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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,471
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OP
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,471 |
Although I play 7 instruments, I am best at saxophone, flute and wind synthesizer. All single note instruments (the wind synth has the capability of more than one, but in most situations that is impractical). I've improvised solos long before BiaB was around. IMHO Improvising a good solo requires creating tensions and then resolving them with the other instruments in the band. So practicing improvisation on the sax is difficult without the rest of the band members present, and in most cases one cannot expect the band to continuously play a song over and over while you try things out and practice improvising solos. Before BiaB we had Music Minus One records (vinyl platters with grooves in them) followed by MMO cassette tapes. These were good aids but had four definitely limitations. (1) The songs available to practice with were limited to the small catalog of songs in the MMO library (2) you were stuck with the key of the recording (3) you were stuck with the tempo of the recording (4) if you were having trouble with a particular passage, it was difficult to find that part and play it over and over again. Band-in-a-Box solves all these problems. Virtually any song you want, any tempo you want, any key you want, any style you want, and you can loop a section over and over to your heart's content. This was the reason I bought BiaB for way back when I was using an Atari/ST computer and BiaB/PC was still in the DOS format. Like most users of this app, I have found a number of different ways to use BiaB. When appropriate I use it to create backing tracks for my duo http://www.nortonmusic.com/backing_tracks.html, I use it to do the 'mule work' of harmonizing a part, I use it in my feeble attempts to write new songs, I started a 'moonlighting' business of creating style and fake disks for BiaB, and I still find it extremely useful for practicing improvisation. We all learned certain rules for improv, some in school, some from other musicians, and some from self-discovery. But the rules are not concrete, written-in-stone formulas, but merely guidelines as to what works in a certain situation. Plus in many situations there are different ways to look at it and different rules to apply. And one more thing, the rules are made to be broken. So with BiaB you can try many different things on the same song without boring the rest of the band while they play the song over and over while you try things out (that is, IF you can get the band to do that in the first place). Secondly, if what you thought might work sounds terrible (as it sometimes does) you don't embarrass yourself because BiaB is completely non-judgmental. So while it does have many other fine uses, I believe BiaB is the absolute best tool for an improvising musician on the market. Crank it up, get your axe out, and start playing with it. Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,259 |
Good post, Bob, and particularly applicable to me. I've been using some of Jamey Aebersold's books, such as "Nothin' But Blues." Sometimes the tempo on the accompanying CD is too fast causing me to concentrate more on keeping up than experimenting with my improv. I should add that I don't do enough improv to have learned it very well. Someone suggested that I study the modes. Sadly, I only made a minimal effort at it as it became more like memorizing for a biology test. I'm sure there are many books on improvization, but, as you aptly point out, it's better to learn by playing. If there was a modes dvd, at a slow tempo, I might do better. Alternatively, maybe I should make up some exercises of my own using BIAB.
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 484
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 484 |
Hey Norton, I got one for ya. Growing up a guitarist in the days of vinyl I wore out Peter Frampton’s, “Do You Feel Like We Do” with my guitar.
I have used BIAB for practicing many times. I would load a riff and try a style moving the tempo to and fro. Then, there were also the music/ear training games that I let me daughter use that helps her.
Although I am not one to toil over a particular part until I got every note correct. You will definitely hear it in my recorded music. My primary technique in using BIAB as a practice tool is to take some of their pre-composed songs, and study the lines in them. This will cause my fingers to break their muscle memory. It is a great resource that allows you to break down, measure by measure, what is taking place in the song. I find that so much more productive than watching a video of a guitar virtuoso demonstrating their wares. That is for the “ooh” & “ah” effect. I need to see notes on a page and music accompanying it to really get better as a player.
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,471
Veteran
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OP
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,471 |
Quote:
Hey Norton, I got one for ya. Growing up a guitarist in the days of vinyl I wore out Peter Frampton’s, “Do You Feel Like We Do” with my guitar.<...>
When I was young, I wore out a vinyl copy of "Harlem Nocturne" by The Viscounts - so I understand EXACTLY what you are saying.
BiaB has helped my improvisations more than any other tool at my disposal. The MMO products like Abersold are limiting in song selection, key, and tempo.
Theory books are great, but there is more than one right way to play an improvised solo in every song. Different ways of looking at the chords in relation to the other chords and key signature, plenty of choices to be made, some will sound better to the artist's ears than others (and some will sound bad). Using BiaB I can practice improvisation in the privacy of my own home, and nobody will hear the failed experiments but my computer, and it is completely non-judgmental  Plus it has the patience to do it over and over and over until I get it to the point where I feel comfortable.
Practicing improvisation was the main reason I bought BiaB way back in the Atari days. Writing styles and creating my own backing tracks came later. There are dozens of uses for BiaB, some of which I use frequently and some of which I don't use at all - those are for other musicians.
Adding PTPro or RealBand and it's the "Swiss Army Knife" of musical apps.
And today, I'm a better musician because of these tools than I might have been without them.
I can't say enough nice things about it.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722 |
Notes,
Right you are . . . from day one using BIAB I have said that besides the obvious benefits of the program even more importantly it has made me a better musician.
Later,
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,330
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,330 |
Quote:
Quote:
Hey Norton, I got one for ya. Growing up a guitarist in the days of vinyl I wore out Peter Frampton’s, “Do You Feel Like We Do” with my guitar.<...>
When I was young, I wore out a vinyl copy of "Harlem Nocturne" by The Viscounts - so I understand EXACTLY what you are saying.
Notes
I feel both of you guy’s pain.
I wore out all of my Chuck Berry vinyl way back when 
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia.
She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,471
Veteran
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OP
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,471 |
The pain wasn't the learning, that was exciting.
The pain was trying to find replacement vinyl for something that was no longer in the record stores.
I still like the sound of clean vinyl, but I also really like digital and the new tools that we have now.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Woodshedding - Learning to Play!
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17
Enthusiast
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Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 17 |
Lately, I've been practicing my jazz piano playing with BIAB by taking a jazz tune with a Real Tracks style and muting everything but the bass. It helps a lot with my time, and my listening skills.
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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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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
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Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
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Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
Season's Greetings!
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!
The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.
Team PG
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You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
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Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
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