WHAT IT IS
Inspired by the Winter Rap Off Competition, I decided that we instrumentalists needed something similar. This was originally intended for guitarists, but a solo is a solo, so anyone who plays an instrument can enter. This post is mainly aimed at guitar players, mainly because I am one, and the idea was started on the guitar thread, but if you play some other instrument, you can enter. I want you to enter. The more solos, the better!
The deadline for entries is April 8. That gives you more or less 2 weeks. I'm not setting a specific time on that date, because it'll most likely take me a day or so to go through the entries, so if you're a little bit late, just let me know and you'll probably be alright. Also, if some of you think that's too short, I'll extend it. Feel free to tell me if you don't like something about the contest.
HOW TO ENTER
- Take one of the provided backing tracks (EDIT: Sorry guys, I probably won't have these up until Friday.), or make one of your own.
- Write and record your solo. What you should aim for is a musical segment that features your instrument as the primary one, and creates a musical idea that goes somewhere. Do not noodle for the allotted time. Compose.
- Mix the solo with the backing track. Do it in such a way that the solo is distinctly clear through the mix. I need to be able to hear it.
But don't fret too much over the mixing, that's not the point of this competition. - Upload it to Soundcloud, Mediafire, Youtube, Dropbox, or something where I can listen to it. Post a link to your solo as a reply to this topic.
- Pray to Celestia that I am merciful on your entry.
RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
- The solo should be around :30 - 1:30 in length. If you go beyond that, I won't knock off points, but please do not submit a 5 minute session of your noodling. The idea of this is to create a concise musical segment that demonstrates your solo composition ability.
- You may overdub, or use multiple different instruments, as long as it's all played by you. Do what you want for the backing track if you make your own, but please do not speed up or alter your solo in any unfair way. On that note...
- Don't rely on guitar effects, but if you want to use them, that's fine. But be conservative. I've heard solos ruined by ear splitting flangers and other nonsense. You're being judged on the notes, not the timbre.
- You may submit up to two entries.
HOW ENTRIES WILL BE JUDGED
The entries will be scored and judged by myself. I am confident in my ability to be an unbiased judge of the entries. I'm actually going to download them all, and before listening to them, have a friend of mine rename them randomly so I don't know who's is who's until after I've scored them.
If there are not a lot of entries, there will be a first place and a second place.
If there are a lot of entries, there will be a grand champion and a winner for each of the categories you're being scored on.
- General Composition / Musicality - No, that's not a made up word. The solo flows form one idea to the next, and it goes somewhere in terms of intensity or melodic development, and isn't just random noodling. Noticeable effort was put into the selection of notes, and it doesn't sound like poor improvisation. This category is also an assessment of your usage of things such as dynamics and articulation. The solo is overall enjoyable to listen to.
- Creativity - You don't need to invent a new instrument and play it, but try to be unique, and have a feel to your solo that is distinctly "you". Also, don't copy someone else.
- Technique - While playing fast isn't the focus, it's a factor. The technique category includes not only speed, but also things such as bends, vibrato, pinched harmonics, and whammy bar stuff.
- Complexity - Be it melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic, show something complex. Be it a weird scale (Phrygian Dominant, anyone?), or weird intervals, or crazy rhythms, play something that's not simplistic.
- Precision - The solo doesn't have noticeable mistakes in it, like accidentally touched extra strings or what-have-you. Don't attempt to play faster than you can if it makes you sloppy. This is about the playing of the notes, not the note choices. If you deliberately play out of key, or you use a lot of chromatic tones (*cough* ChromaticChaosPony *cough*), don't worry. That will not lower your score, and in fact might raise it in the Creativity section.
TIPS AND ADVICE
Take note that this is all just my opinion and I may or may not have no idea what I'm talking about. However, seeing as I'm the judge, you might want to consider it.
- Compose, don't improvise. Unless you're some incredible improviser who can make an improvised solo sound just as good as a carefully composed one, of course.
- The idea of this is not a contest to prove who's the fastest guitar player. You will be judged on composition as a whole, so if you can't shred, don't sweat it.
- Build to a climax. Don't come in at the same intensity you go out. Employ dynamics, move from one scale to another, or do something that makes the solo go somewhere.
- Playing faster isn't the only way to make things more intense.
- Take a musical idea and develop it. Don't just play random notes.
- Just because you're not percussion doesn't mean you shouldn't think about rhythms.
- If you have something to add to this section, let me know.
FURTHER NOTES
- If you think one of these rules or something is stupid, tell me. I'm open to negotiations.
- If you would like to help me judge, that'd be great. I want more judges. Just PM me or something, but be aware that I'm not entering in the competition, and I would expect the same of other judges.
- This post will likely be updated as I put further thought into the rules and incorporate suggestions, so check back often to see if anything changes. I'll probably rewrite this to be more concise and logically laid out, and just make more sense in general.
- And finally: "For those about to rock, we salute you."
