OG_Blues
Guitar Geezer
Lots of guys here have DAWs of one kind or another. I have recently switched to making my computer the central hub so to speak for all things musical here. The only remnants of analog hardware are a small pedalboard and the PA style amplifier for the PC sound output.
In the process of doing this, I came to realize how my DAW can serve as a really practical practice tool beyond the task of just documenting how horrible my playing really is.
I use it to set up projects that contain tracks of a common or similar type. This allows me to quickly switch back and forth between practicing different things with just a few mouse clicks.
Many of Griffs solos and lessons are in the key of G, and many use the very same backing track.
So, For Example,
One project contains the following:
Slow Blues in G, backing track
BGU Solo 4 (Griff playing)
BGU Extra Solo (Griff playing)
Individual tracks for all 6 SBS Solos (Griff playing)
An additional track for each of the above for recording along with one of the above.
This setup allows me to just pick which one of these I want to practice by soloing playback and record enabling the appropriate track.
The DAW provides the ability to:
Loop sections for focused practice on short sections or individual licks, with or without recording.
Play back my recorded take with Griff's playing (it's a lot easier to identify timing issues using this type of playback as opposed to identifying them in real time as you play - you can also see the timing variations in the recorded waveforms).
Play back my recorded take along with the backing track (this makes it easy to pretend that you got it right).
It is also very easy to use the DAW as a simple looper for practicing phrases over a vamp, or for practicing hitting chord tones on the changes, working on improv ideas, etc.
I'm sure there are many other ways it can be used as well, but this is a good starter list.
Of course, this can all be done at any volume through the amp / speakers, or silently with headphones.
There could be many different ways to set up projects to facilitate practice, based on what you are working on.
I have found this to be quite convenient, efficient, and useful, and I get more mileage out of my DAW at the same time!
In the process of doing this, I came to realize how my DAW can serve as a really practical practice tool beyond the task of just documenting how horrible my playing really is.
I use it to set up projects that contain tracks of a common or similar type. This allows me to quickly switch back and forth between practicing different things with just a few mouse clicks.
Many of Griffs solos and lessons are in the key of G, and many use the very same backing track.
So, For Example,
One project contains the following:
Slow Blues in G, backing track
BGU Solo 4 (Griff playing)
BGU Extra Solo (Griff playing)
Individual tracks for all 6 SBS Solos (Griff playing)
An additional track for each of the above for recording along with one of the above.
This setup allows me to just pick which one of these I want to practice by soloing playback and record enabling the appropriate track.
The DAW provides the ability to:
Loop sections for focused practice on short sections or individual licks, with or without recording.
Play back my recorded take with Griff's playing (it's a lot easier to identify timing issues using this type of playback as opposed to identifying them in real time as you play - you can also see the timing variations in the recorded waveforms).
Play back my recorded take along with the backing track (this makes it easy to pretend that you got it right).
It is also very easy to use the DAW as a simple looper for practicing phrases over a vamp, or for practicing hitting chord tones on the changes, working on improv ideas, etc.
I'm sure there are many other ways it can be used as well, but this is a good starter list.
Of course, this can all be done at any volume through the amp / speakers, or silently with headphones.
There could be many different ways to set up projects to facilitate practice, based on what you are working on.
I have found this to be quite convenient, efficient, and useful, and I get more mileage out of my DAW at the same time!