yeah really. It took me 2 years just to figure out how to tune the damned thing and play a D chord. Up until then I just tuned it to an open G held the guitar on my lap and played barre chords with my thumb. (all I could play was Smoke on the Water and Not My Stepping Stone by the Monkees).
It's tons and tons, (and loads & years and even more and then some) practice to slowly build up your strength and coordination.