GUITAR WARS INC

David Dunavant, originally from Little Rock, holds a Bachelor's degree in Music from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Master’s degree in Guitar Performance from Bowling Green State University. With an extensive career spanning 19 years, David has held guitar faculty positions at several universities, enriching the musical journeys of countless students.Currently, he dedicates his expertise to teaching private music lessons to both adults and teenagers at the Little Rock Music Academy. Beyond his teaching commitments, David serves as the founder and executive director of Guitar Wars, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting guitar music. He has also developed "Street Guitar," a unique instructional system. This method offers a structured yet flexible approach, allowing students to tailor their learning experience according to their individual goals and musical preferences.Learn more by visiting Dave's website at the link below:

• Visit Guitar Lessons With David

Rules:
General Information• Competitors will be evaluated on their solo guitar playing skills by a team of qualified musicians and teachers (see below for judging criteria)• There will be a winner for each division and bracket (no more than 5 total winners)• This is a solo guitar competition for amateur guitar players only – no bands or vocalists will be allowed to participate.DefinitionsCompetitors may choose to play either solo guitar or with a backing track as accompaniment:• Backing Track: an audio track of a “band” that allows competitors to demonstrate their ability to solo. Competitors may elect to play over a provided track as accompaniment or supply their own accompaniment using a looper pedal.• Solo Guitar: an unaccompanied guitarist playing the melody, bass, and chords simultaneously.Brackets• Youth Ages up to 17Beginner
Solo Guitar or with Backing TrackIntermediate
Solo Guitar or with Backing TrackAdvanced
Solo Guitar or with Backing Track• Adults Ages 18 and upBeginner
Solo Guitar or with Backing TrackIntermediate
Solo Guitar or with Backing TrackAdvanced
Solo Guitar or with Backing TrackRegistration• Go to www. to register in a division and a bracket. Deadline for registration is Friday, August 1st at 2:00 pm.• All competitors will pay a non-refundable registration fee of $35.• Registration fee includes competition T-shirt and a pack of guitar strings• backing tracks for the competition are also available at the registration site.• Adults will place themselves in the division reflecting their skill level based on the honor system.To Qualify to RegisterAll competitors:• Must be an Arkansas resident• Must provide his or her own guitar• Must be an amateur player (no guitar teachers or professional musicians, please)• Must not be related to an event judge or sponsor• Must not make more than 20% of their annual income playing the guitarAll competitors under age 18 must also provide signed parental consent to participate.Performance• Competitors may play acoustic or electric 6-string, 7-string, or 12-string guitars (all other variations are NOT permitted).• If a looper pedal is used, you will be judged in the backing track bracket.• A competition amplifier will be provided on stage. For the sake of consistency, all competitors will play through the competition amp. Competitors may bring their own pedal board or effects to plug into the competition amp.• Solo guitar performances may not exceed 5 minutes in length.• Competitors may choose to play in standard tuning or in any alternate tuning of their choice.• Competitors may only play fingerstyle, with a pick, or with a slide.• Contestants will be called in alphabetical order by the judges.• Contestants must be in tune and ready to play BEFORE they are called to the stage (there will be a test amp backstage for competitors to test gear before taking the stage).• Any substantial delay (other than breaking a string) once on stage will result in points deducted at the discretion of the judges.• Late arrivals will be eliminated from the event at the discretion of the event organizers.• Any inappropriate behavior from a contestant will result in immediate disqualification at the discretion of the judges and/or event organizers.Judging• All judges are established professional musicians/music educators in the Little Rock, Arkansas, area.• If the judges determine a competitor has registered in the wrong division, they will recategorize the competitor in the appropriate category to reflect his or her skill level• Competitors will be judged on the following criteria worth 100 total points:Technical Ability/Accuracy 25ptsMusicality (Dynamics/Tone) 25ptsOverall Difficulty 25ptsRhythmic Ability 25pts

Good Luck, but read a few more things BEFORE you get on the stage!1. We will be providing a Marshall half stack Amplifier.You Will Not Be Allowed To Adjust The Settings On The Amplifier Other Than Switching From Clean To Distortion. If you have any questions regarding how to switch the emcee will let you know.2. You MUST BRING YOUR OWN TUNER and be in tune before you enter the backstage area.3. Your pedal board must be completely set up the way that you want it to be before you enter the backstage area.
YOU MUST BRING AN EXTRA CABLE FOR BACKUP!!4. Remember that you will have five minutes once you walk on the stage to play your guitar and exit the stage. There will be a timer set, and you will be cut off if you exceed the time limit :-)5. We are here for two reasons: to support each other and have a good time! Please stick around after you finish for the rest of the contest if possible to support your fellow contestants.