The Challenge March 2012

Renesongs

Write a 2 minute, instrumental only, blues song/composition.

In order to avoid a situation where it's NOT just a straight into a wild, check me out, 12 bar guitar solo thrash fest........ the songs must be judged on the following criteria.

1.The song/composition must contain a definite melody somewhere within the 2 minute duration.
2.The melody must be carried by some sort of guitar or stringed instrument.
3. It must undeniably fall into the blues genre.

Additional notes:

•The song/composition does not have to be based on a 12 bar progression.
•It could be as simple as one acoustic guitar all the way to a full band workup.
•Any instruments are okay but, as mentioned, the lead guitar must play the melody.
•It does not have to be based off any particular progression or style...a single chord Hooker style boogie is okay.....a solo Ry Cooder style slide guitar dreamy, swampy Delta mood is okay too....as long as......it falls into the blues.

Be creative....... layer guitars, play the melody on a bass, use a teabox bass ? ?, use a comb in the backing or a jaw harp, a kazoo, percussive items or instruments rather than a straight drumkit......... or just whip up a bass, drums, keyboards and guitar recording. Most of all......

Have fun!

BTW Deadline is Tue 27th March 2012

Squonk

Good Stuff

deefstes

Great stuff! This should be good. I shall endeavour to submit an entry but I have a sneaky suspicion that this is where the true guitar masters of the forum will shine.

Highway-Chile

deefstes wrote: I have a sneaky suspicion that this is where the true guitar masters of the forum will shine.

Just remember though that it is all about establishing a melody and a true blues vibe. So being a nimble fingered bluesmeister on guitar is technically only going to do you well, if your entry has a great melody..... and as long as the tune is in true keeping with the blues. So just blasting into some wicked rock solo over a 12 bar shuffle is not the best idea if one want's to win this.....if that's all you do.

evolucian

I can't really solo over a blues... but I'll give it a shot. Good ol texan style... or texan trailer trash style *shrug*

FruitarGeek

Who came up with this topic?

Renesongs

Adrian Rogowski wrote: Who came up with this topic?

The winner of last months challenge of course 8)

Hammeron

Renesongs wrote:
Adrian Rogowski wrote: Who came up with this topic?
The winner of last months challenge of course 8)

Who else ? ???

Highway-Chile

Adrian Rogowski wrote: Who came up with this topic?

Why do you ask Adrian......does it suck? ? ? ?

I figured the blues might be an easy one for anyone to have a crack at and really, the way I hoped it would turn out is a sort of departure from just soloing over a typical progression, and rather to try be creative with it. So less emphasis on chops and more emphasis on writing and creativity.

I just found this... just a single acoustic. If I heard a track like this, I personally would vote for it over just a 12 bar solofest........no matter how good the soloist was.

=

evolucian wrote: I can't really solo over a blues...

Right! ? I have heard your music clips over at Ultimate Guitar. You got all kinds of chops and tone for days.

Rene, this is right up your alley. Any chance you might throw down? It'd be good to see you partake brother.

evolucian

Highway Chile wrote:
evolucian wrote: I can't really solo over a blues...
Right! ? I have heard your music clips over at Ultimate Guitar. You got all kinds of chops and tone for days.

Rene, this is right up your alley. Any chance you might throw down? It'd be good to see you partake brother.

Dammit, lol... and thanks man ?

And yeah Rene... what he said ?

Renesongs

I must admit when I saw the topic I thought someone is goading me to enter this one. If time permits I will give this one a go. BTW Deadline is Tue 27th March 2012 8)

Highway-Chile

Renesongs wrote: I must admit when I saw the topic I thought someone is goading me to enter this one. If time permits I will give this one a go. BTW Deadline is Tue 27th March 2012 8)

No goading. 8) Think of it as a gentle nudge. ? A chance to slip away from the daily grind and get in the studio and play.....doing something you love. Playing the blues.

FruitarGeek

Highway Chile wrote: Why do you ask Adrian......does it suck? ? ? ?

No, but I know how Blues orientated this forum is, so might not be a challenge to some. But, on the other hand, I don't recall their even being a blues challenge in my duration on this forum - If I have time, I would love to give this a go

ezietsman

Adrian Rogowski wrote:
Highway Chile wrote: Why do you ask Adrian......does it suck? ? ? ?
No, but I know how Blues orientated this forum is, so might not be a challenge to some. But, on the other hand, I don't recall their even being a blues challenge in my duration on this forum - If I have time, I would love to give this a go

The challenge is making your entry sound authentic. The extra rule that forces a melody to be played also means you cannot just solo willy nilly over a boogie. This is harder than most people realize.

evolucian

So adding a somewhat vocal line through means of a guitar is acceptable?

Or do you want horns n whistles n stuff?

deefstes

evolucian wrote: So adding a somewhat vocal line through means of a guitar is acceptable?

Or do you want horns n whistles n stuff?

The way I understand it a vocal line by means of a guitar is good. But from you we expect horns n whistles n stuff ?

DonovanB

ez wrote: The challenge is making your entry sound authentic. This is harder than most people realize.

Authentic by your standards? ?

evolucian

deefstes wrote:
evolucian wrote: So adding a somewhat vocal line through means of a guitar is acceptable?

Or do you want horns n whistles n stuff?
The way I understand it a vocal line by means of a guitar is good. But from you we expect horns n whistles n stuff ?

Hahahaha... fair enough... I shall try. Something new for me though.

ezietsman

Donovan Banks wrote:
ez wrote: The challenge is making your entry sound authentic. This is harder than most people realize.
Authentic by your standards? ?

Not my standards, its in the rules of this comp. In the end it will be judged by OUR collective (average?) standard, I have but one vote...

deefstes

Flipstix! I thought I'd take tonight and start working on my entry. Let me just report back that I have not been able to come up with anything sounding remotely bluesy. I thought it was going to be a tough challenge to try rival the masters on this forum but right now I find it a tough challenge just coming up with something that is acceptable to me. All my efforts so far has been not in the slightest bit convincing.

I think I'll start over, next week. Right now I'm going to try to forget everything I've done so far and hopefully next week sometime, if I try it again, I might be able to come up with something a bit more convincing. In the mean while I'll just spend my time listening to Peter Green, Gary Moore, Cream etc. and hope that some of their pizzazz rubs off on me ?