The Challenge July 2012

Renesongs

This time it is open to all players. The chosen genre is Blues - be it delta, chicago, kansas, modern, etc. like Keb Mo, Clapton and the usual culprits.
Not allowed - anything that has rock in it. This includes sissy bands like Judas Priest too. No, Iron maiden isn't blues. Nor is Black Sabbath, etc etc.

2 minutes of pure unadulterated blues
Oh yes closing date is 25 July

deefstes

Sweet. Time to go dig around in the soul cupboard again.

...or could I just resubmit my entry from a couple of challenges ago? ?

Jayhell

Can the song be longer that 2:00? Does the same rules apply to as last months challenge: 4 tracks...blablabla. I got lots of blues songs but they are all miles long ?

chris77

Jayhell wrote: Can the song be longer that 2:00? Does the same rules apply to as last months challenge: 4 tracks...blablabla. I got lots of blues songs but they are all miles long ?

Cut out all the bits about the Sherrif shooting your dog dead, dead, dead and the woman who done you wrong in Reno..... ?

Thanks Evo.... ??? I'm stuck in a rut playing Blues Cliches everytime I pick up my guitar and now you throw this at us. :-[ ?

Squonk

I am also stuck on the 12 bar blues thing!

Trying some different ideas:

Alternate tuning (DADGAD) makes it sound a bit more interesting.
Alternating between a minor or a seventh chord, changes the scale a bit
Acoustic, try some Fingerstyle, doing the Bass, Chords and melody altogether.
Slow it down

And I am still stuck

deefstes

You'd think blues is generally simple and straight forward but not so. I found the previous blues challenge pretty difficult, and it seems I'm already stuck in a rut again. MAybe I should try something that I know absolutely nothing of, like Punk Blues or Hokum Blues, so I can force myself out of this flippin' 12 bar blues plus pentatonic minor rut.

Jayhell

I'm thinking of going completely old school and mic up wooden box to kick as a drum, while playing guitar and singing all in one take. It's gonna take a bit of practice but it'll sound super natural and will get me away from the generic blues drum tracks. This is my genre, I should do something out of the box!

deefstes

Jayhell wrote: I'm thinking of going completely old school and mic up wooden box to kick as a drum, while playing guitar and singing all in one take. It's gonna take a bit of practice but it'll sound super natural and will get me away from the generic blues drum tracks. This is my genre, I should do something out of the box!

You go! Looking forward to hear your entry.

evolucian

The truth is - the only way to remove the cliche is play it differently. Augment the timing, adjust where the phrase comes in or ends. Most of the licks from those pro's is just the same thing you played - from a different perspective.

@Squonk - listen to Stevie Ray Vaughan for ideas on how to approach something. Get out of the habit of listening for the "OMG this guy plays like a loch ness". Rather listen to the approach they had towards what they did - because invariably, all they're doing is the same ol shite we're all doing. Try get your hands on some Keb Mo seeing as you like the acoustic. Simple and rustic but still an awesome musician/songwriter.

V8

evolucian wrote: The truth is - the only way to remove the cliche is play it differently. Augment the timing, adjust where the phrase comes in or ends.

+1.

Got a progression that needs recording, happily the doc has given me the green light to play as much as I can this week - strat-tas-tic :?

deefstes

Psean

Haha ?

Jayhell

If it's too easy it will probably suck, right? But complicating things for myself is turning out to be one hell of a mission. Time, time, darn I hope I find the tie to finish this.

evolucian

20 days is plenty of time bud ?

V8

Jayhell wrote:
If it's too easy it will probably suck, right? But complicating things for myself is turning out to be one hell of a mission. Time, time, darn I hope I find the tie to finish this.

imho, the hardest thing is to keep a good idea simple (and elegant).

Your idea of doing a one track wonder (singing, playing, stomping a beat w/feet) got me to do the same last nite - big fun - although I doubt any vocals will make it into the recording... :-[ - I'm used to receiving the wooden spoon challenge time, so relax, no pressure!

Jayhell

V8 wrote:
Jayhell wrote:
If it's too easy it will probably suck, right? But complicating things for myself is turning out to be one hell of a mission. Time, time, darn I hope I find the tie to finish this.
imho, the hardest thing is to keep a good idea simple (and elegant).

Your idea of doing a one track wonder (singing, playing, stomping a beat w/feet) got me to do the same last nite - big fun - although I doubt any vocals will make it into the recording... :-[ - I'm used to receiving the wooden spoon challenge time, so relax, no pressure!

The stomp, sing and play thing turned out to be way to much, whenever I screw something up I have to start all over again. Also, the stomp mic picks up the guitars and the vocals and the vocal mic picks up the stomp and it turned out to be a mess. I liked the effect of the stomp though so I made a drum track inspired by the stomp box (I cable tied a tambourine to a old clip board with some interesting results). This is my first challenge and im finding it very hard to stay under 2 minutes. Hopefully I will lay down the guitars tomorrow.

V8

Jayhell wrote: The stomp, sing and play thing turned out to be way to much, whenever I screw something up I have to start all over again. Also, the stomp mic picks up the guitars and the vocals and the vocal mic picks up the stomp and it turned out to be a mess. I

Yip, - one mistake and redo the take, I don't have a clean take yet. I'll be okay with a few technical mistakes if the timing is good and the feeling is there for the take.

But the bleeding between mics is an issue - guitar's internal pickup into input one and stomp mic into input two - I was hoping that stomp mic would also capture the reverb of the room I'm playing in, but that's where I reckon I could use another mic input for reverb of room and/or vocals.

Suppose this is why we refer to this as a monthly challenge and not a competition (although it is in the competition forum... ?)

Psean

This is sounding interesting. Looking forward to hearing the entries?

deefstes

Psean wrote: This is sounding interesting. Looking forward to submitting an entry and then hearing the entries?

There, fixed it for ya ?

Psean

deefstes wrote:
Psean wrote: This is sounding interesting. Looking forward to submitting an entry and then hearing the entries?
There, fixed it for ya ?

Hehe ?
I'm trying but struggling to come up with anything that doesn't sound lame ☹