klaasvakie I like the restriction on the melody but not on the harmony. For the harmony, I'd say all incidentals are allowed. That opens up a few more chords.
Or even just make it 4 notes. That opens up a lot of options. But I feel like it might scare beginners whereas just limiting the melody (while leaving the harmony open) means you can pick 3 notes and go bos ? Open to anyone of any skill level.
NorioDS I like 4 notes better than trying to discriminate between melody and harmony, so perhaps lets restate the options as
a) Acoustic
b) 4 Notes Only (octaves up and down are allowed)
c) Something else
I'm personally leaning towards acoustic, but maybe that's because my acoustic just got new strings ?
4 Notes sounds like a challenge and a half. But hopefully a mini one?
studmissile Not sure what a mini challenge would look like, but I like the idea. What do you think @NorioDS ? 1 week (or until the end of the next weekend) to get the entry in, 2 days for voting? No prize money - just glory and admiration?
klaasvakie I also like the idea of a mini challenge!
It was two weeks, but one week is good too if everyone's keen?
klaasvakie 2) Acoustic challenge, normal rules?
Acoustic mini challenge!
My 4 noter would be on a acoustic anyways - so let's get the dust off the acoustics for a spring thing?
V8 Two mini-challenges then instead of the normal one?
Run them sequentially?
1) 4 Note mini-challenge, deadline midnight 30 Sep?
2) Acoustic mini-challenge, deadline midnight 7 Oct?
klaasvakie I'm easy - I worked on something yesterday that could be either. I think peeps will go for the acoustic challenge, it's a bit more 'open ended' - let's see what everyone thinks?
The trick with the challenges is to time the start and end of each so that they can go out at least once in the newsletter. (Twice is better. First time to get entrants. Second time to get voters.)
Also mini challenges take about the same effort to run as month-long challenges. So running them one right after the other is tricky for me as I'm going to be away from my desk for the first 2 weeks of October.
@V8 you happy to run one or both of these? If one, then @klaasvakie you'll need to pick one ?
NorioDS @V8 you happy to run one or both of these? If one, then @klaasvakie you'll need to pick one
Of course, always happy to do it ?
One or two, I'm easy!
When I said mini, I was only thinking time wise 30 sec -1 min for a 4 note challenge. I like the idea it requires some fret board study doesn't it? A song only using 4 notes (including octaves), but include both melody and harmony and chords in that restriction. Electric or Acoustic or unlimited tracks are irrelevant, the challenge is to entertain with just the 4 notes.
studmissile Oh wow, yeah completely different interpretation of "mini". I like it a lot. So, a "mini-mini" challenge then. 1 week to come up with 1 minute?
klaasvakie Maybe longer 2 weeks? Hopefully I'd like to see some beginners give it a try as well? I just think its a really clever idea, cause you stuck with just 4 notes, but I'd include harmony and melody in that challenge. So theoretically you'd be harmonizing the same notes in different combinations? Even the chords would have to be restricted to those 4 note patterns.
studmissile Even the chords would have to be restricted to those 4 note patterns.
Arrgghh ?.
Though, it will be a great learning experience.
V8 V8, since you are going to be the one running this, please apply your editorial skills and help me pick the format for this. I think after reading @studmissile and @NorioDS's comments, my vote is for the 4-note challenge, but in the normal competition format. This gives everyone enough time to try, it doesn't limit anyone to acoustic or electric and it will hopefully bat @Norios's concern about lining up with the newsletters.
Agree with @studmissile, this will require some fretboard study and some creativity. The main riff to Shine on You Crazy Diamond is only 4 notes, so should be easy right?
Will leave it up to you and @NorioDS to figure out dates and things so they sync with the newsletters.
klaasvakie V8, since you are going to be the one running this, please apply your editorial skills and help me pick the format for this.
Errmmm...me edit. Well, you get what you ask for...?
It's up (and subject to revision) : https://community.guitartalk.co.za/d/26859-the-four-note-special-challenge
What I was thinking is if you have a great idea (or something you really like) but it doesn't work for the Four note thang, keep it for the next one (Acoustic) which we'll kick off immediately when entries close on this one - So there'll be a overlap between voting phase on this one and writing phase of the next.
