|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,407
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,407 |
Notes, my main observation is that these days, music teachers are typically local musicians who have no day job, and they teach SONGS, not music. Not the way to learn, in my opinion. Learn music. Scales, key signatures... THEN learn how to finger tap and play those awful Van Halen solos that had no message and were just an exercise to see how many notes he could fit into his 32 bars.
.... Some music teachers today are like that. But around here there are a some still like myself that teach music, i.e. old school. I teach reading music first, single notes to start with then chords. Then I teach the pentatonic scale and how to play the blues. Along with that I teach how to form a major scale from a chromatic scale followed by how to learn the notes of a chord from those major scales. Then scales and advanced fingering techniques. I have had great success using that formula. But I tell the student right up front if you think you are going to be playing like the guys you see or hear on TV or radio in a couple of months you might as well quit now. Ed I agree totally with you on those shredders. Why play as fast as you can if you ain't saying nothing?
I get most of my exercise these days from shaking my head in disbelief.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
And it's been downhill ever since  I knew in my heart though that they got exactly what they paid for!!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
Ed I agree totally with you on those shredders. Why play as fast as you can if you ain't saying nothing? In my mind one of the best players ever was/is Joe Walsh. His solos always said something relevant to the song. And what is the ONE thing Joe isn't? A speed burner. Music has to come from your heart. This always reminds me of the night my sax playing friend and I went to see Kenny G(orelick). We used to have a venue in Cleveland called The Front Row. It was 30 rows deep and in the round with a rotating stage. We bought early to get good seats, and we were in the 3rd row. A local jazz group opened for him and were very good. He started about 9:15, and by 9:45 we were out of there. Now, Kenny G is maybe the BEST technical sax player I have ever seen. Everything he does is straight out of Berklee. But by the 4th song he was already repeating licks. I leaned over to my friend and said "We heard these licks in the 2nd song", and he replied "In the first one too." And we got up and left. Again, FINE technician, but man, playing maybe THE most expressive instrument on the tree and he plays like the whitest dude in America. Back in his Jeff Lorber days, when he played tenor, THEN he played with some soul. But on soprano, with those long, fluid scales and circular breathing that he manages to work into EVERY song.... my god he is boring. It's like Mariah Carey and her 7 octave range. It is impressive, but don't show us everything you have in every song. And that's what the new breed of musician is, eager to hit every club in the bag on every hole. Well, some holes don't require the 3 wood and the 4 iron. Hit those clubs only when you need them. (I hope everybody golfs to get that metaphor.) I am like you, Mario. I learned from a taskmaster who would not let me touch an instrument until I could show him on a little plastic fake keyboard which note represented the dot he pointed to on his blackboard. 6 weeks of theory before I was allowed to play. But now, 61 years later as of next month, I am so grateful for that approach.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,407
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,407 |
In my mind one of the best players ever was/is Joe Walsh. His solos always said something relevant to the song.
And what is the ONE thing Joe isn't?
A speed burner.
......
Joe is one of the best around today. He can play with anybody and fit right in with the perfect leads.
I get most of my exercise these days from shaking my head in disbelief.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,703
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,703 |
I think all the low prices for gigs is the fault of Larry Wayne Fischer. It's all his fault...lol
Here is a quote from Wikipedia.
" Following his escape from a mental hospital (he said no one ever bothered to take him back there), Fischer wandered Los Angeles singing his songs a cappella for 10¢ US each to passers-by. Discovered on the street by Frank Zappa, Fischer became an underground concert favorite."
While 10 cents a song may not be much, perhaps it is better than the current Los Angeles "pay to play" situation....lol
On a more serious note, every once in awhile my old band Super Blue would play for free. There was no real reason except we wanted to play.
I approached a club owner in Bisbee Arizona one day dressed in overalls and pretty dirty from moving some cows around. I am sure I did not smell all that great...lol
I told her that we would come over on Saturday night and play if that was OK with her at no cost to the club. See agreed, but I have no idea why. She most likely thought I was crazy and would never see me again.I never said what sort of music we would play.
Tonya the bass player drove from Houston, Texas to make the gig and paid her own way. A couple of horn players from Tucson got wind of this and joined us. The keyboard player drove in from LA.
