Home › Forums › Showcase Your Playing › Billy's A.M. July Open Challenge..
- This topic has 38 replies, 22 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 7 months ago by Billy.
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July 29, 2016 at 3:08 pm #46483
Well then, here we are at the end of the month. Yes I know we have an extra week but this here tune was/is starting to take over my life and I have to get it out now.
Not a perfect recording/attempt by any means, I do have to say that I have personally achieved a lot of goals while doing this challenge..
I fought through my poor attention span, I learned how to break down the lesson in to digestible parts and ignore nearly all of the talking(lool).
I suffered the tick, tock, ticking of a blasted metronome to work on my timing..
The biggest and most satisfying of all was I played along to a backing track..yay, if I have to take one thing away from this challenge then it has to be that..
Anyway, here it is in all its naked finger stumbling glory…..
Oh and Happy Birthday Brian...Billy..
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July 29, 2016 at 4:00 pm #46485
WWell done Billy, I love it and you really nailed it. But what I love most is the journey you’ve been on this last month. I haven’t always responded but I have followed you through all your trials and it’s been an inspiration for me. You’re well on the road now. Well done
Martyn -
July 29, 2016 at 4:59 pm #46490
WWell done Billy, I love it and you really nailed it. But what I love most is the journey you’ve been on this last month. I haven’t always responded but I have followed you through all your trials and it’s been an inspiration for me. You’re well on the road now. Well done
MartynKind words indeed Martyn and I thank you for them. It has been something of a slog, you guys with your words of encouragement have pushed me along and have been my inspiration …
..Billy..
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July 29, 2016 at 6:09 pm #46494
Billy, a very big congratulations to you. It is a huge step forward to play in time with a backing track. Even if you stumbled, you got right back into the groove. This is the first step in actually being able to play with other people. Your hard work really payed off; well done.
John -
July 29, 2016 at 6:12 pm #46495
Hi Billy, nicely done. I have picked the same lesson as a challenge. Hopefully I can do it similar justice. I really enjoyed this piece, you’ve done a great job!,
Rob -
July 29, 2016 at 8:15 pm #46507
Sounds very pleasant..well done for such a short time practicing! You keep at,, what I know is when you come back to this is time and do it again you will see how much easier it is for ALL these lessons.. Why am I so sure? Because this site provides everything needed next to a personal guitar instructor to get these lessons down.. Bryce mentioned most recently how easy these lessons are but timing is so important ( site provides all this timing in soundslice/jamtrack/video demos in hd /Brian himself explaining it so well..there is no need to rush.relax and just keep practicing! enjoy!
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July 30, 2016 at 3:05 am #46517
@ Charjo, Thanks John. my main goal at the end of this challenge was for me to be playing with the backing track, which I feel that I succeeded in doing, O.K.,I still haven’t figure out how to count myself in at the start of the BT but I proved to myself that I could listen and pick up the tune on the correct note.
@Kubrider, Thanks Rob, very kind words. I am glad someone else is doing Gypsy as their challenge piece and I am sure you will do it justice …
@Sunburst, Thanks John. The thing I like about A.M. or I should say one of the things I like about A.M. is all the varying ability on this forum and each and every one is there to give a pat on the back. Of course you are correct,Brian does indeed supply everything needed to succeed in these lessons, he would be a poor teacher/instructor if he didn’t do.
Right now, it is 9 a.m. here on a Saturday morning and i am about to head out to work for the day.
I am looking forward to the next challenge in which I gets to play with electricity… I have already downloaded part 1 and BT, installed them to my Kindle to study when work is slow...Billy..
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July 30, 2016 at 11:06 am #46532
Nicely done. Very good piece of music played pretty well. Playing with a backing track is still a big challenge for me. You did well.
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July 30, 2016 at 12:50 pm #46533
Hi Billy that was Excellent!!keep up your great work
Barry -
July 30, 2016 at 2:16 pm #46534
Nicely done. Very good piece of music played pretty well. Playing with a backing track is still a big challenge for me. You did well.
