September Challenge 2026-John H.

[John H]

I linked together two Open G Bottleneck Blues studies with a ‘mean’ intro lick (G minor pentatonic arpeggio) to open the dark, driving, haunting progression. I even added some (lipstick) reverb and echo delay which I must say enhances the overall mood and adds some texture. I usually opt for the clean dry natural sounds. Oh well. Enjoy. Looking forward to hearing everybody’s work.

• This topic was modified 3 days, 5 hours ago by John H.

[charjo]

You are developing some skills there, my friend. Great vibrato. Congrats on not clunking the slide into the fret board while fretting notes, something I can’t seem to avoid with a pinky slide.
Love the haunting sound.
John

[John H]

John-
I appreciate your comment on ‘not clunking’. However, there is some clunking going on LOL. I like to think I am minimizing it. I must say I have been working on ‘muting’ the peripheral noise and that is a real challenge. You can hear the screechy, whiny noise that should be tampered but its coming. I have muting drills with really cool licks. Let me know if you want access them. I can make available. It’s a lifetime process.

John

[Bill]

Really cool John. Love the sound.

[JoeD1]

It sounds great John and I love that guitar. Your slide playing is superb.

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

[Werner]

I’m also struggling with playing slides. You’ve really got a knack for it that I’d love to have. Thanks for this post. You should start a “slide” subforum in the “Members Teaching Members” section,

Thanks a lot, Werner

[Alan L]

Dark and haunting indeed! That was fabulous. I agree, the extra fx fits well.

[Mike W]

I certainly get the dark and driving feel from this piece. There’s nothing quite as atmospheric as a resonator. Nicely done John.

[James B]

Sounding good on that resonator, John. Dark and foreboding for sure.

James

[AndréM]

Love that sound bro, even a Martin can’t beat that,lol

AndréM

AndréM

[Richard G]

I’ve never tried Travis picking with slide John but you pulled it off remarkably well. Your second part certainly brought about that Cooder Swampy sound. Brilliant, loved it.

Richard

[wannaplayblues]

That was great! Superb playing!

Guitar sounded awesome – and lovely use of delay to really bring out the feel!

"I hear you talkin' son, but you 'aint sayin' nothin'" - Will McFarlane quoting Muddy Waters hearing a really fast guitar player

[Denise]

I love that lipstick reverb! Sounds fantastic.
What a powerful, driving and haunting tune.
Man, that’s great playing. I am sure it’s a hard work to get so far, especially with the slide.
Very inspiring.

More Blues!

[Don Patton jr]

Hi John,
Love your resonator and slide play ! Dark and driving yes. Hard to get that kind of sound without a resonator guitar! Very cool submission 🎶🎵🙂

Don P

[Martin W]

Love that dark haunting vibe the slide really enhances it , I agree the subtle use of effects colours things perfectly.
You got that thumb pick firmly in the driving seat.

Martin

[Michael Krailo]

Wow, that is not easy to do. Finger picking with golden finger 🙂 Awesome

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

[Dieter]

Bottleneck—music at its finest; that’s the true blues vibe.

Dieter

[JoLa]

Whhhoooa, John! This sounded phenomenal right off the start, the “mean” intro is the sound I most love about slide! You totally rocked this Gretsch boxcar by playing Travis picking with a slide on your pinky! But I had to look up what lipstick reverb meant and now I am more confused than before… what exactly is that? Was that recorded with a mic? Sounded incredible, love that dirty Delta blues – and yes, sometimes clunky – sound. You’re getting really good with the slide, John. Especially slide and fingerpicking – that’s not easy.

🎸JoLa

[Mark T]

Loved the mysterious and dark vibe you put into this, John – really great slide playing – Mark 👍🎶😎

[Scott W]

Wow, great slide playing, because of players like yourself I own a slide. But still can’t do anything with it.
Great sounds.

[Manfred M]

Wow, John, this is great bottleneck music. As a big Ry Cooder fan, I was hooked from the very first note. It sounds authentic and full of soul. I’m going to listen to it again right away.

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

[Wayne Nunez]

Awesome job John that open G slide playing is great,terrific my friend!

[Andy N]

Way to go John. That first Gm lick grabbed me from the start and was captivated by your playing from then on. That was an awesome piece of slide playing. Loved the all-in nature of your attach and I’m in awe of the fact that you can use a thumb pick with a slide and still keep all the excess noise under control. These Gretsch resonators come alive with a slide don’t they.

[Juxi]

Well, I cannot do that for the life of me, Your handling of the slide is awesome, John. And you did put it to good use. I especially liked the second part, very dark. Reminds a little bit of the Dylan song I’m walking.
Well done 👏🏽 👏🏽

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[sunjamr]

Very funky, John – well played! Your slide skills are becoming more and more awesome. I have to use a half-length slide on my pinky, so it just covers the end of my finger and allows me to bend my finger. Then I use a full-length slide on my ring finger. And I have no idea how you can play with a thumb pick. Every time I’ve tried it, it’s like playing tennis with a racket that has a 90 degree bend in the handle.

Sunjamr Steve

[sciencefiction]

Awesome playing, John! The tone is great. This definitely hits me as mysterious with a tinge of sad, but it also says to me, danger, be careful! Fantastic slide sound!! You nailed this challenge.
Larry

[Laurel C]

It was awesome, that would take some skill set to produce an arrangement with picking / slide. Emotive, plus it had lots of character. Great listen.

[Michael L]

Hi John, so nice! This has a haunting feel made all-the-more with the reverb. Really enjoyed it!

[Author]

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