April 2026 Challenge Response – Mark T

[Mark T]

Dear AMers – as I wrote in Steve’s (Sunjamr) “Thinking about a hook?” post: Like many others, I initially struggled with this Challenge. I thought I’d treat the Hook like a Chorus without words 🫤🤔. However, everything I came up with was dull and not very melodic. I decided to abandon this approach and just see what came out of noodling around (or ‘faffing about’ as my wife calls it 🤣🤣), and this is when I found myself repeating the phrase that I’m using as the “Hook” here (it’s only 17 seconds 👌😁).

I then tried to be too clever with the melody – inserting far too many “twiddly bits” 🤣🤣! Brian came to my rescue with EP634, at just the right time 👏👏. This addressed, “Vocal Guitar Phrasing; How to play it like you would sing it.” I calmed down 😂😂🤓🤓 and let the notes breathe 👍👍

My wife said it reminded her of a Sparkling Waterfall, so I’ve called it: Waterfall Blues
And the Scale is: G Dorian

I hope you like my performance🤞🤞! As always, I look forward to hearing all your submissions, should be a good’n 😁😁

[sunjamr]

Nice job, Mark. I get the hook part, which sounds very jazz-ish to my ears. Your wife was right, it sounds very tinkly, like a waterfall.

Sunjamr Steve

[Laurel C]

That does sound like a waterfall. Very nice. It will be Interesting to see how this one evolves if we have to incorporate the hook into a full arrangement for the next challenge .

[charjo]

Mark, you went above and beyond the assignment. I do love the motif, however, you had me at 17 seconds😉.
John

[Andy N]

Really good Mark. That’s an elegant and jazzy theme you’ve come up with. It really caught the ear just like a hook should and I was already anticipating its return after the verse. Like the diminished sound you had in there too in the verse it added to that gentle jazz element.

[Manfred M]

I hear the hook out of this, Mark. And it works so good in this jazzy tune brought to us by The Four Fabulous Marks. Great performance!

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup will be July
There will be a detailed announcement here in the forum
I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Martin W]

Subtle and sweet sounding with a delicate sprinkling of jazz , a perfect foundation to develop further.

Martin

[sciencefiction]

Twinkly, sparkly hook notes, Mark. Enjoyed!
Larry

[Michael L]

Very jazzy arrangement Mark. Smooth and melodic. A lot of work putting those parts together! Well done!

[AndréM]

Excellent Mark, I can hear the hook, very nice.
Mellow and relaxing.
Man I struggled with this one too.
I just laid down the solos between the hooks late last night.
Still working on it this morning.
Think it will be rdy late today.

AndréM

AndréM

[Alan L]

Some really cool harmonies in there. Fresh and original. Well done!

[JoeD1]

Totally recognizable hook and what a presentation 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

[Pap]

Really nice smooth jazz comp. Great job and extra credit:) Pap

[John H]

Mark
Engaging chord progression… you sure play the bass well…. very creative, melodica and uplifting. You hooked me!!

PS I love that ES-335

John

[Bill]

Very unique piece of music Mark! A pleasant and warm Sunny day vibe. Nice job playing all the parts!

[Mark T]

An apology:-

I very rarely revisit Brian’s Challenge post after he’s submitted it. But having looked at it again just now, it seems I’m not the only one who misunderstood the challenge 🤔🤔

I thought it was just the Hook that had to be 30sec max. Ho humm – my bad 🙁🙁!

Brian did come back and clarify: “the entire thing you submit should be short, no more than 30 seconds.”

However, I didn’t see this clarification.

My only saving grace is that my submission starts with the Hook, and that does last for only 17 seconds – so, if you don’t want to listen for the rest of the 2 mins 20 secs, then you can exit there 🫤🫤 – to paraphrase Led Zeppelin, “The Hook Remains The Same” 😂😂

Sorry 🙁🙁

[Guido]

Enjoyed very much your composition, Mark! It really doesn’t matter if it’s longer than 30 secs, because is a brilliant piece of music, very original and catchy, and it contains at least one hook and is enjoyable to listen to!

Guido

[Author]

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