The Steel Guitar Forum

can anybody tell how usefull the software "band in the box" might be for a newbie to steel guitar?

If you like having your own rhythm section play in any style, in any key, at any volume, any tempo, any time of day or night with any progression- then you will find Band In A Box very useful. Contact Big Jim Baron Bigjim4b@sbcglobal.net as he is our resident BIAB go-to expert for both sales and support.

My Opinion:

BIAB can and will be a very useful learning and practice tool for any player, assuming it's used properly.

It does require some music theory knowledge, or at least access to some very good chord charts or lead sheets for the songs that you're trying to learn.

I think that it's best benefit is the timing and consistency issue. It never varies unless you make a change. It will improve your timing by way of not waiting on you when you make a mistake.

Your mileage may vary

I am new too. I am beginning to use BIAB as a tool. I find it very helpful. It also has features not normally listed on the ads such as 3 ear training features. This is very useful to me as I have very under-developed ear for cords.

I would like to suggest you contact Chuck Campbell or Jim Baron [like JP said, he is great]. They both seem to be BIAB gurus. Mr. Campbell has a CD out with over 4,000 tracks on it. Mr. Baron has some tracks for sale through the forum. I am using them every day along with my lessons.

I think Doug Beamier has a large book done with BIAB. There is a "free" version somewhere on the net that is like a "viewer." He has some samples for his book you could view. The information is here on the forum somewhere. It won't let you change anything, but you can see sample-like versions.

I really am finding it valuable. Of course, I am having to learn a new software package. That's a drawback, but I really think that in the long run it will be worth the time and effort.

Be careful if you are a Mac user.

I carefully read the website, watched all the tutorials, bought the program, and then found some very significant features (in the very video tutorial supplied with the software) were not there!

Most prominent for steel guitar practice is that the Mac version doe not permit you to freely set a custom loop length and position so it is difficult to isolate passages to practice.

The best thing about BIAB is...you don't have to hire any musicians to help you do a recording.

Thanks to everyone for your help and advice.
I have contacted bigjim for price on band in the box

You will enjoy it Frank, and Jim is the way to go. Also look at joining the PG Music forum lots of help there for those using PG music products.