PG Music Home Forums PG Music Product Forums Band-in-a-Box for Windows Band in a Box - Challenge 1

In the years I've hung out here, this is one of the "quieter" periods I remember. This means most of the software is chugging along doing what it intended, and there are not a lot of issues, such as will happen after a new release.

That said, in a thread called Challenge 1, I'm suggesting that we all take a standard piece, without melody, and make a backing track for that piece. Use all the tools you would usually use. In my case, this means I make a CD/Mp3 and move it upstairs beside my big ol' piano, and play along. The CD might make it out of the house to provide me a track to play along with, just to make the experience better for the audience.

Why? I personally have always felt that there are a lot of talented people out there, contributors or otherwise, who get no exposure. I also think that there is too much 'gnashing' of teeth over minutiae, when in reality, the average Joe or Joseph or Giovanni, sitting talking to his friends, and hearing the music in the background, is thinking, "wow that dude is cool and I like this!", while saying to his buddy that he loves his new recipe for veal parmigiana.

Perhaps when you are done you could lay out what you did to get where you went. As for me, I'll quick and dirty a 3 verse track in Band in a Box only, with a wee trim from Audacity. Then I want you to tell me what to do to make it 'better'.

I hope that the 'big guys' here, like Notes, and Matt, and Mac, and Russ (who's more missing than not), and Dan, and well I can't list you all...jump in too. If we get lucky even Oliver Gannon might just have at it. And here's the chance for those who post only links to show the rest of us their budding musical talent.

In that I'm taking a Notes Norton approach, (Heck he can probably just mail in his contribution now, it's probably done already!) that the song is well known, can cross genres, and is available in Band in a Box format, I'm hoping for a dozen or so examples from forum members!

Although it says 'Challenge' there are no winners or losers, but degrees of "hummmm".

So to get this started, and hey you all, or y'all, jump in, throw out one of yours - I will admit that some recent discussion, along with the windy day yesterday floating spinning leaves from my black walnut over the house and in front of my picture window, and in that it is autumn, I'm throwing down the old jazz standard about fall and leaves drifting by my window.

So pick a style, a speed, leave out the melody, and give us a backing track! Please?

Now I am going to be late for work.... give me a minute to offer my rendition. I use this for my solo gigs.

Here is my backing (100% BIAB): Fall Leaves - Backing


And here is the Info from Song Memo:




So John, Is this what you had in mind for this thread ?

Yes, thanks! Perhaps some who have the ability can host a rendition for those that don't Just a thought.

Gee John, I thought this was really a good idea. Although you have opened up the backing tracks to mp3 files which allow considerably more opportunites for customizing, I actually like the ideas of just posting solid well arranged 100% BIAB backing tracks.

There is no other BIAB file sharing like this anywhere here in the forum. Of couse you can go elsewhere and pick up 1000's of BIAB tunes, but having a Forum-User's individually customized BIAB backing track, here in the forum, has never been done that I recall. Seems to make more sense now that RT's are available and all tracks can be Frozen to sound just the way they were arranged by the user. Would also be an excellent tool to examine how users do what they do.

But, as you pointed out, things have been very quite here lately.

I'll post mine later today. Actually unless someone didn't think about it and you are worried about someone using your work, (why would I do that?) ..fade it out with Audacity.

In fact I think I have 3 versions of the song here somewhere. Wanna bet if it was PG who threw down the same gauntlet that people would have stayed up all night?

Do you mean The Autumn Leaves or Fall Leaves? Never heard of the last one. Of course I'm an old 60 rock fan and somewhat of a jazz fan. However, The Autumn Leaves is one of my favorites. If I can ever get this sound system working on my new computer, I will be happy to join the party and make a backing tape(CD). By the way, how do I paste it to this web site?

If you bought or even checked out Notes Norton's site about such issues you'd note that :

His disks do name the tune but in a 'legal manner'.

He had lawyers go over the issue and you cannot copy-write a chord progression only the melody and the words. Which is why he sells the chord progression and you can get the fake book from him.

Many musical acts I encounter use some sort of backing tracks, and I've never seen a problem with that. If you are worried about the issue growing a new nose you can either not visit the thread, or hit the notify moderator button and tell them I lost my mind.

I was going to post today but as goes the cancer battle...I ended up laying down at 10 am. and waking at 5 p.m. Nothing new there....as long as I sleep tonight.

Not trying to hijack the thread or idea, but I saw a show on the "Blues" the other night an thought something using some of the blues progressions might be interesting.
many of the things I heard have to be something of a public domain thing since these progressions are used so universally. "Fats Domino" "I want to Walk you home" is just one example.
John, hope you feel better today, Wyndham

Took a long time for someone to swallow the spelling "worm". Colour me blue.

"I also think that there is too much 'gnashing' of teeth over minutiae, when in reality, the average Joe or Joseph or Giovanni, sitting talking to his friends, and hearing the music in the background, is thinking, "wow that dude is cool and I like this!"

John, you hit the nail on the head with that quote. I can speak from personal experience when I say that the audience is concentrating on the soloist not the background. Many people have disagreed with me on this subject in passed thread exchanges but I stand by my opinion. I've been gigging as a One Man Band for 10 years now, which means that people have been enjoying my performances long before real tracks or real drums. Do RD and RT's sound better, of course they do but the audience is what's important. To quote Prince, "Don't let the technology rule you, you need to rule the technology." I also agree with you when you said that they are a lot talented people on this forum, I know many can play rings around me. Many people on this forum use BIAB as a serious hobby and/or outlet, I'd venture to say that most people on this forum have day job and do a few gigs on the side when they can. I'd like to further challenge the people who never or seldom play outside their homes to find a regular little gig somewhere. It could be a coffee shop, Nursing Home, or Community Center. Offer your services for free and watch what happens. You won't be sorry you did. In the next few days I'll post a tune, I've never posted any music on this forum before. It's going to take me a while because there are no quiet places in my home. I'll probably have to use the shed in my back yard to record. I need to get setup any way because I've been promising patrons at different venues that I play that I would make a second Christmas CD. I made a CD years ago before RT/RD. The next CD will be so much better it's scary, makes me want to redo the first CD. IMHO RT and RD brings out the better musician in all of us, that's the real success of PGmusic.

Jacob

As usual, I read this thread too quickly. Bad habit of mine. As soon as I figure how, I'll post a tune that I do on gigs.

Here is my Eva Cassidy Fingerpicked ACW-interpreted submission.

Trax

I blame Rharv.

Wow, an sgu file. I have to fire up a windows machine. Ubuntu is scratching it's 'head'.