Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
#564450 11/16/19 08:44 AM
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 139
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 139
Dad

This is a song of tribute to my dad who passed away in Oct 2016.
My sister Lisa wrote a poem at the time called Dad as a remembrance.

recently I was playing my guitar with the capo on fret 6.
D, Am, C, G.
pretty basic but sounds very pretty with the capo.

I was wondering what to do with it when the anniversary of my dad's passing came and I looked up this poem again.

Loaded up BIAB.
Made a chord sequence.
Picked a style.
and now I have a song.

Dad
Written by Lisa Ricciotti

What can I say to comfort us
Now that we’ve lost our father?
God only gives you one
There will not be another.

Though we knew it had to happen
That some day all dads must go,
It doesn’t make it any easier
Knowing ‘tis always so

Folks say that life’s a journey
It must end as well as start,
But we grieve for what we’ve lost
When the ones we love depart.

If all of life’s a circle,
Then we’ll come back to where we start.
One day we all shall rendezvous
No more to be apart.

Though time will dull the heartache
True comfort comes from this:
Our time on earth is finite
But next comes eternal bliss.

So this the circle closes
Dad lives on in our hearts
And in his kin and in our thoughts.
No, a father never really parts




Song Info

****** Song Summary *************
Title: Dad V3
File:Dad V3 country rock.SGU
Key=C# , Tempo 115, Length (m:s)=3:32
10 bar intro, 88 bar chorus, from bar 11 to bar 98. Repeat x1 chorus
No Melody
No Soloist track.
Song is saved with Volume, Pan, Reverb, Chorus, Bank0,
Song is saved with bar changes for Volume Changes,
Style is _CROSFST.STY (Country-Rock Crossover)

RealTracks in style: 784:Bass, Electric, PopCrossover Sw16 075
RealTracks in style: 785:Guitar, Acoustic, Strumming CrossoverSnappy Sw16 090
RealTracks in style: 786:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm CrossoverChop Sw16 090
RealTracks in style: 787:Guitar, Electric, Rhythm CrossoverClean Sw16 090
RealTracks in song: 1274:Guitar, Electric, Soloist PopUplift Ev16 120 (Bluesy)
RealTracks in song: 1277:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm PopUpliftA-B Ev16 120
RealDrums in style: NashCrossovrSw16^05-a:Snare, Closed Hat Skip Beat 1 , b:Ride Cymbal, Boogaloo

*******************

I play the intro and outro on my acoustic guitar
Double tracked the vocals.
panned about 3/4 to the left and right

Last edited by Marty Ricciotti; 11/16/19 08:44 AM.
User Showcase
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,787
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 12,787
Marty,

How nice that you and your sister could create this tribute to your Dad...

The opening acoustic that you played is nice...haunting with the applied delay/echo - very effective.

The overall Rock setting that followed was unexpected. And well done. Your doubled vocal worked well with it. The whole thing had a kind of Jethro Tull vibe (I thought).

Sorry for your loss.

fj

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 139
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 139
Thank
you very much Floyd
Music is very therapeutic!

Actually I could not get over how good that guitar track sounded.
So I kept adding space for it.

Insert 8 bars.
again
Insert 8 bars.

I shared it with the family yesterday.
Lots of smiles and tears!

User Showcase
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,192
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 7,192
A solid production - those simple chords are quite effective.
the intro seems redundant and didn't lead me to the band in any meaningful way.
In places where the double tracked vocal was super close it becomes centred/mono but at others it spreads the % you set it at. that was a little disorienting.
I'd have opted to either blend the two into a solid main (with a little editing to tidy up the early/late bits), or use one as a close 10% panned but rather quieter bvocal.
The outro worked well.


Cheers
rayc
"What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,647
Nice tribute and sentiment - a good sounding band, and nice sounding guitar parts.

Well done.

Peter

User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,677
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,677
Hi Marty,

with this song you support my conviction that serous, even sad subjects do not necessarily ask for a ballad.

I think that this is a very beautiful tribute to your father.

As to the music: a good, toe-tapping rocker, well-sung and well-sounding.

Good!

Cheers,

Stefan

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 139
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 139
Thanks for the comments Ray. Really appreciate the detailed listening.
as for the extra guitar intro, what I was trying to do was tie in the concept of completing the circle.
"Until the circle closes".
So I took what I ended with (the guitar part at the outro),and copied it to the front of the song.
I guess it doesn't really match that well having two intro sections.
But that is what the next song is for. smile

Stefan: that is a terrific insight to the song that I did not think about. I do know that I'm to comfortable singing slow ballad type songs so my personality must be showing through in the music.

