Hey Mike (and Tim) I can definitely identify with Tim's friend here regarding the finger picking, because I initially learnt the primary major/minor chords from my dad about 13 years ago, and since then only wrote songs and played music that fitted those shapes, but my strumming patterns and ability grew massively from there because that was the only way I knew how to differentiate the sounds - so more a case of necessity really. My cousin then taught me a single picking pattern which took me (what felt like AGES) about a month to get right - and I'm talking about doing it subconsciously without a moment's hesitation - that's when you know you've got it! The reason it took so long was because my fingers "JUST wouldn't listen"! This is perfectly normal I've come to realise and there's a nifty "trick" I use these days that works every time. You see, what I've come to realise is that finger picking (and to some extent strumming) is primarily based on muscle memory. And muscle memory is triggered from the subconscious and the BEST way to get something into your subconscious is to quite literally - "sleep on it" - no, not your guitar! :-) Let me give you an example: I can now pick that pattern my cousin taught me years ago without thinking and have a full blown conversation with someone at the same time - hell I can even sing a different song at the same time, but give me Classical Gas and I completely fall apart! I almost lost it - what do you mean I have to start from scratch again?! Well, it's because those picking patterns are not part of my muscle memory. The same thing happened with Tears in Heaven and more recently Mad World!! I spent about 6 weeks (about 2 hours a day) learning Classical Gas in parts to a point now where I can almost do a full run through flawlessly - but I can only play certain parts of it subconsciously - and getting better each day. Tears in Heaven became even more easy - learnt that in just over a week (2-3 hours a day - coz I'm having more fun now!), and this week I've picked up Mad World and in a few days (3 hours a day) I've learnt most of the parts and I'm busy stringing (no pun intended) them together! Mad World was particularly tough for me because I've always (stupidly) kept my distance from syncopated picking songs - you know, where the thumb picks two base strings in an alternating fashion using a certain rhythm, and the other fingers go off and do their own things (it seems), but what comes out the other side is absolutely GORGEOUS to listen to! Even "I" was able to get that syncopation right with a little (a lot) of hard work because of my bad habits and reluctance ;-) Take my advice, don't be scared of that like I was for so long - hurts you more in the end - as always. So here's the trick I use to engage muscle memory (in two parts):

1. Play a particular part (you choose) for 30 minutes before going to sleep - your fingers may listen, they may not. I've gone to sleep after just picking 8 tough notes time after time trying to get it right. When you wake up in the morning - play that same piece again. At first you'll struggle a bit (probably because you only just woke up), but after 5 or 10 minutes your fingers just start doing the right thing.
2. Probably the thing that's taken me the longest time to train myself to do - DON'T look at your picking hand in the morning :-) Look at it all you like while you're trying to figure out the TABS or working from Mike's video, but once you're picking the notes (however slowly), make a conscious effort to stop looking there and look at your other hand if you must. It helps to engage muscle memory and works an absolute treat for me!

I found myself wondering why Mike can learn a piece so quickly and I have to basically start from scratch with a new picking/strumming pattern - well I guess the answer lies in the fact that Mike has a massive collection of picking patterns all built up in his muscle memory over the years which means he only struggles with a piece if he has to learn something entirely different to anything done before - but his fingers tend to behave themselves if his done something like it before and he can get down to the business of playing. I on the other hand have a small repertoire from which to choose and so each song learnt is a decent week or two's hard work, but if I give it time, I'll be making use of my own personal library with a little patience! (Speaking of which - "Have a little patience - Take That" might be a good one to learn ;-) Hope that helps! I'm outta here... Rob