October 2025 Challenge Response – Guido

[Guido]

For this month I had almost decided to skip: tried to work on an idea, bit it didn’t work at all.

But yesterday in the evening, when I had almost given up, an old video of my AM friend Garry playing the EP163 (playing slide guitar in the style of George Harrison) popped out in my YouTube channel and that harmony and melody inspired me to grab my guitar and try to improvise something.

So really not many reharsals for this, just some attempts yesterday and today, and then just recorded the final version in 3 takes.

The song is in A major, and I used what it’s called, If I’m not wrong, the box 5 of the major pentatonic. But I’m used to think about it as the box 1 of the relative minor – F# minor in this case. Perhaps I played 1 note outside the pentatonic, and also I played the first part in the lower frets and the second part in the same box but 1 octave higher.

Very far to be refined, just almost an improvisation.

Guido

[JoeD1]

That sounded superb Guido. It was a nice touch adding the higher octave too.

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

[Martin W]

Hi Guido , that’s a great choice of backing track ( I chose the same ) , I’ve also listened to garrys rendition it’s so good I’ve revisited many times .
your melodic ideas just flowed , those bends sound superb and adds some intensity to the track . It’s such a melodic chord progression, you did it justice in heaps .
Excellent take .

Martin

[James B]

Great choice, Guido. Glad you decided to post it.

James

[AndréM]

Although you didn’t follow the brief, you bad boy. that was very nicely played.
Very good for short time rehearsal.

AndréM

AndréM

[JoLa]

I knew it was going to be good the moment you mentioned that track! Both you and Martin W made a great choice this month. Your unrefined improvisation was a pleasure to listen to, and it was probably better than you thought!

I’m perversely glad I was not the only one struggling with this challenge at the beginning. But I love how you found the inspiration in the last minute AND that you found it through another AM-er’s work! And I’m so glad you did 😊

🎸JoLa

[John H]

Guido
Tasty, sweet and tender-hearted. Sounds pretty polished to me.😎
Very enjoyable, my friend.

John

[Dieter]

I find this type of melodic music wonderful. Excellent playing and great sound—what more could you want?

Dieter

[Denise]

Wow, so well done for only 2 days of working on the challenge.
Wonderful and skillful improvisation. I loved these sweet bends.
Great tone.
Denise

More Blues!

[Manfred M]

I’m glad you got some last-minute inspiration, Guido. It was really fun to listen to. The same box an octave higher, a nice move to bring variety to this one region challenge!

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

[Alan L]

Your bends are well placed and expressive, giving you the most mileage out of the limited space. Well done !

[Jennifer D]

That was super cool!!!

[Bill]

Really nice Guido! I like how you bent the rules and used the same box, just an octave up 😉
Very Beatles like in your sound on this track.

[Catherine Arsenault]

Wonderful playing Guido loved it!!!!

[Robert G G]

Thx for the lesson in smooth mellowness. Well done.. more.

Blues Bob

[charjo]

Bends into chord tones, that’s amazing, Guido. Great ear for the melody.
John

[Michael L]

This is really wonderful Guido! You should be quite satisfied with your improvisation. It’s very melodic, nicely phrased and has good feel to it. I enjoyed it!

[Serena C]

It seems a lot of us were short in time for this challenge 😬 you did great Guido! It sounds like a very well rehearsed and polished performance, well done!

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]

What a great choice of backing track and a great solo you quickly put together too. You marked out the changes and the bends were delicious! And going the octave higher a sneaky trick to expand the brief we all wish we’d thought of 😀 👌

[Tremelow]

Hey Guido, I am seriously impressed with your last minute response. It’s a real treat and I am glad you made the decesion to post it. Sometimes it’s like that. And don’t you worry, neither is every not of the challenge chiseled in stone (unless stated) nor the final moment of submission.

[Reuben B]

I really like the melodic lines you’ve created Guido. Then moving it to the higher registry brings the song to next level. Great submission, glad I get to hear it and that you decided to submit after all!

[Author]

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