Are you using it? I’ve used Amazing Slow Downer for years, but I like some of the features listed in Song Surgeon. I just wonder how well they work, particularly key identification and chord changes. Also the “anti-chipmunk” feature for vocals..

I use Band in a Box. It'll do about the same thing: input chords to any song, in any key, at any tempo and many other more technical things. It's a little pricey.

I have no connection with the company, just a software I've been using for many years and have probably 400 plus songs in it.

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Originally posted by Patrick1962

Has anybody used this slowdown program? This newest version also shows you what the BPM of the song is as well as what key its in and shows the chords as its playing...plus a bunch of other stuff..and, no..I am not connected to this company

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Yes I purchased Surgeon 2 way back. At the time I thought it was a great tool  however shortly after making my purchase they brought out a new upgraded version and expected me to pay almost full price with a miserly 10% discount. I politely told them where they could stick it. Adding that they knew an upgrade was imminent and yet they allowed me to make the purchase without informing me an upgrade was due to be released. If you do a Google search your find lots of FREE apps that are just as good.

John-no, dont have it yet..but am thinking it might be quite useful for other than the obvious of slowing down songs. Many exp players/teachers on here have commented on the importance of being able to hear a chord change and eventually knowing what chord will probably come next. I was thinking that this might be a useful tool for that also.
Fred-thanks for that..apparently you werent the only one who complained about that as apparently they have corrected that oversight and are doing that now. If you know of other free programs out there that do the same thing as the newest version of Song Surgeon 5 please share! I am of Scottish and Irish descent and tend to be somewhat "frugal" (i.e. cheap-LOL)

Transcribe! is a good slow-downer software, I am very happy with it. I have got all updates for free ever since I bought the program close to ten years ago. There are some online videos about it, some of them made by Jennifer Batten, a very good hard rock guitarist best known to general audiences for having been Michael Jackson's touring guitarist.

I looked at the SS website. v5 is for sale, and you can buy v6 "protection". On the othr hand, they say that v6 will be released in spring '24, which has already passed, so it might be a good idea to wait.

songsurgeon.com/version-6-launch.html

It's also interesting that the protection is 75 USD for both the standard and pro versions, which exactly the same price as v5 standard.  So if you buy v5 vstandard with protection there's not much advantage unless theres a sharp price increase, and if you buy v6 pro you save $22.

https://v5.songsurgeon.com/v5_new/

And back in 2019, they said that v6 would be delayed until the next year, so I wouldn't hold my breath on v6.

https://songsurgeon.com/blog/3328-2/

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Originally posted by reubenstump

And back in 2019, they said that v6 would be delayed until the next year, so I wouldn't hold my breath on v6.

https://songsurgeon.com/blog/3328-2/

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Oops, make that January 2022.  Still, that's over two years ago. You get the idea.

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Originally posted by Patrick1962

John-no, dont have it yet..but am thinking it might be quite useful for other than the obvious of slowing down songs. Many exp players/teachers on here have commented on the importance of being able to hear a chord change and eventually knowing what chord will probably come next. I was thinking that this might be a useful tool for that also.
Fred-thanks for that..apparently you werent the only one who complained about that as apparently they have corrected that oversight and are doing that now. If you know of other free programs out there that do the same thing as the newest version of Song Surgeon 5 please share! I am of Scottish and Irish descent and tend to be somewhat "frugal" (i.e. cheap-LOL)

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Some things you just gotta do for yourself. As suggested try GOOGLE

Fred-bro, I think you missed the point..of course I could do an exhaustive google search, but the point was IF anyone had tried it before and what their thoughts were on it BEFORE I kick out the money for it..also a lot of freeware out there that can trash your computer

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Originally posted by Patrick1962

Fred-bro, I think you missed the point..of course I could do an exhaustive google search, but the point was IF anyone had tried it before and what their thoughts were on it BEFORE I kick out the money for it..also a lot of freeware out there that can trash your computer

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So you want someone else to do all the donkey work and take all the risk whilst you reap the benefits.  I bet your mom spoon fed you till you were late into your teens. You are the one missing the point. I am sure IF someone was willing to help you, you would still not accept their advice. 

FenderFred

Okay, that's enough! Let's be civil! He asked a question and he got answers. He didn't need someone to make him feel like he wasn't welcome here at the Hangout.

Questions are always welcome! Sarcastic, demeaning answers are NOT.

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Originally posted by Texasbanjo

FenderFred

Okay, that's enough! Let's be civil! He asked a question and he got answers. He didn't need someone to make him feel like he wasn't welcome here at the Hangout.

Questions are always welcome! Sarcastic, demeaning answers are NOT.

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Each time I've tried to help him he's shoved it back in my face. You're only seeing it from one side Sherry. 

quote:

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Originally posted by Patrick1962

Has anybody used this slowdown program? This newest version also shows you what the BPM of the song is as well as what key its in and shows the chords as its playing...plus a bunch of other stuff..and, no..I am not connected to this company

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Most apps will have a 30 day trial version. Just be clear what features you need. (It has anti-chipmonk - whoah!!)

I wouldn't recommend band-in-a-box, even though I use it all the time and it sounds the best. The learning curve is steep, and it's expensive.

