Home › Forums › Active Melody Member Challenge Response Submissions › April 2021 Challenge Submission
- This topic has 68 replies, 35 voices, and was last updated 2 years, 11 months ago by Mike W.
-
CreatorTopic
-
April 24, 2021 at 12:27 pm #248236
Good day to everyone, Hope you are all well.
I went through Brian’s list of C & R lessons and found EP211, which I’d never played or heard before. It’s got some cracking blues licks in it. It’s also got a lot of slides in it, which sound good – but no matter which guitar I tried I ended up with a lot of ‘string whistle’. I got some flat wound strings to put on the Peerless, which cured the whistle to a large extent, but I thought they gave quite a tinny sound — see what you think.
Here’s the link
I’d appreciate your comments and advice on the sound/strings. It does sound better with earphones (even if you plug them in haha). Keep safe,
Mike
-
CreatorTopic
-
AuthorReplies
-
-
April 24, 2021 at 1:15 pm #248274
Hi Mike! I was impressed with the tone! Sounds great to me. Nice smooth rhythm. Great licks too. Some of the bends need just a touch more push to get to pitch! Superb production start to finish! WEll done. Bob
Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)
-
April 26, 2021 at 3:48 am #249825
Thanks Bob – you’re right – I need to polish up the bends.
-
-
April 24, 2021 at 2:26 pm #248357
I like it Mike. No excessive string noise. Just a great tone with a relaxed delivery that fit the piece perfectly.
James
-
April 26, 2021 at 3:49 am #249828
Thank you James, kind words indeed.
-
-
April 24, 2021 at 2:53 pm #248396
Hi Mike, I listened to your tune with earphones (indeed plugged in 😊). Heard nothing wrong. Great tone. At the beginning I thought it was a little quiet, but nothing that cannot be repaired with hitting the louder button one time. You played this lesson very well. I enjoyed listening. Good job!
Bluesige Grüße
Juxi-
April 26, 2021 at 3:49 am #249829
Thank you Juxi for your kind words.
-
-
April 24, 2021 at 3:25 pm #248418
Very laid back performance Mike. Each note is very clear. Beautiful performance.
Hidetada Shimizu
-
April 26, 2021 at 3:50 am #249830
Thank you Hide – I’m beginning to think I imagined the problem.
-
-
April 24, 2021 at 3:29 pm #248423
Yeah agree with comments…each note is pretty clear! Nice work!
Live on planet Earth ? You got the blues.
-
April 26, 2021 at 3:51 am #249831
Many thanks Mike.
-
-
April 24, 2021 at 3:33 pm #248431
Nice and melodic… played smoothly with gratifying licks and chord voicing
-
April 26, 2021 at 3:53 am #249832
Thank you John. It’s great piece to play – I was surprised that no-one else used it.
-
-
April 24, 2021 at 3:42 pm #248450
Very nice playing.
Dieter
-
April 26, 2021 at 3:54 am #249835
Many thanks Dieter.
-
-
April 24, 2021 at 3:57 pm #248468
Well played, Mike. As for the strings, I tried some flat wound strings once. Didn’t like the sound at all, so I switched back to semi-flat wound strings. Didn’t like the sound of them either. Then I switched to Elixer Nanowebs, and loved them. They have minimal string squeak, and are very kind to your fingers when you do slides. But in fairness, string squeak is not usually a problem for electric guitars, because the squeak is lost when you turn up volume on the amp.
Sunjamr Steve
-
April 26, 2021 at 3:56 am #249836
Thanks, Steve. I’ve ordered a set of Elixir – I’ve never used them before.
-
-
April 24, 2021 at 4:29 pm #248491
Hi Mike , that was one of if not your best submission so far ,I enjoyed it throughout timing and tempo bang on , the guitar / recording sounded fab to my ear . As for string type i usually stick with d’addario strings but that’s a personal choice but there’s many to choose from etc . Very well played.
Martin
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:01 am #249839
That’s very good of you to say so, Martin. Funnily enough the strings I took off were d’Addario – I thought they were old and tired (like me). Judging from the other comments it seems that the new strings are ok, maybe they suffered by comparison with the more mellow sound that I was used to.
