Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 506
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 506
I am transcribing a piano part for a song I recently wrote. I am using GuitarPro 6 to "git-r-done" (I am a guitar hack). Does the highlighted section work, or is it too confusing?



The left hand is straight forward, but the right is playing a "C" chord that also contains the melody for the measure. The up stems are the melody and the down stems are accompaniment / harmony. Is there a better way of notating this?



Title edited for clarification.

Last edited by RobbMiller; 02/25/12 09:44 PM.
Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 191
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 191
Hi RobbMiller,

The only thing I would do is change the first dotted crotchet E to a crotchet. Unless you had the pedal on, the dotted E couldn't be still held down when you had to play the quaver E with the stem up. The effect will be the same, the decay from the notes in that middle register is long enough to cover it.

All the best.


Edited for additional thought.

The second dotted crotchet C should more accurately written as a quaver tied to a crotchet. This would make the notation correct for 4/4 time as the beats are clear and more easier to count.

Last edited by yjoh; 02/25/12 05:04 PM.

yjoh

[i]Music...a joy for life.
Off-Topic
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
This is not a composition question, strictly speaking it is a transcription issue.

The Bass Clef part looks fine.

In the Treble Clef, the first beat has a three-note chord, but the highest note is not dotted like the lower two. Place a dot after the G to go along with the dots after the C and E.

Following that C triad is a G and here we have a rhythm notation problem. Since the first half of the beat is dotted, which means that it takes half again its duration value, that second note cannot be an 8th note as written. Change that to be a sixteenth by adding the little extra bar at its top.

So the first beat you should now have a dotted eight followed by a sixteenth note. That is, I'm hoping you are not sincerely asking someone to play the duration of the C and E notes with the dot while playing two straight 8's above at the same time. That would be a strange situation.

From here on it is impossible to predict what you are trying to say rhythmically, as it could go in one of two different directions.

Right now, the alto line, the Cs, do not have four complete beats shown for them. Either an 8th rest is missing, or there is more attempt at syncopation here than what you want to hear. I'd vote for the second case as being what would be easiest on any musician to play, pianist, guitarist or otherwise.

I'm thinking that the most likely scenario would be to change that single dotted C that is under the G, to the same configuration as the G notes above it. 8th note tied to a dotted quarter.

That would mean you would have to change the last C to an 8th note.


But you may want to hear something else, can't tell.


--Mac

Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 506
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 506
Yjoh and Mac,

Thanks for your input. I revised the measure based on your input.



Hopefully I didn't make matters worse. The two transcriptions sound almost identical played via MIDI. As this is aimed a 4th year student player, I am trying to be a clear as possible with my limited knowledge of piano.

@Mac: I changed the title of the thread from composition to transcription -- thanks.

Off-Topic
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
The Treble part is lacking an 8th beat. Measure must have four full beats incorporated to be 4/4 time.

You could simply insert an 8th Rest between the dotted figure and the last two 8th notes, but again, I am not sure what it is you want to hear.

For student level, I'd likely lose the dots and place a full Quarter Rest between them.


--Mac

Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 191
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 191
Hi all,

Thank goodness Mac was able to help with this. After I submitted my last post I was wiped out with a migraine and couldn't get back to offer a better solution than the one I gave (which was not altogether accurate anyway)

While I was laid up I came up with this instead, which should be well within a 4th year students ability. I've just done away with any voicing issues but as Mac has said it may not be the effect you're after.

[image]http://[/image]

I'm still not too good at adding images to my posts but at least it's there.

All the best.


yjoh

[i]Music...a joy for life.
Off-Topic
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,608
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,608
This version is the easiest to read also. Later, Ray


Asus Q500A i7 Win 10 64 bit 8GB ram 750 HD 15.5" touch screen, BIAB 2017, Casio PX 5s, Xw P1, Center Point Stereo SS V3 and EWI 4000s.
Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 506
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 506
Yjoh,

I am sorry you were not feeling well.

I cannot see the image you posted. It appears as a black rectangle that states the image no longer exists. I would love to see your solution.

Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 191
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 191
Hi RobbMiller,

I can see the image in the post and Ray can as well I think so I don't know what has happened.

