Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 2 1 2
Beginners Forum
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,741
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,741
Thanks, David

I think what you said is pretty accurate. Well, there are plenty of people who can sight-read note for note at speed.

In years past, I found understanding music theory from a guitar perspective difficult. I got a piano with the idea that it would help. It certainly was valuable because it is so visual. Drop the third by a half step, and you form the minor, for example. Where is the third on the guitar?

The more theory one knows the less trouble it is to guess what the next chord may be, especially if it stays in key. Melodies are discreet and pretty much unique, which is why we can copyright them. Learning a melody does not lend itself to interpretation. Change the melody line, and it is not the same song. Songs frequently have highly recognizable features other than melody. What I call "signature licks". In years past, we never played a lot of cover songs, but when we did, they were pretty close to the original. The lead guitar player and the keyboard would play their own solos but then come back to the original idea. We were lucky; both Lewis and Morrow could hear something one time and play it back note for note.

Perhaps one does not want to play "the same song," and on rare occasions, the new version is better than the original.

I am trying to discover what I actually know. For example, I played every chord in every inversion on the piano in the key of C just to see what I could remember. Then, I played the same in other keys. Some keys were easy, and some were not. To figure out a path forward, one needs to know where one is at.

It would be wonderful to hear something and play it back, note for note. Unfortunately, I can not do that, so I have to use some other method.

So far, sight reading is the only thing that has been very useful in filling in the notes I can't seem to hear and remember.

I know the answer, it has always been contained in the work I was unwilling to do...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…”
Beginners Forum
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,895
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,895
This. I chose Deep Purple originals and then covers of songs that are shall we say, a bit more than the average level of difficulty.

In a forum for Cakewalk back in the old days, a couple of the folks there decided to do a cover of Lazy. They nailed it note for note. If you were in the cake forums over a decade ago you might remember that being posted.


HIGHWAY STAR




OR

BURN


<<<<< This one is especially interesting in that the drummer is a 12 year old girl who nails it. Ian Pace reaction:


I don't think this was sight read..... but I might be wrong. If you know how to listen and are at a high level of proficiency on your instrument, you can nail these songs.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
Beginners Forum
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,741
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,741
Deep Purple has always been one of my favorite bands. Yes, I remember the Cakewalk forum and miss it. A number of very competent musicians came there.

This was likely my first encounter with Deep Purple Live.



Perhaps because I met Steve Morse in the airplane world and became friends before I knew he played guitar, he has always been one of my favorite Deep Purple guitar players.

Many musicians can hear and play back what they hear more or less note for note, but most of us can not.

I have discovered how to use something called Synthesia. While it has serious limitations, it has enabled me to learn to play a couple of descending piano/organ lines that I have struggled with for years.

I am mostly interested in the results. I am not overly emotionally connected to the method.

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…”
Beginners Forum
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,764
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,764
There is a gold mine of info in this thread, some real valuable stuff.

One perspective that hasn't been dwelt on is the role that repetition, practice and sleep play in the process of learning.

It's all about establishing and strengthening neural pathways.

Two quick war stories. While playing songs on my bass that I want to learn, sometimes my mind would wander off on some non-music topic. This is nothing new and if I didn't catch myself my playing would just collapse and I'd have to stop and start over. But recently for the first time, my mind wandered while I was playing and I chose not to "come back". To my surprise my fingers kept on playing and I didn't skip a beat. This may not be news to established musicians but for me it was astounding. Of course, I had been practicing the song for weeks, so the pathways were established and strong. I think folks refer to this as muscle memory. I know fingers don't have memory, but it sure did feel as if they did.

The 2nd story involves what your brain does during sleep; it clears-out toxins, plaque and metabolic waste and also organizes/compartmentalizes info learned during the day. Just before dozing off, thinking about what you're trying to learn can help your brain learn the material faster; a pre-sleep review can speed this up. Some people have pushed this to an art-form. I haven't, but I have partially solved some tough engineering problems in my sleep by doing a pre-sleep review of the material. Just another tool in the toolbox.

I wonder to what extent the musical giants have exploited this kind of stuff.


