May 2026 Challenge Response – Jonathan Amos – Slow riff in A minor

[Jonathan Amos]

I thought this was an excellent idea for a challenge. I took three great licks from EP622, one of Brian’s best with a fast tempo, slowed them down and changed the key to fit the much slower backing track on EP576. Then added some more of my own ideas to flesh it out.

On a technical note, I do sometimes find it difficult to bend strings smoothly. For example, in the first lick, when I bend up the third string and then pick the fretted first string, I have to let go of the third string so my ring finger can fret the second string, which makes the open third string sound. Played quickly with a noisy backing track it does not matter so much but when played slowly, as in this piece, precision is important.

Jonathan Amos, Matsuyama, Japan

[Dieter]

Very soulful playing.

Dieter

[Lights]

Very good composition, Jon! Your guitar weeps nicely.
Lights.

[AndréM]

Excellent playing Jonathan on that Quist BT.
Great riffs from Brian that fits this BT.
Well done.

AndréM

AndréM

[Scott W]

Sweet sound. Nicely done.

[Mike W]

Very soulful, lovely moody music. Great composition and playing.

[Alan L]

The licks sound perfectly at home in the new tempo. I like the repeated motifs keeping it all anchored and cohesive. Nice work!

[Andy N]

What a superb, moody bluesy composition. Sounded so good and those licks worked perfectly. I had to go to 622 to check them out as they sounded so different here. Though that’s the point of course. They made an excellent foundation for the song. Excellent playing and I love that tone

[Denise]

I very much like your lead with these licks incorporated into that sad Quist track.
The repeated motif sounds very effective and your playing sounded fantastic.
I remember that I played an own lead over that track a few years ago.

More Blues!

[John H]

Jonathan
Man-this oozes with gorgeous tonalities and melody… what a beautiful arrangement. Your bends are spot on my friend. Love that guitar!

John

[Martin W]

Ah , I remember that backing track it’s a fine one to play over , as you so well demonstrated, clever use of the borrowed licks using them in a different context.
Your own ideas fitted in so well to .
I agree with the bending technique the clean tone doesn’t hide anything, I thought your bends were spot on .

Martin

[Wayne Nunez]

Love the nice slow groove great playing Jonathan

[Manfred M]

You’ve put together a beautiful composition around these licks, Jonathan. Beautifully played, with so much soul. A perfect arrangement!

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

[wannaplayblues]

Some wonderful work – and lovely audio production work too!

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

[Author]

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