-
-
April 24, 2021 at 4:59 pm #248511
Mike, I couldn’t hear anything extraneous here just some great picking and tight rhythm.
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:01 am #249841
Thanks Phil,I appreciate your comments.
-
-
April 24, 2021 at 5:19 pm #248533
Hi Mike,
Nice call and response. No string noise, and I don’t think it sounded tinny. Sounds good.
BruceJust focus on the notes you DID get right . . . Frank Vignola
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:06 am #249842
Thanks Bruce – seems like I was imagining things!
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 6:36 am #248873
I remember that track well, Mike. Played solidly. Keep it up.
Play guitar just like you live; don't get bogged down in theory, it's just a tool without feeling.
Wilfried
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:06 am #249843
Thank you Wilfried.
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 12:43 pm #249177
Hey Mike:
There are indeed some “cracking blues licks” in your piece. You play them well. I like the sound you get from the strings – they sound good to me and blues style appropriate.
Cheers, Tom
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:12 am #249847
Thanks for your kind words Tom.
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 1:24 pm #249232
Never heard that lesson before but you did it great.
Well played, well done.AndréM
AndréM
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:12 am #249848
Many thanks Andre.
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 2:21 pm #249308
Hey Mike, solid rendition of a great lesson, clean consistent delivery from start to finish. Well done!
Scott
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:14 am #249849
Many thanks Scott – you’re right – it is a great lesson. Surprised nobody else tried it.
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 3:22 pm #249419
Hi Mike
Quiet atmosphere, call and response between old friends who discuss
with a glass of wine in hand and understand each other in a few words.
well done.
GreetingsLivio
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:15 am #249850
Many thanks Livio.
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 4:48 pm #249544
Hey Mike, sounding smooth. I enjoyed your playing. Didn’t notice any whistling.
Keep on rockin’
Cheers,
Michael-
April 26, 2021 at 4:15 am #249851
Thanks for your kind comments Michael.
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 5:06 pm #249557
It was all good! and then some.
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:17 am #249852
Thank you David.
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 5:23 pm #249568
Mike
A fine job on this bluesy lesson/
Composition! I thought the tone was fine and your slides and bends were great !
I am partial to Elixir Polyweb strings, but I tried “DR acoustic Dragon Skin strings” and they are excellent as well. It is subjective I suppose…Don P
Don P
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:20 am #249853
Thanks for your kind comments Don. I’ll look out for the Dragon Skin strings – I’ve not come across them before. I’ve already ordered some Elixir after Steve SunJammr’s recommendation.
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 5:55 pm #249589
Sounded great. It strolled along like clockwork from start to finish. Nice flow and played very well. Felt every note resonating from this conversation.
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:21 am #249854
Kind words, Laurel, thank you.
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 6:03 pm #249596
Mike, that sounded great. I think strings are a personal preference. I use Elixir Optiweb but that me. Try some different ones out and see what your ear tells you. Pap
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:22 am #249855
Thanks Pap, glad you liked it. I’m getting plenty of feedback on string choice.
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 6:33 pm #249637
Nice playing Mike. Smooth and laid back and comfortable. I thought the guitar sounds good! Strings are a personal preference. I’ve been using flat wounds for the last year or so. They might sound a little dull but I kind if like that. I find it a struggle to bend the g string since it’s also wound. But mostly I love how they feel.
JFL
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:37 am #249856
Thanks J. I keep trying the strings and I’m maybe starting to get used to them. They don’t sound as mellow as my old set – it’s a trade-off between a little dull, as you say, and less squeaking.
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 6:55 pm #249648
The strings sound good to me Mike! Nice playing! Recently I started experimenting with different strings myself. So far I’ve learned that super slinky is not for me. And I stupidly bought a 3 pack…
-
April 26, 2021 at 4:39 am #249857
Thanks David – I feel I should try out a few different types as well. What I won’t do is is swap them just before the challenge submission date.
