There are no perfect set of stones, there could always be room for a bigger, coarser, finer stone.
The stones are not where the skill comes in, that's like saying the paint brush is responsible Picasso's "Starry Starry Night" or The chisel was reponsible for Michaelangelo's "David".
It's not the stoned, but the person behind it, practice technique and the rest will fall into place.
As far as stones go buy the biggest bench stone you can afford and have at least 3 progressions, Coarse, Medium, and Fine, you can always add more later.
Also keep the stones the same kind, don't want to be cross contaminating stones, oil and water don't mix,('cept in salad dressin').
My preference is for diamond stones finished off on a strop, but that's just for speed, it's easy to ruin an edge, and sometimes a blade on diamonds because they are so aggressive, not to mention expensive.
I've used everthing from a cars window to the unglazed bottom of a ceramic bowl.
The main key is repitition, people I work with think I'm nutz because I'll sharpen their knives for nothing, but it keeps me in practice.
The more you repeat a motion the quicker your brain remembers the shortest path between neurons to achieve this motion and the more natural the act becomes to duplicate, kinda like walking and balancing, or like a Martial Artist who practices till response become second nature.
The other advice I have is to learn the difference between sharp and dull, invest in at least a 10X loupe so you can see what a sharp edge is and compare it to a dull edge. You'll begin to see what it is that makes a sharp edge sharp. Look at new edges and compare them to your older knives with duller edges, the difference will amaze you.
Finally one last note, a lot of people scoff at the sharpie trick,(coloring the edge with a sharpie to find or maintain an angle) don't it works, and it's a visual cue for your brain, which acts as an aid in the learning process.
Never give up, never surrender, and as my old man liked to say,"There are no Absolutes, just Vodka"
