October 2024 Challenge Response – Michael L

[Michael L]

Haha! Such a simple song… I IV V chords, simple repeating melody… how do you make this one interesting? Not so simple anymore! This is one of the reason I love the monthly challenges. So much creativity is on display within our community. I’m really looking forward to seeing how you all handled this one, and all the variety we’ll have. Here’s my contribution:

[Mike W]

Wow, that was wonderful – you certainly managed to make it interesting Michael. That was quite a masterclass for arranging and playing. The harmonics at the beginning grabbed the interest immediately and created quite an air of tension. Kudos for not rushing it at the beginning, the increase in tempo as it progressed added to the interest. Thanks for sharing.

[Paul S.]

Quite a transition from the super-slow opening tones through the jazz-like riffs leading up to the more conventional chords. By the end you are really rolling along to the big build up ending. Nice work.

[Richard G]

A nice variety of takes on this one Michael with a variety of harmonies including those up the ‘nose-bleed’ part of the fingerboard. Loved it …..

Richard

[Jennifer D]

Wow your intro was simple and hauntingly beautiful, as you speed up it gets more intricate and very interesting indeed! I really liked it!

[Guido]

Very jazzy and classy rendition, Michael, with many interesting musical ideas and variations in rhythm, harmony and melody. Very enjoyable to listen to!

Guido

[Catherine Arsenault]

Very creative Nice 😊😊😊😊

[sunjamr]

Brilliant introduction, nice chord progressions, great arrangement! Just one man and his guitar, yet full of variety and tasty licks. I think you took it to a new level, Michael.

Sunjamr Steve

[John H]

Michael
Nicely done. I really like what you were doing between frets 5 and 9. You seem to be packing in a lot of triads and ornamental licks between chords. That was an untiring display of fretboard gymnastics that was both melodic and musical. Big applause!!!

John

[AndréM]

Nice submission.
Liked the change of speed.
Great creativity.

AndréM

AndréM

[Alan L]

I like how you started light and airy, and built intensity. Nice jazz licks and the arrangement fills the space well. Nice work! 👍

[Pap]

Wow Michael! That was an excellent use of dynamics and you have some really cool lick. I’d love to know what you were thinking when you worked this one out. It could be EP 385ML🤣 You busted down the door with this one man. Nice work and well played! Cheers! Pap (Carpenteria in case you didn’t read my reply).

[Dieter]

It’s impressive how you’re building up the song step by step. Excellent jazzy version.

Dieter

[donmati]

You lost me a bit with all those notes, but there’s a lot of research behind all those arrangements, and your build-up to the rhythm is very nice, creating a suspense that invites us to wait for the next part.

Don Mati

[Denise]

Great intro ! Loved how you got into the Saints shuffle groove. I liked these passing chords, harmonized 6th and jazzy chords. Man, your sophisticated lead lines and arpeggios sounded fantastic. And you changed the tempo🤗. Unlike me you always know what notes and scales you are playing.
Well done, Michael.
Denise

More Blues!

[Bill]

That was masterful Michael! Great arrangement and use of fills in between the melody. Lots of great triad shapes and inversions in there too I see. You’ve really put a lot of thought and work into this and the result is fantastic!

[Alan O]

Michael, that was awesome! Really liked the way you began the song and you certainly didn’t have any problem keeping it interesting!

Alan

[Bob Utberg]

Right off the bat Michael!!! You took be back to my Middle School days (early 70s) and the start to the Classic Yes song: Roundabout! With the octave and harmonic! Very creative. Super use of chord lead ideas! Then you went The Beatles on us @ 1:25 with their iconic chord progression – think And I Saw Her Standing There!! So wonderful!
Michael, you once said that The Blues is not your “cup o tea” – or sumpin like that! Sorry if I am “mis-remembering” – to paraphrase Roger Clemens! But darn it Michael!!! That had Blues ALL OVER IT!! And, played at a high level. Way to go

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Manfred M]

You started it slow with this nice intro, Michael and with speeding up, you packed in there a lot of musical ideas and you let sound this simple melody so sophisticated. You show all your creativity and musicality in this one.

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

[JoLa]

Very classy intro, Michael! And that was just the beginning of the trip you took me on in not a direction I thought this would go. Then a few good turns into unexpected areas took me by surprise, somehow you always found your way back and introduced something new with an increasing tempo… what a journey! Quite amazing, really! I am also 100% sure you knew exactly where you were in terms of scales and chords at any given time. Very impressive!

🎸JoLa

[Martin W]

Very creative take on this Michael, that built nicely from that slow intro , you took this tune to new avenues with some sophisticated sounding ideas , a real fretboard workout.
Enjoyed it !

Martin

[Gary W]

Love what you did with this Michael. As you say – such a simple sounding song … but so many possibilities in terms of expressing its essence. I think you did exceptionally – I love the unfolding of the story from that scene-setting start. Very well created.

Gary

[Martyn in France]

Well that Michael, was just amazing, your understanding about where you are and what you’re doing is second to none. If I could play half as good as this I’d be a very happy bunny.
Martyn

[Serena C]

You’ve really succeeded in making the song your own, interesting and original as you aimed to! I’ve particularly enjoyed the intro and outro, so unexpected, great rendition!

If I wasn't making mistakes I wouldn't be the kind of player I want to be. Perfection is dangerous.
It's all about taking risks, sometimes you get to some place, sometimes you get to a different place. (Brian May)

[Andy N]

That was one eloquent and creative arrangement Michael. I absolutely loved what you did there, from that super slow intro full of space (something I find so hard to play) through those jazzy lead lines to the higher tempo chordal melody.
Full of invention and expertly played.

[David H]

You are spot on with your introductory comments. I was going to say delightful, but then I saw the word eloquent above. Amazing how you came up such a variety. Huge home run Michael.

[Author]

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