Solo of the Month (SotM) #35 - Chat

stratman3142

This is the 35th solo of the Month (SotM) Challenge and is being run by @stratman3142 and @TTony.

The challenge is now open, and remains open for submissions until 11:30pm on 23rd April 2018.

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

Link to backing track here

https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/sotm35-backing-track-junk

Discussion:

The tempo is 124 BPM and the backing track cycles through the following chord sequence.

Cm7 / / /  Dm7 / / /  Ebmaj7 / / /  Fsus4 / G9 /

The backing track has 3dB of 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 of 23rd April 2018, 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

Voting will end on 11.30pm 30th April 2018

The order and scores of the top three entries will be announced soon after the voting ends. If there are 8 or more entries, then the order and scores of those in the top half will be announced.

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/sotm35-2018-04

Jaycee

Would this be in the key of Bb?

stratman3142

Jaycee said:

Would this be in the key of Bb?

That's one way of looking at it. I would think of it as C Dorian mode. The G9 chord is a slight curve ball because it contains a B natural, but playing Bb against it still seems to work as it just sounds bluesy to me.

Jaycee

thanks stratman will give that a go

markv

Interesting! One of your own @stratman3142? I like it. Reminds me a bit of Pet Shop Boys. Gonna have to think carefully about how a guitar fits into that.

stratman3142

markv said:

Interesting! One of your own @stratman3142? I like it. Reminds me a bit of Pet Shop Boys. Gonna have to think carefully about how a guitar fits into that.

I can't really claim I came up with the arrangement. I worked out the chord sequence on guitar, then programmed it into some software called Chordpulse (link below).
http://www.chordpulse.com/

I experimented with applying different styles in Chordpulse. The one I selected was called Synth Ethix. So the style was auto generated.

Then I exported a midi file from Chordpulse and dragged it into Reaper. After that I applied some decent VSTi's and effects in Reaper and tweaked things a bit. The VSTi's, plus the presets, were based on the following:

Drums: Addictive Drums: LinnDrum Wet from the Reel Machines ADPAK
Bass Guitar: IK Modobass : Bass Man 5 model
Synth Bass: Spectrasonics Trilian: Big 'n Clicky 2 preset
Electric Piano: NI FM8 : Clean up the roads preset
Organ: NI FM8 : B4 Organ preset
Synth Pad 1: u-he Diva : MM Dramatic Strings preset
Synth Pad 2: NI FM8 : Wet marrimba preset

It was a very quick way of generating a backing track, which is what I needed as I was moving house last month.

poopot

Sent!... 

stratman3142

poopot said:

Sent!... 

That's quick. I'm a bit bit busy at the moment but I'll try to upload it to a playlist within the next few days.

poopot

stratman3142 said:

poopot said:

Sent!... 

That's quick. I'm a bit bit busy at the moment but I'll try to upload it to a playlist within the next few days.

Quick and it shows!!!! May redo the clunky bit in the middle if it’s ok?...

stratman3142

poopot said:

stratman3142 said:

poopot said:

Sent!... 

That's quick. I'm a bit bit busy at the moment but I'll try to upload it to a playlist within the next few days.

Quick and it shows!!!! May redo the clunky bit in the middle if it’s ok?...

Yes, you can send an update if you want to.

poopot

stratman3142 said:

Yes, you can send an update if you want to.

final one sent  

stratman3142

poopot said:

stratman3142 said:

Yes, you can send an update if you want to.

final one sent  

OK. Got it.

flying_pie

Just listened to the track. I have no idea what a solo guitar should be doing in that mix. Rhythm guitar with vocals.. yes... I can see that... 

but an appropriate solo will be a big challenge. Looking forward to it. Thanks for creating it 

stratman3142

I got some spare time so I've done mine. That makes two entries so far, which are now in the playlist in the original post.

poopot

stratman3142 said:

I got some spare time so I've done mine. That makes two entries so far, which are now in the playlist in the original post.

Can’t see the tracks!

stratman3142

poopot said:

stratman3142 said:

I got some spare time so I've done mine. That makes two entries so far, which are now in the playlist in the original post.

Can’t see the tracks!

That's strange. I can see them on my PC, tablet and phone. Is anyone else having problems seeing the tracks.

Rowby1

stratman3142 said:

poopot said:

stratman3142 said:

I got some spare time so I've done mine. That makes two entries so far, which are now in the playlist in the original post.

Can’t see the tracks!

That's strange. I can see them on my PC, tablet and phone. Is anyone else having problems seeing the tracks.

Yes, all working here. No problems.

flying_pie

I can see them. They both seem to work  fine too (have avoided listening to them other than first few secs so as not to be influenced) 

poopot

stratman3142 said:

poopot said:

stratman3142 said:

I got some spare time so I've done mine. That makes two entries so far, which are now in the playlist in the original post.

Can’t see the tracks!

That's strange. I can see them on my PC, tablet and phone. Is anyone else having problems seeing the tracks.

Got them now... it was saying “empty playlist” working now!.

flying_pie

Sent

stratman3142

flying_pie said:

Sent

Added to the playlist. That's 3 entries so far.