|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,733
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 3,733 |
Lenovo YOGA 900 Window s 10 Home 64bit M4 pro Mac mini 1tb HD 24GB mem casio wk7500 presonus audiobox i2 usb interface
casio wk-7500
biab & realband 2025 everything pk both with Current builds
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492 |
Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,285
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,285 |
That's ok. Most of the country leads that I have heard lately were distorted guitar rock leads anyway! Ducking and running for cover 
Principal: Your child always causes trouble in school.
Me: My child causes trouble at home, do I ever call you?
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
I know, you still like Gene Autry's pickin...
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
There are very little guitar solos in radio rock or pop music as well. You have to go to progressive rock to hear solos these days, or one of the guitar heros like Joe Bonnamassa or the like to hear guitar solos.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,470
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,470 |
Country music is no longer country, but Nashville Pop. Rock with a twang. Most musicians I know around here don't call it country, but call it Nashville.
The demise of the instrumental solo in rock and Nashville pop is sad to me. But then I think I'm a much better instrumentalist than vocalist.
When we cover those songs, since I do my own backing tracks, I often add a space to play a guitar/sax/wind-synth/flute solo. It extends the song, and gives me a chance to improvise (which I love doing).
Rock, Country and R&B have had a long history of instrumental solos, often as the climax of the song. But things change. Sometimes I like the changes, sometimes I don't but I have no choice but to roll with them.
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
There's no solo's in any modern pop stuff, doesn't matter what instrument, horns, keys, guitars. There's squat happening. Ok, ok before someone posts an example with a solo in it, let me rephrase that. There are few solos around any more.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 330
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 330 |
Strangely we haven't seen any music that was purely instrumental make the charts for a very long time. Remember "Telstar"? also the original backing group for Cliff Richard, "The Shadows" did quite a few that made the charts, Also Fleetwood Mack did "Albatross" where has that gone wrong?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,157
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,157 |
There's no solo's in any modern pop stuff, doesn't matter what instrument, horns, keys, guitars. There's squat happening. Ok, ok before someone posts an example with a solo in it, let me rephrase that. There are few solos around any more.
Bob That's because most of the music is made with computers/auto tuners these days. You don't need any talent now in order to be a singer. Ever heard the real vocals of some these "artists?" They get leaked now and then and they simply can't sing in tune. It's all about the quick buck on iTunes. Trax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492 |
Don't know...I've read somewhere sometime that instrumental music is boring.
Start of personal opinion side track:
"Actually that could be true in a lot of cases and most non-jazz instrumentals are rather short. Just imagine Marty Robbins' El Paso as a full length instrumental. Actually nothing is happening while the vocal version tells a rather interesting story.
Often jazz instrumentals are not interesting because the instrumentalists often show extensively the lowest and highest notes they can play and how fast they can go from one to the other. I have a recording somwhere where after about four or five minutes you learn that the tune is On the Sunny Side of the Street by the band playing the musical theme once.
I, that is my personal preference, like to listen to instrumentals. I have quite a few albums strictly instrumental. I even bought a Chris Gaffney CD because of the two instrumentals on it."
End of personal opinion side track.
Most radio stations that I know play instrumentals on request or as time fillers that can be faded in or out, or are used as fillers between information casts to aurally separate them from each other; in a sense that even the dumbest of the public has a chance to notice that there is something different coming.
Last edited by GHinCH; 05/24/15 12:18 AM.
Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
The instrumental stuff that is happening these days, is, wait for it.......dubstep and other electronic dance music.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,470
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,470 |
When I grew up there were always a few instrumentals on the charts. From Duane Eddy's Rebel Rouser through the disco era and beyond with TSOP and so much more in-between and after (just a few, the aforementioned Telstar, Classical Gas, Honky Tonk, Fire On High, Desifinado, Cast Your Fate To The Wind, The In Crowd, Out Of Limits, Because They're Young, Magic Bird Of Fire, Rumble, Walk Don't Run, Green Onions, The Horse, Beck's Bolero, Frankenstein, Eruption, XYZ, Surfing With The Alien, Rise, Stranger On The Shore, Chariots Of Fire, Gonna Fly Now (Rocky's Theme), Love's Theme, Miami Vice Theme, Raunchy, Wipe Out, Midnight In Moscow, Outta Space, Axel F, Soulful Strut, Pipeline, Feels So Good, Songbird, Pick Up The Pieces, Tequila, and so on).
Instrumental music boring? It depends. I could listen to Dvorak's Ninth Symphony or Tchaikovsky's Sixth, or Beethoven's Seventh and so many more millions of more times.
Depends on the instrumental. There are some boring jazz songs, and some delightful ones as well. Depends on the song and musicians.
There are a lot of boring vocal songs out there, and a lot of boring instrumentals as well.
What about Silver Convention's "Get Up And Boogie"? (entire lyrics, "Get up and boogie, Get up and boogie, Get up and boogie, That's Right" over and over and over and over and over again.
Plus the instrumental solo in the middle of a song is often either the climax of the song or a release from the vocals. What would Hotel California, Santana's version of Black Magic Woman, Stairway To Heaven, or even Aretha Franklin's version of Respect be without the instrumental solo? Less of a song I guarantee. (Sorry I don't have any Nashville music examples because I don't listen to it that much).
I listen to a lot of symphonic music, and I don't prefer concertos because like a vocal pop song with no instrumental break, one voice (instrument) dominates the entire song with no release from that voice (with some rare concerto exceptions).
I am a good singer, plus I play saxophone, flute, wind synthesizer, guitar, bass, keyboard synth, and drums. So my opinion comes from my own personal experience.
Before I learned to sing, I thought vocal songs were boring. They I decided to think of the words as simply articulation without any meaning, and I learned to appreciate that, and later I learned to combine the articulation with the meaning.
