I can't believe some of the postings on this thread! We all have to start somewhere and most are scared shitless at the time. We can't help but sound like crap at first. With encouragement most will improve as they gain confidence, but if some asshole shoots them down they will probably just give up. Folksongs by their very name are songs of the people and the roots of the music is neither professional nor polished. Much traditional music has been preserved over the years by people singing for the love of song. Today it seems more motivated by greed and and over inflated egos.