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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 101
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 101 |
Hello all,
Could someone tell me what is and isn’t copyrighted within BIAB. For example when I’m auditioning styles and while within the style picker I can listen to a demo tune created with whatever style I’m interested in. If I like the way the demo is laid out (chord progression) can I use it?
Thanks
Mike
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,330
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Anything you create using BiaB you can copyright as yours. Chord progressions can not be copyrighted so yes you can use a demo’s chord progression however you must create your own melody line.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia.
She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618 |
Hi Mario, So the chord progressions in the demo songs are not copyrighted? Wow, some of them have really nice changes. Thanks for the info, I know when I used a Robert Cray style, I built the song around the demo. I changed a few chords not many, but I always thought it was someone elses. Interesting. I was always uncomfortable putting this song up. "Craylike Jam" Link, http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=835626&songID=8102498Wayne,
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 7,697
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Veteran
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Also if you use one of the named player's Real Tracks like Brent Mason or Oliver Gannon or any of them you don't credit them as "performing" on your recording.
I know several people who've used the Soundtrack function to create a whole new song complete with melody and they've copyrighted it. Don't know how successful any of thse new songs have been but it's perfectly ok with PG.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618 |
Wow, so the instrumental "Craylike Jam" I did is mine?
It still feels like I stole something....lol
Wayne,
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Wayne, correct, the current understanding by us non-lawyers is that chord progressions are not copyrighted. Melodies can be, as pointed out, and therefore the whole song with your melody (and pretty much none of theirs) can be copyrighted by you.
There can be gray areas such as 'hits', specific rhythmic phrases that might only be chords but that make the one song instantly recognizable. I would stay away from those (not saying that they might be in the demos).
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 for Windows
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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If chord progressions were able to be copyrighted, we'd all owe Robert Johnson's estate a fortune every time we played 12 bar blues....
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618 |
And what about C,Am,F and G. It goes from Ebb Tide to Piano Man and a thousand other songs.
Hey let's do the Bristol Stomp too.
Wayne,
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2011
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Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
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Thanks everyone for clearing that up for me.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2010
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Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
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Yes, chord progressions usually are not copyrighted.
But there are some progressions, like Matt pointed out, that are dangerous to use in this perspective: Just say that the opening riff of "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple is not copyrighted and you might be wrong -- even if it is just a couple of power chords.
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
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2003
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Quote:
Yes, chord progressions usually are not copyrighted.
But there are some progressions, like Matt pointed out, that are dangerous to use in this perspective: Just say that the opening riff of "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple is not copyrighted and you might be wrong -- even if it is just a couple of power chords.
BUT the opening rift in “Smoke on the Water” is a lead line with a harmony. Thus it is copyrighted.
Ps – a so-called power chord is a note with a harmony i.e. the tonic and the fifth usually. A chord consists of three or more notes.
I think my wife has started to show the first signs of dementia.
She said she can't remember what she ever saw in me!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618
Journeyman
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Journeyman
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Quote:
A so called power chord is a note with a harmony i.e. the tonic and the fifth usually. A chord consists of three or more notes.
Never knew that. The 3 notes or more. Good to know. That's why less than 3 notes isn't a chord. I always called it Playing a fifth.
Wayne,
(Also not to be confused with power cords)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2005
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Veteran
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Veteran
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MrEd,
Particularly enjoyed "No More Sad Songs", your vocals.
Seeker
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 101
Apprentice
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OP
Apprentice
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I'm sorry Seeker but that wasn't my song.
Last edited by MrEd; 08/05/11 03:20 PM.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Anonymous
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Quote:
I always called it Playing a fifth.
I always just said "root and 5th" as well....
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618 |
Quote:
MrEd,
Particularly enjoyed "No More Sad Songs", your vocals.
Seeker
Hi Seeker, That was me.
Blueslogic on Soundclick. Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed the song and my vocals.
I was just going trthrough these posts again and found a reference to my song and I said to myself, hey someone wrote a song with the same name as I did...lol
I put one up today that I found from another cassette. This one has me singing with the highest my voice ever sounded, It's in the USER SHOWCASE, "Everybody Here" Redguitars.
Thanks, Wayne
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
Veteran
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Veteran
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Sorry bout that, must have drifted off while reading the thread...
Seeker
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618
Journeyman
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Journeyman
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 618 |
Seeker,
No problem, I'm glad you enjoyed it, thank you.
Wayne,
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
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Quote:
BUT the opening rift in “Smoke on the Water” is a lead line with a harmony. Thus it is copyrighted.
Ps – a so-called power chord is a note with a harmony i.e. the tonic and the fifth usually. A chord consists of three or more notes.
That is true. However, it would be extremly difficult to play this line with just (full) chords (of any kind) and have it NOT resembling Smoke On the Water and having it NOT recognised. Even with chords that do not include the root note.
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
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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We need Steve Miller and Joe Walsh in on this discussion....
Funny how many of Miller's songs "sound like" someone else's songs.....
Probably also need Michael Bolton.... Said I Wrote It But I Lied....
Maybe George Harrison and The Chiffons. Cost him $600k to buy his way out of that one....
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