EP 304 – Western Swing

[Geoff]

After all that playing of renaissance music, I had to do something completely different and this lesson from Brian is a really fun one. It is so skillful the way he weaves in those chromatic sections with the melody – I just love that.

First half is direct from the lesson and the second half is my own take on it. Trying to simplify my improvisations somewhat. I always have this uncomfortable feeling that I am trying to do too much when I am improvising – its an infinite learning curve.

[Mark T]

That was excellent, Geoff! Loved your improv, and sounds like you could easily switch between yours and Brian’s phrases in a single tune – really lovely stuff 👍🎶

[Geoff]

Thanks Mark, glad you enjoyed this and not as easily as you might think. It takes me a long time to figure out myb own phrases – I am not a natrual at improvising at all.

[Matt Pasley]

Sounding good Geoff. Keep on picking!

[Denise]

Bravo Geoff!!
I love that Western country style🤠, could play this all day with Chetty.
Very nice playing, and you kept that happy rhythmic feeling. Your harmonized improv sounds great.
Denise🤠🎸

More Blues!

[Geoff]

Thanks Denise. All I needed was the hat 🙂

[Bob Utberg]

Hey Geoff! Nice to see you spice it up with some Country Swing and playing your electric gitfiddle for a change. All ships rise with high tide. So playing different styles definitely helps our overall playing. Very well done. Your version/improvising was awesome. Maybe leave a little space in between some of your ideas so your audience can fully appreciate your talents and fantastic runs and licks! Reminded me a bit of Brian Setzer a la Rock This Town or Stray Cat Strut. Good on ya my friend! Bob

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Geoff]

Thanks Bob. I am learning to do mmore repetition when I improvise. Nezt time I will have a go at putting in more space like you suggested – see if I can figure out how to do that.

[smilefred]

Great playing and great improvisations Geoff
Nicely done
Ale

[Helen Lazaridou]

Just wonderful Geoff!!!!!!so enjoyable!!!!!your harmonized improvisations were amazing and you could definitely have switched from Brian’s phrases to yours without my understanding it!!!!congrats 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[Garry]

Great playing Geoff. Firstly you played Brian’s orginal spot on, loved your hybrid picking and you were really swinging with the band. Your improvisations are really coming along also, they’re becoming more fluid and you definitely kept with the spirit/style of Brian’s composition. Again, great idea to show your gear at the beginning, kudos for physically/visually getting into your music (something I’m trying to improve on) and really dug your cartoon character at the end. All the best!

[Geoff]

Thanks Garry. I am certainly trying to capture the feel of Brian’s lessons when I try to improvise my own to them. When I first heard this one I wasn’t sure I could pull off an improvisation on it because this style is so complicated to play.

[Laurel C]

Great result on this lesson, nailed it with the first part. Good to hear it on an electric as it works so well. The 2nd part improvisation captured the vibe of the lesson and complemented it with interesting lines, well done, not easy to extend a lesson and keep it intact. Ep304 was a fav of mine too. As for having an uncomfortable feeling that you are trying to do too much when improvising, could be a sign to breathe and allow some space.

[Geoff]

Well the guitar Brian used for this lesson was one of this interesting accousting electric guitars. I have to admit my Squire Strat has proved quite versatile but I would really like an accoustic steel string with heavier guage strings. You are not the first to tell me to breathe, I do the same thing with my classical and I am working to improve on that.

[Dieter]

Great country swing performance, excellent timing.

Dieter

[Bill H]

that was a very good listen Geoff…….I really liked the improve fited in well

man of many talents……..

[Anonymous]

Excellent swing feel Geoff. I thought your improv sounded great too. Definitely had the same swing feel with a nice touch on your phrasing ideas and the tone was spot on. Nicely done.👍

[John H]

Geoff! Played wonderfully and so smoothly. Brother you have crossed over from classical to some beautiful Western swing style very nicely. Wow!

[Geoff]

Thanks John, classical has always been my core but I love many styles of music. Glad you liked this 🙂

[Author]

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