Without malice, I have to say that I now don't quite believe you Steve. You pushed the plausible analogy button a smidge beyond extreme.

Starting to think ...troll?

Why? If you have to coordination to pilot even a Cessna and aptitude to put it all together sufficiently to demonstrate proficiency to an examiner to pass even the RPPL checkride, you have the coordination and nous to play guitar if you want to. [u]You blew your fair dinkum cred with this[/u].

You say you can't change chords? After how long? It's just not that difficult. Really, it's not.

I have AU and US Command ATPs among other credentials, and taught monkeys to fly or so it seemed at times. I know what's involved. If you truly have sufficient co-ordination and wits to 'drive' any aircraft, you can play guitar.

Just one year younger than you, I hadn't picked up the instrument in 45 years. Anything I had known I'd forgotten. November 2017 I bought my HSS Pacifica. Truly felt like I was ab initio in a strange new environment again. I couldn't remember anything more complex than an E, Em & A, Am. Mighta' had a vague recollection of G and D. 'Regardless I couldn't play a simple open G Em C D progression and felt clumsy that first week.

One year on, even I can play this exactly as it is performed here to the accompanying backing track so it sounds identical.

I am very average, and haven't pushed myself at all. In fact, I am on the fringe of feeling guilty because I am so lax and play songs far too much instead of disciplining myself to stick strictly to the coursework hypothetically optimizing personal lesson completion progress. But I don't mind because I am enjoying the begeezuz out of myself which is a parallel personal goal with a higher priority than to finish each course segment in min hours in order to achieve "listen to me shred" kudos status ASAP. If I live long enough, I know I'll get to shred. Kinda' surprised myself I haven't encountered a plateau yet. One will come, sometime. Have an idea where I might be in the next 18~24 months just plodding along no pressure. Of course, that's the secret. If doing it is fun, it's play, and you want to play lots because playing is fun.

That said, no not everyone can play guitar and yes marketing hype lies about how easy it is. But I'm with Christopher. There would be few that couldn't easily achieve cowboy chord strummer status within a year if they applied themselves. To sound like your favourite recording? That could take a lifetime.