How Do You Use Band in a Box?

[Gareth]

I was wondering how other people use Band in a Box. Here's what I use it for:

• Practicing chord progressions in different keys.
• Practicing themes and impro on standards
• Practicing comping and getting ideas for comping.
• Getting ideas for solos from the automatic soloist

Does anyone have other ideas how to use Band in a Box?

[derek]

Good uses you listed, and I do those things too. You didn't specifically mention using the tempo to start slow and build speed, but I'll bet you do that too. A couple other things I use it for.

I have created some cycling patterns ii V I, iii vi ii V I, etc, that go around the key circle for me to use to practice new chords, licks, or lines over. Not real musical, but systematic for getting new material under my fingers.

I have used it to create leadsheets for taking to ensemble practice. I have used it to flesh out tunes I have written.

Lastly, I use it to create backing tracks to burn to disc for students.

[wizard3739]

I use BIAB when I need to work on a new tune or brush up on an old tune. I enter the chords and melody of the tune and then play along with it by first comping with the melody and then playing the melody with just a bass and drums for accompaniment and for the rest of the choruses I improvise. I usually set BIAB for 5 or 6 choruses to practise with. This approach allows me to practise (1) comping, (2)the melody & (3)building improvised lines. After learning the tune in the key it was written in, I will use Biab to practise the tune in other keys.

best wishes,
wiz

[Jazzarian]

Originally Posted by Gareth

How Do You Use Band in a Box?

Adroitly!

[mike_k]

Has anyone used BIAB for creating chord melody arrangements? I have downloaded a number of tunes and then used the chord solo generator. It seems like a pretty cool function, esp. for tunes I have not worked on before.

[derek]

I have used that setting before, but haven't tried to learn/play what it generates. Seems like a pretty cool function. What would REALLY be cool if it genterated a different arrangement of the same song each time you hit the function.

I assume that is too much to ask for.