July 2026 Challenge Response

This topic has 16 replies, 15 voices, and was last updated 5 hours, 36 minutes ago by Denise.

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- August 14, 2026 at 5:10 am #420538
  Bill
  Participant
  Space…the final frontier.
  
  I did spend a brief time thinking I would learn the theme from Star Trek for this challenge (I should still learn it anyway), but ended up going a very different route.
  
  Last weekend I took a class about harmonizing the Blues scale and got inspired. I started playing around with a minor blues pattern aka Chitlins Con Carne, but then started throwing in a #V-V on the turnaround (a move I see a lot in Django tunes). Then I got this drumbeat plugged into GarageBand and it all sort of came together.
  
  General premise is to develop a theme, play two cycles as an improvised lead with space, and then revisit the theme for the out. Basically: make a song.
  
  I had some fun with this and look forward to checking everyone else’s submissions.
- August 14, 2026 at 5:32 am #420558
  Ben C
  Participant
  I love this vibe of this! Nicely done
- August 14, 2026 at 5:55 am #420566
  charjo
  Moderator
  Cool sound, daddyo. Now I want to go back in time and become a beatnik.
  Just one question, how do you play A minor in C minor😉? If anyone can do it, it’s you, Bill.
  John
  - August 14, 2026 at 6:08 am #420569
    Bill
    Participant
    That’s interesting Beatnick came to mind for you. I dont Think it would have been in the top 100 words if you asked me to describe this. Ha.
    
    I like the word play of minor being a little thing and also a tonality. 🙂
- August 14, 2026 at 6:15 am #420570
  Richard G
  Participant
  Interesting vibe Bill, expertly played with a variety of subtle chord sequences. The vibrato certainly gave it a definite haunted feel.
  
  Richard
- August 14, 2026 at 7:33 am #420588
  JoeD1
  Participant
  Very different and entertaining Bill. 😎 Cool tone too.
  
  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
- August 14, 2026 at 9:09 am #420595
  Mike W
  Participant
  I thought this had quite a spooky feel – perhaps a Hitchcock sound track. This vibe was enhanced by your black/white video and also the bottom left of the thumbnail. Great music and also space – as required.
- August 14, 2026 at 9:32 am #420601
  Werner
  Participant
  Thank you very much for this piece. I admit, it took me a little while to get used to it at first. But it turned out to be very interesting and entertaining.
  
  Werner
- August 14, 2026 at 2:29 pm #420678
  James B
  Participant
  Really cool, Bill. Loved your tone and the lighting added to the mysterious vibe of the piece. A bit avant-garde musically for us 1 4 5 pickers, but you’re in a league of your own and it’s a pleasure to hear you play..
  
  James
- August 14, 2026 at 2:44 pm #420689
  Michael Krailo
  Participant
  Those chord stabs at 1:32 and 1:37 sounded perfect.
  
  Go slow and practice correct technique, and your abilities will dramatically improve.
- August 14, 2026 at 2:47 pm #420690
  Michael L
  Participant
  Hi Bill, 1960s TV detective theme? Well, loved it no matter what it sounded like. That #V-V is a nice vibe, I’ll have to try that out. Really appreciate your creativity!
  - August 14, 2026 at 4:13 pm #420707
    Bill
    Participant
    Or if they do another reboot of Dexter? I could see this playing under opening credits to something like that or a detective show.
    
    Definitely try that turnaround out, adds some color for sure!
- August 14, 2026 at 2:56 pm #420693
  Alan L
  Participant
  Good stuff, good vibes 😎 I like the call and response elements. (Chord/lick)
- August 14, 2026 at 5:02 pm #420723
  sunjamr
  Participant
  Very cool, loved it Bill! I thought I detected a hint of vibrato in there……good idea.
  
  Sunjamr Steve
- August 14, 2026 at 6:44 pm #420727
  AndréM
  Participant
  For a minute I thought you were going microtonal lol
  Very nice and very different from what I heard so far.
  
  AndréM
  
  AndréM
- August 14, 2026 at 7:32 pm #420741
  Brendan G
  Participant
  All I can say is nice vibe.
- August 15, 2026 at 1:00 am #420765
  Denise
  Participant
  I like how you experiment with other styles, especially with jazzy chords. Great backing track. Did you also play the rhythm yourself? I guess you did. Very mysterious sounding! 1:33 – 1:37: great movement!
  I love that repetitive turnaround and these quick slides. Nice vibe with the tremolo effect.
  Keep on posting out of the box guitar styles.
  
  More Blues!
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