Hello from Connecticut.  I just started learning guitar and started in August, 2024, by watching a bunch of YouTube videos.  Although I learned the basics, I felt like I was falling into the trap that people mentioned-- I was bouncing around doing different things and felt like I was not learning a whole lot.  I needed something more structured so I signed up for this site to have more structured programming/lessons.  I think it is great so far.

I've also been trying to learn music theory because I think I understand things better if I know the bigger picture.  I bought a music theory book and have been slowly trying to work my way though it (it's called No Bull Music Theory for Guitarists, Vols 1, 2, 3).  

My goal is to play songs eventually and be able to improvise and have it sound good, rather than just a jumble of notes like I can do today.  I love classic rock (love the Rolling Stones and I pass by Keith Richards' house on the way to work every day, hoping to catch a glimpse of him getting the mail from his mailbox, but have not, haha), and am a huge KISS fan.  I am finding KISS guitar parts to be a little easier to understand.

Someone recently referred to me as an "older learner", which I was a little put off by (I'm 55, so I guess I am not a teenager anymore).  I have a real job but I practice every day and hope to get better.  I am viewing my guitar learning sort of like my golf journey-- looking back I was a pretty bad golfer as a beginner but I got "out there" and played, and no one on the course discouraged me when I was just starting out.  Today, I am certainly not a professional golfer, but I am light years better than I was as a beginner.  I am taking that same approach to guitar and someday I hope to be halfway decent.

If there are other CT people on these boards, reach out, or anyone else for that matter.   Thanks!