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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 236
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Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 236 |
This might be more appropriately posted elsewhere but here goes anyway.
I am a self taught guitar player starting around age 10. I am a formally trained trumpet player and was a top rated high school and college player.
I would rank my guitar playing skill as intermediate. I have played in rock and country bands in my early years and could handle most rhythm and some lead playing. It is many years later now and I mostly entertain family and friends with acoustic and vocals (and BIAB of course!). I do yearn to become a much better player and will have the time when I retire in September. I know that some of you are guitar (and other instrument) instructors. Reading today's post about how much time to practice lead to my posting this topic.
From my formal musical training I know how to and how much practice is necessary to obtain the goals that I have set: awareness and fluid use of chord variations in all positions; command of scales and scale modes; use of the aforementioned scales in improvisation; improve my use of dynamics and expression.
Do you believe that in my position you would seek an instructor if only to keep oneself focused? Or would you design your own practice plan and schedule and draw upon the vast amount of guitar instruction materials available on the internet?
I would love to hear your comments. I know that all of you have been where I am in your musical journey.
Todd
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Joined: Oct 2007
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Do you believe that in my position you would seek an instructor if only to keep oneself focused? Or would you design your own practice plan and schedule and draw upon the vast amount of guitar instruction materials available on the internet? I would definitely take the route of lessons by DVD/download accompanied by written TAB. Homespun is one of the best. The instructors are professional musicians in a wide variety of styles. http://www.homespuntapes.com/Most local instructors are just guys who can teach you a few songs but can't really give you an organized method of study. Good luck.
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Joined: Apr 2012
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Yeah Bob, that was what I was thinking. Matter of fact, I walked into my local guitar store to look around a few weeks ago and was noodling around on a couple of Stevie Ray tunes. The owner came over and asked me if I wanted to teach!
Todd
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Joined: Jul 2000
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Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jul 2000
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Do you believe that in my position you would seek an instructor if only to keep oneself focused? Or would you design your own practice plan and schedule and draw upon the vast amount of guitar instruction materials available on the internet? I would agree with Bob on this. One big advantage of having DVD or Internet based lessons is that you can refer back to the lessons any time you want, and more importantly, as often as you want. In fact, I have lessons by Larry Coryell and Emily Remler that I bought years ago that I still refer back to from time to time. Go for it! New tricks are what keep us from becoming old dogs! 
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Hey LKMULLER, I wish I was there with you on the big island!
Thanks for the advice. BTW, I took a couple of slack key lessons from George Kahumoku at his house in Maui a couple of years ago.
Todd
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Joined: Jun 2012
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If you are really disciplined you might try the DVD/canned lesson route. I have a bookshelf full of how-to books and videos but sadly most of them are still in pristine condition!
But I find that when I sign up with an instructor I almost always move forward and learn more, faster! My preference these days is group classes. Been taking fiddle, banjo and songwriting most recently. Accomplished more in a year of classes than in many, many years of how-to books and recordings!
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Joined: May 2000
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Hey LoveGuitar,
Here's another Trumpeter who took up the guitar many moons ago.
I also had a lot of piano lessons at one time.
As for a live teacher for you, I would give a qualified YES to the question and that qualifier has to do with you finding the RIGHT teacher. Since you know the Trumpet, you should want a teacher who teaches from the notation staff if at all possible IMHO, not one who leans mostly on Guitar TAB, and that is because you very likely already know how to read, how to count and how to decipher rhythm figures on the fly or at least with a minute of study. The really neat aspect of that is the fact that the Guitar is written in the Treble Clef only (but the instrument sounds one octave lower than the written note).
There are also some really great guitar tutorial softwares available separately from PGMusic that I recommend without reserve. Here you have a system that is very much like having a live teacher, but at your beck and call as to time, just load it onto the computer and have at it. And the ability to go back and repeat whole lessons or parts thereof is sheer dynamite.
One thing about music performance that I love is that the "old dog, new tricks" bromide really does not apply. Matter of fact, the consummate musician should be always thinking about music, always working on something new, always running over old things to keep them shiny, well, having known some of the real greats in the bidness and seeing firsthand how they continued to keep on keepin' on with it well into their 90's as most do left a different impression on yours truly about that.
Welcome to the fun!
--Mac
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Joined: Apr 2012
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Mac,
I certainly agree with you about the right teacher. My first requirement would be enthusiasm. And yes, I would like to have a guitar instructor who reads music not just tabulature. On the other hand, there are many many great guitarists and probably instructors who do not have this skill. I just would like to learn from someone who recognizes my ability level and knows how to motivate me and get me to that next level and beyond. I want someone who knows the right place to start with me. I'm okay with baby steps. I think the instructor route might work out best because I kind of the like the pressure of demonstrating my progress with my assignments. My trumpet teacher was a well known symphonic player who had no patience for wasting his time because insufficient time had been spent practicing week's performance piece.
Todd
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Don't wait - order today!
Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
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These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
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