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Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 333 |
Soundcloud - Use it or you lose it Youtube - Use it or you lose it In this video, chocolate is a metaphor, so watch this if you want to see lots of chocolate! This song was written to a challenge with my mates to use the title 'Use it or you lose it'. I wrote the chord progression, then melody, then added lyrics – in June 2025. The song is about saying 'I love you' to those that matter most, but that we sometimes do not. For the video, rather than find visual material that suited this directly, I choose to use chocolate as a metaphor - if we love it, how often do we tell it? All backing is generated from BIAB, other than all vocals, piano intro and bridge, and the guitar solo in the bridge. I arranged and mixed in Reaper, adding main and backing vocals, as well as piano for the intro, outro and bridge, and guitar solo in the bridge. And because I have trouble holding pitch for any note longer than a minim, I had to manually pitch correct a few notes to keep them on track (no pun intended). ****** Song Summary ************* Style is _WAG.STY (Wag Rock & Roll Guitars) RealTracks in style: 2435:Bass, Electric, NewOrleansShuffle Sw 130 - I love the bouncy and sometimes throbbing bass in this style! RealTracks in style: ~1549:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm CountrySwing Sw 110 RealTracks in style: 3781:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm RockNRollTremoloHeld 120 RealTracks in style: 3780:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm RockNRollSweep Sw 120 RealDrums in style:NewOrleansShuffle^04-a:Kick Shuffle , b:Ride, Shuffle Piano via M-Audio Oxygen 49 using Sforzando 001 Piano Acoustic for intro, outro and bridge Guitar solo in bridge was double tracked Main vocal triple tracked with 1 track main and other two panned left and right -18db Backing vocals triple tracked Mixed in Reaper LYRICSINTROVERSE 1There are times when I should say ‘I love you’, but I don’t It’s awkward and appearing without passion, not saying I won’t I really do and I hope it’s conveyed in small things every day It’s partly because I don’t like public displays… of love I’m not saying I want more PLAY INTRO VERSE 2They say you use or you lose it – I hope they’re wrong We are ‘more than room-mates’, I say we belong This all sounds like excuses when that’s not the case at all I know I should do better but I’m unsure … What to do … I feel there’s more …. to explore INTRO motifBRIDGEI see it everyday in what you do … ooo … I guess I’m saying I do the same thing too SOLO OVER BRIDGEVERSE 3I give out subtle hints I mean the same as you Implied in daily living – of course I know it’s true Trying not to take for granted expressions all the time I need to say ‘I love you’ once more … Speak it true … say it raw …. say it to you OUTROChords:Intro/Outro C Cmaj7 C2 C x2 Verse C | Em G C | C7 F Cdim7 | C Bb2 E Ab | Am | Em7 | F | D7 | Bridge Em Am G7 C Dm G F C
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Joined: Aug 2010
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Andrew,
Excellent song with a great melody. I really like the mix and way you sing it as well.
Very nice!
Bob
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Joined: Nov 2008
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,702 |
Andrew, another very deftly crafted pop gem. The melody and vocals are fun and infectious, as is your arrangement. Your playing and singing fit perfectly with the song and the mood you're setting for the listener. Love everything you're doing here.
DC Ron
BiaB Audiophile
Presonus Studio One
StudioCat DAW dual screen
Presonus Faderport 16
Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
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Joined: Apr 2016
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Joined: Apr 2016
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Fun song though the last line of the chorus is odd. Like the Dedicated Follower of Fashion quote too.
The vocal is nice but also a bit ropey in parts...doubling might help even that out.
Very well written & arranged. COOL!
Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,271
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,271 |
Andrew, this is a super pop song.
I liked the arrangement and chord progression
Super vocal and lyrics
Great mix
A flashback to the late 1960's
Loved it
I got banned from Weight Watchers for dropping a bag of M&Ms on the floor.
It was the best game of Hungry Hippos I've ever seen!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Joined: Sep 2010
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Hi, Andrew. Bouncy and fun! I especially like the background vocals. As others have said, a nice bit of pop. 
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Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 333 |
Rather than bombard this thread with replies to responses, I thought I'd summarise ... Melody, chord progression, arrangementExcellent song with a great melody. … another very deftly crafted pop gem. The melody and vocals are fun and infectious, as is your arrangement. … this is a super pop song. I liked the arrangement and chord progression … Great mix … A flashback to the late 1960's Bouncy and fun! … As others have said, a nice bit of pop. smile I love great melodies and grew up in the 60s when melody flourished. I saw a video recently that I try to keep in mind – using intervals of a 3rd or higher in the melody can create distinctiveness, and avoid too much scale step movement, although this has its place. Some of you might have heard me say that I like straying outside the diatonic when it comes to chord progressions – the verse progression has somewhat strange movements (Cdim7 > C; C > Bb2 > E >Ab/G# > Am) which seem to work to my ear – unless I’ve been listening too long. I need to unpack the progression to understand why it works because, in the natural, I wouldn ‘t have thought it would work. Vocals… I really like the mix and way you sing it as well. Very nice! Your playing and singing fit perfectly with the song and the mood you're setting for the listener. … The vocal is nice but also a bit ropey in parts...doubling might help even that out. … I especially like the background vocals. Ah my vocal – my Achilles heel! I do triple track the main vocal but have 2nd and 3rd sitting lower in volume, so maybe I need to mix that a bit higher. Regarding backing vocals, they are my ‘cloaking device’ – something I add to distract the listener from the ‘ropiness’. Regarding lyrics, my view is they are just the vehicle for the music (otherwise, go read poetry) and so I don’t mind if they are oblique or easily misconstrued. OtherFun song though the last line of the chorus is odd. Like the Dedicated Follower of Fashion quote too. Well spotted! A day or two into writing the song, I realised that passage sounded familiar (the tail end of the 3rd line of each verse - small things every day / that's not the case at all / expressions all the time) – what was it? The next day, my neurons fired and I realised the melody is the same and the chord progression like The Kinks ‘Dedicated follower of fashion’ – which I used to sing in a band – so I left it in as a nod to the great Ray Davies. Thank you so much for all your comments! This forum is a very encouraging community where members are willing to pass on their expertise and insights – thank you for welcoming me in!
