What do you use to learn songs?

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by Roadkill

+1 I have both .

I used Transcribe! before that.

Which one do you like better? Will the GB-10 also remove the bass tracks?

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by bassinplace

Which one do you like better? Will the GB-10 also remove the bass tracks?

The MP-BT1 has EQ that can enhance or suppress the bass line on the MP3. The GB-10 doesn't. It's not really a big deal. I do like that the MP-BT1 is rechargable. The user interface of the GB-10 is MUCH improved over the MP-BT1.

Dunno if you can still find a "new" MP-BT1 - they haven't made them in a while.

[pedro]

I confess I've not read all of this thread so...

Generally speaking my approach has been to listen to the song with bass in hand until I'm pretty comfortable that I know the chord changes. In figuring out the changes I usually come pretty close to what the bass player is doing. Obviously some songs are easier than others and sometimes even the easy songs have some parts that are a bit tougher.I hear intervals, etc. pretty good but my main problem is being able to actually 'hear' the bass line as it sometimes get buried or goes by a bit too quick for me ear. With the above in mind my ideal practice/transciption device would:

1. Isolate an instrument (or at least boost it 'till its more audible).

2. Slow the tune or passage down.

3. Allow change of keys without change of tempos

AND

4. Mute an instrument to allow me to jump into the song instead of the bass track.

One more thing, it's got to be drop dead easy. I kid you not I'm a complete goof when it comes to this sort of stuff. Computer-ease might as well be martian and I couldn't even figure out Garageband. Do any of the devices mentioned above meet the criteria?

If one does, I'd be most appreciative of knowing which one it is.

[pandros]

the best method and quickist is:
a) find the midi file on the net.
b) use notation player (or similar) to isolate the bass line...print out the sheet music.
c) download the mp3.
d) play along with track (bass off).

for Most you can get a song ready to gig in less than an hour...sometimes 15 mins!
(once you've brought your sheet music reading up to speed in the lines below the stave...midi always prints the sheet music an octave low)

no midi...
then its down to you!
I get the Tab (and the chords)...
change the format into 4 note bars.(if appropriate)
listen to the track...and get a sense of the style of the song, then get bass line to match the style rather than spot on.

If it has to be spot on!
you can buy the sheet music for some of the songs...

My last resort is trying to pick out the bass line from the mix...
To get it right can take hours...
If I have to...I lay down the chords first, using a guitar.
then the structure.
then the style again...
By this time, I'm usually playing something with a band in practice or live.
Then just tweek it...to fit how we are going to play it.

I just don't have time to learn 10 songs a week from scratch.
midis are great to save time...
One of my bands is playing more and more obscure stuff, and I'm just making something up from the root notes.

Things is...I like my bass lines to be as close as possible to the originals. I change them, if the line is a bit tricky (cos i'm basically not good enough!)

[two fingers]

Headphones. Youtube.

[skwee]

Except for distinctive riffs, I find the chords online or get my hands on a lead sheet, which will show me at least what the roots are. I get comfortable with the changes by playing downbeats or a simple version of a part. Then I construct a line based on that movement from chord to chord.

[Scot]

Another Transcribe! user here. It's absolutely fantastic.

[drummer5359]

Originally Posted by Roadkill

The MP-BT1 has EQ that can enhance or suppress the bass line on the MP3. The GB-10 doesn't. It's not really a big deal. I do like that the MP-BT1 is rechargable. The user interface of the GB-10 is MUCH improved over the MP-BT1.

Dunno if you can still find a "new" MP-BT1 - they haven't made them in a while.

They make a MP-BT2, which I'm assuming is the newer model. The fiance has it on her Christmas list already for me. (If I can stand to wait that long.)

I have roughly 2,500 CDs on the walls of my music room, so a CD based unit is more convenient and practical for my purposes.

Has anyone else else tried out the MP-BT2?

[repoman]

I'll buy the song on itunes (99 cents usually) find the lyrics and chords on one of the five hundred websites that post this stuff, put the song on a loop and use the chord/lyric sheet to learn the chord changes....lastly, unless there is a well defined bass line that must be played, I make up my own chord to chord walks...now, about those must play lines, I'll try to find tabs and transcribe them to actual notes for future reference.
For the most part, this system has worked for me...but then again, I suck at playing, so why are you even reading this??

