Band-in-a-Box Alternatives for Linux
Band-in-a-Box is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is Impro-Visor, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Band-in-a-Box and many of them are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to Band-in-a-Box are MMA, JJazzLab, Rosegarden and Aria Maestosa.
Band-in-a-Box alternatives are mainly Music Production Apps but may also be Digital Audio Workstations. Filter by these if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Band-in-a-Box.
Impro-Visor (short for “Improvisation Advisor”) is a music notation program designed to help jazz musicians compose and hear solos similar to ones that might be improvised. The objective is to improve understanding of solo construction and tune chord changes.
Impro-Visor vs Band-in-a-Box opinions
better user interface. many similar facilities to BIAB.
“MMA—Musical MIDI Accompaniment” is an accompaniment generator. It creates MIDI tracks for a soloist to perform over from a user supplied file containing chords and MMA directives.
MMA vs Band-in-a-Box opinions
Produces backing tracks to play over.
MMA is free. It runs on (among other platforms) linux. I have it running on my $35 Raspberrry Pi. The data file of chords (and, optionally, melodies, and song structure (repeats!), is text but pretty easy to follow. Type in the chords, the repeats, some melody or solo licks, choose styles (and substyles) and a quick run will generate a MIDI file. A free Biab alternative!
After trying it out, I should be able to describe it.
JJazzLab is a free Midi-based application which automatically generates backing tracks (a musical accompaniment) for any song. It’s a jam buddy to have fun improvising, learn new stuff or just practice your instrument. It’s also a great tool for teachers.
JJazzLab vs Band-in-a-Box opinions
Easy to use and imports Band-in--a-Box files
Rosegarden is a well-rounded audio and MIDI sequencer, score editor, and general-purpose music composition and editing environment.
⚫︎ Customizable
Rosegarden vs Band-in-a-Box opinions
IT's a DAW and BIAB is not.
Rosegarden is a DAW, BAiB is not.
Aria Maestosa is an open-source (GPL) midi tracker/editor. It lets you compose, edit and play midi files with a few clicks in a user-friendly interface offering keyboard, guitar, drum and controller views.
GNU Denemo is a music notation editor that lets you rapidly enter notation for typesetting via the LilyPond music engraver. You can compose, transcribe, arrange, listen to the music and much more.
Frescobaldi is a LilyPond sheet music text editor. It aims to be powerful, yet lightweight and easy to use. Frescobaldi is Free Software, freely available under the General Public License.
Frescobaldi vs Band-in-a-Box opinions
create sheet music not accompaniments
LeMMA is a simple GUI “front-end” written in Python for MMA (Musical MIDI Accompaniment – also written in Python). Just enter the chords, select the grooves and press “Play”.
Discontinued
The project looks abandoned. Last version, 0.9 alpha, released in August 2010, can be still downloaded from the official website.
LeMMA vs Band-in-a-Box opinions
DGuitar is a Guitar Pro (GP4, GP3, GTP) viewer/player that works on Windows, Mac, Linux, BSD, Solaris, and any other operating system that has Java Runtime Environment 1.4 or later installed.
Discontinued
The last software release was published on February 20th, 2006.
Jazz++ is a MIDI sequencer/composer. Create your own music.
Discontinued
Last release Dec. 30, 2008.
