Good thread Bert.

My experience growing up was sorta' like paddy's. My Mom too was a brilliant pianist and also had an excellent voice. At home, we sang at the piano and other times we just sang. Sadly none of this improved my voice, but singing was an integral part of almost everything we did. My grandfather played some 5-string and there was a succession of fun instruments around, but singing was the thing. My Mom was always in demand and was a natural musical talent. She read complex scores and could also accompany almost anything popular by ear, in any key, at the drop of a hat.

Outside of that "learn to Play Hawaian Guitar" crap that was so popular in the 50's (usually tied in with an Accordion studio), guitar was never a big instrument around where I grew up. There were a lot more banjos, mandos, and fiddles. I think the 60's brought the guitar to the fore, both electrical and acoustic. That's strictly an opinion, there were many greats well before that. But the level of popularity seems to have skyrocketed during that time, at least to me it seems.

Spaw