By isolating beginner skills, we can get a sense of what Intermediate Guitar Lessons would be.
The simplest chords are open formations like E, A, D, G, C, Em, Am, Dm, E7, A7, D7, G7, C7, B7. When you pass this point and begin Barre chords, you’ve taken a step into Intermediate.
The earliest scales that Rock and Blues players learn are the Blues and the Pentatonic Scales. As you approach the Modes and the traditional scales like the Harmonic and Jazz Melodic Minor, you are in new territory.
For readers, the first level is open position, notes and rhythms consisting of simple combinations drawn from the quarter note, half note, dotted half note and the whole note. Include basic 8th notes and dotted quarter notes and you are approaching Intermediate lesson material. This level will move you up the neck into other positions, deal with more complex rhythmic combinations and introduce stacks of notes ie two or more notes piled on top of each other to be played simultaneously.
When strumming or finger picking becomes systematized according to formal “feels”, you’re in Intermediate territory.
Of course, songs are a good measure of where you are in your development. A teacher needs to give students graduated material that they can play – now!. As the student progresses, the relative difficulty of songs increase.
It’s obvious that terms like Intermediate and Advanced are somewhat subjective and differ greatly from one student and teacher to another. Perception is variable and personal!