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Hi!
I'm a teenage classical guitarist, just started my university studies on a music academy.
I've just always wondered what's others people opinion about classical guitar? If you would have to listen to a classical piece on a classical guitar, would you rather enjoy it or not? If not then why, if you don't like the sound or anything tell me why.
Just really curious about regular people's opinion about classical guitar.
Part of why I'm asking is I'm kinda wondering if i took the right path. I've always been the best guitarist at the music school and I'm pretty sure im talented but will I be able to life a fulfilled life and be able to afford things... And thats what got me wondering because my family always struggled financially, I havent even got my own luthier guitar, so I need to build my adult life all by myself, and considering how much currency I have coming into adulthood it doesnt seem too shiny at the end...
but whatever :-)
just anything you want to tell about classical guitar, i want to hear it
cheers, orbs
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I like Baroque music. Guitarists Andre Segovia and Christopher Parkening. I also volunteer for a Philharmonic Orchestra. Recently Yo-Yo Ma performed with the Orchestra: [img:left] https://flic.kr/p/2aN7xXt[/img] I am around Classical Music a lot. Now the odd part I play Country and Bluegrass. My instruments are Banjo, Guitar and Bass Guitar. Go figure, eh? Anyway, follow your dream. Life is not easy but doing what you love makes it so. ...Deb
Last edited by DSM; 10/18/18 07:59 AM.
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I love listening to classical guitar! (I just wish I could play that kind of music)
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I have played saxophone all of my life. I taught school band for 37 years and for a short period of time I had a guitar class and spent many hours learning classical guitar. I have always enjoyed classical music as well as jazz. The time spent on classical guitar made me truly appreciate the complexity and difficulty of mastering that instrument.
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I do enjoy classical guitar, and was fortunate enough to not only attend a concert by Los Romeros but to meet them and have a chat with Pepe.
Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
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I enjoy listening to classical guitar players but mostly I really appreciate their techniques. I wish that I could have taken classical guitar lessons back in the day.
It takes courage for a man to admit his wife was wrong.
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Hi, I have studied under two Segovia students and also teach classical guitar. I would highly recommend it. If you learn to play classical, and properly, with sight reading, and scales and exercises every day, your ability to play in any style will skyrocket. It makes you better at everything. I use a lot of chord progressions from classical guitar songs and classical music in general when I am writing. Below are the soundcloud versions of songs I later put out on an bossa album playing classical. I used BIAB for the backing tracks and played the main guitars myself. You can skip the first song with the vocals and start with #2. It is instrumental as are the rest. This is not classical, per se, it is latin, but it will give you an idea. https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-guitarYou don't have to spend a fortune to get a good classical. I would suggest not buying anything new. I went to a used guitar shop and bought a beat up "Dauphine" handmade in Spain for $125. Very old. It is the most beautiful sounding guitar I own. Let me know what else you want to know. Yes, go take classical lessons. You will not regret it. Here is one my my favorite players playing one of my favorite songs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwjX-m4LkYkIf this doesn't make you want to learn I don't know what will. Also Google Christopher Parkening. One career note, most REALLY GOOD classical guitarists have second jobs. Exceptional ones teach at colleges but it is not known as a profession where you become wealthy. Unless you are Christopher Parkening who retired at 30, and had started the classical guitar department at USC when he was in his twenties. (He came out of retirement and still does that.) Google him and watch his youtubes. Aamzing.
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I am only suspecting from limited experience and observation that there is and will continue to be a growing demand for classical training with guitar. I personally witnessed a music graduate and guitar teacher send his teaching practice to the next level when he started teaching that traditional way. Not only did the students respond favorably, but the parents felt better about their investment in their students' music education.
I have no data to back this up.
Quickly, now, guitar and piano are two different animals. I think if you keep an open mind, apply yourself, and learn to apply the classical teaching methods to your chosen market, it could work out well. But, I think you will have to think outside the Flamenco and Latin sound and sell it as a most logical path toward mastery of the instrument.
Last edited by edshaw; 10/19/18 06:13 PM.
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IMHO classical training is good for any instrument. The skills it teaches you can be applied to other genres of music and can make you a better musician.
Insights and incites by Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
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100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
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[quote=edshaw I think if you keep an open mind, apply yourself, and learn to apply the classical teaching methods to your chosen market, it could work out well. But, I think you will have to think outside the Flamenco and Latin sound and sell it as a most logical path toward mastery of the instrument. [/quote]
Ed, to add to this:
I start out each day playing Bach and Tarrega at eight in the morning as part of a routine.
If you want to give your fingers and heart a workout, try the Partita 1 in E Major from the Bach Lute Suite.
