I was a self-taught (and very frustrated) fingerstyle guitar player for 30+ years. My frustration stemmed from the non-social, non-ensemble nature of fingerstyle guitar.

I love old-timey and progressive bluegrass but, though I tried through books and instructional tapes to get the hang of flatpicking, I just never could.

I took two lessons with Joel Mabus with the focus of learning to flatpick.

Smartest musical thing I've ever done. I've never enjoyed music more. I can jam in fiddle tune sessions, and have even loosely formed a trio (we're going to be the featured act at a bar up in SB next month! -- do you like the name "Theefus" for an old-timey trio?).

I would do it again too. In a heartbeat. I'm even thinking I may schedule a lessong to straighten out a hand position problem I'm having with my mandolin.