Thanks Richard, I got really up tight about the backing track thing. Its a strange sensation when you get lost in it though it is almost as if you get to dance with your guitar, I know, sounds daft but that is what it is like..hahahaha that just reads like I am bloody mental hahahaha
Hi Billy that was Excellent!!keep up your great work
BarryThanks Barry, means a lot when hard work is appreciated …
..Billy..
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July 31, 2016 at 5:59 am #46598
Billy, that was great!
I know the piece very well, and like it very much.
First of all, I thought it is too boring for me. When I played it, I noticed how difficult it is to slow to play and to play in addition with the jam track. This is not easy. You put yourself to the task, and it’s great. Your Timing was not always so, as it should be. From time to time is always better.
Well done.Wilfried
Play guitar just like you live; don't get bogged down in theory, it's just a tool without feeling.
Wilfried
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July 31, 2016 at 6:10 am #46599
Billy, that was great!
I know the piece very well, and like it very much.
First of all, I thought it is too boring for me. When I played it, I noticed how difficult it is to slow to play and to play in addition with the jam track. This is not easy. You put yourself to the task, and it’s great. Your Timing was not always so, as it should be. From time to time is always better.
Well done.Wilfried
Thank you for that Wilfried, Yes you are correct that my timing as yet is not perfect, but everything as you will agree is a work in progress and hopefully I can only get better with time and effort…
..Billy..
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July 31, 2016 at 8:10 am #46616
Billy, you are sounding great! your playing has really come a long way, all your hard work is paying off, keep it up my friend.
Scott
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July 31, 2016 at 10:39 am #46632
Billy, you are sounding great! your playing has really come a long way, all your hard work is paying off, keep it up my friend.
Scott
Thanks Scott, I didn’t realise when I started out learning guitar that it would be so labour intense. It is a great feeling though when I achieve the tiniest bit more than I did yesterday and it makes me kind of anxious to find what advancement tomorrow might bring..
..Billy..
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July 31, 2016 at 1:15 pm #46642
That was pretty good, Billy! Personally I find acoustic a bit tougher to play than electric and hearing strong acoustic performances like this make me a little envious. I thought your timing was pretty good, as well. Looking forward to hearing your next challenge next month!
Mark
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July 31, 2016 at 3:40 pm #46659
That was pretty good, Billy! Personally I find acoustic a bit tougher to play than electric and hearing strong acoustic performances like this make me a little envious. I thought your timing was pretty good, as well. Looking forward to hearing your next challenge next month!
Mark
Thanks Mark, I’m looking forward to tackling the August challenge. So far the only time I wave wandered in to electric guitar territory was when I attempted the string bending exercise lesson.
I have 3 electric guitars sitting here in their cases and once I find out how to set my amp to a blues sort of sound I will make my mind up which guitar to use, I have 2 Epiphones ( a les paul special, a SG) and a Vintage( a strat shaped guitar), not that any of that will make a hape worth of difference if I don’t put the practise in.. But that can wait until tomorrow…..Billy..
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August 1, 2016 at 1:10 pm #46761
Hi Billy,
I enjoyed this acoustic performance a lot. Only at the very end you did seem to loose it a bit, but the first 95% made a huge impression. Timing was fine, tone was really nice and your own comments made me laugh on top of these!
Keep up this fine work.
Regards,
PatrickPatrick
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August 1, 2016 at 1:40 pm #46764
Great playing, Billy. I see from your replys that you are hooked on the guitar. What more could one ask for?
It is man (or woman) against guitar. Game on!
SF -
August 1, 2016 at 3:03 pm #46780
Hi Billy,
I enjoyed this acoustic performance a lot. Only at the very end you did seem to loose it a bit, but the first 95% made a huge impression. Timing was fine, tone was really nice and your own comments made me laugh on top of these!
Keep up this fine work.
