Marion, the trouble with people clapping along is that all they know how to do in this part of the world is 4/4 or 2/4--nobody claps to a waltz, and a lot of people, even many that are into that so-called "drumming" thing are TOTALLY flummoxed if you try jig time (6/8) on them. (And time signatures are not much use without bars.)

ONE-two-three-FOUR-five-six really, really throws them, but they're "drummers", they think, so they must beat out that rhythm, though they don't know what it is. Believe me, I've seen it happen enough times. When it happens while I'm playing, I just want to go "shut up out there, you're messing the whole thing up".

Sorry, elitist snob that I am, I don't want to do a rhythm workshop every time I crank out a jig. Besides I don't have a free hand to conduct with.

I thought this was one of Fieldings sticky little thread traps. I agree with the point he would be making if it was--barre chords are overrated and there's lots better ways to play non-key-of-G things.

W-O