Then he reminds me that learners are often told, "Here is a set of notes, keep bashing away at them and you will get them".

"The guitarist must be able to tap his foot when he plays! A must! Forget about every other lesson in the book!" - Al Di Meola

If we're practising lots we may think it must be getting better, but our moods and perception can play havoc with our conclusions.

We all like to believe that we are getting better (at guitar) ... Unfortunately our beliefs do not always tally with the facts of the matter