Regards,
PatrickThanks Patrick
hahaha Yes my counting in and the dee dee de dum, I’m working on the thought that if I don’t have the tune in my head then I cant have the tune played by my fingers and if my fingers cant follow my count then they cant play the tune in time, it is all about motion and transferance, no?.
Something distracted me on the last bit of playing, I’m not sure if it was an outside noise or I listened to the backing track but whatever it was it threw me enough that I couldn’t catch up, but I hit my set goals and at my level of playing it is a massive self satisfaction..
Edit, I have just listened to my track. looks like I hit the wrong string and thats what threw me..Great playing, Billy. I see from your replys that you are hooked on the guitar. What more could one ask for?
It is man (or woman) against guitar. Game on!
SFThanks SF, It is certainly “Game On” except for one little stumbling block. I honestly don’t know which style of music I want to play. I have to admit that I like the slow ballad or slow blues even the slow jazz types and I think until i make my mind up that this is holding me back some..
Billy
..Billy..
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August 1, 2016 at 8:33 pm #46819
Billy – Congrats, you did it! Well done, and I look forward to future posts from you.
Gary -
August 2, 2016 at 1:32 am #46846
Billy – Congrats, you did it! Well done, and I look forward to future posts from you.
GaryThanks Gary, fun part is. I get to do it all again with the August challenge…hahahaha
..Billy..
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August 2, 2016 at 6:37 pm #46945
Hey Billy that was good. You were able to play along with the backing track which is a big step to take. Congrats.
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August 4, 2016 at 5:53 pm #47175
Hey Billy that was good. You were able to play along with the backing track which is a big step to take. Congrats.
Cheers Jim,
As you know i have been following your page on soundcloud. Very impressive stuff from yourself....Billy..
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August 5, 2016 at 10:56 am #47301
Your timing was great billyM, keep up the good work, you’ll surprise yourself in the not too distant future!
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August 5, 2016 at 11:18 am #47303
Your timing was great billyM, keep up the good work, you’ll surprise yourself in the not too distant future!
Thanks Warren, Everyone keeps telling me that one day it will all come together, The “not too distant future” sounds loads better…hahahaha
..Billy..
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August 5, 2016 at 5:52 pm #47412
Billy
Great job on this Billy!! You have made so much progress lately. Congratulations!
Very well done.
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August 6, 2016 at 1:23 am #47465
Billy
Great job on this Billy!! You have made so much progress lately. Congratulations!
Very well done.
Cheers, DebraThank you Debra,
As I have said so many times before during this challenge, I really do need to be upping my game as each and everyone of you have set the bar high.Billy
..Billy..
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August 6, 2016 at 2:10 am #47471
HI Billy that was awesome!! sounded really great keep up the hard work and effort you put into it …
Regards johnny
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August 6, 2016 at 3:03 am #47487
HI Billy that was awesome!! sounded really great keep up the hard work and effort you put into it …
Regards johnny
Thanks Johnny, If there is one thing that I need to take away from this challenge then it is the fact that I need to be putting in a more regimented and self disciplined practise schedule, Time to get out my copy of “First learn to practise”and see just where I can go from here..
Billy..Billy..
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August 7, 2016 at 5:58 pm #47862
Billy you owned that piece!!! That was great. You really came through with flying colors on this challenge. Congratulations buddy! Keep up the good work!
-Bryce
Anchorage, Alaska -
August 7, 2016 at 6:21 pm #47866
Billy you owned that piece!!! That was great. You really came through with flying colors on this challenge. Congratulations buddy! Keep up the good work!
Thanks Bryce,
I have clicked the metronome to 4/4, set the bpm to 70 and started to study for my next self challenge and goals...Billy..
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August 7, 2016 at 9:46 pm #47950
Thank you Billy! COngrats on making it through the with jam track. Your timing is fantastic and you played it with ease. Great tone, string bends, etc. Well done. I like the commentary and I can feel your pain. You should my commentary that I edit out! Thank you for sharing.
