The Challenge March 2012

Renesongs · 2012-03-05T11:58:25+00:00

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

Highway-Chile

deefstes wrote Let me just report back that I have not been able to come up with anything sounding remotely bluesy.

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.

? What you have right here folks, is a bit of reverse psychology..... you are being worked, mindfucked.......totally psyched-out. ? He has a track that is just awesome, but is only going to pin it on us at the last minute.....hoping you guys will not be trying too hard. Fight it ladies and gentlemen......take no prisoners!!

? ?

Don't overthink the melody too much. Think of it as a very strong MOTIF that states the intention of the song.

If you heard the intro lick to Steppin' Out (Mayall with Clapton), you would immediately know what it was.......or "I Want You" by the Beatles is a good one...the guitar motif part of it. Go to where the solo starts after She's So heavy and see how that motif works so well.

So my idea is for you to establish something....... before rocketing into a solo, because it makes it more interesting and as ez mentioned, more difficult. You have to think about it......as deefestes has pointed out.

This solo acoustic is a good example......it really feels like a melody, like the guitar is telling a story. It is very lyrical and there is a change at about 2:17 which could be construed as the solo section as it get's away a little from the melody.....just a little.

=

V8

Highway Chile wrote
deefstes wrote Let me just report back that I have not been able to come up with anything sounding remotely bluesy.

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.

? What you have right here folks, is a bit of reverse psychology..... you are being worked, mindfucked.......totally psyched-out. ? He has a track that is just awesome, but is only going to pin it on us at the last minute.....hoping you guys will not be trying too hard. Fight it ladies and gentlemen......take no prisoners!!

Bwahahahaaaaa, classic - C'mon Deefstes represent the (B) group!, I reckon there'll be more than enough entries for each category, so we won't have to directly compete w/HWC and Rene (sheesh, maybe even Alan will enter.... ???)

Highway Chile wrote Don't overthink the melody too much. Think of it as a very strong MOTIF that states the intention of the song.

I'll admit, the instrumental part got me thinking jazzy/blues with the melody as part of the chord choices (harmony) ala Kenny Burell - But I'd rather groove out a rocking shuffle w/a twist - let's see if it's Mr Hyde or Dr Jeckyll that will be submitting something...8)

AlanRatcliffe

V8 wrote (sheesh, maybe even Alan will enter.... ???)

He has been considering it, but has also been pondering passing in from the pasture on the portside (if I can get away with it without our resident blues traditionalists lynching me).

PeteM

Okay, I'm in this time. Written the thing... just gotta lay it down.

Highway-Chile

Nice, PeteM!!!

PeteM

Done and dusted... how's everyone else doing?

deefstes

PeteM wrote Done and dusted... how's everyone else doing?

Excellent! Looking forward to your entry. After an aborted first attempt I've now tried again and I'm much happier with what I have now. I still need to record it properly though but hopefully I'll get around to that in the next few evenings.

Highway-Chile

I am nowhere close to even thinking about getting started.

deefstes

Highway Chile wrote I am nowhere close to even thinking about getting started.

We're not falling for that one again. The last time you said that you proceeded to open a can of whip-ass on all of us. I've figured it out now "I don't have time" is Highway Chilean for "I'm going to record a killer track that will destroy the lot of you". ?

slyd

PeteM wrote Done and dusted... how's everyone else doing?

I think Pete's trying to get everyone else to panic and rush their entry ? ?

Highway-Chile

deefstes wrote
Highway Chile wrote I am nowhere close to even thinking about getting started.
We're not falling for that one again. "I don't have time" is Highway Chilean for "I'm going to record a killer track that will destroy the lot of you". ?

LOL!!! You might be on to sumpin' dere good buddy, c'mon! ? ?

deefstes

Okiedokie, mine is in. What a ride!

