|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,594
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,594 |
Seeing the notes and the fingerings?
Ok.
The short answer is, sometimes. The longer answer is that it is dependent on what instrument I'm playing and how comfortable I am with the music. But the one thing I don't see is trumpet fingering - that's unconscious. Since I was 13 or so I've been able to play anything I could think (so I spend more time thinking).
Early on, I started learning other instruments. After I retired I set the goal to master a new one each year. These fingerings, like flute and sax, are not unconscious; I struggle with them. But again, it's not trumpet fingerings. In fact, a few aspects of trumpet fingerings interfere with woodwind fingering, so I concentrate on woodwind fingering.
I play vibes. What fingering is that?
Then there is transposition. I know without playing a note what a certain pitch will sound like when I pick up a trumpet. But I play horns pitched in A, Bb, C, Eb, F, and G. If I thought just in terms of trumpet fingerings, I'd be sunk.
And rather than any instrument fingering, I often see and think in terms of the staff. It is especially true when performing something I composed or arranged. The less famous the song, the more I "see" the score.
When I have to sing (which sounds dreadful, but I've sung in operas because I can read the music and they put me in between people with good voices that I can cue), I do mentally play an instrument (often trumpet) to 'lock in' the pitches.
So I'm sorry I can't answer the question easily; I think in whatever of many ways is needed at the moment.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,262
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,262 |
There's the mechanical ability to sightread and play back on an instrument, and then there's the mental ability to sightread and imagine the sounds.
I can play simple monophonic lines. I'm not a particularly good player, and find that after I've been fooling with the flute, the fingering for the clarinet have gotten muddled. I'm just a hobbyist, with no pretension of ever becoming good... just "good enough".
I can play "chordal" piano, but two-handed polyphonic music is a real challenge - and I've been working at it for years. It just doesn't seem like my brain is wired for that level of coordination.
Theory helps a lot. For example, I can read well enough to see the intent of the composer, and substitute something functionally similar that matches my (lower) skill level.
On a good day, I've can sightread a vocal part with 60% accuracy... but I'm guessing at many of the leaps, when I really should know the pitch. So I've got a long way to go there.
-- David Cuny My virtual singer development blogVocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,936
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,936 |
I play by ear. To write songs I pick a chord progression I like (either on the guitar, keyboard or in band in a box) and then sing over it again and again and again until it sticks.
It is on my hit list this year to learn to read. My guitar teacher says she has a sure fire method for teaching me to read in a couple of months. Let's see!
PS. I absolutely love my capo and and am totally lost without it. Have been known to use a pencil and rubber band when in a pickle.
Last edited by JoanneCooper; 01/09/17 06:11 PM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697 |
I do both, read and play by ear. Like Eddie, I was a better sight reader of actual score when I was 12 than I am now. Now, I'm a very good fake book reader because I do know most of the different chord positions like that 7b9 or b5#9 or 13ths he was talking about and I can read a melody line no problem.
All it is is experience and realizing that lots of those chords are the same hand positions in different keys like a Cm9 with the Eb on the bottom and D on the top is also an Ebmaj7. It's also an F13#11. The only difference between those three chords is the bass. Stuff like that. Youtube is full of great vids with real pros explaining all this.
Playing in big bands the last 10 years yanked me back into being a half decent sight reader again but even those charts have the chords written in like a fake book but they also have complex chords written out that correspond to what the horns are playing which makes for a very busy looking piano chart. At first I was trying to play all that when I realized it there mainly to tell the pianist what the horns are doing, not to actually double those parts.
Now I'm a fairly complete player. Big band, classic rock, funk R&B, old 50's rocking piano/country, small group jazz and solo piano cocktail type stuff. This on piano or B3 and I'll play LH bass sometimes.
The player who absolutely blew me away when he said in an interview that he doesn't read is Joey D. Holy crap, that guy can't read?? So much for thinking that can be a handicap. Still, I think he is that rare exception that really doesn't apply to the average player. The average player needs to read imho.
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: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,250
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,250 |
I can't read music ... I just have the ability to listen and play, as well as coming up with my own stuff. I am sure, I'm not alone there....
