AM November 2021 Challenge Response

[Mike W]

Good day to everyone, I hope you are all well and keeping healthy. Because of holiday commitments I missed last month’s challenge, so I was keen to submit a response for November.
Brian asked for a solo effort – either one of his lessons or an original composition. I opted for EP296 Fingerstyle Ragtime Blues. I think this style is also called Piedmont Blues. I thought I’d learned this fairly well some time ago, but after I’d re-listened to Brian’s playing and checked the TAB, I realised that I was very slow and also in the Dm and E sections I was picking random strings from the chords – really sloppy/lazy playing. I’ve corrected some of the problems but I’m not totally happy with it.
I’m a bit confused about the timing – the TAB says 55bpm so I thought it would be ideal for a slowhand like me; Brian is playing at100bpm; I’m limping in at just under 80.
I managed to play straight from my Fender LT25 amp into Audacity (no mic), which has helped with the volume, although I still think it sounds better through headphones.
It still took over 30 takes to record. The penultimate one was perfect (honest) but I’d forgotten to hit the Audacity red button – all I had was the video with a hissy webcam mic. I thought the next one would be perfect – what could possibly go wrong …..??
Here’s the link

Thanks for reading the woffle and listening. I’m looking forward to listening to the other submissions,

Mike

[FergalT]

Love the sound Mike… and the alternating bass.
I know that look at the end…just as the strap comes off… Murphy’s law!

Glad that the guitar didn’t hit the ground.

[Mike W]

Thanks for your kind comments, Fergal. If the guitar had hit the deck I would have had to edit out some swearing.

[Vincent K]

Great fingerpicking Mike

Excellent sound

Maybe you should get yourself some straplocks, because i thought the outro was a bit scary 🙈

🎸 Vincent 🎶 🇳🇱

[Mike W]

Thanks for your kind words, Vincent. I have resolved to be more careful.

[Dieter]

Great picking it’s really not easy to play. You are not alone with the large number of recording attempts. I often feel the same way, and the worst thing is when one attempt is flawless and you lose your way just before the end. But that is also part of playing music.

Dieter

[Mike W]

Thanks for your kind comments, Dieter.

[charjo]

Beautiful delicate fingerstyle, Mike. Great start for your own personal blooper reel. If you haven’t seen it before, here’s Brian’s blooper reel served with a dose of humility. Can’t remember ever
laughing so hard..
John

[Mike W]

Thanks John. Yes I have seen Brian’s bloopers. Have you noticed he never uses a strap? I wonder why.

[Don Patton jr]

Mike
A very nice tone and sound on your guitar and amp set up. Fingerstyle played well on this arrangement. I think most of us have experienced a little “hiccup”, when recording as well 🎧😉👍

Don P

Don P

[Mike W]

Thanks for your kind words, Don. The LT25 has made a quite a difference to the sound recording – the lack of hiss is visible on the sound waves in Audacity.

[Phil67]

The end reminds me of Brian’s bloopers
great laugh! thank for keeping this part.

joke apart, until last second, it was a great playing, balancing with a solid thumb bass.
guitar down, but thumbs up.

Where does the white go when snow melts?

[Mike W]

Thanks Phil – I like that “guitar down but thumbs up”. It would have made a great title for this piece.

[Mark T]

Your level of control is admirable, Mike! To resist swearing – well, respect to you! 👏👏👏

Your look of, “you gotta be kidding me!”, had me laughing out loud 😂😂😂 We all know that feeling, but most of us don’t dare post it 😜😜

Huge praise for this submission, Mike – absolutely loved it! 👍👍👍🎶🎶🎶

[Mike W]

Thanks Mark. I thought afterwards that if I had sworn I could have faded it out – but I bet there are some members who can lip read.

[Werner]

Your efforts have paid off. Very good finger style. struggling with that recording gear sounds familiar to me. Thank you.

[Mike W]

Thanks for your kind words, Werner. I shouldn’t complain really – I know it happens to all of us.

[Manfred M]

Mike, really fine fingerstyle playing and great and mellow sound. You nailed it! But how did you manage this great ending.😉 Great music meets stand up comedy! Thanks for your humor and the fun!

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 for your kind words, Manfred. Glad you liked it.

[Michael L]

Ah, Mike… we’ve all been there at one time or another. I once made an almost perfect recording of one submission, only to find my phone was set to ‘camera’, not ‘video’. I had a nice still photo of myself reaching out to touch the cellphone. Beside that, this was nicely played. I can hear the work you’re put into it. I’ll have to look that lesson up… this was my first time hearing it.

[Mike W]

Thanks for your kind words Michael – glad you liked it.

[Anonymous]

Nicely done Mike. Excellent finger style technique.

[Mike W]

Kind words indeed Ivan, thank you.

[Alan K]

Nicely done Mike. Love the Piedmont blues style. You held down the bass line very well. I guess your guitar decided this would be the final take. Pretty funny moment.

[Mike W]

Thanks Alan for your kind comments. I hadn’t considered that the guitar had simply had enough.

[Bill H]

It was well worth the wait Mike ……..nice bit of Ragtime ……..

I know what you mean about trying to record……..I keep hoping it will get easier

………..till then I just have to depend on editing hehe am not much better at that….

and am definitely getting locking strap locks……thanks for your video great stuff

[Mike W]

Many thanks for your kind comments Bill.

[Paul S.]

It takes a confident person to post a video like that. Of course it was backed up by some damn good picking.

I laughed out loud, which really feels good.

[Mike W]

Thanks Paul – glad you liked it.

[Helen Lazaridou]

Oh Mike !!!!!I know exactly what you mean!in this challenge I was on on the verge of not posting it with everything that went wrong!!!!I loved your picking and the melody!!!great technique 😉 👌

[Mike W]

Thanks Helen, I appreciate your kind comments.

[brian-belsey]

Well done, Mike, an enjoyable performance of a tricky fingerstyle piece. I know because I was working on it a month or two back.

[Mike W]

Many thanks for your kind comments Brian.

[Richard G]

I feel for you Mike, as we’ve all been there, some of us worse than others. That ragtime piece takes some learning and most of it needs to be firmly routed into your muscle-memory before you can start to ignore the dreaded red light. However, you made a cracking job and this will eventually be a great addition to your playlist.

Richard

[Mike W]

Thank you Richard, I appreciate your kind comments.

[sunjamr]

It’s quite interesting watching you get better and better, Mike. You did great on this one, even though you had to do 30 takes. We’ve all been there.

Sunjamr Steve

[Mike W]

Thanks Steve, nice of you to say so. I’m aware of two steps that have helped me improve – the first was joining AM a few years ago but the biggest spur was starting the challenges during the first lockdown in June last year. I think we all put in the extra effort when we’re on show like this.

[James B]

Nice picking Mike. Great tone too. Your recordings are getting better every month.

James

[Mike W]

Very good of you to say so James, thank you.

[Laurel C]

That is a tricky piece but you got the groove strolling along like clockwork. Great picking and to have already achieved this result, kudos to you. Glad there were no guitars harmed during the filming.

[Mike W]

Thanks Laurel, glad you liked it.

[Garry]

Really enjoyed your rendition Mike. Clean picking, love the alternating bass, great sound. I don’t remember hearing this lesson before but you’ve sold me on it. Re: Number of Takes. Don’t sress, we all do it I’m sure. For my November Challenge I recorded 7 complete takes that I was reasonably happy with but probably another 15-20 times where I started and stuffed up so had to start again. Kudos also for keeping the ending in. It’s happened to me before but I didn’t have the courage to put it in so I would do yet another take. All the best!

[Mike W]

Thanks Garry, I appreciate your comments. As it was virtually the last note it was a fairly easy decision to make to stick with that take.

[AndréM]

Great rendition.
Great tone.
At least the guitar didnt fell to the floor.

AndréM

AndréM

[Mike W]

Thanks Andre, glad you liked it.

[Pap]

Oh, Mike, this is the best video! I was (and still am) in tears man! That was sooo funny. I love the expression on your face. It has happened to most of us but what makes this so great is you published it. I love you man!! Seriously though, you played it well and those 30 takes are where we make significant improvement. Keep up the great work… keep me in stitches too…I really needed it! Cheers. Pap

[Mike W]

Many thanks Pap. It seems to have struck a chord with quite a lot of people. I don’t want to make a habit of it, though.

[Serena C]

You created a very relaxing atmosphere with your playing Mike, nice performance! 👍🏻 I also made a mistake at the very end of this challenge submission 😀

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. Glad you liked it.

[Scott M]

Rock solid alternating bass line thumb work combined with a relaxed delivery and excellent tone all add up to one of your best submissions. Really well played Mike!!

Scott

[Mike W]

Thanks Scott – I appreciate your comments.

[Martin W]

Hi mike , sweet and fluent playing there , love the warm tone from your guitar , I’m with you on the recording process does my head in sometimes,
Leaving that ending in made me chuckle the look on your face was a picture
Glad you caught it in time! Great job on a difficult style you got that alternating bass chugging along perfectly.
Well played .

Martin

[Mike W]

Many thanks, martin. I appreciate your comments.

[Tom D]

Hi Mike:

I always enjoy your playing and the way your touch extracts great tones and how you keep a steady rhythm. Your sound is great here and your tempo is steady and sounds beautiful. Absolute tempo benchmarks that matter are the ones we can play steadily. Great catch on the strap malfunction!

Cheers, Tom

[Mike W]

Many thanks,Tom. I do appreciate your comments.

[David H]

Great story line. Going back to older recordings can be a real eye opener. But being to see where improvements can be made is huge. Great picking my friend.

[Mike W]

Thanks for your kind comments, David. My default position is that I need to make improvements on all that I play.

[DaveW]

Great playing and I was genuinely surprised at the end. Your facial and body expression made me laugh.

DaveW

[Mike W]

Thanks David. I bet you weren’t as surprised as I was. The video seems to have struck a chord with a lot of people.

[Lights]

My absolutely favorite lesson in AM, Mike! You played it very professional way, flawless and easy!
Lights.

[Mike W]

Thanks Meelis – I think it’s one of Brian’s best compositions (out of so many fantastic tunes). I’m not a natural fingerstyle player but it’s a piece that is so rewarding and makes the effort (spread over a couple of years in my case) so worth while.

[JFL]

A large amount of takes is not unusual for me, or many of us here, I’m sure. But that is what’s good about these challenges and what they force out of us. Forgetting to hit record is a classic. I’ve been there. Great to see the strap fail and your reaction is totally understandable!

Great lesson choice. You played accurately and with good feel!

JFL

[Mike W]

Thanks J, I agree with your comments – we learn from our failures; we don’t learn from our successes.

[JoLa]

“What could possibly go wrong?” 😆😂 Haha! I laughed out loud, watched it again, and laughed again! The ending was hilarious, I love bloopers, it was the best take you could have submitted, Mike! But also your playing, that soft and precise touch fingerstyle worked really well and sounded lovely! The tempo was great too, it doesn’t always have to be fast! Hands down, my favorite submission of yours!

🎸JoLa

[Mike W]

Many thanks Jola, glad you liked it. I don’t think I’ll be using it as my trademark sign off, though.

[Andy N]

I’m so glad you posted that take Mike! I had to smile as it made me think we’ve all been there in one way or another. The playing perfect, all the tricky parts nailed down, a simple run down the home straight and disaster strikes from nowhere. Well done and good catch 👏

[Mike W]

Many thanks Andy – yes, we can never take anything for granted.