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.
Beginners Forum
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,741
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,741
LOL...Steve...This reminded me of a bass player I used to play with. He would sometimes stick his flip phone under the edge of his hat and talk to his girlfriend while he was playing on stage.

My guess is that the "musical giants" have explored anything that they thought would be of value.

One of the differences between most of us and super-good players is the amount of time we spend with our instruments in our hands. Most "musical giants " have never been more than thirty feet from their instruments for 95% of their time.

It is my impression that mastering a particular skill takes around 7000 hours of diligent study for most things, such as becoming a pilot, a woodworker, or a bass player.

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…”
Beginners Forum
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,786
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,786
[quote=Planobilly.......................................
One of the differences between most of us and super-good players is the amount of time we spend with our instruments in our hands. Most "musical giants " have never been more than thirty feet from their instruments for 95% of their time.

It is my impression that mastering a particular skill takes around 7000 hours of diligent study for most things, such as becoming a pilot, a woodworker, or a bass player.

Billy [/quote]

Exactly! There are no short cuts. Yes there are programs that can help but in reality you must put the work in to become an accomplished guitarist, bassist, pilot, or actually any profession or hobby.


Waitress "How did you find your steak sir"?

Me "I just looked next to the potatoes and there it was"!

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Beginners Forum
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,895
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,895
Originally Posted by MarioD
[quote=Planobilly.......................................
One of the differences between most of us and super-good players is the amount of time we spend with our instruments in our hands. Most "musical giants " have never been more than thirty feet from their instruments for 95% of their time.

It is my impression that mastering a particular skill takes around 7000 hours of diligent study for most things, such as becoming a pilot, a woodworker, or a bass player.

Billy



On the lower end of the equation, you can spend 20 minutes a day on a particular skill and in one years time be better than 95% of the people at that particular skill. That is about 120 hrs of time. (the 100 hr rule)
I'd heard that 10,000 hrs or the equivalent of approximately 5 years of full time work was the milestone to be a master of the skill. But of course.... practice alone doesn't make perfect as the saying goes. Only practicing perfectly makes for perfection in time and mastery of the skill.

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 12/27/24 09:16 AM.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
Beginners Forum
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,764
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,764
Originally Posted by Guitarhacker
I'd heard that 10,000 hrs or the equivalent of approximately 5 years of full time work was the milestone to be a master of the skill. But of course.... practice alone doesn't make perfect as the saying goes. Only practicing perfectly makes for perfection in time and mastery of the skill.

I too have heard this "10,000 hour rule". Not sure if it's universal. Some may achieve mastery in less time and certain high-intensity professions like medicine may take considerably more time; 5 years won't even get you out of college and then there's the work of keeping up with the new developments.

In any case, having crisp goals that you hold yourself accountable for is valuable. Personally, I have a goal of learning and recording on my bass, 100 classic rock songs and 100 smooth jazz/ambient favorites. I'm only at song #7 on the rock songs but hey, the journey is as important as the destination smile


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.
Beginners Forum
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,247
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,247
Originally Posted by Planobilly
It is my impression that mastering a particular skill takes around 7000 hours of diligent study for most things, such as becoming a pilot, a woodworker, or a bass player.
But it takes far less than that to learn a very limited set of skills that will lead to a well-defined output.

Let's say you want to be able to play a particular song on the piano. Not how to play every song on the piano, but a single song. Let's also say that you get a teacher to make sure you're no building in any bad habits as you progress through the process. That way, you can increase in speed as you memorize it, instead of getting locked up because your hand position is terrible, or the fingering is nonsensical.

There's a whole lot you don't need to learn. For example, you don't need to know the right fingering for all keys, or even the key the song is in - just the passages of that song. And so on.

I've met plenty of musicians who are mediocre at an instrument, but can play one song really well. It's little more than a party trick, and goodness knows how they learned that one song - probably because thought the song was really cool. But they learned it, and it's etched into their muscle memory.

And once you've got one song, you can move to the next. Certainly, you'll need time, but not 10,000 hours.

There's another element here that hasn't been mentioned: musicality. Because that transfers, and it's already part of your thinking.

When someone is first learning an instrument, they're focused on the mechanics of the music. That's why teachers tell students to focus on the music first and foremost, making everything you play feel musical, focusing on the timing, phrasing and dynamics.