Ditto, Mike. Thats why BB scores with me - you don't necessarily need the Theory to make the music. Cheers Ian
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 274
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 274 |
Thats why i bought BB too. I never learned to read music at svhool and never had piano lessons etc so dots are a mystery.
But since i took up guitar 10 year ago, out of bordom, i know how to play chords and have a good ear.I think thats esential to be able to use it. Your stuffed otherwise.lol.
BTW I tried the chord wizard last night on a tune i liked. Didnt work well. Did better noodling them out myself but it WAS a start point. Prob now is that when I play the sgu the darned mp3 track plays with it!!!
WendyM
BiaB2022PLUS,927. every extras pack I can find ;-),Sonar7XL,Win 10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,508
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,508 |
When playing sax or wind synth I can still sightread even though I don't need to do that.
If there is an extremely tricky rhythm, I may have to count it out first and would probably get something close on a sight read and go on without losing my place. When I was in school, I could sight read just about anything, but that was ancient history.
I don't think note names, the dots and the fingers are connected. Same for the rhythm, the counting is non-verble.
Reading on the guitar takes woodshedding, as it is my newest instrument. Reading on the guitar is more difficult than the sax, but transposing is easier (lose one thing and gain another).
Piano is another woodshed instrument.
I can and do learn things by ear, but in most cases I prefer to use both my ears and my eyes, so I like to have the music and a recording. Having both skills makes learning something new easier and quicker.
It's my opinion that every musician should learn at least basic music theory, which includes reading.
Sure there are some who can be a great orator and speech writer who never learned to read or write and never learned the rules of grammar, etc., but they are exceptions to the rule. The vast majority do better after learning how to read and language 'theory'.
Same for music. If you know the hows and whys of things, you can do more in less time. That doesn't mean you can't break the rules, but you should know that you are breaking them when you do, so if you like it, you can repeat it at will.
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: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,508
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,508 |
This is an interesting read. As for me, I can only wish I could play by ear. If it's not in front of me in black in white, I'm dead in the water....even then, it takes lots of practice...take away the sheet music...dead in the water. I hate getting old...sometimes I don't even remember where I put the sheet music...dead in the water...again!
Jeff
Win11, Intel i7 7700K 4.2Ghz, 32Gb RAM, 2x1Tb HD, 500Gb NVMe, BIAB/RB 2026, MOTU 828MK3 audio, MOTU Midi Express, Yamaha Montage 7, DX7II, TX802, Motif XS Rack, Roland Fantom XR Rack, Oberheim Matrix 1000, VoiceLive3 Extreme, Kontakt 6, SampleTank 4.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,186
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 16,186 |
Not reading worked out pretty well for some of my fav artists, e.g., the Beatles, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Django Reinhardt and Robert Johnson.
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: Dec 2003
Posts: 728
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 728 |
Hey Eddie...good thread. What if you can read, but only on an instrument you don't play?  I learned my music theory and reading ability in high school band...on sax. My instruments now are guitar, banjo, and pedal steel, other strings, a bit of keys. So in reality reading does me no good. My experience in a commercial studio is that chord charts are the norm unless you have a string or horn section that NEEDS standard notation. Otherwise you don't bring in great players so you can tell them what to play. You give 'em a bit of general direction, let 'em hear the song and turn 'em loose. When I did my first original album back in '85 I hired platinum producer, Jim Mason (Poco, Firefall) and the education I got on producing, logistics, tracking, mixing etc. was some of the best money I ever spent in my life. But reading...not so much. Bob
Last edited by Bob Buford; 01/10/17 03:56 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 728
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 728 |
Sorry for my bad English, but I hope you understand me :-)
P.S.:
I am ashamed, but I also had to learn English properly :-)
Karel
Karel! Dude, your English is way the hell better than my Czech. Kudos and congrats! You have nothing to be ashamed of. Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,919
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,919 |
I know enough about reading music to be dangerous. After taking 7 years of classical piano instruction and nearly as many i school learning drums and playing in the various orchestras and marching bands... I can proudly say I read music at about a 1st grade level.
