September 2026 Challenge – James B

[James B]

Happy Challenge Weekend, Pickers
Wonderful creative musical expressions from everyone.
I thought of an old folk song, “Motherless Children”. It tells a tale of death, heartache and grief. Why are we drawn to these sad songs?They’ve been around for centuries.
I like Bernie Taupin’s line from Elton John’s “Sad Songs”.
Listening and playing sad songs we can, “suffer just enough to sing the blues”.
As for the ending, I’m trying to express, “ all that weeping and all that crying” musically with an acoustic plugged into a GarageBand stadium amp with overdrive.

[Michael Krailo]

All the elements of a great tune. The sadness comes through for sure. That voice doubling effect sounded pretty good as well.

Root note patterns >>> CAGED shapes >>> TRIAD'S. Just put in the work and watch your guitar skills soar.

[Mike W]

Great choice James and a great video. It’s not a song I know but it certainly evokes a blue feeling, Your guitar duet was excellent.

[Martin W]

That’s a cool little tune that tells a story,I can hear the sadness but also a subtle haunting sound
Expertly performed throughout, I like the effect you gave the vocals and driven sound towards the end .

Martin

[AndréM]

Very sad song.
Vocals acoustic guitar on steroid, all excellent.

AndréM

AndréM

[Juxi]

Awesome challenge response, James. The two-part singing was perfect and enhanced the feelings of the song. Hammergeil! 👍🏽

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[Denise]

So great what you did with that song! I love all the guitar parts and your sad singing.
I like that you doubled your singing and the middle part with the acoustic melody playing.

More Blues!

[Don Patton jr]

Hi James,
Awesome performance of Motherless Child ! Yes..I would say there is enough sadness to sing the blues in that song. I liked your dual rythum and lead play throughout the song ! 🎶🎵🙂

Don P

[Dieter]

Wow, what a wonderful song, performed with so much feeling and musicality!

Dieter

[sciencefiction]

Great singing and playing James. I hear sadness but also a sense of resignation to that’s just the way it is. Also, I like that pretty fast temp for such a sad song. That melody reminds of some other pop song of 60s maybe, but I can’t pin it exactly. Maybe some more upbeat song with similar melody? Excellent skillful execution as usual!!
Larry

[Ben C]

Man, I love your voice

[Alan L]

Sound great James! Wonderful production, guitar solo is pretty cool, and of course your voice carries that emotion.

Reminds me of the song motherless child. I think I’ve heard Clapton do this. Wonder if there was some theme borrowing here?

[Bill]

Great rendition James. I like how you kept building and adding layers from the stripped down acoustic to culminating with that rocking stadium lead.

[Mark T]

Another outstanding performance from you, James – the solo ending added another flavour to an already excellent submission. – Mark 👍🎶😎

[charjo]

Your broad musical knowledge and ability to put together a unique arrangement always amazes me, James. Loved your accompaniment and the double tracked vocal.
John

[John H]

James
Yeah great rendition of a all time classic. I appreciate the ‘layering’ of guitar work. I have heard this song a hundred times but you make the lyrics really resonate with me. Kudos to you. I think sad songs allow us to process emotions safely and let us release sorrowful feelings safely. Love when Ted Nugent jumps in and lays down that fuzzy distortion. Great stuff my friend.

John

• This reply was modified 14 hours, 4 minutes ago by John H.

[Andy N]

That’s a mighty fine arrangement.. I think it was Clapton’s up tempo version of this that first steered me towards the blues though I didn’t realise it then. This more sympathetic, laid back version accentuates the sadness much better though, particularly with that steady driving rhythm and those lead lines playing behind the vocals. First class James 👍

[Manfred M]

Great song, and you’ve performed it masterfully here, James.
Yes, there’s something special about these sad songs and the way they really get under our skin. But whether that happens also depends on how they’re played. And here, it’s been done wonderfully.

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom.
The next Meetup will take place on October 31

For more information click here

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[JoeD1]

I loved your playing and vocals and the way you kept adding layers on top of layers. Superb James!

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

[Wayne Nunez]

James you are very talented my friend!

[Richard G]

James, you are a past-master at developing a simple song into a great performance, this was no exception and extremely well sung and played.

Richard

[Scott W]

I know That song heard it a few weeks ago. You always pull out a great tune. Good cover enjoy listen to you play.

[Author]

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