November 2025 Christmas challenge – Denise & Chetty

[Denise]

Hi AMers

I found an old Brian’s Jingle Bell Rock version on YT (which is not on AM). I added some
diminished chords and licks from EP515 Country Rock. A lesson that I have been working on for a while.
The many chord changes were quite a challenge so I didn’t play it up to the original speed.

Actually I only added about 15% overdrive gain on my Blackstar HT5 amp…but Chetty is such a beast.

I am looking forward to watching your Christmas song ideas.
Wish you all a Happy Christmas season!

Denise

More Blues!

[Jonathan Amos]

Good choice of tune, sounded very well matched to your arrangement and the extra chords could have been Brian’s for all I knew. Yes, that Gretsch is a big guitar with a big beefy sound, 15% overdrive on my setup hardly registers. The original is faster but your tempo sounded fine, better to play something well at a comfortable tempo rather than badly at a faster tempo.

Jonathan Amos, Matsuyama, Japan

[charjo]

Great arrangement, Denise. Your playing was really impressive and the tempo was just fine. I was hoping to see your strat but “Chetty”, or should I call him “the Beast”, was the perfect choice.
John

[Guido]

Brilliant chordal arrangement Denise, very nicely crafted and played on your Chetty! A perfect piece of music for Xmas!

Guido

[AndréM]

You rock Lady.
Awesome playing.
Don’t hear a Gretch with OD very often.
Yeah Chetty is a beast.
Loved the jazzy riffs in the middle.

Merry Christmas

AndréM

AndréM

[sunjamr]

That was fun! Nice job on everything from the jamtrack to the tone to the chordal melody line.

Sunjamr Steve

[JoeD1]

That was really nice Denise. I liked your subtle use of the tremelo too. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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]

WOW! Great playing, and I also like the jazzy style. And the guitar sounds phenomenal. Thank you for your contribution.

Thank you, Werner

[Reuben B]

Great rendition Denise, I like the use of chords to build up those melody. Nice improvisation in the middle to round it all up.

[JoLa]

I love the Beast as the new nickname for Chetty, that is so fitting! What else is fitting is calling you a ROCK star because you totally play like one! Excellent choice to start with, Denise – that version is also one of my favorites! Then a brilliant idea to play it on the Beast, the sound alone was entertaining and somewhat full of surprises with every turn. The arrangement was also very cool and creative which also goes along my mantra: “if you can’t play it like the original, change something up and make it my own” 😎 Loved the ending, too! Did you put together the drum track for this as well ?

It is always so lovely to see that window behind you and how the camera lens react to the changes of light. I’m sure I said that before but I think you have the loveliest studio room setup. Being there a few years ago was such a thrill!

🎸JoLa

[Juxi]

Performances that are introduced with the words “Chetty is such a beast” let expectations soar, Denise. You and Chetty did not disappoint: very cool and rocky version of the song.
Loved the tasteful usage of the tremolo. Very well done!
Eine schöne Adventszeit und frohe Weihnachten!

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[Michael L]

Jingle, jingle!! Denise this is awesome! A great arrangement that captures the tune so well, with all the requisite harmonies and classic lines. So well played, and putting us all in the holiday mood. Loved it!

[Alan L]

Excellent chord voicing and harmonized licks! I like the jazzy chromatic runs in the solo too. The whole piece has a great feel and that guitar and amp combo sound fantastic!

[John H]

Denise
Gutsy rendition. Very jazzy yet gritty. Love how you created ‘space’ with the chording, diminished and such. I’m glad you went with Chetty. Love the rockabilly vibe you get. Wishing you a very lovely holiday season.

JH

[Bill]

Yeah Denise! Chetty was born for this kind of playing, sounds great! Happy Holidays!

[Bruce D]

Hi Denise,
Nice choice of songs, and good detective work too! I recognized that EP515 run too, that was the hardest lick of that song. Well done and well put together. Chet is sounding great!

Merry Christmas!
Bruce

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

[Manfred M]

You and Chetty also make a great Christmas team, Denise. And the overdrive creates a nice tension, while your added diminished chords give it a lot of originality. Very imaginative!

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]

What an animal Chetty is 😎. You sounded like Brian Setzer himself there. Whatever does it sound like with the gain turned up all the way 🥹.
The grit in the tone really brings this piece to life and you played it with such a great touch and fluency which can’t have been easy as there’s a lot of chords and they’re flying around the neck! Great details too, the little accents on the bigsby, sliding in the diminished and the guitar solo too. Loved it 🤩

[Ivan]

Nicely done Denise…👌🎶

Ivan

[Dieter]

Fine bluesy Version.

Dieter

[Martin W]

Wow chetty in full voice ! What a sound you’ve dialled in Denise , nice choice of lesson you dug out of the archives , all the little nuances you added makes this one your own , love those subtle jazz flavours you worked in with the diminished idea
Connecting it all back to the melody was cleverly done .

Happy festive season.

Martin

[James B]

Great Christmas tune, Denise. I was singing along with you. 🎶 “Thats the jingle bell rock” 🎶.

James

[Richard G]

What a brilliant and full Christmas sound from you and Chetty. There was massive amounts of joyfulness and merriment in that high-spirited rendition.

Merry Christmas Denise🎄
Richard

[Paul S.]

Wow, I am very impressed… not only by the fine playing (which looked really hard moving up and down the neck), but by the great tone you got out of Chetty. When you first started, I thought I was listening to the original recording.
A performance worthy of the season.

[Catherine Arsenault]

Great playing Denise that Chetty certainly has a great roar!!!!!!loved it!!!

[Author]

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