The main thing I think about with a song, is don't bore me. And that doesn't matter whether it is an instrumental or vocal. The next thing is tickle my ears and give me an eargazm.
So I lament the excising of the instrumental break in pop music (including Nashville). But then, they didn't ask me.
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492 |
No offense, I wrote that I have read that at some point in time and I believe it was a printed medium, several years ago.
A good instrumental is a change of speed and mood. Sometimes one doesn't need words. Most people would probably take an instrumental album with them on the lonesome island. I would, a) because the words to a song might be boring after listening to it too many times -- that depends on the song and your mood in relation to the song, and b) an instrumental provides more room for imagination.
But today's young generation? I don't know, when I listen to their songs, the depth of their lyrics is often still as shallow as it was when Roy Orbison's Ooby Dooby or Jack Scott's Geraldine was cut.
But today, instrumentals don't seem to be broadcast. And good instrumental breaks or solos are hard to find. I once bought an album by Marcel Dadi, because one of the songs was the background music for the water-level reports of the Süddeutscher Rundfunk in Stuttgart.
Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,951
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 15,951 |
Everything in our culture seems to be transient now days. Facebook has by and large replaced internet forums. Even history documentaries have gotten bloated with fast "in out and gone" visuals and music snips. Fast food, fast everything. Many rarely sit down and LISTEN to music of any genre -- it's all about marginally hearing a tune on the mobile device while a friend is trying to talk to you. Interesting lyrics and solos require at least a modicum of attention and contemplation. Not many seem to harbor that notion. Yeah there are many exceptions, especially in Americana, but by and large the whole palette has shifted. Me? I will never drift away from a good blues bluegrass, rock or Jazz solo.
Ole Phart rant #312.6 (ii)
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,970
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,970 |
I believe the two main avenues for the public to hear instrumentals today are The Weather Channel and National Public Radio. Unfortunately, both rarely plays a complete song.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722 |
That's ok. Most of the country leads that I have heard lately were distorted guitar rock leads anyway! Ducking and running for cover BINGO! No need to run brother. lol Later,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492 |
... Many rarely sit down and LISTEN to music of any genre ... I still remember the sensation buying a vinyl album at the store, reading the liner notes in a crammed streetcar on the way home and then the undisturbed listening to it the first time all the way through both sides, sometimes even twice in a row...
Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,725
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,725 |
That's ok. Most of the country leads that I have heard lately were distorted guitar rock leads anyway! Ducking and running for cover BINGO! No need to run brother. lol Later, It's called TONE.... But back to the thread topic.... solo's in country music or any other genre for that matter.... Back when there were actual records and albums, there was often an LP version (the long version) and the 45 radio version. Nothing new actually. They've been cutting song lengths for as long as there's been radio stations needing to squeeze more commercials into the limited time available. It's been a while now, but with a song I was working on... called Come & Go.... (on my music site) I had been working with the staff at NSAI in trimming it and refining it. In a one on one session with the then president RC Bannon, he made a comment that the song was really good but....... I needed to "lose the guitar solo" and use a simple very short, turnaround and get back to the chorus. He said..."No one wants to hear your guitar playing here in Nashville".... give them the song as quickly as you can. The solo used to live at 2:56 in the song... it's now a 4 second turnaround. Now days, I don't even plan for a guitar solo if I plan to plug the song to a publisher. Just leave it out.... if it's a song that I don't care about trying to plug, it will likely have a solo of some length or another. Dang, I sure do miss those album cuts.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,470
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,470 |
I too remember LPs with liner notes. They seem more substantial because of their size. But even though I like the sound of an LP slightly better, I prefer CDs. I'd rather have the CD's quantization error distortion than the surface noise distortion of an LP. Plus you don't have to flip the CD mid-symphony.
My desert island music would be some great symphonies. As much as I enjoy most kinds of music, I can listen to a good symphony a thousand times and still find something new, a variation of a theme or something else I haven't noticed before.
I think that when pitching a song to Nashville or anywhere else, there is no need for a solo. The people you are pitching that song to are busy and have dozens more to listen to. Don't waste their time on elaborate intros, instrumental breaks, or anything else non-essential to the song.
And yes, people don't listen to music like they used to. I believe the last era of people seriously listening to music was around the psychedelic era. It slowly tapered off from there to now where people hear the hook and that's about it.
I don't know how to fix that. If I did, I'd become a consultant to the recording industry.
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,722 |
That's ok. Most of the country leads that I have heard lately were distorted guitar rock leads anyway! Ducking and running for cover BINGO! No need to run brother. lol Later, It's called TONE.... But back to the thread topic.... solo's in country music or any other genre for that matter.... Back when there were actual records and albums, there was often an LP version (the long version) and the 45 radio version. Nothing new actually. They've been cutting song lengths for as long as there's been radio stations needing to squeeze more commercials into the limited time available. It's been a while now, but with a song I was working on... called Come & Go.... (on my music site) I had been working with the staff at NSAI in trimming it and refining it. In a one on one session with the then president RC Bannon, he made a comment that the song was really good but....... I needed to "lose the guitar solo" and use a simple very short, turnaround and get back to the chorus. He said..."No one wants to hear your guitar playing here in Nashville".... give them the song as quickly as you can. The solo used to live at 2:56 in the song... it's now a 4 second turnaround. Now days, I don't even plan for a guitar solo if I plan to plug the song to a publisher. Just leave it out.... if it's a song that I don't care about trying to plug, it will likely have a solo of some length or another. Dang, I sure do miss those album cuts. Guess I just don't like the TONE.... Later,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
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®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
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
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.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
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.
Watch the video.
You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
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!
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)
- Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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 PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics85,736
Posts795,476
Members39,942
| |
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean