Yes. My musical experience prior to 'folk' was some classical and mostly 'early' music (renaissance and early baroque). I find that my way of thinking about music is entirely different than people who have always played 'folk'.

Playing the accordion is helping me some, though. I'm finding it somewhat easy to learn how to accompany the melody I produce with my right hand with chords I produce with my left hand. I don't know how this is going to work in sessions, though. I haven't tried yet. I may have to settle for just playing basses (chords) under other peoples' melodies.