I'm self-taught, been playing bass for 6 years, working with BiaB for about 2 years, writing/arranging for about 1.5 years and I "graduated" to Studio One from Audacity 6 months ago so please be somewhat gentle; I have much to learn but it's been fun.
BiaB: Percussion Guitar 1 B3 Organ Sax
My buddy Marty: Guitar 2 Piano 1 Piano 2
Me: Thumping on my bass
Mixed in Studio One Artist
If nothing else, we can agree that Eric Marienthal knows his way around his Alto Sax. If anyone is in contact with him, let him know that this is one newbie that really appreciates his talent . . . world class for sure
Last edited by Bass Thumper; 06/02/2206:09 AM.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Hey Misha, Thanks for the kind words. I would not have thought it is meditational but upon meditating on it, I guess it is I was going for melancholy/sad.
As far as the clear mix, that is credited to Studio One. Audacity could never have produced anything nearly as crisp or dynamic.
Can you elaborate a bit on the repetitiveness ?
Do you think the verses were too repetitive (too many, 5) or the vamping on Am when the sax kicks in on the outro?
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
That's a really pretty melodic song! It would make a great track for someone to put a vocal on! Studio One is a great product! It's so user friendly and very intuitive! Nice work!
It would make a great track for someone to put a vocal on! Studio One is a great product! It's so user friendly and very intuitive! Nice work!
Thanks Torey, Adding vocals never occurred to me; probably because I don't sing. If anyone is interested in that, let me know. And I agree about Studio One, it's a wonderful tool that I'm just scratching the surface of. Is it an exageration to say that we are in the golden age of computer assisted music creation? It certainly seems golden to me
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Thanks Mario, I'm still a newbie on the bass (and BiaB) and I notice that for me there is no substitute for strapping on my Fender and spending time playing.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
I really liked the transition from the guitar to the band! It's a very nice melody, full of surprises, like that sax. I wasn't expecting that when the song began. I find it very entertaining, a bit jazzy and not meditational. And your tumping on the bass was delightful, although I would have taken a fretless bass guitar here(for the extra mood).
BT, I listened to this as a bass study/exercise...the other bits are nice but it was your bass progress I listened for.
The spot at 3.30 was the pay off. You've stuck to and consolidated your choices and timing with the groove but at that spot, and after, you slipped in some nice walks, and in betweens". You're making excellent progress. In terms of serving the song. I would revisit this piece and use a slightly different pattern alternating "verse" & "chorus". Tight, tidy and terrific bass playing.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
"The spot at 3.30 was the pay off. You've stuck to and consolidated your choices and timing with the groove but at that spot, and after, you slipped in some nice walks, and in betweens". You're making excellent progress.
In addition to being drawn to the emotional and fun aspects of music I too am drawn to its intellectual and cerebral characteristics. When I listen to a high quality arrangement I try to understand and appreciate the "topography" of the piece as it unfolds over time and try to create a sort of topography in the stuff I work on; maybe one day I'll get close.
Regarding my playing beginining around 3:30; I'm basically playing what I feel which is reaching/walking up an octave and then sometimes walking back down thereby adding some variation and energy towards the end of the piece.
But I was remiss in not pointing out Marty's great keyboard work. He provided me 2 e-piano tracks that I think are each very melodic yet mutually different. Much of what he is doing may be hidden at times but you can catch a good glimpse of his work during the fade-out.
Alternating the verse and chorus bass lines is an advanced concept for me but I'll try to keep that in mind going forward.
Btw, and along the lines of cerebral popular music, one of my favorite artists is Al Stewart. This guy knows how to marry intelligent lyrics with masterful melodies. Check out this "history lesson" for example.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
[quote=rayc] Btw, and along the lines of cerebral popular music, one of my favorite artists is Al Stewart. This guy knows how to marry intelligent lyrics with masterful melodies. Check out this "history lesson" for example.
Ah, I've been a fan of him since 1976...I was introduced to, for me, his best album during that year:Past, Present & Future. Brilliant song craft, brilliant musicians and - well BRILLIANT. Roads To Moscow is my favourite despite the lazy cross fade edit of the intro into the body of the song. Each track essays an aspect of history as seen by Al. pity he's writing about wines these days. He's an old bugger though so retirement in France, vineculture obsession is forgivable...though not particularly listenable from my point of view. This is cool though not a great advert for Ovation's plugged in tone in the late 70s, (a mate of mine bought an Ovation in 77...he'd traded his Ibanez Hummingbird 12 string & paid a heap of cash to get it. He traded back & lost a bundle less that 6 months later & had his Hummingbird again - still does actually)...
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Another connection I have to Al is that these songs were the ones I learned to play on the bass resonably well [entirely with NO chord sheets]. Five years ago this was a HUGE milestone and allowed the "shakles" to be removed allowing me to play with much more freedom. It took a lot of effort.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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!
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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!
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Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
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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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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
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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)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
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