Active Melody November 2023 Challenge Response – Mike W

[Mike W]

Good day – I hope you are all well.

Brian’s challenge was to play an acoustic blues solo. That was all the excuse I needed to get hold of a new acoustic guitar on Black Friday. The Recording King arrived Monday and this recording was made on Wednesday. We haven’t really bonded yet but we’re getting on ok. If anyone else has one of these I’d be interested to know what strings you find best – there’s a bit of whistle on these but I don’t want to change to strings which lose the old-timey sound.

The piece that I’ve recorded is “Laid Back Blues”, written by Johnny Norris – an acoustic blues player from Ireland. Hope you like it.
I’m looking forward to seeing all the other submissions.
Take care and have a great Christmas – here’s the link

[Vincent K]

Wow Mike

You look great together. Congrats to your new friend, I hope you will spent lots of time together!

I enjoyed this laid back blues piece a lot

Thanks Mike

Cheers

🎸 Vincent 🎶 🇳🇱

[Mike W]

Thanks Vincent – I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[Brian M]

Gorgeous looking guitar and lovely piece!

[Mike W]

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

[JoeD1]

I liked it Mike. Sounded very nice on your beautiful new guitar 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

[Mike W]

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

[Manfred M]

A really good laid back team, you and your new guitar, Mike. I liked what you have set up together. A promising start For you both.

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.

[James B]

Sounding good, Mike. Looks like a blues guitar for sure. Nice finger picking.

James

[Mike W]

Many thanks James, I’m glad that you liked it.

[Don Patton jr]

Hi Mike!
A nice 🫧 clean sound and play on your new Recording King ! I always wondered how they sounded…pretty darn good in your hands. Enjoy 🎄🎶🙂

Don P

[Mike W]

Thanks for your kind comments, Don.

[Michael L]

Hi Mike, congrats on the new guitar! What a great fingerstyle piece for sitting around on a lazy afternoon and picking the guitar. Sounds great!

[Mike W]

Many thanks Michael. Yes it’s a good piece and the book that I took it from has more in a similar vein. I must use it more often.

[Mark T]

Congratulations on your new axe, Mike – a lovely way to debut it with this challenge, nicely performed 👍🎶😎

[Mike W]

Thanks Mark, I’m glad you liked it.

[San Luis Rey]

Sounds great Mike! Congrats on the new acoustic!

Mike

[Mike W]

Thanks Mike, I’m glad you liked it.

[DaveW]

Congrats on the new guitar. Looks like you are getting on with it to me. Nice piece.

DaveW

[Mike W]

Thanks Dave, I’m glad you liked it.

[sciencefiction]

Great fingerstyle blues, Mike. Enjoyed it. Also, nice thumb control. Cool!
Larry

[Mike W]

Many thanks Larry, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I always think that if the bass/rhythm is right you can get away with minor errors on the melody.

[Denise]

Very nice looking new guitar. Your fingerstyle playing sounded great and relaxed. Very steady rhythm and thumb picking.
Wish you wonderful Christmas holidays, too.
Denise

More Blues!

[Mike W]

Many thanks Denise, I think I was a little less relaxed than I seemed. The red light still gets to me after all this time.

[Garry]

Guitar looks and sounds like a keeper Mike. Yes, old time sound, look and laid back blues. Definitely love the fingerpicking style for sure. Enjoy your new guitar. All the best! 😎🎸😎

[Mike W]

Many thanks Garry – glad you liked it.

[Mike D]

Very smooth finger picking …sounded and looks great!

Live on planet Earth ? You got the blues.

[Mike W]

Many thanks Mike – glad you liked it.

[Pat]

Nice sounding guitar and nice smooth pisking!

[Mike W]

Thanks Pat- glad you liked it.

[AndréM]

Congrats on the new axe.
Sounds great.

AndréM

AndréM

[Mike W]

Thanks Andre, glad you liked it.

[JoLa]

Mike W wrote:

That was all the excuse I needed to get hold of a new acoustic guitar on Black Friday.

Haha! Now, I know EXACTLY that feeling! In fact, it’s almost like with each challenge I have an added challenge of stopping myself from getting new gear!

Congrats, Mike! This was a cool little blues perfectly fitting your new acoustic, very well played! Did you record with a mic or the pickup? Did the guitar come with the pickup? Nice, those recording Kings are tempting, very cool addition to your collection 🙂

🎸JoLa

[Mike W]

Thanks for your kind comments Jola. I recorded through the mic in my external webcam. The guitar came equipped with the pickup, although there is also a version without. I think it’s fairly unusual these days to get an acoustic with a pickup mounted rather than under the bridge, or with a mic inside. I guess they were after the retro look.

