A fairly simple question; do you learn songs?

I read through the thread and didn't notice that. You may well be noodling through some songs but I'm not sure that I read that. I would suggest that anyone's playing skill will jump leaps and bounds just by learning songs. It's the goal anyway.

I've been playing for a long time and like your example, it was easier to learn and physically play than it probably should have been. I was young (16-ish, now 53) and didn't know any better.

But that's kinda the point; you're now old enough to understand so much about life. Obviously given your technical background, you're probably a pretty sharp cookie. My wife likes to refer to me as an 'over-thinker'. I sometimes wonder if that inhibits folks from just letting go and rolling with it.

This brings me back to just learning songs. GT here has a long list of great songs. It might be worth just learning some songs for a while. Skip all the theory and technical stuff and just learn and play music.

It will be a little work, as it always is, to learn songs. I've been playing for a good long time and have some solid skill. Still, learning a new song takes me time if what I'm learning is not currently part of my skillset.

My most recent example is learning what sounds to be a fairly simple song; Tommy James' Crystal Blue Persuasion. It is a simple song but, the main chord in the song is a little awkward for me. Just never played it. I've been able to play the guitar for 30+ years and a chord vexes me a little.

Point being; start off with what you can do. Don't overcomplicate what you think you should be able to do and start with what you can do. That does start with accepting that even though you're not where you want to be; you can play something. Start with that a build from there.

Using Guitar Tricks allows you to the ability to just work on things on your own. No instructor setting your expectation. You don't even need to set an expectation for yourself. Just play for the heck of it. That's the point anyway.

Food for thought.

...and this thread does remond me that I had always wanted to learn Day of the Eagle..there's a jam right there.