ONLINE Competition

PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES ALL FESTIVAL COMPETITIONS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE – PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY VIDEO LINKS OR ENTER THE COMPETITION UNTIL THE NEXT COMPETITION HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED

1st Place Online Competition winner prize:

  • Elixir Strings Prize Pack
  • G7th Capo Gold Engraved Performance 3 Capo
  • 1 x Candyrat Records Social Media Video Feature
  • 1 x Fretmonkey Records Social Media Video Features

2nd Place ‘Runner-Up’ Online Competition winner prize

  • Elixir Strings Prize Pack
  • G7th Capo Silver Engraved Performance 3 Capo
  • 1 x Fretmonkey Social Media Video Features

3rd Place Online Competition winner prize

  • Elixir Strings Prize Pack
  • G7th Capo Black Engraved Performance 3 Capo
  • 1x Fretmonkey Social Media Video Feature

Online Competition Rules & Regulations

Rules Governing the Fingerstyle Collective International Guitar Competition  

The Fingerstyle Collective International Guitar Competition is open to anyone except those who are staff members or founding artists of Fretmonkey, are labeled artists of Candyrat Records, who are sponsors or partners of the festival, or are performing as a billed or paid musician at the Fingerstyle Collective Guitar Festival

No purchase of any kind is necessary (apart from your online competition registration fee of £50 GBP) to enter the competition. A purchase of a sponsors products will not improve your chances of winning!

All tour/performance prizes are subject to the relevant country travel restrictions and tour/festivals taking place. Fingerstyle Collective Festival together with its co-organisers, sponsors and partners cannot be held financially responsible for any cancellations beyond its control.

SPONSORS: The Fingerstyle Collective Music Competition (the “Competition”) is sponsored by:Fretmonkey, Candyrat Records, ELIXIR Strings, G7TH CAPOS and others noted on the event website and is subject to the following terms and conditions.

ELIGIBILITY: Contestants can apply for either the Fingerstyle Collective Online Competition or the Fingerstyle Collective Live Competition, but cannot apply for both competitions during the same year. If an applicant submits to both competitions during the same year, by default the submission will only be considered in the Online Competition category. Previous Fingerstyle Collective LIVE/ONLINE Competition Grand Prize Winners (1st Place) cannot re-apply, however previous Semi-finalists (2nd and 3rd Place Winners), as well as previous Fingerstyle Collective applicants may re-apply. 

An Entrant (Individual) must be sixteen (16) years of age or older at the time of entry, and possess a valid form of identification (no top age limit). An Entrant under the age of eighteen (18) shall require parental consent to participate due to international travel involved in prize winnings. Invalid or ineligible entries shall be excluded from consideration. By their submission of entry, Entrants warrant they are legally entitled and authorized to make such submission on their own behalf. In the event of a dispute as to the winner’s identity, entries will be deemed made by the holder of the email account associated with the entry. Void where prohibited by law or restricted. Subject to all applicable country and local laws and regulations. An Entrant may not be a Professional Musician signed to any major label with world-wide distribution.

The initial preliminary round judging will take place via YouTube/Vimeo video submission and all decisions are final. There is no right granted or opportunity to question or appeal the judging panels decision

IMPORTANT DATES: 

TBC – deadline for application materials and video

TBC– Online competition winners, Elixir Strings and other competition prizes announced.

HOW TO ENTER 

  • Please complete the relevant application form at the bottom of this page – please ensure you complete the right application form for Online or Live competition. We will then email you a link to pay the registration fee online (fee only payable for the online competition).
  • Please submit your video by entering the URL within the application form. Should you experience any issues with completing the application form, please email admin@fingerstylefestival.com

REGISTRATION & FEES 

The online guitar competition registration fee is £50. Once your application form is received, we will email you confirmation and a link to pay your registration fee. The registration fee is non-refundable 

  • Please note that your registration will only be considered complete once payment has been made and accepted, and the online application form has been completed. After your registration is complete, you will receive an email confirmation. 

PRELIMINARY ROUND MUSIC SELECTION 

  • For the ONLINE Competition, you are required to submit a link to TWO videos of contestant’s choice (can be live or static). Again, the song/tune selection may be an original work or a cover arranged as an instrumental only. 
  • The length of EACH video should not exceed five (5) minutes. Submitting 2x lengthy 5 minute video’s will not enhance your chances as each is judged within the strict criteria set out below in Judges Scoring..
  • You cannot enter the competition twice in any given year so only one application will be permitted. Equally, you cannot enter both the online and live competition so please choose the competition that suits your personal circumstances and travel plans the best.

VIDEO CONTENT INSTRUCTIONS 

  • While we advise all contestants to create the best quality entry possible, both regarding the audio and the video, it need not be at a professional-level production value. 
  • Please do not submit a video with product placements or other commercial intent. No foul language or offensive gestures. 
  • When submitting your video url (example would be YouTube/Vimeo), you must select “Public”” or “Unlisted” in the privacy settings when uploading the video. If the candidate selects “Private,” their submission will be invalid. The candidate must provide the link to their video submission on the application form. For more information on posting videos, we recommend exploring the “Help” section found on the YouTube.com homepage or your video platform of choice. 
  • The candidate’s video must have the artists’ name in the title.
  • A MEDLEY OF TUNES IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. Recommended Maximum playing time is approximately five (5) minutes. In an effort to judge the contest objectively and equally, the following criteria will be considered by the judges and assigned point value in each area

VIDEO SUBMISSION DATES & TIMES: 

The deadline for applications is to be announced (Midnight GMT – please check your corresponding worldwide time in relation to this)

PRELIMINARY (VIDEO) ROUND JUDGING: 

All contestants will be judged in the preliminary round by a panel of credible judges who work for Fretmonkey, Candyrat Records, Daylight Music Productions UK or one of the festivals sponsors – and at least a majority will be fingerstyle guitarists. The judges decisions are final and no opportunity for questions or appeals will be permitted.

JUDGES SCORING:

  • Scoring 1. ARRANGEMENT (40 points) – Contestant’s version of the tune selected. Difficulty and originality will be considered.Scoring 2. EXECUTION, TUNING (40 points) – Fingering, picking and dynamics will be considered. 
  • Scoring 3. SHOW VALUE (10 points) – Would the music resonate with an audience (appeal)? Contribute to the genre of fingerstyle guitar?
  • Scoring 4. OVERALL IMPRESSION (10 points) – Is it innovative? Progressive? Modern? Well executed? (In other words…Does it stand out in some way?)

OTHER:

  • Any candidate who fails to abide by the Fingerstyle Collective Guitar Competition Rules & Regulations may be disqualified. 
  • Any application form found to contain false or inaccurate information may result in the candidate’s disqualification. 
  • The Organiser reserves the exclusive right to record, photograph, or disseminate in any manner whatsoever. 
  • Participation in the Fingerstyle Collective Guitar Competition implies the full and clear adherence to these rules, the waiver of all rights and recourse in respect of the submission procedures, their results and the awarding of prizes, and in respect of any physical or material damage sustained by the candidate either during the performances or when traveling to said performances.
  • International competitors will be provided with an official letter of invitation for respective UK entry..  

To enter the ONLINE Fingerstyle Collective Guitar Competition, please complete the application form below and submit – once we have received your application form we will send you a confirmation email and link to pay the registration fee of £50 GBP fee: