Composition Challenge #47

stratman3142

INTRO

Time for round #47 of the Fretboard Composition Challenge.

Every few months there'll be a composition challenge. It revolves around individuals or groups of forum members composing and recording music.

No prizes for this challenge. It's just for fun, a spur to creating, sharing, discussing music/recording and learning. Plus a way of testing the water with your creations and getting some feedback.

GUIDELINES - THEME

In an attempt to encourage more entries, there's no theme for this one. However, you can specify your own theme or the genre you're aimimg for.

Compose a tune, or recycle something you've composed previously. So you can treat it as a creative exercise or just vehicle to get you music heard and commented on.

Picture: In addition to the music, try to create your own picture that relates to your selected theme/title. This isn't mandatory.

DATES AND VOTING

The submission deadline is midnight 12th July 2026

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 entry with the most points wins.

The order and scores of the three people with the most votes will be announced soon after the voting ends.

SUBMISSION DETAILS

All recordings and pictures need to be sent via email to Compositions@thefretboard.co.uk

Songs to be submitted in mp3 format.

Pictures to be in jpg or png format.

ENTRY PLAYLIST

Entries will be posted in a playlist below as they arrive.

https://soundcloud.com/thefretboard/sets/composition-challenge-47?si=b25af2f2e61348529284afe00f8b9e0d&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

dindude

Entry just sent in. Finished this one a few weeks ago so oven-ready for the new challenge. Thanks 

stratman3142

dindude said:

Entry just sent in...

It's in the playlist.

monquixote

Go team early bird!

I've also got one to put in. 

A bit more of a conventional song this time: 

stratman3142

monquixote said:

...I've also got one to put in...

It's in the playlist.

stratman3142

One from @mrleon83 in the playlist.

ewal

I sent an entry in. An old tune I made a couple of years ago with a drummer pal, back when painfully loud alternative rock instrumentals were our thing. I layered a few additional tracks on top of a live rough studio demo which is why you'll hear a few stick clicks etc. I think they add to the vibe.

Wish I still got to do things like this. Very cathartic.

stratman3142

ewal said:

I sent an entry in...

It's in the playlist.

monquixote

A bit more of a straight forward rocker for my second entry:

stratman3142

monquixote said:

A bit more of a straight forward rocker for my second entry...

It's in the playlist.

monquixote

stratman3142 said:

monquixote said:

A bit more of a straight forward rocker for my second entry...

It's in the playlist.

Ta, you mentioned looking for backing tracks for the solo compo and this is quite a simple one to shred over so I'm happy to do a lead / vocal free version if you would find it helpful.

Habanero

I've sent one in too.

I finished it a few days ago, and wasn't going to submit it here. However when I realised the fourth line of the lyrics matches @monquixote 's title, it seemed like a sign from the gods of rock.

If anyone wonders what it's about, it's a belated tribute to the bonkers tv series Banshee. It started as a riff when testing a new pedal about 6 years ago.

thecolourbox

I do like a good lyrics coincidence! I think one of my previous entries had a similar lyric line to another in the same challenge period, purely by chance.

I have a chorus fleshed out in my head, and a nice little chorus-outtro through some juicy chords back to the root key for the verse...but I just can't quite get a verse that fits it. I've tried recycling other tunes from elsewhere too, but just not quite right. Hoping to get it done - it'll be a pretty spares arrangement at least so should be pretty quick to record when I've got verses i'm happy with

monquixote

I'll be truly amazed if anyone else has a lyric about boiled eggs in their song (suggestion from my 7 year old)

thecolourbox

monquixote said:

I'll be truly amazed if anyone else has a lyric about boiled eggs in their song (suggestion from my 7 year old)

Ffs now I've got to rewrite my chorus as well

Habanero

monquixote said:

I'll be truly amazed if anyone else has a lyric about boiled eggs in their song (suggestion from my 7 year old)

This could have been a theme back when we had them!

stratman3142

Habanero said:

I've sent one in too....

It's in the playlist.

stratman3142

monquixote said:

Ta, you mentioned looking for backing tracks for the solo compo and this is quite a simple one to shred over so I'm happy to do a lead / vocal free version if you would find it helpful.

Yes, go for it if you have time.

If you want to save time, just send me a vocal and solo free mix. I can cut down the duration, with a fade perhaps, to suit SotM.

stratman3142

Habanero said:

monquixote said:

I'll be truly amazed if anyone else has a lyric about boiled eggs in their song (suggestion from my 7 year old)

This could have been a theme back when we had them!

You're free to create your own theme, as it says in the OP. Just specifiy any idea you chose to inspire your entry.

Sporky

I've submitted one. It's the theme tune for The Wrong Princess. With awful voice-over work.

stratman3142

Sporky said:

I've submitted one...

It's in the playlist.