SEPT, CHALLENGE ’24 HILLBILLIES FROM OUTER SPACE

[John H]

I really struggled with this. However, this morning I got some Devine inspiration and pulled it off. I created my backing track using Band in a Box. I jammed most of this in A minor but then decided to use the rest of the chords D minor/G/E7 as a turnaround. It’s all based on an old Appalachian Fiddle tune called Lonesome John. I also experiments with some chord coloring using triads, 6ths and 9ths.

[Gary W]

Great idea John! Liked this a lot – quite unique and good fun. Well put together. 👍🏻

Gary

[snakechisler]

wow that was interesting first Hillbilly version of anything I’ve come across on the submissions

Go you aren’t we the original one, very cool and your Tele sounded nice and spanky to boot really enjoyed it

Thanks for posting

[Denise]

I love that turnaround!
Great improv ideas with funky rhythm and bass lines. Love that pedal steel lick🙏 and harmonized 6ths.
Haunting lonesome cowboy melody.
I think I like what you call Hillbilly music.
Thanks gor the inspiration.
Denise

More Blues!

[AndréM]

Wow! most original I have heard so far.
Man send that track to Clint Eastwood lol.
Are you playing the banjo?
Love the backtrack with the banjo and the double bass.

AndréM

AndréM

[John H]

No Andre the backing track actually is a blue grass track from BIAB. There was one with a Dobro but without the Banjo. I chose the one with the Banjo. Thanks for the feedback.

JH

[Serena C]

A very creative solution John! So unique in this challenge, well done!

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)

[Tremelow]

Hey John, great title and even better composition. You certainly had a great inspiration, very clever to use the last three chords as the turnaround.

[Byron]

Im unable to do the challenge this month due to Helene, Nice job man! You knocked this out of the park!!! 😀

Byron

[Mike W]

Great submission John – that was really inventive using the banjo backing track and the 3 chords for the turnaround. I liked the way you seamlessly mixed the fiddle licks (which were picked very niftily) with the more modern parts. You also left space where it was needed – not always an easy thing to do.

[sunjamr]

For a minute I thought you were going to play “Ghostriders in the Sky”. I also thought of playing it in Am, and just using the rest of the chords as a turnaround. I didn’t know you had a Band in the Box. It seems like they are getting more and more popular. Now if only they would make a “Lead Guitar in a Box”, we wouldn’t even need to play a guitar at all. Just connect the two boxes and see what comes out. Oh no, maybe I shouldn’t have said that….somebody might actually do it.

Sunjamr Steve

[Juxi]

Great interpretation of the challenge-chord-progression, John. Great variety in your lead! 👍🏽

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[Alan L]

Some mighty fine country picking! 🤠 I really enjoyed that.

And the track sounds great- might have to ask Santa for band in a box! 😃

[KenG]

Very creative, nice job John

Never Stop Learning. Ever.

[Adam H]

Love the feel John! Excellent tone and playing!

[JoLa]

Oh so great, very original, indeed! Love the banjo in the backing track – good choice! You filled in the track beautifully with just the right amount of rhythmic chords and fill licks. Not too much but just right. The use of Dm/G/E for the turnarounds was brilliant, I love this kind of “endless” vibe going on, I could listen to this for hours. Love the title, too – and thank goodness for the Devine intervention! 😉

🎸JoLa

[Guido]

Excellent idea, John! The extended Am chord creates a tension that resolves in the bridge for coming back to Am and tension in a haunting endless loop! It could be really a sound track for a western movie. Brilliant licks and riffs with several variations and different musical ideas. Great submission!

Guido

[donmati]

Great job John, full of great ideas, and the whole thing is really well done. I love it.
Don mati

[Paul S.]

You grabbed me with that headline… and you delivered! The classic western tone, the clever riffs, the banjo in the background… the whole thing was thoroughly entertaining. I listen a couple times. Great stuff.

[John H]

Thanks Paul very kind of you. I am pleased with the outcome.

JH

[Andy N]

Great response John! That was a whole lotta fun from the banjo in the background, to those Hank inspired bass licks, to that Appalachian riff, not to mention the triad movements.
If the inspiration came late it sure didn’t stint on the quality 👏👏👏

[Bob Utberg]

I hear that train a coming!!
And . . . .
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’
Rawhide!!! Keep dem doggies rollin’
Great sound my friend!
Go Stillers! I’ll be there in the northern endzone

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Martin W]

Great stuff John , hanging out on the A minor works well , very creative to use the rest as a turnaround , some real nice lead lines , love that lick around the 2.45 mark 👌 the banjo backing works a treat as well .

Martin

[Jennifer D]

Brilliant! I love those bends! Your turnaround was very clever! I loved the whole thing rhythm and all!

[Martyn in France]

Basically a one chord impro with a very nifty turnaround. And it works brilliantly John. I also heard Ghost Riders and then Spaghetti Western. Very original and good listening.
Martyn

[Dieter]

Wow, that grooves – great playing and sound.

Dieter

[Laurel C]

Loved it, the whole package from start to finish. So good, with the different musical lines over the backing track. Gotta look into this Appalachian genre.

[avanapa]

excellent example of incorporating techniques taught on Active Melody. In particular by using triads and thoughtful use of scales.

[Andre H]

Some spaghetti western music! I love it. It sounds great

[charjo]

Truly inspired, John. So clever to hear the other three chords as a turnaround.Loved the hillbilly lead but also that short rhythm phrase at 2:18. Did you play banjo on the backing track? Any other talents we should be aware of?
(just saw the BIAB disclaimer….but still….)
John

[John H]

Thanks again… John no, that is BIAB Banjo. It’s a quite nifty program. I could have added dobro, mandolin and fiddle but for the sake of time left it with banjo only. Believe it or not, I morphed this into many different styles: classic rock, blues, campfire, praise etc. etc. Stuck with bluegrass.

[Tom D]

Hey John:
Helluva performance and helluva title:-). It seems to reflect the hard work you describe together with significant doses of inspiration and of a guitarist’s skill. You are a master at creating rhythmic variety and hooks. I’m a fan of your creativity and style. Cheers, Tom

[Manfred M]

All the struggle ends one time, John, and sometimes something wonderful comes out of it in the end. Like here in your contribution. I could well imagine your music in a Tarrantino movie. And “Hillbillies From Outer Space” would also be an appropriate movie title.

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
The next Meetup will be in spring 2025

There will be a detailed announcement here in the forum a few weeks before.

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Michael L]

Hi John, this is really fantastic! Great vibe and rolling rhythm. The turn-around chords add a real kick to the end of the phrasing and it all just keeps on going. This could be a movie soundtrack, or fit right in at a Bluegrass festival. Bravo!

[David H]

Holy cow batman, that was fantastic! Blown away, your best yet. Where can I buy a bottle of that Devine inspiration?

[Nick M]

Wow John! You never fail to impress, that was wonderfully entertaining to listen to. One of my favorites for sure, original and your playing was very tasteful.

Nick

[Pap]

I guess it’s a matter of personal preference but….I absolutely loved this submission….you really have a good groove here and could probably play over it for hours. The last lead run was really great! Way to get r done John. Pap

[Author]

Posts