|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
Many PGers have been asking me via PM for an analysis I completed over the weekend of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'". The analysis is something I do when asked to play keys, guitars or bass in the worship band that I am in, OR if I want to duplicate the sonic feel and arrangement of a song with one of my own songs. Rather than continue to respond to the PMs, I will give the link here. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Kcnhuc39lyJkLRVz_y8K2vj3fBk_4Z_MTlhTqGKMm9g/edit?usp=sharingNo real magic or revelations other than I think taking the time to do this makes me a better band member as well as a better arranger and producer of my own songs. What is always interesting is that I often find that songs which I thought were complex from a "part" standpoint usually are not as complex as I suspected. It does take time and patience and an ear to critically listen for details. I have found that headphone use with balance control helps to listen for differences in left and right signals (no kidding, right?). BIAB users that are not satisfied with the end result of their efforts from use of BIAB compared to their favorite songs might find this technique helpful to avoid over-arranging their songs, or leaving production static for individual tracks throughout a song.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,858
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,858 |
Thanks rockstar_not. I've been following the thread all along from the sidelines.
Charlie
BIAB 2026:RB 2026, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,298
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,298 |
That's awesome! I'm always looking for ways to make notes on just this kind of thing and I like your methods of doing just that! Thanks much for sharing it
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 408
PG Music Staff
|
|
PG Music Staff
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 408 |
Woah  this is exhaustive! Such good listening practice to dissect songs like this, I can easily see how it would directly feed back into more confident songwriting 
Will - PG Music
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
Woah this is exhaustive! Such good listening practice to dissect songs like this, I can easily see how it would directly feed back into more confident songwriting It's really not that exhaustive, in that it doesn't identify key, chord progression, etc. However, THAT stuff is easily found. What's exhaustive is that this takes as many listens through as identifying unique tracks, and usually a couple more than that. I take a break at about an hour, as I find that I get to the "Can't see the forest for all of the trees" kind of state of mind. This song took me two different sessions. But if you take a listen, you'll hear that there is probably not more than 10-12 tracks, if you consider the harmony vox as a few individual comp'ed tracks. 10-12 tracks for a major hit. Only two lead instruments besides Tom's voice. I would count the very simple electric guitar parts in two different sections as two different leads, because they have completely different sounds. So often, it is tempting - oh so tempting - to continue to pile on the lead instruments because individually they might sound cool. But unless they REALLY serve the song well, they are add-on junk that takes away from the meat of the song. They are incongruent, uncomplimentary, distracting, and one might say amateur. Even in this song, that one section with the double-tracked lead electric, it's just a copy of the bass riff that is going on throughout 90% of the song, not some meandering thing that sounds foreign to the song. I'm really glad JoeV picked this song. It's evidence of how simple a great and memorable song can be in a rock band setting. Now, a different question still related to this song: Who sings this song to themselves every time they see Ventura Boulevard signs? I do every time I visit LA. That's once every few years for me, and I can't help but hear this song in my head and even sing it out loud in the car. -Scott
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,129
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,129 |
Hi Scott,
When I opened your sheet - I was....overwhelmed !!! (in a good way).
I would love for you to give your Template with ONLY the headings on the top and left side, so I can take a crack at filling in some of the details before I look at yours.
For those of us that have trouble hearing all that's going on in a mix, that would be a great 'hands on' lesson.
I would also like to ask your permission to share it with my Amp Up NYC group - as a possible formal lesson plan they can add to their LKR curriculum.
I had another idea of locating a MIDI - or even buying it - and comparing or reverse engineering the MIDI version - so that, unlike an MP3 - aspiring musicians (or students) could then isolate part by part to hear what they missed in the full mix - and see if by listening in isolation - they could then recognize and hear that part in the full mix.
I know there are MANY great sounding songs where I truly have no idea how many different parts are on it - and the full mix is just a melange of beauty I cannot parse with my ears.
PS - and a challenge - it would be really interesting if any of our PG forum producers could find a part you missed !!!
Last edited by Joe V; 11/11/16 02:18 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,139
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,139 |
Last edited by 90 dB; 11/11/16 04:26 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 408
PG Music Staff
|
|
PG Music Staff
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 408 |
Super interesting article, thanks Bob! He seems like a pretty down-to-earth guy in that interview, pretty much only interested in writing songs and playing them. Good traits for a rockstar I guess!
Will - PG Music
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,954
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7,954 |
Thanks rockstar_not Reverse Arrangement Star_yes for taking the time, it's much appreciated !
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
Thanks for the link. Reading the article makes sense of the economy of tracks in the song.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
Also, as for sharing, the link is a public link for the blank and my crack at the reverse arranging - this should let you download your own copies to use however you want.
The link should not let you edit my originals on my google drive if I understand it correctly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,913 |
Hi Scott,
I had another idea of locating a MIDI - or even buying it - and comparing or reverse engineering the MIDI version - so that, unlike an MP3 - aspiring musicians (or students) could then isolate part by part to hear what they missed in the full mix - and see if by listening in isolation - they could then recognize and hear that part in the full mix.
You might be disappointed in this approach, just saying. There's no guarantee that someone doing a midi arrangement has bothered to listen through the original as much as you have. Most of my notes are not arrangement notes as they are production notes, and this song has very simple production, but nonetheless the production on the dynamics in particular and on TP's voice, are what makes this song. MIDI won't help with that. That's my opinion.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,128
Posts800,579
Members40,040
| |
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There are no members with birthdays on this day. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean