December 2025 Challenge Response

[David H]

Well you can’t go wrong with a slow 1,4,5 blues backing track from Quist. This was from EP600. I made a decision at the beginning not to listen to what Brian had done as I was curious what I would come up without being influenced. Mine turned out fine (IMHO LOL) but I must say his was really really good.

Looking forward to another year with Brian and all of you.

Thanks for stopping by and listening.

Collings 290 straight into a Fender Super Reverb Reissue.

[Alan L]

Good stuff. Love the harmonized runs towards the end. That’s a great lesson.

[James B]

Nice take on this track, David. Especially since you came up with it yourself. Very melodic and a pleasure to listen to.

James

[JoeD1]

That sounds great David. It sounds like it could be the score for a movie.

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

[Michael L]

Really nice and in the pocket playing David. Melodic and enjoyable!

[AndréM]

Nice improv.
Great playing.

AndréM

AndréM

[Dieter]

Very nice playing.

Dieter

[Manfred M]

I agree with you, David, this turned out really well. You really got into the track and embellished it with your musical ideas. Very well done!

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup will be at the beginning of next year 2026

A detailed announcement will be posted here in the forum in good time.

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Catherine Arsenault]

Very nice David really nice melodic ideas you got going!!! and love that guitar!!

[sciencefiction]

Great take on EP600, David! Bluesy and mellow sounding, with some sadness added. Totally different from Brian’s version. Well-played and all your own. Enjoyed.
Larry

[Paul S.]

The whole idea of using a backing track is to create an environment for your creativity, so not listening to Brian’s interpretation is not only forgivable, but commendable. Your version was both tasteful and inventive. Brian’s I would consider aspirational.
(Also I didn’t know Collings made electric guitars. I lust after one of their acoustics, though.)

[Martin W]

That’s some tasteful improv there David , good idea not listening to the original and letting your creativity take hold .
Love the run starting at 0.14 sounds great .

Martin

[Laurel C]

Good approach to take David without influence. Completely your own creative result, with your melodic runs and ambience. It does have an effect like a movie score where it takes you on this journey.

[Mark T]

I agree, David, that it often helps not to listen to Brian’s track, as it then frees your fingers. You did a wonderful job with this one – some lovely clean picking, really enjoyable – Mark 👍🎶😎

[Mike W]

Lovely composition David and played with a great tone. I agree that it could have been a film score. I also agree that if you’re doing your own thing it’s better not to listen to anyone else’s version. That’s why I never listen to the other submissions before I post my own (also I would be put off by the high standard of every one else’s).

[Lights]

Great tone and flawless playing, David!
Lights.

[JoLa]

David, I loved every note of that, simply beautiful and very much in the spirit of the track! It was a great idea not to listen to Brian’s lead beforehand!

🎸JoLa

[Andy N]

Super melodic take on this minor key backing track David. Extra credit too for allowing your own creativity take centre stage by playing what you felt rather than let it be influenced by the lesson material. That should be the goal for all of us 👍

[Serena C]

very nice and soulful David!

If I wasn't making mistakes I wouldn't be the kind of player I want to be. Perfection is dangerous.
It's all about taking risks, sometimes you get to some place, sometimes you get to a different place. (Brian May)

[Guido]

Very original improvisation/composition over the BT, David! In fact Brian says always that we can enrich our vocabulary thanks to his lessons and then we’ve to try to build our own phrases and that’s what you did with your excellent rendition!

Guido

[Tremelow]

I like this very much, David. Great challenge response with well chosen elements like chromatic runs, chord tones and harmonized thirds woven into a beautiful melody.

[Author]

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