I was checking out all my software that came with BIAB,and i found exactly was i was looking for. Its called PowerTracks-PRO and the CD also has SlowBlaster,but it doesn,t work. But the Powertracks has all the drum beats i was looking for and you can adjust beats from slow to very fast,perfect for my timing and chuggin training.Thanks for all replys.:biggrin:
Windows media player 10 has a slow downer. One thing i'm lacking is playing a beat in my head.. or my foot a tapping .. too play solo harp.. I got addicted too BackingTracks.. when i got internet... I need too get back too the basic harmonica playing.. get that beat in side ya head!
I have a keyboard and have done exactly that. Mine has a great blues shuffle built in.
Jude
>>>I am thinking of checking out garage sales for used keyboards with drum machines built in. I can see that one of those might be really useful. Any advice or comments on that?
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Jude's favorite song..."Down Home Bues" Check out Jeanie Cheathem
I use Transcribe software as a slowdowner. I also like the fact that it lets you analyse any snippet of song you choose to find out what notes are in it. That really helps figure out those octave splits and fancy lead-in notes.
I use a metronome and I use jam tracks to keep me on time and in the groove.
If I had a drum machine I would use it but I can't see buying one.
I am thinking of checking out garage sales for used keyboards with drum machines built in. I can see that one of those might be really useful. Any advice or comments on that?
1) JUST DRUMS - To get just a drum beat, mute all the instruments except the drums. 2) NO FIDDLIN' - Type in a 12 (or 8) bar blues progression. Open different styles or transponse as needed. I don't know how much simpler it can get. Well, there are sets of midifiles out on the net somewhere which are just blues progressions in different keys. A search should find them or you could try the BIAB users group on Yahoo Groups.
I have BIAB,i have a transcriber-to compicated ,and i have a metronome.I also have audiocity,i that for recording ,but need a drum beat. If there is an easy way to get it from BIAB, i would like to here about it . Thanks, Paul J.:confused:
Couple quick questions. Is there any freeware drum software? And Is there freeware tracks for Band-in-a-Box that are ready to use without having to fiddle with them? I want to learn to play harp, not become and expert on Band-in-a-Box. :wink:
I always hated metronomes, but drummer Tom in one of the bands I play in suggested a start using one when recording guitar. It changed everything in a subtle way. I stopped speeding up in the exciting parts of the songs. So much. It gave me a lot of confidence knowing I was playing in time. The metronome is a great friend.
Paul here's my take on practice tools 1) Slowdowner, either hardware or software. Excellent for learning songs, solos, riffs. I use an old version of Cool Edit software (1996, no longer available), but there are other software (Audacity, and others) that do the same thing. I'm not sure a hardware slowdowner is worth it anymore. 2) Drum machine. Yes, some drum machine or metronome is needed for practicing your playing to keep on the beat. Folks often use just a metronome, but a drum machine might be fun to play over a shuffle or in a harp + drums type of song (e,g, Keith Dunn). I have a hardware drum machine but for another reason. But really, you ought to look at ... 3) Autoaccompaniment software or jam tracks. I use Band in a Box (pgmusic.com) for full song backing. Fantastic tool. Jam tracks are also excellent (and Jon has some great ones)... they are less flexible but in many cases more realistic.
Anyway if I had to pick one practice tool, it would be Band in a Box. Second would be a software player with variable speed, constant pitch, to dissect recorded solos. Third, but really first, would be a recorder to listen to your playing so you can monitor your progress. Since you can do that with Band in a Box and other autoaccompaniment software, I guess that's my vote. I like to be able to dissect solos too, but if I had to choose, BIAB is the way I'd go.
Hi Paul, I'm new to the forum and fairly new to harp playing but I have to reply to your question. I have the Amazing Slow Downer and have to say that it is a great learning tool. It is basically a piece of software that allows you to slow down the music without distorting the tone. I heard about it in another forum and downloaded a trial version (this only allows you to use it on part of a song). I had to have it. I am still working on the basics, mostly melodies and use the ASD with Jon's Harmonica Americana CD. After I play the song enough to memorize the notes in my head I fire up the ASD and set it around 60% speed and give it a whirl. You just work your way up till your playing along with the CD at full speed. Another great feature of the ASD is it allows you to set up loop. So if there is a part of a song you want to work on you just set a start point and stop point and it will loop that part. I found it at ronimusic.com and it was around $45.
Does anyone use either one of these practice tools,are they availiable as downloads. If you could only have one ,which would you pick. Thanks ,Paul:biggrin:
