Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

  • Log In
  • Weekly Lessons
  • Take The Tour
  • Forum
  • Hear From Our Members
  • Membership Sign Up

Active Melody November 2024 Challenge — Paul S.

Home › Forums › Active Melody Member Challenge Response Submissions › Active Melody November 2024 Challenge — Paul S.

  • This topic has 27 replies, 28 voices, and was last updated 10 months, 1 week ago by Pap.
Viewing 27 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • December 6, 2024 at 9:26 am #382860
      Paul S.
      Participant

        When it comes to playing guitar, I repeat myself a lot. This is partly because it drives the tune better into the listener’s brain and also because I lack imagination.

        Some of licks I use are so small or frequent that I’m not even sure they qualify as “licks.” Maybe more like “lickettes.”
        Anyway, that said, I tried here to patch together some of my most common bluegrass/country moves into something resembling a ditty built on the chords C, G and F. I created the underlying jam track.

        The most common move – a slide up two frets on two strings – is all over this thing, including in the very first move and later at 23-26 seconds and elsewhere. The next one – a little run down the scale – is at 39 seconds, then the long one – a bunch of double stopped 3rds or 6ths – from 52-59 seconds.

        Then I repeat myself some more. No surprise there.

      • December 6, 2024 at 9:56 am #382868
        Mike W
        Participant

          First – brilliant backing track – really good and complemented the song perfectly. Your licks and explanations were spot on – in fact the explanations were so good I’m going to try and copy the whole song. Enough said.

        • December 6, 2024 at 10:46 am #382886
          James B
          Participant

            Nice job all around, Paul. The backing track and your tasty licks made for a lovely tune. Like a song and not just a collection of licks.

            James

          • December 6, 2024 at 11:03 am #382888
            Richard G
            Participant

              What a great rendition Paul, that was so melodic and beautifully played, hats firmly off to you.

              Richard

            • December 6, 2024 at 11:27 am #382894
              Denise
              Participant

                You call them “lickettes”….but to me, you created a beautiful country song with a sweet melody and some smooth runs and slides. I love repetition when it sounds good. Your underlining jam track sounded great, too.
                Well done👍. I always like your subs😊.
                Denise

                More Blues!

              • December 6, 2024 at 11:34 am #382896
                charjo
                Moderator

                  You’re right, Paul, the repetition within those melodic phrases made that so pleasant to listen to. Beautifully played.
                  John

                • December 6, 2024 at 12:05 pm #382902
                  Jennifer D
                  Participant

                    Now that was so smooth! Loving your lickettes!

                  • December 6, 2024 at 12:30 pm #382920
                    Alan L
                    Participant

                      Don’t sell yourself short, repetition is a beautiful thing. Well played, a very enjoyable listen. 🙂

                    • December 6, 2024 at 12:46 pm #382930
                      Alan O
                      Participant

                        Dude, that is a whole song!! Awesome! Really nice submission and I will be stealing some of those licks.

                        Alan

                      • December 6, 2024 at 1:05 pm #382938
                        Michael L
                        Participant

                          A delightful toe-tapping tune Paul! I really love those double-stop licks on acoustic guitar. I use a lot of them too. Such a great sounding harmony. This was wonderful all around!

                        • December 6, 2024 at 4:12 pm #382971
                          John H
                          Participant

                            Bro you can play. That was fantabulous. The motif is reminiscent of a waltz. You are very fluid, dulcet and captivating. I am a bit partial to this style of music. And, you cover it well. Thank you for sharing.

                            John

                          • December 6, 2024 at 6:22 pm #383001
                            Mike D
                            Participant

                              Short and very sweet ! Well done!

                              Live on planet Earth ? You got the blues.

                            • December 7, 2024 at 8:44 am #383088
                              Gary W
                              Participant

                                Ahh that’s really lovely Paul – I absolutely love it. Lack imagination – I don’t think so!! Great ditty – very whimsical. I got so caught up in it I jammed along with you for about 15 minutes. Playing a similar lick to lick one (thank you!) and then doing some little twiddles between phrases. It was nice. We should collaborate!!! Well played.

                                Gary

                              • December 7, 2024 at 12:19 pm #383121
                                AndréM
                                Participant

                                  Nice Sunday morning ballad.
                                  Very well done.
                                  Great backtrack.

                                  AndréM

                                  AndréM

                                • December 7, 2024 at 1:40 pm #383156
                                  Juxi
                                  Participant

                                    Well, that made me smile through all of your performance, Paul. Really loved it, lots of happy vibes and great playing. 👍🏽👏🏽

                                    Bluesige Grüße
                                    Juxi

                                  • December 7, 2024 at 2:20 pm #383170
                                    sunjamr
                                    Participant

                                      Hey Paul, those were the perfect licks for your chosen genre of music. Well played. You made it look easy!

                                      Sunjamr Steve

                                    • December 7, 2024 at 4:03 pm #383212
                                      cloughie
                                      Participant

                                        Masterfully done. Tasteful licks following the chord changes nicely. Worth studying further by anyone wishing to play melodic lead.

