Guitar Solo Contest?

[drunkchuck]

I'm sitting here bored in my room with my guitar, and I'm thinking we should have another guitar contest. Some of you may remember the last one we had, it was a good time.

This time around I was thinking to make it more standardized, we could all use the same backing track. I have a ton of em, all different genres.

So actually this would probably be more like a guitar solo contest.

Anyway just an idea I'm throwing out there, every other person on this forum claims to play guitar, so this should be huge. Anybody interested?

[Pancakes]

I am. How do we get it to the computer though?

[drunkchuck]

I plug into my computer's microphone jack, you just need a 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch adapter for your guitar cable. A lot of amps have line out where you can connect to your computer, or you can go Guitar - Pedal - computer, or just use your guitar. On my computer I use a program called Audacity to record and edit, google it, it's free.

[cabhats]

Hmm I'd definitely be interested! I wasn't here when the last one happened, is it composition or learning the original for the backing track?

[drunkchuck]

It would be composition, the backing tracks I was thinking of using aren't tracks of any songs, they're more like jam tracks. Of course you could sample existing songs, for example I like to throw SRV licks in when I'm playing the blues or Paul Gilbert licks when I'm playing something heavier. I was thinking a blues backing track would be best, I'm feeling bluesy, but I have all kinds we could vote on it or something.

Oh and the last contest was just everyone submitted a recording of them playing guitar, it could be anything. I thought it'd be easier to see the differences in everyone's playing and the different interpretations if we all used the same track.

[cabhats]

Yeah bluesy/jazzy songs are great fun to play, even on GH3 Pride and Joy was the only one I ever perfected (on medium...).
Using the same backing track is good, caus' yeah it'd be easier to compare, and there'd be some consistency...
Also where'd you get your tracks from? I've been looking for some jam tracks to play round with for a while now.

[Kass]

I'm in.

[drunkchuck]

I've got most of the backing tracks I have from this site:

http://guitarbt.com

Just go to the downloads section, it has a ton of tracks of all kinds of songs, great if you want to learn solos from certain songs and stuff. Look under Jam Tracks for a bunch of generic jam tracks.

I'll go ahead and post a blues backing track right now, it's nice slow 12 bar blues in Bb I don't have time to record anything over it right now but I'll do it tomorrow

http://www.mediafire.com/?cmd3s0dn01w

I put a shortened version of this in my next post; it's the one that we'll use. I'll leave this one up for anyone who wants to download it, it's a good track to jam on.

[Tempest]

I decided to remake a popular solo, so I went with Paranoid by Black Sabbath.

There's a strange clicking noise in the background, I don't know what it is, sorry. Also, sorry about the quality. I think it's pretty much perfect.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaFIu8PLNHA

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[Iiro]

Tempest is fat.

[ilovebrownies]

That backing track is way too long, coming up with interesting stuff to play for that long is, I think, too much of a challenge.

[Spiffy13]

I may enter. When does it start?

[drunkchuck]

That backing track is way too long, coming up with interesting stuff to play for that long is, I think, too much of a challenge.

Yeah you're right, that track is meant for a few guitarists to take turns. Here, I shortened it, it's better now, just one time through

And the contest starts... NOW. This'll be the track we all use, disregard my previous post.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ngnkpeylqdj

[Iiro]

That backing track is way too long, coming up with interesting stuff to play for that long is, I think, too much of a challenge.
I think you just said that you suck at guitar.

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[drunkchuck]

Ok I recorded something I put it on youtube because I was trying something with my camera, it didnt work as good as I wanted it too. A few mistakes, but hey blues isn't the style I usually play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU_-ZQz6Ruw

[hzac]

Im in too. Do i just record whenever?

[Knight of Cydonia]

Drunk I actually really liked that. Awesome solo. Very well down.

[drunkchuck]

Im in too. Do i just record whenever?

Yeah just record whenever and post it up.

Drunk I actually really liked that. Awesome solo. Very well down.

Thank you.

[Spiffy13]

If I wanted to, could I do a fast/thrashy solo, or does it have to be slow like yours?

[drunkchuck]

If I wanted to, could I do a fast/thrashy solo, or does it have to be slow like yours?

You can do whatever you want. The only rule is that you use that backing track. I'm curious to see different people's interpretations.

[Pancakes]

Very nice, you're better than me.

[SealPunter]

I'm in dude, but I say we come up with our own backing tracks, give the thread the link to hear that, then the link to the solo you made. I'm kind of a novice and I am not a blues kind of guy. BUT if not, I will give it a shot.


Alright never mind I'm going to try and expand my abilities and do some blues.

[Pancakes]

Can we have a faster drum beat?

[drunkchuck]

I'm in dude, but I say we come up with our own backing tracks, give the thread the link to hear that, then the link to the solo you made. I'm kind of a novice and I am not a blues kind of guy. BUT if not, I will give it a shot.


Alright never mind I'm going to try and expand my abilities and do some blues.

We can do some other genres for sure, but I think we should do one backing track at a time. After we're done with this one, if anyone has any particular track they want to use we can do that, or post up a few and vote on em, or whatever we'll see what happens.

[SealPunter]

Okay so I suck but I have not been playing that long, second one is a tiny bit better

Solo 1 (http://www.mediafire.com/?ozmvbjzxikf)
Solo 2 (http://www.mediafire.com/?a1mywudm8wy)

God do I suck, I'm going to try and do a couple more that are at least a TINY bit better.

[Pingu]

Any chance of compressing those files a bit?
8.5Mb for less then a minute seems a lot, especially for those with poor internet connections.

[SealPunter]

I would if garage band wasn't so gay man, I can't figure out how. Don't worry, it sucks anyways.

[cabhats]

Yeah, I suck in comparison to what's here so far. Oh well I'll try chuck some stuff together when I finish being on holiday in like a week if this is still going...

[SealPunter]

Seriously? Even compared to me? Dude, you just made my day. Hah. And don't get scared to post some bullshit solo you did, we won't bash you as much as its constructive criticism.

[cabhats]

yeah I'm going to post one. But my guitar is at home in New Zealand, and I'm in Australia, and no one I'm staying with has a guitar so I can't yet...
And I thought yours was alright. prob a lot better than I can do anyway lol

[SealPunter]

You live in New Zealand? badass.

[drunkchuck]

Okay so I suck but I have not been playing that long, second one is a tiny bit better

Solo 1 (http://www.mediafire.com/?ozmvbjzxikf)
Solo 2 (http://www.mediafire.com/?a1mywudm8wy)

God do I suck, I'm going to try and do a couple more that are at least a TINY bit better.

Aww you don't suck that much (depending on how long you have been playing), they weren't bad at all. You could work on your bends a little I suppose, but your phrasing was pretty good I thought. At least you posted something.

In a previous post you said that you weren't a blues kind of guy, what style of music do you usually play?

[SealPunter]

I enjoy experimental types, if you could categorize it as that. If I could create a genre it would be called "captivating noise" simply because thats what it is.

I have been playing for like... shit I don't know... Less than a year, thats all I know. Probably like 7 months, or 6... or 3.

[drunkchuck]

That's pretty good for 6 or 7 or 3 months. I didn't even learn the pentatonic scale until I had been playing for well over a year (I've been plating for 3 1/2 years now), and I wish I had learned it sooner.

[SealPunter]

I actually just checked it out and I've been playing for like 8 months.

[alo81]

Ive been playing 5 months and have heard lots of talk about the penatonic scale and just never understood what it was? Can someone tell me what it is and how to learn it?

[SealPunter]

There are Major Pentatonic Scales, and Minor Pentatonic Scales. The word pentatonic can be bisected into penta, meaning five, and tonic meaning tone. Therefore, the pentatonic scales are five tone scales. The five notes in the scales are derived from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th notes of the major scale.

The Major Pentatonic Scale uses just the 5 "pretty" notes of the major scale (1,2,3,5&6)

Look the 5 forms of these up on google and teach them to yourselves.



The Minor Pentatonic Scale is also known as the blues scale, because all the notes go with a good ol' blues progression. Hammer-ons, pull-offs, and string bending are great tools to utilize in a good blues solo.

[alo81]

Ok i see like the diagrams for learnin it but idk what they hell it all means, Just a bunch of circles on frets. this is what im seeing
http://www.free-guitar-chords.com/5%20pentatonic%20patterns%20for%20webpage.gif


*Edit*
Also which scale is best to learn for Metal and how to learn it?

[drunkchuck]

There are Major Pentatonic Scales, and Minor Pentatonic Scales. The word pentatonic can be bisected into penta, meaning five, and tonic meaning tone. Therefore, the pentatonic scales are five tone scales. The five notes in the scales are derived from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th notes of the major scale.

The Major Pentatonic Scale uses just the 5 "pretty" notes of the major scale (1,2,3,5&6)

Look the 5 forms of these up on google and teach them to yourselves.



The Minor Pentatonic Scale is also known as the blues scale, because all the notes go with a good ol' blues progression. Hammer-ons, pull-offs, and string bending are great tools to utilize in a good blues solo.

That first part you had was right, but other than that you're a little mistaken. The pentatonic scale does have five notes, and the major ones ARE made up of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 6th of the natural major scale (Ionian), but the minor pentatonic is different, it is the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 7th of the natural minor scale (Aeolian). At least, that's how I like to think of it, that way while I'm playing in minor pentatonic I can go into Aeolian licks and vice versa easily.

The minor pentatonic is not the same as the blues scale,the blues scale adds one note, a diminished 5th. So, in A, the blues scale goes: A, C, D, D#, E, G. Minor pentatonic does work well for blues, however I use a weird hybrid scale I made up that combines the blues scale with Dorian and adds the major 7th and the augmented minor 7th.

I suggest learning the minor pentatonic scale first, it sounds much better.

[drunkchuck]

Ok i see like the diagrams for learnin it but idk what they hell it all means, Just a bunch of circles on frets. this is what im seeing
http://www.free-guitar-chords.com/5%20pentatonic%20patterns%20for%20webpage.gif

That is because it is showing you all the notes that go in that scale, over the entire guitar. The easiest thing for you to do is learn the first pattern in the pentatonic scale.

In the A minor pentatonic scale, it is the one that starts on the 5th fret of the 6th string (the strings are numbered from the bottom to the top, as in, your highest pitched string is 1, and lowest pitched is 6).

The pentatonic is easiest to learn as a 2 note per string scale, so you will play the 5th fret 6th string, then 8th fret 6th string. Now move up to the 5th string and play the 5th fret, then the 7th fret. Now move up to the 4th string and play the 5th fret, then the 7th fret. Up to the 3rd string and play the 5th fret, then the 7th fret. Up to the 2nd string, 5th fret, 8th fret. 1st string, 5th fret, 8th fret. This is the first pattern.

Also make sure you are using the correct fingers, for all the notes on the 5th frets you should use your first finger, for all the notes on the 7th frets you should use your 3rd finger, and for all the notes on the 8th frets you should use your 4th finger.

*Ah I just noticed your edit. The scales that work well for metal are mostly the Aeolian and the Harmonic minor, and the Phrygian too I suppose, but mostly the first two. Also a lot of diminished licks give it a nice demonic sound.

[alo81]

That is because it is showing you all the notes that go in that scale, over the entire guitar. The easiest thing for you to do is learn the first pattern in the pentatonic scale.

In the A minor pentatonic scale, it is the one that starts on the 5th fret of the 6th string (the strings are numbered from the bottom to the top, as in, your highest pitched string is 1, and lowest pitched is 6).

The pentatonic is easiest to learn as a 2 note per string scale, so you will play the 5th fret 6th string, then 8th fret 6th string. Now move up to the 5th string and play the 5th fret, then the 7th fret. Now move up to the 4th string and play the 5th fret, then the 7th fret. Up to the 3rd string and play the 5th fret, then the 7th fret. Up to the 2nd string, 5th fret, 8th fret. 1st string, 5th fret, 8th fret. This is the first pattern.

Also make sure you are using the correct fingers, for all the notes on the 5th frets you should use your first finger, for all the notes on the 7th frets you should use your 3rd finger, and for all the notes on the 8th frets you should use your 4th finger.

*Ah I just noticed your edit. The scales that work well for metal are mostly the Aeolian and the Harmonic minor, and the Phrygian too I suppose, but mostly the first two. Also a lot of diminished licks give it a nice demonic sound.

Thanks that helped out alot, And thanks for tellin me bout handposition cuz i was playing all the 8's with my 3rd.

[hzac]

Ok guys i just finished recording a solo/2 id like to enter. Its from a song myself and a mate created in when were 16, Im now 19 and still fucking love this song. This song/solo has never been recorded before.. this is actually the first time. which is cool.

Anyway, First solo was written by my mate, second by me.. but I have recorded both you show you guys :)

its at

http://www.myspace.com/hzacmusic

Just click on "Preaching aggression solo's" and let me know :P

[drunkchuck]

Thanks that helped out alot, And thanks for tellin me bout handposition cuz i was playing all the 8's with my 3rd.

Really, whatever you are comfortable with works. There are no rules in music, I just told you use your 4th finger because it's pretty important to train your 4th finger to do what you want it to.

A lot of people do use their 3rd finger for that stretch, I usually don't unless I'm playing in really wide intervals or I'm playing 4 note per string or diminished patterns. But, to each his own.

Ok guys i just finished recording a solo/2 id like to enter. Its from a song myself and a mate created in when were 16, Im now 19 and still fucking love this song. This song/solo has never been recorded before.. this is actually the first time. which is cool.

Anyway, First solo was written by my mate, second by me.. but I have recorded both you show you guys :)

its at

http://www.myspace.com/hzacmusic

Just click on "Preaching aggression solo's" and let me know :P

That wasn't bad. A little random, and a little sloppy at times, but not bad. You should record a solo over the backing track that's up. If you don't like blues, the next one should be metal/shred.

[CnGy]

Guitar solo contest = everyone has to have the same backing track right?

If that's the way you're doing it I'm in. If I can remember.

[drunkchuck]

Yeah everyone is using the same track. Right now the one up is this blues track here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?ngnkpeylqdj

Just me and SealPunter have contributed solos so far. Here's mine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SU_-ZQz6Ruw

And here are SealPunter's:

Solo 1 (http://www.mediafire.com/?ozmvbjzxikf)
Solo 2 (http://www.mediafire.com/?a1mywudm8wy)

Anyone else gonna submit one? I'm still waiting for a few who said they were in... after a little bit longer I'll put up another track, a different genre.

[hzac]

Fuck i had no idea. Sorry dude. Ill do another one. I though it was just people record solos. I must read more from now on. Ill give it a crack now.

EDIT: No I wont. a) i suck ass at blues and b) im tuned to drop c and I really couldnt be fucked re-tuning. sorry for the thread interuption

[Kenneh]

Fuck i had no idea. Sorry dude. Ill do another one. I though it was just people record solos. I must read more from now on. Ill give it a crack now.

EDIT: No I wont. a) i suck ass at blues and b) im tuned to drop c and I really couldnt be fucked re-tuning. sorry for the thread interuption

I'm guessing you don't know music theory and haven't figured out the fretboard yet.

[hzac]

I'm guessing you don't know music theory and haven't figured out the fretboard yet.

why would i play something I dont like? Its not hard to look up a scale and learn it.. especially blues. But its mainly the face that I tried and im not good at it.

[Kenneh]

why would i play something I dont like? Its not hard to look up a scale and learn it.. especially blues. But its mainly the face that I tried and im not good at it.

Play the minor over it. It'll sound just as good.

[SealPunter]

Kenneh, if the kid doesn't want to play, don't badger him about it, thats just dick.

So when is the next contest going to be?

[drunkchuck]

Kenneh, if the kid doesn't want to play, don't badger him about it, thats just dick.

So when is the next contest going to be?

Pretty soon, it looks like no one else is gonna submit a blues one... what genre do you guys want next? And also, if any of you have a backing track you really like, I have no problems using that I'm open to any genre.

Kenneh, are you gonna put one up?

[Kenneh]

Pretty soon, it looks like no one else is gonna submit a blues one... what genre do you guys want next? And also, if any of you have a backing track you really like, I have no problems using that I'm open to any genre.

Kenneh, are you gonna put one up?

Yeah, I'll improvise a bit, but put in mind blues isn't my thing.

Took about 5 tries until I got something I wanted. The end is a bit fucked up because I had no idea when the track was going to end, yeah. Sorry for the fucked up feedback too, I tried to use the most brutal distortion I had.

Enjoy =]

Click for The "Fucking Sad Blues" (http://rapidshare.com/files/110300809/kennyentry.mp3.html)

[drunkchuck]

Alright here's a new backing, hopefully all you guys who don't like blues will be able to play on this one. It's a simple progression that's real easy to shred over. I'll throw a solo over it when I have time, either later today or tomorrow. I'll probably do one shred-heavy version and one that's more melodic.

http://www.mediafire.com/?txdjzxyffdk

[CnGy]

Oh man this is so slow. Imma record something tomorrow asap.

Hahahaha.

Edit: Are we only allowed like one take or can I put multiple things on it.

Edit: That last one above me is super cool. I'll do one for each.

[drunkchuck]

Oh man this is so slow. Imma record something tomorrow asap.

Hahahaha.

Edit: Are we only allowed like one take or can I put multiple things on it.

Edit: That last one above me is super cool. I'll do one for each.

Yeah, I don't see why not. You could layer different parts or whatever, as long as you use that backing track.

[hzac]

Im not a fan of the backing tracking, but I guess ill give it a go.

[Kor-Ryal]

I gave it a shot; this is my only stab at it, so its a tad sloppy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYxAZP8AlPc