December 2025 Challenge Response – Serena C

[Serena C]

Hi AM friends
always a pleasure playing on a Quist’s backing track, I like to remind that it’s thank to him that I found this wonderful place in AM.
I chose to play EP622 where the guitar has to fill the spaces left by the band, so you have:
– take 1, good timing but I didn’t catch the notes in the second part
– take 2, hey, I almost caught the notes but lost the timing because of the enthusiasm for having caught the notes 😀
– take 2 with environmental audio… so that you’ll see under which conditions I have to run my guitar journey (by the way the translation of what I was telling my son is: “Honey give me the tempo”)
Have fun with it and enjoy the challenge weekend!
Serena

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)

[James B]

Nice work, Serena. Take two was my favorite. I think your boy wants to be a drummer. 😀

James

[JoeD1]

Awesome Serena…I really enjoyed the “real life” take!

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

[Matthew S]

Awesome job Serena — tough to keep time with distractions!

[Michael L]

Hi Serena, you’re getting better and better! Sounding so bluesy and energetic! Loved the clip with your son. There’s so much we have to embrace it’s a wonder we ever get a recording done!

[sciencefiction]

Sounds awesome, Serena! Wow, you have really advanced!! Some of those licks are really fast that you nailed. I can tell you are hooked on guitar! Bravo.
Larry

[Alan L]

Really nice work, good energy and some fast and furious picking! 👍

[AndréM]

Your progression is excellent.
Well done.
Maybe a bit of OD would have been nice.

AndréM

AndréM

[Manfred M]

Sometimes you play guitar and life happens. Isn’t that right, Serena? Thanks for showing us your conditions. That’s so authentic.
And that’s also the reason why I always enjoy listening to you so much.

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]

Well done Serena!!loved it!!

[Paul S.]

Any time you can get your kids to play music with you is a great and often unforgettable time.
And after watching your challenge entries month after month, it appears to me you are 1) getting a lot better and a lot faster and 2) having a lot of fun with this one. Brava!

[Juxi]

Ciao, Serena. Of course take 2B is my favourite 😎 extremely impressive how you can keep the tempo, play fast licks and at the same time talk to your son.
Overall, your performance was very good. You always had flying fingers, but you did get even faster. I played the same EP but had to play over the slow version – barely managed that…
By the way, Sühwind is in desperate need of a drummer – so in a few years perhaps ask your son if he would like to join us. The boy’s got talent 😊

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[Dieter]

Very nice varied playing.

Dieter

[Laurel C]

You thrive on the fast ones Serena. Well done keeping up. The 2nd video gave us insight into the conditions behind the picture perfect result we usually see. (I thought DIY neighbours’ noise was a problem). Thanks for sharing.

[Martin W]

Hi Serena, really like your “ real world “ approach to this challenge, take two was my favourite ,you seemed more in the pocket , loved the little interlude with the drummer .

Martin

[Mark T]

It seems that this was a very popular lesson for the challenge, Serena – I used it myself, and it’s definately a difficult one! I really loved your performances – there’s not many missed notes at all in my opinion, a few more takes and it will be spot on! – Mark 👍🎶😎

[Mike W]

Great performance Serena. As I get older and crankier I’m less able to cope with distractions. Fortunately it didn’t detract from your playing which was excellent. It was a great idea to show all the takes.

[Tremelow]

Hi Serena, I thought the first take was already pretty good. The second one was even better. But the third part made me realize how good you really are. You must have nerves of steel (at least 0.10!). I would either have to max the volume on my earphones or take sedatives. But seriously, I think you have done a terrific job with your playing!

[Lights]

Really popular lesson and probably for the reason – great stuff. Some parts sounds like Deep Purple’s “Lazy”.
You did it well Cerena! Very Italian real life sounds at the background 🙂
Lights.

[Author]

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