I am posting a better suggestion (3rd time lucky!) so it's probably better if the previous one hasn't shown up for you. I'm in between students at the moment so a quick post and then I wont be able to check back until later this evening.

I hope this image is ok. All the best and thanks for the well wishes.

[image]http://[/image]


yjoh

[i]Music...a joy for life.
Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 191
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 191
If the image hasn't shown for you again the notes in order are as follows:

C chord(CEG) as quavers, G quaver, E quaver, C and G quavers tied to C and G crotchets then C quaver, E quaver.

Hope it's not too confusing, I'm so glad we have staves to write on.

Must go. Will check in later.


yjoh

[i]Music...a joy for life.
Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 506
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 506
Thanks Yjoh! That is perfect.

I am still unsure why the eighth tied to the quarter (quaver tied to crochet) is better than the dotted quarter. But I am quite sure you understand piano students much better than I.

Thanks,
Robb

FYI: The second image is fine, but the first is still as described.

Off-Topic
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,772
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 12,772
What Yjoh posted last is how I would have expected to see it.


John

Laptop-HP Omen I7 Win11Pro 32GB 8TB SSD
Desktop-ASUS-I7 Win10Pro 32GB 11TB SATA

BB2026/UMC204HD&404HD/Casios/Cakewalk/Reaper/Studio One/Notion/Dorico/Noteworthy/NI/Halion/IK

http://www.sus4chord.com (under rehosting and construction)
Off-Topic
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Quote:

..But I am quite sure you understand piano students much better than I...




Well, it is not piano specific.

Proper notation is proper notation, regardless of instrument.

*Always check each measure carefully to make sure that the number of beats per bar does not get violated or truncated.

*Use of dotted notes is primarily reserved for syncopation but bear in mind that the majority of music is not syncopated.

*Whenever a figure is in doubt, do not trust MIDI softwares to notate a recorded line properly. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. Sometimes you can look at published musics to study a bit of the rules in these situations.

That last example posted is good and is an "easy read" - If it sounds like what you want, go with it.


--Mac

Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 191
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 191
Hi everyone,

So glad to have been of help. I'm not sure that I understand piano students any better than anyone else, I suppose I've always liked theory and I'm dealing with it all the time.

As Mac said proper notation is proper notation. Looking through scores and even working through some graded theory books would you help a lot.

The "theoretical" reason for the quaver tied to the crotchet has to do with one of the the "rules" of grouping quavers.

That is: in 4/4 time when quavers are involved,the middle 2nd and 3rd beats can't be joined.

eg. you can't have a crotchet followed by 4 quavers all joined together and then another crotchet. The 4 quavers should be separated in to 2 groups.
(As a by the way the stem on the C and G in the bass staff should really go down, this is all to do with the middle line. Theory rules again. So many of them!)

A good little book that might be of some help is Alfred's "Essential Dictionary of Music Notation". I've found it to be really useful.

This has been an interesting exercise,keeps the old grey matter working. LOL

All the best


yjoh

[i]Music...a joy for life.
Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 506
Journeyman
OP Offline
Journeyman
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 506
Thanks again for the assistance. The rough score went home with the three young pianist today. I hope they find it easy enough to smile.

Thanks also for the book recommendation. It has found its way to my Amazon cart.

Off-Topic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 191
Apprentice
Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 191
Hi Robb,

Glad to have helped. The missing image is my mistake I'm afraid. I thought once you had added an image to a post it was permanently there. When I posted the last image, I deleted the other one as it wasn't needed. I must be careful not to delete any images I post from now on. Oh well, live and learn!

All the best


yjoh

[i]Music...a joy for life.
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 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®!

Video: New User Interface (GUI)

Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!

Watch the video.

You can see all the 2026 videos on our forum!

Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!

Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.

Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

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.

Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!

Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.

Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of XPro Styles PAKs.

Video: XPro Styles PAK 10 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

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.

Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!

We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!

Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!

In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!

Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics85,294
Posts790,645
Members39,855
Most Online25,754
Jan 24th, 2025
Newest Members
StratMan1965, CPIA2002, janhardo, Minstrel, Deb D
39,854 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
jpettit 321
MarioD 217
DrDan 214
Noel96 163
DC Ron 145
Rob Helms 127
Today's Birthdays
Kara Music Production, Алик
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5