Hey Jim,
I've been playing 31 years now, played rhythm for a couple of years and then started learning leads. Flat picking fiddle tunes, and picking lead in a bluegrass band. I listened to everything, but mostly country. I fell in love with the sound of a tele, and got my first one in 1994. I played bluegrass licks on it for a while, and then started learning other picking techniques.

Listened to every picker I could, and stole every lick I could learn. I based out of Nashville, Tennessee from 1985-2007. Performed with many well known artist, as well as picking on Broadway downtown. That's a little bit of background about me, and what I pick.

I play a lot of lead out of chord positions, I do use some scales when I need to. I would definitely work on barre chord, all E formation positions, A formation, and also A minor formation.

Keep in mind, that all of your open chords can be moved up the neck to make other chords. You can play licks, or scales out of all these positions. This will also help you learn where you are on the fretboard.

Welcome to GT, and we hope you like it here. Be sure to check out my tutorial on country shuffle, lot of useful stuff in there. There are 2 lessons in the useful chord positions tutorial, that you may find interesting. Let me know how it goes, and if I can be of anymore help to you.

JD