Thanks for listening

User Showcase
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,626
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 5,626
Beautiful tune Marty! I love that major to minor thing played throughout...it really sets a mood for the song! Very nice vocal conveying the melancholy subject matter! Thanks, Torrey

User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,656
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,656
Hi Marty,

when reading the title of your song, I thought this might become a sad, emotional song. That can be very nice of course, but you have put me totally on the wrong leg. While the lyrics contains a very sad event (but brought in a very nice way), the music surprised me from the start. A freshly sung rocking song! You did that very good. nice vocals and good music! If there is a heaven, your father must be sitting there proudly and with a broad smile, while tapping his feet (as Stefan mentioned).

Hans


Hans Berkhout
(Birchwood)
https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 139
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 139
Dear Hans:
Oh Boy:
I guess I shouldn't look at this while I'm at work...
Now I'm crying.
What a nice commentary you made.
I wasn't really aware of it, but your commentary is exactly what I was trying to do with the song.
Celebrate a good Dad!

User Showcase
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,414
Nicely done - and a gorgeous tribute to your father. The lyrics are poignant and your vocal delivery adds depth even further to them - also, your execution is top notch. Really well produced, and nicely catchy. Despite the subject matter it doesn't come off as over melancholic.

You should be really proud of this one - thanks for sharing smile


Cheers,
Deryk
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,732
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,732
Your sister's poem is very wonderfully written.

I do really like the BIAB style you have here. Very well produced. I agree with Ray's comments on the vocal panning. You've been working on that your last few songs I recall. Keep working on your vocals in the mix and I think you'll keep getting better results with each song!

Cheers Marty!




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
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,217
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 8,217
Excellent intro. Loved the guitar. Really enjoyed your lyric. Really touched hone. Super vocal. Well done


Scott Collingwood
https://soundcloud.com/scottt709
https://soundcloud.com/spiritlevel-ca
https://www.youtube.com/@SpiritLevel-ge3hm/
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,944
Jim Offline
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,944
A nice tribute & production...
I really like the line...
"No, a father never really parts"...
Good writing.


Jim
†=☮&♥
User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,991
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 2,991
This was a really lovely tribute that you put together, and the lyrics were especially heart-touching.

Thanks for sharing.


Cheers,
Ember
User Showcase
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052
G
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
G
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 7,052
A nice tribute!! I lost my dad almost 4 years ago and it still hurts a lot. You did a good job putting this together. I'm sure your dad appreciates it! Take care. Greg

User Showcase
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 139
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 139

thanks Deryk, Steve, Scott, Jim, Ember and Greg.

My sister sure did write a nice poem.
I'm sure she didn't think she was writing a song at the time!

I really like the line...
"No, a father never really parts"...
Thanks Jim.


The whole song writing process is fascinating to me.
Where do the ideas come from?
The collaboration of lyrics and melody. Amazing.

Then the application of some proper formatting and arranging.
And BIAB to fill in all the sounds in you head that you don't have the skills or equipment to produce otherwise.

And a thoughtful on line community to share with.

User Showcase
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,360
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,360
Hi Marty,

What a wonderful tribute to your late father!

I love the opening and the way that you've used delay. The effect is mesmerising and sets the tone really well for what's to follow. Your and your sister's writing is terrific and your arranging, performing and production all worked together so very well to create and excellent musical journey.

I enjoyed it!
Noel


MY SONGS...
Audiophile BIAB 2026
User Showcase
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,600
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,600
First of all: very nice vocal! I like the 60s/70s feel to the melody. I agree that the upbeat tracks work well with this. The BIAB tracks all integrate well with your song.

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 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!

Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!

We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.

Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!

Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.

If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!

Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!

We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.

Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.

Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!

Season's Greetings!

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy holiday season—thanks for being part of our community!

The office will be closed for Christmas Day, but we will be back on Boxing Day (Dec 26th) at 6:00am PST.

Team PG

Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window

In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe

This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®

With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!

These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!

This Free Bonus PAK includes:

  • The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK: -For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles. -For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
  • MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
  • Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
  • Playable RealTracks Set 5
  • RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
  • SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
  • Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)

Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:


  • 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
  • FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
  • MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
  • MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
  • Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
  • Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
  • RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
  • SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)

Learn more about the Bonus PAKs for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,738
Posts795,606
Members39,946
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
LaneWright55, Diddlysquat, pun61, smitoz, Jonnyfartpants
39,945 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 191
DC Ron 117
Noel96 114
DrDan 103
rsdean 102
dcuny 93
Today's Birthdays
Ariloum, colly, dedou83, jlewis67, matzemu, Mike Levin, zakbosco
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5