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August 8, 2016 at 3:45 am #48002
Thank you Billy! COngrats on making it through the with jam track. Your timing is fantastic and you played it with ease. Great tone, string bends, etc. Well done. I like the commentary and I can feel your pain. You should my commentary that I edit out! Thank you for sharing.
You are more than welcome Brian, thank you for taking the time out to reply to my thread. I would bet that there must be a whole shed load of stuff that ends up on the cutting room floor.
btw can I have the “Your timing is fantastic” as a certificate to hang on the room wall?…hahaha
..Billy..
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August 9, 2016 at 7:22 am #48141
Hey Billy,
Well worked, well played and very well done to you. This is a great step forward and you must feel very pleased and happy with your performance; it’s really rewarding to enjoy success!
The benchmark just got notched up several levels and keep up the stellar work; there’s that new horizon and I look forward to your posts.
Cheers Bri -
August 9, 2016 at 7:40 am #48142
Hey Billy,
Well worked, well played and very well done to you. This is a great step forward and you must feel very pleased and happy with your performance; it’s really rewarding to enjoy success!
The benchmark just got notched up several levels and keep up the stellar work; there’s that new horizon and I look forward to your posts.
Cheers BriThanks Bri, I am aiming for onwards and upwards with my playing. Ideally I want to be at a level where I can play a piece with no mistakes and with a passion and feel that all show on here with their playing.
As an aside, I do wish Brian would release some part2’s as DVD’s or downloads.
..Billy..
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August 9, 2016 at 5:35 pm #48177
Hi Billy,
I think comment from Brian like that is a ‘certificate’ and well deserved. You put your heart into it and it shows.
John Strat -
August 9, 2016 at 5:44 pm #48178
Hi Billy,
I think comment from Brian like that is a ‘certificate’ and well deserved. You put your heart into it and it shows.
John StratThank you very much John, I am over whelmed by the support everyone on A.M. has shown me.
p.s. ( Do you think if I do a mock up Certificate, that I could get Brian to sign it?)… hahahaha..Billy..
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August 11, 2016 at 4:47 pm #48370
Hey Billy, I know that feeling so well, two minutes into a song, then it collapses and for a moment it feels like it took the rest of the song down with it, but your recording shows otherwise. That sounded excellent when you were locked in. You’ve shown yourself (and us) you can do it, now you just need to play so much you get really familiar with the pieces and comfortable playing them. Before too long, the crashes won’t even be noticeable to others.
Here’s what Duke Ellington had to say about different types of music, not that it will make it any easier to decide what or how you want to play, but it gives me a kick to see him talk like this, thought you might like it too.
There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind …the only yardstick by which the result should be judged is simply that of how it sounds. If it sounds good it’s successful; if it doesn’t it has failed.
He said quite a lot of thoughtful and amusing things, some others are repeated here.
Don D.
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August 12, 2016 at 6:00 pm #48480
Hey Billy, I know that feeling so well, two minutes into a song, then it collapses and for a moment it feels like it took the rest of the song down with it, but your recording shows otherwise. That sounded excellent when you were locked in. You’ve shown yourself (and us) you can do it, now you just need to play so much you get really familiar with the pieces and comfortable playing them. Before too long, the crashes won’t even be noticeable to others.
Here’s what Duke Ellington had to say about different types of music, not that it will make it any easier to decide what or how you want to play, but it gives me a kick to see him talk like this, thought you might like it too.
There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind …the only yardstick by which the result should be judged is simply that of how it sounds. If it sounds good it’s successful; if it doesn’t it has failed.
He said quite a lot of thoughtful and amusing things, some others are repeated here.
Thank you very much for your input Don, I think Mr Ellington knew exactly what he was talking about.
I am practising EP153 and have been for a few days now, I have yet again a lot of goals to hit with this lesson, the main goal being I really do want this one to play without faults. So far I have learned the 3 passes of the 1st part of the lesson and tomorrow I will be making a start on the 2nd part…fingers crossed eh....Billy..
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