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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 70
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OP
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 70 |
I think I need to practice my scales but it is so boring when I do you almost cry.
Is there a way with BB to make scale practice more fun?
Woody - Sacramento
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 420
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 420 |
Hello
I would say yes.
I guess all you need to do is at least add a drum style. Of course you could then add chords to match.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Quote:
I think I need to practice my scales but it is so boring when I do you almost cry.
Is there a way with BB to make scale practice more fun?
"Always try to make anything and everything you play sound musical."
A private teacher I had long ago stressed (maybe drummed) that sentence into me and I'm glad he did.
Proper scale practice, played with the metronome hittin' on 2 and 4, which is done inside your head by turning that met beat around, can be a beautiful and sonorous thing, man. Or it can be made to sound like a hideous drill. Avoid the latter, as that will only reinforce playing non-musically.
Some first pointers, try to Crescendo when moving upscale, Decrescendo when moving downscale. Note that wind instrument players and vocalists often will do that naturally.
Practice scales in full, then in threes, then in fours: CDE, DEF, EFG, FGA, etc. is threes. fours, add the next note to the pattern: CDEF, DEFG, EFGA, etc. and don't forget to unwind. And always keep that fingering constant as per scale books (for the keyboardist as well as the guitarist).
**Check out the BB Scale Generator function. Here we can have BB generate all the right scales on the Soloist Track for the chord changes of the song that is loaded. BB will play them on the chosen patch while the notes on the notation view highlight and scroll. A dynamite way to not only learn how to grab a correct scale over a chord, but a great way to speed up all aspects to include sight reading single notes, ear training and note selection for improvisation, all at one time. In addition to practicing the given scale runs, one can open up their arpeggiating skills by doing a couple of runs playing every other note in the given scales.**
Soloist -> Generate Scales
One button, fast, can be done over any loaded songfile.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,693
Veteran
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Posts: 7,693 |
WAS, sure you can use a drum track instead of a metronome if that helps you and Mac's suggestions are of course right on like he always is.
My take is a bit blunter and simpler. There are certain boring prerequisites that are necessary for any serious field of human endeavor. In music scales are certainly one of those. My advice is just suck it up and start practicing.
There's basically two things you get from learning scales, finger dexterity and the scales themselves particularly the scale tone numbers such as an A is the 6th of C, the 4th of D, the flatted 5th of Eb, etc. Everything starts with scales in music. Later on you may ask how do I play or solo over Gmaj7-F#7-Em-A7-Dmaj7 changes and the answer could be just mess around with a D major scale starting on the third or fifth. Those chords are from the solo section of Spain and a D scale is a good starting point. You know what that is right? If not where have you been buddy?? You never learned basic scales??? That is what any player would be thinking if you didn't understand that answer. A basic major scale is only the beginning, there are minor, pentatonic, diminished, modal and many others.
Just an aside after 40 years of playing, I never really studied pentatonics and I'm doing that right now. Of course I've recognized that I've been doing a lot of pentatonics just by ear anyway but it's good to really have the proper grounding with them and to practice the correct fingering. I had not done that before, I've just faked it. The great thing about music is there's always something new to learn and I intend to keep doing that until I'm in the home and can't play any more.
To help a bit, there are lots of youtube vids of good players showing how these scales fit in certain songs and while that still means you have to sit and practice them at least you've heard how they work once you've learned them. Basically those vids give you faith that you're not wasting your time even if it is boring at first.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,333 |
My wife used to put a ju june on the 3rd octave and if you got it right up to there you got to eat it. Worked like a charm. (for the grade school (2nd grade) kids she taught) LOL. You thought me right?? No we used something else for that....:) I can still play a waltz in 4/4 time perfect almost every time. (I cheat and right 1 2 3 / 1 2 3 at the top  )
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 70
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 70 |
@Mac
>"Always try to make anything and everything you play sound musical."
That's a really good one to remember.
Thank you
Woody - Sacramento
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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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New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
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- Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
- Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
- Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
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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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Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
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Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 20.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 20 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 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.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch 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.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
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