Not trying to hijack the thread but for the benefit of UK catters I'm running a guitar workshop with Dave4Guild at Bedworth FF next weekend. I play a lot in open tunings with plectrum and fingers and my two top influences are Nic Jones and Micheal O'Domhnaill (have I spelled that right?!) from the Bothy Band. Dave on the other hand for those of you who don't know him is a ragtime and blues wiz. I'm looking forward to learning some stuff myself! It'd be great to see anyone who could make it!

Jerry, I tend to use guitar rather bouzouki or mandolin to accompany simply because I find it has a greater range and vocabulary. I use open tunings because I got addicted to them some years ago and find that it's a great way to vary the feel of a song and stop your playing becoming homogenous (which mine was using just standard tuning). In answer to your other questions I do all of the things you suggested!

Will return soon to add more but my chilli is boiling over ! Aargh!

Chris