Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
seeker Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
Within the typical realm of BIAB(music) endings.

What chords would be used for A.

Arbitrarily picked A

A would be one.... Am would be one... and confused confused

Functionally probably any chord within the A key would work.
But what chords are typical to use for good sounds.


FrankB

Down The Street vs2015 12-03-2014
Win7, AMD QuadA8-5500,16GB,2TeraHD, Komplete 10
PG Ultra Plus 2016,Alesis 12USB, Sonar Platinum
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,255
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,255
Typically,,,,

The chords in a given key that are generally used include the 1,4,5 and 6m. Of course you are not limited to these 4 but they do tend to be the most common.

In C that equates to

1=C
4=F
5=G
6m=Am

You can extrapolate that to any root being the one.... 1=A....4=D....5=E and so on....

Typically... notice I used the word typically.... you will end on the root of the key or the ONE chord....same one you start with normally. There are ALWAYS exceptions.

For example, you can play the song in a minor key and end it on a major.... or the other way around.

My childhood piano teacher told me that to easily determine a key....aside from looking at the key signature, look at the last chord in the song and you will know the key.... most of the time.

Last edited by Guitarhacker; 01/05/15 11:18 AM.

You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,087
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,087
Hi Frank,

Keeping in the key of A major you could end on Amaj7, F#m7 (also called A6), Aadd9 or A6/9.

Good luck.


Doc-take it easy John this is just a sharp scalpel. It will not cut deep so don't worry.
Me-I'm not John
Doc-I know, I am!

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
seeker Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
Guitarhacker,

Excellent writeup for me, appreciate your time.
Just put into my PG bookmarks.

Mario,

Again very good information.
Not trying to be too exotic, just nice music.

Both, I'm trying to work on some UserTracks endings
and hit a glitch, this will help make the monkey go away.

Thank you both for your help.


FrankB

Down The Street vs2015 12-03-2014
Win7, AMD QuadA8-5500,16GB,2TeraHD, Komplete 10
PG Ultra Plus 2016,Alesis 12USB, Sonar Platinum
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,732
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,732
To add on to what the others said, here's more info....

A picture of some popular chord progressions. Once you know your key you can take any path and write a chord progression:



Here's the page that came from. Nice intro to theory if you haven't had much in the past:
Songwriting Tips


Another cool reference, the circle of 5ths. Shows you what keys have the amount of sharps and flats and their associated minor keys on the inner part of the circle:




Steve

BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
seeker Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
sslechta,

I do have some amount of music training in my early years,
if only I'd have spent more time at it.

I do have Chord Progressions for Songwriters by Richard J Scott.

One of our members did recommend this some time ago, and
picked it up. Excellent book.

The circle of 5th's is one of the nicer one's I've seen.
Will print it for use.

My dark area, what was normal or typical endings chords within the BIAB realm.

guitarhacker nailed the specific chord selection nicely, and MarioD for key suggestions A key.

AECG will be primary keys used for the endings which is
based on the PG Music's supplied UserTracks 10 minute template.

With solidrocks and Jim Fogles help am almost to a point
endings will be part of new UT's I post.

I thank you for taking the time also.


FrankB

Down The Street vs2015 12-03-2014
Win7, AMD QuadA8-5500,16GB,2TeraHD, Komplete 10
PG Ultra Plus 2016,Alesis 12USB, Sonar Platinum
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,805
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,805
Frank,

I don't if you've ever looked at Nashville notation in BIAB but I find it very useful.

All I need to know are the 6 chords built on the first 6 notes of a major scale and I can write in any key I want without having to worry about chord names and song keys. Here are the 6 fundamental chords for a major key ...

  • 1, 2m, 3m, 4, 5 (also 57), 6m


For example, the chord progression C-Am-Dm-G7-1 in the key of C is 1-6m-2m-57-1 (since notes C, A, D, G are notes 1, 6, 2, 5 of the C major scale). If I change to the key of Ab major, it's still 1-6m-2m-57-1 smile

From a Nashville notation (and BIAB) perspective good chords to finish on would include: 1, 1maj7, 16, 12, 169 (in the key of C these are C, Cmaj7, C6, C2, C69).

Note: If you haven't used too many adventurous chords in the body of the song, then it is highly likely that the unadorned chord 1 will be the best choice to end on.

If you're interested, to switch on Nashville notation in BIAB 2014/5 ...