[6stringer Pete]

Them notes and the rhythm picking of them strings surely kept my eyes on how you did all. Fantastic playing.

The melody of the notes is what expresses the art of music . 🙂 6stringerPete

It really is all about ”melody”. The melody comes from a language from our heart. Our heart is the muscle in music harmony. The melody is the sweetness that it pumps into our musical thoughts on the fretboard. 🙂 6 stringer Pete

Pete
Active Melody
Forum Moderator

[Mike W]

Many thanks, Pete – glad you liked it.

[Phil B]

Well Mike I almost missed this because I usually try to work through the submissions from first to last. Somewhere along the way I must have got lost but thankfully I’m getting through the lost bunch. I thought that was a delightful piece, you have a deft touch and the crowning glory was your facial expression at the end and no expletives!
Thirty takes! You’re a bit of a lightweight there but I’ll raise you by 20. However I think the winner of the pot has to be Juxi who, according to his latest submission, was on take 200 at 3 a.m. before he got it in the can. Oh, and remember, we do this for enjoyment!

[Juxi]

According to Gary in his reply to my submission, he topped my 200 – so really the pot should go to him. 😂
However, I just read his reply to Mike were he claims only 35 … perhaps we musicians should not bother with figures …🙄

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[Mike W]

Phil, many thanks for your kind words. Also the timely reminder – it is enjoyable but now and again we need to sit back and think about that.

[Gary W]

Ahh that’s really lovely Mike – well played. Lovely jazz tone & low mids, I really like that smokey sound.

By the way your reassure me – I thought it was just me…. I almost called my subnmission tune ‘take 35!

Best wishes
Gary

Gary

[Mike W]

I’m glad you liked that Gary. For once I was pleased with the tone/sound of the recording, which was actually a pre-set for a jazz tone on the amp. Thank you.

[Bob Utberg]

Awesome Mike! I love the warm tone of your gitfiddle and great finger style playing my friend. Don’t you just hate when you forget to hit “record” and you play lights out??? LOL. We all do that. I enjoyed your piece here very much. Bob

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Mike W]

Many thanks for your kind words, Bob. I see you have the tree up – Merry Christmas.

[Denise]

Mike, your playing sounds great…very Chet Atkins like. And I love Chet’s style.
Thank you for playing this wonderful tune, I need to have a look at that lesson.
Denise

More Blues!

[Mike W]

Thanks Denise – yes you should look at that lesson – it suits your style perfectly. I was half expecting you to submit it for your Challenge.

[Juxi]

That was very well done, Mike! I love this ragtime lesson and you did a great job, giving it a unique feeling due to the mellow tone of your beautiful guitar. 👍🏽
By the way, I really did not overstate the amount of my takes (I still have them all in my DAW) so you totally earned my respect with your graceful reaction to the strap-accident. I was not so calm at all regarding my last minute failures 🙄😉😊

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[Mike W]

You must have been very determined to do 200 takes – no wonder you were up till 3am. I think most of us would have applied Brian’s maxim ‘Done is better than perfect’. I think that’s what he said.

[Mike W]

You’re very kind, Juxi, I’m glad you liked the piece.

[Aime S]

Great submission Mike, lovely tone and playing. Thanks to share your experience with us. Carry on that way and I am sure your efforts will pay soon. Well done !

Aime

[Mike W]

Many thanks, Aime.

[WBlues]

Good fingerstyle and played smoothly, Mike. I also like the nice warm tone. Well done.

Play guitar just like you live; don't get bogged down in theory, it's just a tool without feeling.

Wilfried

[Mike W]

Thanks Wilfried, I appreciate your comments.

[Livio M]

Hi Mike
You have chosen a wonderful song that at this point I have to learn. it is evident that you have the song in your fingers unfortunately we know Murphy’s law is a fact, if things can go wrong you can be sure they will.
Best wishes to hear from you soon.

Livio

[Mike W]

Thanks for your kind comments, Livio.

[Author]

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