JED There are a lot of different and wonderful styles of banjo picking. I'd recommend Mike Seeger's Southern Banjo Sounds CD to get a feel for various old styles. Banging and Sawing for clear clawhammer/fiddle -Bob Carlin, Reed Martin -solo clear, well played old time banjo, (Arnie Naiman & Chris Coole's 2 banjo CD'S), Anything by Charlie Poole and Uncle Dave Macon for inspiration, and Round Peak style recordings of players such as Fred Cockerham, Kyle Creed, Tommy Jarrell may get you fired up. Ken Perlman has some good books and recordings too, and I understand there are a few good instructional videos available by some of the above, and bluegrass players too.