December 2023 Challenge Response – Bruce D.

[Bruce D]

Here it is, the end of December 2023, and time for the December challenge, but first,
Happy new year, Active Melodians!

This month’s challenge is to pick a tune that you can play on the spot, if somebody just hands you a guitar and says take it away. I had a few in mind, none of which I can play mistake free. But I came up with this BB King solo, which I learned from a very old BB interview years ago. I think it was even before you tube. The interviewer just said to BB, ‘play us something’.
Needless to say, BB didn’t freeze up (that’s what playing out 300+ times a year gets you).
So here’s this month’s challenge, hope you like it – and hey, added bonus, a special new year’s appearance from Allyn . . .

Tech notes: I only own 2 pedals, an EP-Booster which hardly gets any use, and one I picked up last year. It’s called the Jr. Barnyard, named after Junior Bernard, Bob Wills’s guitar player. Its circuitry mimics a pre World War II octal tube pre amp, for instance by Gibson (“octal” – 8 pins in the base of the tube). There’s a certain sound from guitar players in that era, that I’m trying to capture. I removed my usual Pocket Pod amp emulator, so no effects, no reverb, no overdrive. This is just the Tele, plugged into the Jr. Barnyard, then into the amp, a Fender Pro Junior IV tube amp, about the simplest amp you can get. It has 2 knobs, Volume and Tone. I don’t know if I achieved 40’s tone here, but always trying.

Enough tech talk. All the best in 2024!
Here ya go, and happy new year . . .

Just focus on the notes you DID get right . . . Frank Vignola

[Alan L]

Nice submission Bruce, feeling the BB vibes! 😎 You did those deep/long bends well, and I especially liked the up tempo bit. Cheers! 🙂

[Michael L]

Hi Bruce, we see you playing against a backing track so often, it was a nice change of pace to have the smooth solo blues from you. Lot’s of feel, had a “smokey room” vibe. I enjoyed it. Happy new year to you!

[Garry]

Hey Bruce! What a great choice! BB King! And you play ‘him’ so well. Very tasty performance and if you played that in a Smokey Bar there would be much applause! HNY to you and your wife! All the best! 😎🎸😎

[AndréM]

Excellent blues solo.Great playing.
Well done, sounds like BB.

AndréM

AndréM

[Catherine Arsenault]

Really beautiful licks well played Happy New year to the both of you 😊🇨🇦

[Mike W]

As usual a very informative and very musical submission, Bruce. Great picking and the change in tempo made it all the more interesting.

[Richard G]

Well ‘play us a tune’ you certainly did Bruce and very enjoyable it was too. Many thanks for your very entertaining challenges over the last 12 months and a Happy and Healthy New Year to you and Allyn.

Richard

[Lights]

Very sophisticated noodling, Bruce! Of course I felt BBs vibe in it, probably ‘cos you are just such a good player.
Lights.

[James B]

Nice solo blues jam, Bruce. Happy New Year to you and Allyn.

James

[Vincent K]

Happy new year Bruce

Thanks for sharing the solos

Very BB-isch

🎸 Vincent 🎶 🇳🇱

[Manfred M]

You really don‘t need no jam track, Bruce. Great blues jam with yourself. Authentic BB Vibe. I enjoyed it. Happy new year to you and your wife!

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup will be on February 28, 2026

For more information click here

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Andre H]

What an awesome contribution by your wife. Thanks for sharing.

[Bill]

Love the tasty BB licks Bruce. I’ve king suspected we are musical kindred spirits, but seeing the JR Barnyard pedal confirms it; I use it often on my small pedal board! Happy New Year Pal.

[JoLa]

Learned from the Master himself! Impressive and very well played, unmistakeable BB!

You and Allyn are a fun duo 🙂 Best wishes for the New Year! 🎉🎉🎉

🎸JoLa

[John H]

Really great stuff Bruce. I love your bluesy stand alone play, anecdotes and of course Allyn. Thanks for the fantastic guitar memories in 2023. Be well.

John

[Denise]

Very nice BB Blues jam and improv! You really got that BB vibe on your guitar. Such tasty licks and 9 and diminished chords. Love the straight tone.
Finally I got to see again your lovely wife Allyn😇. She loves your music, listening “over and over again” 😂.
Happy and healthy new year to you both🥂🌞.

More Blues!

[Don Patton jr]

Hi Bruce !
Excellent tone on your guitar, pedal and tube amp! So clear and smooth ! Great playing in the style of BB King 👑…nice !
Have a great 2024 🎈🎶🙂

Don P

[Anonymous]

Very nice video Bruce. Your laid back style is always a treat to watch/listen to. I love the technical explanation, very instructive. HNY to you and Allyn.

Cheers,

Marc

[Martin W]

Hey Bruce that’s some super smooth vintage sounding blues , the amp and pedal are a fine combination you dialled in a great tone .
Happy new year to you both .

Martin

[Juxi]

That was a nice surprise to see and hear from Allyn! I think I saw her before in one of your submissions, Bruce. Please give her my greetings and the best wishes for a happy new year.
@Allyn: we enjoy playing music and interacting with Bruce very much, too! 😊 he plays a very important role in our little community, so thanks for supporting him! 👋🏽

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[Pap]

Hey Bruce, great to see your post here with some BB King sound and your wonderful wife Allyn. I love your attention to detail in your playing and description of your equipment. Happy New Year! Cheers. Pap

[Mark T]

First off, cheers and best wishes to Allyn! Secondly, this was one fine performance, Bruce – starting off chillin’ and noodlin’ then getting funky before chillin’ again, lovely 👍🎶😎

[Bob Utberg]

Like Garry said, “Perfect for a smokey bar lounge scene!” The peeps would dance the night away to your tasty licks my friend! I love how your PERFECTLY copy BB’s first finger vibrato (i.e. @ 5:29 into the vid)! Oh, and keep that awesome sidekick Allyn arand ‘n @!!! Does she have Yinzer Blood in her??? Loved the well wishes from you and Allyn! Thank you Bruce. You are a BLAST to have on the Forum.

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Tom D]

Enjoyed your tech talk, BB King lead rendition, and Allyn’s fun message! Great that you both begin with an expression of gratitude for the AM community. And conclude with a GREAT BB blues lead and chord expression. All the best to you both in 2024! Cheers, Tom

[Andy N]

Happy New Year to you both as well. May 2025 bring many more musical highs. I see Allyn was well primed with that chilled glass ready for that classic, laid back BB blues vibe, felt like sneaking a cheeky glass myself too 🍷.

[JoeD1]

That is some impressive playing Bruce…it had BB King written all over it! Love the tone of the pedal and amp 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

[Laurel C]

Dialing in BB on the spot, impressive work. Thank-you Bruce for your contributions in ‘23, always instructive, entertaining and great playing. Thanks to Allyn, your cheerleader and ours for her fun message. All the best to you both and a prosperous New Year.

[Don D.]

Those were tasty licks. That’s a great looking, great sounding Tele! Happy New Year!

Don D.

[Author]

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