Here’s tip number eight in my Guitar Tips for 2026: get Band-in-a-Box. It’s a wonderful, fun program where you type in the chord changes to any tune, choose the style and instrumentation, set the tempo and key, and you’re off to the races. In seconds you’ve got a great-sounding backing track to jam with—play over real progressions, have fun with it, and keep the music moving. But I want you to be aware of two problems. First, you’re not responsible for the timing—so you can miss things all over the place, float around the tempo, and not even be aware of the bar line, and the program still sounds great. That’s a trap. Second, I’ve heard guys say they used it so much on a song they forgot what the chords even were. So every time you use Band-in-a-Box, take the time to play the chords yourself (you can even record right into the program). Then, for timing, melody, and solo work, go back to the old-fashioned metronome—start slow, increase step by step, and make yourself responsible for the time. Metronome and Band-in-a-Box: two winners, used the right way.