I'd have to say that this may have been one of the more challenging entries for me so far. I didn't expect that blues would be so hard because, heck, every day when I pick up the guitar I first run over a pentatonic minor or two and usually can't help myself but to break out a 12 bar blues progression. But try to come up with a proper blues tune, one that "lives", and it's a very different story.

I had three attempts that I eventually ditched as they just didn't sound like they had any emotion to them. Each time I interrupted myself with a couple of days during which I tried to listen to a lot of blues and forget as much as possible of the earlier attempt. With the fourth go I think I found something that actually does have a bit of "soul". My wife reckons this one must have more emotion because she says I'm pulling more intense faces when I'm playing it ? Now I'm just hoping the rest of the forumites agree ?

So how are you guys getting on? I'm really looking forward to hearing the other entries in this challenge. Something tells me there are going to be a few corkers this time round.

I love these challenges. Even though I generally suck when compared to the other masters around here, I find it very stimulating to try to express myself within the parameters of the theme and record it. And each time I learn something new. This was the first time I've recorded my guitar through a mic'ed up amp. I just couldn't get the tone I was looking for by going straight into the audio interface so I borrowed a SM57 and bam! Exactly the tone I was looking for.

Highway-Chile

I haven't even thought of starting I'm telling you. I scheme I might sit this out. I want to go...trust me, but we (family) are in the thick of a really important negotiation and I am tied up during the day and burned out at night. I was going to the gym 3 times a week and loving it and I haven't been for a week at all.

I will try whip one up. We''ll see.

PeteM

Sent my entry in today... who else is entering?

Highway-Chile

Okay, up until today I had not even started. I planned on coming in the studio after dinner...which I made of course. Plus I am doing the household laundry today.

But then my youngest daughter had terrible constipation....so I helped comfort her, she was in agony.......and when my wife got in we realized nature was not going to do things on her own.....we had to take steps...... so out with the suppositories etc.....I'll stop there but everything finally came out okay. ?

So I finally got in the studio after 9PM. I started working and came up with an idea and got an acoustic guitar down rough and a Dobro part down rough. Next thing my wife comes and asks for help...... now my youngest has lost her dinner....all over everything, puked her heart out poor girl. Everywhere!! So I had to throw the bedsheets and cover, pillowcases, pyjamas etc etc etc in the washer and finally I got back out to the studio.

So needless to say.......... I did not spend much time with this and it's now 1:35AM..... again with the 3 hours or less.....no time on the mix or any of it etc etc..... but it is the best I can do and still get in the challenge which is more fun and enjoyable than stressing over a shitty mix. I always enjoy doing these and listening to all you folks' entires et al.

So, see you on the inside when the voting opens and good luck to everyone.

DonovanB

Highway Chile wrote Okay, up until today I had not even started. I planned on coming in the studio after dinner...which I made of course. Plus I am doing the household laundry today.

But then my youngest daughter had terrible constipation....so I helped comfort her, she was in agony.......and when my wife got in we realized nature was not going to do things on her own.....we had to take steps...... so out with the suppositories etc.....I'll stop there but everything finally came out okay. ?

So I finally got in the studio after 9PM. I started working and came up with an idea and got an acoustic guitar down rough and a Dobro part down rough. Next thing my wife comes and asks for help...... now my youngest has lost her dinner....all over everything, puked her heart out poor girl. Everywhere!! So I had to throw the bedsheets and cover, pillowcases, pyjamas etc etc etc in the washer and finally I got back out to the studio.

So needless to say.......... I did not spend much time with this and it's now 1:35AM..... again with the 3 hours or less.....no time on the mix or any of it etc etc..... but it is the best I can do and still get in the challenge which is more fun and enjoyable than stressing over a shitty mix. I always enjoy doing these and listening to all you folks' entires et al.

So, see you on the inside when the voting opens and good luck to everyone.

So you have a real reason to have the blues. If you win after all that then we need to ban you from entering...lol

Hope your daughter comes right.

deefstes

Highway Chile wrote Okay, up until today I had not even started. I planned on coming in the studio after dinner...which I made of course. Plus I am doing the household laundry today.

