A Video Game Music Composition Contest!

Welcome to the LeetChord Jam - a monthly video game music composition jam based on a unique creative limitation! 🎮 Be sure to join the discord for access to free music composition resources, tutorials, and community discussion:

Theme: 🪽Wingman at a 🇯🇵 Festival

In Dating Sim video games there is often a "wingman" or "best bro" character who assists the main character in their escapades and antics for wooing over their romantic interest. For example, the GOAT wingman Umehara Masayoshi from the Amagami games. Given this, the theme will be wingman - write a "wingman" theme for your companion through a Matsuri (祭り) festival. (or it could be a wingwoman, genderless, a wing-koi-fish, a wing-mystical creature, the sky is the limit as long as it is wing-something).

Limitation: Sankyouku (三曲) Ensemble

You must incorporate at least one of the Sankyoku instruments (shakuhachi, shamisen, or koto) as if this were taking place in a Matsuri (祭り) festival. This list may prove to be useful https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_festivals#List_of_famous_matsuri (it is by no means comprehensive though; feel free to branch out to other regional Japanese festivals). You may use any other instruments, as long as you use at least one of the following three (shakuhachi, shamisen, or koto). Taiko drums would probably be a good idea as well, but you are not required to use them.

Jam Rules

• ✅ Your entry MUST incorporate the Theme and Limitation and follow all other jam rules.
• 🎵 Original Compositions only. No Arrangements!
• 🤖 AI Usage: You may not use Generative AI in making or assisting you to make your composition; this includes even asking AI for inspiration. Anyone caught using AI in their composition will be permanently banned from entering all future competitions. You have been warned.
  
• 🌐 Web Link: You must submit a Leetchord.com Jam mode URL when submitting your composition for consideration - the JAM mode url must have the full track editor notes and instruments filled out (there are import tools to make this process seamless if you're working with a DAW). For importing files, the following file formats and DAWs are supported by LeetChord  are listed in the "Supported File Formats and DAWS for Importing Projects" Section Below (and even if your DAW is not on this list, MIDI import is still supported). File Formats like MP3 and WAV are NOT accepted and will result in disqualification.
  
• You may only submit one (1) URL  per competition. If you have multiple pieces, choose the work that you think fits the theme the best.
• 🚫 No NSFW Content (Basically, don't include anything that would violate Youtube's age-restricted content policies)
• 🎵You may only use either custom SoundFonts or the built-in Leetchord sounds (beeps and boops, General MIDI). VSTs, custom samples, and DAW specific instruments are not allowed.
• 🎵You must upload all SoundFonts used to LeetChord (if you are using any) and submit the names of all SoundFonts and the Instruments/patches used in your composition - Leetchord.com provides a very easy way to do this with the export button located under SoundFonts in jam mode.
• Your submission should be no longer than 5 minutes.

Rating

Games will be rated in a 1-week voting period after the jam on the following 3 categories:

• Theme Incorporation
  • How well did the composition fit the overall theme?
• Technical Skill
  • Was the composition solid, were there techniques incorporated that pushed the boundaries?
• Emotional Impact
  • Did the composition move you /mean something to you in an emotional way?

Sponsor and Prize

This game jam is sponsored by Leetchord.com, an online music theory platform with music creation and learning tools for Video Game Music Composers.

The winner of the jam (voted by you, the community) will receive a License Key for a Traditional Japanese Music Expansion Pack on Leetchord.com, which contains articles and exercises for Traditional Japanese Music composition techniques and example uses of Traditional Japanese Music in Video Games.

Note: Winners of previous LeetChord Jams hosted by Tokyo Frequency are not eligible for this prize - in this case, the prize will be given to 2nd place (and if the 2nd place has also won a jam previously, it will be given to 3rd, place, and so on.

🎯 FAQ

1) I need help using LeetChord/importing my song

There is a tutorial on how to submit an entry on discord that guides you step -by-step. You can also always ask questions in the appropriate channel in discord and someone will help you out.

2) I'm a beginner/have no experience...

No problem - LeetChord.com has FREE interactive exercises and articles specifically for people with zero or little experience - once you are up to speed, you can then participate in future LeetChord jams!

3) There's a bug!

Report any bugs for Leetchord.com on discord and they will be addressed.

4) Can I collaborate in teams?

Yes, you are encouraged to collaborate and seek out other artists (for instance, a visual artists to collaborate with on the album art)  but the max collaboration team size is 3 (three) people.

5) What are the Supported File Formats and DAWS for Importing Projects?

**Notes (works with almost anything)**

- **MIDI** (`.mid` / `.midi`) - Almost every DAW and notation app can export MIDI

**Score / sheet music**

- **MusicXML** (`.musicxml` / `.mxl`) - MuseScore - Sibelius - Dorico - Finale

**DAW projects**

- **`.als`** - Ableton Live
- **`.rpp`** - Reaper
- **`.flp`** - FL Studio
- **`.mmpz` / `.mmp`** - LMMS
- **`.dawproject`** - Bitwig Studio 5.0.9+ - PreSonus Studio One 6.5+ - Steinberg Cubase 14 - Steinberg Cubasis 3.7.1 - Steinberg VST Live 2.2 - n-Track Studio 10.2.2

**Trackers & modules**

- **`.xrns`** - Renoise
- **`.ftm` / `.0cc` / `.dnm`** - FamiTracker - 0CC-FamiTracker - Dn-FamiTracker
- **`.mod`** - Amiga ProTracker - OpenMPT - MilkyTracker
- **`.xm`** - FastTracker 2 - OpenMPT - MilkyTracker

**Vocal synths**

- **`.svp`** - Synthesizer V
- **`.vsqx`** - Vocaloid 3 - Vocaloid 4
- **`.vpr`** - Vocaloid 5 - Vocaloid 6
- **`.ust`** - UTAU
- **`.ustx`** - OpenUtau
- **`.ppsf`** - Piapro Studio NT - Hatsune Miku NT

**Karaoke / Lryics**

- **`.lrc`** - Synced Lyric / Karaoke files