What does it take to learn to play guitar?

Hi, everyone.
For over 40 years, since I started playing guitar, I've thought off-and-on about what it takes to learn to play the guitar. At first, I wanted to know for myself, so I could learn to play. Then, as I started teaching , I needed to know so I could help my students. I've looked at and written all kinds of lesson plans, I've talked to other teachers and students. I've read a lot about it online. If you ask just about anyone what it takes, they will say "practice!". But, from watching my successful students and the not so successful ones, I now know the answer and I can sum it up in one word. Persistence. You have to keep at it. When you get frustrated at the F chord you have to keep trying. Even if you give up for a week or two, you have to get back into it. If you go on vacation, you have to get right back on it when you're back home. It has to be a focus at least until you get closer to your goal, or the level of playing that you want to achieve.

I see it all the time. Kids take lessons and, no matter how easy the teacher makes it, the kid decides it's too hard. He/she thought the teacher would just show them where to put their fingers and they would play like EVH/Orianthi/whoever. Or they go on vacation and they loose their momentum.  They give up. But I also see kids and adults stick with it and get better. I work hard to help them over the humps. Ultimately it is the student that overcomes the difficulties. You need to be persistent in practice, in learning technique and new songs. The more you keep at it the better you'll get. You need to know when to take a short rest and how long.

I tell the following story to my students. About a year after I had been playing , a friend of mine ( who played very well ) and I were at a party. We were playing guitar. There was a guy there, a beginner, who was trying to play his guitar with us. We felt he was cramping our style so we acted like he wasn't there. He got the message and stopped playing, annoying us. About a year later I was at another party and, sure enough, that beginner guy was there. Only this time he was playing like an old pro, better then I or my friend. Really showing us up. I asked him what happened. He said, well, since the last party you and I were at (Ha, he remembered!) I lost my job, my girl and had to move in with my relatives. All I had was my guitar. So I played a whole lot, I kept at it and kept trying. I didn't even realize I had gotten that much better until tonight when I played with you guys!
Yeow. We deserved that. I learned two lessons that night. Persistence and don't slam on a beginner. Treat him/her with kindness for someday you may want to jam with that beginner.

Keep at it. Keep playing guitar!