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Joined: Feb 2006
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OP
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Hi all,
I'd like to open this thread for all of you lifelong music learners. Our hobby (or profession, for those of you who made a go of it) is so deep, we are all constantly learning new things that previously eluded us. Maybe they were hard, or subtle, or for whatever reason came easy to others but not ourselves. Because we share the same interest so passionately, I thought mutually sharing recent music "aha's" might open each others' eyes to some new "Ahas" they weren't expecting so soon.
For me - chord progressions just did NOT come easy. I understood conceptually, on paper, the whole "chords in a major key", and the 'modes' by starting on another chord tone - but I just couldn't "hear and find" chords by listening to a song. What REALLY threw me was when chords that don't belong in a particular key suddenly appeared for a very short time - and then back to the diatonic chords of that key. I always had a "how would I solo" over this question in my head - and those pesky "other chords" defied fitting into my understanding. Also, the 'modes' thing - I just didn't really get it....because I would start analyzing in the key-signature key - and again, would run into those non-diatonic chords that baffled me.
I'm happy to say that I now understand many of these chords, and the guidelines (intentionally use that word instead of 'rules' - I get it - 'rules' are broken all the time in music). I'm going to share this recent 'aha' for myself to those of you that might benefit from it. I know many of our more experienced musicians know these guidelines. Hopefully, some of our other more experienced musicians will share more advanced 'aha's' that push you into a deeper area of interest.
These are my recent chord progression 'ahas' with respect to pop music:
1.) preceding diatonic chords by dominant 7th's a 5th higher...very very common. The big revelation for me was NOT to get hung up on "how to solo" over these brief chords, and NOT to get hung up on "new and different scales" to use over these chords when composing melodies or soloing over them. They often last a short time, and don't and can almost be considered brief 'ornaments' that are still 'within the current key or mode'. I do however, think about the non-diatonic tones in that chord and consider using them in the melody or solo if I want to add flavor - but definitely NOT using new, other scales.
There is another rule that 'every dom 7 chord changes the key for that brief moment' - well, I suppose that's another rule that works at times - but it really does seem to confuse matters in pop songs for me - and created the mental barrier I described.
So understanding and recognizing these chords is a first step - but actually taking a few of your own diatonic progressions and adding these preceding 7ths - well, that actually made me feel like a musician !!!
2.) Altered tones on 7th chords - 5ths and 9ths - again do not require new scale thinking - they often 'ornament' the chords without changing the tonality at all. For whatever reason, I just didn't 'get' that concept - and continually thought I was missing something that other musicians 'got' in terms of soloing over these chords. Again - those tones might create a clash if you use the wrong tone at the wrong time - but your ear can easily guide you away from them if you continue to use the diatonic scales in your soloing/melody making.
3.) Harmonic Major chord - IV minor - used with IV major right next to each other.
This was a big one for me - I never got it - now I see it all over the place - recently I've been learning Bee Gees chord progressions, and they use this device a LOT. No music rocket science here - but if you didn't have this concept in your musical reportoire before, it's an important one to understand - and possibly apply in your own jamming and composing. In fact - I'm also a big Doors fan - and find them using it all over the place in Lover Her Madly and Love Street.
Most importantly - with respect to all 3 concepts above - if you're trying to memorize song progressions and covers - recognizing these guidelines has made things WAY easier for me - because prior to mastering these 3 guidelines - these chords were "break the rules - just memorize where they belong" - and I did not see the commonality - and so there was no rhyme or reason when they showed up. Linking them to a logical concept has really helped me memorize more covers, which is still one of my favorite things to do.
So lastly I'll share this - my musical ear has always been a weak point for me - just can't hear what chords and progressions are going on - have always had to memorize them one by one for each song. Now I am really focusing on the function (e.g. the progression in terms of numbers) - as I learn a cover - and feel that this mechanical analysis and memorization is helping my ear notice similar progressions and movements from one chord to another far more than in the past - where I seemed to just memorize the names of chords and only really recognize the diatonic I, IV, V's and VIms.
I hope this at least helps some of you.
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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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Well, Joe, your ear has apparently gotten better with experience, so keep at it.
In my case I started so young that whether I had any kind of "natural" ear or not is hard to say. By age 7 I was listening to stuff on the transistor radio and writing chord charts out as the songs played, but that was more the result of having a teacher who beat fundamentals into me. I learned the circle of 5ths as soon as I knew what dot on what line or space went with this key or that key. Every Good Boy Does Fine and FACE, or with ledger lines, Every Good Boy Does Fine At Composing Everything. Stuff like that. He had a lot of very young students mixed in with his "older and need a hobby" students so he was good at teaching kids.
Many people think recognition skills are a "you have it or you don't" kind of skill, but there are ear training drills that can sharpen it. You are proof that recognition can improve. In my case I have regressed from perfect pitch to near perfect pitch, in that you may play a B and I think it's a C, but as you'd go forward playing the song I would get the intervals correct and just the start note would be wrong. So you could play B to E to F#, and I might hear it as C to F to G. But if a song went along and there was a diminished or an augmented chord in there I would recognize what the chord type was. I might just have the root wrong.
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,129
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,129 |
Yeah Eddie - you're exactly the kind of guy I hated (e.g. not personally of course - I mean I was very disappointed I lacked that ability) ; )
I have a close friend like yourself - he can jam with anybody, and immediately put his fingers over the right chords. Again, I always wished I could do so. For me a deeper focus on the numbering system / chord function with numbers at least narrows down enormously the next chord that is likely. Many years ago - I would hear the melody not just fine, and then try by trial and error to find the right chord - and that just wouldn't work for me much of the time.
Thanks for sharing your experience in that area. But surely, there are no "aha's" - whether that be music theory, musicianship, showmanship, that you've only been cultivating recently ?
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eddie1261
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eddie1261
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The only thing new for me is that I have set a goal to write a song of every genre I can think of this year. So far I have done a big band, a trance, a country, a rocker, a fusion jazz, and in the can waiting for the lyrical muse to hit me is a disco song. 2 ballads and another rocker are waiting for vocals. It's mainly about motivation for me because I don't play live dates anymore. The last couple of years has really soured me on playing live.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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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!
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Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
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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.
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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!
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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)!
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
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
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