Songwriting Study Gift: Backing Tracks from Ultimate Guitar
I noticed an interesting offering from Ultimate Guitar the other day that may be useful to people trying to create better, and more professional arrangements.
For many classic hit songs they have “backing tracks” similar to karaoke that show the actual instruments and accurate parts you can study in two forms—a .wav form mixer, and a tabbed sheet music mixer with left-hand instrument board.
The thing that stands out is how SIMPLE most classic, memorable hits are and how much “white space” there is in the mix. In other words, you don’t hear a lot going on at once. It is a MIX.
The tab version of these songs also shows the intro verse chorus bridge style across the bottom which is very useful for songwriters to see. It’s all here, so to speak.
Such mixes would be easily doable in BIAB if you were to follow the idea that each “slot” in the main program has a letter associated with it, and you can “program” the chord progression so that basic tracks comes in at certain times and you save the full band for later. It is not a gimmick to solve all mixing steps, but it will get you started.
And if you open the file in Real Band you can visually “see” how you are doing in terms of simplicity and flow.
Here is your “typing” code. (This applies no matter which instrument is actually in the slot.)
1st slot bass=b 2nd slot piano=p 3rd slot drums = d 4 slot guitar = g 5th slot strings = s
(Please see preferences to see the midi channels of these tracks)
Example intro (using chord dots)
C.bpd Dm7.bpd G.bpd C.bpd
This may be good for the upcoming FAWM challenge.
Studying hit mixes/songs and using band-in-a-box to construct similar songs/mixes is easy, as long as you realize it is a mix, not a wall of sound.
One thing I did not see in any of the hit mixes (even with Aerosmith and Joe Perry) was a block of instruments all playing at the same time and same volume with a 4 minute pentatonic noodling scale screaming over top the entire time.
I searched and searched and searched but could not find one. Strange. It seems Joe Perry only comes in every once in a while, but when he does, he nails it. Odd. Hmm…..
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
Like most people suffering from Pentatonic Scale Trauma Disorder (PSTD) it is not the exposure to a single pentatonic blues noodling riff on a canned backing track that causes the permanent nightmares.
It is the daily exposure to millions of bogus noodling riffs that creates symptoms of foaming at the mouth and wide, staring eyes, barking at the moon and so forth.
The trigger can sometimes be as simple as logging into websites at the wrong time and seeing forty such songs dumped at the same time.
Cute little gifs can cause hospitalization.
Does that cover it????
David Snyder Songwriter/Renaissance Man Studio + Fingers
Like most people suffering from Pentatonic Scale Trauma Disorder (PSTD) it is not the exposure to a single pentatonic blues noodling riff on a canned backing track that causes the permanent nightmares.
It is the daily exposure to millions of bogus noodling riffs that creates symptoms of foaming at the mouth and wide, staring eyes, barking at the moon and so forth.
The trigger can sometimes be as simple as logging into websites at the wrong time and seeing forty such songs dumped at the same time.
Cute little gifs can cause hospitalization.
Does that cover it????
Yep.... my thoughts exactly.
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.
Appears to me you are giving us a look into the future of computer assisted music, Dave. Every time we sit down with a multitrack and lay in an original vocal or instrumental, we have taken a step, acknowedged or otherwise, into the Brave New World of trans-humanism, the ultimate merger of humans and the machines. Sure, you could say the same thing about driving an automobile, but this is art. Plainly, the DAW was a huge step in that direction. As was the Porta-studio, which put recording into unlimited hands. Band-in-a-Box upped the ante beyond description, and still does. Still, our persistent question is "When have we come up against "that wall," and how to we scale it?"
I've used pentatonic scales but not in my own music. I used them when teaching children to create simple melodies in their 1st few steps as musicians. It wasn't for long either...soon the extra notes were reinstated on the gloks & other tuned percussion so that the kids had to navigate the 12 tones, (as artificial in their own way),to create something that worked for their ears 1st.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Add updated printing options, enhanced tracks settings, smoother use of MGU and SGU (BB files) within PowerTracks, and more with the latest PowerTracks Pro Audio 2024 update!
Download and install this to your RealBand 2024 for updated print options, streamlined loading and saving of .SGU & MGU (BB) files, and to add a number of program adjustments that address user-reported bugs and concerns.
Did you know... not only can you download your Band-in-a-Box® Pro, MegaPAK, or PlusPAK purchase - you can also choose to add a flash drive backup copy with the installation files for only $15? It even comes with a Band-in-a-Box® keychain!
For the larger Band-in-a-Box® packages (UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition), the hard drive backup copy is available for only $25. This will include a preinstalled and ready to use program, along with your installation files.
Backup copies are offered during the checkout process on our website.
Already purchased your e-delivery version, and now you wish you had a backup copy? It's not too late! If your purchase was for the current version of Band-in-a-Box®, you can still reach out to our team directly to place your backup copy order!
Note: the Band-in-a-Box® keychain is only included with flash drive backup copies, and cannot be purchased separately.
Handy flash drive tip: Always try plugging in a USB device the wrong way first? If your flash drive (or other USB plug) doesn't have a symbol to indicate which way is up, look for the side with a seam on the metal connector (it only has a line across one side) - that's the side that either faces down or to the left, depending on your port placement.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows® Today!
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows for free with build 1111!
With this update, there's more control when saving images from the Print Preview window, we've added defaults to the MultiPicker for sorting and font size, updated printing options, updated RealTracks and other content, and addressed user-reported issues with the StylePicker, MIDI Soloists, key signature changes, and more!
A few excerpts:
"The Tracks view is possibly the single most powerful addition in 2024 and opens up a new way to edit and generate accompaniments. Combined with the new MultiPicker Library Window, it makes BIAB nearly perfect as an 'intelligent' composer/arranger program."
"MIDI SuperTracks partial generation showing six variations – each time the section is generated it can be instantly auditioned, re-generated or backed out to a previous generation – and you can do this with any track type. This is MAJOR! This takes musical experimentation and honing an arrangement to a new level, and faster than ever."
"Band in a Box continues to be an expansive musical tool-set for both novice and experienced musicians to experiment, compose, arrange and mix songs, as well as an extensive educational resource. It is huge, with hundreds of functions, more than any one person is likely to ever use. Yet, so is any DAW that I have used. BIAB can do some things that no DAW does, and this year BIAB has more DAW-like functions than ever."
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!
The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!
There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.
If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.
We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!
Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.