September 2024 Challenge Response – Tom D.

[Tom D]

Hello AM Friends:
I focused on the Am-Dm-G-C progression and played using the following chord forms: Am7-Dm7-G7-Cmaj7. I started with a little tribute to Eva Cassidy’s Autumn Leaves, then a Joe Pass G blues lick + chord walk down, and finally into my melody. And each time through I vary chord inversions of the progression, and vary the melody line. The ending is on a C-chord done by connecting 5 inversions of a C for flourish and fun. I wish I had a couple of days more to work on dynamics and performance as some of the fingerings were doozies. Thanks for listening and for sharing your comments. I look forward to hearing you play and learning from your approach. Cheers, Tom

[Juxi]

Hey Tom. I wish I had your fantastic skills and your understanding of music- as it is I would be happy if – at least – I could have your fingering doozies 😏
Brilliant performance; thanks for sharing! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Bluesige Grüße
Juxi

[AndréM]

Tom man you are a smooth player.
Loved the Joe Pass run.
Very nice composition.

AndréM

AndréM

[Alan L]

Masterful fingerstyle demonstration. Love the melody on the middle part. 🙂

[Catherine Arsenault]

Wow I truly love the way you play 😊🇨🇦

[Michael L]

Hi Tom, I love the way you’ve put this together. You have a very creative knack for combining ideas into a cohesive whole. I really enjoy watching it. I take it as a personal challenge to follow your chord voicings as I watch your fingers… getting there, but I’m still missing a few. No matter, this piece is beautiful, original, and a masterclass for all of us.

[Andre H]

Gorgeous melody. I love it. And beautiful played. Great submission

[sunjamr]

Big thumbs up, Tom. Nice composition!

Sunjamr Steve

[Guido]

Loved how you put together different musical ideas and sections in a cohesive and seamless way, Tom! As far as I can understand, If I’m not mistaken, the chord sequence is always the same but in fact you’re seamlessly switching key (Am to G to C in the last part). Your fingerpicking is masterful and I would like to be “doozies” as you are 😂! Great submission!

Guido

[Dieter]

Very soulful jazzy feeling – great.

Dieter

[Serena C]

The way you put different inspirations and ideas together is incredible Tom, as you have your own way to digest and express them in a such an original way, I’m always so inspired by your submissions!

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)

[Manfred M]

I think when you bring so many influences together and add your own melody, that’s called creativity, Tom. I really liked your playing with the chord inversions. And above all, your skills as a guitarist shine through.
I just love listening to you

Take the chance to meet your AM friends on Zoom
This time we are going to have a 600th AM Lesson Celebration Meetup on December 21, 2024

For more information click here

I look forward to meet you.
Manfred

[Martyn in France]

This is so beautiful Tom, you are indeed a wonderful guitarist, I could listen to this on repeat for hours!

[John H]

Tom,
This was lovely. So melodic and purposeful. I admire your ability to take risks with such fantastic results.

JH

[Bill]

Really lovely work Tom. I love the use of the inversions and how you viewed this in C vs Am. Fantastic!

[Mike W]

Another master class Tom. Your inventiveness is as amazing as your technical skills. Apart from all that, your submission is simply brilliant music.

[JoLa]

A true masterclass, Tom! It sounds ..no, it LOOKS like we had similar ideas to add 7ths to the chords and make C into Cmaj7 but of course, the end results are completely different. You show an expertise I could only wish to have, love the way you find beautiful connections between chords and rhythmic variations that always make the music so much more interesting. And this CEO-7 sounds incredible whether you play blues, jazz, or classical fingerstyle, thank you for another informative and enjoyable showcase 🙂

🎸JoLa

[Bob Utberg]

You and JoLa!!! On the same talented page!! So well done. Two different approaches to such a beautiful piece!

Bob U. (aka Bobby Ut)

[Denise]

Sounding wonderful.
I like how you combine different songs and ideas and make it sound so smooth. Great idea to add the 7ths.
Love these C inversions at the end.
Very well done.
Denise

More Blues!

[Andy N]

What a marvellous montage and a great twist to play this as a C major progression. I wasn’t sure whether to concentrate on your left or right hand so watched a few times to check out both. I was particularly aware of when you chose to play the bass notes as it added depth and warmth without dominating like an alternating pattern might. The walk through the C triads at the end was lovely and I have to warn you I’m going to steal it 😅

[Martin W]

Beautifully played Tom , love the intro and then you cleverly weaved into your own melody , those added 7ths work so well , love the C in different voicings at the end sounds very sophisticated and it does indeed add some flair .
Excellent 👌

Martin

[Laurel C]

Beautiful to listen to and beautiful to watch. Watching your fingers move around the fretboard, I consider an art form but also a gym workout. There were some doozies as you stated beforehand. It would be worthy to study the tab and breakdown of what you did for educational purposes.

[donmati]

Very beautiful composition, I didn’t understand all the chord inversions, but I remember that it sounds perfect.
Don mati

[Jennifer D]

Oh Tom it was just beautiful!

[charjo]

Beautiful fingerstyle and transitions, Tom. You’re the only person, so far, that managed to turn this into a C major progression. When I saw 6,2,5,1, I went duh and smacked myself upside the head.
John

[Pap]

Now that’s thinking outside of the box! Sounded very nice and relaxing. I like the idea of changing the chord inversions for dynamics. Cheers. Pap

[David H]

Simply beautiful. I could loop this and listen for hours.

[Author]

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