Sometimes it is about what is good for your soul and there does not need to be another reason.
Also, Flamenco and Latin are a subset of classical training, and involve different techniques, mostly percussive.
For true enthusiasts, there is no "box" in classical guitar. We/they are fanatical. It is the only instrument in the world (we would say) that is its own built orchestra, as Segovia first articulated, I believe. It think he was onto something there.
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Tonklagen,
Yes, I like some classical guitar players.
In fact, before I read your post, I was on YouTube commenting that I love Julian Bream, and find his playing incredibly emotive and just right, whereas John Williams' playing leaves me cold.
Similarly - and this may be heresy, but I will say it, regardless - I am not all that fond of Segovia's playing, although he was obviously one of the greats.
Regarding you wondering whether you have taken the 'right' path, I have had some thoughts.
I think that you just have to give whatever you are doing a good 'go', and evaluate where you want to go from there.
Maybe you are aware that Andy Summers (most famously from The Police) is a classically trained guitarist. He played in some psychedelic/experimental bands in the 60s, and after The Police has collaborated with Brian Eno.
So, his 'journey' in music has been long and varied.
Richie Sambora started to study with Tommy Emmanuel after getting out of Bon Jovi (sorry, I do not like most of the music of either of those players, but it is a good example of what I am saying).
Robbie Krieger was classically trained, and what a distinctive flavour that added to the music of the The Doors.
George Harrison gave up guitar for three years (apart from playing on Beatles' recordings) while he pursued a particular school ('gharana') of sitar. He then invented a whole type of slide playing drawing from his experience playing sitar.
So, there may be many steps on your journey through music.
My only suggestion is that you commit to what you are learning at any given time so that you have a thorough enough exposure to it that you (a) can learn something from it, and (b) can make a decision about whether you want to stick with that, or move on to something else.
One final 'note' (sorry, had to say that). About 12 years ago I started to take sitar lessons - did that for about three years, but I am clunky enough on regular guitar, so gave up the instrument. But North Indian (Hindustani) Classical Music has changed my life. And I get *very* upset because I cannot listen to rock during the time that I am listening to HCM, and vice versa.
So, when I feel things are beginning to change, like a kind of changeover, it takes a few weeks to get into the frame of mind/body/soul to listen to one of those types of music. And then I spend a few months doing that and not listening at all to the other type of music, and then, invariably, I feel myself changing again.
It is a pain in the [*****], and puts me in a dilemma similar to yours (but not as serious because I am doing this for enjoyment, rather than as a career). My dilemma is - should I give up sitar playing for good, or should I give up guitar playing for good?
All the best to you in your journey.
Last edited by drutgat; 10/20/18 04:45 AM.
"If The Beatles or the 60's had a message, it was 'Learn to swim'. And once you've learned - swim!"
John Lennon
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Thank you, David, for those very interesting remarks. We might say how we practice is how we play.
Your comment, "Sometimes it is about what is good for your soul and there does not need to be another reason," fits into a concept I and my friends have been discussing; namely, music study's value for adolescents and post adolescents in learning self management. I'm not trying to be cryptic. Here is an example:
My practice is to play from the lead sheets three times a day, 15-30 minutes per session, three songs at a time. I wake up relaxed, rested, and able to absorb things in a certain way, each day. After lunch, I'm keyed up, agressive, into the day. For the evening session, I'm worn. Common sense tells me not to beat myself up at the end of the day, but, rather, just have fun, take it easy. For adults, this klind of self management has been learned. Kids need to learn the same lesson. They do.
Last edited by edshaw; 10/20/18 10:11 AM.
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I echo all these comments, but want to add this: Don't overlook the additional paths that studying classical guitar can take you down! The greatest example is the Brazilian guitarist/composer Baden Powell..perhaps one of the great technicians outside of strictly classical music. Watch/listen to this, his own classical composition, then his treatment of a piece of popular Brazilian music, but you can see all the elements of classical guitar in these..so this is an additional benefit of your path of study! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVcz8IP3Ln4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma4SKXEnPtw
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IMHO classical training is good for any instrument. The skills it teaches you can be applied to other genres of music and can make you a better musician.
