March 2022 Challenge Response – Garry E

[Garry]

Hi All,

Firstly, another long story short. Just spend 9 and a quarter hours in Emergency today with a dislocated, fractured finger on my right hand!!! Not a great day to get hit by a volleyball while umpiring a game. So, luckily I recorded this last week and … apologies for the short responses this weekend to your videos as I’m very slow typing with my left hand.

Anyway …

This month I have taken Brian’s 3rd option: creating something new that included the CAGED Chord System and the use of Secondary 7ths. My February Challenge for those who remember was a Blues Medley (Sweet Home Chicago, Key to the Highway and Kansas City Blues). This month I couldn’t include Brian’s criteria successfully, rework these songs and still keep true to these classic melodies so here is a Knopflerish, Local Heroish 16 Bar (x 3) piece with a secondary 7th cadence progression (A7/A7/D7/G7/C), some chords in various CAGED positions and a number of arpeggios layered over the base chords (eg a Dm arpeggio played over the top of a C7 therefore creating a C13th).

Here is also my new Fender Player SSS Strat which I bought after selling two guitars and my Batman Comic Collection! You gotta do what you gotta do!

Thanks for listening everyone, I really appreciate it! Depending on what the Hand Specialist says on Monday I may not be posting for a while! One thing in my favor is that it’s the pinky finger!

Garry

[Anonymous]

Hey Garry, sorry to hear about your injury. That was a pretty sounding melody on your new Strat. Hope your finger heals quickly.👍

[John H]

Wonderful creation. Played so cleanly and clearly. Great collaboration with Garry! Love that Strat tone too. So sorry to hear about your injury Garry. That is a bummer. Prayers for a speedy recovery.

JH

[Phil B]

Garry, it was lucky that you planned ahead because that was beautifully played. Sorry to hear about your finger injury. Now you know how Django Rheinhart must have felt when he lost two fingers off his fretting hand! Holy broken bones, you must be mourning the loss of your Bat collection too!

[Paul S.]

This was really good! Terrific finger-picking I suspect you won’t be doing for a while. It’ll be a loss for us as well as you. Tell the doc to build a flat pick into whatever contraption he puts your pinky in.

I especially like the place where the progression switches to a minor (I think) chord, by the way. It adds some soul.

[AndréM]

Congrats on the new Start, looks real nice, and has a great tone.
Sorry for your hand.
Happy to see that you didnt sell your Maton, lol

AndréM

AndréM

[James B]

A lovely piece, Garry. Really well thought out and constructed. Your new Strat sounds great but all your guitars sound great with you at the helm. Sorry to hear about your finger. Heal up soon.

James

[Guido]

A very enjoyable to listen to and lovely composition, Garry! Loved the chord progression and melodic leads! Your new Strat sounds great, but what really makes the difference is the player, and you sound always very well with any guitar! Really sorry for your pinky! I sincerely hope that it will heal soon!

Guido

[Michael L]

Such a nice listen Garry. The two guitars blended very well and made for an enjoyable piece of music. Sorry to hear about your pinky finger… maybe now is the time to work on those three-finger banjo rolls?

[Richard G]

Exceptionally well crafted Garry, that was a beautiful rendition especially with that good looking new Strat. Hope all goes well with the injury.

Richard

[Don Patton jr]

Garry
Sorry to hear of your injury!
Your arrangement was played with a little bit of soul…clean and smooth delivery 🎶

Don P

[Reuben B]

Great tone from that strat, very suitable for the melody you have on top of those chords. Beautiful, soulful, and relaxing lines, I really enjoyed it.
Sorry to hear about your finger, hopefully it heals soon and not only you can type again, but more importantly play some more guitars.

[JoLa]

Ah, what a beautiful creation, Garry! Love those Knopfler-esque arpeggios and the vibe (or soul!), it sounded just perfect on your new Strat! I don’t know about the Batman Comics or the other guitars but it sounds like you got yourself a good deal, so congrats! Hope your pinky heals soon and luckily it’s the least needed right hand finger for a guitarist. … right? 😉

🎸JoLa

[WBlues]

Nice track Garry. You have worked out your composition well; everything was very harmonious and led to a pleasant melody.

I hope your little finger gets better soon!!!

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

Wilfried

[Serena C]

Very nice composition Garry! I wish you the best for your recovery!

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)

[Werner]

Superb submission, Garry! The Fender Strat is a beautiful guitar, fantastic choice.

Sorry to hear about your injury, hoping for a speedy and complete recovery.
I had a surgery on my right hand pinky some years ago and I can’t bend it anymore, but I’m fine with it and it doesn’t really affect me now.

Werner.

[Martin W]

Hi Garry , this has to be one of your best, so melodic and definitely with a knopfler influence, your new strat sounds devine and that tone is perfect both guitars compliment each other ,really enjoyable listen , wishing you a speedy recovery with the finger .

Martin

[Laurel C]

Ouch, sorry to hear about your mishap Gary. Something you would not expect to happen when umpiring. Can’t help but think of you and Geoff as players and as a duet who have to have time out. Here’s to a speedy and complete recovery. Beautifully played fingerstyle arrangement on the electric and sounding divine.

[brian-belsey]

Well done, Garry, you are getting great sounds out of your new Strat already! There are some very interesting ideas and results here.

I hope your finger can be sorted out quickly.

[Pap]

Garry, that is a nice SSS! You had a lot of foresight recording tha challenge early. Sorry to learn about your dislocated finger.. that sucks! I wish you a speedy recovery. Use you imagination, you may still be able to post while your finger heals. Cheers. Pap

[Jay Guitarman]

Hi Garry, I love it. What a pleasure to listen to. It reminds of good old instrumental guitar pieces I heard in my childhood on cassettes:-)

[Phil67]

Great music and licks management, with silence and acceleration, sounds pro.

Where does the white go when snow melts?

[Juxi]

I wish you a speedy and complete recovery, Garry. More heartfelt thanks for your helpful, motivating and left-Hand-typed replies.
The tune was great and the Knopfler- vibe was noticeable. Masterclass as always.

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[Bruce D]

Garry,
Beautiful composition and nice mix.
Hope you don’t need a cast on that hand. Get well soon.

Bruce

Just focus on the notes you DID get right . . . Frank Vignola

[Manfred M]

That was beautiful, Garry. So smooth and played with so much feeling. I enjoyed it. I wish your pinky recovers soon, so you can play your guitar at full power again and we can go on to hear your little masterpieces.

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]

Beautiful Garry, full of that knopfler nuance, touch, sweetness and melody, and on the middle pickup position I think 🤔 . I’m glad you got it recorded before your injury. Does an umpiring injury count as a “sporting injury” in pub bragging rights 🤔😋. Seriously, hope the recovery is swift and that pinky is restored to its rightful place on the top E. Did your mascot gain a little headband there, in deference to the maestro 🤔 or did I not notice I before. All good here and I’ll definitely take you up on that beer if I get down to Melbourne.

[FergalT]

Holy New Stratocaster GarryMan- that was excellent!
Lovely looking new guitar- hope you’re not out for too long

[Enrico]

Great composition Garry and beautifully played. I got the same idea this month to play a duet with myself! Lovely guitar!

[Bob Utberg]

Garry! I had no idea you were also a v-ball geek like me!!! I played outside hitter for years! Through college in fact.
Coach always listed me at 6′ 0″ (1.83M) in the program because no dude under 6′ should play front line. I USED to be able to leap!! No more – LOL! Anyway, heal up fast my friend. This is one of your finest performances. Love your new gitfiddle for sure. Great tone and your style is awesome!! Bob

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Tom D]

Hi Garry:

Sorry to hear of your accident. Best wishes for a speedy and effective recovery. I reiterate my appreciation for for your support when I broke my right hand last year and encourage you to let us/me know if you need anything. Your current post is absolutely beautiful! Your playing is great and your guitar is more than cool!

Cheers, Tom

[Jonathan Amos]

Definitely hear a MK vibe in that, played with a really nice, laid back feeling.

Jonathan Amos, Matsuyama, Japan

[Denise]

Awsome sound quality, Garry!
You have made yourself big goals for this months challenge and the result is just wonderful! Beautiful🎸🎸 arrangement, melody and chord progression!!👍👏😇🙏
Very inspiring. You have made such huge progress on all, sound quality, playing, theory and guitar arrangements!
Yes, and that new Fender sounds great 😑.
Denise

More Blues!

[Livio M]

Hi Garry
I am very sorry for the accident, it is difficult to think that being a volleyball referee is a dangerous activity. I wish you a speedy recovery and I suggest you use the period of inactivity to maybe study music theory. I read that a well-known guitarist from the past who was forced to leave the guitar for two years due to military service practiced daily virtually without touching a real guitar (I don’t know how). when he was finally able to resume the instrument his playing skills had remained unchanged, perhaps improved. I take the news that I have read as true, in any case the study I think it can be a good and useful surrogate during inactivity.
Your piece as usual is listened to with great pleasure. a warm greeting see you soon.

Livio

[Valérie]

Hi Garry

Sorry to hear about your injury, hoping for complete recovery.
Beautiful submission! Great playing!

Valérie

Valérie Martin

[David H]

Most enjoyable – as usual! Heal up fast, and yes glad it was the right little pinkie.

[Adam]

Melancholic Garry but beautiful. Well done!

[Author]

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