If you've been playing for years and your solos still sound like the same box-one lick, you probably don't need more shapes. You need a course that teaches you to connect, target, and phrase with the minor pentatonic you already know. Below is how to judge a course, how the main formats compare, and where Adam Loves Guitar fits. We haven't taken any of the courses mentioned here, so we point you to official pages and public information rather than offering a verdict from personal use.
What an intermediate player should look for
Most intermediate players already know Position 1. The gaps are usually elsewhere, so check whether a course covers these:
- All five positions, linked. Memorizing boxes in isolation is the classic trap.
- Key changes. Can you move a lick from A minor to F♯ minor without thinking?
- Phrasing technique. Bends, vibrato, slides, and hammer-ons and pull-offs, with attention to pitch accuracy and timing, not just notes.
- Chord-tone targeting. Landing on notes that fit the harmony instead of running up and down the scale.
- Backing tracks and application. Playing over real progressions, not just drills.
- Moving past pentatonic. Adding the major pentatonic mix, blue notes, or the Dorian and natural minor notes when you're ready.
Course formats compared
"Best" depends on how you learn. This table compares formats, not specific products, so you can narrow the field first.
| Format | Good for | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Structured video course | Self-directed players who want a clear path | No one checks your playing, and it's easy to watch without practicing |
| One-on-one teacher | Fixing specific habits like timing, bends, and muting | Usually the costliest route per hour, and quality varies by teacher |
| Free video lessons | Filling a single gap, such as a technique or a style | Scattered and unordered, so you may repeat material or miss steps |
| Books and backing-track packs | Players who like to work at their own pace | Little feedback on feel, which matters most in soloing |
For many people, a structured course plus a few lessons with a teacher covers more ground than either alone.
How to vet any pentatonic course in 20 minutes
- Read the official curriculum. Look for specific lesson titles on connecting positions and soloing over progressions, not just "learn the scale."
- Watch free previews. Is the teaching style clear? Do they explain why a lick works, or only show it?
- Check the style match. A blues-rock course won't serve you if you want jazz-leaning lines.
- Find the refund and access terms. Confirm them on the official site. Don't rely on a third-party summary, including ours.
- Search for complaints, not just praise. Look at independent forums and review sites, and notice patterns instead of single opinions.
- Pick one lesson and test it. If you can't apply it to a backing track that day, the format may not suit you.
Recommended for youWho Adam Loves Guitar Is For: Intermediate, Self-Taught, Rock, Blues and Adult LearnersWhere Adam Loves Guitar fits
Adam Loves Guitar is a name that comes up often for players working on blues and rock lead. Whether it suits you depends on your level and goals. We've written separate pages so you can decide without hype:
- Adam Loves Guitar Review: Is It Worth It for Intermediate Players? covers how it stacks up for players past the beginner stage.
- Who Adam Loves Guitar Is For: Intermediate, Self-Taught, Rock, Blues and Adult Learners helps you check whether your situation matches.
- Adam Loves Guitar Reviews, Complaints & Trust looks at public feedback and the concerns people raise.
Pricing, included content, and any guarantee can change. Confirm current details on the official site before buying.
Whatever you choose, practice it this way
A course only helps if what you learn makes it into your playing. A simple weekly structure:
- Warm up (5 minutes). Play one position slowly with a metronome, focusing on clean bends and even timing.
- Link positions (10 minutes). Move between two neighboring shapes on one string set. Our guide on connecting pentatonic positions and playing in any key walks through this.
- Phrase over a track (10 minutes). Limit yourself to three or four notes and a clear rhythm. Leave space.
- Apply it live. Take it to a jam or record yourself. Stopping the noodling and using pentatonic shapes in real time at jam sessions covers how to make that transition.
Honest tradeoffs
- A course can't practice for you. Completing lessons isn't the same as improving.
- Feel is hard to teach through video. If your timing or bends feel off, a teacher's ear can catch what you can't.
- Pentatonic has limits. If you're hitting a ceiling after years, the fix may be chord-tone awareness or learning the full minor scale, not a better pentatonic course.
- Results vary. No course can promise a particular outcome. Progress depends on your practice time and goals.
The short version
Choose a course that links positions, teaches phrasing, and gives you backing tracks to apply it on. Check the curriculum and terms on the official page, read independent complaints, and test one lesson before committing. If Adam Loves Guitar is on your shortlist, start with the intermediate review.
Keep reading
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Adam Loves Guitar Review: Is It Worth It for Intermediate Players?Quick answer: Adam Loves Guitar may be worth a look if you've played for years, know your pentatoni…