As usual, I'm on borrowed time here at #1 dughter's computer, but since Marion brought my old thread up

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I thought I'd give a quick progress report. That was over half a year ago, and as I stated, I really was serious. I think I shouldn't have used Doc Watson's name in the title because some Mudcatters thought I wanted to go from On Top of old Smokey to Doc's Guitar overnight. I got a LOT of great advice in that thread from a lot of people but I'm really greatful to Rick F, MTed, Michael K, and Mark Clark who practically wrote a book on my behalf. I refer to the thread constantly. To tell the truth, many of the suggestions were simply way beyond my comprehension at the time, but now I think I at least understand everything even if I can't do much of it.

I DID get a better guitar. Don't get excited GAS people, it's a bottom of the line Martin Dreadnought, but still the best instrument I'm likely to ever own, and it sounds wonderful. I also started buying CDs of the musicians who played Country-folk music, and I've done a lot of liner-note reading. Rick's suggestion of finding a local guitarist capable of actually PLAYING that style to give me some lessons was much harder to do. Maybe they grow on trees in your town but not in mine. However I DID budget an hour and a half EVERY day and because I do have a decent ear I let CDs of The Carter Family, Doc Watson, Norman Blake etc. be my teachers.(and Mudcat of course) I have to tell you though, other than three great songs, most of Merle Travis is still very much a mystery.

So where am I at? I'm useing about 10 new chords, I've learned several Carter Family songs, complete with bass runs, hammer-ons, and (the part I'm most proud of) 'instrumental breaks'! How am I doing with the Doc Watson stuff? Well, I can play Doc's version of Wabash Cannonball complete with instrumental. It's slower than he does it, but I'm getting there.

So thanks Mudcat. This is like going to folk music school in your spare time!

Marty Dawson