I meant to include above that the guy is trying to get to using a flat pick, but kept slipping back to using his fingers in sort of a "folkie" style from the 60's - very stummity strummity and not very much in time, except with himself.

I told him he should try a thumb pick first to get a solid thump on the downbeat "boom" and them use the fingers to get the "chuck" - then, once he has the timing down solid, proceed to do the same with a flat pick.