I decided to learn how to play bass (already play e guitar). I have BIAB UltraPak+ , so wondering what would be the best way to use this program to learn bass. Obviously I can pull up any chord progression and style and mute the bass part to play along...so there is that, but I am also wondering what are the best resources in this software package for learning bass lines and grooves (which I can then later mute the track and play myself)
I see there only a couple of instrument studies for bass. That's a start, but there are only a couple. Generated bass style bass parts tend to be kind of simplistic, but obviously I could just look at the notation for those and attempt to learn to play those...
Are there any other good sources of good bass playing in the band in the box universe and what would be the best way to go about learning bass (in addition to being able to mute the bass part and experiment play along).
I also am a guitarist whom also plays bass. A guitarist learning bass can be a very good thing or a very bad thing. While playing bass you MUST think like a bassist, ALWAYS in the pocket with the kick and snare, and not like a guitarist, who has liberties to do as he wishes when it come to timing and phrases.
I would start with MIDI styles as the bass lines will always have notation. A lot of RT styles also have notation, look for the line under bass. Start with simple songs even though you may not like the genre. Later you can get into more complicated styles. Of course this assumes that you can read music.
As a 4 string bass notes' names are identical to the bottom 4 strings of a guitar, only one octave lower, you probably already have some guitar lines you can convert to the bass.
Knowing how to read music and have at least some knowledge of music theory can help. Even if you don't know theory but you know that the notes C-E-G make a C major chord you already know what bass notes will always work for a C major chord. The same works for any other chord that you know the note names.
I hope this helps and good luck.
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64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
You may find the Bass Fretboard Window useful. You can access it by using the menu of Window > Guitar Window or the keyboard shortcut of Ctrl+Shift+G. Once the window is open select the Settings button and select the Bass fretboard.
If you play guitar I assume you know the relationships of root, 3rd, 5th and octave. If you know the box those live in then I'd suggest just using the chord chart for stuff you've done in BIAB and start with just playing the root until you get your timing & groove, then add the 5th and re-establish the timing then use the 3rd to sketch out SOME walks n runs. BIG clue, as mentioned, don't think like a guitarist - particularly a lead player. Keeping the bass "in service of the song" means using it to set a foundation with drums, to reinforce the rhythm, to help describe the chord and to poke out when it suits. OH, get some foam to stuff under and in front of the bridge to reduce strings ringing...muting strings with palm and fingers is a little harder but even more necessary than with guitar. ALL of that being said...do your own thing...AND get a Behringer BDI21...a superb Sansamp clone that'll give you tone, colour and DI VERY cheaply.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Consider 4-5 lessons with a local bass teacher first. Learn the significant difference between playing guitar and playing bass from someone who plays this new instrument
You'll start off on the right foot. It may also help convince you the bass is not for you
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What I would add is: 1. Build yourself a nice little BiaB song, maybe just a "2-chord wonder" to start. 2. Mute the bass in this song and Save Special as an MP3 file. 3. Import this file into your DAW. 4. Play along with the BiaB song while recording your bass. 5. Mix the BiaB song and your bass recording, save as MP3 if you need to. 6. Compare the groove from Step #1 and your groove from Step #5. (Most likely you will hear issues in your playing such as timing, length of notes, fret buzz, sour notes, too simple, too busy, etc. You may also find that you think you sound good while you are playing but conclude differently once you listen to your recording) 7. Repeat Steps 4 thru 6 until you are happy with your bass recording. 8. When happy, increase the complexity of the BiaB song and/or change the genre/style and repeat the entire process.
Note: This can be applicable to other instruments as well and always remember you have 2 "legs"
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2025 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
I KEEP forgetting about this. This is the way I learnt to navigate bass and chords when I 1st started playing in 1974 or so. The simplest walking bass of 12 bar blues n rock was something I was taught and learnt as rote applying it every & anywhere I could. Eventually I noticed the relationship of the notes to each other & the chord being played. Light bulb light up & blew a fuse at the same time. From the relationships lots of note options for a chord become easily available, almost under the fingers and easy to reach. It can be moved up n down the neck and be based on the E or A strings without any modification.
Last edited by rayc; 06/26/2211:11 PM.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
With these two scale positions alone, the "G scale" position and the "C scale position" moved up and down the fretboard you can play any song you want.
Get someone to show you how scales in each key relate to standard pop chords in each key.
It is worth a lesson or two. Trust me.
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
I also am a guitarist whom also plays bass. A guitarist learning bass can be a very good thing or a very bad thing. While playing bass you MUST think like a bassist, ALWAYS in the pocket with the kick and snare, and not like a guitarist, who has liberties to do as he wishes when it come to timing and phrases.
Unless you are in a Prog Rock band.
Seriously though..... if you play guitar even reasonably well, you should have a basic understanding of the bass. It's simply one octave lower and yes..... you do need to think differently and have the mindset that you are one half of the rhythm section of the band. Your job is to provide the foundation.
That said.... once you have the foundation aspect and keeping the pocket and groove is second nature, there are still a lot of things you can do to embellish the bass lines and provide interest to the song. Tasty fills and runs are all part of a good players repertory.
Listen to and watch the bass in this video. Notice the way he follows the kick drum. Notice the fills and runs.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 06/29/2203:28 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
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With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
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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
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SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
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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)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
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Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
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.
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