Active Melody Challenge Response – June 2024

[Mike W]

Good afternoon, I hope you are all well.

The challenge is to write and perform a piece containing a Call and Response theme. My piece contains a number of licks borrowed from various sources (plus some that I made up). Thanks for watching – I hope you like it. I’m looking forward to watching all the other submissions.

We’re going away for a few days on Sunday but we’ll look at as many of the submissions as possible before then.

Here’s the link

[Alan O]

Hi Mike! Nice performance and that tele looks and sounds great. I need to trade in one of my strats for one of those! Every guitarist needs at least 1 telecaster, right?

Alan

[Mike W]

Too right Alan. I liked my old Squier tele but this Sire is terrific. Glad you liked the tune.

[Guido]

Very nice composition and rendition, Mike! Not easy at all to came up with a composition of your own (at least, for me it’s very hard), and you’ve played some very interesting rhythms parts and leads, very well combined together. Great job!

Guido

[Mike W]

Many thanks Guido, I’m glad you liked it. I find it takes a lot of noodling before I find something that I like, and then follow the line to see where it takes me.

[James B]

Nice work, Mike. You get extra credit for composing your own call and response piece.

James

[Mike W]

Many thanks James – glad you liked it.

[Liam Innes]

Very nicely done Mike.

I especially liked your right hand thumb and finger technique – something I’ve always struggled with.

All the licks sounded like your own and nothing borrowed.

Well done sir.

Liam.

“We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams. “

[Mike W]

Many thanks Liam, I’m glad you liked it. The first lick is by Clive Carroll in Snakebite Boogie – I think it’s great but I’ve never been able to fit it in before now.

[Richard G]

Nicely played Mike and huge congratulations for composing your own submission. You achieved some enviable warm tones from your Tele.

Richard

[Mike W]

Many thanks Richard, I’m glad you liked it. Tones come from the Fender LT25 amp.

[Jennifer D]

Oh yes I really liked your composition and your guitar has a lovely tone!

[Mike W]

Many thanks Jenny, I’m glad you liked it.

[Don Patton jr]

Some great improv on a beautiful telecaster guitar Mike…very nice 👍🙂🎶

Don P

[Mike W]

Many thanks Don, I’m glad you liked it. I think the Sire Tele was a good investment.

[Michael L]

Hi Mike, what a nice fingerstyle blues composition you put together! Mellow, but with feel. It feels like “back-porch picking”, lots of fun!

[Mike W]

Many thanks Michael, I’m glad you liked it – I enjoyed playing it.

[JoeD1]

Wow, extra credit for coming up with your own piece Mike. I enjoyed listening to it very much.

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

[Mike W]

Many thanks Joe, I’m glad you liked it.

[Garry]

Kudos Mike for composing an original and definitely a successful one. I loved the mixing of single line licks and the accompanying chordal progression. The bass runs were cool too. All the best! 😎🎸😎

[Mike W]

Many thanks Garry – I’m glad you liked it.

[Paul S.]

I am always impressed by anyone who fingerpicks an electric guitar. You put together a really cool bluesy progression here and carried it through beautifully.

[Mike W]

Many thanks Paul, I’m glad you liked it. It was actually fun to compose and then record it.

[Alan K]

Kudos for going the extra yard and writing your own composition. It flowed very nicely and had some good responses.

[Mike W]

Many thanks Alan, I’m glad you liked it. Some of the responses were my own!

[Manfred M]

You did a great job, Mike, putting this call and response composition together. It sounds simple and sweet. Isn’t that the magic of music?

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

[Mike W]

Many thanks Manfred, I’m glad you liked it.

[Alan L]

Nice work Mike! Light and bouncy, and great finger style technique.

Nice Sire Tele too!

[Mike W]

Thanks Alan – I liked the way it turned out bouncy – I’m not sure that’s exactly what I’d planned, but I liked it.

[Tom D]

I dig your composition Mike. It’s got pulse and expressive lines and style. Great work. And wow, what a touch you have in playing your beautiful Tele! Enjoy your trip! Cheers, Tom

[Mike W]

That’s very kind Tom – I’m glad you liked it.

[Bill]

`lovely and sophisticated sounding Mike. Nice job!

[Mike W]

Thanks Bill, glad you liked it.

[sunjamr]

Nice one, Mike, well played. I wonder what kind of wood your fretboard is made from. It’s kind of an unusual color.

Sunjamr Steve

[Mike W]

Thanks Steve, I’m glad you liked it. Apparently the fret board is made from roasted hard maple (and has very nicely rounded edges). It’s very good for sliding and feels very comfortable and also stops me hankering after Fenders.

[AndréM]

Excellent call & response.
Well done.

AndréM

AndréM

[Mike W]

Many thanks Andre, I’m glad you liked it.

[Werner]

Thank you for this one Mike. Great submission very well played.

Werner

[Mike W]

Many thanks Werner, I’m glad you liked it.

[Andy N]

Imaginative composition Mike with plenty of melodic ideas across the calls and responses. It felt like a real conversation. I really enjoyed that as well as the sensitivity in the finger style playing.

[Mike W]

That’s very kind, Andy, Thank you.

[Martin W]

Hi Mike , nice melodic call and response theme that made sense to the listener, that tele is a real looker with the roasted neck sounds great , especially playing it finger style .

Martin

[Mike W]

Many thanks Martin, I’m glad you liked it. I’m really pleased with the Sire – it’s so easy to play.

[Pap]

Good one Mike. Very creative and well played using finger style playing. I thing its fun to make something up like you did and then keep developing it over time. Nice job here. Cheers. Pap

[Mike W]

Many thanks Pap, I’m glad you liked it. You’re right about composing your own piece – plus nobody knows if you make a mistake.

[Bob Utberg]

Mike!!! One of your best!!! Love the chord voice choices to keep time and the song very entertaining. Then, you sprinkled in some great licks to add spice to your comp. AWESOME!

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Mike W]

Many thanks Bob, that’s very kind. I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[Serena C]

Nice submission Mike! You’re playing is very clean and accurate with your fingerstyle, nice melodic ideas too!

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)

[Mike W]

Many thanks Serena, I’m glad you liked it.

[John H]

Well done Mike. Always an enjoyable listen. Very smooth and melodic.

John

[Mike W]

Many thanks John, I’m glad you liked it.

[Author]

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