I think the "to death" part is in the hands of the musician. I find that a couple of my songs get requested at nearly every session, and I get sick of them (I have no idea how professionals go on the road and play the same dang tunes day in and day out for weeks and months), but I still do them. I also find that as I learn new songs my memory banks push the old ones out for a time.

For example - right now I am starting to do "You Are My Sunshine" after a several year hiatus - and "Redwing" is something that gets played about half the time.

The group I play with is quite varied and has several different styles that allow for different impressions of the same song amongst the various pickers. So a tune one week may be done differently next time - depends on who gets to it first.

The other side is that I am pretty OK with setting out of a tune if I am burned out on it. Same with others although out of politeness we will provide rythym or harmony on about anything.

I haven't experienced any tunes being left out - as when someone learns a new tune they are always pretty excited about showcasing it at the first opportunity. And we are pretty excited about learning it!

And there will always be great songs out there that I will never hear simply because there isn't enough time left in my life to hear them all! That's why there are so many different musicians and styles - so nothing will go a wanting!

See Sorcha has quit Sunshine and I am picking it up - that way it won't get lost!!

Steve