This is the 74th solo of the Month (SotM) Challenge.
https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/sotm74-2021-09-digitalkettle-strange-ways
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.
Title: Strange Ways
BPM: 155
Chord overview...
Intro:
| Bm | x 8
A section:
| Bm | G | E/G# | G | Bm | G | A | A | x 2
B section:
| G | A | Bm | Bm |
| G | A | F# | F# |
| G | A | Bm | Bm |
| Bm/D | C#m/E | F# | F# |
Ends on a Bm
There should be headroom to record your solo. Try to set a level without excessive master limiting, because we want to avoid 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.
Comments
And we're off to a quick start. It's in the playlist.
My approach was to sit in the dark noodling, then play the James Bond guitar hook over and over, then finally look at the actual chords and work out a composition around the chords.
Then record it
"I set out to write a funk track but I just went with it and it turned into 'The Smiths write a Bond theme' "
Interestingly, I was going to attempt a Knopfler'ish moving arppeggio pattern similar to what you're doing from about 0:38. But I couldn't make it sound consistently 'in time' enough, so I ditched it - you're a better man than me.
Its a great way to turn you off guitar playing!
At the moment I'm looking for:
* Hamer Watson, SS2, Vintage S, T62.
* Music Man Luke 1, Luke II
Please drop me a message.
Great to have a new entrant. It's in the playlist.
Aside from that, I aimed to to hit a mini peak of solo about halfway through the track then drop off again and build up again to the end. Or maybe that's just what came out by chance and I made myself believe there was method in the chaos.
and @Bennyboy-UK
It's a fun and friendly challenge, all positive vibes only.
I like to avoid hearing any of the other submissions until I've completed my own as I'm worried I'll be influenced by them, so this months' was highly amusing to me after I submitted mine and then listened to the others and remarked how we all opened our solos quite similar
I activated Garageband the day before firing my entry it in - and discovered a whole new world of recording outside of clips recorded on a phone.
The James Bond thing was just there and couldn't shake it, so just went for that to kick off. Ended up with a repeated run to try and make some kind of theme to it with a couple of variations - which was good as it meant there was less for me to try and learn/write!
I couldn't get back quick enough from the last bend to hit the James Bond chord I wanted to end on cleanly, to used my new editing skills to chop the end off cleanly and let the backing track finish it off.
There is some great playing on the entries - and I did very much enjoy the Knopfler/Power Rangers bit in @fastonebaz entry! and the quick descending run - I need to watch that a few more times and try to nick it!
Its daunting, but great fun, and makes me realise just how good and experienced you guys are to get this stuff down cleanly and in time with the backing.
I'll definitely try to do more.
At the moment I'm looking for:
* Hamer Watson, SS2, Vintage S, T62.
* Music Man Luke 1, Luke II
Please drop me a message.
@fastonebaz I'm afraid I've not added much diversity into the mix with my intro. That's a good tip to avoid influence from the other entries, I'll try to be disciplined and resist having a listen to everyone else first next time.
Also, calling @digitalkettle as a reminder, being as it's his backing track.