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#124409 08/05/11 09:27 AM
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MrEd Offline OP
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Hello all,

Could someone tell me what is and isn’t copyrighted within BIAB. For example when I’m auditioning styles and while within the style picker I can listen to a demo tune created with whatever style I’m interested in. If I like the way the demo is laid out (chord progression) can I use it?

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Anything you create using BiaB you can copyright as yours. Chord progressions can not be copyrighted so yes you can use a demo’s chord progression however you must create your own melody line.


Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!

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Hi Mario,
So the chord progressions in the demo songs are not copyrighted?
Wow, some of them have really nice changes.
Thanks for the info,
I know when I used a Robert Cray style, I built the song around the demo. I changed a few chords not many, but I always thought it was someone elses. Interesting. I was always uncomfortable putting this song up.

"Craylike Jam" Link, http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=835626&songID=8102498

Wayne,

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Also if you use one of the named player's Real Tracks like Brent Mason or Oliver Gannon or any of them you don't credit them as "performing" on your recording.

I know several people who've used the Soundtrack function to create a whole new song complete with melody and they've copyrighted it. Don't know how successful any of thse new songs have been but it's perfectly ok with PG.

Bob


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Wow, so the instrumental "Craylike Jam" I did is mine?
It still feels like I stole something....lol
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Wayne, correct, the current understanding by us non-lawyers is that chord progressions are not copyrighted. Melodies can be, as pointed out, and therefore the whole song with your melody (and pretty much none of theirs) can be copyrighted by you.

There can be gray areas such as 'hits', specific rhythmic phrases that might only be chords but that make the one song instantly recognizable. I would stay away from those (not saying that they might be in the demos).


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If chord progressions were able to be copyrighted, we'd all owe Robert Johnson's estate a fortune every time we played 12 bar blues....

#124416 08/05/11 10:47 AM
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And what about C,Am,F and G. It goes from Ebb Tide to Piano Man and a thousand other songs.
Hey let's do the Bristol Stomp too.
Wayne,

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MrEd Offline OP
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Thanks everyone for clearing that up for me.

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Yes, chord progressions usually are not copyrighted.

But there are some progressions, like Matt pointed out, that are dangerous to use in this perspective: Just say that the opening riff of "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple is not copyrighted and you might be wrong -- even if it is just a couple of power chords.


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Quote:

Yes, chord progressions usually are not copyrighted.

But there are some progressions, like Matt pointed out, that are dangerous to use in this perspective: Just say that the opening riff of "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple is not copyrighted and you might be wrong -- even if it is just a couple of power chords.




BUT the opening rift in “Smoke on the Water” is a lead line with a harmony. Thus it is copyrighted.

Ps – a so-called power chord is a note with a harmony i.e. the tonic and the fifth usually. A chord consists of three or more notes.


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Quote:

A so called power chord is a note with a harmony i.e. the tonic and the fifth usually. A chord consists of three or more notes.



Never knew that. The 3 notes or more. Good to know. That's why less than 3 notes isn't a chord. I always called it Playing a fifth.
Wayne,

(Also not to be confused with power cords)

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MrEd,

Particularly enjoyed "No More Sad Songs", your vocals.

Seeker


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I'm sorry Seeker but that wasn't my song.

Last edited by MrEd; 08/05/11 04:20 PM.
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Quote:

I always called it Playing a fifth.




I always just said "root and 5th" as well....

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Quote:

MrEd,

Particularly enjoyed "No More Sad Songs", your vocals.

Seeker



Hi Seeker, That was me.
Blueslogic on Soundclick. Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed the song and my vocals.
I was just going trthrough these posts again and found a reference to my song and I said to myself, hey someone wrote a song with the same name as I did...lol
I put one up today that I found from another cassette. This one has me singing with the highest my voice ever sounded, It's in the USER SHOWCASE, "Everybody Here" Redguitars.
Thanks, Wayne

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Sorry bout that, must have drifted off while reading the thread...

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Seeker,
No problem, I'm glad you enjoyed it, thank you.
Wayne,

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Quote:



BUT the opening rift in “Smoke on the Water” is a lead line with a harmony. Thus it is copyrighted.

Ps – a so-called power chord is a note with a harmony i.e. the tonic and the fifth usually. A chord consists of three or more notes.




That is true. However, it would be extremly difficult to play this line with just (full) chords (of any kind) and have it NOT resembling Smoke On the Water and having it NOT recognised. Even with chords that do not include the root note.


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We need Steve Miller and Joe Walsh in on this discussion....

Funny how many of Miller's songs "sound like" someone else's songs.....

Probably also need Michael Bolton.... Said I Wrote It But I Lied....

Maybe George Harrison and The Chiffons. Cost him $600k to buy his way out of that one....

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