February 2026 Challenge Response – Reuben B

[Reuben B]

This is my rendition (with many flaws) of County Down originally by Phil Keaggy. The guitar is tuned in DADGAD. Apologies for the length, I got a little carried away 🙂

I am away with family since this is the kids spring break, but will try to catch up with all the submissions over the weekend. Looking forward to it.

[JoeD1]

Great playing Reuben. I could listen to you play all day long.

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 Krailo]

Very good acoustic work Reuben. Love the Drop D stuff.

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

[Michael L]

Hi Reuben, this is a fingerstyle masterclass! So well done and not without great study and attention. You should be very proud of this. DADGAD really does make an acoustic guitar sing out in a beautiful way.

[Dieter]

Excellent picking.

Dieter

[James B]

Quite the finger picking feat, Reuben. Some really cool technique and skills to pull this off. Great stuff.

James

[sunjamr]

Way to go Reuben! I’m sure you have inspired a lot of us to tune to DADGAD next time we head into our music studios. Or maybe just keep one of our guitars permanently tuned to DADGAD. I read that switching to different tunings will help keep us from getting Alzheimer’s. Awesome job on playing County Down!

Sunjamr Steve

[AndréM]

Reuben wow, I wasn’t expecting that, awesome.
DADGAD is the best tuning I think.
I love the slap you do on the 6th string.
You are a real virtuoso.
I will have to listen to this again.

AndréM

AndréM

[John H]

Reuben
I was expecting something mind-blowing. I had a feeling you were going to hit it out of the park. Brilliantly played with confidence and style. You also captured some really nice tones. Are you plugged in, Miked up or both? I also don’t mind the length. I rather enjoyed it all . Thanks for making my Friday evening.

John

[sciencefiction]

What a tour de force! Marvelous playing, Reuben. Blew me away!
Larry

[JoLa]

Reuben, your DADGAD playing was truly hypnotic, I felt like I was in trance listening to it and watch you do all the finger acrobatics on the fretboard! You could just go on longer, I really understand why it was impossible to stop. Needless to say, it was just fantastic, great sound, awesome performance, love the way you handled that beautiful Taylor!

🎸JoLa

[Carpa]

Wow, this is a masterclass 👌

[Bill]

Wow Reuben, I was mesmerized by your right hand. You obviously have put the reps in on this piece. Don’t think I’ve heard anything like it on AM before. Fantastic playing. Amazing you could keep it up for over 6 minutes!!

[Mark T]

Love the groove in this one, Reuben – masterfully played 👍🎶😎

[Alan L]

Very well done! That percussive strum is awesome. Beautiful and captivating vibe. Pro level stuff!

[Pap]

Reuben, this was a lot to unpack. Great submission. I love the use of multiple techniques. The multiple pulloffs and difficult chord changes. I also am impressed how well you play with your picking hand and the use of your ring finger. Nice harmonics at the end. A+ man. That sure seemed to be a complex piece and you played it so well. You are inspirational. Cheers! Pap

[Werner]

Great job Reuben – what a demonstration for Drop D. Thank you,

Werner

[Guido]

Wow, masterclass of DADGAD finger picking, a tuning I love,.And the piece you played is really beautiful and you played it beautifully! Technically, great combination of strumming, finger picking and slapping. But above a very enjoyable composition to listen to!

Guido

[Manfred M]

That DADGAD sound is simply one-of-a-kind.
But the way you pull it off here is awesome, Reuben.
It’s so dynamic and captivating. I knew you were a good guitarist, but this is incredible! That was a musical treat!
I got carried away too.

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

[Laurel C]

Captivating performance and in the zone Reuben. What a ride, when the music and yourself become one it goes beyond just play/record. So many techniques within this piece to name. We have our own Tommy E here at AM.

[Serena C]

Thank you Reuben for sharing, wonderful submission!

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)

[Martin W]

Hi Reuben, that alternative tuning really is a standout love the chime of it .
Wonderful performance played with a lot of dynamics and intricacies.
Really like that run starting at 2.23 sounds great .
This has a Tommy Emanuel flair to it , very enjoyable!

Martin

[Mike W]

That was something really special, Reuben. I can’t begin to understand how you could memorise something so intense as that. I hope for your sake that you only took one take. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone play so physically that a piece dropped of their chair. It’s not a piece (or composer) that I know – it put me in mind of Gordon Giltrap.

[Denise]

That was a joy to listen! I love the DADGAD tuning.
I like these attacks on the strings, sounds very powerful.

More Blues!

[Author]

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