I remember a number of years ago when I wanted to be the National Flatpicking Champion. Then in a couple of years I saw how much the technique had advance, and I hadn't kept up. So I decided I wanted to be the next Fingerpicking National Champ. And once again, I saw how I had not kept up with technical advances. I gave up. I decided to go back to doing what I do best, singing and entertaining. Now that I've quit trying to "show off" I have discovered at the open mic nights, and the songwriter's circle that I am about the only one who really picks the guitar. Yeah, I'm the first one to admit that there ain't one original lick in my playing, having lifted stuff off of Happy Traum, Doc Watson (who hasn't?) Merle Travis, and my hero of heroes, Blind Blake. I think the next guy I'll try to swipe a lick or two from might be Pat Donohue. He seems like a likely candidate.

Really, I look at the guitar as an accompaniment device, something to help me drive the song. Guitar breaks are put there simply to accomplish two things: 1. give my voice a rest, and 2. give me time to remember the words to the second verse!