If you play another instrument, hopefully that's already part of your thinking process. You already know how to feel the beat, find the groove, and use appropriate dynamics. You're not just playing notes and hoping you're hitting them at the right time - you're interpreting the notation into music.


-- David Cuny

My virtual singer development blog
Vocal control, you say. Never heard of it. Is that some kind of ProTools thing?

BiaB 2025 | Windows 11 | Reaper | Way too many VSTis.
Beginners Forum
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,741
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 2,741
The well-defined output to a very limited set of skills is the sudden stop that will kill you when you crash the airplane...lol

It is not funny, as it happens about once a week. After the NTSB investigates the "accident," the cause is generally always the same: "pilot error."

If "well-defined output" means one song someone learned by some method, that person would be highly unlikely to be able to articulate that song twice the same if there was any level of complexety.

What you get with that one song that you learned by whatever method is plausible music at best. Even untrained ears can hear the lack of proficiency.

There is no exact definition of correct finger position on a piano. There are excepted "norms" that apply to people whose hands are big enough to produce that fingering. Different fingerings, correct or incorrect, produce different sounds on the piano.

It would be doubtful that anyone who only spent the time needed to learn one song of any complexity could play it like the original.

Obviously, one does not need to study and practice for hundreds of hours to learn to play the three chord 1, 4, and 5 in the C key at 60 BPM.

Professional musicians get better year after year on their way to becoming great musicians.

You can not even hear the mistakes you are making when you start out.

Most of us play music because it is something we like to do, and we have no intention of becoming highly proficient musicians. We mostly only get good enough to get by if we are lucky. A huge number of guitars and pianos" get shoved in the corner, never to be used again." Next time you go to someone's house and you see a piano sitting there, ask them to play it.

I know many musicians who "think" they can play a lot of songs, but they can not play a single one correctly. They have limited hearing, no reading skills, and no writing skills and, therefore, are seriously unable to communicate or be communicated to by other musicians.

Welcome to the typical bar band, let's get drunk, have some fun, and play Mustang Sally.

There are other musicians who have worked diligently and gone to school to get an education. They have worked thousands of hours to try to perfect their craft. Many of those people are icons we look up to, and some are virtually unknown.

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…”
Beginners Forum
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,632
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,632
I once wrote an essay in college about all the benefits/disciplines involved in the task of learning music.
It was well received and the thing I remember most was someone stating they had never thought about it and give musicians a lot more credit than they did prior to reading it.

That statement made my day and the hours spent writing it worth it.
I told myself it may have been one of my best works and to never lose it, but I did. At least the electronic copy.
Hmm, wonder if I still have a printed copy somewhere.

Basically the executive summary was that musicians are reading a second language, expressed using various parts of their whole body with their instrument while not just articulating in the moment but thinking ahead so the next note(s) are properly placed in a group conversation that a larger group wants to hear.
It's never the exact same conversation and it is obvious when the topic becomes tiresome to any one involved because they are listening to each other and adapting the conversation at the same time, all in real time .. and for an experienced musician the biggest factor is the discipline of listening to each other while participating.
Only the paper took three pages to get to that <grin>


I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
Beginners Forum
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,764
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,764
Originally Posted by rharv
I told myself it may have been one of my best works and to never lose it, but I did.

Basically the executive summary was that musicians are reading a second language, expressed using various parts of their whole body with their instrument while not just articulating in the moment but thinking ahead so the next note(s) are properly placed in a group conversation that a larger group wants to hear.
It's never the exact same conversation and it is obvious when the topic becomes tiresome to any one involved because they are listening to each other and adapting the conversation at the same time, all in real time .. and for an experienced musician the biggest factor is the discipline of listening to each other while participating.
Nicely spoken.
If ever you find your paper, I'd like a copy if you would be so kind.


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.
Beginners Forum
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,895
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,895
Originally Posted by dcuny
[quote=Planobilly]also say that you get a teacher to make sure you're no building in any bad habits as you progress through the process. That way, you can increase in speed as you memorize it, instead of getting locked up because your hand position is terrible, or the fingering is nonsensical.
.


Not building bad habits. That is so true.

