Helen, I’d say you are definitely off to a great start. This is one you can always come back to and add to. You may have inspired me to dust off my strat and have a go.
Rob

Hi Helen. This was a very good slow blues and you used various techniques which made it quite pleasing to listen to. I liked it!

Move over, B.B. King – here comes Helen! This is great! Terrific improvisation, tone and technique. Very soulful, as always. Thank you for sharing this!

Fantastic, Helen! You nailed the basic lesson and then your improv was great! In the improv you stayed within your wheelhouse and turned out a very expressive blues composition. Played with emotion and great dynamics throughout. Awesome vibrato note at 1:12!!

Larry

Hi there Helen, you did indeed nail this one and you did great with your own improvs on this one too. I particularly liked your use of he harmonic thirds around the 1:56 mark, they just sound great don’t they 🙂

As you know, I am working on this lesson myself right now and it is NOT an easy one. Getting those bends to a nice pitch takes a lot of practice and, I have to admit, I am struggling a bit with that, good on you with those ‘bendy bits’ – I appreciate what you did there.

That was played perfectly, Helen! Your improv was great, and matched the spirit of the original lesson nicely. You’ve put in the work and become a skilled blues guitarist. Congratulations!

So Sweet! Great sound. felt like I was in a blues club with a drink in my hand and snapping along with the beat with the other. well played.

Loved your vibrato! It did have a B.B.King feel.
Ron

Wow! that was some sweet playing Helen! I especially love what you did on improvised verses. You came up with some phrasing that fit perfectly with the progression. Your talent is shining on this one!
Mike

Really fantastic playing here Helen! Great take on Brian’s original and your added cycles flow really well with some very expressive Blues licks and phrasing. I’m working on the same lesson and adding impro cycles as well. Great minds think alike! 😉 Very enjoyable. The more we all work on improving our impro over a 12 bar the better guitarists we will all become. Keep on pickin’ and all the best! 🥸🎸🥸

Helen-nicely done. You play some tasty and sultry licks. It’s exciting to watch you develop your blues repertoire. This one is no easy task. Your bends and ‘twiddies’ are spot on. Thanks for the inspiration.

JH

Hi Helen

Congratulations you certainly nailed it. I’ve been having a go a this piece as well and your improv was excellent. Youve got a great sound throughout the whole piece keep up the good work!

That was so well played Helen and your improv fitted seamlessly. I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s a wonderful feeling having achieved a musical benchmark, a solid twelve bar blues. I’m now looking forward to what’s next!

Richard

Wonderful to see you playing some mixed major/minor blues, Helen. Nice improv, looks like you’re getting very familiar with the fret board.
John

Guitar blues is in your veins, and I love this blues vibe!!!
Your guitar tone is very nice, and your blues feel is so deep blue!!!
Very nicely done!!!

Great playing, Helen! As usual your timing and feel are excellent, sounds really good applied to the blues. Really nice vibrato too. You just might find yourself hooked on playing through a 12 bar blues whenever you pick up your guitar!

Awesome blues playing Helen.
Great riffs and bends.
You got the vibe.

AndréM

That was enjoyable. Classic blues licks played very well. I think you have this style of blues nailed. Nicely done!

Well you sounded right at home Helen! Can’t believe that’s your first 12 bar blues and your extension fitted in perfectly. Brilliant! 👏👏👏

Helen,

You are so talented, a double threat both singing and playing. This is so expertly done and what you did after 1:05 was truely amazing. Absolutely loved it.

Clarke

Helen, that’s the right gritty sound you have dialed in for this piece! I like your bends, vibratos and attacks😎…really well played. I loved how you played that lick at 0:55.
Your own improvision goes very smoothly into Brian’s. Great tasty licks, bravo! You have made huge progress since you joined AM.
I love this lesson, too. One of my favourites so far.
Denise

Great improvisation. You captured the BB King wonderfully. I will keep practicing & one day pluck up the courage to record & post on here!

You definitely have this twelve bar blues in your fingers now, Helen. And also in heart and soul, because your own improvisation sounds so sweet. I like your bends and vibratos. You‘ve got the blues, i would say!

Dearest Helen, that was really impressive stuff 👏👏👏 Your intonation has come on leaps and bounds – and you’re playing those twiddly bits perfectly too 👌🎶

I wanted that to just keep going 😘😘😘

Very best wishes to you ❤️❤️❤️

Fantastic rendition and composition, Helen! Great composition, because you’ve been able to compose and play 2 original cycles more over the backing track, which is really remarkable, and they are really very good and musical! And your playing in both the Brian’s part and your own original score is just awesome: those vibrati (vibratos) and double stops with bends are simply fantastic and soulful! Currently trying to learn this piece and your performance is definitely an inspiration! Great job!

Hey Helen,

That sounded awesome.

You really got it all down on this one – timing, tone, and execution.

I liked your own parts just as well as the originals.

Your best performance imo.

Liam.

Nailed it – well done!

Awesome…

I think I have the wrong guitar my can not make such a nice sound…..

Thanks Helen,

You’ve motivated me to learn 508 and improvise like you did. I need to keep finding ways to get out of my box. Well done, you didn’t buzz one fret.

Best, Bob

Helen,
That was a great job on the 12 bar blues!
Very, very emotionally expressive finger work!

Just beautifully played Helen!
I hope, one day to be as comfortable as you, as you ‘dance along the fretboard. Thank you for the inspiration.

Regards,
Marie