When users search for this specific "13000 tunes link," they are looking for a massive pre-assembled song file collection. We aren’t talking about 13,000 different chord progressions. Instead, this collection typically includes:
When you multiply 400 standards by 10 different styles and 4 different instrument transpositions, you quickly approach the 13,000 figure. The "link" most people seek is a torrent, a ZIP file, or a shared Dropbox folder containing these thousands of .MGU or .SGU files (BIAB’s native file formats).
The reality: A single ZIP file containing 13,000 fully arranged Band-in-a-Box songs does exist. It circulates on USB drives every year at music schools like Berklee and North Texas.
The myth: That it is a "set it and forget it" solution.
Most of those 13,000 files are user-generated. Some are masterpieces; others are garbage with wrong chord changes. The value isn't the link—it's the curation. The professional musician does not need 13,000 songs. They need the right 300 songs with perfect voicings.
The Real Book (originally a illegal, bootlegged collection of lead sheets published by Berklee students in the 1970s) is the unofficial bible of jazz. It contains hundreds of the most important jazz standards: “Blue Bossa,” “All the Things You Are,” “So What,” “Take Five.”
The problem? The Real Book is a book. You still need a band to play with. You could play along to a metronome, but that doesn’t teach you how to listen to a walking bass line or a ride cymbal pattern.
This is where the "Band-in-a-Box Real Books 13000 tunes link" comes into focus. It represents a marriage of the contents of every volume of the Real Book (6th Edition, 7th Edition, and all the supplemental "Real Books") with the automated intelligence of BIAB.
The Band-in-a-Box Real Books (13,000 tunes) is a productivity powerhouse. It removes the friction of getting a backing track up and running for standard repertoire.
While it doesn't replace a paper Real Book for reading the melody, it complements it perfectly. If you own Band-in-a-Box, this library is essential for turning the software from a "scratchpad" into a fully functional play-along machine.
Bottom Line: Buy it to save yourself thousands of hours of typing chords. Just remember you still have to read the melody from your own book or by ear.
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The vast "13,000 tunes" collection for Band-in-a-Box often refers to massive legacy archives of
files (chord progressions) that have circulated in musician communities for decades. These files typically include transcriptions from the various Real Books Fake Books , and popular standard libraries. Finding and Accessing the Files
While no single "official" link hosts all 13,000 in one place due to copyright complexities, you can find the primary components of this collection through these established community sources: The Big Archives
: Look for the "Real Book" zip files often shared in groups like The Real Book - Band-In-A-Box groups.io or historical archives like TrimCrafters , which has hosted thousands of jazz standards. Curated Collections : Sites like Joanne Cooper's BIAB Files
offer large personal collections of live-ready SGU files with lyrics and chords. Free Direct Downloads The Guitar Band
provides free downloads for a wide range of rock and jazz standards in SGU format. joannecooper.co.za Quick Setup Guide
Once you have acquired these files, follow these steps to integrate them into your software:
While there is no single official "13,000 tunes link" provided by the software developer, , the concept typically refers to third-party Fake Disks or community-shared libraries that integrate with Band-in-a-Box (BIAB)
. These files allow you to instantly load chord progressions for thousands of jazz standards and popular songs. David Bailey Music Studio Feature Overview: The "Real Book" Workflow band in a box real books 13000 tunes link
In Band-in-a-Box, a "Real Book" feature isn't a single button but a workflow involving pre-compiled song files. Automatic Accompaniment : Once a song file is loaded, BIAB uses its RealTracks
engine to generate professional-quality arrangements with real studio musicians. Fake Disks
: These are collections of song files (chords and structure) that match printed Real Books. Users often seek "13,000 tunes" links in community forums like Jazz Guitar Online to avoid manually typing in chords. Interactive Playback
: You can change the musical style (e.g., from Swing to Bossa Nova) with one click, and the entire 13,000-song library will adapt to the new genre. Where to Find the Tunes
Official and reputable third-party sources for these libraries include: Norton Music professionally designed Fake Disks
that specifically complement various volumes of the Real Book. PG Music MIDI Fakebooks : Official add-ons like
include hundreds of tunes across jazz, pop, and classical genres. Community Forums
: Users often share links to large collections (such as the "1,300 Jazz Standards" often confused with 13,000) on the PG Music Forums or iReal Pro community sites. How to Use These Files BIAB Realbook files - PG Music Forums
The search for a specific "13,000 tunes" package or link for Band-in-a-Box (BIAB) reveals that while large, unofficial collections of "Real Book" files exist, there is no single official product by that specific name from the developer, PG Music. Users typically find large collections of song files (in .SGU or .MGU formats) through community forums, third-party vendors, or legacy "fake disks." Understanding Band-in-a-Box "Real Book" Files
In the context of Band-in-a-Box, a "Real Book" file typically refers to a pre-entered chord progression of a song found in famous jazz fake books.
