Welcome to the Guitar Challenges. Each ‘challenge’ is basically an open invitation to anyone and everyone to play a song, an improvisation, a study-piece etc and post a recording – just for the fun of it.
So, whether you are a relative beginner learning the basic chords and strumming pattern of a song, a more experienced player adding a little fancy fretwork, if you want to do a little finger-picking, or you want to sing and play at the same time … you can join in with these challenges.
Important:
The challenge is to yourself.
These are not competition threads.
There are no prizes for making the ‘best’ recordings.
There is no shame for being at the beginner stages.
This is for FUN!
If you do want some constructive advice and feedback on your playing then that is cool. Just ask. Otherwise this is all about positivity, encouragement and having a go.
These first posts are collected from the original Forum and were posted between October 2007 to June 2014.
In 2007 Justin first recorded a couple of videos in which he played, then taught, a short blues tune for solo guitar.
In total Justin released nine such study pieces. These were originally sold as a 3 DVD box-set. They are now available as electronic downloads here:
The Original Solo Blues Study Piece Demo:
The Original Solo Blues Study Piece Lesson:
DVD 1 Demo:
DVD 2 Demo:
DVD 3 Demo:
They proved very successful and popular with many students posting recordings and make for an ideal ‘challenge’.
I was drawn to this about a year ago and spent some time trying to get the first study under the fingers. I’d started working on the second and then changed course and focused on singing.
When the time is right then I’ll get back to this and no doubt have to start again with this one. It will be interesting to see how quickly I can reach this level of performance again and (hopefully) improve it.
@Richard_close2u I had another look at you showing how it should be done, Richard. I noticed the chord shape you used for the trickiest bit. Something to keep in mind when I return.
Here is my version of Walking Easy, Steady Thumb, Gospel and my own mash up of these 3 lessons. They are all recorded on my Yamaha FG700 that have some buzz issues. So buzz issues, very crude production and far from 100% clean playing… Well well, I would love some feedback. And hope to see some other contributions
PS: I recently bought a new acoustic, so next recordings will be with the Dowina Cabernet
Hi Hans,
That was good to listen to, and the mash up was also a lot of fun, it clearly all came back in it, … I printed that course a while ago, it’s time to go with that too to start.
Thanks for the riminding,
Greetings
Well that’s a bit scary I started looking at STB at the weekend, taken me months to find it for some reason. Happy with the tutorial I bought the course this morning and jumped straight on WEB. Good to see you playing them, as it gives a different perspective from the lesson. You seem to be doing very well and that gives me some encouragement !
Enjoyed the mash up. Look forward to doing some mix and match once I get the first 3 fluent.
I’ve had this under my fingers for a month or so, have been playing it frequently as a warmup - thanks to @DavidP ’s post about OBS I’ve now got video with audio direct from my amp! From Justin’s Solo Blues course:
Cool James,
That sounded very nice, … at the end your metronome started ticking a bit harder I thought I noticed, right? … but nice tone too,
Greetings, Rogier
That was great, James. Most enjoyable. well played and recorded.
In my ears via my mid-fi earbuds, the bass notes were relatively soft compared to the melody notes. Still audible but I think the contrast might be enhanced if the bass notes were a little louder.
I love that piece and one fine day I shall have to resume the solo blues course, having first been distracted by a singing course and now running down the first steps of the blues lead path.
. 
I started looking at STB at the weekend, taken me months to find it for some reason. Happy with the tutorial I bought the course this morning and jumped straight on WEB. Good to see you playing them, as it gives a different perspective from the lesson. You seem to be doing very well and that gives me some encouragement !
