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This possibly might be more of a ‘songwriting 101’ question than a Band in a Box question but here goes.

The chord window is laid out in a very nice symmetrical way – four measures across on every line.

Let’s say the verse of a song lasts for eight measures and then another verse for an additional eight measures. But I want the last chord of each verse to last a little longer … for four additional beats or one whole measure.
That ruins the whole symmetry of the BiaB chord window. Instead of every verse starting on the left margin at 1, 9, 17 etc. The second verse will now have to start at bar 10 and the next one at 19 etc. Is that what everyone else does?

What is the best way to handle this kind of situation? Thanks. - Mark

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Mark,

If I am getting the correct mental picture, I have found that to be true in some of my arrangements also. What I do is just deal with it as is, as non-symmetrical as it is.

Later,

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The chord grid can be set to start a new line with every part marker in the Preferences section.

--Mac

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Check out "Song Settings" in the help section. Later, Ray


Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
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Mac, Ray,

It seems that the default in Settings is "Sections on a new line (for this song)."
Which, I assume, Mac is the same as a new "part."

The only problems I see with this is (a) I haven't gotten around to really using Sections (or Parts) yet. (It's on my list of things to learn.) And (b) I really don't consider a second verse to be a different section.

Like Peter Noone said - "Second verse same as the first ..."

It looks as though Danny may be right. Just have to live with it.

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If I've understood correctly, then I just wanted to add that "part markers" are very easy to add - in the chord window, just click on the bar number (just to the left of where you enter a chord) and it will become blue and say 1a or whatever bar you're on. Click again and it cycles to 1b - keep clicking and it cycles off.

a's are usually less intense than b's - so it usually works to start verses with a's and choruses with b's...

biab also inserts occasional drum fills on the bars just before a part marker and sometimes a crash on the new part bar - so this is a way of adding dynamics and punctuation to your song...


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Part Markers are easy.

Those Blue or Green (and there are other colors for Multi-Styles) blocks on the bar numbers in the chord grid.

Well, the blue ones are A variation of the style and the green ones are B variation.

If you leftclick one time on a bar number, it will turn blue and become A substyle. It will also instantly create one of those new lines on the chord grid.

If you are in a green area, just click it again to turn it green.

Or click it one more time to turn it off.

A part marker that is the same color will only force a drum fill before that area.


--Mac

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In BIAB 2009 this problem does no longer exist, the marker starts a new line so it always stays very clean and easy to find your spot.

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If you are using a sub-style parts markers will go from B to C, C to D, etc. if there are more sub-style from D to E and so on before returning to no-part and then the A part. The other issue is parts tend to get a drum hit, so you may have to make a choice between a new line and a drum hit in the style.


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