Friendly Solo Contest 2

[dpaterson]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

There you go. Good on you.

And let me express something else (personal opinion of course):

It doesn't have to be the fastest most technical and complicated solo. I don't believe that everyone here is trying to outdo the next guy. Think "entertainment" which, I believe anyway, is why we all strive to master this instrument. Doesn't help to try outdo the next guy with every last note possible being crammed into the two or so minutes of the backing track which may result in a technically proficient performance and earn you "bragging rights" but yet at the same time nobody wants to listen to it more than once.

[Archer250]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

You know what? Forget it, I ain't got **** to lose. Imma approach this from a "studio" standpoint and just use 3 different guitars for each chord change. When you're lacking in inspiration, more guitar always helps.

[dpaterson]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

I would, but I don't feel confident enough to share too much of myself. Hence most of my YouTube videos are unlisted.

It is nice that you posted this and with such honesty. See my post above my good man!!!

[dpaterson]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

Don't think of it as a contest. More an exhibition.
And if someone doesn't like what you do, they can go hang.
I (perfectionist that I am) still think that it's better to try and fail, then to not try at all.
Besides, in a hundred years or so, you won't care whether or not what you did was good or bad.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

Now this I agree with ALMOST entirely.

A few (hopefully motivational) notes:

You will not believe how self-conscious about my own playing I was before joining these particular forums and more particularly before taking part in this little solo contest. But I cannot tell you by just how much my outlook has changed and my confidence has been boosted as a result of both. Not a big deal to some I'm sure. And probably quite a few that will have listened to my contribution and be saying "well you should still be self-conscious about your playing". But be that as it may: in my head and when joining these forums I had the notion that everybody of these forums must be experienced, gigging, accomplished guitarists. Well that's not the case. So far as I can tell: I'm slightly more accomplished than some and a whole lot worse than others. But how else to learn and improve??? I cannot think of a better way. Not for me anyway. And I shudder to think how many fantastic and accomplished guitarists there may be out there but that simply don't have self confidence and it's holding them back.

Personally (and this may be a bit of a slippery slope): I think it'd be even more beneficial for people to be able to pass comment on the contributions as long as such comments are constructive and not defamatory. I may think that what I've done sounds absolutely wonderful but meanwhile I'm real bad and it sounds abhorrent. How else am I going to be able to improve??? Spend the next two years doing stuff, thinking to myself how wonderful it is, only to find it's rubbish, and thus waste another two years. See my point??? Rather tell me now: "dude: that's crap BUT here's an idea how to improve it".

Also been wanting to mention this business of making excuses for everything. Oh I do it. But to a FAR lesser degree than I used to. And it's because of a dude named Andrew Scheps. Look him up. One hell of a decent guy (even answered some recording and mixing and mastering queries I had directly). For those of you who don't know: he's produced and mixed stuff like Sabbath and Metallica. But he has a mantra and it goes something like this: "the only thing that matters is what comes out of the speakers". Search for that on YouTube and watch and absorb. I know I'm very guilty of berating myself for imperfections and always making excuses for the sound or for my playing and whatever else. And it has held me back. His point is: nobody cares what compressor you used or how you mixed this or recorded that. At the end of the day: all that matters is what the listener or audience hears. His mantra has also helped me tremendously.

You know: there was a song that I've been trying to recall for an absolute age and it's been at the back of my mind since this little contest was started. The guy talks through the whole song and it's a story about a persons life as it passes by. Seem to remember something about "sunscreen"??? And something about "you're not as ugly as you thought you were in seventh grade" (probably way off of the mark of course but I have a point here). Just try. And you will probably find that what you thought was inadequate or below par isn't actually the case at all especially if/when you revisit it at some time in the future.

So there you go. My (hopefully motivational) notes. I hope they help (even one person will do). And it'd sure be nice to get some more submissions here.

[dpaterson]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

Well.........

Why? I'm not surprised at all.
- Some guys are tone chasers and could care less about recording. Never leave the Pickup Lounge
- Some are guitar lovers for the sake of guitar
- Some are live players
- Some just have zero recording chops (technology scares us old guys)
- Figure 1/3 just don't solo or do it well enough to feel comfortable doing it.

You mean like this dude.........

Reserving this spot right here for my entry. Gonna be a week+ before I can get it in because I have Dean guitar stuff tonight and a trip to Pheonix all next week....

Sweet tune though! Lot's of possibilities!!!!

Awesome stuff coming out!

Moved a delay, hooked yup an amp...gonna be here soon.

ROFLOL!!! I'm sorry. But I really couldn't resist!!! And you really did walk straight into this one!!! LOL!!!

Obviously my comment in one of my previous posts that went along the lines of "how long does it take to move an amp." went straight over your head!!! LOL!!!


Alright: truth be told I, and I'm sure many others, do read your posts (especially the one's where you're rubbing shoulders with the likes of Lita Ford!!! LOL!!!) and I think they carry some weight. So a contribution from somebody like you, who is actually out there doing it, is important I believe. I for one was looking forward to a contribution from you as well as from @Wattage and from Mr. John Jolly over there (and please don't anybody be upset that I've not mentioned you by name here i.e. I think you get the picture). Point is: it helps dudes like me to hear other, good, professional musicians but that are not huge superstars or icons (and don't be offended by that either i.e. once again I think you get the picture).

[Demanic]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

Don't think of it as a contest. More an exhibition.
And if someone doesn't like what you do, they can go hang.
I (perfectionist that I am) still think that it's better to try and fail, then to not try at all.
Besides, in a hundred years or so, you won't care whether or not what you did was good or bad.

Sent from my Alcatel_5044C using Tapatalk

[Archer250]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

I would, but I don't feel confident enough to share too much of myself. Hence most of my YouTube videos are unlisted.

[Aceman]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

Oy. The list of submissions needs to be updated (or are you just waiting for me?? LOL???).

Quite surprised at the lack of submissions given the number of members there are on these forums. To date it’s pretty much only a few of “the usual suspects” (and I mean that in a nice way I assure you) that have contributed.

Why? I'm not surprised at all.
- Some guys are tone chasers and could care less about recording. Never leave the Pickup Lounge
- Some are guitar lovers for the sake of guitar
- Some are live players
- Some just have zero recording chops (technology scares us old guys)
- Figure 1/3 just don't solo or do it well enough to feel comfortable doing it.

[LLL]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

Quite surprised at the lack of submissions given the number of members there are on these forums.

I know, right?

[greekdude]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

I admire your courage and determination. If I had to learn e.g. drums, keyboard or another foreign language I cannot say I'd be persistent enough.

[dpaterson]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

Dpaterson, I liked your sound and also various parts as well. You were precise and controlled in your playing, +1 for that.

Thank you. Was hoping to hear from you too. I liked your version very much actually.

Dunno about precise and controlled though. Reverb and delay cover up a multitude of shortcomings. There is loads to be done still. Been practicing today with my amps. and it's a totally different ballgame when you've got the backing track coming out of a PA and your guitar sound coming separate from the amps. i.e. I can clearly hear missing notes, bends out of tune, incomplete hooks, inconsistent vibrato, and a multitude of other problems that are still evident, but to a far lesser degree, in the amp. sim. versions uploaded above and with everything coming out of the same source.

I'm happy with the "arrangement" (or "tune" I guess) I think. But would like to include some double string bending and bends high up on the fretboard (can do this now that my fingertips have recovered and hardened again i.e. went through some pain here thanks to this contest!!! LOL!!!). Also played around with some harmonics here and there that work. Gotta be careful though with all of this i.e. I don't want to forsake "entertaining" and "musical" for "pure show" or "bragging rights".

Also want to mix and master nice. The above uploads were very rough i.e. just mixed roughly with my ears and shoved through Lurssen Mastering Console using a preset. Even the guitar tone was just an out-of-the box preset from JamVOX (oh and the Amplitube 4 Malmsteen preset that isn't my creation). Only thing extra was compression (MXR Custom Comp) going into the audio interface. Was just in a hurry to upload and couldn't wait to get some feedback I guess!!! Like a child!!! LOL!!!

Decided I really want to make a video and use my amps. next time around for the final version.

Not going to be happy until I've nailed this one to perfection I'm afraid. But thank you anyway for the +1. Means a lot.

I know I'm (possibly???) making too big a deal of this. But you will probably not believe me when I say that this was my first attempt at playing any type of lead solo or, at very least, completing an entire lead solo from start to finish. With my usual stuff (trying to cover Dio/Campbell) I've spent most of my time on the rhythms and busking my way through the lead solos just to get back to the rhythms as quick as possible. This contest has given me the confidence I need to get those solos down note perfect now. So yeh: means a lot to me I guess. And considering I only started on this Monday two weeks ago: I'm alright with what I've done thus far.

Thanks again (everyone).

[greekdude]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

Dpaterson, I liked your sound and also various parts as well. You were precise and controlled in your playing, +1 for that.

[dpaterson]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

I dig this one the best.

Was hoping to hear from you. You do realise that you are largely responsible for my even coming this far??? I was about ready to camel the lot until you went to all of that trouble on my Vivian thread. Thank you.

[LLL]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

I dig this one the best.

[dpaterson]

Re: Friendly Solo Contest 2

I like the crowd.

Best part about it: they don't have a choice but to like me and the performance!!! LOL!!! I can take 'em out anytime and get another crowd (and never have to refund tickets)!!! LOL!!!

Dunno if this is allowed in the context of this little competition but for fun here's another version. Oh the joys of amp. sim. software!!! LOL!!! Note that it's the same performance. This was created with Amplitube 4 (using some or the other Malmsteen preset that I downloaded at some point in my "amp. sim. career") (so kinda like a Malmsteen tone but with a '80's hot rodded superstrat with Invaders) and with Melda's MDoubleTracker for the widening of the (mono) guitar track (which does a "crispier" job than your standard delays etc. as on the first uploads) (I know there may be one or two that are interested in this). Oh and in this version the crowd is being side-chained compressed so that they come and go with the music (as opposed to being a constant annoyance, for some, in the background).



Anyways. That's me and this initial attempt/version for now.

There's a few outstanding entries here just by the way!!! Yeh. You know who you are. How long does it take to move an amp. around??? LOL!!! And Mr. Kramer??? And not to mention one or two or three of my newly discovered pro. guitarists on these forums??? Yes. You.

C'mon dudes. I (almost literally) worked my fingers to the bone on this.

And in closing: although I'm not done with this just yet I must admit that I'm grateful to the OP here i.e. gave me some focus and a pleasant distraction from my painstaking Dio/Campbell aspirations (and frustrations)!!! LOL!!! Oddly enough: being that it's been "freestyled" I've actually managed to get a Vivian type trip going (be it only a bar or two!!! LOL!!!) with greater ease than when I'm trying to copy his Lordship note-for-note. Go figure.