Chordpulse backing track tool

Ed Baker · Post by **Ed Baker** » 10 Apr 2019 6:09 am

There's a great $30 program that you can create backing tracks with.

http://www.chordpulse.com/info.html

I've been using Band-in-a-Box for over 20 years but got fed up with it's goofy interface and its overly complex options.

The learning curve for ChordPulse under 10 minutes.

It has an unrestricted 14 day free trial.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 10 Apr 2019 9:18 am

Chord Pulse is a Windows only application. Disappointed. I too find band-in-a-box needlessly complex.

Ed Baker · Post by **Ed Baker** » 10 Apr 2019 9:30 am

Yeah. Sorry I didn't mention that.
I'm sort of a dinosaur on androids, ipads and macs.
Maybe that'll change someday :->

Alex Shi · Post by **Alex Shi** » 10 Apr 2019 5:38 pm

Andy Volk wrote:Chord Pulse is a Windows only application. Disappointed. I too find band-in-a-box needlessly complex.

Don't know what you are running but it works well using Wine in Linux (Ubuntu 16.04).

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 11 Apr 2019 2:25 am

Alex Shi wrote:
Andy Volk wrote:Chord Pulse is a Windows only application. Disappointed. I too find band-in-a-box needlessly complex.
Don't know what you are running but it works well using Wine in Linux (Ubuntu 16.04).

Good to know Alex. I have a licensed copy... and I liked it, but switched to Linux.

Ed Baker · Post by **Ed Baker** » 11 Apr 2019 2:26 am

Not surprised. Wine is pretty good on programs that aren't way to "graphical".

I'm just using a Windows 10 PC .

What was your impression of ChordPulse?

Alex Shi · Post by **Alex Shi** » 11 Apr 2019 4:23 am

Ed Baker wrote:
What was your impression of ChordPulse?

I was looking for something very simple, where I can just type in the chords, choose style and rhythm, because that's all I can handle with my very basic music knowledge and Chordpulse works pretty well for that, I think. It is nothing fancy, but for basic backing and practice tracks it is good enough for me. You can try it for free fully functional for 14 days. It exports to midi and comes with about 100 styles of music.

Brad Richard · Post by **Brad Richard** » 11 Apr 2019 2:39 pm

Hey, Ed - Thanks for the tip on ChordPulse. Bought it today. What a neat, little tool! I'm surprised at how much is packed into it. I don't know that I'd use it for backing tracks for my shows, but for Youtube vids., etc. it should be quick and effective. And fun for just toolin' around. I'm as cheap as the next guy, but for $29,..........

I did write Laszlo and asked if alternate tunings could be built in. That would be sweet.

Ed Baker · Post by **Ed Baker** » 11 Apr 2019 6:13 pm

Thanks. One of my goals in posting was to add our corner of players to his, outrageously, terrific product.

I'll never go back to Band-in-a-Box.

Try experimenting with the "arrangement points". They're really cool. They can give a nice break to the bridge of a song.

Jim Smerk · Post by **Jim Smerk** » 13 Apr 2019 1:58 am

BiaB can be as easy or as complicated as ya make it....myself, I probably don't use 90% of it's ability, and I can not stand RealBand! Tho it's interface is way cleaner than BiaB.....

And ChordPulse does rock, I also own it. Since it is Midi based I would like to see a way that the user could add styles from midi files....THAT would be cool!

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 13 Apr 2019 3:33 am

Wine in Linux (Ubuntu 16.04)

I use Safari on a Mac and have no experience with Linux but I can learn, I suppose.

Alex Shi · Post by **Alex Shi** » 13 Apr 2019 5:40 pm

Andy Volk wrote:
Wine in Linux (Ubuntu 16.04)
I use Safari on a Mac and have no experience with Linux but I can learn, I suppose.

Since Chordpulse is a Windows program you could set up Mac/Windows dual boot.

Brad Richard · Post by **Brad Richard** » 14 Apr 2019 7:36 am

Andy Volk wrote:
Wine in Linux (Ubuntu 16.04)
I use Safari on a Mac and have no experience with Linux
but I can learn, I suppose.

Hey Andy - Are you by any chance a member of Red Green's Possum Lodge?