Not only in music but in everything. As many here know, I train my dogs to find human remains. I caution people who approach me asking me how I do it to not attempt it on their own but to find a mentor, someone with experience to help them avoid the rabbit hole and bad habits that they will develop on their own if they don't have that expert guidance.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
Beginners Forum
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,895
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,895
Originally Posted by rharv
Basically the executive summary was that musicians are reading a second language, expressed using various parts of their whole body with their instrument while not just articulating in the moment but thinking ahead so the next note(s) are properly placed in a group conversation that a larger group wants to hear.

It's a ZEN thing. A state of being that when you are in it, it's amazing. Almost magical. You can actually step back and watch yourself do this thing while you are doing it almost like an autopilot mode.

This can be achieved in performing and it's really amazing when you get in this mode while you are writing a song.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
Beginners Forum
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,632
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,632
Well, I found it BT .. so here in all it's promoted glory is that letdown .. <grin>

Asking a teenager to define music will result in an answer much different than asking a senior citizen. However, both will stand firm in their feelings about music. It is such a deep felt relationship that most people have a very defined opinion of what music is and what it is not. An explanation of “good music” has caused heated debates among friends and generations, yet it is one of the most refined, studied and precise arts; this has led researchers to conclude that the art and study of music increases one's intellect and intelligence. It is such a personal, emotional and creative form of expression.

There have been many attempts made at describing just what music is. It's been said that music is simply sound with a rhythm. Webster's Dictionary gets a little more abstract in their definition, saying it is “the combining of sound and tones as a form of artistic expression.” That definition, by their own extension would include “any combination of sounds that is pleasing to the ear.” What is pleasing to one person may not be so pleasing to another, but everyone holds music dear. Whether it is a particular love song or a reverent hymn, music and song is understood by all. The theory and components that make up music are often not understood by the listener. There are many performers of music who do not consciously understand it either, but there are many tasks, languages and math computations taking place in even the simplest of songs.

Music is a language. It is written in a structure that only those who know the language can decode. Reading music is very much like reading a foreign language that must be studied, practiced and then put into use in order to become fluent. There is a unique complexity to this language because while learning it, the only way to comprehend it is to put it into action. It is unique in that it requires physical action on the part of the reader. To learn to read the notes, or musical alphabet, the reader must be able to hear what each note is saying. This is always done with some kind of musical instrument in hand. As the notes are read, and then played, a relationship develops between the eyes, the ears, and the hands. This learning process is very reinforcing; if done incorrectly the result offends the readers ears. The mistake is evident and compels the reader to do it over again to get it right. It is also a language that can be learned by people of all countries and native tongues, then applied to allow a heartfelt communication and expression. An even more astounding aspect of this language is that it is not one that is meant to be expressed singly and in turn. People conversing in the language of music all express themselves at the same time to create a harmonic blend of sound and rhythm that moves not only the artists but also all those within hearing distance. These audience members often have little understanding of all the expression and simultaneous listening going on by the performers. It is a very complex language, spanning many styles, genres, and cultures, yet it is absolute and strict, requiring an outcome as precise as a math equation.

Maybe that's because music also incorporates math. The rhythm of music is based on a count and a flowing subdivision of that count happening in time. The waltz is based on a count of three. A march is often in a count of two. The overwhelming majority of music is based on a count of four. These basic counts, or beats, are then subdivided in smaller elements in groups of three or four. When the subdivision happens in three it is most likely a swing or shuffle style of song. The division of four is more common and strict, being used for most modern music in this country for the last fifty years or more. A musician, one who can read and express this language, is doing these math calculations instinctively while reading the music and performing on their particular instrument. There are many artistic music pieces that are written in what is called odd-time signatures. These pieces can have a basic beat count of five, seven, eleven or even nineteen beats that need to be subdivided over time.
--
That can add up to some pretty complex math. No wonder the human brain excels when this art is studied over time. So far music involves reading a written foreign language while doing continuous math calculations and taking an action that results in a pleasing sound. Like they say in the infomercials- “but wait, there's more!”

