Learning an instrument as an adult sucks. Learning an instrument as an adult who knows not an insubstantial amount of music theory is downright aggressively humbling me.

Can still recite the circle of fifths but GOD FORBID my pinky hit the fourth fret on the fifth string and strum that string independently. It is absolutely the case that muscle memory needs to develop but I feel stupid for being 35 and struggling with a new chromatic scale.

you're not stupid at all!! this is completely natural and many of the best musicians learned in their 30s don't worry

You are a king for livin your dreams

learning an instrument in middle school was similarly a huge ass pain for my in the dexterity sense of just not being able to do the thing I know how to do and know I can do

Practiced until my fingertips cracked. THE SKIN WILL GROW BACK STRONGER. I will defeat my self-imposed limitations!

Maybe for New Year's I'll be record myself playing and then I'll have something to compare myself against at the end of 2024.

oooh yes

that'd be so cool biz

you could make a tiktok if you do a video every month, showing gradual improvement, though cutting right to the end of the year is also less work