PlayJazzGuitar.com Forum

jomoguitar · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Posts: 47 Location: NorCal

So, does anyone in the forum use some sort of device/software like a Boss Loop Station, Band in a Box or Ableton Live for backing tracks? I would like to get a solo guitar thing going and just airing out my options.

Thanks...

jazzplease · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 130 Location: Nara, Japan

I would say Band in a Box. From what I gather its a pretty standard piece of kit for learning to solo. Cheap and flexible. Just plug in the chords and start playing!
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Gorecki · Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2006 4:52 pm Post subject:

I use most things you mentioned plus many more. Most recently I've been toying with recording pieces into Live or Cubase, cutting them into sections and then making preset loops in my soft snyth and triggering different changes by pressing a key on the keyboard and holding the sustain pedal. Works fairly well for doing things on the fly.

But the easiest way is to record your backing (with what ever you choose) and then simply playback and play along.
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jokron · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Posts: 656 Location: Skelleftea, Sweden

Well, I use Cubase with Groove Agent, Virtual Guitarist and Broomstick Bass, Piece of cake to create backing tracks once you get how to do.

...but, I bought line6 GuitarPort yesterday and there was a program called Riff Tracker that creates backing tracks too. Since I use the above mentioned I don't bother learning another system, but it seemed pretty simple, there is also a demo video on line6's site: http://www.line6.com/rifftracker/

Although I neverused it myself, Band-In-A-Box seems to be a good choice...

Mostly I play with Aebersold backing tracks from http://www.jazzbooks.com or Peter Vogls tracks from Watch and learn : http://www.freeguitarvideos.com/PeterVogl.html

/Jan Olof
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ourway · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 154 Location: wisconsin

I have been using Band In A box live for years. No one has ever questioned me or complained about it. I have it installed on my home computed and laptop which I run thru my PA when playing out. The nice thing about it is when you arrange a song you can play thru it 1 time or 10 as you see fit. My son plays bass so we use it for the drum patterens and Piano, sometimes we will use a patteren the has guitar arps. on slow songs it helps keep your place. The nice thing is we have all are music in one folder than have copied the music we need to other folders. Such as dance tunes (standards) Christmas music, Chord Melody songs. Vocals. We keep all our sets in different folers. I've played in Quartets and Trio's before like many of you and finally got tired of the Sax player or Piano player saying I've played this tune before and thats not how we played it. We can also fit into more places as a Duo. And most of all you split the money only two ways. When we do a cocktail party playing background music we would get $300.00 for two hours and some one would say I don't get my Horn out for less than $100.00 now you got $200.00 to split three ways. I'm retired and at my age I don't need the BS. so my son and I decided to go back to a Duo. More money and less head aches. Good luck

Mike Detlefsen · Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 98

I also use Band in a Box.

You can find BiaB files for 500+ songs from the Real Book here:

http://phillipsmusic.net/realbook.htm

thomasross20 · Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 139 Location: Edinburgh

That is REALLY handy.. Shocked

Thanks!!

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johng83 · Joined: 17 Feb 2006 Posts: 99 Location: Birmingham, AL

ourway · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 154 Location: wisconsin

another site http://www.midistudio.com/BIAB/List.htm

stupot · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:38 am Post subject:

For those of who are not very 'tecchy' and would probably spend more time reading the manual than actually playing guitar; are ther any good quality backing tracks on the web to download with the accompanying chord progressions??

I have some of the aebersold stuff - anything else out there???

Thanks Wink

ourway · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 154 Location: wisconsin

The Jamey Ambersold CD's are great to jam with. They are probably in all the right keys that are being played at Jams. The only real disadvantage is you must play tham in the Keys that are written and with the chord progression.
The nice thing About BIAB is there are hundreds of songs already on the net you can download. Expect a few mistake in some of them. But you can readily change keys, tempo, feel. You can eliminate chords add chords, intros, outros. If you have a vocalist you can modulate from one key to another, Change tempos and feel in any part of the song. Burn Cds for people to prtactice too. It can be used to teach (IE burn songs for students for soloing, chord melodies) the possibilities are endless.
The new 2007 I just recieved last week has real drum patterens to also work with, which sound much better than midi. A feature I havent worked with yet claims to be able to play MP3's and figure out the chord progression. I have it installed on my son's computer and we can email each other songs we are working on. I personally have never used all the features on BIAB which are numerous. There is only so much time in the day. Once purchased the upgrades every year are about $50.00. The initial expence may seem high, but dollar for dollar for entertainment value it is very cheap when you think of what Theater or Concert tickets cost.

stupot · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 12:53 pm Post subject:

How easy is it to use -i am a complete technophobe. My personal time is quite limited so i want to spend as much as possible picking, not programming! Wink

If it is straight forward though i will give it a go!

ourway · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 154 Location: wisconsin

This is very easy to learn. Like I said you can down load many files. If you want to play guiatr just shut off the Guitar track if you want to play bass shut off the bass track. It can be as easy or as complicated as you want. If you purchase this product and have a problem just send me a personal message with your phone number, I can call any where in the USA with out charge. Any one that has this will tell you it is very simple to use.

stupot · Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2006 2:47 pm Post subject:

Thansk ourway, although i live in the UK, so wouldn't expect you to call. A few supportive PM's might be needed though!! Wink

PaulD · Joined: 18 Sep 2004 Posts: 1130 Location: Chicago

I agree with ourway. BIAB is very intuitive. Type in the chords you want, select a style, press play. That's basically it. If you want to get deeper into it, you can create your own styles, combine existing styles, add melodies, harmony, plus a ton of other features. But the basics are really easy and the results are really well worth the price. And as he pointed out, there are already lots of songs available.

ourway, what do you think of the new "real drums" feature? I posted a ballad on the "post your music" thread using BIAB 2007 with a nice brushes kit.

Paul