Solo of the Month (SotM) #56 - Chat

stratman3142

The challenge is now open ends at midnight 24th January 2020.

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

https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/sotm56-2020-01-psycho-guitar 

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 by @steven70 in the thread at the link below, which was for something like the solo section of Astronomy Domine. Also @soma1975 asked for something half a step down. Well the lowest note in the bass is Eb so there's a slight nod to that request.

https://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/168927/solo-of-the-month-sotm-55-chat/p1

Discussion: An attempt at a psychedelic type track. Except I didn't turn out quite right. So I'll leave it to the guitar entries to try to make it psychedelic.

Title: Psycho Guitar

Tempo 82 bpm

Chords
[ G  /  /  / | G  /  / G# |A  /  /  / | A  /  /  / | E  /  /  /| E  /  /  / | Eb  /  /  Gm/Eb| Eb  /  / Gm/Eb] x2
End on G

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.

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/sotm56-2020-01

soma1975

Oooh love it. People are going to do all kinds of mental shit all over that! 

steven70

That's superb- great track! Love the organ and the 'Early Mason' style drums.

Yes, I think a lot of fun will be had laying something down over that.

Time to dig the echo out..see you on the other side... 

soma1975

No way I can play the changes properly as opposed to just moving similar licks up and down the neck to change key so I think I'll be going ambient. 

steven70

h

soma1975

Right this is hilarious.  I sound like a total beginner again. 

I'm really enjoying the challenge but I literally have a tiny  '3 notes over one change' lick that sounds cool and interesting.  Everything else is bullshit that I would instantly turn off. 

Going to take a while to come up with something interesting from start to finish. 

Which is what it's all about right? 

steven70

h

soma1975

Strategic rethink. Playing it all in Em sounds less shit. 

fastonebaz

I have literally no idea how I'd approach this one !

mudslide73

I may have a go at this one - very nice. I don't know what I'll do though.

fastonebaz

Entry sent. 

The backing track made me imagine some kind of macabre carousel with a creepy doll guarding it.  The tone I was aiming for was synth like,  compressed and lots of chorus but no delay. 

Recorded with charvel san dimas pro mod,  neck pickup,  single take. 

stratman3142

fastonebaz said:

Entry sent. 

That's the first one of 2020. I'll start a playlist when I get another entry.

mudslide73

Mine's sent. A rare outing for me.

Had the solo from Stadium Arcadium on the brain and nicked a lick from somewhere else too - hence the title. Not particularly psychedelic though.

Recorded with my black bitsa Floyd Strat on the neck pickup (Oil City Stonetone) with Helix Native.

stratman3142

fastonebaz said:

Entry sent. 

mudslide73 said:

Mine's sent.

That makes two entries in the playlist in the original post.

soma1975

Ooh both quite inventive so far. 

steven70

These are fantastic...

mudslide73 said:

Had the solo from Stadium Arcadium on the brain and nicked a lick from somewhere else too - hence the title. Not particularly psychedelic though.

I think 'psychedelic' can mean any number of things- to my ears, the feel on this conjures the vibe of Rick Wright's wistful organ sound from the early Floyd recordings...really nice. 

stratman3142

steven70 said:

... the feel on this conjures the vibe of Rick Wright's wistful organ sound from the early Floyd recordings...really nice. 

Just in case anyone's remotely interested the "Organ" is the Genuine Soundware VB3 II VSTi, using the "Money MP" preset.

Fretwired

steven70 said:

Lordy....haven't started mine yet.

How about some Hillage for inspiration?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA8r5_Z69hI
Bit of a different vibe tbh, but just looking at his woolly hat is enough for me.. 

One of my favorite guitarists.. mad as a brush .. :-)

His work with Gong is worth checking out as well as his post Gong electronic music ..

Might have a go at this ..

stratman3142

Done mine. 

I got a bit of inspiration from @fastonebaz from the "carousel" reference.

soma1975

Wow that took me back @stratman3142

Modellista

It's been months since I've done a SOTM.  Back in the saddle!  Really enjoyed that one.