LinuxMusicians

Hi,

I am new to music production software, and I'd like to be able to do a few things to help my guitar practice (I did toy with similar software ages ago, just for fun, so I am a bit familiar with composing using samples). In particular, I want to be able to loop some very simple chords and melodies so I can play along. So far I have used a website called Drumbot, specifically https://drumbot.com/projects/key_chords/ but I want to add tracks to that, customize chords...

I have used LMMS for a couple of weeks and it does what I need but the guitar samples that come with it aren't very nice (mostly "thrash guitars") and after a good afternoon of search (links in their forums/wiki and so on) I couldn't find more that I could make work. Also, months ago I installed Rosegarden but gave up on it because couldn't get it to produce sound (JACK issues, from what I understood here and there; LMMS works fine).

I would appreciate any suggestions... samples for LMMS would be nice, some other software that does the same would be good too.

Thanks!

Check out play it slowly for learning songs. It slows them down without altering pitch and can loop a section to learn. Hydrogen is a drum machine, great to practice to, insurance against the bedroom disease of thinking you are in time until you play with other musicians.

For looping I would use Ardour. Play along to the metronome and you can cut out and loop your backing. Use hydrogen for drums, pitch shift a guitar for bass and you can create your own full backing.

Get into recording. I always say it is like ballerinas using a mirror. How it sounds in your head and how it actually is can differ. Recording will help you learn to bridge the gap.

Yeah, check out BackupBand at https://sourceforge.net/projects/backupband/files since it was designed to do the specific task you're seeking. This is a program created for the purpose of providing live accompaniment, either for a live gig, or for practise. Some people will recommend software that is clearly intended as a composition, or mix production tool. But that entails a workflow that is not condusive to improvisation and live playing. You want software where you push a button and the app intelligently follows you. You don't want to spend time loading plugins, setting up a mix, nor composing backing tracks. You're not producing a studio recording. You just want to practise playing.

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions. I will take a look at BackupBand (I have a classical guitar so I'll have to go for a mic) and possible Ardour (I do like the idea of entering some chords, even note by note, and playing along). I'll let you know how it goes...