IanD

That's great @Randy120. Well done!

Sounds really good. Well done everybody!

Go on. You know you want to.

Looks great!

Fabulous! A very catchy tune. Well done guys!

Well done @mark_h, I loved it! Such dedication too, to play from your sick bed. Get well soon. Ian

Thanks Gerard. When you've worked through that, there is a fantastic and fun app you can find that helps you to develop your rhythmic note reading and sense of timing in real time. It generates rhythmic notation at various levels of complexity and you have to tap the rhythm on the screen in real time and it tells you if you were ahead, behind, spot on or missed each note. Its addictive and infuriating at the same time, but really does help. It's called ReadRhythm

Fabulous job Wim, well done!

Very cool resource Mandy, thanks!

There is a really cool tip in the February issue of 'Guitarist' magazine which is to memorise the sound of a musical interval (eg Minor third, Perfect fifth, Octave etc) using a reference tune/song that you know really, really well. It suggests the following, do you have other suggestions or ones that you use? Minor 2nd: first two notes of intro to Jailhouse Rock Major 2nd: first two notes of Silent Night Minor 3rd: first two notes of Smoke on the Water Perfect 4th: first two notes of Auld Lang Syne Tritone: first two notes of The Simpsons theme Perfect 5th: second and third notes of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Minor 6th: third and fourth notes of The Entertainer Major 6th: first two notes of My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean Minor 7th: first two notes of the Star Trek theme Major 7th: first two notes of the chorus of Take on Me by A-Ha Octave: first two notes of Somewhere over the Rainbow

@Mouseslave I have a Les Paul, an ES335 and a strat. The LP and 335 are beautiful and I enjoy picking them up and playing them, but they always feel like I'm playing someone else's guitar. The Strat somehow just feels and sounds like it's mine and is so comfortable to hold and play. I think the key is trying to find a guitar that feels like it's yours, no matter what the brand.

Good job Mandy, well done! Ian

Wow, you played it yet?

I am trying to. I've been having singing lessons, the singing school puts on a show twice per year to a friendly audience of 100 to 200 friends and family. I've done one song at four of those now. I find it terrifying, yet exhilarating - I suffer really badly with nerves. I'm now going to a little local folk club approx every 2 weeks to try to build my confidence and get more experience. There are only about 12-15 people there and it's really friendly and informal with people playing at all levels. You get to do 2 songs each time, just sitting in a circle, no PA or anything. No matter how comfortable I am with the song, the nerves begin the instant it's my turn. They cause my hand and leg to shake, heart races, forget the lyrics, fingers don't go where I want them to. It's weird. I hope that with time, it'll all get easier.

Oh no, sorry! It's pretty sad anyway, about the loneliness of touring musicians apparently and how they sometimes use hard drugs for 'escape'. Ian

Very nice guitar, congrats!

Wow, stunning!

Here's my contribution for this month. The song is 'Angel' by Sarah McLachlan. I recorded a single, live take direct to mp3 via a Zoom H2n recorder that was standing on the desk in front of me. I then uploaded it into Logic Pro and tweaked the gain and EQ and added bit of reverb and compression. (p.s. when I say 'single, live take' it was by no means the first :-) ) Ian

Sounding great guys. Ian

@rkl312 YES! I know exactly what you mean, I had that exact same problem. I remember saying to my wife that I didn't think I'd ever be able to strum and sing at the same time, it just didn't seem possible. I did figure it out though, like most things, it just takes time, patience and practice. This is how I did it... 1. Choose a song with really simple chords and a really simple strum pattern, but one you really like. 2. Practice playing the whole song, WITHOUT singing, over and over until you can do it with distractions and practically do it in your sleep. 3. Start adding in the vocals. If the vocals throw the strumming pattern then simply stop and get he strumming going again before throwing some vocals back in. Repeat over (and be patient). I got there in the end. After that one song, it all became easier, I think you have to overcome a psychological hump more than anything. Hope that helps. Ian

Wow, lots of great entries coming in thick and fast this month. @WATSON43 Sounds perfect to me. Vocal, guitar and recording quality are all superb. @V7#5b9 Good job. I look forward to hearing how far you've come with some new tunes. @Wim VD Beautiful, very clearly and tenderly played. Well done! Ian

Very cool Mark, sounded silky smooth. Well done. From the video, it looks like you have it really rough over there Ian

@matonanjin Great job! Really well-played. Even if I could do the riff, I'm sure my fingers would tie themselves in knots part way through. I hope you have a go at February's challenge too, it would be good to hear more. Ian (ps nice vocals too, sounded just like Paul )

Sweet!

Hey Hammy, that's fab! It's really great to see you in the flesh so to speak. Great to hear Steve's thoughts on both this recording challenge and the collaborations. I think that working together and sharing helps to build strong bonds in the community. Makes me really wish that I could come to this year's gathering, but it's so far away. Well done Hammy, looking forward to next months challenge. Ian