Books are great for learning beginning stuff. Recordings are good, too. But I'm firmly of the opinion that music has to be learned from other real people. Whether it's a teacher sitting with you and going step by step over tunes and techniques or whether it's more informal, like watching, listening, and eventually playing in a jam situation. But the connection between people is what music is all about and it's best learned that way.

Patience is also a big factor. the instance given above of drop-thumbing. Geez it took me forever to get that right!

- Sean