                                        Be kind to yourself (especially when you're trying to play this instrument!)
                                        Brian Clough

                                        “Got a lotta sinful ideas but they seem kinda sensible” Jim Casy the ex-preacher in The Grapes Of Wrath

                                      • December 7, 2024 at 4:36 pm #383219
                                        Bob Utberg
                                        Participant

                                          Wowza Paul!!! A PRO arrangement played by a bunch o’ pros! That sounded AMAZING.
                                          Loved the chord progression and style! Nice

                                          Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

                                        • December 7, 2024 at 5:46 pm #383232
                                          JoLa
                                          Participant

                                            You played to your forte, Paul!

                                            Loved your sweet melodic country licks and “lickettes” following the chord changes.
                                            Being repetitive is actually a good thing in music and definitely not a sign of lacking imagination 😉

                                            🎸JoLa

                                          • December 7, 2024 at 7:07 pm #383252
                                            Bill
                                            Participant

                                              Really nice sounding Paul! Repetition is something I’ve been working on bringing into my own playing more, as you say it helps the listener. You’ve got it mastered.

                                            • December 8, 2024 at 12:56 am #383283
                                              Laurel C
                                              Moderator

                                                Very melodic, my ears loved it. I think you missed the calling for composing songs because to me your melodic playing and not just this sub would be up there with the best for any artist to write and sing the words to. Repetition is the foundation of successful song structure.

                                              • December 8, 2024 at 2:18 am #383296
                                                Manfred M
                                                Participant

                                                  If you fall in love I think it‘s normal to aim for repetition, the same with music I think, Paul. I never liked bluegrass music, until I noticed, how much fun it is to play it on the guitar. And since this experience, I also liked to listen to it very much.
                                                  So I also enjoyed very much to listen to your playing and honestly I wouldn‘t have mind, when the repetition has continued a little bit.

                                                  Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
                                                  The next Meetup is expected to take place in November 2025

                                                  There will be a detailed announcement here in the forum in good time.

                                                  I look forward to meet you.
                                                  Manfred

                                                • December 8, 2024 at 5:01 am #383324
                                                  Serena C
                                                  Participant

                                                    Such a nice composition Paul! I love the melodic line you created and how it blends with the underlying chords, beautiful!

                                                    If I wasn't making mistakes I wouldn't be the kind of player I want to be. Perfection is dangerous.
                                                    It's all about taking risks, sometimes you get to some place, sometimes you get to a different place. (Brian May)

                                                  • December 8, 2024 at 5:42 am #383351
                                                    Dieter
                                                    Participant

                                                      Great acoustic work – sounds really very good.

                                                      Dieter

                                                    • December 8, 2024 at 6:43 am #383370
                                                      Martin W
                                                      Participant

                                                        Wow ! Wonderful composition from the backing track to those “ lickettes “ .
                                                        Nowt wrong with repeating lines it really holds the listener and gives a lot of context.
                                                        Very melodic though out , those phrases come together perfectly.
                                                        My kinda music 👌

                                                        Martin

                                                      • December 8, 2024 at 9:08 am #383403
                                                        Andy N
                                                        Participant

                                                          How many licks do you need to write song? Answer: just 3. That buzzed along and always caught the ear. That repetition is such a great device that within a minute
                                                          I was waiting for that lick 1 to come around. It was like a tension release when it did.
                                                          Such a great composition and brilliantly played.

                                                        • December 8, 2024 at 1:27 pm #383548
                                                          Catherine Arsenault
                                                          Participant

                                                            Wow Paul really nice picking 😊

                                                          • December 9, 2024 at 12:07 am #383658
                                                            Pap
                                                            Participant

                                                              Paul, that was a nice chord progression with a nice relaxing melody. I had to get out my electric and play along using come pentatonic scales. Really fun. Nice submission. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years. Pap

                                                          • Author
                                                            Posts
                                                          Viewing 27 reply threads
                                                          • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
                                                          Log In

                                                          Search Forums

                                                          Quick Links

                                                          • Latest posts
                                                          • Most popular posts
                                                          • Posts Freshness
                                                          • Posts with most replies
                                                          • My active posts
                                                          • All my posts
                                                          • Posts with my reply

                                                          Links

                                                          • Blog
                                                          • Resources
                                                          • About
                                                          • Contact
                                                          • FAQ
                                                          • Refunds & Cancellations
                                                          • Sitemap

                                                          Recent Lessons

                                                          Play an entire Blues lead in 1 position of the fretboard (E shape from CAGED) Guitar Lesson EP621

                                                          Jamming by yourself on guitar – Bluegrass style! – Guitar Lesson – EP620

                                                          Don’t overthink this stuff! Minor Pentatonic Blues lead – Guitar Lesson – EP619

                                                          Contact

                                                          For all support questions email: support@activemelody.com
                                                          For all other inquires email: brian@activemelody.com
                                                          • Facebook
                                                          • Twitter
                                                          • YouTube

                                                          © 2025 · Active Melody. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

                                                          Free Weekly Guitar Lessons

                                                          Enter your email address below to have the weekly guitar lesson delivered to your email address. I take privacy very seriously and will not share your email address.

                                                          • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

                                                          Active MelodyLogo Header Menu
                                                          • Weekly Lessons
                                                          • Take The Tour
                                                          • Forum
                                                          • Hear From Our Members
                                                          • Membership Sign Up
                                                          • Log In

                                                          Insert/edit link

                                                          Enter the destination URL

                                                          Or link to existing content

                                                            No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.