Utah State Instrument Championships   

                                                Contest Rules for Flat Pick Style Guitar 

• Contestants must register on or before 9:00am Saturday, July 15, 2023, in order to compete. 
• Contestants may register here on our website or register between 8:00 and 8:45am that Saturday, at the Hangar Stage where the contest will be conducted. 
• Registration fees: $20 for the Open contest and $15 for Novice. (Novice: one who’s never won this contest) 
• 8:45 to 9:00am contestants will draw for order of appearance and receive final instructions. 
• Contestants will be prepared to play two instrumental numbers in traditional fiddle tune or bluegrass style. Two additional if there is a tie. 
• Time limit: 5 minute per round of competition. Anything over that will be penalized. 
• All contestants must play with a Flat Pick. No Finger Picking will be Allowed. No combination Of Flat Picking And Finger Picking Will Be Allowed. 
• Standard / Traditional acoustic 6-string or standard / traditional acoustic 12-string guitars may be played in this competition. 
• The alteration or tuning of the low E (6th) string will be permitted. The low E (6th) string can be changed to any note desired, not limiting the tuning of the 6th string to “Drop D” or a low D note but to any desired pitch. No other string tuning or variance from the standard E (1), B (2), G (3), D (4), A (5) will be permitted. 
• Some slight, overall variance from concert pitch A=440 will be tolerated. (See #2 in the general rules.) 
• Up to one capo may be used but is not required. If a capo is used, it must be applied across all strings on the same fret of the instrument to ensure all other rules regarding tuning are followed. 
• Judging will be blind and done by three professionals who know and play the instrument. 
• Winners will be announced and will receive their awards immediately after the contest. 
• Winners from each Open contest is invited to play on main stage with the Judges somewhere between 12:00 and 1:00pm Friday after the contest. 
• Winners of the Open division will receive 2 - three day pass with camping to TedFest. 

                                   Contest Rules for Finger Style Guitar 

• Contestants must register on or before 9:00am Saturday, July 15, 2023, in order to compete. 
• Contestants may register here on our website or register between 8:00 and 8:45am that Saturday, at the Hangar Stage where the contest will be conducted. 
• Registration fees: $20 for the Open contest and $15 for Novice. (Novice: one who’s never won this contest) 
• 8:45 to 9:00am contestants will draw for order of appearance and receive final instructions. 
• Contestants will be prepared to play two instrumental numbers. Two additional numbers if there is a tie. 
• Time limit: 5 minute per round of competition. Anything over that will be penalized. 
• Contestant may play any style of music, but flat pick and slide techniques are not acceptable. 
• Contestants may use thumb and finger picks. NO FLAT PICK. 
• Standard / traditional acoustic 6-string or standard / traditional 12-string arch top or flat top guitars with either steel or nylon strings are allowed. 
• Special tunings will be allowed. However, the contestant will NOT be allowed to take two instruments on stage. 
• Up to One Capo may be used but is not required. It may be applied to any, or all of the strings on the guitar. 

• Judging will be blind and done by three professionals who know and play the instrument.

• Winners will be announced and will receive their awards immediately after the contest. 

• Winners from each Open contest is invited to play on main stage with the Judges somewhere between 12:00 and 1:00pm Friday after the contest. 
• Winners of the Open division will receive 2 - three day pass with camping to TedFest.

                                                        Contest Rules for Mandolin 

• Contestants must register on or before 9:00am Saturday, July 15, 2023, in order to compete. 
• Contestants may register here on our website or register between 8:00 and 8:45am that Saturday, at the Hangar Stage where the contest will be conducted. 
• Registration fees: $20 for the Open contest and $15 for Novice. (Novice: one who’s never won this contest)
• 8:45 to 9:00am contestants will draw for order of appearance and receive final instructions. 
• Contestants will be prepared to play two instrumental numbers. Two additional numbers if there is a tie. 
• Time limit: 5 minute per round of competition. Anything over that will be penalized. 
• Contestant may play any style of music. 
• Judging will be blind and done by three professionals who know and play the instrument. 
• Winners will be announced and will receive their awards immediately after the contest. 
• Winners from each Open contest is invited to play on main stage with the Judges somewhere between 12:00 and 1:00pm Friday after the contest. 
• Winners of the Open division will receive 2 - three day pass with camping to TedFest.

                                             Contest Rules for Bluegrass Banjo  

• Contestants must register on or before 9:00am Saturday, July 15, 2023, in order to compete.  
• Contestants may register here on our website or register between 8:00 and 8:45am that Saturday, at the Hangar Stage where the contest will be conducted.  
• Registration fees: $20 for the Open contest and $15 for Novice, (Novice: one who’s never won this contest) 8:45 to 9:00am contestants will draw for order of appearance and receive final instructions.   
• Contestants will be prepared to play two instrumental numbers. Two additional numbers if there is a tie.  
• Time limit: 5 minute per round of competition. Anything over that will be penalized.  
• Contestant may play any style of music.  
• Judging will be blind and done by three professionals who know and play the instrument.  
• Winners will be announced and will receive their awards immediately after the contest.  
• Winners from each Open contest is invited to play on main stage with the Judges somewhere between 12:00 and 1:00pm Friday after the contest.  
• Winners of the Open division will receive 2 - three day pass with camping to TedFest.

                                                              Rules for Finger Style Guitar  

• Contestants must register on or before 9:00am Saturday, July 15, 2023, in order to compete.  
• Contestants may register here on our Contest website or register between 8:00 and 8:45am that Saturday, at the TedFest Hanger stage where the contest will be conducted.  
• Registration fees: $20 for the Open contest and $15 for Novice who’s never competed before.  
• 8:45 to 9:00am contestants will draw for order of appearance and receive final instructions.  
• Contestants will be prepared to play two instrumental numbers. Two additional if there is a tie.  
• Time limit: 5 minute per round of competition. Anything over that will be penalized.  
• Contestant may play any style of music, but flat pick and slide techniques are not acceptable.  
• Contestants may use thumb and finger picks. NO FLAT PICK.  
• Standard / traditional acoustic 6-string or standard / traditional 12-string arch top or flat top guitars with either steel or nylon strings are allowed.  
• Special tunings will be allowed. However, the contestant will NOT be allowed to take two instruments on stage.  
• Up to One Capo may be used but is not required. It may be applied to any, or all of the strings on the guitar.  
• Winners will be announced and will receive their awards immediately after the contest.  
• Winners from each Open contest is invited to play on main stage with the Judges somewhere between 1:00 and 2:00pm Saturday after the contest.  
• Winners of the Open division will receive 2 - three day pass with camping to TedFest.