Feel so deflated, had my first and last guitar lesson today

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I have been playing since I was 18 (I am 41). I actually play a lot, and the past year I probably average 2-3 hours a day.

I wanted to get better and one common advice is to get lessons. I always hesitated because I know how difficult of a time I have with people. People don't think I am autistic and I even said when I signed up that "I am autistic and I don't know how this will go" and the guy said we are all on the spectrum.

For me, my #1 issue is I have severe verbal communication issues in new situations. I have a hard time aligning my words with my intentional words, and I can't process what they are saying very well. I failed to convey to the guy that I am beyond the basics. He was trying to teach me C chords and I'm like, yeah I already know that one.

It was pretty demoralizing because it reminded me why I didn't do it in the first place.

I don't think it's easy to find a good guitar teacher, even for someone without communication issues. Maybe you need to keep looking and find a better instructor. Or go on practicing on your own in order to get better.

How would you feel about flagging your individual needs with a teacher before you go, next time? I mean explaining that you need low lights and are likely to have difficulty communicating face-to-face? A good teacher would accommodate that I'd have thought. But I know not everyone is comfortable asking for these sorts of considerations.

Is your ability to play affected too? I know I can play much better in isolation that I can when anyone is listening. That'd be enough to get me flustered, I'd get angry at myself that I wasn't playing as well as I know I can.

Make a list of what you're capable of to give to him. Or ask for a list of things he typically teaches & mark off what you think you know.

Make a separate list or note for the things you might need as accommodations. Then also think about how you'd compromise if any can't be met exactly. (Such as, the instructor might need bright light to see properly. Could the room be darker & he use a music stand light? Could you wear sunglasses or a billed hat? That sort of thing.)

It's a problem you'll likely run into with other instructors, so unless you two blew up at each other, go to the next lesson with the above lists (or email ahead to work things out).

As for playing in front of someone, just practice daily. It'll become more rote. Every time you go to play, you shouldn't be starting over at square one. You've heard the notes. Your fingers have played them in this order. (I'm trying to abstract from piano lessons. I keep wanting to tie in reading music, but I know guitar notation is generally different & not always taught.) When you have a song with a difficult part, practice that difficult part alone over & over. It's too easy to stick to the stuff that's comfortable.

I'd suggest giving it another couple lessons. On top of figuring out where your skills are, it takes time for people to work things out & get comfortable. I've had piano, voice, & sax lessons; they all felt awkward with the teachers before getting into a groove.

(Lately I've felt like my posts are barking up the wrong tree, so if this is completely off base just report it to be deleted off your thread. I mean well, but I'm ok with that.)

Sweet Pea hugs

I agree with Blue_Star's input.

I always dread my first few music lessons because I get SO anxious that I'm not good at saying or showing what I can do. That's okay, though, because as I get comfortable with the person they can see what my true level is and what my needs are. It doesn't hurt to shop around and find someone you like more or to just stick with self-learning, but I think the first lesson is hard for a lot of people.

This is the way I see it: you have been playing for more than 20 years and the instructor treated you like you just started yesterday. You probably know more than the instructor does but he/she didn't want to admit that.