I remember when I first found out that Indian music used microtones on purpose, and that the notes in the western tempered scale were not the only "real" notes. It totally blew open my musical mind, one of those aha! moments of my 'teen years. . . I'm kind of feeling that way just now regarding strings not touching the fingerboard. I've been playing for 20 years and never knew that. "Gee, Margaret, maybe if you had just taken lessons this wouldn't come as such a shock," they said, sagely. . . Better start reading that "Give Us a Tip" thread immediately! Margaret