If you’ve read many of my emails or lessons, you’ve probably heard me talk about “looking at the road and not the wall” when you practice.
What I mean by that is like race car drivers looking at the wall and thinking “oh I hope I don’t hit the wall,” you’ll end up sounding like what you play along with.
If you always practice alone, and only hear what you are playing, and you are playing it wrong, it’s going to take a lot longer to play it right than if you play along with someone else who is playing it right. That someone else doesn’t have to actually be there, it could be the recording of the song.
To that end, I made a video of how I like to play along with things using the loop and tempo functions of the Riffmaster Pro program. You don’t have to use that program, it’s just what I use and it is the best thing I’ve found for this purpose. I sure wish I had it when I was learning, that’s for sure.
Also, if you have Riffmaster Pro, but haven’t figured out how to get the tracks from the CDs into the program, I show that as well.
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Griff, I believe Acid Pro software does the same functions as RiffMaster. I have it and I’ll let you know. The software is downloadable from the Sony website for a price of course.
Griff, Acid Music Studio does have the same functions as RiffMaster and works the same with CD’s. Supports all file types that I have encountered. Current version is v. 7.0.
Mac users can give Amazing Slow Downer a try. Not as fully featured, but gets the job done.
Audacity (Free) can do the same thing, though not as intuitively.
I loves my Audacity. Great for recording streaming audio.
Griff.
I us Riffmaster and its great.
But I found a better tool which really only cost a little more. Its called Jam Vox. The software is great as you can select different sound amps and effects. (Really Cool). I loaded your CD and thats how I pratice. Your are right, Playing along is the fastest way to learn. I also load a few instumentals songs from CD’s and have learned a few songs (By ear). You get a Small Monitor that can set on your desktop and plug your guitar in. I don’t have to use my big amp and with the headphones the wife doesnt keep yelling (LOL). But the Best part is its also an audio interface so I can Record all my Pratice sessions and monitor my progress.
All so I bought BBG and BGU and I tell you I have learned a great deal with the BBG coarse and can’t wait till I can start the BGU coarse. I am 64 years old, retired and have lots of time to learn.
Thanks your a great teacher!!!!
Thanks, Griff,
I don’t have Riff Master, but, I do have the demo version of Amazing Slow-Downer and the Audacity program, as well as another one I can’t remember the name of lol. It’d be nice if I could get an explanation of how to use the Audacity one, since I could also record riffs with it.
Your techno-idjiot Christian musician friend,
Don
Thanks, Griff,
I don\’t have Riff Master, but, I do have the demo version of Amazing Slow-Downer and the Audacity program, as well as another one I can\’t remember the name of lol. It\’d be nice if I could get an explanation of how to use the Audacity one, since I could also record riffs with it.
Your techno-idjiot Christian musician friend,
Don
Hi Griff’, Cool program, thanks for sharing. I found another program on the net while I was researching some Mickey Baker licks. The site I found was using a (free version) of “tabl edit”, this program gives you playback and looping functions, but instead of showing wave lines it scrubs through tabs, music notation, fretboard graphics, and also shows fingerings on the keyboard. The program also has a slowdown feature. I was very impressed at the way this program worked. I also hear alot of buzz about band in a box although I’ve never used it.
Hi Griff\’, Cool program, thanks for sharing. I found another program on the net while I was researching some Mickey Baker licks. The site I found was using a (free version) of \"tabl edit\", this program gives you playback and looping functions, but instead of showing wave lines it scrubs through tabs, music notation, fretboard graphics, and also shows fingerings on the keyboard. The program also has a slowdown feature. I was very impressed at the way this program worked. I also hear alot of buzz about band in a box although I\’ve never used it.
Hi Griff\\\’, Cool program, thanks for sharing. I found another program on the net while I was researching some Mickey Baker licks. The site I found was using a (free version) of \\"tabl edit\\", this program gives you playback and looping functions, but instead of showing wave lines it scrubs through tabs, music notation, fretboard graphics, and also shows fingerings on the keyboard. The program also has a slowdown feature. I was very impressed at the way this program worked. I also hear alot of buzz about band in a box although I\\\’ve never used it.
Griff, Check out Video Surgeon (Videosurgeon.com I believe). This allows you to download videos (!) and then loop them,etc. but more importantly yo can slow them down just as Riff Master does, but you can see exactly how to finger, etc. at a very slow speed, so you can easily see the “flying” fingers at a very slow speed and also hear the song !
Hi Griff. I have Riffmaster and it’s excellent. You can also slow down music with Windows M
edia Player. Right Click top bar/Enhancements/Play Speed Settings (Win 7) Older versions have the settings in the options menu I think. Speed is 50% on older versions.
Video Surgeon is quite good but very expensive. Another at almost half the price, but includes several free playalong lessons is Slow-Mo Director: http://www.slomodirector.com/
GRIFF-WHATS UP!!
I cant seem to get Riffmaster to bring up that page on my computer,is there a Riffmaster site i can go to and download from!
Keep on Keeping on!
Thanks David
Hi Griff,
The Riffmaster program looks very usable. However, what if you need tab in order to play along? I am not experienced enough to pick out the notes by ear. Thanks.
If you use Griff’s link under the video to learn more about Riffmaster it seems the latest version is now available for Macs as well. I’m a Windows user but I just happened to notice it
They have Amazing Slow Downer for Windows as well. I have both Amazing Slow Downer and Riff Master Pro. I like them both, they just have different interfaces really.
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