Major scale patterns when learnt, we can use them to play major scales anywhere on the guitar. Playing a ‘new’ major scale or chord is not a new skill! Fingers don’t know where on the fretboard you are playing. They will do their choreography.
Yet, such no skill growth exercises are ordered separately and called as progress or advance in many guitar courses.
See the driver, not the bus. Critically look at the skill growth claim – is there any?
In Shyam’s method Slides, hammer ons and pull offs are different techniques to play Indian music fluently on the guitar. Like solving logistic problems or how to get from A to B using train and bus, we traverse long phrases efficiently using these methods. They are different techniques.
We can make lessons where the complexity of the playing is increased because of speed, positions on the fretboard, number of different moves needed in a sequence etc. But, if it is just note playing in a different position of the fretboard and a teaching business calls it a new technique, it is often just business.
Film or raga songs can be graded, similar to language proficiency. Some of the songs which I play are difficult because of the speed at which multiple connections need be made. We start with the simple version, keep adding embellishments while repeating. The repetition takes care of the skill growth. The students level is assessed, an appropriate variation given.
Even basic note playing involves many sub skills. Just 2 lines is multiplied by the number of subskills to master. It is not just two lines. Correct notes, connected notes, finger, other best practices.
When a student can play at a certain level, after having gone through vertical skill growth, let them stay there and improve the repertoire. While doing that they are solidifying the underlying skills, making the base firm before moving so slides etc.
In slides, there are short single direction slides, multi direction sequences, long etc…
Ask the teacher to make your training challenging but not overwhelming.
Understand real competencies – not just quantity of lessons and notes.
Look for vertical skill growth, while enjoying each stage of development.