Hi Marty. I don't mean to be facetious, and I certainly don't mean to discourage you in your guitar study, but here's another perspective: have you ever considered taking up the fiddle?

I play both, and I find that playing fiddle tunes at fiddle speed is way easier on a fiddle than on a guitar.

This may be because of the smaller fretboard, or softer action, or because it's tuned to fifths instead of fourths. A mandolin might also be easier to play fast on, I'm not sure.

And don't stop starting threads. Your threads are cool. I started listening to Doc Watson as a direct result of your first one.

Marion