[Pap]

Mike, nice playing and congrats on your new acoustic. That sounds nice. I would ask somebody from where you purchased it about the strings. Some strings sound good on a particular type guitar but maybe not as good on another. Cheers. Pap

[Mike W]

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

[Tom D]

Very laid back and cool blues groove Mike. Sounds like made a GREAT choice with your new guitar – and it looks beautiful. I really enjoy your fingerstyle work Mike, your touch and timing express your signature sound. Merry Christmas! Tom

[Mike W]

Many thanks for your kind comments Tom.

[Serena C]

a submission is the best way to test a new guitar, isn’t it Mike? and I think you and your guitar have done it so well!

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 think you’re right about testing the guitar (and the player). It’s also a good fallback excuse if things go wrong.

[Andre H]

The Recording King! Nice! And a great piece of Piedmonte blues! Thanks for sharing

[Mike W]

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

[Guido]

It sounds to me like in fact you bonded immediately very well! Very well played with a very nice touch with your finger style and a very enjoyable blues piece to listen to! Because this is the very first one and it was so good, I can guess the next renditions with your new friend will be amazing!

Guido

[Mike W]

Many thanks for your comments, Guido.

[sunjamr]

Well played, Mike. I can see you’re going to have a lot of fun with that guitar. Looks beautiful!

Sunjamr Steve

[Mike W]

Many thanks Steve, glad you liked it.

[Laurel C]

Congrats on the new guitar, it has a very bright sound. Lovely choice of melody and played with confidence and the timing of a Swiss watch.

[Mike W]

Many thanks Laurel, for your kind comments.

[Bob Utberg]

Sounds great Mike! I like your thinking: Time for a new guitar!! Great job – especially with the off beat bass line and lead runs. You nailed it! Merry Christmas to you, too! B

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Mike W]

Many thanks Bob, glad you liked it. It just occurred to me that we congratulate the players, but less frequently compliment the writers of these pieces. I know Brian gets a mention quite often, but he’s pretty much the exception. And actually his brilliant backing tracks are seldom given praise. All I do is follow the tab.

[Gary W]

That’s gonna be a good partnership Mike, you sound good! Well played sir.

Gary

[Mike W]

Thanks for your kind comments Gary.

[Livio M]

Hi Mike.
I like “Laid Back Blues”, it’s a bit sly but it doesn’t go unnoticed, like your new guitar which seems very beautiful to me, enjoy it.
Kind regards and best wishes for a peaceful Christmas.

Livio

[Mike W]

Many thanks Livio – I’m glad you liked it – Johnny Norris has written many good tunes.

[Andy N]

That was a sweet and classic little blues Mike and played with a very fine touch. I’d say that new guitar has found a good new home and look forward to hearing a lot more of it.

[Mike W]

Thanks for your kind comments Andy – I’m glad you liked it.

[Tremelow]

Great playing on a phantastic looking guitar! Congrats, Mike, both on your new guitar and the playing. It sounds and looks beautiful. I have no advice on strings other than that I play .09s to preserve my fingers and don’t buy (too) cheap. But you look like you are quite comfortable with .10s

[Mike W]

Many thanks Tremelow.

[Martin W]

Hi Mike , congrats on your new acoustic, you certainly look acquainted to it , this finger style blues rolls along nicely with the thumb bass keeping things in check , that little acoustic has the perfect tone for this style I hope you play more of it .
I use D’Addario 12/53 light gauge on both my acoustics that’s what they came with and I’m happy with the sound ,so I haven’t really experimented with other brands / gauges .

Martin

[Mike W]

Many thanks Martin – glad you liked it. Thanks for the feedback on strings.

[David G]

Looks and sounds pretty sweet Mike. Nice choice of guitar and melody.

[Mike W]

Thanks for your kind words David.

[Alan L]

Smooth and easy. Good name for the piece and you played laid back too. Enjoy the new guitar!

[Mike W]

Many thanks Alan for your kind comments.

[David H]

Acoustic challenge = new guitar, I like that. Well played delightful song. Looks and sounds like you are having fun.

[Mike W]

Thanks for your comments David. I don’t know how often I’ll get away with that ploy, but it’s always worth a try.

[Author]

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