Essentially, I can look at the staff, understand the time signature, figure out the key, and given enough time, tell you what a specific note is on either of the staves.
As far as sight reading goes.... not a snowball's proverbial chance in hades that I could play anything from sheet music if I didn't already know it.
Playing by ear is a whole different story however. I can hear something and by the color of the chords, tell you what key it's in and what chord is being played. I can play along with music I've never heard before because I can very often "see" where it's going. I know enough about theory to be able to chart the stuff I write if I need to do so.
Mainly, I just play and enjoy the music for what it is and don't worry over the theory and stuff.
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: 6,508
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,508 |
There are always exceptions to people who don't read and I firmly believe that if they did, it wouldn't hurt them one bit.
I bought a 'classical' album by Paul McCartney, and he had to hire someone to transcribe it. It was listenable but not worth a lot. Paul really tried to write something but his lack of theory got in the way, and he admitted that.
You may not "Need" to read music, but it's better if you can.
There are people who can converse well without knowing how to read or write English (or their native language). But put a box of Jell-O in front of them and ask them to make it, and they will have no idea.
So you don't "Need" to read English, but it's better if you can.
That's my opinion anyway.
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 |
All I can say is in my years of playing starting in the Air Force in Japan in the 60's through now here in LA I can't think of anyone who doesn't read. That has to be a couple hundred players. Here in LA virtually every one of them read better than I do. I've done gigs with a bunch of studio session players for example and discussed this. If you don't read, you don't work period.
That Joey D article I mentioned he says he was hired to fly to London to do an album. A limo picked him up from the hotel and when he got to the studio he was handed a book of charts. That's when he told the producer he doesn't read so please just play him what they've done so far and he'll play it by ear. Since he's Joey D, that wasn't a problem but for anybody else....? Btw in case someone doesn't know who I'm talking about it's Joey DeFrancesco probably the best jazz organist in the world right now. He's also some kind of savant, he can listen to the most complex thing and start playing it perfectly in a few seconds in all keys, right now, on the spot. Who here can do that?
It's all about where you're at and what you're trying to accomplish.
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
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
The thing, in my eyes, is this. I am sure there have been GREAT players who could not read. Many, , the Beatles, Elvis, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Django Reinhardt and Robert Johnson, have been named here. I believe James Burton also could not read.
But let's look at what those great players do/did. Claptop, SRV, Hendrix... what was their forte? Their solos, which didn't require reading. Johnson? Blues artist. Nobody needs to read 12 bar blues. Django? Improvisational jazz player. By definition, improv does not call for reading. Would Zappa have been able to churn out 60-ish albums of that complex music had he not been a reader and writer? And would his roster of players been able to remember the structured parts of those songs to play a 3 hour concert without reading. Again, remove the solos from your logic here. The solos are free form, though in some cases, according to Vai, Zappa actually wrote out the solos.
I am talking about a situation where I walk into a rehearsal with a chart for (and again I keep going back to probably my favorite song of all time) MacArthur Park. That is a symphony played in a rock vein. MOST, I won't say "no", but MOST, hobby level players are not going to decode those dischordant horn stabs that are all over the intro and the interludes. The 3rd movement is an extremely intricate set of lines played by the different brass and woodwind players that really have nothing to do with each other. (That movement in symphony is typically called the scherzo, which is a total departure from the rest of the piece, often in a different time setting). The modality of that song would make it extremely difficult for a non reader to play it mainly because there is too much to memorize, particularly because the notes played by the trombone are far from a harmony apart with the trumpet, and you just can't wing it with that song. That kind of song HAS to be read. It really HAS to be. I bought the chart online and even with reading experience my first impression was "What the ****!" It took me a lot of hours of voicing chords to a way a piano can play them rather than an orchestra. And that song just falls apart if it is not performed by an orchestra. Sometimes it comes down to the difference between hearing and listening, and they are two different things. I am sure you have all heard that song many times. Have you ever LISTENED to it?
