June 2026 Challenge Response – Mark T

[Mark T]

Dear AMers – for this month’s Challenge, I decided to compose a simple tune using the Chords: A#7 and D#9

I must admit, I really had to concentrate to stop me wandering into other chords 😂😂. On the video, you can see me focusing on my notepad to ensure I stayed on course 🤣🤣

For the Melody, I used two Scales: A# Mixolydian and A# Dorian

I hope you enjoy my submission 😁🤞

[Dieter]

A very creative transition between the modes. Sounds wonderful.

Dieter

[Mike W]

Very well done Mark – it looked very difficult, but sounded great. I’m not surprised that you had to keep checking yourself. I would guess that the rhythm part was more difficult than the lead.

[Michael Krailo]

Two chords never sounded better. You got me to listen multiple times.

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

[Ben C]

Nicely done, Mark!

[Denise]

I like your catchy lead with mixing the Mixolydian and Dorian! It sounds more out of the box.
Great rhythm groove.

What exactly did you watch on your notepad? Haha

Denise

More Blues!

[Alan L]

Some really nice harmonies in there, and I like the overall groove of this. Well played!

[JoeD1]

This sounded superb Mark.

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

[Martin W]

Hi Mark , your two chord choices work well together, creating a catchy rhythm groove , the combination of the Mixolydian and Dorian sounds great over it .
You said a lot with a little on this one , love the creativity.

Martin

[Manfred M]

Yes, Mark, sometimes doing more is easier than doing less. But you’ve done an impressive job here. It sounds smooth and eager to experiment at the same time. You made great use of the Dorian and Mixolydian modes.

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup will be on July 25, 2026

For more information click here

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[James B]

Very well done, Mark. Working those licks in A#7 and D#9 and incorporating the Dorian and Mixolydian scales and making it musical is quite the challenge. But you’ve done it here. 🎶 😀

James

[Michael L]

Great sounds Mark, bluesy and modal tones. Good groove and an enjoyable listen.

[John H]

Very melodic and tasty Mark. Love the riffs and lead runs that really compliment the rhythm play. Well done and a fun listen.

John

[JoLa]

Very cool groove, Mark! You did a great job restraining yourself (haha!) from hitting another chord and I have a feeling you could just go on and on once you got into the groove. The modal melody lines sounded interesting, a bit funky, a bit jazzy, and a bit of JJ Cale vibe – nice!

🎸JoLa

[sunjamr]

Well done, Mark! Of all the possible 2-chord combinations, I might never even have tried A#7 and D#9. But I’m glad you did, because it forced my brain to ask “What’s going on here?”. And my next step will be to grab my guitar and mess around with those two chords, so you might have started a revolutionary new trend here.

Sunjamr Steve

[AndréM]

Great funky stuff.
Very nice use of the two scales.

AndréM

AndréM

[Laurel C]

Creative way of chord and scale choices giving it a sound of curiosity to the ear. It gets you in to want more. A melodic result Mark. Well done.

[David H]

2 great steady chords and some tasty notes to blend in with them.

[Mark T]

Thank you all, as always, for your wonderful and kind comments ♥️♥️

Mike W & Denise: Yeah, the rhythm was definitely more difficult than the lead, if only to ensure I kept on track 🤣. I needed my notes to remind me when to emphasise the bass notes in the rhythm. I also emphasised the mode change to Dorian in the melody – by playing either the 2nd degree to Flat-3rd or 3rd to Flat-3rd.

Steve: I wouldn’t dive too much into my thought processes for “What’s going on here?” 😲😲 My mind is a strange and dangerous area to explore, ‘You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave!” 😂😂

Once again, thank you ♥️♥️ – Mark 👍🎶😎

[Bill]

That was cool and using the two modal scales gave it a very unique character.
Just curious why you call it A# and not Bb?

[Mark T]

Thanks, Bill, appreciate the response 👍

Sharps or Flats? Hmm – honestly, I’m not entirely sure why I used “Sharps” – habit, I suppose. I’d always thought that guitarists prefer to use sharps – after all, when we’re learning the notes on the fretboard, we mostly walk UP rather than DOWN; we also, obviously, BEND strings UP. Trying to rationalise things here – can you tell 😂😂! I’d also thought that pianists prefer to use flats in notation, but I’m not really sure about that either!

[Tremelow]

Wow, Mark, that was special! I typically shy away from “in between chords”, but you thrived on them! Plus using two different scales on top – what a cornucopia for creativity! Great accomplishment!

[Author]

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