Brad Richard · Post by **Brad Richard** » 15 Apr 2019 2:52 pm

Ed - I just heard back from Laszlo. He said he'd try to add more tunings in a future free update, but it may be awhile.

At least he's thinking about it.

Jeremy DeHart · Post by **Jeremy DeHart** » 17 Apr 2019 4:29 am

I like Chord Pulse, but it just doesn't seem to have the flexibility that www.irealpro.com has. iRealpro has a lot of standard notation and has a ton of styles. My one complaint is it does not have the style I want, but I just checked Chord Pules and neither does that. However I think that's why BIAB is so complicated, because perhaps you can make your won style? I don't know though because I've never used BIAB. With iRealpro you get a ton of already made songs in the forums, and it's easy to publish your own. The one thing it's lacking is the ability to customize your own style. I'd be in heaven if it had that!

Francisco Castillo · Post by **Francisco Castillo** » 18 Apr 2019 10:16 pm

got it !!!

its a super tool
easy tu use, nice sounds

works as metronome, acconpaniment, composition tool, what else, just ask. No aditional interest in the company, just in music.

right now i'm working on getting my slants in tune with easy chords...

Ed Baker · Post by **Ed Baker** » 19 Apr 2019 12:44 pm

I like irealpro also. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a windows version .. just ipad, mac and android.

I'm a desk-bound person and can't use it conveniently.

I did set up an Android emulator once. It worked most of the time, but not always. Too bad.
https://www.memuplay.com/

Douglas Schuch · Post by **Douglas Schuch** » 19 Apr 2019 4:15 pm

OK, before I bother downloading it, and screwing around for several hours, let me ask a quick question: does it sound very midi? Or does it sound like real instruments? For practicing, it does not really matter, but I own BIAB - I find it difficult to work with, since I don't use it that often - but like having the sound of real instruments, even if I don't want to use it on stage.

Alex Shi · Post by **Alex Shi** » 19 Apr 2019 5:55 pm

Douglas Schuch wrote:OK, before I bother downloading it, and screwing around for several hours, let me ask a quick question: does it sound very midi? Or does it sound like real instruments? For practicing, it does not really matter, but I own BIAB - I find it difficult to work with, since I don't use it that often - but like having the sound of real instruments, even if I don't want to use it on stage.

I'm just a newbie with the program, but to give you a taste I made this simple Waltzing Matilda practice track with Chordpulse, you can download the midi from this link and see how you like the instruments.
http://www.midiworld.com/download/5090

Skip Ellis · Post by **Skip Ellis** » 20 Apr 2019 5:38 am

I just downloaded the demo and tried it. The sounds are not bad but it kept skipping beats on a simple 4 bar ballad (1-2m-5-1) ...frustrating! I'll try it some more but that would be a deal killer.

I emailed them about the problem so will post the answer when I receive it.

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 20 Apr 2019 8:47 am

The sound clip sounds acceptable,,,but 90% of what I use in BIAB are the Ray Price rhythm tracks from Jim Baron/Forum. Are there track on Chordpulse that would be comparable?

Skip Ellis · Post by **Skip Ellis** » 20 Apr 2019 9:09 am

Sonny Jenkins wrote:The sound clip sounds acceptable,,,but 90% of what I use in BIAB are the Ray Price rhythm tracks from Jim Baron/Forum. Are there track on Chordpulse that would be comparable?

Haven't found any so far

Sonny Jenkins · Post by **Sonny Jenkins** » 20 Apr 2019 1:23 pm

or maybe even a 4/4 walking bass???

Alex Shi · Post by **Alex Shi** » 20 Apr 2019 5:08 pm

If you search on Youtube with "chordpulse music sample" you will find many more examples.

Ed Baker · Post by **Ed Baker** » 21 Apr 2019 4:14 am

I use slash chords, and/or arrangement points, for walkups and downs.

Example: G/G [2 beats] G/A [1 Beat] G/B [1 beat] C [for whatever length]

Putting an Arrangement point on beats 2 with "Sustain Chords" and "Cymbal Off", then cancelling it back to normal on the C chord gives a nice hard walkup.

You can leave the arrangement points out for a more subtle walking sound.

I'll admit it's not the same as a hard/hand picked guitar 5th or 6th string. But, it works for me and is simple.

I'm not aiming at on-stage realism. Just practice rhythms.