April 2026 Challenge Response – Michael L

[Michael L]

Is this a hook? I don’t know.
It is a succinct set of phrases, repetitive melodically and rhythmically, major pentatonic, ear-catchy…

This challenge left me scratching my head. In the end I focused on producing a piece of music that I liked with an easily repeatable main idea. The track is from EP325 – Motown inspired rhythm. I simplified the rhythm from the lesson as it was too busy to put a lead over easily. I kept many of the fills, and even used the second half of the lesson as part of my lead (see the full video for that). So, for me, this challenge was more about learning the rhythm part and combining rhythm and lead effectively. I’ll let you decide if I got a hook in there. I would have loved to have a Tele for this, but you play what you got!

Full Version here

[JoeD1]

I thought it was super Michael!

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

[Tremelow]

Hi Michael, I would say it’s definitely a hook. I listend a couple of times, isolating your playing from the backing track and it’s very catchy. I also sounds to the backing track. Nice rendition!

[Pap]

Very nicely done Michael…you can do a lot with and acoustic. Cheers. Pap

[Richard G]

Nice melodic and memorable runs Michael, definitely worth developing.

Richard

[Michael Krailo]

Was that in Ab major? I could definitely hear the melody that constitutes the hook part of it.

Go slow and practice correct technique, and your abilities will dramatically improve.

[Michael L]

It’s in Bmaj actually. The chords alternate from Bmaj to G#min, then to E and F# (the 4 and the 5)

[Michael Krailo]

Michael L wrote:

It’s in Bmaj actually. The chords alternate from Bmaj to G#min, then to E and F# (the 4 and the 5)

Oh, I see. I made the mistake of looking at the Ab/G# minor which is the relative minor of B. Obvious happy sound.

Go slow and practice correct technique, and your abilities will dramatically improve.

[sunjamr]

To me, the very first lick sounds like a hook, and nicely played as well. Your post and several others have left me feeling like I want to hear the rest of the song.

Sunjamr Steve

[Alan L]

I can definitely hear the Motown vocals in that melody. Really catchy!

[AndréM]

Very nice Michael.

AndréM

AndréM

[Mark T]

That definitely works as a hook for me, Michael – very much a positive and uplifting composition that’s worthy of expanding on. – Mark 👍🎶😎

[Bill]

Well you hooked me Michael, I clicked the link for the full version. Excellent playing and very catchy.
When are you getting a Tele?? 🤔😬

[John H]

Michael
Well done. Uplifting, catchy and melodious. I checked out the full version and love it! Your playing is fluid, clear and spirited. I really enjoy watching/hearing your trajectory as a lead player. Very impressive. I revisited your duet with yourself and Stormy Weather. Man, sounds great. Thanks for the inspiration.

PS I subscribed to your channel 😎👍🤘
John

[charjo]

I think the opening motif and then a repeat of the motif with a slight variation gets us toward a hook. Thanks for demonstrating that, Michael, but I was a little disappointed that my jazz brother didn’t go in the expected direction😉.
John

[sciencefiction]

Sounds great, Michael! Very snappy and melodic. Has almost a surf music vibe to me.
Larry

[Manfred M]

It must be hook, Michael, because it goes on in my mind, after your video has ended. Could be the beginning of a verse of a wonderful song.

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

[Andy N]

That had such a catchy uplifting sound to it that i wanted to hear more and checked out the full version. I was definitely waiting for you to break into the intro theme at the end so it did its job of hooking me in. I reckon I could have heard it repeated somewhere in the middle to, maybe as one pass and then more lead lines.
Immaculate playing by way too!

[Gary W]

Nicely done Michael, I think the hook, for me, was embedded in that first phrase which you modified a little second time through. I like it, well played.

Gary

[Raffaele S]

You sure did it…and you did it very well, too. Especially good at building it all in just a few seconds

[Laurel C]

Very refreshing to hear the Motown sound and yes to being a hook. I was ready for it to repeat again after you finished. There is a song ready for this. Good one, Michael.

[Carpa]

Very beautiful entry, played with great feeling, I enjoyed it.

[JoLa]

Loved it, Michael! You took that Motown feel and did your own thing with it, I love the sound of your Taylor playing the lead! The full version was great, too – it looks like you didn’t take the easy way out of this challenge and did the whole full-sized composition as well. The hook, to me, was definitely in the opening phrase which you repeated twice to solidify it in my ear 😉

P.S, Maybe you should visit The Starving Musician, Michael? I’m pretty sure they had some teles there 😉 😉

🎸JoLa

[Dieter]

Fine rocky/jazzy performance.

Dieter

[Martin W]

I agree with the above comments , the opening lines are the hook to my ear , very catchy and up beat , cool that you went the full distance and built into a composition, I think the satisfying smile at around the 1.00 mark said it all .
It really does work well .

Martin

[snakechisler]

That worked well the guitar sound came out crisp and detailed
quite hookey, well done

[Author]

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