FatBoy
After listening to some of the entries lately I think it would be cool if we could split the challenge into "leagues" of sorts. I think it will make the challenge more accessible to newer guitarists. How about "Beginner", "Intermediate", "Master" and "Rene" or something along those lines ? If you win 3 times in your league you get moved up a level etc.
It may help getting more people involved, your thoughts?
Squonk
Sounds good.
CornFlakes
I like that idea!
LMinnie
Me too! ?
Heath
IMO i think the spirit of the competetion has been lost , orginally i figured it was you and your guitar and a recording device with minimal editing ...... these things are ending up to be full blown studio recording . i am not saying they bad , they brilliant . i just think they going over board now , the newer guys feel daunted by these huge studio production , and don't enter .
NorioDS
Have to agree with Tailon, it has gone a bit overboard. Perhaps now is the time to rehash the competition rules?
ConradP
Yes. I mean we want everyone to submit recordings and not feel belittled by it. Because this is also a means for guitarists to grow no?
NorioDS
Maybe we should limit the number of tracks to 3 or 4? Would that help?
AlanRatcliffe
Hell, limit it to one track of guitar and 60 seconds.
NorioDS
That works for me. Then it really comes down to what you can do on a guitar. It makes it much more accessible. Could also make it boring tho?
AlanRatcliffe
It levels the playing field and should help keep us on track going for a mood or style, instead of just shredding over a backing in the right style.
FatBoy
I think 1 track is a bit harsh, noobs will find it even more difficult to play something that sounds decent / not boring, and still, the more experienced okes can do a LOT more with 1 track than the noobs, so we'll still end up with a lot of okes not feeling comfortable with posting their recordings.
sepheritoh
Sounds good.
I admit that I am the guilty party here. I tend to try and hide my bad playing with overproduction.
Limiting to say 60 seconds is a bit, well, limiting. Make it 2 minutes max with some limit on the number of tracks, e.g. 4 tracks. Bass qualifies as 1 track, drums as one track etc.
Back-track or loop users would not be allowed to use no more than 2 guitar tracks, I'd guess, with no limit to what the loop contains.
The ranking would be a bit difficult. If we have only 3 entries each week, each person will automatically fall in his own class and everybody who enter would be a winner in his own class each week. Sounds a bit like the special olympics.
FatBoy
The idea of the ranking is to get more people to enter, so hopefully we won't have just three entries... I for one doubt that I'll enter again, because there is no way I can beat you or Rene, no matter what kind of limits are put in place, even if we are just aloud one chord you'll still kick my arse. That's what I'm getting at.
sepheritoh
I get your idea, yeah. I am just so good the rest of you better eat....
;D ;D
Just joking. No, really, I admit I am guilty in doing to much in the production and not in the playing. These challenges really got me a bit off my backside at least the last month to record more. Last month was the first time in a long long time I recorded more than 1 or 2 doodles in a month.
I was just lucky that at least 2 of the challenges was in the line of movie music (schlock horror and epic) which suits my overproduced style. The other were not up my style at all, but at least I tried. I think my country attempt was embarrasing bad.
Don't give up so easilly. Leave the sulking part to me. I am good at that at least.
CDee
IMO we (Beginners) should look past the whole thing of trying to compare ourselves with Rene and the likes. I think the spirit of this whole "weekly challenge" is exactly that: "Challenge". My first goal was not to compare to anybody but at least get a vote. Then from there build and learn so next time I'll get two votes. Maybe in a years time you guys recognise how much I've grown and learned and then become a contender. We should try to keep this challenge alive and not let it become a "mine is bigger than yours" situation.
Just my 2c. Sorry if anybody takes offense, it's not intended. ?
NorioDS
Also a very good point CDee! If it wasn't for Rene, Alan & Seph entering these contests, I wouldn't put so much effort into my own entries.
Perhaps dumbing down the contest isn't such a great idea much in the same way that lowering the standards in schools isn't a great idea. It just means less-qualified candidates or, in our case, less interesting recordings.
However, I do think some rules should be put in place...
- Only original work (ie: no covers)
- Main instrument must be guitar (it's the GFSA, after all)
I also think we need to give ourselves some time. I don't know about you guys but I never really recorded myself properly before starting this forum. The forum has been a catalyst for me to learn how to record and how to record WELL.
So that's worth keeping in mind.
One thing that comes to mind is in the judging of the entries. Maybe we could judge based on technical skill, production and how well it fits the theme.
All in all, let's not take this too seriously. There are no prizes here so work your ass off and see if you can beat someone. I don't think I've come close to winning any challenges but that won't stop me from entering because the prize I'm after is greater than that - I'm becoming a better player!
ConradP
Yes. Good point. I do not think anyone needs to feel guilty though (Sepiroth). Is just a natural thing to want to make something sound polished.
Renesongs
My 2c worth - I think it impossible to compare the effort of someone that has been playing for less than 2 years with someone who has been playing and recording for more than 20 years. I don't think that categorising entries by guitarists by experience is demeaning to anyone. Boxers fight according according to there weight.
So what I suggest is we make a few categories based on the length of time you have been playing. Say U2 (under 2 year)
U5, U10 and 10+. When you enter you state your category. When voting time comes along voters get a vote per category
eg if there are 10 U2 entries and 5 10+ entries then you get 2 votes hopefully you are all honest folk and don't use your votes more than once per category.
The beauty of this proposition is it's simplicity we can implement it immediately to the current challenge without any admin overhead. Secondly for those who have being baying for a special category for Rene try U40, I doubt that I have any competition there unless Vai and Sach decide to join this forum ?
Edit: That sounded well waaay arogant. I am no where near Vai or Sach even though I have been playing as long. I have been playing longer than Eric Johnson and John Meyer but for me to compete with them would be an epic fail.
AlanRatcliffe
try U40, I doubt that I have any competition there unless Vai and Sach decide to join this forum
You sayin' I'm no competition? ?
...fair point. ?
