Sept 2017 MicroLesson Challenge: ML001 & 002 – by Sunjamr Steve

[sunjamr]

My apologies for this pathetic effort. I’ve been working so much I only had a half day to practice this, and it shows. I wanted to do some slow blues in A using the major pentatonic scale, so I chose ML001 and 002, and just added whatever other licks came into my head – pretty much impromptu. You’ll recognize most of the other licks, and the ones you don’t recognize came from Ronnie Earl. I played this on 3 different guitars: a Walden, a Taylor GS mini, and a Taylor Baby. Then I threw in a baritone uke just for fun (my improv on it sounds terrible). I kept the sound holes of all instruments the same distance from the mic, and just recorded everything clean. So if one of the instruments sounds louder, it’s because it is. I’ll do better next time, I promise.

Sunjamr Steve

[ieldepiel]

good effort steve,
niced camerawork with the rhythm foot!

[Lights]

Yeah! I recognized hints of EP208 which is in my playlist too, other licks were played like Ronnie Earl himself. Parfect, Steve.
Lights.

[donmati]

A lot of good ideas Steeve, the mic on the foot, the differents guitars, and off course many good licks. Thank’s
Don Mati

[brian-belsey]

Very nice slow blues, Steve. Well done.

[Hilsanders]

Steve,
I enjoyed every aspect of your post. Great job!
JohnA

[AlbertoGunz]

Loved all the different guitars and the fingerstyle blues was really well played, you played all over the neck and incorporated little pieces of different lessons to make your own blues. Really cool, flowed together seamlessly.

Play Loud!

[Martin G]

Upon reading your intro, I braced myself for an uncharacteristic Sunjamr performance….Happily it turned out that you over estimated the “badness”…..In fact, other than a few timing gafs (when your foot got out of synch with your play), it was an entertaining production…..nicely woven together licks that reminded us of why we belong to Active Melody.
I always look forward to whatever you got…..Keep em coming. They are always fun.

Marty

[sunjamr]

Ha, yeh, those timing gaffs plagued me on this one. I found it a lot harder to slow down and play this at 80 BPM than at 100 BPM, so I kept tending to play it faster. I forced myself to try to play it slow as a learning exercise, but my hands wouldn’t listen all the time.

Sunjamr Steve

[Tim Lee]

Steve,

No apologies needed at all. I really enjoyed it and your whole production didn’t look or sound like you cobbled it together last minute.
Great flow and sound from all your guitars & uke.
Well done!

Tim

[Jeff Y]

Hi Steve
Nice opening graphics 🙂

I echo the others, expected the worse and was pleased by a nice soothing performance. Great idea recording your foot tap to keep the beat.

Great transition from one guitar to another too.

Well played Steve

Jeff

[sciencefiction]

Sounded great, Steve! You sure are a harsh critic!! This was very, very, good.
What were you thinking?! Now you’ve set yourself up to outperform yourself on the next Challenge. Whoops.
And, that Ukulele sounded fantastic. What a great way to end it up.
Super,laid back vibe here.
Larry

[Bob S]

Steve,
Sounded real good, regardless of how much practice time you had. Liked the “guitar orchestra”.

Bob

[scattercreek]

Hey Steve,

No need to apologize for that. I enjoyed it and your smile at the end proved you were having fun.

Work is bad, suggest you avoid that. Just kidding, I retired 1 1/2 years ago and they keep calling me back when they are short handed.

What was the symbol on your hat, looked like something fishing related. I’ve always wanted to go fly fishing in New Zealand. Can’t afford it because of all the money I’ve spent on guitars, ha ha.

Great post Steve,

Gene

Gene

[sunjamr]

The hat came from New Smyrna Beach, Florida. I grew up there, and can claim to be the first ever surfer in NSB, which is now recognized as the surfing capital of Florida. Fishing is great there, and in New Zealand also. In fact, I’m a fishatarian: I mostly only eat seafood.

Sunjamr Steve

[Chris T]

Yup, very nicely done as always Steve. Your intro suggested something less perfect was coming our way. Very creative.

[Tremelow]

Like I just commented in Ale’S @smilefred post, I wish I could accomplish something sounding this well in such a short period of time. I would Need half a day just to cut the Video like you did. I am not sure if your proof hold’s scientifically, but all the guitar parts were awesome! Great Job, Sunjamr Steve!

[WBlues]

Steve, both Lesson have a great blues in themselves. Great fingerstyle. I mean, everything fits; so you want the blues. It must be simple and it must be what we connect with it. I like it very much.
Wilfried

Play guitar just like you live; don't get bogged down in theory, it's just a tool without feeling.

Wilfried

[Jordan Sutherland]

Very good for little practice!

Jordan

[bwade913]

That was a lot of fun Steve and agree with others that the badness was oversold. I enjoyed comparing the different guitar and Uke tones in the otherwise same environment. Nice production as well. – Bret

[Gary W]

Steve — It stinks when work gets in the way of important things like guitar practice. Seriously, that was great. From your intro I thought I was about to view something terrible, but that was really enjoyable. The playing was great and the whole thing was nicely put together.
Gary

[Debra]

Steve,
That was just amazing! I loved your playing, the camera work and the switching of instruments. You always do something creative and fun! Wonderful post, Steve.
Cheers, Debra

[Bryce-AKguitar]

“pathetic effort”?!?!

So when you give 110% to your challenges submissions it is pathetic because you are not giving your normal 150% Steve? Over 100% is over 100%. Life happens. It happens to us all and it is ok. Be kind to yourself friend!

Several things to note about your video Steve:

1) You played awesome.
2) You played multiple parts and instruments awesome.
3) YOU are awesome!
4) You are too hard on yourself (not in video but need to be mentioned.)
5) Refer to #3.

🙂

-Bryce
Anchorage, Alaska

[Don D.]

No apologies necessary, that was nice; yes, even the sound you got on the uke. Starting with your tapping foot was a great idea, made the sound of the beat more prominent. You are probably your own harshest critic. Even the volume of the different instruments was relatively the same—nothing I would have thought about if you hadn’t called it out. Nice to see you laugh at the end.

Don D.

[Peter A]

Sunjamr Steve,
If you can do that with a half day practice I am seriously impressed. I worked almost every day for a month on mine… for some people (like you) it comes naturally. Totally unfair 😉
Peter

[Kamen B]

I just want to copy/paste this from Bryce:
You played awesome!
That’s it!! The steady rythm that you keep is what I really envy you!

[Scott M]

Steve, top notch playing and production!! Thoroughly enjoyed this showcase of your fingerstyle skills.

Scott

[sunburst]

Steve, all favorites for sure,like the count too,, excellent playing and sure looks fun from here! Enjoyed!

[smilefred]

Thanks goodness is a pathetic effort !!! Everything but pathetic man The whole production is outstanding!! I’ve enjoyed it very much
Ale

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