EP515 : Country Rock Blues.

[Geoff]

I will admit right away that this is a lesson I had mixed feeling about. What I mean is it is a fantastic lesson from Brian but it is so packed with licks I doubt I will remember any of them. It took so much effort to get through the lesson that, by the time I was done, I felt ready to move on and I didn’t have the energy to attempt my own improvs on this one. You will have to forgive all my flubs and flaps – I know I could have polished this and played it a little faster but it’s as good as I want to get it for now.

This is the Strat version.

This is the Guild version. I always play Brian’s lessons on both guitars – I just love the different tones they produce.

[Ken]

Well done Geoff. I am partial to the Guild version. It just strikes a chord with me, no pun intended.
Thanks.

Ken F

[Geoff]

Thanks Ken, I thought the Strat was better suited to this but that Guild is a pretty versatile guitar.

[MrO]

Sounds good Geoff! I liked them, both versions. This lesson is “Midi-evil” on the fingers and the brain!! Should be called EP515 Licks-A-Lot 🙂

[JoeD1]

That was some great playing Geoff! It did not look like an easy lesson to do but you did it very well. There were a lot of notes to be picked and unison bends are not easy to do but your picking and bends were spot on. I only heard 1 “flub” in the Strat version but you recovered well. You looked very relaxed while playing and your timing was excellent. Very nicely done!

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

[Geoff]

Thanks Joe, I always try to keep going after “flubs”. Very often, people don’t hear them – or so I hope 🙂

[David L]

Well done, Geoff. This is a challenging lesson, for sure. I enjoyed both of your renditions but I actually prefer the cleaner, twangier (is that a real word?) tone you got from the Strat. Kudos, sir.

[Geoff]

Thanks David, it’s the reason I have two guitars. They produce very different sounds and, I agree, the cleaner sound of the Strat was better for this one.

[WBlues]

I think both versions have something that you can use as a basis. With your possibilities, your versions can serve as a basis for extensions. Then you make your track out of it. Anyway, well played.

Play guitar just like you live; don't get bogged down in theory, it's just a tool without feeling.

Wilfried

[Geoff]

Thanks Wilfried. If I take away 10% of what I learned from this one I will be happy.

[James B]

Sounds great, Geoff. Lots of cool licks played very well. The ‘Strat’ gets my vote on this one.

James

[Geoff]

I must say, I am impressed with my ‘Strat’ James. Its the cheapest squire version that I picked for $300 and improved a little by upgrading the pickups. It produces such a nice sound I am not really inclined to ‘upgrade’ to the more expensive Fender version.

[Garry]

Wow Geoff, you’re moving at break-neck speed here! Really well played on both versions. Yes, lots of great licks and what a lesson! You’ve inspired me to put it on my long list but I’d say I’ve got no chance to play it at speed like this! 👏👏🌟👏👏 Also … great idea again to showcase playing the same lesson but on two different guitars. Keep on pickin’ and all the best! 🥸🎸🥸

[Geoff]

I don’t know if you have heard Brian play this one Garry. I am doing about 80% the speed that he plays it at. Usually I like to match Brian’s speed as closely as I can but, in my opinion, this one sounds better a little slower I think.

[Guido]

I’m impressed too by the speed you was able to play this great lesson, Geoff! And moreover your timing and accuracy was super! Just nailed it in both versions, but my preference goes to the Strat sound for this lesson, even though the Guild is a very nice instrument in general. Just an inspiring rendition, it makes me want to try to learn the EP515 too! Thanks for sharing.

Guido

[Geoff]

Thanks Guido. I can tell you it was not an easy lesson. It was right up there with that Santana lesson did way back when (EP178). Brian’s speed on this one is ridiculous and I was happy to get my speed at about 80% of what he did. Personally, I think this one sounds better played slower.

[AndréM]

Both are excellent.
Well done.

AndréM

AndréM

[Geoff]

Thanks Andre 🙂

[John H]

I enjoyed both thoroughly, subtle differences in tone. I am always confident with you ‘tackling’ tall order like these Geoff. You have the discipline and experience to move from one genre to another. This shows your passion. Would love for all of us to jam one weekend somewhere. Great job on this-were you embellishing a bit at the end? Great start-I know you are your worst critic but you covered this nicely.

John

[Geoff]

Thanks John, I have a philosophy that I always finish what I start even if I feel my my playing of it is less than optimal. This was a tough lesson that I must have spent a good three weeks of solid practice on to get down and, by the time I was done, I was too exhausted to try bolting on my own improvs.

I am actually going to step back a bit to Brian’s “easier” lessons to focus a bit more on improv and theory. EP498 does really good coverage on everything from scale patters to chord progressions – going to spend more solid time on triad theory over the next few weeks. I would enjoy a jam session and any with you and others over a weekend. I will tell you that I have little experience at it and I would be a little intimidated actually doing real jams. For that reason alone, it would it would really be a great learning experience.

[Marie Jarreau]

Such A great idea if it were possible – ‘twould be incredibly fun to jam with the AM crew. There’s no way I could keep up with you folks, playing-wise, but I’d love just to be a fly on the wall at that jam session!

Marie

“Laissez les bon temps rouler“
Marie Jarreau

[Marie Jarreau]

That really was enjoyable Geoff!
Marie

“Laissez les bon temps rouler“
Marie Jarreau

[Helen Lazaridou]

My dearest Geoff!!!!!
I heard the 2 versions again and first of all I can only repeat how admirable it is that you played this lesson even at 80% of the actual speed!!!!❤️💖❤️💕❤️💖❤️So many fast licks and you pulled it through 💖💕💖💕and I insist:the Strat version sounds more appropriate for this piece!In fact I saw that most Amers are of the same opinion so I’m proud of my instinct and above all of you being my friend 🤩🤩🤩🤩

[Geoff]

Thanks so much Helen. Much as I love the sound of that Guild I will admit the Strat sounds better for this:)

[Clarke]

Geoff,

Very well done my friend, both versions sound great so it would be a matter of personal taste. For this type of music I prefer the single coil Strat. Keep pick’n that Country 🙂

Clarke

[Geoff]

Thanks for listening Clarke.

[Richard W]

Nice playing, Geoff. Count me down for preferring the Strat on this one too.

This lesson is a real project. Kudos to you for taking it on and putting in the time. I think this is one of those lessons that will bear fruit on repeated encounters.

[Geoff]

Thanks Richard, I think this is one of those lessons I may come back to in future.

[Tremelow]

Great job on this one, Geoff! I am still working on it. I think Brian titled it aptly. There are so many licks in there, I am using it as a study case. I am only halfway through memorizing it, because I try to apply the licks in other contexts and different keys. The speed is challenging, too. My goal is to eventually play it verbatim at the original tempo. If I will ever get there? I’ll keep trying … 🙂

[Geoff]

Hi Tremelow, it really is ‘action packed’ isn’t it :). I am impressed if you can apply those licks in other contexts. Me, I can barely remember them but I do hope to take something away from every lesson – all I managed to do with this one is learn it verbatim and that was fun but I usually like to do more. If you can get this to the original tempo I will be REALLY impressed – the very fasted I could manage with this one would be 90%. Personally, I think it sounds better slower.

[Tremelow]

I would also be impressed with myself, if I could reach the full tempo. I am practicing to get there, but who knows, how long it’s going to take.

With the licks, I guess I will also forget a lot of them as time goes by. By that is not the whole point. The way I look at it is that I believe that some stuff will stick. Perhaps sometimes the entire lick, but I will be happy, if some small detail shows up in my playing, eg improv, that I didn’t have in my repertoire before. As I mentioned, I am trying to make a small study case out of this, so sometimes, I look to play the licks with a different rhythm or melody, I look in which pentatonic pattern I am or how it relates to CAGED and so on. It’s been fun so far, but my main goal is getting to the point where I can play the full tempo without feeling exhausted halfway through the piece or have my arm and fingers hurt.

You will see my post when I get there.

[Geoff]

Good Tremolo, you have more patience than me 🙂

[Author]

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