April 2025 Challenge Response – Tremelow

[Tremelow]

Hi my dear AM fellows.

This month’s challenge was all about setting limitations. I decided to focus mainly on using double stops. They always sound good (to me) — whether it’s harmonized 3rds, 6ths, 4ths, or power chords.

They work great in both rhythm and lead playing, and I definitely want to incorporate them more into my playing in the future.

Side note: Because I absolutely didn’t want to miss this challenge, I actually finished this piece two weeks ago. Now that I’m watching it again, I wonder if maybe I should have taken more time with it. What began as a full-fledged 12-bar blues with a classic I-IV-V progression eventually turned into a very short tune. In any case, I’ve decided to present this contribution anyway. There might still be something in it that you like. I also welcome any criticism and comments.

[Jennifer D]

Oh Yes those double stops sound amazing, really useful and driving! Very nice!

[Bill]

Like the double stops, they can definitely add a unique sound and make you play the fretboard differently. Like the breakup that happened once you switched from single notes to doubles.

[Martin W]

Yep I agree , the double stops add so much depth and character especially with a bit of overdrive, i like the way you played them as harmonies … so useful and sound great in lots of contexts.

Martin

[AndréM]

Hi Trem, I taught you were going for the only one string challenge but you double came in.
Great rendition.

AndréM

AndréM

[Catherine Arsenault]

Great playing !!!!

[James B]

Nice job, Trem. Double stop harmonies always sound great.

James

[John H]

Trem
Interesting video-nice collaboration with yourself. Cool tone. I love the double stop vibe and now you are ready for some serious rockabilly.

JH

[Guido]

Very nice combination of bass and guitar playing with an interesting and original rhythm, syncopated here and there. And your double stops in different combinations sound very nice!

Guido

[Michael L]

Hi Tremelow, for me, double-stops are a great way to bring out the scale on the fretboard. Moving between the major and minor forms needs a lot of focus. You created a melodic tune out of this one. I like where it was going and it was a fun listen.

[Mike W]

Doublestops give so much extra depth, as you demonstrated so well here. Well done.

[Werner]

You master that double stop thing just great. I get a lot of ideas from this one. Thank you.

Bis bald mal mit vielen Grüßen

Werner

[Michael K]

I’m going to tell you straight up, it does need more work rhythm wise, but I’ll bet you knew that already. The actual composition is great, and you created a nice harmonized melody.

[Paul S.]

I’m a big double-stop fan, too.
You gave us a little smorgasbord of double-stop choices and carried the melody beautifully with all of them. I notice you were doing some hybrid picking, there, too, which enhances the double-stop’s utility. Well done.

[Laurel C]

Just the creativity of using driving double stops major and minor gives this a lot of merit. Some cool stuff in there for take-aways, but I was really impressed with your guitar work at the 1.35min onwards, that was special and the notes spot on.

[Alan L]

Cool jam band vibe to this. I like how you establish an idea, then develop it with variations

[Mark T]

Yes, Trem, double-stops are always a winner in my books – Nice submission. – Mark 👍🎶😎

[sunjamr]

Wow, that’s a lot of harmonized notes happening there, Trem! I think a lot of us are sort of waking up to the idea of using them more often. It sure adds another dimension to any solo. Well played!

Sunjamr Steve

[JoLa]

Great choice, Kevin, I love the double stops, too! This sounded pretty good already and I’m sure it was a good practice for both rhythm and solo. Oh, AND the bass! Don’t feel bad about the recording, that’s how I feel about all my recordings if I listen to them after a while. I guess that means progress, right? 😉

🎸JoLa

[Manfred M]

What a great idea to limit yourself to something as euphonious as double stops in this Limitation Challenge, Kevin. And you show here how much more essence they have. Particularly interesting at the beginning: first your melody line in single notes, then as double stops. Here it becomes clear how much better it sounds.

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom.
The next Meetup will take place on May 31

There will be a detailed announcement here in the forum in the next days..

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Serena C]

Great use of double stops Trem in a nice composition, well done!

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)

[Alan O]

Great idea to limit yourself to double stops! Great sounding piece and nice tone you are getting on your guitar.

Alan

[Andy N]

Great playing. Double stops can add such a rich palette of colour and you gave us a complete demonstration there of why we should all try and add them to our repertoire. Taking a theme and developing it as you moved through the harmonised options really brought home the impact they can have.
Loving that edge of breakup tone you’ve got dialled in there too 👍

[Juxi]

I liked it, Kevin. Great idea to point out the differences in sound between double stops and single notes.
Danke auch für die aufbauenden Worte! Sie haben geholfen! 👍🏽👋🏽

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[Mike D]

Short but sweet…. nice vibrato and slides with the double stops!

Live on planet Earth ? You got the blues.

[Author]

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