Sept 2023 AMC: Oh, The Struggles:) – Bobby Ut

[Bob Utberg]

Tisket! Tasket!! A green and yellow basket!!!
Let’s break all the teacher’s rules . . . and have some fun!!!
Hey gang and welcome to September: Fall/Autumn (in the Northern hemi of course – how’s Spring Garry and Steve so far?)
As Yinz know, I dig the Blues. One song in particular I have had an absolute blast learning and playing is Mary Had a Little Lamb. First “composed” by Sarah Josepha Hale in 1830 and then the Great Buddy Guy made it into a FANTABULOUS Blues song 138 years later in 1968! Stevie Ray Vaughan covered this Classic Blues tune in 1983 with Double Trouble.
I am learning (and STRUGGLING mightily with parts of) this song in the style of SRV. It is a fun combo of 12- and 8-Bar Blues. The Intro, Verses and Outro are a good challenge. I’m getting those parts under my fingers here after several months of study.

IT IS THE BEAUTIFUL SOLO THAT IS TRIPPING ME UP IN PARTS!!:) Stevie is the Master at blending eighth notes and triplets (all kinds of triplets – 16th, 8th and quarter note), and those lightning fast 16th note runs where he can play them straight or swing them. That is what makes SRV – well, SRV! When you hear a song with him playing, you know it INSTANTLY.

So for Brian’s Challenge, I showed how I can play the solo at 80% with a few bad notes (yet, I rushed the darn thang for sure). Then, I play it at 90% (which currently my Mach One for this tune – my comfort zone and almost breaking point). Then, at 100%!! As you can see, at 100%, some of the licks are just out of reach for me! FOR NOW!!! NEVER SAY NEVER my friends!

Thank you for watching and I will tune in for all of your “struggles” this weekend!
Take Care,
Bob

P.S. If Yinz ever ride a bike (pedal, e- or motor), please PLEASE wear a good helmet! I am here on screen today thanks to my helmet after a very nasty Mt. Bike spill only 4 days ago! See that yummy “road rash” on my inner left elbow? You should see the rest of me. Especially my left rib cage! Ok, that’s my Safety Tip of The Day! Oh, except “look three-both ways before you cross the street”. My Dad always said that me growing up!

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[charjo]

Bobby, I also learned this solo over the past month or so. I thought you played it even better at 90 than 80%. I can do a decent job at 80%, 90% feels almost unattainable at this point. Nice to hear I may need to work on it for another year or two. I feel your pain.
John

[Geoff]

Well, first, I am going to say that is a beautiful spot Bob. I like that little view of Buffalo Mountain behind you – great area to get some peace practicing guitar.

I have this sneaky feeling the majority of people on this forum are going to complain about speed issues which really amounts to the wiring between our brain and our fingers and tedious practice, practice, practice. Sometimes, we hear our own inaccuracies when others do not. I had to listen really hard to hear what you are complaining about with the 100%, the only reason I heard anything is because you pointed it out. I honestly think the average ‘Joe Blow’ listener is not really going to hear your inaccuracies.

By the way, great job on this. That looked like an exceedingly difficult lead and you nailed it pretty well. I did try one of Brian’s ;Buddy Guy’ lessons a while back and, yeah, it was a struggle getting the speed down – can’t remember if I did 100%.

[Richard G]

Very entertaining Bobby, I agree your second take at 90% seemed to be your best take. Great stuff, thank you so much.

Richard

[Don Patton jr]

Hi Bob!
Your view in Colorado is beautiful…nice!
SRV…you are a gamer. Tough tempo to play those lead lines at. You did an excellent job though,! Enjoy the fall 🍁🍂 and keep on picking 🎶🙂

Don P

[Guido]

Wow Bob! You have become a shredder! Impressive picking on those fast soloing lines, great timing in all versions and spotlessly played at 90% of the original speed! Very nice to see you in those very nice places in Colorado, with blue sky and sun above you and beautiful nature behind you! Definitely a Buddy Guy and SRV’s brilliant student!

Guido

[Vincent K]

Wow Bobby what a speed !

Always a pleasure to see and hear you play. So entertaining. Keep on struggling 😉 and the 100% is yours

Cheers Vincent

🎸 Vincent 🎶 🇳🇱

[Bob Utberg]

Thank you everyone! Music is great fun and therapy – the Universal language for sure! I look forward to the rest of the wonderful projects! Bobby Ut

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Werner]

Very well done Mr. SRV – one of my heroes. excellent rendition and thank you very much for your views of the landscape.

Again thank you

Werner

[Mike D]

Entertaining video as always, I think the solo sounded very smooth , timed very nicely, strong fast licks!

Live on planet Earth ? You got the blues.

[AndréM]

Keep the faith B, you are getting there.

AndréM

AndréM

[Michael L]

Hey Bob, yep, 90% is the sweet spot, but at 100% you played with confidence and 80% of the listeners wouldn’t notice. If you can’t beat them with brilliance, baffle them with… well, you know. Thanks for a thorough video. Hope you heal quickly from your fall.

