Comfort Zone


Just messing around with some of my favorite BIAB tracks and styles the past few days. It's all BIAB as far as performance. I just dropped in a few chords, picked a style and clicked "generate" and this is what I ended up with. Hope my "dilly-dallying" works for some of you. It's always fun when something halfway decent comes from the mix and match of BIAB buttons and whistles I played around with.

If you're wonderin', here's the mish-mash I'd stirred up with those BIAB whistles and bells this time. Hope it's listenable. Thanks in advance to any and all listeners.


*** Real Tracts - Comfort Zone ***

File:Comfort Zone.SGU
Key=C, Tempo 90, Length (m:s)=3:11

Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Song is saved with bar changes for Volume Changes,
Style is _CHICAMP.STY (Chicago Amplitube Guitar Soul)
StringsCustom Synth is PhatDoubler CompEQChFlStomp,AmCln2Amp,EQDelRack.tgs

RealTracks in style: 1398:Bass, Electric, Soul70sA-B Ev16 100
RealTracks in style: 912:Piano, Electric, Rhythm SmoothPoppy Ev16 090
RealTracks in style: 1403:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm Soul70sWarmHeld Ev16 100
RealTracks in style: 2816:Guitar, Electric, Soloist SmoothSoulSlowBrent Ev 085
RealTracks in song: 2952:Strings, Rhythm JazzBalladPads Sw 060
Loop in Song: Pop-Soul-RnB\R n B - sweet_75_a drums ev16.wav
RealDrums in Song: Soul70sPercEv16^5-a:BsyBss, b:RdBnBs

listenable? Very much indeed.... ...smooth.... Liked a lot....

Sounds good to me, Alan! I've always been a fan of smooth jazz. Well done!

Alan,

Really nice. Good title.

Well mixed.

I like when folks do things like this - styles that I don't do - which gives another look at what BIAB does well. Makes me want to write a song in this style - just to "have a little fun"... Thanks for showing this...

fj

Al,

I noticed you said this song was "sloe" on Soundcloud.

Is there any chance you had sloe gin on your mind, or in your glass when you did this?

Any...remote...chance...?



Cool little piece.

I enjoyed this smooth soulful comfort piece, BIAB never stops astonishing

Janne

Alan...one thing that your “noodling” with BIAB brought to mind...there is something in this style, a kind of smooth jazz, that just simply “works” and sounds enjoyable, interesting, etc. no matter what arrangement of (sensible) chord changes are set up..maybe it’s that melody isn’t quite so important in a lyric-less work like this. But selection of bells and whistles, in a skilled hand, generates something quite pleasant and rewarding to the ear...thanks for doing it!!

Ermar,

So glad you enjoyed your listen! Thanks for letting me know! best to you.

Alan

Thanks so much Dave! I've always enjoyed Smooth Jazz. Lou Rawls hooked me on it when I was in my early teens. Thanks for the listen and very nice comments. Best to you.

Alan

Thank you very much, Floyd. I've always been a sucker for sweet chords and chord arrangements - even when I was playing 1-4-5 country songs in the 60s. I played country because I liked it and I made a very nice living doing so. But I'd go home after playing Buck owens, Merle Haggard, Ray Price, etc. and pull out a Lou Rawls or Stevie Wonder album and try to figure out the chords.

I'm completely self-taught and do not read notation appreciably. Just thousands of hours of practice. Chords and progressions come to me rather easily. In Smooth Jazz the chords that give it its unique sound include minor 11ths, major 6ths (can be replaced by a 6/9), minor 6ths with a flatted 5th and 7ths with a sharp 5th (augmented can be substituted). That's probably a lot more than you wanted to know, but thought I'd throw it in FWIW.

I'm glad you enjoy this style of music when I post it. I have quite a few of them I've not posted.

Many thanks for the kind words! best to you & yours.

Alan

Hello "Eagle-Eye Snyder"!

Actually, a sloe gin fizz would be pretty good right about now! yep - that's what i said. I tend to prefer the "softer" lady's drinks on those few occasions I drink hard liquor. A straight shot of C C with a Coke back works good, too! I don't drink a lot - a little here and there. I spent 50+ years on a bandstand and decided I didn't want to be "that guy" making an a$$ of himself on the dancefloor.

Actually, the reason for the misspell is two-fold: I spilled a Dr Pepper on my keyboard last week and my focal dystonia is progressing very rapidly. I can barely move the thumb on my left hand. Oh well, getting old comes with its little packages of surprises! I don't fret too much over it. God's given me many, many fabulous years with music and the chance to play behind some of the bigger names of country music in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I'm satisfied with that.

Glad you liked it. Di said "Hi, David!" She has a Dr's appointment in less than an hour, so gotta scoot. Best to you & yours.

