Is it hopeless to try to add lyrics to a song quickly.
I mean in less than five minutes?
If you don't know the tricks?

I tried adding some and it seems totally hopeless if you
don't know all the tricks.

What kind of lyrics were you trying to add? Were you assigning syllables to a melody in notation editor, or were you using bar based lyrics and the Lyrics Layer on the chord sheet?

Thanks for helping Noel!

I think the latter.
I have a plain song with chords, that's it.
I have lyrics that I'd QUICKLY like to add to the chart.
Can it be done easily?

So far when I tried to add some words to the first bar (do I have to do it bar by bar?) the words weren't spread out correctly and I didn't see how I could do this.
Adjust words exactly where I want them in the bar...

I don't know what version of BIAB you have, but in the 2023 version, it's very easy to add bar lyrics from a text file.

Simply create a text file using (say) Windows Notepad or BIAB's "Big Lyric Window" (found under the "Window" menu) and arrange it so that each line of text contains the lyrics for one bar of the music.

Now...

1) copy the text to Window's clipboard

2) open the "Bar Lyrics" layer on the chordsheet (see image below)
NOTE: if your view of BIAB is different from that shown on the image, press CTRL+T to change views.

3) position the cursor in the bar lyrics at the bar where you want the lyrics to begin

4) select CTRL+V to paste the lyrics


In the manual, there is a section with the heading "Adding Bar-Based Lyrics" that explains this. I suggest opening your manual and searching for that phrase.

Hope this helps,
Noel

I think it would be great if pg could combine the the lyrics input and the melodist in the way of the https://melodystudio.net/ app.

Perhaps this is a good suggestion for the Wishlist?

I opened this post https://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=97232&Number=723644#Post723644
there wasn't much reaction.
It's probably similar here?

HI Noel,
I am using BIAB v. 2021.
Any tips for that?

Hi BIABman,

I've just looked in the 2021 manual and my instructions work for your version.

Under the "Help" menu, you'll find a link to your program manual. Details about how to use bar-based lyrics are on page 165. Alternatively, the manual can be found in \bb\documentation as a pdf file. The above outline about copying and pasting text can be found on page 166 where "Amazing Grace" is used as an example.

Regards,
--Noel

Thanks again Noel for helping.
In my manual 165 doesn't show anything about lyrics.
But the manual does talk a lot about lyrics on other pages.

The problem is that I was not able to find a simple instruction on how do enter lyrics.
I'm looking for a printed sheet of chords and lyrics under the chords.
And lyrics that line up where I want them to line up in each bar.

Instructions such as
1. Do this.
2. Do this next.
3. Do this after that.
4. etc.
5. etc.

Hi again, BIABman.

Interesting...

In my BIAB pdf manual for 2021, the information is definitely on page 165. When I go to PG Music's online manual respositoty, though, and download the manual for 2021, it's on page 155 (see the image below). Below is a link to that manual so you can download it and read the step-by-step instructions.

https://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/support/misc/manual/bandinabox_win_2021_printable_manual.pdf

The site where manuals are stored is...

https://www.pgmusic.com/manuals/index.htm

Hope you have success this time!
--Noel

Thanks again Noel. Sorry for being such a PITA.
I seem to be having some success now, although I'm still not quite there yet.

I did find instructions on pg 155.

I have entered lyrics for the song but it currently is not what I am after.
The lyrics are entered on top of the chords instead of below them.

I hoped/assumed that when I was ready to print (I am ready)
the lyrics would show up where I want them, but when I chose Print/preview
I didn't see any lyrics.

So my questions now are:
1. How do I get the Lyric layer to show in print preview?
2. Will it show the lyrics under the chord symbols?

Hi again,

On page 255 of the manual that I linked to in my previous post, there is a section called "Print Options". These options are found under "Print" button on the Leadsheet.

https://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/support/misc/manual/bandinabox_win_2021_printable_manual.pdf

Each of the options are explained on page 255 and may be turned on or off using the checkboxes.

From you post, it sounds like the option most relevant to you is the one called "Bar lyric position" near the bottom of page 256.

Hope this helps,
--Noel

Thanks Noel, we finally arrived!
It looks good on the screen, I haven't printed yet, but it should work.

Just one more question.
Under the stave in the first bar it says:
66 Alto sax (which interferes with the lyrics and is not needed/accurate).
How can I remove it? I didn't see it in the Print options.

Hi once more!

I'm glad to hear that you've got there! Now for the finishing touch....

*drum roll*....

The graphic below shows how to turn off having the patch names on the notation.

All the best,
--Noel

Thanks Noel. Have you ever considered becoming an official
PG Music techie?
The one I spoke with on the phone yesterday couldn't solve the
66 Alto Sax problem.

One last question on this. After the Alto Sax was removed from the printout one last small annoyance remained.

BIAB was inserting '1a' under the chord at the first bar, which was interfering slightly with the first lyric word.

Is it possible to remove the '1a', which is not helpful for my situation?

Oh... it seems that my drum roll was a bit early!

Yes, the 1a can be removed. It's a bar number in a blue part marker. Just follow the 1 and 2 on the image below. (It's found under the Leadsheet's "Print" options.)

Thanks for all your help Noel, it worked!

Excellent! I'm pleased to hear that all's well that ends well
--Noel

Way to go Noel!
Job well done.

LLOYD S

Thanks, Lloyd. Sometimes luck is on my side I appreciate your comment.
--Noel

BiaBMan,

Now is a good time to save your preference settings since the program is working as you desire.

Select "Options" in the Menu Bar.

Then select "Save Preferences As ..."

After a major update or if you ever loose the settings you can return them in less than a minute.

I agree, unless there was an improvement I missed over the years. That is why I have been using the memo pad for lyrics then splitting the screen when gigging since I started with BIAB, I think back in 2004 until now with over 2K tunes arranged and over 1K of live shows.

Later,

Thanks Jim. Done!

For most situations I can get by with the lyrics all by themselves (on their own sheet, I've memorized the changes).
For this song, I wanted to visualize (and recall) the lyrics with the chords.