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Note regarding voting:: seems like the polling software is still acting weird. But it still kinda works, (we can see who voted for whom). So, if you do vote - regardless of an error you may be informed of - It will be counted!

Four different takes on the blues this month. Remembering @guidothepimmp guidelines...they're all winna's 😉

I can go with the blues. How about working some techniques.. so a blues jam of your choice with the following

  • Use at least 2 dominant 7 chords
  • Include some pre and post bending in any solo
  • Include at least a slide into or out of a note (if that makes sense?)

Either that or turn your favourite TV show theme tune into a blues track

Please have a listen and vote for your favourite - no prizes - but Bonus points for comments and feedback 👍️

*Voting closes Tuesday , 9th November 2021 at midday *Edit updated voting end time

Onto the entries!

Bluetone - Blues Challenge

Studmissile - Pussyfooting (Revisited)

Stud "Howling" Missile Pussyfooting Re - Visit

V8 - The Spencer

Soundcloud recommends #Jazzfunk for this one and they're not completely wrong...I learnt it at the lazz workshop from a funky Spencer! It does qualify via the criteria...two dom7 chords, loads of slides and I'm sure the harp bits have some prebends in there somewhere 😆

I've added a good few fills and tweaks over the years, it's basically a two part groove that can you can duet/loop over itself - sneaky fun. All 'vocals' and harps are from a loopmaster blues session pack - yeah, I totally overused the happy harp one 😉

Guidothepimmp - Bloose Challenge

Ooof, procrastination got the better of me.. again, threw together a slapdash blooose tune. Very basic, and listening back.. probably quicker than it should be.

Couple of takeaways, it is really difficult to noodle coherently for prolonged periods.. I fear I have discovered a pattern to my box playing, and.. my fingers were shot and so you get to hear it with all the lemons 🙂

Thanks for the extension Bluetone!

And if you just wanna run through the entries without clicking here's a playlist:

Thank YOU for listening & Enjoy!

Who's Blues caught your ear?

This poll has ended.
V8 changed the title to [VOTE] GuitarTalk Blues with a Twist Challenge 2021.

    Well done on everyone getting a entry in, plenty going on in October - including prep for the JHB Garage days 👍️

    Studmissile : Loved it, balanced mix, space for everything (vocals and harp were sweet) and I am a howlin' wolf fan. And somehow, your track is funkier than mine! Well done on the total revisit, way, way prefer this over the previous one.

    Only crit...we're wissing the 'Little Red Rooster' hownlin'...woo-hoo! 😉

    Blutone : Great quality track, everything sounding ready for broadcast - wish I had some of your ease of production - things just sound great. 1:19, the prechrous to chorus change was great and slide back into the verse was also slick, dug that along with the subtle keys.

    What was the first chord of the two chord vamp, had a interesting chewy jazz-esque flavour to my ears? Not a crit, sounds like you've left space (W.I.P) for a harmony (vocal/instrument) to tie the track together?

    Guidothepimmp : You get a free pass! Well done on just getting some lemonade in. I'm guessing some Joe Walsh Funk49 inspiration for the rhythm guitars, but espresso-fied?

    I reckon one of the hardest things on lead/solo guitar is to stay interesting. I can't - so I went for bass where repitition isn't altogether a bad thing 😁

    My track didn't quite work out as cool as I hoped. No 6 stringer's were harmed (or touched), it crossed my mind, but I wasn't in the mood to brush off the 4 months of dust of the guitar. I did manage to avoid the rhythmic wierdness I often feel obliged to do, even with breaks/fills it stays resolutely 4/4 @ 117bpm throughout - which is likely because I've been playing a bit of drums lately, with nowhere near as much skill =)

    V8 Thanks, V8. I liked that different styles of blues (and I think mine and yours were way over by the window with one leg outside) were represented under one roof. Dug your Claypoolesque take on a shuffle, Studmissile's authentic grit and Claudio's Texas dirt. Hard to pick a winner!

    Oh, re: the chord - it's a take on a Gm6 with some open strings, then a Bm11 with open stringage. And good spot - the chords are taken from a song I'm developing with a singer!