1. Click on "Chord Display".



2. Follow the choices I've highlighted below.




  • In the first image above, you can see the 2m, 27, 59. This song I'm working on is in Ab major and I find it much easier to think of numbers rather than Bbm, Bb7, Eb9, etc.


Just some thoughts.

Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2025
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 15
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 15
Back around 1960 I hired a guy to play lead on a recording. His only question was What dot are we playing on?

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 53
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 53
A 2 5 1 in A would be Bm7 E7 Amaj7 which would finish the tune for you. You could swap the Amaj7 for A69,

Also
3 6 2 5 1 would work, C#m7 F#m7 Bm7 E7 Amaj7, once again the final chord could be A6 or A69,

In both examples the chords could be one or two per bar it all depends on how you here the song and style as well


Dell Optiplex i3 quad core,8gb mem,500gb
nvidia gtx750graphics,
Win10
ESI studio monitors
Presonus AudioBox iOne interface
Presonus Studio One 3
BiaB2014
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,255
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,255
Just a short follow up as to why you look at the last chord and not necessarily the key signature.... as my piano teacher instructed me to do...


For example: lets keep this easy... if you look at the key signature and there are no accidentals.... sharps or flats to indicate a key, the assumption is the song would be in the key of C. However, Am also shares the same exact key sig. So if you look at the ending chord, and see a root of A with the chord notes being A C E.... the key sig is actually indicating the key of A minor and not C Major.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add 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.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
To put some more emphasis on that:

There are seven different modes for each key signature. Examples are given in the key of A. The two most common are
Ionian, better known as the major scale, starts at A, and
Aeolian, better known as the normal minor scale, starts at F#.

Then there are
Dorian, starts at B
Phrygian, starts at C#
Lydian, starts at D
Mixolydian, starts at E
Locrian, starts at G#.

This is not to confuse you, but if you end a song with the key signature of A (= ###) with an ending chord E6/9 suggests that this song is played in "E Mixolydian". Some song examples from the different modes have been posted somewhere in this forum some time ago.

Last edited by GHinCH; 01/06/15 03:11 AM.

Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
I've found the list it, I forgot that I had put it there myself even tho' I didn't compile it:
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=251080&#Post251080

and searching for it I have found another thread strongly relating to it with examples and links to exercises:
http://www.pgmusic.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=251327&Searchpage=2&Main=35861&Words=modes&Search=true#Post251285


Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
seeker Offline OP
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
There is so much to learn and absorb.
Will work thru some of the "outstanding" information
and try to learn what I currently am able to use.

Appreciate all of the time and help all of you have
shared with me and the rest of the members.

Knew when the question was posted, there was a lot
more then simple answers.
But, did not want to lock in A key A ending G key G ending.

Thank you very much!


FrankB

Down The Street vs2015 12-03-2014
Win7, AMD QuadA8-5500,16GB,2TeraHD, Komplete 10
PG Ultra Plus 2016,Alesis 12USB, Sonar Platinum
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,805
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,805
Frank,

Some additional thoughts ...

99.9% (estimated) of the music I've played over the years will end on chord 1 of the key. That is, if it's written in A major, it will end on an A major chord; if it's written in C minor, it will end on a C minor chord. Herb has already said this. The reason for this is because the purpose of an ending is to provide closure and that's what finishing on the tonic chord does - it's home base.

Where things are different is how that last chord is approached and there are many, many different ways to do this. In other words, the final chord is not about musical creativity, it's about providing the listener with a sense of ending for the aural journey they've just been on. The chord progression that leads to the final chord, though, can be very creative.

Working in the key of A major, here are some endings that occur to me as I sit here typing. If you want to try these in BIAB, the "|" character is used to represent a bar line. Nashville notation for these endings is in blue.

  • A | D | E7 | A
  • 1 | 4 | 57 | 1


  • A | Bm/D | E7 | A
  • 1 | 2m/4 | 57 | 1


  • A | D | E7 | F#m | D | E7 | A
  • 1 | 4 | 57 | 6m | 4 | 57 | 1


  • A | D | A/E E7 | A
  • 1 | 4 | 1/5 57 | 1


  • A | D | E7 | D/A A
  • 1 | 4 | 57 | 4/1 1


  • A | D Dm | E7 | A
  • 1 | 4 4m | 57 | 1


  • A A/G | D/F# Dm/F | A/E E7 | A (good for slowish tempos)
  • 1 1/7b | 4/6 4m/6b | 1/5 57 | 1