But then my youngest daughter had terrible constipation....so I helped comfort her, she was in agony.......and when my wife got in we realized nature was not going to do things on her own.....we had to take steps...... so out with the suppositories etc.....I'll stop there but everything finally came out okay. ?

So I finally got in the studio after 9PM. I started working and came up with an idea and got an acoustic guitar down rough and a Dobro part down rough. Next thing my wife comes and asks for help...... now my youngest has lost her dinner....all over everything, puked her heart out poor girl. Everywhere!! So I had to throw the bedsheets and cover, pillowcases, pyjamas etc etc etc in the washer and finally I got back out to the studio.

So needless to say.......... I did not spend much time with this and it's now 1:35AM..... again with the 3 hours or less.....no time on the mix or any of it etc etc..... but it is the best I can do and still get in the challenge which is more fun and enjoyable than stressing over a shitty mix. I always enjoy doing these and listening to all you folks' entires et al.

So, see you on the inside when the voting opens and good luck to everyone.

Every month the preamble is longer and more convoluted but every month HWC's results kicks more ass. What game is this you're playing?

But on a more serious note, sorry to hear about your poor little girl's ordeal. That can't be lekker, either for her or her parents.

And on a less serious note:
Q: How did the constipated mathematician solve his problem?
A: He worked it out with a pencil.

Then of course there was the constipated accountant who couldn't budget.

... and the constipated composer who couldn't finish the last movement.

Highway-Chile

deefstes wrote
Every month the preamble is longer and more convoluted ........
Q: How did the constipated mathematician solve his problem?
A: He worked it out with a pencil.
Then of course there was the constipated accountant who couldn't budget.... and the constipated composer who couldn't finish the last movement.

Ha! Jy's baaie snaaks, meneertjie! ? See I haven't forgotten the taal. Did poorly in it in high school though. Enough so the folks sent me to cousins in Sasolburg one July holidays, who spoke only Afrikaans at home, to shape me up. Man, those Afrikaans girls! I quickly turned that situation around in my favor. Actually, I met a very pretty girl in Keimoes when we went up to Augrabies etc on a road trip....I still think about her. Did not speak a single word of English, nary a one! Didn't need to........ :dance: Desperate to be clear and come over as a smart young chap, I tried very hard to speak as good Afrikaans as I could....but I was speaking some bastardized version of English, Afrikaans and Zulu all mixed up. It was pitiful. Her sister and her were cracking up at me. Ah, when we were young!

Thanks for the thoughts for my little girl, she stayed home from school today. Personally she seems okay enough to go but she deserves a day to herself in front of the TV after that. Yikes!! I forgot to mention that I went back in the studio and about 20 minutes later was feeling pretty crook myself. Totally nauseous. I figured it was just from dealing with cleaning up all the yuck, which I don't handle well........ but I woke up with it. My wife and other daughter feel fine so I don't know what is going on, maybe it is a stomach flu bug or something, 'cos we all ate the same and they feel fine. My head was elsewhere also, spacey. Last night at 1:30AM I was 1/2 asleep as I was uploading to Box and PM'ing Rene as well as posting here.

Listening to my track this morning, I kinda like it. I did not really follow a 12 bar form. I was going to go John Lee Hooker style slow boogie where he just hangs on the same groove forever....but I ended up putting some changes in. Mine is like a few guys in the 60's, sitting around jamming in the studio, late in the morning after everyone has gone home from doing a session as backing musicians. Eager to just jam they went at it. The engineer was wrapping up in the control room and hit Record, direct to cassette to at least catch it on tape, in case there was magic. There wasn't, but this is the result. LOL!!!! ? The mic on the crash cymbal had moved closer and so the crash was way loud, but they were happy to have a tape. My entry is a 2 minute snippet of that. ?

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