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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2010
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OP
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which is the best tutorial to learn how to manipulate the PITCHES that a song will sound, the CHORDS that will appear on the chord sheet, and the transposing INSTRUMENT that is to play the tune?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
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Hello. Are you seeking a short music theory lesson here, or help in how to make transpositions in BIAB? I'm happy to go either way, as I compose for and play several transposing instruments.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 23
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OP
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i'm pretty clear on the musical facts, e.g. for 'concert A' there is:
PITCH
440 Hertz
MIDI note #49 (i think)
MACHINE (instrument)
Piano: A4 (58th key) on 88-key piano
Clarinet: all holes closed except ‘speaker’ key
WRITTEN (treble clef)
Concert music: note in the space between lines #2 and #3
Clarinet music: note on line #3
but i need a tutorial on how to manipulate BIAB so that e.g. when i copy the chords from a Bb fake book into BIAB the chords remain written the same but when i play them they sound like what the piano player is also playing. when i upgrade the program appears to reset itself so that i again have to muck about until i can get BIAB to do what i need...
Last edited by ldecola; 11/08/15 08:14 AM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,507
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Got it. This is opposite the conventional use of transposition, where you enter a song into BIAB from a C fakebook and then use transposition to keep the sound the same pitch but change the notation up a full step for clarinet. But no problem, since BIAB can go backwards just as easily.
Do this:
Determine the key signature of the song in the fakebook. For this example, let's assume your Bb fakebook song is in the key of A. [Note: the first thing anyone should do when entering a fakebook song into BIAB is set the key because the key signature determines the program's correct use of enharmonics.]
In BIAB, set the key to A by clicking on the Key icon (just to the left of the Tempo setting). Use the left-hand column, marked 'Transpose and Set Key Signature'.
Enter the song into BIAB just as you see it in the Bb fakebook.
To make a piano part, change the key to G, again using the left-hand column. [Why G? G is one whole step down from A, to compensate for the fact that a Bb instrument needs notes written one whole step up to match the piano.]
Print the piano part if you need that.
To see it on screen for a Bb instrument, but keep it in the correct concert pitch for the piano, go to Opt., Preferences, Notation. In the Transpose Options pull-down, select anything with +2. You will see choices for Soprano Sax, Trumpet, or Clarinet.
You will now be looking at a part written for a Bb instrument, but playing in concert pitch. You could print that part for clarinet.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 23
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OP
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Matt, i did what you said but at the last step the song changed key...anyway, what i was looking for was in
Opt. > Preferences > Notation > Transpose:Clarinet+2
so that BIAB is a clarinet.
i realize i'm being obtuse, but you must admit the word TRANSPOS[E/ITION] is used in different contexts (and don't get me started on the words NOTE or KEY...etc).
i think a tutorial on this specific topic would be useful.
thanks for your pointer...
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
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You're welcome.
I actually think BIAB uses the concept of transposition and key correctly in this case.
I checked my steps before posting so if you didn't get the same result, perhaps I didn't fully understand how you were entering it from the fakebook. The song was indeed supposed to change key when put in concert pitch, and then change key back to the key that is in your Bb fakebook. For example, if it's in the key of F in the Bb fakebook, it would change to Eb in concert pitch, then back to F after applying the transpose command I gave. Yes, clarinet, trumpet or soprano sax are all +2 (as in, two half-steps) and are thus interchangeable. Anyway, I'm glad you got it working.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Presonus Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Mar 2020
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from 10 years in the future, thank you
I was trying to do this so that I only had to print out one page of sheet music, not a part for my instrument (concert tuned) and someone on guitar playing easier chords with a capo (C -> Eb)
I moved the chords down three and when the melody shifted down as well, i transposed the melody up three
yes, there are a lot odd flats and sharps but its a familiar song
so yeah, thank you
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