There are plenty of styles, and when you are trying to find the right one for the song, the task can be overwhelming -- but when you do find that perfect style, it's worth the search.

When I wrote my first style disk, I thought, "There, I've addressed what I perceived to be was was missing in the PG Music catalog of styles, that should do it!"

Was I ever wrong.

We had a weekly gig playing for an Arthur Murray dance studio at the time. We learned a couple of ballroom dance tunes and to pick one example I'll choose the Cha-Cha. Brought up "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White" and the Cha-Cha style I wrote worked great. Learned a couple more and it started to get very predictable for the musician (although I don't think the dancers noticed). They we did something similar to the Chris Montez version of "The More I See You", which is a lighter, gentler Cha-Cha. So I had to write a new Cha-Cha style.

Fast forward 20 years and I've written 23 style disks http://www.nortonmusic.com/contents.html#biab , and PG Music quite a few more.

Leilani and I also write Fake Disks http://www.nortonmusic.com/contents.html#fake and as we do fake disks, Leilani who does the original programming, and chooses the working style before we send it off to the musicians who choose the final style, is always telling me, "We need a style for this song."

So in my 20+ years of involvement with BiaB, I've come to realize that as big as the menu for styles is, it's still way too small. There are thousands of songs that could use a style that neither PG, Myself, Roy Hawkesford or Sherry Mayrent haven't written yet. It could even be a similar style to one already written, but with subtle differences, but those subtle differences can make such a great big difference in the song.

So like everything else about BiaB to a newcomer, the style menu seems too big and too confusing. But as you work with it more, as you learn how to use the search function and the other style finding tools like the Prototype style button AND as you get more familiar with the styles you are choosing and playing songs with, it will get a lot easier. And in time, you will be saying, "I wish there was a better style for this song." and hopefully either PG Music or myself will write it for you.

Insights and incites by Notes ♫

Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com

100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks