SOLO of the Month #21 - Chat

Antique_Guitars

This is the 21st SOLO of the Month (SotM) Challenge, being run by @Antique_Guitars and @TTony. 

We give you a new backing track to solo over every month. The backing track will be a maximum of 1.5mins long. 

You download the track from our soundcloud page, record your solo over the top of it and then submit it to us.

 
Challenge #21 is now open, and remains open for submissions until 24th November. 

Voting opens on the 25th of the month, and closes on the last day of the month, when the winner will be announced.

Here is this months backing track (you can download it from soundcloud) 

Specs: How Long by Ace prepared by @stratman3142

https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/how-long-no-solo?in=thefretboard/sets/solo-of-the-month-backing

original here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo_GMMLULXw

Send your tracks to solos@theFB.co.uk 

The tracks will be uploaded to our SoundCloud account and saved in a playlist that will be linked below
https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/sets/sotm-21-2016-11

paul_c2

I can't seem to find/select the download option, is it possible its not ticked on soundcloud?

markv

I love that song! Makes it difficult to hear past that and think of a new solo though ...

Thanks again @stratman3142 ;

mudslide73

I'm ashamed to say I didn't know it was Paul Carrack on that tune until this moment! 

IvanMC

Even worse here... I'm ashamed to admit I don't know how to download it. I tried clicking on "share" and then on "share to Email"... so, sorry for being an utter brute, but how can I download the backing track?

Modellista

@Antique_Guitars - the download function needs turning on.

It's usually under the ---More button.

Antique_Guitars

Hmm thought I had mad it downloadable 

Antique_Guitars

It is available now 

olafgarten

Are we allowed to change the key/pitch of the backing track? I don't like Cm.

stratman3142

olafgarten said:

Are we allowed to change the key/pitch of the backing track? I don't like Cm.

Perhaps you could pitch shift it to the key you want it in to do your solo. Then pitch shift it back again after you've done your solo. I'm not sure that anyone would be any the wiser  

markv

olafgarten said:

Are we allowed to change the key/pitch of the backing track? I don't like Cm.

I would have said that you can do what you want - and people can vote for what they want

<edit>Actually, wis'd what @stratman3142 said, that's a good idea! 

Teetonetal

Doesn't that somewhat defeat the challenge aspect?

anyhow.. been neglecting this for a while, so thought I'd stump up an entry. already sent in fancied a jam!

ElectroDan

Learned a valuable lesson today:
I spent a fair bit of time constructing something for this months solo; played in pieces until it was right in time and in tune. Then lost the lot when the DAW crashed!
In my frustration decided to just blag something. I knew i wanted to start of with the Fuzz and then come in with the Vibe so I did that in two separate takes (my Zoom G3 isn't on the floor for me to use the footswitch).
It's a bit noodley but i think it's alright.
Good Luck all. Look forward to hearing your take on it.
Entry on way...

mudslide73

As long as pitch shifting isn't used to cheat I reckon it's fine.

Bellycaster

mudslide73 said:

As long as pitch shifting isn't used to cheat I reckon it's fine.

As long as you lot don't discover my creation, the "Note Shift" Technology I use. It puts all the wrong notes in the right order to create the right notes in the right order.......oh damn, rumbled now

paul_c2

How's everyone getting along with this month's entry? I found it hard to come up with something meaningful, because the backing track is so 'open', but spent all day today and half of yesterday too on stuff, and I'll reflect/ponder over it a little before sending off, since I've been on the ball and its only the 6th so far!

markv

Blimey, we've got a lot of keen people this month! I haven't even started yet, although I've been singing it in my head and trying to avoid just singing the original solo.

ElectroDan

markv said:

Blimey, we've got a lot of keen people this month! I haven't even started yet, although I've been singing it in my head and trying to avoid just singing the original solo.

I didn't listen to the original for that very reason.
When I first listened to the backing, i thought the same as Paul. It doesn't really change until the end and then it cuts off, but once I listened to it a few times i started hearing a simple theme and worked around that.

paul_c2

I've never heard the original. It would be ironic if I listened to it and found out it was note-for-note exactly the same!

ElectroDan

I appear to have left some silence at the end of my track. Apologies for that

markv

I knew the original well anyway, but I think this is an interesting and slightly different challenge to our usual. In all previous months, the piece we were soloing to has no context to root the solo in. I like the fact that here I can (potentially) reference bits of the melody, which is what I would try and do if I was asked to add a solo to someone else's song.