ALan

Very sweet one Alan!! Amazing what the boys in the box come up with.....a lot of songs I write begin by just fishing around through different bands. This is a treat indeed! Thanks for reposting my tune on your Soundcloud!! Take care. Greg

Hi Greg,

Thanks a bunch. And yeah, those boys and girls can really create some amazing sounds. And the same goes for me - just listening to some of the boxed tracks inspire me to work with them to create something new and, hopefully, exciting.

My pleasure to repost your song - it's a true gem. Wishing you and yours the very best.

Alan

Hello, Alan

Well, it is just a comfort zone.
It is a very comfortable guitar solo with the comfortable chord progression.
It is very easy to listen.
Light strings are perfect for this sound.
I am very relaxed.
Enjoyed my listen a lot.

Best regards.

Shigeki Adachi

Thank you, Shigeki!

BIAB can makes some real comfortable music just by picking a style and selecting instruments that complement one another. I'm delighted you enjoyed your listen - many thanks for the very nice comments!

Alan

Wonderful work, Alan Very calming, and easy on the ears. It is super smooth, and almost buttery in it's texture. I'm almost getting a Bob James vibe on this one. One this is for certain - this is definitely more than just "listenable."

Thanks for sharing!

Very mellow.

This was an enjoyable listen. Nice work on the mix. And the guitar RT has such a perfect tone for this style.

Hi Deryk,

Thank you very much. I particularly enjoyed the "buttery" analogy. Glad it was an easy listen. Many thanks to you and the entire PG Music staff.

Alan

Hi Herb,

Glad it rests easy in your ears. I've always loved this style of music. I have a dozen or so if these I've not posted as I'm not sure how much the folks on the Forum want to hear this style. Anyway, I appreciate the very kind words. Thanks again.

Alan

Al,

Enjoyed listening. Loved the photo of the dachshunds too.

Thanks, Jim - much appreciated. The black and brown puppy on the left is ours. She's now 4 1/2 years old. Name is Lucy. Maybe we need to get a Ricky?

Alan

Sophisticated cords are way above my paygrade...but we love jazz and this hits all the buttons for us.

An amazing display of the power of BiaB with a creative person behind the keyboard.

Well done!

J&B

Hi Guys!

Many thanks for those kind words. I'm not sure if it's sophisticated or not, but it sure was fun playing around with all those whistles and bells that PG Music makes for us - what a company! I'm guessing this is the 10th or 11th product of mixing various instruments and beats. I'm glad it seems to work for you. I'm putting together a full album of these - got 7 of them so far. And I'll definitely give BIAB it's due credit when I do get it ready to go.

Take care and all the best.

Alan

Works for me!

This is one of the styles that BiaB excels at. Great mix.

Plus, you've got super-cute puppies in the picture. Who could say anything bad about that?

Thanks a bunch, David! And yes, BIAB is a natural fit for the Smooth Jazz genre. I think part of it is a reflection on Dr. Gannon's brother, Oliver. He does many of the Jazz RTS and is very good at it. He recently was awarded the highest official recognition a Canadian musician can receive. The other contributing artists are also quite talented.

They make it very easy for me to plug in a few chords, grab a couple of instruments, find a style and then "GO"! I think BIAB deserves much more credit than I do. But I'm delighted you enjoyed the few things I did with their marvelous program. Many thanks! Best to you.

Alan

Al!
this puts me in the comfort zone, so nice

the mix just sounds super in my phones

well done,

Kenny

Thank you, Kenny! I have quite a few of these smooth jazz pieces but have only posted a few as I think vocals are always more in demand on the forums. But, I'll put one up here and there. Glad you enjoyed it - appreciate you letting me know. Again, a big welcome back!

Alan

Great soloist Al!
And really cool music.

Rob and Anne-Marie

Alan,

In everything you do, your signature is quality musicianship through and through. As I'm sitting here listening and typing, I'm finding it quite a challenge because the music takes hold and I can't type!

I love the easiness with which this creation flows. From chord to chord, the sound slides into place with precision and intent. This really is a wonderful creation and equally wonderful arrangement.

You say that you 'hope it's listenable'... it's a big and resounding "YES INDEED IT IS" from me!

Please say hi to Di from me.

All the best,
Noel

Thanks, Kenny! Glad it sounds good to you. Wishing you the best.

Alan

HI!

Thank you both for those very kind words!. The best to you.

Alan

Noel,

You are too kind. But I sure did enjoy your comments! The arrangement came to me pretty quickly, but deciding on the tracks took a lot more time - tried multiple combinations. Thank you again. All the best to you & yours. Di says "Hi!"

Alan