Solo of the Month (SotM) #51 - Chat

stratman3142

This is the 51st solo of the Month (SotM) Challenge.

The challenge is now open ends at midnight 24th August 2019.

Here's this month's backing track (you can download it from soundcloud).

https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/sotm51-2019-08-tone-down 

Record your solo over the top of it and then submit it (ideally in mp3 format) to solos@theFB.co.uk
Also, feel free to comment on how you approached the solo, which will add a bit more interest and maybe we can learn something from each other.

This one is based on a suggestion for key changes by @fastonebaz in his post on July 7 in the thread below:
https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/159572/solo-of-the-month-sotm-50-chat#latest

Discussion: A bluesy track with key changes.

Title: Tone Down

Tempo 120 bpm

Chords:

1) [C9  /   C7/E  /    F9 / / / ] x3        C9 / / /    G7 /  F7  /

2) Repeat with key change one tone down

3) Repeat with key change one more tone down

The backing track has some headroom to add your solos. Add your solo and (as a guideline) try to avoid boosting the overall level beyond that if possible. That way the entries should be at roughly the same level and we won't get into loudness wars.

Voting will start soon after the submission deadline, with each voter selecting their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice.
First choice gets 5 points - Second choice gets 3 points - Third choice gets 1 point

The order and scores of the top three entries will be announced soon after the voting ends. If there are 8 or more entries, then the order and scores of those in the top half will be announced.

No prizes. It's just for fun.

As people submit their entries, I'll post them below to hopefully promote some discussion on approaches used for the solo:

https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/sets/sotm51-2019-08

Bellycaster

Sent one in.

stratman3142

Bellycaster said:

Sent one in.

Received. I'll create a playlist when there's another entry.

stratman3142

Done mine. Two entries in the playlist in the original post.

fastonebaz

Entry sent in.

I found this tricky as the style of the backing track didn't come naturally to me, but enjoyed the challenge of the triple key change.  Good to keep us on our toes with styles.

Charvel San Dimas with coil tap and neck pickup
Positive Grid bias 2 FX custom blues patch
Reaper

stratman3142

fastonebaz said:

Entry sent in.

Added to playlist. That makes 3.

stratman3142

Are there any requests for a style for the next SotM backing track?

fastonebaz

Metal

stratman3142

fastonebaz said:

Metal

Any particular sub-genre or are you happy for me to decide?

fastonebaz

stratman3142 said:

fastonebaz said:

Metal

Any particular sub-genre or are you happy for me to decide?

Ooh I don't know.  I just thought that whenever I try to play along to any metal type track I struggle to find right scales and they often need lots of arpeggios to sound good.  Thr minor pentatonic just won't cut it.  Could be a challenge.  (I'm talking about bands with scary names that sound like a Latin word for strangling babies and the like)

steven70

Hello people, thought I might join in this month if that's OK as I've been enjoying playing around over this. 

But I do have a couple of noddy questions....
Do I send in a mixed solo - i.e. solo and backing track as the mp3? Or just the solo as a track on its own (lined up from start?)

Also....I don't really understand about not boosting the overall level- I've gone into garageband with baking on 1 track and solo on the other. I know how to mix the balance and export as an mp3 but beyond that...probably worrying too much- shall I just send one in and you can tell me if it's not right, will research and try summat else? 

Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks!

Edit....oh hang on....seen te db thingy on the mixer....will keep it at 0Db and see what happens...anyways...

steven70

Right, sent one in, pending it being in the right format. I managed to get both of my licks in before the wheels started to come off. 

In case if it's of interest MJW bassman with a bit of a kick from the Fuldrive2, but it was all pretty low volume, could have done with cranking the thing up to do the amp justice..all good fun anyways. Cheers.

stratman3142

steven70 said:

Right, sent one in,

No problems with the format. Added to the playlist. That makes 4 entries.

stratman3142

A reminder that the Solo of the Month challenge ends tomorrow night.

stratman3142

Entry closes tonight.

stratman3142

Entry closed.