PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Woodshedding - Learning to Play! Using BiaB to learn to improvise - it's the best tool for the job that I've ever found

Although I play 7 instruments, I am best at saxophone, flute and wind synthesizer. All single note instruments (the wind synth has the capability of more than one, but in most situations that is impractical).

I've improvised solos long before BiaB was around.

IMHO Improvising a good solo requires creating tensions and then resolving them with the other instruments in the band. So practicing improvisation on the sax is difficult without the rest of the band members present, and in most cases one cannot expect the band to continuously play a song over and over while you try things out and practice improvising solos.

Before BiaB we had Music Minus One records (vinyl platters with grooves in them) followed by MMO cassette tapes. These were good aids but had four definitely limitations. (1) The songs available to practice with were limited to the small catalog of songs in the MMO library (2) you were stuck with the key of the recording (3) you were stuck with the tempo of the recording (4) if you were having trouble with a particular passage, it was difficult to find that part and play it over and over again.

Band-in-a-Box solves all these problems. Virtually any song you want, any tempo you want, any key you want, any style you want, and you can loop a section over and over to your heart's content.

This was the reason I bought BiaB for way back when I was using an Atari/ST computer and BiaB/PC was still in the DOS format.

Like most users of this app, I have found a number of different ways to use BiaB. When appropriate I use it to create backing tracks for my duo http://www.nortonmusic.com/backing_tracks.html, I use it to do the 'mule work' of harmonizing a part, I use it in my feeble attempts to write new songs, I started a 'moonlighting' business of creating style and fake disks for BiaB, and I still find it extremely useful for practicing improvisation.

We all learned certain rules for improv, some in school, some from other musicians, and some from self-discovery. But the rules are not concrete, written-in-stone formulas, but merely guidelines as to what works in a certain situation. Plus in many situations there are different ways to look at it and different rules to apply. And one more thing, the rules are made to be broken.

So with BiaB you can try many different things on the same song without boring the rest of the band while they play the song over and over while you try things out (that is, IF you can get the band to do that in the first place). Secondly, if what you thought might work sounds terrible (as it sometimes does) you don't embarrass yourself because BiaB is completely non-judgmental.

So while it does have many other fine uses, I believe BiaB is the absolute best tool for an improvising musician on the market. Crank it up, get your axe out, and start playing with it.

Insights and incites by Notes

Good post, Bob, and particularly applicable to me. I've been using some of Jamey Aebersold's books, such as "Nothin' But Blues." Sometimes the tempo on the accompanying CD is too fast causing me to concentrate more on keeping up than experimenting with my improv. I should add that I don't do enough improv to have learned it very well. Someone suggested that I study the modes. Sadly, I only made a minimal effort at it as it became more like memorizing for a biology test. I'm sure there are many books on improvization, but, as you aptly point out, it's better to learn by playing. If there was a modes dvd, at a slow tempo, I might do better. Alternatively, maybe I should make up some exercises of my own using BIAB.

Hey Norton, I got one for ya. Growing up a guitarist in the days of vinyl I wore out Peter Frampton’s, “Do You Feel Like We Do” with my guitar. 

I have used BIAB for practicing many times. I would load a riff and try a style moving the tempo to and fro. Then, there were also the music/ear training games that I let me daughter use that helps her.

Although I am not one to toil over a particular part until I got every note correct. You will definitely hear it in my recorded music. My primary technique in using BIAB as a practice tool is to take some of their pre-composed songs, and study the lines in them. This will cause my fingers to break their muscle memory. It is a great resource that allows you to break down, measure by measure, what is taking place in the song. I find that so much more productive than watching a video of a guitar virtuoso demonstrating their wares. That is for the “ooh” & “ah” effect. I need to see notes on a page and music accompanying it to really get better as a player.

Notes,

Right you are . . . from day one using BIAB I have said that besides the obvious benefits of the program even more importantly it has made me a better musician.

Later,

The pain wasn't the learning, that was exciting.

The pain was trying to find replacement vinyl for something that was no longer in the record stores.

I still like the sound of clean vinyl, but I also really like digital and the new tools that we have now.

Notes

Lately, I've been practicing my jazz piano playing with BIAB by taking a jazz tune with a Real Tracks style and muting everything but the bass. It helps a lot with my time, and my listening skills.