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Originally posted by FenderFred

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Originally posted by Texasbanjo

FenderFred

Okay, that's enough! Let's be civil! He asked a question and he got answers. He didn't need someone to make him feel like he wasn't welcome here at the Hangout.

Questions are always welcome! Sarcastic, demeaning answers are NOT.

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Each time I've tried to help him he's shoved it back in my face. You're only seeing it from one side Sherry. 

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No, I've read each and every post on this thread and so far, you're the only one who's tried to make him feel bad.  So far, he hasn't said anything to make you feel bad.  

Since you feel you can't help him, don't try any more.  That way neither of you will get frustrated with the other's answers.

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Originally posted by Texasbanjo

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Originally posted by FenderFred

quote:

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Originally posted by Texasbanjo

FenderFred

Okay, that's enough! Let's be civil! He asked a question and he got answers. He didn't need someone to make him feel like he wasn't welcome here at the Hangout.

Questions are always welcome! Sarcastic, demeaning answers are NOT.

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Each time I've tried to help him he's shoved it back in my face. You're only seeing it from one side Sherry. 

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No, I've read each and every post on this thread and so far, you're the only one who's tried to make him feel bad.  So far, he hasn't said anything to make you feel bad.  

Since you feel you can't help him, don't try any more.  That way neither of you will get frustrated with the other's answers.

 

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You said it - In this thread

Fred..you're absolutely right! silly me..what was I thinking? Coming onto a banjo forum and asking people with more experience than me about...banjos! What a loser I am!
And to set the record straight..I have never thrown back anything in your face. I simply told you that I wasn't interested in signing up on BB's website...that I had checked it out and that it wasn't for me..never said a disparaging word about the man. Although I wish she would go and read through any and all of our interactions I'm reasonably sure she doesn't have the time or the inclination to do that.
Seriously though bro...Im sure you have come on here and asked peoples advice on different things and received a lot of different answers..so, let me ask you..did you take and do ALL of the things suggested? No, of course you didn't..that would be ridiculous.
So, all that being said, if you can point to a specific thing that I have said to insult you..please quote me and I will apologize and put an end to all of this silly s***. And if you cant do that you can go pound sand bro..enough is enough

Okay, both of you, stop it. Take your differences OFF the Hangout or get a time out. We don't need this back and forth dissention on the Hangout.

And now back to our regular programming...Ive seen a lot of exp players/teachers on this site stressing the importance of being able to hear chord changes. As this program shows chord changes as they happen and has the ability to make short clips I was thinking that this program might be quite useful. For example: if you were to take all of the songs on FMB and find a half a dozen or so clips where they change from a G to a C, or a D to a C etc and listened to those clips over and over that this might prove quite beneficial...thoughts?

Freebee, & it has slowdowner staying in the same key

fbbts.com/bluegrass/home

Bookmarked- thanks Chuck!

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Originally posted by Patrick1962

And now back to our regular programming...Ive seen a lot of exp players/teachers on this site stressing the importance of being able to hear chord changes. As this program shows chord changes as they happen and has the ability to make short clips I was thinking that this program might be quite useful. For example: if you were to take all of the songs on FMB and find a half a dozen or so clips where they change from a G to a C, or a D to a C etc and listened to those clips over and over that this might prove quite beneficial...thoughts?

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That might help a little.  I tried that with Band in a  Box and while it helped while I was looking at the changes, it didn't train my hear to hear them, just my eyes to see them coming up.

What I found helped the most was going to jams, watching the guitar picker and changing chords as he/she did.   Don't play guitar?  Have a guitar picker show you a few basic chord shapes:  G, C, D, A, E.   After a lot of jams, you'll begin to feel a chord change coming up but not be sure what it is.  Eventually you'll know one is coming up and get it right most of the time.   As has been said here before:  in bluegrass traditional songs there's usually just 3 chords to you've got a pretty good chance of getting it right. 

Sherry-I could see how as we are primarily visually oriented creatures that could happen. However, if after a while you were to close your eyes, focusing entirely on hearing, with your finger on the mouse to hit stop to check and see if you were right, do you think that might be helpful? And then maybe eventually trying to do it just before the chord change? Or, as per usual, am I just overthinking this?LOL

Instead of just listening and not picking, pick along with the chord structure on the screen. When you get familiar with the chord sequence of the songs; i.e., G, C, D, etc., then close your eyes and try to pick along with the song. If you miss a chord, it won't sound right and that will let you know you've missed the chord. Doing that over and over should help your ear "hear" the chord.

You'll find that many bluegrass traditional songs have exactly the same chord sequence, just a different melody. That makes it easier to figure out what chord comes next.

I made a list of bluegrass songs and their chord sequence and was amazed at how many were exactly the same. Helped me get away from tab and hear chord changes and melodies.

For somebody who has used this program I have a question..I wrote a BG song a few months back with lyrics/melody etc. Could I record myself singing it in MP3 format and have it show me what key and chords are being used?

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Originally posted by Patrick1962

Many exp players/teachers on here have commented on the importance of being able to hear a chord change and eventually knowing what chord will probably come next. I was thinking that this might be a useful tool for that also.

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You can learn that for free without software. Just listen to songs as you follow along on a lyrics-and-chords sheet.

Or just play songs that have chord changes. The experience of playing actual songs is the only practical way to learn how to anticipate and recognize the next likely chord.