That's what I'm doing. I am using a 74hc174 ,cascaded, with the final output looping back to the 1st. input for the 'X' axis and the identical circuit for the 'Y' axis with the exception of the clock. The 'X' clock is provided by a 555. The 'Y' clock is provided by the output of the last 'X' stage. The problem is that to get the whole thing scanning not only do I have to hit the reset I have to connect the output of the final stage of the 'X' to the input of 'X's' first stage once the scan starts . The reason for the odd 6X6 configuration is that I am using a "Lite Brite" screen as a mask and 36 leds fit nicely. I have no intention of wiring it up to a computer I just want it to be a stand alone display. That's why I am calling it dumb.