[gtaus]

I posted the following note in another thread, but it seems to apply as well here. I have used Guitar Pro 6 to learn new songs just because there are so many popular cover tune GP6 files for free on the internet. It's no longer my preferred method to learn songs, but I still download some GP6 files to jam along with from time to time. Mostly, however, I just use my Tascam GB-10, YouTube videos, and slow down software like VLC which works on both audio and video (YouTube) files. The free Best Practice software is great when I need to convert and save a file into a different key. Anyway, here is the note I posted about Guitar Pro 6, for those interested:

In case anyone is interested, Guitar Interactive Magazine, a free online iGuitar magazine, is offering Guitar Pro 6 Lite registered for free this month in their downloads. According to the ad, this enables you to a "preference" upgrade to Guitar Pro 6 complete at 50% off. I already have Guitar Pro 6, but if someone is looking to buy the software, it looks like this is a way to get a copy of GP6 at half off. Thought I would share....

Here is the link that I received: http://licklibrary.ceros.com/iguitar...sue13/page/124

Works for me, but I'm a subscriber to Guitar Interactive Magazine online. If the link does not work for you, maybe you want to sign up for the free online mag and check them out.

Take care.

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by drummer5359

They make a MP-BT2, which I'm assuming is the newer model.

I'm pretty sure they don't. They do make a CD-BT2 but that uses CD's and not MP3's .

[Roadkill]

Originally Posted by gtaus

Here is the link that I received: http://licklibrary.ceros.com/iguitar...sue13/page/124

That's garbled, try http://licklibrary.ceros.com/iguitar...sue13/page/124

[gtaus]

Thanks, roadkill.

[drummer5359]

Originally Posted by Roadkill

I'm pretty sure they don't. They do make a CD-BT2 but that uses CD's and not MP3's .

There was discussion about the older CD based model, the CD-BT1. I was curious about the CD-BT-2. I WANT a CD based trainer, I own 2,500 CDs, so a mp3 based trainer adds another step that I don't need.

[precijazz]

Originally Posted by 4001

My ears.

Most of the time, just this. My iPod or my smartphone > amp > headphones.

To loop difficult parts I use audacity on my PC. Still looking for a suitable Android app for that purpose.

[brianerwin]

I have am MP3 player in my Andriod Samsung Galaxy s and there is an EQ option in the settings for music. It has an equalizer sort of tool and I just set it so the lower sounds comes out.

[prd004]

Originally Posted by Bassist4Eris

I find the bass line can become indistinct on mp3s or youtube clips. I hear it much better on a CD. YMMV.

This!

If you want to go advanced here are some great tips;

Play through a mixer and some quality monitors. Most stereo systems incorporate some kind of smiley face which can make tones hard to hear. Through your mixers eq you can dial specific frequencies to taste.

Turn one monitor off! This will help a ton!! Multiple guitar layers, stereo keys, backing vocals, horn sections, whatever..... 99% of the time the bass will be center panned while the rest of the sounds will be either left or right! You can eliminate half the interference. (try turning off each speaker and see which one helps the most)

[gtaus]

Originally Posted by drummer5359

There was discussion about the older CD based model, the CD-BT1. I was curious about the CD-BT-2. I WANT a CD based trainer, I own 2,500 CDs, so a mp3 based trainer adds another step that I don't need.

Found the CD-BT2 on Amazon.com for $107 http://www.amazon.com/Tascam-CD-BT2-...ywords=CD-BT-2. Best wishes.

[drummer5359]

Originally Posted by gtaus

Found the CD-BT2 on Amazon.com for $107 http://www.amazon.com/Tascam-CD-BT2-...ywords=CD-BT-2. Best wishes.

Thanks, I'll let you know how it works out.

[boogie88]

I bought a copy of Amazing Slow Downer years ago.
I run that on my laptop, and run the audio out to my little Mackie 1202-VLZ mixer, plug my bass and headphones into the mixer, and I am set to learn any material I need, without bothering anybody else in the house!
Plus, I find it's just easier to "hear" the bass part in my headphones (Sennheiser HD280 Pro), and I can "feel" if I'm playing the part correctly.
I'll find the mp3 of the tune I need to learn, or rip the mp3 from the cd, or YouTube, or wherever, and play it in ASD.
I play along with one looped section (intro, verse, chorus, or even a bar or two at a time, if necessary) of the song at a time, slow it down if I have to, speed it up till I can play along smoothly at normal speed, then move on to the next section.
Here's a great trick:
If I'm having trouble hearing the bass part, and EQ'ing the track doesn't help, I transpose the playback up an octave, (+12 semitones) and the bass usually pops right out!