Mr. Shambles,

When I was young and trying to learn to fingerpick, I, like many others, began with Elizabeth Cotten's "Freight Train". I'd sit for hours in my room just alternating the bass with my thum. I knew that was the first step. Get a solid beat set up---alternate the bass strings---back and forth--back and forth--back and forth... I did that for, at least 2 solid weeks---possibly two months. The parental units were banging on the door of my room pleading with me to come out and eat something---probably chicken soup as that was supposed to cure anything. (They would've tried chicken soup before they tried Viagra.)

Then, one day I tried a melody note on the treble strings. (I hesitated to do that 'cause I thought it'd be more treble than it was worth.) But it was beautiful. In another week I was playing "Freight Train" and even "Wilson's Rag" over and over and over and over and...

Then, on the greatest day of my life, I mistakenly grabbed the guitar neck at the SECOND FRET instead of at the first fret which was the proper way to play "Freight Train". Folks, I'm here to tell you right now that you haven't heard ANYTHING until you've heard "Freight Train" played ONE FRET HIGH up the neck. I did that over and over too.
Yes, you guessed it, I'd discovered jazz guitar!!!

Art