It has been a week since I bought my first guitar. If you did not see the post on why this is a big deal for me, check it out here.

I have squeezed in a little practice each day by giving up some of the things I would normally do in my free time. My initial impressions:

• It is easier than expected to make pleasing sounds
• It is harder than expected to sound musical
• It requires a lot of wrist and finger flexibility that I do not yet have

Based on the fun I have had so far, I made the right decision to give it a go. Interestingly, learning some of the techniques has already affected how I listen to music. I hear different things and have a greater appreciation for the skill involved in making good music. (One of the hallmarks of mastery is that it looks easy to everyone else.)

What new thing have you tried and realized that even the basics are harder than they look?