As the study of music develops it becomes necessary for an artist to not only rigidly read what is written, but may also be required to improvise. This act requires a knowledge of the theory behind music. Note relationships, chord structures, and scale patterns are all necessary to become proficient at being a musician. The most amazing thing about the ability to improvise is that it requires this knowledge to be put to use in anticipation of the next note. Every true musician knows that when the time comes to play a note is not the time to figure out what note needs to be played. The note will inevitably be either a wrong note or played late. Since music requires these subdivisions over time it is very evident when a note is not played at the right time. It's now understood that musicians are reading another language, doing math at the same time, and actually thinking ahead to the next note while performing on their instrument. Some types of performances compound this by adding choreography into the mix.Most concerts contain some type of choreography. There will often be separate dancing, but when the musicians have to also physically perform timed actions it really complicates things. One example of this is the marching band. These musicians, often student age, are performing timed physical actions on top of everything else discussed above.

No wonder so many researchers have reached the conclusion that learning music can expand ones ability to learn other things. It also teaches a discipline of structure and practice that leads one to be diligent in getting the desired results through constant effort. The reward is that one precious possession everyone has: a favorite song.

Last edited by rharv; 12/29/24 01:38 PM.

I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
Beginners Forum
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,668
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,668
Yes, nicely expressed.

One of the things I find interesting to me personally, is that whether I like a particuar piece of music can depend a great deal on my state of mind at the time. Some days I can listen to and love a particularl piece, another time I have to stop ... it's too challenging. Some days a simple piece will be fine, another day it'll be terminally boring.


Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
AVL:MXE Linux; Windows 11
BIAB2026 Audiophile, a bunch of other software.
Kawai MP6, Ui24R, Focusrite Saffire Pro40 and Scarletts
.
Beginners Forum
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,764
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 2,764
Originally Posted by rharv
Well, I found it BT .. so here in all it's promoted glory is that letdown
rharv, I copied this to a Word doc so as not to have it lost a 2nd time wink

You hit the major points; it's a complex international language, it has rules, it's unique, it's mathematical, it's emotional, it has psychological, intellectual and learning benefits, and it's conversational via improvisation.

What you've written could be the preface to a college text book on music appreciation or theory.

Well done and thanks for sharing.

From now on should we start calling you Professor RH?
smile


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.
Beginners Forum
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,632
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 22,632
Just don't call me late for dinner


I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
Beginners Forum
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,895
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,895
I find that a lot of the music that I didn't like when it came out, I have come to appreciate a bit more, now. Not saying I like it or that I would make it a regular listen..... But I appreciate the effort that went into it. And this is especially true if I have a chance to see a live performance of the music by musicians on stage.

Nothing like seeing the musicians perform it live


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
Beginners Forum
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 491
Journeyman
Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 491
I started learning when I was 10. I can play most instruments, I have always, always found that practice makes perfect. I most of all can play the guitar, piano, and drums. I learned to read music at 11, but I can also play by ear. I'm now 58, so I've been playing a long time. The easiest way is just do it regardless of weather or not you can read music or not. Memorize every note and chord, it will come to you, that is how I learned to play motzart and all the classical giants, I can listen and identify most every chord because I have ever chord and note memorized that I have been able to learn in all my years of playing. Memorization is the absolute key.


Music is an expression that is a universal language, Never criticize anybody to harshly. They need time to grow but when they do, they do. Always be kind in what you say and do because the man upstairs is watching.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 2 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Andrew - PG Music, PeterGannon 

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
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!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!

There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.

When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.

Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.

Holiday Weekend Hours

It's Victoria Day Long Weekend in Canada. Our Customer Service hours are:

Saturday, May 16: Closed
Sunday, May 17: Closed
Monday, May 18: 8:00am - 4:00pm

Regular hours
resume Tuesday, May 19th!

Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!

Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!

Don't wait - order today!

Check out all the new features in the redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

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!

Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.

Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.

If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!

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.

The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!

2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!

With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 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 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!

It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.

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)!

The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.

The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available 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 Mac or for Windows.

The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.

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.

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 as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,316
Posts803,264
Members40,094
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
Newest Members
guitarharry, Duncan-RTFM, 65Jaguar, Jazzmando, sergiop
40,094 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 118
vicarn 88
rsdean 88
DC Ron 82
dcuny 58
Today's Birthdays
Sid
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5