Dustin,

I like your idea of playing scales over an alternating base...I'll have to give that a try this evening.

I, too, have been working through Ken Perlman's book, using it in conjunction with Mark Hanson's _Intoduction to Travis Picking_. Hanson takes the intro pattern picks even slower than Ken does, and breaks them down into a variations on four basic themes. I found his book helpful and he has some good songs to learn. And I agree with you 200% on not rushing. Some patterns come easily, because they are variations of the arpeggiated strums I'd learned in my youth, but others...and singing over a syncopated pattern still throws me. I've stepped back and tried singing over just the alternating bass, no problem; put the treble strings back in and it goes to hell in a handbasket. Hanson's book has a CD which is quite good, so I've been playing with that. I haven't got Ken's video -- and the VCR is on the fritz. I'm gonna look up Steve James' book now.

Happy pickin'!