SDMB 32-Bar Songwriting Contest

Cafe Society
1

Announcing the SDMB 32-Bar Songwriting Contest.

Purpose: To check out the songwriting chops of the SDMB, and to provide an incentive to those (like myself) who enjoy composing, but never do it unless they have some kind of deadline hanging over their head.

Assignment: Write a standard, 32-bar song. That’s 8 bars of theme A, repeat, a contrasting 8-bar theme B, then another repeat of the first theme. (This explains the structure a bit more clearly, though in a jazz context, which isn’t necessary for our purposes.) If you like you can write an introductory verse as well. Songs can be in any style (pop, standard, jazz, rock, etc.) but must have both a melody line and harmony. Lyrics are optional.

Tehnical Stuff: Songs should be saved in a MIDI format (I think most songwriting programs allow this). If you don’t have songwriting software, you can download a free trial version of Noteworthy Composer here. Upload your files to an account I created at www.box.net – account name sdmb@mailinator.com, password cecil. Save your file under your birthdate (instead of your user name) to prevent favoritism in voting.

Due Date: Midnight this coming Sunday, the 24th!

Voting: First prize will be by popular vote on Monday.

Open to: Everyone! Amateur, professional; even if you’ve never composed anything before in your life.
Whew! :smiley: So…any interest?

2

Yep, I’m interested. But I’m currently on the road, so doing anything by Sunday will be difficult. Can we have another week?

And does it really have to be MIDI or can we do actual audio? How basic are we talking here? And are we using “standard” MIDI tracks and instruments (and if not, how will anyone know what it’s supposed to sound like)?

3

Very interesting. Hopefully I can get to it this weekend. Things are a bit insane right now.

I’d prefer audio too.

Great idea!

4

I’d also rather do audio than midi.

Cool idea, though; we’ll see if I have time between now and Sunday to participate.

5

Sounds fun. I’ll do audio too if possible.

6

Glad to hear there are some other interested songwriters here! Sure, by all means lets do audio as well. (I was originally just worried about the storage capacity on the box.net website, but it probably shouldn’t be a problem.)

To be honest, I don’t know all the varieties of MIDI – I guess the standard…? (I’m kinda new at this…) I uploaded a MIDI version of a sample song here. It should sound like a regular piano version of a Mozart sonata – does that sound okay to everyone?

Since timing seems an issue for everyone, shall we push the due date back to midnight next Friday, the 29th, or is that too long?

7

I’d participate in this, but

  1. I have no way of recording audio.
  2. My song would be for jazz ukulele, which would not come out well in MIDI.
  3. Most importantly, my trial account expires in two days, and I just can’t will myself to actually spend 25 precious dollars so that I can stay on this board and try to support my horrendously pro-Israel viewpoints.
8

A jazz ukulele playing pro-Israeli member? Surely this guy deserves some kind of scholarship? :stuck_out_tongue:

Seriously though, all political and musical views are welcome, and twenty-five bucks isn’t much for a whole years’ subscription.

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Can you use an mp3? I’ve got one right here, of a song I recorded last May. It’s got everything but vocals and a guitar solo. If so, I can send it right away!