I'm finding that when I go back to a song in the scales I know, I'm getting better at anticipating what notes are coming up.

Once you know and can play all of the 'cowboy chords', try and get a little cassette recorder and tape yourself playing a simple progression, maybe like G-G-G-G-C-C-C-C-G-G-G-G-D-D-C-C-G-G-D-D-G

Then try and find notes that fit the chords and try some simple 3 and 4 note riffs. Before you know it, you'll be all over the fretboard!

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

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