Lead on acoustic guitar-based instrumental Cues?

[Tunesmith]

Hi Fellow Composers,

Do acoustic guitar-based instrumental Cues generally have a lead guitar or are they mainly rhythm based? I listen to the sample tracks that always seem to have a vocal in them..So are they asking for a rhythm with lead? ie, the lead taking the place of a vocal?

I am referring to this:
#Y170615AG
MELLOW, ACOUSTIC GUITAR-Based INSTRUMENTALS CUES are needed by a very successful Music Library with a very lengthy and impressive list of great placements in Film and TV. They’re searching for Down-To-Mid Tempo Instrumental Cues that fall within the general stylistic range of the following references that we got from them:

“10000 stones” Adrianne

“Cannonball” by Damien Rice

“More Than Words” by Extreme

Although the references have vocals, please submit Instrumental Cues only for this pitch!
Give them compelling, acoustic guitar-based Cues that are well-crafted and have a warm, laid-back, mellow mood. Your Instrumental Cue can include a small ensemble of other instruments but should be primarily centered around an acoustic guitar. Be sure to add and subtract instrumentation as your Cue progresses to keep it interesting and give it some forward movement.""

Thanks,
Linda C

[ajhall98]

I was wondering the same thing.

I have heard on Taxi TV several times that it is often better to use a subset of the melody - half notes and whole notes, rather than the whole melody. Otherwise it comes off sounding like elevator Muzak... It seems easier to me to do this in a rock or electronic track than in an acoustic track.

I'm definitely not an expert and still learning in this area. So I'm also interested in what others have to say.

AJ

[Tunesmith]

I was wondering the same thing.

I have heard on Taxi TV several times that it is often better to use a subset of the melody - half notes and whole notes, rather than the whole melody. Otherwise it comes off sounding like elevator Muzak... It seems easier to me to do this in a rock or electronic track than in an acoustic track.

I'm definitely not an expert and still learning in this area. So I'm also interested in what others have to say.

AJ

I hope we do hear from others who would know the answer to this! I can hear what you mean about a sub/melody.

Best,
Linda C

[cassmcentee]

Hey Linda, I'm watching this for educated answers as well!
I don't have one...

[DiamondJoe]

Generally speaking for cues you just need a coherent theme, it could be rhythm guitar with a "lead" playing a simple melody for example. I have had forwards with no lead instrument and some with a lead instrument. Not sure if that helps.

[AdrianaLycette]

Generally speaking for cues you just need a coherent theme, it could be rhythm guitar with a "lead" playing a simple melody for example. I have had forwards with no lead instrument and some with a lead instrument. Not sure if that helps.

I would agree with that. If you listen through the references for this listing, there's a mixture of both. Damien's song actually contains the melody line within the guitar part but "More Than Words," doesn't really have a lead line. Like you pointed out, they all do have that coherent theme. Hard to know sometimes though when you're working on the cue right?! Great question!