My picking is sounding cliche

[Pitar]

Finger picking and flat picking are wide open to dynamics, though the former does lend itself to it more. The problem with patterns is they're self-regulating if you let them. They tend to mesmerize a player to churn them instead of explore beyond them. Learning to mix patterns, and even create them for that purpose, can be rewarding as it propels the player into experimenting.

[rick-slo]

A single, or almost single, picking pattern is fine in many cases - what's more of a pattern than your Travis (alternating thumb) fingerstyle songs?
In fact within one tune multiple variation in patterns can be dissociative to the music and listener. You can liven things up with single note
runs, tempo pauses, etc..

[Beakybird]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

A single, or almost single, picking pattern is fine in many cases - what's more of a pattern than your Travis (alternating thumb) fingerstyle songs?
In fact within one tune multiple variation in patterns can be dissociative to the music and listener. You can liven things up with single note
runs, tempo pauses, etc..

That's pretty true. If you mix it up with a melodic line or a pause with harmonics ... it makes the whole thing more interesting.

During the 23 years that I played the guitar - 1/2 acoustic, 1/2 electric (I'm coming back to it after years of not playing, and luckily I feel like I've recovered my skills), I played mostly as a vehicle to write songs or as an ensemble instrument. I feel like my skills are adequate for singing or for playing in an ensemble, but solo instrumental playing - you really, really have to kick butt to get people's attention, and I don't kick butt ----- yet.