actually the grimaces are best used when playing with another guitarist. when you hit a bum note, grimace at the other guitarist and the audience thinks it was them.
Hi All Good info about playing slower I agree . My Question was more of Using Band in a Box ,and how to use band in a Box to Learn Guitar
The Hal Leonard "Guitar Method" (Combined Books 1-2-3) with the audio access code is gradually moving into the position once held by the Mel Bay series as a most popular starter program. It starts out with the "Notes on Each String," moves through "Popular Chords," and spends the remainder playing mostly single note, some double notes, traditional songs from lead staffs. Basically, the lead sheets are treble melody staffs. The book comes with a code to access helpful audio tracks at Audio tracks that go with lessons I don't mention this to push the book, especially since now we have BiaB and lots of "Fake Books" in every style. They all have chord notation. So, you make your own. The book gives the student the foundation. Now we have BiaB to drive the changes, the melodies, and the timing. Can there be any wonder that BiaB has revolutionized learning and practicing? From E to E, frets 0-12, the guitar has three octaves. Add a fourth octave from frets 12-22. High C is on fret 20. There's nothing keeping us from launching the melody or the scale from whatever position we want. The intervals don't change. The learning process may or may not involve knowing the notes all the way up the neck. Good thing about the guitar is that the player can do good melodies in just a few neck positions, for example frets 4-10 will get it done. If that sounds like too much work do frets 5-9. Learn chords in the open position, a few triads & inversions, and you'll be good to play along and occasionally break out. The good thing about sight reading is should you get lost, you can always refer to the music to pick it back up on time.
I have been teaching out of the Hal Leonard "Guitar Method" (Combined Books 1-2-3) for a number of years now. It is an excellent course giving the student exposure to a number of playing techniques. I highly recommend it.
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal". Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Years ago I purchased the combined version but I have no idea where that CD when! It has been a long time since I played it and with a memory like a bear trap that is always open I don't remember what it was on it. I think it was the lessons and some chord backing tracks to jam with but I could be totally wrong about that.
The bumper sticker said "I'm a veterinarian, therefore I can drive like an animal". Suddenly I realized how many proctologists are on the road.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Same here, Mario. The Hal Leonard link to mylibrary (above) folder on halleonard.com requires a pass code which is on the title page of each book. I'd forgotten about it. Band-in-a-Box web entrepreneurs would do well to look into the idea of providing backing tracks with chords and lyrics or sheets.
If there is one thing BIAB does better than any other software, it gives you something to play along with. Pick something you like mute everything except the bass and drums. If you are a guitar player listen to stuff Brent Mason plays. Slow it down until you can understand it.
The internet has ten zillion backing tracks to play too. Every song that exist just about is on youtube. If you are going to play gigs, stand up when you practice. Play like you are on stage.
It takes real work to play things slow. Continuing to play fast and sloppy will keep you from ever learning to play well.
Some of the best guitar players in the world don't play super fast. They know how but they know two good notes are worth a thousand meaningless fast notes.
Now if I could just take my own advice more often...lol
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…”
Billy is right. If you can't play it slow and right you will never play it fast. Somebody once told their guitarist in the studio, if you can't get it in 2 takes you can't play it! Sounds about right.
Billy is right about standing as well. If your goal is to play on a stage, any stage, and you will be standing. you better be practicing that as well. It is different. Always use the guitar you will be playing in front of people when you practice as well, of course assuming you have more than one! Most guitarist end up with many, many, many guitars speaking from experience.
There are things right now I cannot play standing up as well as sitting down.
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
The fundamental changes line of books is quickly becoming a go to for me if I want to learn new techniques or styles etc. Check them out at Amazon or their own web site Fundamental Changes
Many Kindle versions available at $9.99. I have no connection to this company and get nothing by promoting it.
My wife asked if I had seen the dog bowl. I told her I didn't even know he could.
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
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