I just got back from California, and I visited with Uncle Albert, my old mentor, and we got out the old axes and played a bit, and a lot of the time, it just barely held together--

He mentioned that Barney Kessel told him it takes two great guitarists to play what one mediocre pianist can play, which was some consolation, but not much--

Why is this blasted instrument so hard? And, given that such a touchy thing, how did it get to be so important for so many different kinds of music? And why is it so hard to play bluegrass leads on guitar when banjo players can throw them off like nothing, and mandolin players can't even stop playing them?

And how come only Flameco guitarists can play lead and rhythm at the same time?

Inquiring minds want to know.