So reading or not reading is not a dealbreaker. It simply opens up the scope of what people can play. It certainly doesn't make one player better than another. Those of you here who don't read are all likely better players than I am. But it comes back to this. Reading and improvising are a horse and a donkey. Two equine species that look similar but are different.
I really just kind of refer everybody to the Wrecking Crew guys. They were ALL extremely proficient readers. Because of their reading skill they could often do things in one take. Their playing skills are implicit, but that reading skill made them the go to guys. Why pay players scale to do 47 takes when these guys can do it in one or two?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,950
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,950 |
I am talking about a situation where I walk into a rehearsal with a chart for (and again I keep going back to probably my favorite song of all time) MacArthur Park. That is a symphony played in a rock vein. MOST, I won't say "no", but MOST, hobby level players are not going to decode those dischordant horn stabs that are all over the intro and the interludes. The 3rd movement is an extremely intricate set of lines played by the different brass and woodwind players that really have nothing to do with each other. (That movement in symphony is typically called the scherzo, which is a total departure from the rest of the piece, often in a different time setting). The modality of that song would make it extremely difficult for a non reader to play it mainly because there is too much to memorize, particularly because the notes played by the trombone are far from a harmony apart with the trumpet, and you just can't wing it with that song. That kind of song HAS to be read. It really HAS to be. I bought the chart online and even with reading experience my first impression was "What the ****!" It took me a lot of hours of voicing chords to a way a piano can play them rather than an orchestra. And that song just falls apart if it is not performed by an orchestra. Sometimes it comes down to the difference between hearing and listening, and they are two different things. I am sure you have all heard that song many times. Have you ever LISTENED to it?
I don't hear any horn stabs at all!!! No trombone. No trumpet. Is the steel charted? MACARTHUR PARK You could do this in BIAB.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 330
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 330 |
My first guitar teacher in the late 60's taught me the "old school" way using the Alfred guitar books. So while I was listening to Jimi (my first concert in 1969), Eric, and Carlos, I was learning to read music while playing single note versions of Loch Lomond, Yellow Rose of Texas, and Beautiful, Beautiful Brown Eye. Then one day I actually found a music book of the songs from Jimi Hendrix's first album! I remember being so excited until I got home and started playing from it...sure didn't sound like Hendrix. Of course this was back in the pre-tab days when books like these were usually written by keyboard players who had no idea about bent notes,etc. or the fact that Jimi was tuned down a half step, so most of the songs were written out in Eb and Ab...I still have the book.
However, I've never regretted learning to read, as over the years it helped to open the doors to jazz and classical guitar playing, and a continued love for music theory. Thanks Alfred!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,845
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,845 |
I don't hear any horn stabs at all!!! No trombone. No trumpet. Is the steel charted?
That's funny! However, then there's this...
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,594
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,594 |
That's funny, John. Yes, I've played that MacArthur Park chart. 2nd tpt, not Maynard's part (that's why I'm still alive).
It's silly to consider playing big band charts without reading.
An appropriate story from movie studio music is the time Rassaan Roland Kirk was the soloist in a movie score. Roland Kirk was a monster sax soloist (sometimes playing several members of the sax family at once in his own band). Now, it's understandable that he could not read: he was blind. But after loads of muffed takes, his fellow sax section mate Bud Shank suggested that, if they were all going to ever finish the session, he play the solos.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492 |
I don't hear any horn stabs at all!!! No trombone. No trumpet. Is the steel charted?
That's funny! However, then there's this... You'd be surprised how many steel players can read. I don't play steel anymore and the regular score isn't that hard to read. It is the familiarity with the instrument and knowing a little ahead what to play -- still you could get lost in the abundance of possibilities. I used to read, but can't anymore, i.e. I'm no more fluid in reading, due to a lack of practise when I didn't play for two decades. Instruments played: Accordion, guitar, pedal steel guitar.
Last edited by GHinCH; 01/10/17 09:44 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed 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 transcribe 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, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Holiday Weekend Hours
It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:
Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm
Regular hours resume Tuesday, May 19th!
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Don't wait - order today!
Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac 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)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
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 PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: 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.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,345
Posts803,667
Members40,104
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean