August Challenge EP223 response Billy

[Billy]

Well, here we are and this weekend is D’day for the August challenge. personally I found this backing track to be something of a pig to get in to.
I will apologise for submitting early, I look after an elderly relative who will be going through some surgery over the next few days and I will be pre-occupied by that..
I am not sure if I succeeded in the main goal which was to use maj/min scales, I did however (badly) improvise just over 3 mins of a response.

So, here it is in all its naked glory and i hope it meets some part of the challenge criteria….Oh yeah, I did slow this down to 95bpm.

..Billy..

[Tim Lee]

Hi Billy,
Congrats on even attempting this bear! The backing track needs to be a little lower in volume I think so your lead can be heard more clearly. Don’t want all those notes to go unheard….I think some parts of your improv were in the right scale maybe some others were not. Anyway, great job on a real toughie of a lesson!
Tim

[Billy]

Hey Tim. I’m afraid it is what it is, as you say it is “a bear” of a lesson but it has pushed me over that there improvisation line/hurdle and it shows where my base line is to myself and all you Am’rs. “I am a work in progress” Tim me old son..

..Billy..

[sunjamr]

Nice job, Billy. To me, it sounded a lot better when you moved into the major pentatonic scale, and I’ve said that all along. But you had a good melodic theme going and stayed true to the mission. Good luck with your elderly relative’s surgery. Maybe you should take your guitar along to the hospital…

Sunjamr Steve

[Anonymous]

Hey Billy I think that sounded great. You have a cool melodic improvisation that just hooks the listener along from the start. Nicely done.
Good luck with your relatives on the weekend.

[ranja]

Great job, Billy!
You put a country feel into this one.
Ron

[sunburst]

Great going Billy, in key the right scales even very good feel with the relaxed slow tempo version which I might add is the preferred choice for any level (blues style) I really wish you the best with health and peace with your closest too. I think of it everyday with my folks and family..great rendition, probably one of your best if I can recall!

[Bob S]

Billy,

Really enjoyed that. You had some very melodic lines, with a nice relaxed phrasing. Can’t really say anything about choice of scale. Same three chords as the blues, so either scale should work.

Hope all goes well with your relative’s surgery.

Bob

[sunburst]

ranja wrote:

Great job, Billy!
You put a country feel into this one.
Ron

Actually ,I heard more slow blues from Billy ..although this lesson at top tempo is likely more suited for country with all the double stops and triads.. the most recent lesson would actually work with 223,, anybody else think so let me know ,, think I’ll take the time to fuse both 272 and 223 lessons for this August challenge..not much discussion about this August challenge,, heck maybe this Friday a new lesson might work even better for this 223 jamtrack improvisation challenge! Regardless, having fun and learning whatever Brian teaches here!

[Aussie Rick]

Well done Billy. This backing track is a tough one to play lead over. I like the way you gave your lead, structure and direction, by repeating a familiar motif that worked well with the backing. Good show mate.
Rick

[Billy]

Thank you all for taking the time to listen and comment, I only had 2 options for this month, “something or nothing” though in not sure which of the two I posted hahahaha.
Positive comments are worth their weight in gold.
Thank you too for the well wishes for my old mom.

..Billy..

[JoLa]

Billy,
I always enjoy reading your posts and your “wicked” sense of humor, haha! Now, I also enjoyed your improvisation, especially its laid back tempo. I don’t know enough to tell what scales you played or didn’t play but the music you made sounded beautiful to me.
Wishing your Mom all the best and speedy recovery.

🎸JoLa

[Billy]

Thank you very much for the comments and well wishes Jola.
I am loo8ng forward to catching up with every ones submissions in a couple of days time.

..Billy..

[Richard G]

Great post Billy, you stuck your neck out first on this challenge and you did extremely well. I much preferred your slowed down version, nicely done. All the best for the next few days.

Richard

[Martyn in France]

Well done Billy, a major step forward so congratulations.
Martyn

[James B]

You did good Billy, improv is hard! I’ve played that backing track so many times! I never want to hear it again after this challenge.

James

[Scott M]

Well done developing your improv skills Billy! Great bends and slides put together for some tasty phrases all delivered with feel. Hope all goes for your Mum.

Scott

[WBlues]

Billy, it’s not high enough to have someone at your side whom you trust. Your relative may be happy to have you.
You are a good guy.
You have mastered the task great. To reduce the tempo is fully okay. You play a long time and served the bakingtrack well. It fit together pretty well. Congratulations, well done and all the best for the weekend.
Wilfried

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

Wilfried

[Duffy P]

I think you did quite well on this, and it sounded like you were getting more and more comfortable.

I agree that the track is hard. The bounce rhythm is relentless and lacks variation. And there is no preexisting melody to guide you through the improv. Makes it tough. Holding to a couple of set phrases and their variations to give structure was a good choice.

And your playing sounds much improved. Good job.

[Billy]

Good morning all, thanks once again for taking time to listen and comment on my challenge response, I have listened to Sunburst and Duffy’s responses and how the heck they managed to play 2 variations has me gobsmacked,
Just a wee update on me auld ma, mom went through her op yesterday and hopefully she will get home today, at 89 she is a tough old bird, a different tougher generation eh.
Thanks again everyone.

..Billy..

[Tremelow]

Originally, I didn’t want to listen to any submissions for this month‘s challenge so I wouldn’t get influenced, but here I couldn’t resist. And what can I say, I think you‘ve done a great job, Billy. Respect for taking that bull by its horns. Your playing is spot on. You played all the right notes with feeling and beautiful, creative phrasing and without any interruptions for a full 3 minutes. Quite remarkable altogether. Lastly, I liked the tone of your guitar.
I am also glad to hear that the surgery went well with your mom. I wish her a speedy recovery!

[Billy]

Thank you very much for the well wishes, I have taken today off work “just in case”.
I hung off listening to other challenge responses too, and it was difficult to do when John(Sunburst) had submitted his response more than a week early, I am glad I did because John, Duffy and I have submitted responses that sound nothing like each others.
Hopefully I can get time to pop back and listen to more “Responses” over the weekend, I am lost here sitting around the house when I should be at work..hahaha

..Billy..

[Lights]

Great playing and cool impros too, Billy!
Lights.

[David B]

Hi Billy.

I had problems also to get into this one… You make a good job (tempo is difficult playing here), I would also suggest to reduce the volume of back track in this one.

regards
Daiv.

[bwade913]

Good one Billy! Some really sweet melodies, bends and interesting phrasing.

[sciencefiction]

Nice playing, Billy. Kept it flowing along the whole way through.
Larry

[Billy]

Thank you gentlemen, I am trying to catch up with all the challenge responses, At work right now but hope to listen to everyone’s postings at some point today..

..Billy..

[smilefred]

In my opinion it sounds great! I enjoyed your melodic lines
Wish you all the best for your elderly relative surgery
Ale

[cloughie]

Well done Billy! I agree the backing track presented its challenges but you found a way to make it sound melodic and smooth.

I never thought of slowing it down so thanks for planting that idea in my small brain.

Brian

Be kind to yourself (especially when you're trying to play this instrument!)
Brian Clough

“Got a lotta sinful ideas but they seem kinda sensible” Jim Casy the ex-preacher in The Grapes Of Wrath

[Peter A]

Well done, Billy, good to see you posting again. You were able to use the slow version of the backing track nicely, I couldn’t get that one going in my head.
Hope to see a video post from you soon 😉
Cheers, Peter

[Billy]

Hi Guys, thanks very much for taking time to watch and critique, Video isnt going to happen any time soon, I tried it once and it made my eye water..hahahaha
Thank you also for the surgery well wishes, I will report back on that a.s.a.p.( it really isnt a word).

..Billy..

[Don D.]

Hey Billy, you put the thought and time into making a nice musical statement. At about 2 minutes in, where you went from a couple repetitions on one of the high strings to a slide and a phrase on the lower strings, it sounded like a conversation. This is one to try out on your passengers.

Don D.

[Brian]

Hey Billy, I really enjoyed the slowed down version here. Nice and laid back and a nice break from the faster tempo versions. Your playing was very smooth and easy to listen to. Nice job!

[Billy]

Thank you both very much, positive feed back is always a great bonus.

..Billy..

[Paddy C]

Hey Billy I’m only hearing your submission now as I was so busy with work,sounds great to me man looks like you finally figured this guitar ting out!! Lol,well done Billy,hope all is well wiv you mom also

[Billy]

Thanks for taking the time to catch up Paddy, The Duchess is recovering well thanks.
won’t be long til she is back to her old self, also it won’t be long til her birthday so we are hoping to make 89 something special for her..
Chèers kiddo.

..Billy..

[Author]

Posts