Hey folks,

I originally posted this in the Off-Topic forum, and, pursuant to Guitarhacker's suggestion, I'm reposting it here with a little extra information. Guitarhacker also had a lot of great input which can be viewed at the original thread here: https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=72454&Number=500915#Post500915

So I am active in a lot of Reddit music and music production-related subreddits, and a fair amount of them have "battle of the bands" type bi-weekly or monthly threads, where they match up teams of four or five members and each contributes either by playing an instrument, supplying vocals, taking responsibility over the production and/or mixdown, and I thought it would be really cool to get something like this up and running with the PG Music community.

I'm not really sure exactly how it would, so I'm soliciting both your overall opinion on having something like this, as well as suggestions regarding how it would go.

Some of the possible options of the top of my head:

a) Initial backing track cooked up in BiaB/RB is posted as an SGU, each member of each team, plays a live instrument over a range of bars. The selection of members could be comprised based on the instruments they play--for instance you would have a guitarist matched with a pianist, a horn player, and a vocalist or something else. Or maybe one of the members makes the backing track for others to play over. At the end of the period, participants and/or forum members cast votes for the winning track.

b) As with the Xtra Style PAK contests, there would be separate genre categories that each team could be assigned (e.g. Rock, Hip Hop, Country, Jazz etc., maybe even a MIDI category!)

c) Some sort of randomized mixture of the above? I don't know, you tell me!

In response to this post, Tangmo had generously offered use of his track (with lyrics) posted here: https://soundcloud.com/user-47797156/as-you-go

I was thinking the track could be expanded out to add solo sections. I would be happy to contribute guitar, and maybe even sing the lyrics (don’t know if I'm much of a singer, but I'm eager to give it a shot!), and maybe some other members here could contribute a piano solo and/or horns?

Would love to know your thoughts!

IF someone decides to utilize this .sgu, I'd highly recommend 1. listening with imagination. This is a very rough mix made in BIAB after too many regenerations. 2. Taking it to RB and changing out some of the phrases (particularly in the organ) to get a greater dynamic range.

Other than that, have fun with it in any way that suits. Change anything.

I tried to do this a while back, for a particular track I had. It didn't work out, I wasn't able to make the right forum connections, but I think it is a great idea! Looking forward to collabs that come out of this!

Gee,... collabs like this are so much fun, and, perhaps more importantly, just the type of proverbial kick in the seat of the pants that gets me more productive. :-(

In the meantime, Tangmo, you mind if I take this track and run with it?

I have a few days PTO to cash out before the end-of-year, and would love to spend that time working on music.

Deacon,

I am a coordinator with an international songwriter's association based in Nashville (as a volunteer) and their suggestions for being a better songwriter boil down to 5 basics:

1.) Collaboration

2.) Collaboration

3) Collaboration

4.) Collaboration

5.) Collaboration

In that vein, I am collaborating with about 30 people now all the time and am happy to do so here. It takes me about 10 minutes to write a lyric when I hear a tune. I am doing guitar work for some people, mixing for others, vocals for others, pure songwriting and arrangement for others, and so forth in nearly every genre.

If you want to ping me with a PM we can share emails and maybe I can stay on track to help out whenever and wherever help is needed, if you want to volunteer as a ringmaster of BIAB forum collabs.

I think you would a lot of fun doing that--kind of being master producer and keeping track of projects and matching people up and so forth.

There are a lot of great players here on this forum and there is no reason why we can play a track or two here and there for our buddies--or co-write more songs.

There is SO MUCH info on the forum these days it is hard for me to follow all of it, but as I say, if we can get hooked up by email on a PM I would be happy to play or sing, or arrange on anything as time permits if the "fit" is right.

Great idea. I encourage you to keep it going and be the ringleader.

It could help a lot of people.

Leverage the talent here man.

It would be one helluva hobby and who knows where it could lead.

Seriously.

Count me in.

Thank you so much David for tossing your hat in the ring. :-)

I totally agree with regards to the whole collaboration thing. As I mentioned in my original post, I have collaborated quite a bit by contributing live instrumentation, and it has always pushed me not only to create, but to think and play creatively as well by adapting to the styles and needs of others.

I really hope this takes off!

As I also mentioned in an earlier post, I have some accrued PTO I'll be cashing out in increments towards the end of the year, and hope to use much of that time to work on the collaboration based on Tangmo's SGU.

I'm thinking of trying my hand at vocals, and also adding some guitar bits. How would you feel about contributing some of your mixing/production skills?

Thanks again!

Sure! Anything I can do.

We should just set up a drop box. That's the way I way I work with all my peeps.

I appoint you Grand Pooba for this forum-wide project.

Do it. Or any part of it. With anybody that wants to jump in. It's in your lap, looks like.

As I tell everybody...as long as you're truthful, credit me in any way you see fit. Doubt I will be around to hear the results right away, but I'll try to keep up, In the meantime, you have my email. Let me know if and when anything gets posted.

DeaconBlues09
I think it would be cool to organize it like potlock.
Maybe you have to kick the potluck off with a Main Course, basic melody, a hook line, a song topic, or even an entire song strummed out on an acoustic guitar with a midi click track. Then make a sign up list of what Side Dishes you hope others will bring to the potluck.
A. Main Course examples
Topic (host)
Lyric (maximum 3 donors)
Melody (maximum 2 donors)
Rhythm/feel (maximum 2 donors)
B. Side Dishes
Drums (maximum 1 donor)
Percussion (maximum 2 donors)
Bass (maximum 2 donors)
Horns (maximum 2 donors)
Piano (maximum 2 donors)
Strings (maximum 2 donors)
Wild Cards (maximum 4 donors)
C. Serving
Mixing (maximum 2 separate donors)
Mastering (maximum 1 donor)
*
Make improved adjustments to the above ideas as more collaborations get going.
Have people sign up to donate their dish/spot. Each addition to the song gets the song updated and the donors are notified on forum and Private Message so they can add their part/s. Donors have one week to submit an example or a complete Side Dish or forfeit. Progress goes to the next dish. The forfeited dish becomes available or can be left out.
Anyway, that's my idea. Not that I would have time to contribute anything. But, I sure like potlucks. I guess I could share some beef jerky.