So true.
I know a lot of non musicians that think a Bass/Guitar player can just pick any song and play it. Maybe some can but most can’t.
I worked for three weeks to learn ‘City of New Orleans’ by Arlo Guthrie.
Another thing I don’t think has been mentioned is the repetition of chord progressions.
So once you have learned one verse of a song all you have to do is use the same chord progression (usually) in the next verse and so on.
Same with the chorus.
Want something simple to remember play a 12 bar blues in A or E.
Only three chords over 12 bars.
Here’s link on YouTube for a simple 12 Bar Blues tutorial and play along
Again, as has been said by many, by breaking a song down, and slowing it down if necessary, it makes it less frustrating and makes it easier to learn.
As they say nothing is as constant as change and in music just when you think you have figured something out some son-of-a-gun comes along and throws you a curveball.
One curveball that comes to mind is when a song changes key part way through and then goes back to the original key later on.
I teach free ukulele lessons locally and the one thing I hate students saying is that they can’t do something. My answer to them is always the same. You can do it but how badly do you want to play the song and lastly if you really believe you cannot do it don’t even bother wasting your time trying because you have already defeated yourself.
Before Covid I would jam with a group of people every week in a 2 hour session. We had selected about 12 songs for the session the week before and that gave us time to practice before we played, and make sure everybody had the same music. There were some songs that I just did not like so I would just take a break during them and give my fingers a rest.
In the end it is all fun and if you are not having fun you might as well move on to something else.