International Home of the Legends Thumbpicking Championship Official Rules
*Registration will begin at 9:00 am CST 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 two categories of competition: Traditional & Contemporary. (Please see below for Junior Shootout Rules/Guidelines) There will be a $10.00 entry fee for each category. In an effort to complete the competition in a professional and timely manner, contestants who are not present by 9:45 to draw for playing order will be disqualified from the competition and will forfeit entry fee. It is the responsibility of each contestant to be prompt both in drawing for picking order and performance time. Due to limited space, the green room / rehearsal area is for contestants only.
*Contestants must be prepared to play two tunes per round of competition. No tune shall be played more than once during all appearances of a contestant. Performances time is limited to six minutes for each contestant per round. Points will be deducted if a performance exceeds the allowed time frame. Depending on the number of entries, only one round of competition MAY be held. If this is the case, competitors will perform 3 tunes in one round of competition with a maximum total performance time of 9 minutes. This decision will be made by the Executive Committee on the day of the competition, and will be discussed in detail prior to the start of the competition. Please visit this page often for any updates to this rule as the 3 song, one round format may become the standard for the competition.
*The top five places in the Preliminary Competition in each category will advance to the final round to determine the Grand Champion for that category. Scores are not cumulative, meaning that the second round of competition each competitor starts fresh (unless the above ruling is in place) There will be no playoff between the Traditional & Contemporary Winners for an overall Grand Champion. The winner of the Traditional category will be the Traditional Grand Champion, and the Contemporary winner will be the Contemporary Grand Champion. The Grand Champion in each adult category will receive a Gretsch G5420T Guitar w/hardshell case in the 2023 competition year as the top prize. In the event that the same contestant wins both categories, only one guitar will be awarded to that contestant. There will be an additional $250 awarded to the contestant for winning both categories.
*All instruments used must be electric or acoustic guitars. Competitors will have the option to run direct, mic the instrument, or use an amplifier. Contestants are allowed to use a different guitar for each tune if they wish (for ex. use an acoustic on one tune, and electric on the next) but need to keep in mind that time spent switching guitars will be included in total performance time. Effect units are allowed.
*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 (5 competitions completed) 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 competitions total have passed from the date of winning that class. They may enter the Contemporary. This rule applies to all three classes.
Previous Grand Championship winners are not eligible to enter any class of the competition for a period of 5 competition years from the date of winning the title of Grand Champion. (5 competitions must pass before being eligible to enter again)
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 thumbpicking in a traditional manner, such as any Merle Travis, or early Chet Atkins tunes. The Traditional Category focuses on traditional arrangements/songs played in a traditional manner. The best explanation for this is if a contestant plays a tune such as “Cannonball Rag” in a style similar to Merle Travis, it will score higher than if it was played equally as well but in the style of Tommy Emmanuel, which would then make it more of a contemporary style of playing.
*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.
*Judging will be on traditional thumbpicking technique & ability, rhythm and timing, tuning, difficulty factor, and adhering to the rules (did the contestant play a traditional tune in a traditional style)
Contemporary Thumbpicking
*Contestants in this category will be required to perform tunes which demonstrate thumbpicking 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. In some Contemporary Arrangements, there are periods where the alternating thumb pattern is not present for certain runs, etc. This is acceptable in the Contemporary category, but contestants are to keep in mind that this is not an open fingerstyle class; therefore, tunes with NO alternating thumb or thumb accompaniment present for the majority of an arrangement will result in point deduction. Some contemporary tunes exhibit more of a “walking bass line” than an alternating thumb. This is also accepted in the contemporary category. Contestants may perform utilizing a thumb pick, or bare thumb. Finger picks may be used. No flat picks are allowed.
*Judging will be on contemporary thumbpicking technique & ability, rhythm and timing, tuning, difficulty factor, and adhering to the rules (did the contestant play a contemporary tune in a contemporary style)
Junior Shootout
*Ages 17 & Under – There must be at least two competitors entered in order to have the Junior Shootout. Any contestant 17 & under may enter the adult category, and is not required to enter the junior class - Once a contestant has won a Junior Championship, they may not enter the class again for a period of 5 years, or after the age of 17. The Junior class winner will receive a cash prize of $200, and cash will be awarded to the runners up as well. In the event that only one contestant is registered for the Junior Shootout, they will still have the opportunity to perform in a contest setting and be judged, but will not be given the title of Junior Shootout Champion, as no competition actually took place. That contestant will receive 1/2 of the prize money ($100) instead of the $200 prize for winning the competition, and will have the opportunity to compete as a Junior the next year as long as they are still of the eligible age.
*Junior Contestants may play tunes in either a Contemporary or Traditional style.
*The Junior category is made up of one round, where competitors will play 2 songs, winner take all. Contestants may play one Traditional & one Contemporary tune, two Traditional tunes, or two Contemporary tunes
*Please refer to the category specific rules to view the guidelines of Traditional & Contemporary tunes.
*Judging will be on thumbpicking technique & ability, rhythm and timing, tuning, and difficulty factor.