JJazzLab 5

A complete and open application for backing tracks generation.

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JJazzlab 5

In JJazzLab "rhythm" usually means a music style, like pop or bossa-nova.

What is JJazzLab?

🎵 JJazzLab lets you create backing tracks for any song, even complex ones, in just a few minutes. It’s a jam buddy to have fun practicing at home or learn new stuff. It’s also a great tool for teaching or early-stage composing.

🎷 Add variety, rhythmic accents and natural dynamics that keep your practice sessions inspiring. You can start a solo slowly and gradually build up the atmosphere!

💻 JJazzLab is free and open-source, with an open architecture: anyone can easily add new features and new music generation capabilities.

Getting started

Install and run JJazzLab, then :

1. Load an example song file : menu File/Open Songs... and select ExampleFiles/BluesMinor.sng

2. Press the Play button : you should hear the backing track -if not, check the Midi Out device in menu Tools/Options (Preferences on Mac)

3. Start editing the song using the editors and hear how it impacts the generated backing track.

If you prefer to quickly create a new backing track from scratch, check out this video:

Key features

• New jjSwing style (rhythm), practice jazz standards with the best walking bass and drums

• Hundreds of ready-to-use music styles (rhythms) available

• Introduce dynamics and variety in just a few clicks, for example:

  • mute the guitar in the intro

  • add a break at the end of the 2nd verse and congas in the 3rd verse

  • boost intensity and slightly increase tempo at the end

  • add anticipated (pushed) chords

  • simplify the piano on the first verse

• Add user tracks to customize your backing track

• Attach annotations or lyrics to bars

• Control playback via Midi

• Import and export song or individual instrument tracks

Side tools

• Chord inspector: understand chord symbol notes and scales (piano, guitar diagrams, score)

• Practice loop with tempo auto-increase: efficiently practice exercices or difficult passages

• Arranger keyboard mode: control backing track chords via a midi keyboard

• Improvisation help: get improvisation guides for your chord leadsheet

• Chord symbols transposition: for transposing instruments (e.g. sax players)

• Easy Reader window: focus on the current and next chord

• Song memo: text reminders about your song which can include links to files or web pages