February 2026 Challenge Response

This topic has 17 replies, 18 voices, and was last updated 1 hour, 48 minutes ago by Manfred M.

Viewing 17 reply threads

Author

Posts
- March 13, 2026 at 7:52 am #409907
  JoeD1
  Participant
  This month’s Challenge was to play one of Active Melody’s lessons, or improvise, in the Key of D. I chose “Slow and easy blues lead – focus on phrasing – Guitar Lesson EP414” (backing track by Quist)
  
  I am still focusing on learning minor Pentatonics, intervals, leaving space between phrases, and working on my bends with vibrato. Also I’m trying to follow the chord changes with where I’m landing but this was difficult for me because the track is in 6/8 timing which threw me off a little. It surprised me how few of Brian’s lessons (in the key of D) are in D minor.
  
  Also, my Scarlett 2i2 decided to quit on me so I replaced it with a UA Volt 276 which I think does a slightly better job creating a fuller tone. I didn’t use any plugins…just my amp and guitar.
  
  I’m looking forward to hearing what everybody else came up with!
  
  Gear used: Gibson SG Standard Tribute
  Fender Super Champ X2 (Voice: 70’s British FX: Tremolo))
  UA Volt 246 USB Interface
  Logic Pro 12
  GoPro Hero 12
  Final Cut Pro 12
  
  Joe
  
  The sight of a touch, or the scent of a sound,
  Or the strength of an Oak with roots deep in the ground.
  --Graeme Edge
- March 13, 2026 at 9:53 am #409949
  Michael Krailo
  Participant
  Sounds like your floating on air. And that is one heck of a guitar collection 🙂 Your improve is definitely improving. And I had a problem as well with my new audio interface and I almost threw it in the trash before realizing that it was a bad plugin that I was using. Really got fooled on that one.
  
  Go slow and practice correct technique, and your abilities will dramatically improve.
- March 13, 2026 at 11:10 am #409972
  AndréM
  Participant
  Man I think you are getting your chops back, awesome.
  I love your hat.
  Man must have cost you a fortune to buy all those guitars,LOL
  
  AndréM
  
  AndréM
- March 13, 2026 at 12:07 pm #409985
  Guido
  Participant
  Loved your bluesy phrasing Joe, really very well articulated, letting breathe and express the notes! Really enjoyable to listen to and the simple tone SG + Amp is pure and perfect for this piece. The place behind you looks really like the guitarists paradise 😅!
  
  Guido
- March 13, 2026 at 12:31 pm #410009
  Michael L
  Participant
  Lots of feeling in these slow blues Joe. Your bends are very expressive here. Good open phrasing too. A fun listen.
- March 13, 2026 at 12:39 pm #410020
  Dieter
  Participant
  Wonderful musical expression.
  
  Dieter
- March 13, 2026 at 1:48 pm #410079
  sciencefiction
  Participant
  You got the blues down on this, Joe! Very tasty sounding with great phrasing. SG sounds awesome! Biting, cutting notes with good bending and expression.
  Larry
- March 13, 2026 at 1:48 pm #410080
  Raffaele S
  Participant
  Slow blues always has a great charm…..very good
- March 13, 2026 at 3:26 pm #410111
  James B
  Participant
  Great job on this slow jam in D, Joe. Love your video background.
  
  James
- March 13, 2026 at 5:51 pm #410158
  sunjamr
  Participant
  Nice to see somebody who has more guitars than me….. Love those SGs, so easy to play up high on the neck. Well played Joe!
  
  Sunjamr Steve
- March 13, 2026 at 10:01 pm #410235
  JoLa
  Participant
  Joe, that was a very fine blues soloing! I enjoyed it very much, very relaxing and very well played, you let it breathe very nicely and dug into it in just the right places. Nice candy room, too! 😉
  
  🎸JoLa
- March 14, 2026 at 5:54 am #410312
  Carpa
  Participant
  Very beautiful entry, played with great feeling, I enjoyed it.
- March 14, 2026 at 5:56 am #410315
  Bill
  Participant
  Nice playing Joe. These slow tracks can actually be tough when you are trying to fill all the space, but you used great restraint and let everything breathe nicely. Liking what you are doing with the bends too with those micro intervals.
- March 14, 2026 at 6:07 am #410329
  Mark T
  Participant
  Wonderful playing, Joe – I too dream sometimes of owning a shop-full of guitars all waiting for me, but then I wake up and reality hits 🤣🤣🤣🤣 👍🎶😎
- March 14, 2026 at 6:36 am #410351
  Alan L
  Participant
  Really tasty licks in there, well done!
- March 14, 2026 at 7:11 am #410366
  Catherine Arsenault
  Participant
  Very very tasty playing Joe loved your submission 😊
- March 14, 2026 at 10:15 am #410439
  Pap
  Participant
  Well done Joe. You have some soulful lics in here. Cheers. Pap
- March 14, 2026 at 11:10 am #410460
  Manfred M
  Participant
  This must be definitely a guitar shop behind you, Joe, or have you bought so much more guitars? 😉
  You really deserve that, because your solos just keep getting better. There are some beautiful, soulful licks in this one. I really liked how you blended so well with the backing track.
  
  Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
  The next Meetup will be on February 28, 2026
  
  For more information click here
  
  I look forward to meet you.
  Manfred
Author

Posts