The Challenge 6 - 15 September 2010

Renesongs

I have had some good topic suggestions so far. Keep them rolling in via my PM and I will put up a Poll soon. To get the ball rolling I chose one from Norio that I thought you would all enjoy.

Wannabe
Choose a guitarist that they you like and think you can imitate Clapton, Hendrix, SRV, Vai, Gilmour, Knoffler Ratcliffe whoever. Compose a one minute piece in his style. Because it is only one minute I'm not going to be fussy about how you begin or end the piece start in the middle of a solo if you like but try to keep it original yes you can use some stock licks from your hero but if it is the solo, note perfect from say "comfortable numb" or "sultans of swing" no body here is going to be impressed. Please indicate in your PM who you wannabe is in case we don't know the artist. Entries are due in Wed 15th at 8pm.

aja

Do people prefer topics that are light hearted and broad like the above or do they prefer more technical and limiting topics like playing in a certain key or double stops etc... ?

Warren

I like this topic! I think we all pick up stuff from our favourite players and those things become part of our playing, so it's a good challenge. Also, hopefully one that will attract lots of entries. ?

MikeM

Will definitely enter this ?

guitarboy2828

aja wrote: Do people prefer topics that are light hearted and broad like the above or do they prefer more technical and limiting topics like playing in a certain key or double stops etc... ?

I think we all kinda like different stuff. I think this topic is cool, because nearly everyone can do it. Some may pull it off better than others, however, you can always mimic someone you love! ?

The technical stuff cuts a lot of people out as it's a lot more challenging and a week isn't a long time to learn how to use double stops properly if you've never played around with them before. Especially when you don't have 3 hours a day to practice!

Squonk

This is a lot more difficult than you think!

aja

Squonk wrote: This is a lot more difficult than think!

I agree, thinking can be hard for me too at times ?

Squonk

aja wrote:
Squonk wrote: This is a lot more difficult than think!
I agree, thinking can be hard for me too at times ?

amazing what a missing word can do to the meaning of a sentence ?

But seriously, this will take a bit of research and practice, to play someone's song is easy, to get the style right is a little more hectic

Bob-Dubery

aja wrote: Do people prefer topics that are light hearted and broad like the above or do they prefer more technical and limiting topics like playing in a certain key or double stops etc... ?

I think it's horses for courses. Different people think in different ways. I know some GFSAers like a thematic kind of approach - "Sunset Over Vaal Dam" or some such. Those don't work for me. I tend to go for challenges that have technical constraints EG use of harmonics EG use of an open tuning.

AlanRatcliffe

Nice topic Norio

Renesongs wrote: Choose a guitarist that they you like and think you can imitate Clapton, Hendrix, SRV, Vai, Gilmour, Knoffler Ratcliffe whoever.

LOL! That should be instant grounds for the banhammer. ? Anyway, do I even have a style of my own for someone to cop?

Warren wrote: I like this topic! I think we all pick up stuff from our favourite players and those things become part of our playing, so it's a good challenge. Also, hopefully one that will attract lots of entries. ?

The broad-ranging ones like this where people have a wide range of things they can choose to do are best and pull the most entries. Technical is fine as long as you leave it open to interpretation in some way (i.e. double-stops, but in any style of music). When things get too specific it scares off all but the most (fool)hardy.

NorioDS

Awesome! Glad this one got picked! ?

chris77

This is going to be hard hey... I taught myself to play in my own little limited way. Never tried to imitate anybody before. Will give it a go though - just need to pick an artist.

Renesongs

For you n00bs and the plain lazy (like myself) you could choose to parody a guitarist who is not technically over the top as in I don't wannabe an americ... I think you get my drift.

Squonk

This one is hard for the "Acoustic" guys!

Who's style should I attempt? Tommy Emannuel, Monte Montgomery or Cliff Richard? ?

But as most have said, this is a good topic and should stretch you in areas you have never been before....

makepeace

+1 chris. also taught (and still teaching :-[) myself to play. really fond of hendrix though.. maybe i'll give it a go at the risk of sounding like a fool :?

NorioDS

Squonk wrote: This one is hard for the "Acoustic" guys!

The acoustic guys have some easier options: Ben Harper, Clapton (some of his unplugged stuff is quite accessible), Metallica (check some of their unplugged songs for inspiration), etc.

Basically take a player and try find his unplugged stuff for inspiration ?

Ray

So what's the trick? Grab your Guitarist mags and go thru all the 'style file' stuff and get one really jacked up over the next week and half?

Bob-Dubery

And be sure to use on of those nice pieces of software that can speed things up without the pitch changing.

Bob-Dubery

Squonk wrote: This one is hard for the "Acoustic" guys!

I don't think it's harder or easier. Depends on who you choose. There are some pretty rudimentary electric players and some pretty rudimentary acoustic players. OTOH there are real virtuosos in both realms (some of them with one foot in each campl).

I could go for Dylan (who, actually, is a better player than he's generally given credit for) or Paul Simon (ditto) or Joan Baez or John Denver. I could so go for Monte Montgomery, Bruce Cockburn, Michael Hedges, Steve Newman....

Did somebody mention Cliff Richard? I recall years ago seeing Cliff do a solo show on TV. Sort of "Cliff Unplugged" (before there was an unplugged). No band, just him and an acoustic guitar. You might be suprised at just how well he can play.

Ray

X-rated Bob wrote: And be sure to use on of those nice pieces of software that can speed things up without the pitch changing.

Didnt think of that - thanks. Are there any freeeware, do I have to buy or can I get a copy of yours?