      Cool songs, I was looking forward to hear your entries, since that challange was still beyond my guitar skills 😀

      Bluetone t's a take on a Gm6 with some open strings, then a Bm11 with open stringage.

      I dusted of the guitar and tried it on - my ears steered me towards -> a Gm6 (oot low e, 3rd fret) and a Bm11 (root a string, 2nd fret). Gotta admit, I pulled out some old notes to check what voicings of these I'd learnt and forgotten in the past. I've learnt those shapes, but not stuck 'em together like that - Like the simplicity of getting those shapes in that position, minimal effort for some jazzy minor key chewiness.

      Bluetone good spot - the chords are taken from a song I'm developing with a singer!

      It's my main reasoning for the challenges, one gets to try out stuff - gear, idea's, grooves - nothing better than applying that infernal red light to temper the enthusiasm 😆

          Great entries all around. Well done guys.

          Bluetone: the quality of mix is superb and certainly something I hope to work towards myself. Mixing and mastering is something I always struggle with. Your tracks always sound great. Loved the buildup of the song and nice clean playing as always. This one pipped it for me.

          Stud: This was a very close second for me. The mix is what swung it for me. Yours I felt was more in line with traditional blues though and the guitar was excellent. Also a nice clear drum sound!

          V8: great bassy groove and I always enjoy the vocals you put in. Also great sounding mix. I need to hit up more youtube lessons 😆

          guidothepimmp Also great sounding mix.

          Ermmm, I take it - though...it isn't 😅

          I recorded on crappy desktop speakers then when I started 'mixing' and popped on the headphones - I realized that all the autowah flatulence that I love solo - really requires superb rhythmicc skills to layer a couple takes over each other. Sadly, I don't yet have those! Was mess of when the gate opens and closes - so I cut a ton of low & low-mid frequencies just to try and hide that poop.

          And I didn't even try and match the reverbs between kit, vocal samples, harp samples and bass 😅

          But I do like - after 1m that chorusy slap line swings slightly compared to the first time you hear it, I moved the ''pop' by a 16th #bassnerd. And yeah, thanks - I do dig messing with vocal samples!

              guidothepimmp Thanks, man - having the MIDI keyboard around to add colour and depth is opening some doors for me! Much more to learn...

              • V8 likes this.

                It's down to the wire! Incredible playing this month.

                Bluetone - Blues Challenge - Initially I wasn't convinced it was going to meet the Blues Challenge, till that solo kicked in. Perfect.

                V8 - The Spencer - The interplay between that funk bass and blues harmonica was genius. Amazed how well it works. Very Original. That groove was so tight and spot on. Beautifully played.

                Guidothepimmp - Bloose Challenge, LOVED every screaming raw driven blues second of it. Exceptional playing.

                Well, seems I missed the drop-dead date. Again. Power's out, so I'll have to do my more formal reviews a little later. Suffice to say - holy heck!

                Great stuff from all y'all!
                dh|

                • V8 likes this.

                Despite my efforts directed at stoking the voting masses, @Bluetone & @studmissile you have to share the honours this month!

                Which also leads us to the next thing you get to share... 😆

                A brainstorming sesh for the next challenge topic!

                  Well done @Bluetone. Nicely played. Thank you for listening and the feedback everyone.

                  Next Challenge will take us to Christmas. So not sure if you want to do something with Christmas in mind OR maybe an end of year concert/showcase. Do whatever just entertain us. Hopefully @Bluetone has a better idea?

                  • V8 likes this.
                  • V8 replied to this.

                    studmissile maybe an end of year concert/showcase

                    I really like this idea - been thinking of collating a few of the favored entries into a GuitarTalk playlist.

                    All time is tricky as we did host stuff on the server (and deleted monthly), but a 2021 (and/or a GuitarTalk era one 2017-2021) would be great, I'm in.

                    studmissile So not sure if you want to do something with Christmas i

                    You'd have to twist my arm so hard, I'd not be able to play 🤣 🤣 🤣 But if that's what greater us wants, I'm always happy to run with it!

                        Totally out of ideas at the moment, and liking the showcase idea because of the timing with holidays coming up. Maybe we can brainstorm an idea for the first challenge of 2022...

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