Home › Forums › Active Melody Member Challenge Response Submissions › September 2017 Challenge ML020, ML030—Don D.
- This topic has 26 replies, 22 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 6 months ago by Don D..
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September 30, 2017 at 4:02 pm #81331
These two microlessons have been favorites from the first time I heard them. ML020 is a lot like the Magic Sam song “That’s All I Need,” and ML030 is a great variation on a standard. Thanks, Brian, for hours of happy jamming on these.
ML020
ML030
Don D.
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September 30, 2017 at 4:08 pm #81333
Love the sound of that guitar Don, real old-time blues.
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September 30, 2017 at 4:29 pm #81336
Don,
I gotta say that these 2 lessons are in my opinion you’re best postings! Loved both of them and as Chris has said the sound of your guitar is just great.
Congrats!Tim
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September 30, 2017 at 4:53 pm #81340
Killer Tone. Love it. Nice Job.
Play Loud!
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September 30, 2017 at 5:34 pm #81351
Sweet, Don. Love the tone on that guitar. No doubt, I can tell your style a mile away.
Killer playing on these. Very fun to listen to. That last chord on ML030 was perfect.
Larry -
September 30, 2017 at 6:16 pm #81356
Don,
Both pieces are well played. Especially liked the second one.
Bob -
September 30, 2017 at 7:56 pm #81382
Great sound Don. I’m curious about what guitar you’re using to get that cool gravelly tone. – Bret
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September 30, 2017 at 9:19 pm #81393
Don, I didn’t notice ML020 sounded like Magic Sam’s “That’s All I Need” until you mentioned it. You nailed both lessons and I love the tone on that guitar. Please let us know what guitar you played.
Paul
Sweet Home Chicago
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September 30, 2017 at 9:47 pm #81397
Thank you all for the kind words. I’ve been playing these two a lot, but when I went to record, I kind of froze up—not physically, but mentally, I wasn’t remembering the variations,
The guitar is the same one I play most of the time, an unamplified 2014 Guild Savoy hollow-body electric with light gauge .012 to .052 D’Addario flatwound chrome strings—the package says “warm/mellow tone.” I haven’t changed them in a long while, except the D and G when they broke. One thing that might be making my tone artificially better than it is is that I’m facing a corner with my phone (the recorder) at about the same height as my strumming hand.
There’s a term for playing into the corner, forgot it at the moment. I’ve read it’s how Robert Johnson liked to record. I’ve been doing it this way most of the time.
Don D.
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September 30, 2017 at 10:06 pm #81400
Corner Loading?
Sweet Home Chicago
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October 1, 2017 at 4:49 am #81417
Really cool sound of your guitar and well played lessons too!
Lights. -
October 1, 2017 at 4:56 am #81421
Hey Don, both of those are first class recordings. I really love the tone you’re getting out of your guitar, not to mention the precision fingerwork. Great job.
Sunjamr Steve
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October 1, 2017 at 7:16 am #81444
Reminds me of discovering hidden vintage tapes of a Blues Master….
You totally fleshed out 030…..rhythmic as it gets…but liked both efforts….Well played, Don.
Treat yourself, though….may be time to replace the other 4 stings… LOL 😉
Great Post!
Marty -
October 1, 2017 at 11:13 am #81478
Don,
This is one of your best. Totally enjoyed your submissions. Congratulations!
Gene
Gene
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October 1, 2017 at 1:42 pm #81527
Clearly by the sheer Sound of it, I could have told that it was you and your Guild Savoy, Don! It sounds great and I could listen to it all over again. Unique! Thanks for posting and revealing that “Corner trick”.
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October 1, 2017 at 2:02 pm #81542
Thank you to everyone who listened and especially to everyone who had something nice to say.
Paul, yes, thank you, that’s exactly it, corner loading. Sometimes it’s ringing so loud it hurts my ears, and I’m just playing acoustically. Other times, I’ll start hearing strange sounds, it must be the overtones; I don’t think the recorder picks this up much, I don’t hear it on the playbacks. If you can, give it a try.
Don D.
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October 1, 2017 at 2:51 pm #81558
I find both cool, because both have an unmistakeable blues character.
WilfriedPlay guitar just like you live; don't get bogged down in theory, it's just a tool without feeling.
Wilfried
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October 1, 2017 at 3:36 pm #81568
Don lately your playings are terrific ..these two are fantastic maybe your best posts I’ve heard from you so far..
love the sound of your guild so old school
Thanks for revealing the corner’s trick
Ale -
October 1, 2017 at 8:22 pm #81606
Don — Oh yeah! I loved both of those. Beautifully played with that unmistakable Don D style. I’d like to see you video your playing — we need to make sure that’s you playing and not some ringer you brought in, haha.
Best,
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October 1, 2017 at 10:11 pm #81632
Don
That was awesome! You really capture the spirit and feeling of the music so well.
I really enjoyed listening to your renditions! I always like your posts!
Cheers, Debra -
October 2, 2017 at 12:10 am #81666
That’s the real deal right there Don! That is some blues! I really dug your ML030! Thanks for sharing with us!
-Bryce
Anchorage, Alaska -
October 3, 2017 at 4:33 pm #81850
Love the feel of your playing on these Don, such authentic tone. Really well done!
Scott
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October 3, 2017 at 7:42 pm #81868
Thank you for listening, and especially to everyone who left kind comments. It’s inspiring to see you say you like them, makes me want to practice more, because while I hear a improvement since I started studying here, I’m still a long way from where I’d like to be. If some of you spent as much time playing as I do, I’m sure you’d be playing way better than I do.
I can’t help but be appreciative of people who have said they recognize my “style.” I hope this doesn’t sound pompous, just something I’m thinking about because I’ve always liked musicians who have a recognizable style, but I really didn’t understand what it meant for me, how I would develop that style, now I kind of think I do. It’s just an accumulation of everything I play and how I compensate for what I can’t play, I think that’s what sounds like “a style” from the outside. Because I’m aiming at something different from what I’m hearing, so while style is kind of intentional, it’s also due to things beyond my control.
Don D.
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October 3, 2017 at 8:59 pm #81877
These are both really good, and yes, you do have a style. I liked 30 better. Your timing is improving. On 20, you have a hiccup as you transition into the verse, adding like an extra half beat. And on both of them, there is a bit of uncertain timing in the 5 to 4 progression. It’s more noticeable on 30 since I think you are swallowing about a half beat on two consecutive measures. The timing on the rest is really steady and in a groove. Tone and feel are great.
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October 4, 2017 at 2:02 am #81894
Don, Though I am not hte one that can speak about good guitar skills, I must addmit you show remarkable break through in your playing!
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October 4, 2017 at 6:29 pm #81942
both great choices and sounded terrific Don!
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October 5, 2017 at 11:04 pm #81982
Thank you to everyone who listened and especially to everyone who left a thoughtful comment.
Thanks very much, Duffy, for your well-thought-out comment; that’s exactly the kind of analysis that can help me figure out how I’m messing up the time, which is my primary goal at this point (along with trying to sound good).
Don D.
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