We burned the house down and before the night was over half the town was in the bar or out on the street.
Everyone in the band dressed to the nines and we put on a hell of a show. I even took a shower and washed off the cow smell...lol
The look on the club owners face was worth a million dollars. We never told anyone in Bisbee who we were or why we were there.
Sometimes it is fun and really worth it just to play just because you want to. No money involved, no recognition, no expectations.
Cheers,
Billy
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
I approached a club owner in Bisbee Arizona We burned the house down and before the night was over half the town was in the bar or out on the street. Just for some perspective, how many people are there in Bisbee Arizona? There is a city near me called Center Of The World Oho that has about 2 dozen houses and a gas station/quickie mart. Half the town there is like 22 people.... It's so small that no population is listed! LOL!!! Every time my travels take me through there I think, I thought I was the center of the world??? Well, MY world, anyway...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,454
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,454 |
In my mind one of the best players ever was/is Joe Walsh. His solos always said something relevant to the song.
And what is the ONE thing Joe isn't?
A speed burner.
......
Joe is one of the best around today. He can play with anybody and fit right in with the perfect leads. Indeed. If you haven't already heard his solo in the song Long Road Out of Eden..... Oh...My.... Goodness! Go buy the album and listen. Soak in it.
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 2015
Posts: 2,703
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,703 |
I approached a club owner in Bisbee Arizona We burned the house down and before the night was over half the town was in the bar or out on the street. Just for some perspective, how many people are there in Bisbee Arizona? There is a city near me called Center Of The World Oho that has about 2 dozen houses and a gas station/quickie mart. Half the town there is like 22 people.... It's so small that no population is listed! LOL!!! Every time my travels take me through there I think, I thought I was the center of the world??? Well, MY world, anyway... Well, Half the town was an over statement. The club was packed and people were standing outside on the street. I really don't know how many people were there. I think four or five thousand people live in Bisbee. Tourist go there from all over the world. My point was more about "getting paid" and how money is only one measure of the rewards to be had playing music. Billy
“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
Actually Billy, I would LIKE to book a gig in Center of the World Ohio! If I got 12 people I could say half the town was there! Maybe even make more than that $6.25 I mentioned earlier.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,387
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,387 |
<...snip...> But around here there are a some still like myself that teach music, i.e. old school. I teach reading music first, single notes to start with then chords. Then I teach the pentatonic scale and how to play the blues. Along with that I teach how to form a major scale from a chromatic scale followed by how to learn the notes of a chord from those major scales. Then scales and advanced fingering techniques. Good for you. It is definitely slower starting that way, but in the long run the student will surpass the song learners to become much better musicians. I remember seemingly endless hours of practice memorizing scales. And unlike the guitar, the same scale in each key has entirely different fingerings. So there are 12 different major fingering patterns, 12 natural minors, 12 harmonic minors, 12 melodic minors, 12 pentatonics, and so on. Along with the scales are the arpeggios (chords played one note at a time, ascending and descending because sax plays only one note at a time). Again 12 majors, 12 minors and so on. But when I need one of those scales or arpeggios, what I hear in my head simply flows out of my fingers with no verbal thought involved. Ed I agree totally with you on those shredders. Why play as fast as you can if you ain't saying nothing? Shredders are like Bebop players. Most of them simply play as many notes as they can with no relevance to either the song or musicality. IMO Instead of music they are playing empty notes. But there are others who play a lot of notes but still play music. Being sax oriented I point to Charlie Parker and Richie Cole. They play a lot of notes, but it is rarely boring. My favorite players have great technique, but unless you are listening to evaluate technique, you rarely notice it. Instead you notice music; melody, dynamics, phrasing, etc. -- vox humana. Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, Stanley Turrentine are a few sax players that are masters at that. When I solo I keep in mind two personal rules (although there are times when I break them on purpose). 1) Keep the melody of the song in mind - this doesn't mean be a slave to it, but use it. This was something Thelonius Monk advised people to do when improvising. 2) Know your audience and remember playing music needs a certain balance of predictability and surprise. Predictability: The audience must be able to predict what you are going to play next some of the time, but if it is too predictable they will get bored. Surprise: Sometimes the audience must not be able to predict where you are going next - surprise them. But if they can hardly ever predict where you are going they will get bored. It's like playing with a cat using a toy on a string. If you let the cat catch it too often it gets bored and quits playing. If you never let the cat catch it it gets bored and quits playing. Of course this varies with the audience. What you might play for a jazz audience might be too much surprise for a country audience. What you play for a blues audience might be too predictable for a jazz audience. I'm aware of these things, but after the first song or two I'm no longer thinking about predicting my audience, seeing what they react to registers with me and my experience and instincts take over from there. Even with my eyes closed, most of the time I can tell if the audience is with me or not. Music is a mixture of art and technique. To be a better musician you need a healthy dose of both. To bring this back on topic, if you can entertain your audience, thrill them with surprises, keep them from being bored with your music, you stand a better chance of getting better gigs than your competition. 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 2003
Posts: 23,407
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,407 |
Notes, I agree with you about the sax players you mentioned. The difference between them and the guitar shredders today, IMO, is those musicians knew when to breath, when to play slow, when to rest and when to use dynamics.
