May 2025 Challenge Response – Reuben B

[Reuben B]

This response is really a slow-burn light bulb moment for me: at one point after all of these AM lessons I realize that I have enough in my guitar vocabulary to be able to play a stand-alone acoustic 12-bar blues. So here’s it is, a half-improvised, half-composed 12-bar blues. But the major realization for me is, before joining AM to be able to play the blues like this was something I could not do and really wanted to do. So this is kind of a major milestone / light bulb moment.

I’ve not been able to join the challenges recently, unfortunately. Looking forward to see & hear everyone’s submission.

[AndréM]

Man you can play the blues no problem.
Very nice.
How do you like your Fender Tone Master?

AndréM

AndréM

[sunjamr]

Nice fingerstyle blues, Reuben, well played! Good job on keeping the drone bass going. That’s my favorite kind of guitar playing, and like you, I just slowly learned how to do it.

Sunjamr Steve

[KT]

Hello Reuben
Very impressive blues. You got this mastered well done !

[Martin W]

Hi Reuben, finger style blues is where it’s at such a full sound with the bass thumb keeping things in check , you got this under your fingers perfectly .
Some nice little runs in there . Glad to see you back .
Excellent !

Martin

[Dieter]

Great bluesy feeling.

Dieter

[Bill]

Nice blues Reuben! You’ve got that dead thumb down. I liked your use of chromatic movement too (another lightbulb for me anyway), especially walking up to end it.

[charjo]

That is an accumulation of a lot of knowledge and a lot of skill. Sounded great, Reuben, and you are among the best finger style players on Active Melody.
John

[Jennifer D]

Wow that was brilliant! I really enjoyed that! 👌

[JoLa]

Oh, wow, that was FANTASTIC, Reuben! You totally nailed playing the fingerstyle blues here, it just doesn’t get better than that! This is a true breakthrough to be able to even improvise like that, so many skills involved here! I could only hope to reach such stage somewhere down the road. Thank you for sharing that, I always love seeing your submissions, so hopefully they’ll keep coming 🙂

🎸JoLa

[James B]

Slick finger picking, Reuben. This style is the most satisfying of all when playing solo. Some great runs in this piece.

James

[Alan L]

Really nice performance Reuben! Steady rhythm, catchy melody. Well done

[Manfred M]

To improvise such a fingerstyle blues is also a goal of mine and you do it here in a very admirable way, Reuben. I take this as inspiration for my own journey. Congrats to your great milestone. I enjoyed it.

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

[John H]

Reuben
This is fantastic. You sure can play. I always though you had an innate ability to compose and fingerpick. Masterclass Bro!! Your tone is MAGNIFICENT.

John

[JoeD1]

That was so great Reuben! During some of those fast moments I was watching your right hand and those fingers of your were really moving! Thanks for sharing your lightbulb moment with us.

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

[Pap]

Dam your good Reuben! Hey check out EP 603…its in your play book. Cheers. Pap

[Bob Utberg]

Wonderful “STAND ALONE” Blues Reuben! Love the Blues ‘squeeze’ on some of your notes. Great use of the Major and minor sounds, too! One of your best here ever!!!

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Author]

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