  • A C#m | D D#dim | A/E E7 | A
  • 1 3m | 4 4#dim | 1/5 57 | 1


  • A A/C# | D B7/D# | A/E E7 | A
  • 1 1/3 | 4 27/4# | 1/5 57 | 1


Hope these ideas give you some more inspiration!
Noel

Last edited by Noel96; 01/07/15 12:51 AM. Reason: added Nashville notation

MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2025
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 53
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 53
As a side point, just because the key sig has no sharps or flats does not mean the song doesn't change key. The key sig only dictates what the notes are NOT the chords, also tunes can have no sharps or flats in the key sig and be written using accidentals, eg song in G only has 1 sharp (F#). could use the key sig for C and use notate the F# using '#'accidental.

The final chord of a song is normally the home Key, also don't just restrict your chord selection to just 1 4 5 6. ALL the chords are open to use and also chords from other keys. Music that stays in one key can get boring not always but it can.


Dell Optiplex i3 quad core,8gb mem,500gb
nvidia gtx750graphics,
Win10
ESI studio monitors
Presonus AudioBox iOne interface
Presonus Studio One 3
BiaB2014
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

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.

PG Music News
Band-in-a-Box 2025 Italian Version is Here!

Cari amici
È stata aggerate la versione in Italiano del programma più amato dagli appassionati di musica, il nostro Band-in-a-Box.
Questo è il link alla nuova versione 2025.

Di seguito i link per scaricare il pacchetti di lingua italiana aggiornati per Band-in-a-Box e RealBand, anche per chi avesse già comprato la nuova versione in inglese.

Band-in-a-Box 2025 - Italiano
RealBand 2025 - Italiano

Band-in-a-Box 2025 French Version is Here!

Bonjour à tous,

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 pour Windows est disponible en Français.
Le téléchargement se fait à partir du site PG Music

Pour ceux qui auraient déjà acheté la version 2025 de Band-in-a-Box (et qui donc ont une version anglaise), il est possible de "franciser" cette version avec les patchs suivants:

BIAB 2025 - francisation
RealBand 2025 - francisation

Voilà, enjoy!

Band-in-a-Box 2025 German Version is Here!

Band-in-a-Box 2025 für Windows Deutsch ist verfügbar!

Die deutsche Version Band-in-a-Box® 2025 für Windows ist ab sofort verfügbar!

Alle die bereits die englische Version von Band-in-a-Box und RealBand 2024 installiert haben, finden hier die Installationsdateien für das Sprachenupdate:

https://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/languagesupport/deutsch2025.exe
https://nn.pgmusic.com/pgfiles/languagesupport/deutsch2025RB.exe

Update Your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 to Build 1128 for Windows Today!

Already using Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 1128 now from our Support Page to enjoy the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.

Stay up to date—get the latest update now!

Update to RealBand® 2025 Build 5 Windows Today!

Already using RealBand® 2025 for Windows®? Download Build 5 now from our Support Page to ensure you have the latest enhancements and improvements from our team.

Get the latest update today!

PowerTracks Pro Audio 2025 for Windows is Here!

PowerTracks Pro Audio 2025 is here! This new version introduces many features, including VST3 support, the ability to load or import a .FLAC file, a reset option for track height in the Tracks window, a taller Timeline on the Notation window toolbar, new freeze buttons in the Tracks window, three toolbar modes (two rows, single row, and none), the improved Select Patch dialog with text-based search and numeric patch display, a new button in the DirectX/VST window to copy an effects group, and more!

First-time packages start at only $49. Already a PowerTracks Pro Audio user? Upgrade for as little as $29!

www.pgmusic.com/powertracks.htm

Video: Summary of the New Band-in-a-Box® App for iOS®

Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new Band-in-a-Box® app for iOS®! Designed for musicians, singer-songwriters, and educators, this powerful tool lets you create, play, and transfer songs effortlessly on your iPhone® or iPad®—anytime, anywhere.

Band-in-a-Box® for iOS® :Summary video.

Check out the forum post for more information.

Forum Statistics
Forums58
Topics84,061
Posts775,026
Members39,584
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
kmvertns01, Creon, ASMusic, mikemilbrath, dmt123
39,583 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 153
DC Ron 91
WaoBand 90
rsdean 85
dcuny 64
Today's Birthdays
Daniel Parra, filkertom, Ian M, sinly
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5