October 2025 Challenge Response

This topic has 18 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 3 weeks, 5 days ago by Serena C.

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- November 7, 2025 at 6:47 pm #402937
  Reuben B
  Participant
  Pressed for time, I have once again opted for “done is better than good” 🙂
  
  For this challenge response, I intentionally looked for a jamtrack from an older lesson that I know I’ve not listened to before. EP290 caught my attention and I basically turned on the recorder, did several takes, and picked one.
  
  I played mostly on the E-shaped of C. But because it’s mostly major pentatonic, I think it ends up to be a position 2 with some blends of position 1 minor Pentatonic. I struggled a bit as I am not used to the bottom part of position 2. But in any case, here it is.
  
  Thanks for listening and I am looking forward to hear / see all the other submissions.
- November 7, 2025 at 9:54 pm #402944
  AndréM
  Participant
  Very nice Reuben, you selected the best track Brian ever made.
  It’s the first track I recorded when I joined AM in 2019.
  Well done man on your 335.
  
  AndréM
  
  AndréM
- November 8, 2025 at 1:25 am #402959
  Jennifer D
  Participant
  I thought that was superb! Going to listen again!
- November 8, 2025 at 6:09 am #402983
  Denise
  Participant
  That was Blues at its best! I like how you started soft and low and then increased and played faster and passionately. Great overdrive tone.
  Well done!
  Denise
  
  More Blues!
- November 8, 2025 at 11:00 am #403027
  JoeD1
  Participant
  That was exceptional playing Reuben. Really enjoyable.
  
  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
- November 8, 2025 at 11:33 am #403033
  Martin W
  Participant
  Hi Reuben, that backing track sounds familiar I remember it well , liking the way you built this up subtly upping the intensity, that passage starting at around 0.55 was superb, and so impressive for a short study. I’ve also had multiple listens .
  Enjoyed it !
  
  Martin
- November 8, 2025 at 1:26 pm #403040
  James B
  Participant
  Great job on this track, Reuben. Really loved it when you kicked it into overdrive.
  
  James
- November 8, 2025 at 3:03 pm #403067
  JoLa
  Participant
  Ah! That first sentence you wrote in the description describes my life with the challenges! 😂😆
  
  And your playing, wow! I second what Denise said, excellent dynamics with this gradually more passionate solo, done like a pro! Loved every bit of it, you have great guitar skills, Reuben. Your first take will always be better than my 93nd 😉😁
  
  🎸JoLa
- November 8, 2025 at 9:40 pm #403103
  Alan L
  Participant
  Strong from the start, and you kept developing from there. Love the repeated ideas, great job all around!
- November 9, 2025 at 12:29 am #403120
  Dieter
  Participant
  Great melodic playing and sound.
  
  Dieter
- November 9, 2025 at 2:13 am #403136
  Manfred M
  Participant
  Well, Reuben, I don’t think the time constraints detract from your musicality at all. It always comes through loud and clear. I enjoy all your contributions, including this one. Who needs perfection when you can have fun listening?
  
  Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
  The next Meetup will be at the beginning of next year 2026
  
  A detailed announcement will be posted here in the forum in good time.
  
  I look forward to meet you.
  Manfred
- November 9, 2025 at 5:51 am #403151
  John H
  Participant
  Reuben
  Tasty and gritty. Love this. No need to over prepare on these things. Love how you follow the chord changes and just let it go… very well done.
  
  John
- November 9, 2025 at 8:08 am #403173
  Bill
  Participant
  Nice performance Reuben. Good use of dynamics as you built the solo up. And liked the blending of the maj/minor sounds. Nice work!
- November 9, 2025 at 9:50 am #403194
  Catherine Arsenault
  Participant
  Great submission Reuben!!
- November 9, 2025 at 10:15 am #403207
  Paul S.
  Participant
  You did a great job of playing to the unusual chord changes and creating a recognizable melody line through the entire song. Really fine playing, with good control over tone and volume and identifying the high points of the progression. Excellent.
- November 9, 2025 at 3:56 pm #403260
  charjo
  Moderator
  Great improv , Rueben, not an easy task at all. Great dynamics and phrases. Love those rhythmic double stops at 2:05.
  John
- November 10, 2025 at 7:39 am #403334
  Guido
  Participant
  Great rendition, Reuben! Loved your piece of music, and as others pointed out, how you build up the tension starting softly and then making roar your beautiful ES-335, like a real musician! Enjoyed very much to listen to it!
  
  Guido
- November 10, 2025 at 8:53 am #403343
  Andy N
  Participant
  Top blues performance Reuben.
  As others have mentioned the dynamics, starting slow and mellow before letting rip at the minute mark was a standout. The 335 sparkled when it went into overdrive.
- November 11, 2025 at 2:28 am #403411
  Serena C
  Participant
  Great submission Reuben! Your fingerstyle is so rich in expressivity!
  
  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)
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