Be warned. You are about to face Billie Jean. That song is, arguably, the most difficult song in the course. Most people don’t play it successfully at the fast tempo until they are finished with the course.
For more on this, go here: Billie Jean is a Wicked Mistress
It’s not a competition. Move at your own pace. As long as your still having fun, then everything is moving along as it should. Trust Josh. If you can get the slow workout, keep moving. When you come back later, to do the medium and fast workouts, you’ll be surprised how much easier it all becomes.
Part of the reason it works is because the lessons all build on each other and keeping moving helps give perspective to everything else you’re doing.
Not all instructors are the same and not all instructors will be a good fit. From what you’ve written, this instructor doesn’t seem like a good fit for you. It happens. Finding a good instructor you gel with is it’s own task.
Like @John_E , I also recommend finishing the course before looking for an instructor. You will have a much better idea of what you’re looking for and how to identify someone that can help you.
I don’t ever expect to completely quit looking at my fret board. Specifically, when it comes to slides. It helps, a lot, to look at your target fret when you’re doing a slide. Plenty of professionals still look at their fret board. The more you play a song some movements will start to become rote and your fretting hand will know it’s job. It’s one of those things you will see happen as you progress. Not a big deal and certainly not something to worry about at this early stage.
Absolutely! This is supposed to be fun. One good thing about the songs your looking for, songs of that era have been repeatedly tabbed out and are probably available for free on the Internet.
However, just because you can find a tab for a song doesn’t mean it will be right. You will find a tab, try to play it, and realize it’s wrong. This can be frustrating but try to enjoy this really cool moment where you realize how much you’ve learned to be able to recognize that it’s wrong.
Not at all @Bradford . This is, primarily, a beginner forum and the whole idea is for people to be able to come here and ask any and every question they have. So, bring on the questions!