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 9:40 pm #249708
One of your best, Mike! I remember learning that lesson a long time ago and I found it super hard. Your playing was very clear and precise with a good timing. I did not hear any unwanted string noise.
I agree with others, strings are such a personal choice. I have also experimented with different kinds of strings for different guitars and still do. But I do use D’Addario flat wound .11-50 jazz strings on my thinbody archtop and I actually like them (just not for bending). They make me play differently, more jazzy, I suppose 😉 They are kind of easy on the fingers and don’t squeak with slides so that makes my archtop a go-to guitar for finger sliding pieces 🙂
🎸JoLa
-
April 26, 2021 at 5:24 am #249861
Many thanks Jola. I’m starting to get slightly embarrassed because it looks like I made a lot of fuss about nothing (as usual). The lesson that I have learned is not to change string type immediately before challenge submission date. I never noticed the d’Addario flatwound on their website – I’ll check that out.
-
-
April 25, 2021 at 10:18 pm #249717
Great submission Mike, like it a lot. Didn’t hear any whistling and thought tone was pretty good. I’m using Elixer Nanowebs and am happy with them. Cool lesson, must have a look at it. All the best!
-
April 26, 2021 at 5:18 am #249860
Thank you Garry – it was a good lesson – I was surprised that nobody else submitted it. Quite a few people have suggested Elixir, so I’ve got some on order.
-
-
April 26, 2021 at 12:31 am #249764
Very relaxed well played blues Mike. Loved the country style bends.
-
April 26, 2021 at 5:15 am #249859
Many thanks Alan.
-
-
April 26, 2021 at 6:10 am #249875
Very smooth Mike !
Also another vote here for Elixer Nanowebs.-
April 26, 2021 at 8:22 am #249920
Thank you Fergal – they’re on order.
-
-
April 26, 2021 at 6:40 am #249891
as a all : So simple and so awesome!
but no so easy : clearly there are some tricky licks inside, very well done.
Where does the white go when snow melts?
-
April 26, 2021 at 8:23 am #249922
Thank you Phil, glad you liked it.
-
-
April 26, 2021 at 6:56 am #249897
That’s a nice lesson that you selected for this challenge, Mike, and you played it well.
Wim
-
April 26, 2021 at 8:29 am #249924
Thank you for your kind words,Wim
-
-
April 26, 2021 at 6:57 pm #250150
Sounds great, Mike. You played smoothly and fluidly all the way through. I liked your bends because they didn’t sound over the top to me, which would make the piece sound too maudlin for my taste. Nice clean notes also, and I thought the strings worked perfectly. Nice playing!
Larry-
April 27, 2021 at 3:19 am #250231
Many thanks, Larry – kind words indeed. Glad you liked it.
-
-
April 27, 2021 at 1:32 am #250226
Well done, Mike. You’ve played this piece with confidence and the right touch and feel. I loved it. Like the others said, the tone of your snares is clear and good.
-
April 27, 2021 at 3:20 am #250232
Many thanks for your kind comments Sebastian. I’m glad you liked it.
-
-
April 27, 2021 at 10:55 am #250283
I think flat-wound strings have more of a jazzy tone and I use them on my semi-hollow Gibson. My fingers thank me. I thought your playing was excellent and deliberate, and the hybrid picking added some depth.
-
April 27, 2021 at 3:40 pm #250305
Thanks for your kind words,Paul.
-
April 28, 2021 at 6:37 am #250366
Hi Mike, somehow I seemed to have missed your sub when I was going through them.
Which is my loss as you played that very well, nice laid back tempo and clean picking, especially the hybrid picked parts. Had a cool relaxed feel to the whole performance.
I thought the strings sounded fine, lots of clarity there and no whistles.-
April 28, 2021 at 8:51 am #250377
Many thanks Andy – glad you liked it.
-
-
May 1, 2021 at 10:50 pm #250769
Well played Mike, you certainly look very at ease playing this piece. Great laid back sound!
DaveW
-
May 2, 2021 at 5:04 am #250826
Many thanks Dave, pleased you like it.
-
-
AuthorReplies
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.