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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 577
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 577 |
I thought it might be useful to have some kind of tool built-in to BIAB to aid with composition.
For example, I am writing a Pop Ballad and have decided on the key of Em. I have entered the first chord Am and would like to play around with different ideas for the next chord. Based on the key and style when I hover the mouse to enter the next chord BIAB could automatically display possible chords based on various rules (chord wheel, style etc) which could then be selected by the user or maybe even generated randomly.
I can imagine a more complex development on the random option where this could be used to generate an entire verse, chorus or even song. A dialog box would pop up and allows the user to set the degree of randomness of various parameters e.g. how many bars, how often to change chords (maybe based on a list of patterns), type of chords - simple, jazzy, extreme (!), random.
BIAB 2022 UltraPAK, CbB, Studio One 5 Pro, Fender USA Tele, Harley Benton Fusion & others.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647 |
Have you tried Melodist?
Having set the key to Em, and the style to POPBal or equivalent, let BIAB generate some songs for you. You might find something you like
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,362
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Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,362 |
There are also the reharmonist and chord substitution options where-in BIAB will take an existing melody and offer suggested chords based on the melody and key signature.
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449 |
Along the lines of the above answers, take a look at the Window menu. You will see:
Chord Substitution Dialog
Auto-Generate Chord Substitutions
Chord Reharmonist Dialog
Auto-Generate Chord Reharmonization
This is the way it looks in BIAB version 2014. The chord substitution has been in BIAB for over a decade at least. You enter a simple chord progression and it will suggest alternatives. Some are quite advanced. Very powerful tool.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 577
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 577 |
Thanks for all of the replies which are very helpful.
I should have said that I don't yet own BIAB as I am waiting for the December sales/BIAB 2015. I did buy it many many years ago when it was a much simpler program (I think it was version 5) but it is almost unrecognizable now. I certainly didn't realise that it already had many of the features mentioned in your replies.
By the way, some great work on your compositions Noel96 and Matt Finley.
BIAB 2022 UltraPAK, CbB, Studio One 5 Pro, Fender USA Tele, Harley Benton Fusion & others.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,449 |
By the way, some great work on your compositions Noel96 and Matt Finley. Much appreciated! And, you will be amazed at the improvements to BIAB if you haven't used it in some years. There are several levels of purchase now. Be sure to get as much as you can afford, so you get lots of RealTracks.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Slate VSX, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,727
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Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,727 |
Yes, Melodist is a real cool feature. I used to use it a lot back when I first got BB several years back. I used it to create quite a few pretty cool songs. Of course, it works best when you go in after it does what it does, and edit the chords and song structure a bit. I think I've only used one or two songs that Melodist created straight out of the box.... (pun in ten did) .... but in all, it's a really good way to see what BB can do, and it's so easy..... if you don't like the results.... just click on Melodist again. Here is one of those songs: EMERALD EYES I added live guitar and some real tracks (trumpet)
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 11/14/14 02:07 AM.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 174
Apprentice
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Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 174 |
Guitarhacker: really nice song. Congrads.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,827
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,827 |
I thought it might be useful to have some kind of tool built-in .... Based on the key and style when I hover the mouse to enter the next chord BIAB could automatically display possible chords based on various rules (chord wheel, style etc)...
The Keyless Entry option sounds great ! especially if you are on a tablet. 
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 577
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 577 |
I thought it might be useful to have some kind of tool built-in .... Based on the key and style when I hover the mouse to enter the next chord BIAB could automatically display possible chords based on various rules (chord wheel, style etc)...
The Keyless Entry option sounds great ! especially if you are on a tablet. Hey solidrock that looks great - is it a mock-up that you have created in a drawing package or an existing piece of software? If the former then I hope PG use it as part of their new features in BIAB 2015 (you should also get commission)! Nice work on Emerald Eyes guitarhacker - the guitar/trumpet combination works great. I would never have guessed about it's BIAB roots.
BIAB 2022 UltraPAK, CbB, Studio One 5 Pro, Fender USA Tele, Harley Benton Fusion & others.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6 |
A built in Chord Wheel is a great idea!
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,362
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,362 |
By the way, some great work on your compositions Noel96 and Matt Finley. Thanks receder. I didn't see this comment until just now. Apologies for that. I hope you're having fun with BIAB! Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 11
Newbie
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Newbie
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 11 |
This is where a small amount of music theory can set loose your creativity. In about 30 minutes of googling "chord progression theory" or "diatonic chord progressions" or "circle of fifths chord progression" will generate all kinds of ideas for you. And the great thing is that Band-in-a-Box will give your ears immediate feedback on whether your idea works.
Another good starting place is to use some of the demo songs included with Band in a Box as a starting point. Erase the melody, transpose to a different key and start writing melodies. You can't copyright a chord progression, so you can even take your favorite group's songs, erase the melody and use their progression as a starting point to write your song. It is a great way to learn what works in almost any genre of music.
Good luck.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,869 |
Last edited by ZeroZero; 01/04/15 07:53 PM.
Win 11 64, Asus Rog Strix z390 mobo, 64 gig RAM, 8700k
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,026
Veteran
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Veteran
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,026 |
ZZ, I like the new Avatar. Works well!
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box Wishlist
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 577
Journeyman
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OP
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 577 |
By the way, some great work on your compositions Noel96 and Matt Finley. Thanks receder. I didn't see this comment until just now. Apologies for that. I hope you're having fun with BIAB! Noel Sorry Noel, I hadn't looked at this thread in a while. Yes the more I use it the more I find out and these forums are a goldmine of information. I also thought my music theory was pretty good but I am finding out new things from these forums and using BIAB. Just saw another thread here where you mention Nashville Notation in BIAB which also looks v useful. This is where a small amount of music theory can set loose your creativity. In about 30 minutes of googling "chord progression theory" or "diatonic chord progressions" or "circle of fifths chord progression" will generate all kinds of ideas for you. And the great thing is that Band-in-a-Box will give your ears immediate feedback on whether your idea works.
Another good starting place is to use some of the demo songs included with Band in a Box as a starting point. Erase the melody, transpose to a different key and start writing melodies. You can't copyright a chord progression, so you can even take your favorite group's songs, erase the melody and use their progression as a starting point to write your song. It is a great way to learn what works in almost any genre of music.
Good luck. Some great ideas thanks songwriterbob. Interesting, thanks ZeroZero. Cubase has certainly improved since the last version I used a long time ago! Rec
BIAB 2022 UltraPAK, CbB, Studio One 5 Pro, Fender USA Tele, Harley Benton Fusion & others.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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Season's Greetings!
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Team PG
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