[MrO]

You caught the essence of SRV, in my opinion, Bob. Well done! 🙂

[Anonymous]

Bobby, that was truly great work. I thought you said “Tisket” at 100% perfectly.
True that 90% was your sweet spot. And even that tempo is pretty darn impressive. Your were capturing even those multinote SRV runs beautifully, which was pretty impressive. To me though more important than the top end speed is just the tone and timing that you had: really capturing that Texas SRV sound.

Congrat’s man.

One comment on speed that I know we have both heard on another website, when you find a level you can play comfortably, don’t just go up incrementally, ramp up the speed and practice for a bit at like 20% over what you think is your max. Your going to butcher it but it let’s your fingers know what you expect them to do. Then drop it back to your previous max and you may see some improvement.

[Garry]

Spring has started well Bob! 29 Degree Celsius on our AFL Aussie Rules Grand Final Day! Pre Game Entertainment would you believe was KISS! Crazy, but I admit I’m a fan. Don’t own any albums but still a fan! 🤘🎸🤘 I’ve tackled versions of this SRV before and got nowhere near where you have performed for us today! Wow! Wow! Wow! AWESOME for sure! Give the guy a speed ticket! Really enjoyed your playing, hosting and the views. Keep on pickin’ and all the best! 🥸🎸🥸

[Bob Utberg]

Thanks again my AM friends! Yes Marc, you refer to Griff and BGU. And he is right: Go for a 20% increase and then come back when trying to increase the speed! Great point there!

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[John H]

Nicely done Bobby. Me thinks it’s almost harder to play more slowly. You got this just gotta hear it in your head. Excellent articulation and tone. I think you love it so much that it is inevitable that you will perfect it. Be safe.

John

[San Luis Rey]

Way to go Bobby! You are putting a lot of work into that solo and 90% is your sweet spot right now. I think you are on the verge of getting 100% speed in the near future though. SRV is the reason I picked up the guitar again after 20 + years of loafing. I have not tried this one yet. I had to back up and learn more basic skills, mainly here at AM, before another shot at Texas Blues!

Mike

[JoLa]

You are totally ripping it, Bobby!
The 90% take sounded incredible and the 100% was totally impressive, I was expecting to hear some inaccuracies but hey, who pays attention to details when you sound like music?? I love SRV’s sound and solos and that double stop lick you started with always gives me goosebumps! Such a shame his life stopped short, huge loss of talent!

And, geez, glad you had a good helmet! That sounds like a big ouch! Good safety tips, thanks for that 🙂

🎸JoLa

[Manfred M]

90% of SRV isn‘t so bad, Bob. What a great video! I enjoyed it very much. The 90% version was really the best, better than the 80%. And you play it so good and totally get the vibe of the SRV version.
Not that I have much idea, but I thought by myself, while counting with my fingers, if you increase the speed every week 1%, you will be there in 10 weeks. Come on, you will make it.

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

[Martin W]

A fine explanation of your learnings with this classic , I noticed how well you keep that motion going in the rhythm part 👌.
I agree 90% is your comfort zone but to be honest your not far of full speed the timing was still there just a little off the accuracy but still sounds great .
Beautiful backdrop of scenery , very much like our English Lake District,
Enjoy your break .

Martin

[Serena C]

Wow Bob! 90% of SRV speed is awesome but also 100% is so close!!! Congrats! 👏👏👏

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)

[Tom D]

You’re building amazing blues chops Bob! Interesting approach you take to building your technique. You have a great blues emotion and song connection when playing. And your demo also shows how lick character can change with speed. Fun location! I golfed in Silver Thorne at Raven’s 9000 ft altitude – hoping to add some distance:-) Was there in June and it went from sun to rain to snow during the round! Beautiful spot.

Cheers, Tom

[Pap]

Hey Bobby, that was quite an undertaking. This was great submission and you really nailed it down. Great job and great meeting you in person, jamming and talking. Cheers! Pap

[David H]

I remember trying to learn that quite some time ago. I think you know the ending. Nice to see you tackle it and successfully I might add.

[Laurel C]

Enjoyed the presentation, it had it all to make it a pleasure to watch. Beautiful scenery and a step by step of your progress and your dialogue. The speed you are at is fast and impressive. My wiring was breaking up just watching. That song has always intrigued me of its title but I did not realise it went back further than SRV.

[Livio M]

Bob you have done an immense job and the results are excellent, I believe that 100%’s days are numbered. so I can only say Bravissimo.
A big hello.

Livio

[Marie Jarreau]

OMG Bob, that was amazing! You say you even faked part of it but I loved every bit. It was so good and so entertaining I didn’t have time to pay attention to any “flubs” that might have occurred! I love that I actually “know” someone who can play SRV stuff! That’s YOU dude. No apologies needed for that performance! Your energy and enthusiam while playing – contagious! Thanks for taking us into your “music party.”

And BTW Bob, just cause the calendar turns to “Fall” doesn’t mean you should take it literally! I’m so glad you weren’t severly injured.
Hugs for recovery,
Marie

“Laissez les bon temps rouler“
Marie Jarreau

[David G]

Really nice submission Bob. I like you showing your progression in speed. You’re right 90% speed of srv is already smokin’ and you’re doing it. This was so enjoyable to listen to and I hope you keep at it to one day nail the 100% speed.

[JoeD1]

Bob, I think even Stevie would have been proud!

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

[Author]

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