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Chocalate as metaphor for unspoken love was a cool idea. Man, you speak of it all so well in this write, Andrew. I love that feel the piano gives the song and it fits perfectly with the bouncy melody and happy lyrics. Good mix and a wonderful 60s feel. Much enjoyed.
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Posts: 1,549
Expert
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Expert
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 1,549 |
Nice production and great theme for a song.
Some favourite Waoist Adages:
#1: Play on the Way.
#13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you.
#58: Bring consciousness to it.
#63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made.
#92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
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Joined: Aug 2024
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Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 546 |
Another signature piece, Andrew. I love what you do with your voice, the melisma at the end of phrases.
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Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Mar 2025
Posts: 333 |
Another signature piece, Andrew. I love what you do with your voice, the melisma at the end of phrases. Thanks Beth! I recall when writing it that I liked the idea of drawn out notes at the end contrasting with the more syllabic meter in the first lines. I didn’t know there was a musical term for it though! Regarding signature pieces, I have in mind to do something outside of my wheelhouse, but no ideas yet - I love reggae, and would like to write one - something like ‘Rude’ by MAGIC!. Andrew
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I love that 60s pop sound. There are parts that remind me of the Monkees. Fun and jaunty.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
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New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2025!
We’ve expanded the Band-in-a-Box® RealTracks library with 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 449-467) across Jazz, Blues, Funk, World, Pop, Rock, Country, Americana, and Praise & Worship—featuring your most requested styles!
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These RealTracks includes “Soul Jazz” with Neil Swainson (bass), Mike Clark (drums), Charles Treadway (organ), Miles Black (piano), and Brent Mason (guitar). Enjoy “Requested ’60s” jazz, classic acoustic blues with Colin Linden, and more of our popular 2-handed piano soloing. Plus, a RealTracks first—Tango with bandoneon, recorded in Argentina!
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We’ve added new RealTracks across bro country, Americana, praise & worship, vintage country, and songwriter piano. Highlights include Brent Mason (electric guitar), Eddie Bayers (drums), Doug Jernigan (pedal steel), John Jarvis (piano), Glen Duncan (banjo, mandolin & fiddle), Mike Harrison (electric bass) and more—offering everything from modern sounds to heartfelt Americana styles
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- Look Ma! More MIDI 13: Country & Americana
- Instrumental Studies Set 22: 2-Hand Piano Soloing - Rhythm Changes
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 44: Jazz Piano
- Artist Performance Set 17: Songs with Vocals 7
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Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest and greatest in the all new Xtra Styles PAK 20 for Band-in-a-Box! This fresh installment is packed with 200 all-new styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres you've come to expect, as well as the exciting inclusion of electronic styles!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Minimalist Modern Funk, New Wave Synth Pop, Hard Bop Latin Groove, Gospel Country Shuffle, Cinematic Synthwave, '60s Motown, Funky Lo-Fi Bossa, Heavy 1980s Metal, Soft Muted 12-8 Folk, J-Pop Jazz Fusion, and many more!
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Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 20 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
New! XPro Styles PAK 9 for Band-in-a-Box 2025 and higher for Windows!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 9 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 29 RealTracks/RealDrums!
We've been hard at it to bring you the latest and greatest in this 9th installment of our popular XPro Styles PAK series! Included are 75 styles spanning the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres (25 styles each) that fans have come to expect, as well as 25 styles in this volume's wildcard genre: funk & R&B!
If you're itching to get a sneak peek at what's included in XPro Styles PAK 9, here is a small helping of what you can look forward to: Funky R&B Horns, Upbeat Celtic Rock, Jazz Fusion Salsa, Gentle Indie Folk, Cool '60s Soul, Funky '70s R&B, Smooth Jazz Hip Hop, Acoustic Rockabilly Swing, Funky Reggae Dub, Dreamy Retro Latin Jazz, Retro Soul-Rock Fusion, and much more!
Special Pricing! Until July 31, 2024, all the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 9 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.
Video: XPro Styles PAK 9 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: VST3 Plugin Support
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® now includes support for VST3 plugins, alongside VST and AU. Use them with MIDI or audio tracks for even more creative possibilities in your music production.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Macs®: VST3 Plugin Support
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®: Using VST3 Plugins
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