guitar direct box
Improve your songs with Band in a Box
For many aspiring songwriters the biggest problem they have is to try to reproduce the sound they have in their head, so other people can hear how good their songs are.
Those who are in a band can easily test their compositions with other band members until they are satisfied with the finished song.
But for those who do not have access to band members, this can be a problem. It can be very frustrating to have this finished singing floats around in our head, but never quite managed to replicate it using only a piano or guitar.
I've been in this situation most of the time I have been writing songs, and long before home computers became popular it was a real problem. The song in my head always sounded much better than the one I played solo on my guitar.
But for the last ten years, so I used a piece of music software from PG Music Inc. called Band in a Box.
For me it has revolutionized my songwriting and what more it is really easy to use. Finally I can get as close as possible to the song I hear in my head.
What I do is I write the song in normal show, working the chords on either my electric keyboard or guitar, mainly guitar in my case. For me I tend to write the chords, melody and lyrics together, I find that helps to write the second.
So, I now have the lyrics and melody that I can sing along to, as I strum chords on my acoustic guitar. When I am satisfied with the structure of the song, I can turn my attention to get the song into Band in a Box.
There are different ways I can do this. I could play my song via a MIDI keyboard directly into Band in a Box, but I am inclined to physically enter all the chords from the computer keyboard.
- Band In a Box's main input area is divided into a grid similar to Microsoft's table, I simply enter chord in a grid box where I want to make a chord change. So if my song was in Key C I just wanted to write in C Am FG or what other chords, I will in the different networks.
When I got the whole song concluded Band in a Box, and I am glad that the pace is correct and all the chord changes are in the right place, I begin to be creative.
This is where it becomes interesting.
One of the main features in Band in a Box is the hundreds of different styles to choose from, and these different styles have different instruments.
So let us say that I had written a country song. I can now hear what specific country style fits my best song. I would like Country Swing style, but after experimenting, Country Shuffle suites decide the song better.
Now it gets even more interesting! I note that Country shuffle has a dumb guitar in it, which I really dislike. After tried a few different guitars out decide I prefer jazz guitar and then change it to it.
I can add reverb, chorus and pan for all instruments mute instruments, I do not want to hear. Add a lead guitar intro, a Honky Tonk piano lead in the middle. The choice is up to me, I become the producer of my own song.
When I finish I want, as it says on the box, a full backing band of bass, drums, piano and guitar all playing my song, then I can sing with at.
This must be the best backing band I ever played with, no stroppy drummer to content with. No flashy guitarist who wants to excel the limelight. Just my song being played, as I heard it in my head!
From this point I can save the instruments that the individual numbers, and import them into a sequencer, record vocals and do my demo CD.
Or save the file as a midi file and use it on stage as a backing track for me to add live vocal to.
There are many more features in Band in a Box, which I never got round to use, but it was the best I have used to help with my songwriting.
For those who do not play an instrument, it would be ideal, it can even create a melody for you. All in all, I would recommend this product.
For more information on writing songs visit http://superiorsongwriting.blogspot.com/
About the Author
Palmer PDI-09 Guitar Direct Box Demonstration
The first step in learning the guitar is to determine your skill level. Beginners and intermediates should find a resource designed for them, and leave advanced guitar lessons for later as they become more proficient. It is wise to start with something designed for your skill level, which makes guitar instruction more fun. Click Here For A Learn To Play Guitar Product Review