June 2023 Challenge Response – Michael G

[Michael G]

I’ve been an Active Melody member for over 3 years and never posted anything, so here goes…gulp!

Some very impressive players here…my little contribution:

Cheers,
Michael
Blue Mountains, Australia.

[Manfred M]

Welcome to the challenges, Michael. And what a fine debut. I enjoyed your playing full of feel on your gretsch. You did a fantastic job. Good decision to show up and let us hear your fine playing. I hope to hear more in the future.

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

[Michael G]

Thank you so much Manfred it makes a big difference to hear such lovely feedback, I always feel a little inadequate.

[Vincent K]

Great contribution Michael and Welcome to the challenges

I loved your approached. A very sweet and cool rendition

🎸 Vincent 🎶 🇳🇱

[Michael G]

Thank you Vincent, I’m glad you enjoyed my rendition.

[Guido]

Yes, great debut, Michael! Very fine playing on your gorgeous Gretsch! Enjoyed to listen to your rendition and hope that, now that you’ve broken the ice, we can hear more from you!

Guido

[Michael G]

Thank you Guido, I do love my Gretch, it was only used once by a lead guitar player to record a song before I got it. I can’t believe that I don’t know who the band was…..?

[Serena C]

Welcome to the challenges Michael, you’ll enjoy! Congrats on your first submission, a very nice rendition!!!

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)

[Michael G]

Hey Serena, it was a tough decision to make. Looking at myself playing guitar does nothing for my ego…I need to learn a bit about performance and then the mistakes won’t matter.

[Gary W]

Well played Michael, good playing and congrats on your first submission. The positive feedback is a bit addictive!!

Gary

[Michael G]

Thank you so much Gary…you’re right, the positive feedback is addictive and does a lot to encourage me to get better. Recording myself playing is very intimidating.

[Gary W]

It is intimidating Michael. I’ll bet you find it increasingly rewarding though as you hear you’re playing more ‘objectively’ than playing live. Plus, you develop a back catalogue of recordings to look back on to see how you’ve progressed. 🙂

Gary

[Michael G]

That’s a very good point Gary, I hadn’t thought about looking back on previous recordings. I would love to see some improvements.

[charjo]

Welcome and congrats on your first post and challenge, Michael. You sounded great. Hope to see you more, the challenges can be a great motivator and learning tool.
John

[Michael G]

Thank you Charjo, I feel very encouraged by this community. It is a bit terrifying to record oneself playing, especially as I don’t have any stage presence.

[Bill]

Nice submission and welcome to the challenges! And a great Gretsch Guitar to boot!

[Michael G]

Thank you so much Bill, yes, I do love my Gretsch.

[JoeD1]

What a great 1st submission! I enjoyed it and that guitar was beautiful too. Don’t be a stranger!

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 G]

Thank you Joe. It does take a bit of “e’est la vie” to record myself and then put it on a public platform…I’ll try not to be a stranger. There are such good people here and great guitarists.

[AndréM]

Welcome to the challenges.
Nice rendition.
Well done.

AndréM

AndréM

[Michael G]

Thank you André, I hope to get better, especially with stage presence.

[Adam H]

Excellent! Well played!

[Michael G]

Thank you Adam, I appreciate the encouragement.

[James B]

Well played, Michael. Recording yourself and participating in the monthly challenges will put your guitar skills on the fast track. Great start.

James

[Michael G]

Hi James, thanks, I’m hoping so. I’m not keen with looking at a video of me playing.

[WBlues]

Great start Michael. First post..damn good. Thumbs up!

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

Wilfried

[Michael G]

Thanks Wilfried, I hope it gets better from hereon in.

[Michael L]

Hi Michael, so glad you posted and made it into the challenge! You played that lesson well with good tempo and pace, very smooth and melodic. I enjoyed listening and hope we hear more from you soon.

[Michael G]

I’m so happy for your feedback Michael. I did try to add a bit of depth. There are some excellent guitarists here.

[Phil B]

Well that’s the kind of debut performance to be proud of! Well done and welcome to the challenges.

[Michael G]

Thank you so much Phil. Was the wine you’re holding any good? 😃

[Garry]

Great to have another Aussie on the site Michael. Really fine first post, played with accuracy and expression. Awesome looking and sounding guitar too. Hope you can be a regular. Keep on pickin’ and all the best! 🥸🎸🥸

[Michael G]

Thanks Garry, the biggest challenge was videoing myself, so intimidating. Where about in Aussie?

[Garry]

Down in Melbourne Michael. There may be more of us but I only know of 3 other site members from Australia! 🥸🎸🥸

[Michael G]

We’re an elite group. 😁

[Alan L]

Great submission Michael and here’s to many more! 🙂

[Michael G]

Thank you Alan, much appreciated.

[Martin W]

Hi Michael, welcome to the challenges, an impressive debut performance, you nailed it ! Played on a classy Gretsch ( pro series ? ) sounds great .

Martin

[Michael G]

Thanks Martin, I do love my Gretchen, 😃

[Anonymous]

Hi Michael. That sounded great. Awesome tone on the guitar and nice smooth rendition.
Good job jumping in!

Marc

[Michael G]

Thank you Marc, it’s certainly challenging just to play in front of a camera.

[John H]

Michael-
Welcome and congrats on your first submission. Sounded awesome. I love the vibe of a Gretsch. Hope to hear more in the near future.

[Michael G]

Thank you John. This is such a great community. I do enjoy playing my Gretsch.

[Juxi]

Congratulations on your first challenge response, Michael. That was a very smoothly played rendition. Well done. 👍🏽

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[Michael G]

Thank you Juxi. I do enjoy playing guitar, you wouldn’t think so looking at my face. Age can be a cruel master. 😃

[JoLa]

If that’s not played perfectly then I don’t know what is! Well done, Michael, great tone as well!
Congrats on your first post after 3 years, don’t be shy 😉

🎸JoLa

[Michael G]

Thank you for being so generous with your lovely comment Jola. This is such a great community and like you I love Brian’s teaching style and choices of music.

[Reuben B]

Welcome to the AM challenge, glad you decided to join us. Great submission, beautifully played and fits very well with the warm tone of that guitar. Nicely done!

[Michael G]

Thank you so much Reuben, I feel honoured to be among such excellent guitarists.

[Tom D]

I hope you don’t mind me piling on … welcome Michael! Your post and playing is excellent. I can tell you’ve been playing at Active Melody. You play with a very nice touch and get great sound. It’s interesting that, with repetition, it becomes easier (not easy) to play in front of the camera:-). Look forward to hearing more of your music.

Cheers, Tom

[Michael G]

Thank you so very much Tom. It’s funny but I suppose you know the cliché ‘don’t play a song until you get it perfectly, play it until you can’t play it incorrectly’. Easier said than done. Thank you for welcoming me into the group. 😃

[David H]

Yes, welcome aboard, water is fine isn’t it! Very nice playing.

[Michael G]

Thank you David, I’ll get me swimsuit. 🤣🤣😂

[Mark T]

It takes some guts to put yourself out there, Michael – we’ve all been through it and know it’s not easy! But your playing was really precise and a brilliant performance, so you deserve to be really proud of taking this leap! Hope to see and hear more from you and that gorgeous guitar you have 👏👏👏🎶🎶🎶

[Michael G]

Thank you for such a beautiful remark, Mark. To see and hear such committed musicians here is vey encouraging, I feel honoured to be amongst positive guitarists. 👍👍👍

[Author]

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