You can add just about all of the great jazz musicians in that category.
When I was playing out I only have one guitar lead rule and that was my lead must fit the song the band is playing. For instance slow song = slow lead, 50's rock = 50's lead, jazz standard = jazz lead etc. That simple formula made a lot of money for our wedding band and me.
I get most of my exercise these days from shaking my head in disbelief.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,139
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 5,139 |
I've never made any money playing music. Chump change. Small potatoes. Still, I wouldn't change a thing.  Regards, Bob
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,035
Veteran
|
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,035 |
I've never made any money playing music. Chump change. Small potatoes. Still, I wouldn't change a thing. Regards, Bob I have just been out money buying music related stuff, so you guys if not making money are breaking even....not bad.  Musiclover
Last edited by musiclover; 03/21/17 09:11 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
|
eddie1261
Unregistered
|
While 10 cents a song may not be much, perhaps it is better than the current Los Angeles "pay to play" situation....lol When compared to the .0004 cents per streamed play, 10 cents sounds okay!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,494
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,494 |
I thought this was about "GAS" prices not GIG prices and was going to list my next GAS item (Axe FX II XL+) - LOL
back to topic
IMO the days of the of semi-pro, or even "pro," disregarding in-demand studio or touring players, gigging and making enough to pay for even JUST some, let alone most, of the essential bills (roof over head, food on table, heat& light, gas for car, insurance for said car and roof over head, and some nits) I think went by the way of the slide rule (and I collect those).
For all the reasons mentioned previously and more. I won't get into the "more" because it will start fights and flames and I'm in a good mood today (I'm on my meds)
LArry
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,387
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,387 |
<...snip...> When I was playing out I only have one guitar lead rule and that was my lead must fit the song the band is playing. For instance slow song = slow lead, 50's rock = 50's lead, jazz standard = jazz lead etc. That simple formula made a lot of money for our wedding band and me.
Great point, Mario. What you play should serve the song and the music. The choice of song should serve the audience. And that's how you get hired again. 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: 6,706
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,706 |
There ain't no money in playing music. Never was. Never will be.
Regards,
Bob Online venues, for the time being, as everything changes, in some cases are the exception. I play one hour shows on Krue.TV (no this is not a commercial it is a fact) and average between 125 & 250 per show from anywhere I have WiFi. And by no means am I the leading money earner there. Plus we as musicians have to take off the glasses that focus on Clubs, Coffee Houses and Restaurants etc. and look more into the corporate world where clients are paying 100 - 200 per hour for functions. PS: To Bob's point . . . Not in anyway saying that is a "lot" of money but for cats at my skill level and thank God other income, well it ain't bad. Takes care of my G.A.S. attacks anyway LOL. Later,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,387
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,387 |
There ain't no money in playing music. Never was. Never will be.
