All great advice - I've done some of these things at one time or another - but not all of them - thanks for all of your input.

I would have liked to have been born with more 'natural' talent in this area - but I can't complain with what I've been given to work with - and these suggestions will help me move forward again.

It's so easy to plateau when you've reached a certain point - and it almost seems you have to work harder and harder for much smaller gains.

One thing that always threw me off were secondary dominants in progressions. I've only recently learned how they are sporadically and strategically sprinkled into standard progressions by preceding a diatonic chord with it's dominant 7th, along with a few of the other standard substitutions.

With the finite (but reasonable) time I have to practice, I've recently begun identifying the numerical progression of chords, substitution rules, and forcing myself to continually review the songs and then play them without looking at the music....but learning a song (especially one with an interesting arrangement rather than just some simple strumming patterns) takes a long, long time.

Learning from listening - I spent much time in my earlier years - and as many have suggested - I realize NOTHING can replace what it teaches you. I have to get back to that again soon - but I want to establish a good repertoire first - something I've long overlooked.

All great advice - a bunch of new ideas, thanks again to all.