|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7
Newbie
|
OP
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7 |
I am having trouble figuring out how to enter an Ebdim(maj7) chord and an Em7b5sus4 chord. Does BIAB support these chords and if so how would I enter them?
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Ebdim(maj7) - Eb,Gb,A,D in closed form, try a D/Eb which would yield an Eb in the bass with D,F#,A up above. Expect some doubling on the D sometimes, depending.
Em7b5sus4 - E,G,A,Bb,D - You might be able to use a Gm/E, which will yield the E bass with G,Bb,D above, no A. Gm9/E would add the A, but also will add an F to the other three notes. G2/E would substitute the A, but no Bb -- G,A,D and use the slash /E for the E in the bass.
Yeah, they are all workarounds.
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7
Newbie
|
|
OP
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7 |
Thanks, I will try the slash chords, they should work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,724
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,724 |
A workaround I sometimes use in cases like this is to enter the closest chord you can then enter the song into the sequencer of your choice and modify the chord structure there.
For instance your Em7b5sus4. I would enter Em7 in BiaB then in Sonar I would change the B to a Bb and add the A and D. A sequencer is also the best way to change the chord inversion.
I hope this helps.
I arrived early to a restaurant.
The manager asks, "do you mind waiting a bit?"
I said no.
"Good", he said. "Take these drinks to table 3"
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: Jun 2003
Posts: 716
Journeyman
|
|
Journeyman
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 716 |
For Edim maj7 try C7#9/E as it often emphasises the b5 better than the Eb/E slash chord altermative. The C (#5) will often be left out of the equation as the root of the chord but if it does sound it often reinforces the diminished W/H scale sourse so it still sounds good IMO.
The Emin7b5sus4 might be obtained by other workarounds like A7susb9/E but be careful of the unwanted embellishments that sometimes creep in with altered dominants. If something doesnt sound right you can disable embellishments for a certain instrument in the style pattern editor.
Adding notes to chords using BIAB should be explored rather than as Mario suggests, using a sequencer. It looks complicated on paper but is actually a breeze to do in reality once you get the steps memorized.
1 Move the the generated chord part to the melody channel (copy >move tracks),
2 Set up a new melody harmony with only melody and a low root voice shifted up to the piano range.
3 Then move your original chords to another part of the sheet. Replace with just the note you want added and a slash root of the original chord for the bass.
4 Mute the piano channel and when you regenerate the track and the melody harmony will add the desired note somewhere in the chord.
5 Go to Edit melody and convert harmony to melody,.. then move your original changes back in place. Keep the piano channel muted. your chords should now sound as you want them.
I'll add this workaroud to the tips section as I find myself repeating it a lot.
Total control over chord voicing is possible in BIAB when you combine this technique with another i'll go into on that forum. It may be even more work intensive but its worth it in the end if you have unusual cluster and non-tonal chords in mind.
Hope this helps
Alan
Last edited by alan S.; 10/29/09 10:03 AM.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 119
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 119 |
Alan: Wow! Kudos for the work you've put in to this matter.
However, isn't this part of why pgmusic came up with RealBand?
Mac: In BIAB, G2 (yes, GAD) actually would mean (frustratingly incorrectly) G(add2) (GABD). As far as I'm concerned, there is no such animal as G2; there is either Gsus2 --OR-- G(add2), major or minor.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,486
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,486 |
Hi Leovigild,
Not sure I understand your point - G2 is a useful chord being a G9 without the 7th
jazzman
BIAB - RealBand - 2022
Windows 10 64
Zoo computer with 7i processor- SSD 1TB -2TB HDD
Roland keyboards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,844
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,844 |
There may not be such an animal as G2, but I have do have an extraordinary amount of sheet music that has "2" chords all over the place. So publishers are definitely using it.
As far as BIAB is concerned, it is simply a shorthand for G(add9). If you want a G(add9), you have to enter it as a G2. Of course, that's different from Gsus2, because the G2 can have the 3rd in it (G A B D), whereas the Gsus2 would not have the 3rd ( G A D).
John Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 12TB SSD Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 12TB SATA BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting/construction)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7
Newbie
|
|
OP
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 7 |
Thanks for all of the help. It is too bad that there isn't a quick intuitive way to add notes to chords or make the chords up yourself by entering single notes instead of being limited to the supported chords. Is this possible in RealBand as one previous poster seems to suggest?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,574
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,574 |
There is indeed a G2, often used in folk music and sounding quite different (simpler) from the Gadd9.
I'm not as sure about the meaning of a Gsus2. A suspended chord is supposed to be able to resolve. To where does a sus2 resolve?
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; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Quote:
To where does a sus2 resolve?
Sounds good resolving to the Major...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 119
Apprentice
|
|
Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 119 |
Quote:
Is this possible in RealBand as one previous poster seems to suggest?
Hi William--I was really just echoing MarioD's reply, in that you can tweak a BIAB chord structure any way you want with RealBand, which is a hybrid of BIAB and PowerTracks.
Now, it may be that X2 is found as a chord symbol in certain music genres, but I have NEVER seen it in any jazz score or jazz fake book.
As for Xsus2, it is a suspension from below, resolving upward to the third. Listen to James Taylor's guitar parts--he often toggles between X, Xsus4, and Xsus2. OR you don't have to resolve it at all, just use Xsus2 or Xsus4 as a free standing structure. Mike Stern, for example, uses them that way quite frequently.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Fake chord notations qualify as a bona fide "living language".
As such, the compendium is dynamic and is growing constantly as needs arise.
New additions to the chord compendium are not nonvalid, by any means.
If the new addition turns out to be easy to recognize by the majority of musicians and if the type of chord notation that the new addition catches on as a chord sound, then that new addition, such as the X2 chord mentioned here, will likely "grow" to become used in all genres that use fakechord notations.
It is interesting to notice that the Pop genre has been leading the way for the last couple of decades or so, there is also a bit of "crossover" influencing the situation, I think.
When penning a chart, it may become necessary at some point for you to have to actually come up with a new fakechord designator. The "rules" here are natural -- if what you pen is easy for musicians to grasp what it is, follows as much of the "convention" of rules for fake chords that has preceded it and is needed in more than just "your" song, it may someday end up as part of the compendium. Or not.
Fake Chord notations have also historically been known to be location-centric. For example, "West Coast Notation" was once used to describe certain Pop fake chordings that jazzers on the East Coast wanted to belittle as not being "real". -- Until one or two of thier own started using them. See Herbie Hancock and his use of the "Pipe" chord notation...
--Mac
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
Holiday Weekend Hours
As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:
April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours
Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!
— Team PG
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,234
Posts802,208
Members40,072
| |
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean