Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE POST BEFORE VOTING!

(It's a little different this time around.)​

You are rating one of sixteen riffs in Round 2 of the February 2010 Riff-Off. Each of the other seven riffs can be heard and rated in the Tips and Clips room. More information about the Riff-Off can be found here.

Contrary to previous Riff-Off tournaments, this month's Riff-Off has no bracket; each riff will be rated on an individual basis according to a seven-point scale. Once all of the polls have closed, the scores for each riff will be averaged, and the four contestants with the highest average scores will advance to Round 3.

I encourage you to score each of the eight riffs. You may wish to listen to each riff before voting in order to establish a baseline. Of course, you are free to score riffs however you like, in whatever order you like. You could even give each riff the same score, if your impressions dictate so. It's all in your hands!

Because not all contestants have access to the same quality of recording equipment, your voting decision should be based first on the actual composition, second on the player's execution of the riff. Try to look past recording quality. Some questions you may want to ask yourself while considering which way to vote: What is the emotional impact of the riff? How original is the riff? Does the riff inspire me? Would I want to hear a whole song built off this riff?

Note that each contestant has chosen a battle name for the Riff-Off; their identities have been hidden from all other contestants and the voting public, and will be revealed at the end of the Riff-Off, when a champion is crowned.

Lastly, while comments are strongly encouraged, please realize that each contestant put personal time and creative energy into his or her submission. If you have any critique to provide in this thread, give the contestants the courtesy of making it constructive. This competition is built on the premises of fun and musical growth.

Here is a link to this contestant's Round 2 riff: The Count of Strange Counting

If you run into any technical issues or have other questions regarding the Riff-Off, PM or email me (kgmessier at gmail dot com).

Have fun!

- Keith

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

Kinda tricky in the turnaround without a drum beat to keep it focused.

Nicely played and to-the-point. I do like the bouncy feel, but IMO it's a bit bland, like something I'd hear in an indie XBL Arcade side-scrolling platform flower-pickin/shiny-object-collecting game.

 

[B2D]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

Cool! 5/4!

Instantly though of a Les Claypool type of thing when i heard this. Turns around and flows really nicely. Neat bouncy rubbery tone. Excellent.

 

[Tor]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

Yeah, you're right about the Claypool reference. You made use of a rather unusual time sig, but you manage to do so without making me feel it was forced in any way. Props!

Could perhaps throw in some change in rhythm or melody to spice it up a tad bit.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

Props for pulling out the bass in what everyone expects to be a guitar riff-off. Nothing in the rules that says bass isn't appropriate. Nothing in the rules that says a keyboard riff wouldn't be appropriate even.

I agree a little variety may have been appreciated in there but you run the risk of needless fills by doing so. I like this one and would be anxious to hear the rest of the song. Nice job.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

Cool! 5/4!

Instantly though of a Les Claypool type of thing when i heard this. Turns around and flows really nicely. Neat bouncy rubbery tone. Excellent.

Sounds like 10/8 with 16th notes in the turnaround, to me.

Good tone. Makes me wanna get my wah going.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

my wife heard me listenin to this riff and she said 'is that the intro to a new "no doubt" tune?

couldnt have summed it up better myself

nice playing

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

Props for pulling out the bass in what everyone expects to be a guitar riff-off. Nothing in the rules that says bass isn't appropriate. Nothing in the rules that says a keyboard riff wouldn't be appropriate even.

I seem to recall inquiring about bass riffs in the original Riff Off thread and was told it should be limited to guitars only. Hmmmmm.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

I seem to recall inquiring about bass riffs in the original Riff Off thread and was told it should be limited to guitars only. Hmmmmm.

Did I say that?

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

I think so. Lemme dig up the original thread, I may just be kookoo.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

I may just be kookoo.

I wouldn't count on it. I can see myself doing something boneheaded like saying you can't, forgetting, then saying you can. That's why I like to put everything down in writing first. It's more for me than for anyone else!

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showpost.php?p=2342970&postcount=17

Ah-HAH! It was sosomething.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showpost.php?p=2342970&postcount=17

Ah-HAH! It was sosomething.

Well, at least he said "There's no telling how later tournaments might evolve." I guess they've evolved into guitar-or-bass. I think of the bass as a guitar anyway. I suppose that's open to interpretation, but for the sake of these tourneys, I'm allowing bass. I suppose I'd be open to mandolin or Chapman Stick. I think "instruments that are both stringed and fretted" is a good description, although this is a guitar forum for the most part, so always keep your audience in mind, just as any good musician would.

- Keith

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

Release the hounds !!!! Show no mercy !!!!


(ya'd hafta wonder where a baritone insrument would fit in if bass wasn't allowed ??)

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

Seeing as how a baritone guitar has the same notes as a detuned guitar (though not all at once), I'd say a baritone guitar should be fine, but then this event also doesn't encompass riffs as defined by the book sitting next to me titled "Heavy Metal Riffs For Guitar", which are more commonly referred to as "licks" since they're lead-style passages that do not repeat i.e. the fills in Crazy Train.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

if keith says its a riff, its a riff
if keith says the instrument is ok, the instrument is ok
were all just lucky we get to play in their game

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

Very Stranglers to me.. was it J.J Burnel?? Anyway, took me back to the 80's when I saw them. I like this strange riff.

 

[JollyRoger523]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

Congrats on pulling out the bass and laying down a nice riff. I've never played the bass very much, but there is just something about a kickin' bass riff (like Megadeth's Dawn Patrol) that makes me say HELL YA!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

I was close to submitting a bass riff in January...

 

[Will S-T]

Re: Riff-Off 3.2: The Count of Strange Counting

Cudos for the time sig and TONE on that bass.
I can really hear a phat yet sparse rythum section behind this riff.

Daaam, I'm gonna play me some tonight:friday: