March 2026 Challenge – Charjo

[charjo]

Happy Challenge weekend,

This is a cover of a simple song called “ICan Fly Away” by Delicate Steve. I added a high rhythm voice and an improv.
I learned some hard fought lessons about layering video, ie. finish one layer at a time. Making the video needed a blooper reel!
The song is key of G with G-Am X 4, D-Am X 3.
I tried several guitars for this but kept coming back to the tele. It made me realize how versatile that guitar is.
Hope you enjoy the chill vibe of the song. Looking forward to the variety of submissions this month.

John

[John H]

I would love to see the ‘bloopers’. Well choreographed and performed. I like the simplicity of it all, the riffs and licks and rhythm structure. However, I’m sure there was nothing simple about pulling it all together. Gotta love the ‘raw’ Tele sound. It’s great to see you bustin’ out your chops on that gorgeous Telecaster.

John

[Michael Krailo]

A true musician making music. Super good blend of simple motif’s that is easy for any listener to enjoy. Great work master John. And the work you spent on learning the video layering worked out spectacular.

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

[Pap]

Wow John! You always blow me away with the fantastic nature of your submission. The guitar is not really you challenge….its making and layering the videos….incredible! Well done. Cheers. Pap

[wannaplayblues]

Beautiful – a whole production that sounded great.

And bending past the 22nd fret… time for a PRS 24fret 😀

"I hear you talkin' son, but you 'aint sayin' nothin'" - Will McFarlane quoting Muddy Waters hearing a really fast guitar player

[Alan L]

Fantastic John. I like how the layers gradually build intensity and interest. Your lead plying is tasty and soulful 😎

[James B]

Great production, John. Smooth picking and a wonderful job of mixing it all together. Nice work syncing all the instruments in the video too.

James

[charjo]

I just heard that the new version of Adobe Premier has a one button synchronization feature. Where’s the fun in that?
John

[sunjamr]

Yeh, Final Cut Pro is supposed to do that also, but it’s more trouble than it’s worth. Easier to just do it manually the old fashioned way.

Sunjamr Steve

[Guido]

Great production and performance John! You layered so well these three parts, which show that you’re a true musician and a talented guitar player who can blend in a perfect harmony those beautiful leads and rhythm. Really very enjoyable to listen to and inspiring work.

Guido

[Raffaele S]

Excellent performance…..I really liked the mix of the various guitars that pleasantly animated the rhythmic base formed by a series of chords that repeated several times….very good..

[Michael L]

Hi John, yes, I’m sure that video and mix was a lot of work to get right. But, it came together very well. Great sound and layering of parts. Your various guitar tones mixed really well here for a ‘full band’ effect.

[JoeD1]

That was beautiful John. To hear how well you mixed all those pieces together and put the video together must have been a lot of work. Well done!

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

[Werner]

What should I say that´s not already said above. Great job, John. That is fantastic.

Thank you

Werner

[sunjamr]

I guess Delicate Steve must be the brother of Seasick Steve, but no relation to Sunjamr Steve. Nice arrangement, well played!

Sunjamr Steve

[AndréM]

Cool Tele john.
You got that video thing going.
When I saw the title of the song I thought you were to play and sing Fly away by Lenny Kravitz, lol.
Smooth playing as usual.

AndréM

AndréM

[Laurel C]

That is one chilled out arrangement. Impressed you went for 4 layers. Obviously that was the Challenge. Awesome playing John.

[Manfred M]

This song really lives up to its title, John. I really enjoyed this flight. Excellent guitar work, both rhythm and lead. The song is over, and I’m still floating on air.

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup will be May/June
There will be a detailed announcement here in the forum
I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Mark T]

Well, I don’t know about any bloopers, John – what you provided sounded quite polished and well constructed to me! The audio mix was excellent, and the video production too was superb – a great job all around. – Mark 👍🎶😎

[charjo]

Thanks, Mark, I was proud of the mix and guitar tones. I thought that each guitar could be heard clearly.
The video issue came about from trying to add the guitars in order of appearance. When I tried to add the improv I had run out of available layers. Trying to sneak the improv into the first layer caused the software to blast all the other layers into smithereens. I finally realized I had to do each layer from the ground up.
John

[Paul S.]

This was beautifully done, nicely mixed and had great layers of sound. It just carried me away.
(Also makes me realize I need to upgrade my recording and editing software, too.)

[Wayne Nunez]

Wow John that’s some great playing and mixing it sounds so simple good,like a great David Gilmoure or Dickie betts solo,who happen to be two of my favorite players,you knocked it out the park my friend!,👍

[JoLa]

Wow, John! Just seeing you split into four videos made me sigh in disbelief! That’s not an easy task on anyone! But the part I loved the most was the music, of course. Such a chill vibe, each layer just adding a little more, the repetitive riffs gave it a nice intoxicating mood. It always amazes me how much music can be made with just two chords going back and forth. All your guitar parts sounding so cool, you picked great tones, I wish I could do that so easily. When the ending credits appeared, I thought, “Oh no, just keep going” – loved it!

And yeah, no surprise that the telecaster won, I also do believe it is the most versatile guitar there is – and you’ve got a beauty there!

🎸JoLa

[Jonathan Amos]

I’d say 4 layered videos is pretty ambitious, the finished product turned out fine. The solo at the end was great.

Jonathan Amos, Matsuyama, Japan

[Martin W]

Cleverly produced with syncing the different layers, they all work well together,
Not familiar with this tune ( I’ve just heard the original on YouTube ) you cover it so well , the laid back chill vibe immediately comes through.
Nice to see you on the tele .

Martin

[Dieter]

Very fine soulful, relaxing playing.

Dieter

[Gary W]

Loved the vibe John, there’s something really solid – in the pocket – about this. I got really attached to the motif’s and the rhythm. As witg my submission this month, you seemed to really explore an idea – pushing it around from inside – I think this is the future! Well played, a pleasure to listen to

Gary

[snakechisler]

That was a lovely relaxing piece with good video and top playing

as for the Tele you made it sound top notch

I had one once a G&L version lovely thing but didn’t get on with the fretboard it was too narrow for me I have big hands and grew up on a 12″ radius Gibson style guitar (My strat Eric J has a 12″ radius by the way I’d gotten through a couple before I found that one)

Lovely layering with different tones from 1 guitar

[Denise]

I like your rhythm and lead layers. This had an Allman/Dickey Betts vibe to me. Love the higher lead on top.
Great tone on your Tele.

Each time I listen to your submissions I start to doubt about my tone setup and think I need to get new gear.
Denise

More Blues!

[charjo]

Me too! The search never ends.
John

[Author]

Posts