Regards,
Bob Depends. I've been a pro musician most of my life. I did have two day gigs, two tries at being 'normal' while still gigging on the weekends. Neither one lasted more than a few years, and I found that normal is terribly overrated. And I do have the BiaB sideline thing. I wrote my first styles for myself and my friends encouraged me to sell them. I get to keep some of the money I make with BiaB but the shopping cart, credit card authorization company, credit card merchant's account, web host, insurance company, tax collector, and sub-contractors, etc. make over half of what I take in. I do make enough though to keep me home during the slow season. Before this I used to do cruise ship gigs in the summer when the tourists are not in Florida. OK, so I would have made more money if I had used my electronics schooling as an electronics engineer. That's a fact. And one of my day gigs, the one that lasted 5 years was as a Cable TV field engineer. Good pay, lousy job, high pressure and a company that went out of their way to make things more difficult. However, doing music and nothing but music I bought and paid off a house one lot away from the east coast of the mainland of Florida (to the east a 2 mile wide lagoon and then a thin barrier island), I owned a 23' sailboat, I've bought new cars but instead of BMWs, they have been Minivans (got to haul the gear), and I've taken yearly vacations to Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, Central America and 49 out of 50 US States. I'm not rich by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm comfortable and not in debt. I am frugal, I don't buy things that aren't important or necessary, and I spend my money wisely. Most importantly of all, I'm living my life on my own terms, I make my own decisions and either win or learn by them, and I'm not a wage-slave to some faceless corporation. Playing music is a business, and has to be treated as such. Most small businesses fail, that goes for music businesses as well. I know a mom & pop lunch restaurant that has been here for over 30 years, and I've seen scores of others come and go in that time. It's the same with other small businesses. And in today's corporate dominated world, it's even harder for a small business to make it. Like any business, you have to be better than the competition, target your local market, and be price competitive. Being better means having a good product, practicing, having the talent to pull it off, dressing appropriately, and conducting yourself professionally. Targeting your market means playing the music that is in demand, and being versatile enough to play more than one genre. If I wanted to play nothing but jazz around here, it wouldn't work, but there are plenty of opportunities for baby-boomer music because of the huge retirement community. Baby-boomer it is, with enough Caribbean, newer tunes, and others to appeal to more than just the grey hairs. Price competitive is important. If you are truly better than your competition, you will build up a clientele that appreciates the difference and will pay you more than the rest, but until you get to that point, you can't charge more than the others that you compete with. Don't underbid either as that will attract clients that won't ever pay more. Of course promotion is important, word of mouth is slow, and if you aren't a promoter, an agency is worth their percentage. Find opportunities and fill them. After saying all that, I must add that it's much harder today to make a living playing music than it was when I was younger. I feel sorry for young musicians in that way. There are many fewer venues for live music, especially for youth music. 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 2012
Posts: 20,355
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 20,355 |
Excellent article 'Notes'.
Some real truths integrated into that submission.
It's always still possible, but don't sit back, relax, and expect the goods to find you. It don't work that way.
Trev
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Off-Topic
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,454
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,454 |
Bob Norton nails it.
Whether it's starting a business to open a store, fixing appliances, installing security (as I do) or playing music (as I have done)... the business end is crucial to the success of your business. You can't just be a dumb musician thinking if you play the music well, people will flock to your shows and clubs will have a bidding war over you.
I've been in the bands that had the attitude that we're strictly a country rock band, and we don't play pop country and heck no we don't do MOR pop. That's a hard, lean road because you run out of places that will hire you pretty quickly and those one time gigs are not the road to success. I've learned from the past and some of the more successful bands I have played in knew we had to be on time, show up sober and stay that way, play the full sets, dress and act appropriately, interact with the audience and play music they could dance to easily.
Danceable music = a packed dance floor = hot and sweaty dancers = a bar that's selling drinks and making money = you will be hired again.
Price is important but not something to die over. It's better to play several medium priced gigs and be working several nights a week than to play one high priced gig that nets under the sum of the several. The higher price will come as you stick with it, keep the club owners in the black and create a larger paying audience who are willing to drive a bit to see you. Getting to know that audience, especially the "regulars" is so important. You better learn their first and last names. We'd see folks coming is as we were setting up and we'd stand up and yell across the club... "Yo Fuzz... good to see you bro... where's Willy?" Fuzz and so many others would appreciate that we knew them personally. One fan in particular would drive over 100 miles to see us play. You best believe we let him know we appreciated it. Get to know the folks at the show. Even the ones you may never see again.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs Special Extended Until August 31st!
The XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs special offers are now available until August 31st at 11:59pm PDT!
Ready to take your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 experience to the next level? Now’s the perfect time! Expand your style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs—packed with a wide variety of genres to inspire your next musical creation.
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 1-9 includes 900 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). With over 3,500 styles (and 35 MIDI styles) included in Xtra Styles PAKs 1-20, the possibilities are endless!
Get the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 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 Windows or for Mac.
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.
Get Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 19 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Listen to demos and order now! For Windows or for Mac.
Note: 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 because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Don’t miss this chance to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box setup—at a great price!
Mac 2025 Special Upgrade Offers Extended Until August 15th!
It's not too late to upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® and save! We've extended our special until August 15, 2025!
We've added many major new features to Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, including advanced AI tools like the amazing BB Stem Splitter and AI Lyrics Generator, as well as VST3 plugin support, and Equalize Temp. Plus, there’s a new one-stop MIDI Patches Picker with over 1,100 MIDI patches to choose from, all neatly categorized by GM numbers. The MultiPicker Library is enhanced with tabs for the SongPicker, MIDI Patch Picker, Chord Builder, AI Lyrics Generator, and Song Titles Browser, and the tabs are organized into logical groups. The Audiophile Edition is enhanced with FLAC files , which are 60% smaller than AIFF files while maintaining identical audio quality, and now ships on a fast 1TB SSD, and much more!
Check out all the new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® here:
Purchase your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac during our special to save up to 50% off your upgrade purchase and receive a FREE BONUS PAK of amazing new Add-ons. These include the 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK, 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, Playable RealTracks Set 4, RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark, and more!
Upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and add 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and 20 RealStyles, FLAC Files for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks, Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster, MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster, Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8, and RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe.
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs!
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!
Jazz, Blues & World (Sets 449–455):
These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
Rock & Pop (Sets 456–461):
This collection includes Disco, slap bass ‘70s/‘80s pop, modern and ‘80s metal with Andy Wood, and a unique “Songwriter Potpourri” featuring Chinese folk instruments, piano, banjo, and more. You’ll also find a muted electric guitar style (a RealTracks first!) and “Producer Layered Guitar” styles for slick "produced" sound.
Country, Americana & Praise (Sets 462–467):
We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
Check out all the 202 New RealTracks (in sets 456-467)
And, if you are looking for more, the 2025 49-PAK (for $49) includes an additional 20 RealTracks with exciting new sounds and genre-spanning styles. Enjoy RealTracks firsts like Chinese instruments (guzheng & dizi), the bandoneon in an authentic Argentine tango trio, and the classic “tic-tac” baritone guitar for vintage country.
You’ll also get slick ’80s metal guitar from Andy Wood, modern metal with guitarist Nico Santora, bass player Nick Schendzielos, and drummer Aaron Stechauner, more praise & worship, indie-folk, modern/bro country with Brent Mason, and “Songwriter Americana” with Johnny Hiland.
Plus, enjoy user-requested styles like Soul Jazz RealDrums, fast Celtic Strathspey guitar, and Chill Hop piano & drums!
The 2025 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2025 49-PAK!
Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Mac!
With your version 2025 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Or upgrade to the 2025 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 2025 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 33 new RealTracks and 65+ new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 29 new RealTracks and 45+ new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 20 new RealStyles.
- 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
- Playable RealTracks Set 4
- RealDrums Stems Set 7: Jazz with Mike Clark
- SynthMaster Sounds and Styles (with audio demos)
- 128 GM MIDI Patch Audio Demos.
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyles,
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- Look Ma! More MIDI 14: SynthMaster,
- Instrumental Studies Set 23: More '80s Hard Rock Soloing,
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 45: More SynthMaster
- Artist Performance Set 18: Songs with Vocals 8
- RealDrums Stems Set 8: Pop, Funk & More with Jerry Roe
Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®!
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Mac!
Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Mac & Windows 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!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
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 Mac!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Mac & Windows 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.
New! Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher for Windows!
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!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 20 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 209 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums58
Topics84,536
Posts780,633
Members39,682
| |
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