February 2026 Challenge

[Raffaele S]

For this month’s challenge, I started with a piece by Brian in the key of D, as he recommended, and then continued improvising, alternating between the major and minor pentatonic scales, trying to stay in tune with the track. Maybe I went on a bit too long, but I preferred not to interrupt the pleasant foundation of Brian’s piece.

[Brendan G]

Nice job. As you said we did the same lesson at first. Then you did a lot more.
Very enjoyable.

Brendan

[Laurel C]

That was inspiring, and as you said you started with Brian’s piece and then improvised over the track which takes endurance and a toolkit of ideas. Great work Raffaele that was handcrafted beautifully..

[Dieter]

Sounds really good.

Dieter

[John H]

Well played Raffaele
Smooth, soulful and tasty! You nail those target notes. Love that Eastman guitar!

John

[JoeD1]

Congradulations Raffaele on a beautiful piece and for extending it for so long with plenty of various licks which kept me listening and enjoying it.

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

[AndréM]

Well done Raffaele.
Nice improv.

AndréM

AndréM

[Michael L]

Hi Raffaele, great bluesy picking. I enjoyed your improv section. Well done.

[Guido]

Brilliant rendition of the Brian’s original part and then really cool improvisations of your own! Really a lot of cool melodies and licks that show your melodic creativity! Very well played, great work, Raffaele!

Guido

[Raffaele S]

Grazie infinite Guido, italiano anche tu…..un vero piacere scoprire che non sono iil solo a far parte di questa straordinaria famiglia…..

[Raffaele S]

Thank you so much to all of you…..I’m glad to hear I didn’t bore you with this somewhat long video….
Thanks

[sciencefiction]

Excellent playing, Raffaele! Very smooth and bluesy sounding all the way through.
Larry

[James B]

Some fine blues picking, Raffael.

James

[Bob M.]

Hi Raffael, well done! This was the first tune I learned after joining AM. Really enjoyed listening to your rendition.

[Paddyboy]

Good job on this one Raffael,

both Brendan and I did this same soudtrack of Brians but they were different EP’s. Mine was EP629 and Brandans was EP621

ALL IT TAKES TO WRITE A SONG IS........3 CHORDS AND THE TRUTH!

[JoLa]

Now, that was some genuine blues mastery there, Raffaele! You knew what you were doing all the way through and it sounded great. If it was any shorter it wouldn’t have been long enough 😉

🎸JoLa

[sunjamr]

Very entertaining, plenty of good licks in there, Raffaele. You did a great job with your phrasing, and I really love the tone you have dialed in.

Sunjamr Steve

[Alan L]

Som nice licks in the improv section. Well played!

[Michael Krailo]

Ah, the blues. Nothing sounds better. Those fret markers are mesmerizing.

Go slow and practice correct technique, and your abilities will dramatically improve.

[Bill]

Sounding good! Nice Eastman guitar, I’m a fan of those. All around nice blues from the lesson to your improv.

[Mark T]

That was excellent, Raffaele – great sense of timing and feel! No need to apologise for the length of the piece – when you’re in the groove and enjoying yourself, why not? – Mark 👍🎶😎

[Carpa]

Played very smoothly and pleasantly.

[Pap]

Raffaele, you have some really nice runs in here. Well played. Cheers. Pap

[Manfred M]

When the blues gets you, you just have to keep playing, Raffaele. I think we all know how that feels. And when you come up with such great licks and stay in the groove like you do, it’s definitely a pleasure to listen to.

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

[Andy N]

You gave those major and minor pentatonics a proper workout there and conjured up some masterful blues. 👌

[Author]

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