GarageBand for practicing?

synecdoche · #1 02-13-2009, 03:45 PM

Anybody here use GarageBand to lay down a backing track for practicing purposes?

I want to practice playing along with a band, and since I don't always have access to one, I thought GarageBand might make a nice substitute. Has anyone tried putting together some chord progressions, maybe transcribing stuff from a Real Book or whatever, for this purpose? Is there anywhere where you can download things like this? (They don't have to be real songs or anything, but just stuff to practice jamming with.)

Thanks!
Dave

Stumbo · #2 02-13-2009, 03:47 PM

Try:
http://www.freejamtracks.com/index.html

Note: The membership option is new. There are still free tracks. Scroll down below the Stevie Ray video (current as to 2/7/09).

Cameronj · #3 02-13-2009, 05:42 PM

I think Garageband can be a great tool for playing along with. I have only played around with the program, but it would be really easy to use it as a practice tool. Go for it!

MD · #4 02-13-2009, 07:28 PM

Band in a Box.

synecdoche · #5 02-13-2009, 07:29 PM

Thanks for the Jamtracks! I've been doing some more reading. I have GarageBand from a couple of releases ago, and as it turns out, the last release they tried to include some sort of way for musicians to use it just the way I am planning to do so. I might have to upgrade (I assume the newest version kept that feature!).

All I really want to be able to do is play along, like with JamTracks, and maybe program in my own chord progressions and such to play along with. Looks like it SHOULD do the trick, though maybe getting the rhythms down for the electronic instruments on the homemade "jam tracks" will take some practice. Oh well. I like messing around with this sort of thing anyway.

MarkMcCombs · #6 02-13-2009, 09:52 PM

Band in a Box

- not to be confused with SNL's "_ick in a Box".

slybass3000 · #7 02-13-2009, 10:26 PM

Why not?

Actually a good combination is Band in the box AND GB.

You can save your BITB's files and then drag them into GB for better sounds too.

phatbass · #8 02-13-2009, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD

Band in a Box.

+1

And if you hunt the 'net a bit you'll find the Real Books are available already done, often in one zip file.

A BIG advantage in Band In A Box is you can transpose stuff to any key, and change up the styles. It's also the bomb for printing out nice legible chord charts.

Like any program, the deeper you get into it the more you'll find it does.

mjwhit · #9 02-13-2009, 10:52 PM

i have the newer version of garageband and played around a little with the "magic band" for a little. you choose the style, the instruments, what style of player the instruments are, and can record your part next to the backing track.

its a good idea, but i would be better if they made it glaring obvious what chords etc all the instruments were playing. easy way to make music though. Pretty sure garageband can transpose to different keys etc.

Also i got the feeling it was pretty shallow. obviously the instruments were using prerecorded riffs/samples so it just doesnt have the excitement of a real jam. got kinda boring.

I still use garageband a lot, but when i wanna jam ill record something then jam overtop, looper style. I find it is really easy to use and has some pretty cool effects you can just drag and drop onto your recording-ie record into computer, add distortion, pretend its going through a particular amp etc etc...

DudeistMonk · #10 02-16-2009, 07:01 PM

Quote:

its a good idea, but i would be better if they made it glaring obvious what chords etc all the instruments were playing. easy way to make music though. Pretty sure garageband can transpose to different keys etc.

Yeah garage band is such a great program if only it would the loops would be labeled with chords and such.

You can buy loop packs (although I haven't yet) but I assume they are more expansive.

Also, I don't like the musical typing...it loves to omit notes from chords.

synecdoche · #11 02-16-2009, 07:17 PM

Yeah, I was trying to use the musical typing but it was pretty brutal. If nothing else, though, I can use it to set up some drums to play along with. I've found that if I put different loops on different tracks, I can use the pitch control to raise or lower some of the loops to whatever pitch I want. It is imperfect, but it works in a pinch.

Mo' Bass 00 · #12 02-18-2009, 04:35 PM

Is Garage Band for Mac

only?

Cameronj · #13 02-18-2009, 05:30 PM

omgurry · #14 03-23-2009, 08:18 AM

Hi,
I have recently started a website for jam tracks. Although it is primarily aimed at guitarists, the latest 2 collections (25 tracks) are drums only so are perfect for bassists too. The collections cover various modern styles as well as odd time signatures - from more common meters like 3/4 and 5/4 to more challenging ones like 10/8, 11/8 and 15/16.

You can find it at www.JamTracksForGuitar.com
people guitarist (or any other instrumentalist for that matter) jamming along to the tracks to feature on the site and my YouTube channel so get in touch if you come up with something cool

Thanks.

Owen Gurry
www.JamTracksForGuitar.com
owen@jamtracksforguitar.com

paul_wolfe · #15 03-23-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MD View Post
Band in a Box.

+100

Band in a box is better than garageband AS A PRACTICE TOOL. If you wanna make MUSIC then Garageband is better but as a practice tool BIAB is way more useful than Garageband.

Only caveat is that as you you're using Garageband I'm assuming you've got a MAC - the best version of BIAB is Windows, so maybe you'll have to run it with either bootcamp or in one of the many emulators out there (VMX Fusion, Parallel, Virtual PC etc).

dmrogers · #16 04-06-2009, 07:31 PM

I just got my Tascam FW-1082 hooked up to my MacBook and started using it for practice.

In the past, I would record myself playing with a CD through a soundboard. I feel that recording yourself is a good way to critique your playing. Using Garageband steps it up a notch!

I pulled a free jam track into Garageband too. Works great. If you are honest with yourself, you can really hear your weaknesses when recording/practicing.

MNAirHead · #17 04-06-2009, 07:37 PM

I've just stared using M-Audio Session. this is kind of like the PC based competitor.. was $20 on eslay.

**Pacman** · #18 04-06-2009, 07:43 PM

Band in a Box is the ultimate practice tool! I use it every single day. Big plus is the RealDrums packages - very cool!

chicagodoubler · #19 04-07-2009, 12:13 PM

Dave, Garage band is an incredible practice tool but requires a little work to create a play along track.

For this purpose, an Aebersold CD might be better suited for you.

If you have a midi controller, it's very simple to just play in the chords for whatever you want to shed, or get a pianist to come over and rock it for you.