Cap't Bob, I belong to a group in the Detroit Area called the Silver Strings Dulcimer Society. We had a major problem with the guitars going faster than the hammer dulcimers. what solved the problem was, we put all the guitars, (the rhythum section) on one side of the church auditorium and the dulcimers on the other side. I don't think this really has anything to do with your question now that I re-read your comments. I might suggest, tapping your foot, taping yourself, or getting a metremone. (sp) What you are experiencing is very normal. It's really not a lot different than driving a car on a freeway and looking at your speed ometer and discovering that your going 80mph.