Insights and incites by Notes Hi Bob, Your post brought a couple of thoughts and memories to mind. The first one is that, even though I am an amateur (and very technically bad) musician who can read music to a limited extent, I have been amazed at the fact that, on the frequent occasions when I have jammed informally with people who have been classically trained, those people have not known how to approach performing popular songs with which they are familiar. While I am trying to actually make up for lost time in terms of learning the parts of music theory which will be useful to me, it is clear that the people I am talking about above have been robbed of being able to just let go and be with the music because of their classical training. Specifically, several people with whom I have played have panicked because they do not have any sheet music to play from. In the case of keyboard players, I have just suggested vamping on the 3 or 4 chords of the songs which we were playing, and that has been difficult for each one those people, despite them having achieved the Grade 8 (Conservatory) level of music education. Another experience I had in rehearsing Beatles songs for a gig was that the lead singer (who is a professional piano tuner, and was trained classically) had to get me to play the introduction to 'Ticket to Ride' several times while she figured out the timing of the song (in order to figure out where she should start to sing, I think). Once again, I was somewhat shocked, but not surprised given my previous experience. It seems to me that what the people on this forum have going for them is a really flexible approach to Learning and playing music. I am not disparaging the actual learning about music itself that Western Classical Music provides; however, it is more than coincidence that I have encountered again and again people who have been classically trained who feel bereft of being able to do the simplest thing on their instruments when they do not have sheet music, or when some other, non-musical factor is present. Therefore, I think there is a common element in the 'format' of Western Classical Music training that inhibits or precludes people from thinking that they can do certain things. Now I am thinking about Yehudi Menuhin and Stephane Grappelli playing together. Apparently Menuhin could not function without his music there, and I think that when he played with Ravi Shankar he notated everything and learned that. Anyway, just some thoughts.
Last edited by drutgat; 10/23/18 01:22 AM.
"If The Beatles or the 60's had a message, it was 'Learn to swim'. And once you've learned - swim!"
John Lennon
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I've been there drutgat.
While I do think that learning music theory and being able to read music is a necessary skill for all musicians, I certainly do not think it is the only skill needed.
I've known a number of musicians, but those who read and those who do not who cannot improvise, others that could not learn by ear.
I was in a band where the bass player (who could not read music) could not learn by ear. I had to figure out the bass parts and show them to him. All I had to do was show him once and he would get it.
Every additional skill you learn can make you a better musician.
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
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Yeah... that Tommy what's his name guy is pretty good
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.
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The process of making music has changed so much. We can only hope music educators stay on top of it, as opposed to hanging on to those hard earned skills.
I think of as the day it first dawned on an electric guitarist that the instrument he was actually playing was the Fender Amplifier.
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Indeed the electric guitar player plays the entire rig, from strings and pickups to the speaker and everything in between.
And music educators should stay on top of the new tools and developments, but don't forget the old theory in the process. The new things add.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
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100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
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I've been there drutgat.
While I do think that learning music theory and being able to read music is a necessary skill for all musicians, I certainly do not think it is the only skill needed.
I've known a number of musicians, but those who read and those who do not who cannot improvise, others that could not learn by ear.
I was in a band where the bass player (who could not read music) could not learn by ear. I had to figure out the bass parts and show them to him. All I had to do was show him once and he would get it.
Every additional skill you learn can make you a better musician.
Insights and incites by Notes I completely agree with you, Bob. I am currently endeavouring to augment my so-so ability to play by ear with learning some relevant, practical music theory. The one basic 'skill' I never fully learned, and which is now coming along better, is to instantly recognize and be able to go to the notes on the guitar neck. I have always know the notes on the first five frets, but recently have been drilling myself using a couple of computer apps, and I am getting there, slowly, but surely. As you said, every additional skill you can learn can make you a better musician.
"If The Beatles or the 60's had a message, it was 'Learn to swim'. And once you've learned - swim!"
John Lennon
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I am going to disagree that classical training gets in the way of anything. I can play straight up classical just sighting reading away on some pretty complex pieces and I can also improv my butt off with the best of them--and have--and can write a pretty good song in 15 minutes. My classical training has only enhanced my ability to let me go into Carlos Santana free fall when I am given a solo. I can pull the hell out of my whammy bar on the strat, hold it up to the amp and make it feed back and howl, make the girls scream, and all the while be pulling my notes straight out of a Bach violin piece. I can jam with anybody, anywhere at any time, and as they say in the black church bands I have played with--"Charts? We don't use charts." Don't need 'em. Just tell me the key and I'm gone. And it's all from classical. Classic example from this forum. I am getting some comments on a recent song post "Listen to the Rain" being "transcendent." Thanks--but it is Well-Tempered Clavier. Bach is the man. He gave us Blackbird too. McCartney admits it. Or go to 3:18 here. https://soundcloud.com/david-snyder-gigs2/nashville-rainThis is classical. But it is also Purple. Peace to all. --The Artist Formerly Known as David Snyder
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 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 10 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.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 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 Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.
Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 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.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows 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 60 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 Windows and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until December 31, 2025. 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 Windows packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49. Browse the full contents of each package and listen to demos here.
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!
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