Bike Forums - Newbie Redux

Over the years I have toyed just a bit with the guitar. But never even semi-seriously. I took some group lessons, learned about 12 chords and a bit of strumming and picking. Took a couple of months of private lessons. I could play and accompany songs by ear using the I, IV and V7 chords. But never learned much else, including the finger positions, etc.

So, I recently decided - why not - and bought myself a moderately expensive 20 DVD set of guitar lessons published by Gibson,

Then, I joined a guitar online forum (much like BFN), and started reading the posts.

WOW!!

It brought to mind what a newbie to bicycling must experience. All these names and brands and types of acoustic guitars being thrown out - none of which I had a clue. Which is good? Which is expensive? Why all the different brands ans types, and how does that affect me? Music genre's, names of famous groups I have never heard of.

They have a N+1 syndrome, with some folks having scores of guitars (sound familiar?) They have specialties - i.e., using fingers only instead of a pick, and using nylon only, etc., etc.

But, they have no beginner threads or forums, nor do they have a 50+ forum - probably not appropriate for guitars.

Well, I am plodding along slowly in the book and related DVD's, and I have actually learned a lot of new things in the past 30 days. But, it takes a lot of practice and concentration - hmm! Sound familiar again?

However, I am getting a lot of SMILES :) :) :)

Anyone else experience "newbiness" lately - besides bicycling?