In addition to the General Contest Rules, the following rules apply to the Acoustic Picking Division:
1.
Any contestant playing a stringed instrument such as a guitar, mandolin, dobro, tenor
guitar, or banjo may enter this division
2.
Entry blankmust be completed and entry fee paid before participation. A division is
closed ½ hour before that division begins.
3.
Contest Committee officials will randomly select numbers for all contestants for
order of appearance. Contestant order will be posted approximately ½ hour before
that division begins and the contestant must be ready to play when called.
4.
The contestant may compete with only one instrument.
5.
Contestants playing guitars and mandolins must play flatpick style only; contestants
playing banjos may use finger picking style.
6.
Each contestant must play 2 tunes in the preliminary round, a fast tune and a slow
tune. The top five contestants in the final round will play one tune.
7.
In the preliminary round, a 3 minute playing time will be strictly adhered to, and in the
final round, a 2 minute playing time will be strictly adhered to. Two points will be
deducted from the total score for each 10 second interval or portion thereof over the
time limit.
8.
Contestants may play with or without accompaniment. Not more than 2
accompanists may be used. Accompanists may not play the melody of the tunes.
9.
The top 5 contestants in the preliminary round will move into the final round,
regardless of the instrument played. Scores are cumulative.
10.
In the event of a tie, each contestant will play 1 tune that the contestant has not
played in either of the previous picking contest rounds.
11.
Judging will be remote by 3 judges different from the 3 fiddle judges. There will be
a maximum of 100 points possible per tune from each judge. Judging will be based
on the following:
