May 2025 Active Melody Challenge

[Catherine Arsenault]

Good Day Active Melody makers!!! I know that the subject for this month is about lightbulb moments I’ve experienced. There are so many to discuss…but the one that has certainly been beneficial to my guitar journey is the CAGED system. Being part of this wonderful platform and Brians lessons and of course watching all your submissions has taught me so much and has inspired me to keep on playing and practicing!!! The video submission I’ve put up this month is actually a composition that I just finished last night ( there was no Hockey last night Go Oilers Go. LOL) I’ve working on this composition for some time now….not only taught me about recording and editing but actually being confident enough to put myself out there to the world web.. I hope you enjoy this and I certainly hope I’ll being doing more…

[John H]

Go Oilers the Cup belongs in Canada! This is fantastic Catherine. Love the tone, groove and flow. I am seeing the chord shapes from which your licks are derived. Fascinating concept. Thanks for sharing.

John

[Richard G]

You always get a wonderful tone from your LP Catherine, it was a real treat to listen to those licks and beautiful runs..

Richard

[Michael L]

Such a soulful vibe Catherine. Love those bends. Congratulations on a fantastic composition.

[James B]

Always a pleasure to hear you play, Catherine. Just tastefully expressed from the heart. Love the lighting in your video too.

James

[KT]

Enjoyed listening to your submission.
Great tone and quality recording.
Bluesy with clear chord intensity
Loved it
KT

[Catherine Arsenault]

Thanks KT!!!

[AndréM]

Hey I do have time,lol
Awesome Cath, I love it very soulful.
I did hear a Mark Knopfler vibe.
You seem to get pretty good with the technology.

AndréM

AndréM

[Catherine Arsenault]

Thanks Andre🇨🇦🎶

[sunjamr]

Hey Catherine if there’s anyone I’ve ever heard who should have the confidence to perform, it’s you. You are one of my major inspirations within the AM community. Your sense of phrasing, melody, and skillful guitar techniques are as good as it gets. I’ve enjoyed every single thing you ever posted here, so I vote for you to just keep on picking!

Sunjamr Steve

[Catherine Arsenault]

Thank you so much🥰

[JoLa]

That’s a soulful masterpiece, Catherine! A sweet yet strong melody weaving in and out with your tasteful phrasing, such a pleasure to listen to! I second Sunjamr, if anyone should have the confidence it’s you. You definitely gotta put your musical creations out there, Youtube maybe Spotify is next 🙂

🎸JoLa

[Alan L]

What a stunning composition! 🤩 yeah, caged has been a huge breakthrough for me too (still have a little work to do on a few of those shapes!) 😆

[Wayne Nunez]

Great job always so smooth!

[Gary W]

Real nice Catherine, soulful, pretty and transported me somewhere wonderful. For a moment, you were Bonnie Rait in my mind 🙂

Gary

[Jennifer D]

What a wonderful musical composition! I’m so pleased your confidence is catching up with your talent! Always a pleasure to watch and listen to you!

[JoeD1]

I always enjoy listening to you play so much and this left me wanting more as usual! Great playing Cath!

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

[Paul S.]

I got so transfixed by the music that I stopped paying attention to your fingers
This is a really beautiful and soulful piece and professional grade, for sure.

I also see that when you bend the high strings, you pull them down instead of pushing up. I gotta try that.

[Martin W]

Beautiful composition Catherine, the phrasing is full of soul .
Love those bends ,
Superbly recorded as well , highlighting the tone from your LP .

Martin

[Pap]

Catherine, that composition has a lot of emotion and was artfully crafted and played. Well done. Pap

[Manfred M]

You can tell stories and create moods with your guitar, Catherine. I’m so glad you decided to share your new composition with us. It is such a pleasure to listen to and your playing is outstanding as always.

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup will probably take place in July/August 2025

There will be a detailed announcement here in the forum in good time.

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Dieter]

What a great melodic performance.

Dieter

[Bill]

Soulful and mellow, a really fine composition. Nice backing track too!

[charjo]

Beautiful composition, Catherine, and your feel and tone are outstanding. Piano and guitar go so well together.
Hockey in Florida, that’s sacrilege!
John

[Denise]

Sounding beautiful. I love how skillfully and expressive you are playing. It comes very close to Knopfler.
Yes, CAGED is super useful…it’s freedom on the fretboard.
Denise

More Blues!

[Bob Utberg]

It’s been a few years Catherine! 1993 since a Canadian -based team has won Lord Stanley’s Cup. And then that darn Patrick Roy became an Avalanche! Love the Series so far – so close!!! Oh – guitar stuff?? Amazing playing and use of the CAGED. That was a big one for me, too. And John H mentioned it as well.

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Mark T]

This is such a wonderful submission, Catherine – your composition is just beautiful, as of course is your playing, but what I also loved is the video production that created just the right ‘visual-tone’ for it. – Mark 👍🎶😎

[Author]

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