June 2025 Challenge – Sunjamr Steve

[sunjamr]

Our goal this month was to play something that uses a lot of harmonized thirds, which means playing harmonies 3 notes apart. On a guitar, that means playing harmonies on two adjacent strings. And that is easier to do on songs with fewer chords, and reggae songs often use only 2 chords. So – being basically a bit lazy – I built this mostly 2-chord backing track. It wasn’t easy to get the reggae bubble organ sound, or the rhythm chuck track. In the end, it took 10 times longer to do than the actual solos. For them, I tried several instruments just to see which sounded best playing harmonized thirds. They are all quite different, but I’m not sure which is the winner…

Sunjamr Steve

[sunjamr]

What the heck? I prepped my response, hit Submit, and the whole thing just disappeared. It’s not the first time this has happened to me. I’m pretty sure when I hit “Submit” it transports me into an alternate universe where I never even submitted the post.

Sunjamr Steve

[sunjamr]

I’ll start over:

Our goal this month was to play something that uses a lot of harmonized thirds, which means playing harmonies 3 notes apart. On a guitar, that means playing harmonies on two adjacent strings. And that is easier to do on songs with fewer chords, and reggae songs often use only 2 chords. So – being basically a bit lazy – I built this mostly 2-chord backing track. It wasn’t easy to get the reggae bubble organ sound, or the rhythm chuck track. In the end, it took 10 times longer to do than the actual solos. For them, I tried several instruments just to see which sounded best playing harmonized thirds. They are all quite different, but I’m not sure which is the winner…

Sunjamr Steve

[AndréM]

Very nicely done.
Great compo.

AndréM

AndréM

[Michael L]

You’ve got me moving in my chair Steve! Great groove! I think I vote for Uke as my favorite. Still be acoustic vibe but the tone cuts through a little more strongly than the guitars. Of course, the harmonica is a strong contender too!

[sciencefiction]

Great performance, Steve! Loved your composition, with its strong melodic vibe. Nice touch with the harmonica–sounds great. Played flawlessly on all the instruments.

Is that Baby Taylor the same size as your GS Mini? Looks and sounds pretty cool.

Larry

[sunjamr]

The Taylor Baby is significantly smaller that the Taylor GS Mini. Justin Johnson says he loves playing blues on them, because they are so easy to play. And to my ears, they sound almost identical to the GS Mini.

Sunjamr Steve

[sciencefiction]

Hmm…………

I may have to buy one of them.

[Paul S.]

My favorite part was the baritone uke, but the whole reggae backing track was terrific. It has caused me to have an ear worm that will require an antidote of banjo playing or something.

[Lights]

Nice caribbean groove, Steve! Works really well especially the harmonica solo.
Keep going.
Lights

[Jennifer D]

Wow!!! I love these 2 chord jams! They give you so much freedom! OK I liked the first one then you played the Martin, yes I liked that sound, then the Uke and I really liked that one, and then the harmonica which worked for me! Now I can’t decide which one I liked best. Oh well going to listen again!

[Gary W]

nice groove you got going there Steve, I liked the mellow sound of the uke, would lve it here it develop just on one instrument – I think it was a very interesting idea 🙂

Gary

[Catherine Arsenault]

That was awesome Steve truly enjoyable!!!

[Alan L]

It’s a catchy and groovy melody. You made the most of those Two chords. I like the Strat.

[Martin W]

Nice groove Steve , with some excellent improv playing thirds , I was gonna say the strat was the winner , but I think the uke sounds more prominent in the mix ,
Love that harmonica solo at the end.

Martin

[James B]

That’s a fun backtrack you created, Steve. Using all the different instruments added to the cool vibe.

James

[Pap]

Steve, the bass uke gets my vote on this submission. Ive been reading your comments about harmonized thirds (1 and 3 vs 6 and the 1) . I say you make a good point. The six and one is not a harmonized third. There are four half steps from the root in a harmonized third. There are three half step between the six and one. The sound of the latter is different. Is this what you referred to as arpeggiating (as opposed to playing a harmonized third)? Just curious.

Also, I love that Marcus K. That’s a cool vid. When I first read your comment, I thought I was going to be watching a vid on Marcus King (who I have seen live….and he is unbelievably talented on guitar and vocals). If you want to enjoy some blues, harmonized thirds and killer singing…check this out. https://youtu.be/gu_d8TqajJA

However, I was not disappointed with Marcus K. Cheers. Pap

[Dieter]

Great idea, great music, great instruments, great playing – just perfect.

Dieter

[Bill]

The big uke stuck out to me Steve. Cool challenge and great groove. On a beach in New Zealand…

[John H]

Steve
Well created and performed. (All of ya 😉). Lazy or not that was a really catchy, sweet sounding arrangement. Love all the parts. You got some great Strat tone there my friend. You pass the audition.

JH

[JoLa]

What an awesome Summer vibe groove, Steve!

The two chord vamp was an excellent idea, those usually result in seemingly never-ending hypnotic jams, my favorite types… and just like you demonstrated here. The different instruments added to the interest, it was as if each player in the band gets their turn, and they all did a fantastic job! I love the way the baritone uke came in with that great sound on the nylon strings. Hmm …. 🤔 (G.A.S. temptation)

🎸JoLa

[Manfred M]

I like this summer reggae groove you’ve created here with all your wonderful instruments, Steve. I can’t make up my mind. I think they all have their part in this great summer concert. (But isn’t it winter in New Zealand?)

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

[Denise]

Great Reggae track…great summer feeling although it’s winter in NZ.
I especially like the sound of that Kala Baritone Uke.
Very nice melody you created here with these 3rds.
I like how you always play with different guitars and other instruments.
Greets from the hot summer in Switzerland.
Denise

More Blues!

[Mark T]

Always ready for some reggae feel-good vibe, Steve – loved this! – Mark 👍🎶😎

[JoeD1]

Very nice Steve! All instruments sounded great but the harmonica was the winner in my book!

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

[Tremelow]

Reggae!!! Great job on the backing track, Steve! And on the playing, too. On all instruments, of course. I can’t decide on which guitar I like best, they all sound good to me. Which one plays easiest, I wonder.

[Author]

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