*Registration will begin at 9:00 am on the Saturday morning of the contest. Contestants must be at the contest stage by 9:45 on Saturday to draw for initial order of appearance in the preliminary round. There are three categories of competition: Traditional, Contemporary, and Open. Contestants are allowed to enter one, or all of these categories. There will be a $10.00 entry fee for each category.
*Contestants must be prepared to play two tunes at each contest appearance. No tune shall be played more than once during all appearances of a contestant. Performances are limited to three minutes per tune. Points will be deducted if a performance exceeds the allowed time frame.
*The top five places in the Preliminary Competition in each category will advance to the final round to determine the winner for that category.
*Contest rules will be reviewed and discussed the day of the contest.
*All decisions of the judges and contest committee will be final.
*Contestants who have won a particular class within the last 5 years are not eligible to enter that same class. For example: If a contestant won the Traditional category 2 years ago, they are not eligible to enter Traditional again until 5 years have passed from the date of winning that class. They may enter the Contemporary or Open. This rule applies to all three classes. Also, past Grand Champions or Overall winners are not eligible to compete until another "Champion of Champions" competition is held. Please contact the NTPHF if there are any further questions regarding these guidelines.
Category Specific Rules:
Traditional Thumbpicking
*Contestants in this category will be required to perform tunes which demonstrate thumb picking in a traditional manner, such as any Merle Travis, or early Chet Atkins tunes.
*Contestants are required to play tunes which use a steady and alternating bass pattern with their thumb. This may be performed utilizing a thumb pick, or bare thumb. Finger picks may be used. No flat picks are allowed.
*All instruments used must be electric or acoustic guitars. Competitors will have the option to run direct, mic the instrument, or use an amplifier. Effect units are allowed.
*Judging will be on traditional thumbpicking ability, rhythm and timing, tone quality, and tuning.
Contemporary Thumbpicking
*Contestants in this category will be required to perform tunes which demonstrate thumb picking in a contemporary manner such as later Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanuel, Doyle Dykes, and Jerry Reed.
*Contestants are required to play tunes which use a steady and alternating bass pattern with their thumb. This may be performed utilizing a thumb pick, or bare thumb. Finger picks may be used. No flat picks are allowed.
*All instruments used must be electric or acoustic guitars. Competitors will have the option to run direct, mic the instrument, or use an amplifier. Effect units are allowed.
*Judging will be on contemporary thumbpicking ability, rhythm and timing, tone quality, and tuning.
Open
*Contestants in this category may perform tunes in any style they wish other than thumbpicking (rock, bluegrass, country, blues, jazz, etc.).
*Contestants are required to play tunes which do not use a steady and alternating bass pattern with their thumb. This category is open to any type of pick or method of picking including a straight pick. Fingerstyle is allowed in this category as long as there is no accompanying thumb.
*All instruments used must be electric or acoustic guitars. Competitors will have the option to run direct, mic the instrument, or use an amplifier. Effect units are allowed.
*Judging will be on overall playing ability, performance, tone quality, and tuning.
Please contact the NTPHF with any questions or comments regarding contest rules.