Official Add-ons: PG Music sells official MIDI Fakebooks which include hundreds of traditional, classical, and bluegrass tunes.
Third-Party "Fake Disks": Providers like Norton Music offer extensively curated collections designed to match published songbooks. These usually contain chord progressions only (no melodies) to comply with copyright laws.
Unofficial Collections: Large zip files containing thousands of songs (often referred to as "the 13,000" or similar high numbers in community circles) are frequently discussed on forums but often suffer from poor quality, incorrect chords, or outdated style selections. Where to Find Song Collections
If you are looking for large volumes of tunes to use with your software, these are the most reliable types of sources: The Real Book - PG Music Forums
The Band-in-a-Box Real Book Collection: 13,000+ Tunes for Practice and Performance
For musicians, composers, and educators, the combination of Band-in-a-Box (BIAB) and "Real Book" song files is a goldmine. While the software itself is a powerhouse for creating backing tracks, having a massive library of pre-made song files—specifically those mimicking the legendary Real Book series—allows you to jump straight into playing without the tedious work of manual chord entry. What is the "13,000 Tunes" Collection?
The "13,000 tunes" reference often refers to large, community-curated or third-party databases of Band-in-a-Box song files (typically .SGU or .MGU formats) that cover nearly every jazz standard, pop hit, and country classic ever written. These files serve as digital lead sheets that automatically trigger BIAB’s high-quality RealTracks—actual recordings of top studio musicians that sync perfectly to your chosen tempo and key. Key Benefits of Large BIAB Song Sets
Instant Backing Tracks: Instead of typing in chords for "Autumn Leaves" or "Giant Steps," you simply open the file and click "Play".
Massive Variety: Large collections typically include all volumes of the Hal Leonard Real Books, plus additional fake books for rock, blues, and world music.
Customizable Performance: Once a song is loaded, you can change the style (e.g., turn a swing standard into a Bossa Nova), adjust the tempo, or swap out instruments using the StylePicker. Where to Find Real Book Song Files
Finding a reliable "link" for 13,000 tunes requires looking at a mix of official PG Music content and reputable third-party creators. BIAB Realbook files - PG Music Forums
While there is no single "official" file containing exactly 13,000 tunes for Band-in-a-Box When users search for this specific "13000 tunes
, large user-compiled collections of song files (often referred to as "Fake Books" or "Real Books") are frequently shared across musician forums and community groups. These collections typically consist of
files that contain the chord changes and arrangements for thousands of jazz standards, pop hits, and blues tracks. Where to Find Large Tune Collections The Steel Guitar Forum : A well-known community-maintained collection Large collection of BIAB tracks includes approximately 26,000 song files
. These are provided as-is and consist of public-domain or user-contributed files gathered over several decades. Norton Music
: Offers professional "Fake Disks" designed to accompany published songbooks like the Hal Leonard Real Books
. While these are paid products, they are highly regarded for their accuracy and high-quality style selection. Jazz Standards for BIAB : Independent sites like Jazz Standarts for Band-in-a-Box
host zip files containing hundreds of standards in a format compatible with the software. Roaring Fork Jazz : Hosts a specific collection of 500 Real Book tunes in Band-in-a-Box format, focusing primarily on jazz. Народ.РУ Important Considerations BIAB Realbook files - PG Music Forums
Searching for a "Band-in-a-Box Real Books 13,000 tunes" link often leads to community-driven collections or "Fake Disks" rather than a single official PG Music product. While PG Music offers official MIDI Fakebooks containing hundreds of songs, the larger 13,000+ tune collections are typically shared in musician forums or sold by third-party providers like Norton Music.
The content of these massive libraries generally covers the following categories:
Jazz Standards: Comprehensive coverage of the "Real Book" volumes (Vol 1-6), including classics like Autumn Leaves, Misty, and Take the A Train.
Pop & Rock Classics: Hundreds of hits from artists like The Beatles, Eric Clapton, and Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR).
Country & Bluegrass: Traditional standards such as Hey Good Lookin' and Six Days on the Road.
Showtunes & Broadway: Collections dedicated to musical theater and cinematic themes.
Classical Repertoire: MIDI adaptations of well-known classical pieces. Where to Find Content Lists and Files
AulaActual: Provides a partial alphabetic list of tunes included in their Real Book for Band-in-a-Box package.
Band-in-a-Box Files (Community): A dedicated Song Database where members share thousands of SGU (song) files.
The Guitar Band: Offers a categorized Audio Songs List of tracks made specifically with RealTracks.
iReal Pro Forum: Often cited by BIAB users as a primary source for downloading large "1300+ tunes" collections that can be converted or used for chord reference.
Note: Most "13,000 tunes" packs consist of chord progressions only (SGU files). They generally do not include the melody or lyrics due to copyright restrictions, though they allow you to instantly apply any RealTracks style to the song.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows Add-ons - MIDI Fakebooks - PG Music
The collection often referred to as the "Band-in-a-Box 13,000 Tunes"
is a widely discussed third-party library of song files (typically in SGU format) that allows users to instantly load chord progressions for nearly every jazz standard and popular tune imaginable. While not an official
product, it is highly regarded in the musician community as an essential practice tool. Review: The "13,000 Tunes" Collection for Band-in-a-Box When you multiply 400 standards by 10 different
This massive library is essentially a digital "Fake Book" mega-set. Instead of typing in chords for hours, you can search for a title and have the backing track ready in seconds. Massive Efficiency: The primary value is the time saved. Reviewers from the PG Music Forums
note that having correct chord progressions pre-loaded is "spot on" and eliminates the tedious task of manual entry. Customization:
Because these are SGU files, you are not stuck with the original MIDI sounds. You can easily substitute the default MIDI instruments with high-quality RealTracks
(recordings of professional session musicians) to make the track sound like a live band. Practice Versatility:
It allows musicians to experiment with different tempos and styles (e.g., turning a jazz ballad into a bossa nova) instantly, which is ideal for improvisation practice. Inconsistent Quality:
Since it is a compilation from various sources, some files may have incorrect chords or odd arrangements. Users on
mention that some tunes include un-notated intros or outros that require manual tweaking to match the sheet music. Interface Overload: Managing a library of 13,000 files can be overwhelming. The Band-in-a-Box
interface itself is often described as "outdated" and "busy," making it difficult to navigate such a large volume of data without a clear filing system. Where to Find the Tunes
While there isn't a single "official" link due to the community-driven nature of the files, they are frequently shared and discussed in these hubs: PG Music User Forums
The most reliable place to find active links or alternate smaller "Real Book" sets that are often better curated. Jazz Guitar Online
A popular community where users often share large collections of iRealB and Band-in-a-Box files for practice.
If you are a gigging musician or a serious student, this collection is an essential time-saver
Searches for a "13,000-tune Real Book" for Band-in-a-Box generally lead to third-party "Fakebook" collections rather than official PG Music products. While PG Music provides thousands of RealTracks and styles, they do not sell a single massive song collection. For user-curated song files, explore discussions on the PG Music Forums or consider third-party providers like Norton Music. BIAB Realbook files - PG Music Forums
While there is no single official "13,000 tunes" link from PG Music, many Band-in-a-Box users look for large, community-curated collections of "Real Book" song files (often in .SGU format) that contain chord progressions for thousands of jazz standards and popular songs. Available Song Collections
If you are looking for large databases of Band-in-a-Box files, several well-known community sources host thousands of tracks:
Norton Music: Offers a large Independent Users Group File Archive containing thousands of chord-only progressions for popular songs. These files do not include copyrighted melodies or lyrics to comply with legal standards.
The Guitar Band: Provides a Complete SGU Collection and various ready-made files for download to save time on manual chord entry.
Band-in-a-Box Files (Members Database): A dedicated Song Database that requires membership but adds new files weekly for its users.
PG Music Forums: Users frequently share personal collections. For example, a recent post mentioned a free download of over 8,000 melody songs in a zipped format. Legal and Quality Note
Copyright Restrictions: Official "Real Book" software or large unauthorized collections of copyrighted melodies are often flagged as risky or legally questionable. Most reputable community sites strictly share chord progressions only to avoid copyright infringement.
PG Music Official Content: For the highest quality backing tracks using actual studio musicians, PG Music offers their own RealTracks and RealStyles which are included in packages like the UltraPAK. g., Jazz, Pop, or Blues) to narrow down the search?
Band-in-a-Box Backing Tracks. Free download. RealTracks Only