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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2011
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OP
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Hi everyone, I'm currently using BIAB 2012. I'm getting back into guitar after a bit of a hiatus, and it's helpful for me to use the guitar fretboard window and the notation window with tablature enabled, because it helps me to visualize the notes in different areas of the guitar fretboard. The feature works amazingly well! The only problem is that I'm encountering some weird behavior that is inconsistent from song to song. Let me explain below, and hopefully somebody can point me to a setting or something I'm just missing. First, I'll show you the example where it works, then I'll show you an example of where it doesn't. I started by opening a demo song that comes with BIAB. For reference, it's _GEO_FGF.STY. Sad Country Bal. (88 RS). I open the melody track in the notation window with guitar tablature enabled. If I click on the 5th position on the guitar fretboard, the tablature is updated so that I can play in fifth position. (I posted the image on Google docs for lack of a better image hosting service): https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4P80i2y2zynVXFJZTRvaExTTjANow, if I click on a different position, like position 3, then the tablature automatically updates to reflect that change. You can see that it has me playing the exact same notes but with a different fingering this time. (Again, the image is on Google docs): https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4P80i2y2zynOGlMZ0kzeEJ1WWs The difference is subtle, but you can see that the D is now played on the second string instead of the third. OK. First, let me say: This works brilliantly! Honestly, that's a great feature. It lets me explore all around the fretboard and play the same notes in different places, which is great for practice. I can practice this song today in 5th position and tomorrow in 12th position. This is absolutely a great tool for guitarists! Now, the problem arises when I open another file. This one is also from PG Music. For reference, it's the ChukRok.sty demo song. I follow the exact same steps, selecting the melody track in the notation window, and then clicking on different positions on the fretboard, but the tablature never changes. I can click on any fret and the results are always the same... no change. You can see here that I have clicked on the 5th position, but the tablature is showing me stuff being played on frets 9 through 14! So, something's wrong here. (Again, the image is on Google docs): https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B4P80i2y2zynOEhaT1dRaVN4MTQAs far as I can tell from looking through all of my settings, everything is configured the same... I think. Honestly, there are so many settings in BIAB that I'm guessing there's an easy fix here, but I'm stumped. Does anybody know how to solve this problem? It would be invaluable to my guitar study to be able to use this auto-position feature on all songs! Thanks!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Some of the guitar tracks were made using a MIDI guitar and a live player, actually recording the MIDI data. This makes for a more realistic sounding track, give or take the well known problems inherent in MIDI synths trying to be real guitars, etc.
I have a feeling that the demo song you refer to was made that way, which likely means that the string choices are hard coded into the file, simply because the MIDI guitar pickup is necessarily hexaphonic in nature so that the MIDI software will always know which string is associated with a certain note. And that, of course defines the position for that particular performance.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 39
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 39 |
Thanks for the feedback, Mac. I think a lot of the new RealTracks with RealCharts were definitely recorded this way, because if you watch the fretboard view, the guitarist seems to be really intelligently choosing his position... it definitely looks like the work of a human playing a MIDI-enabled guitar, not an algorithm trying to calculate positioning. However, in the particular song I'm having trouble with, that did not seem to be the case, because the track I was looking at in the notation window was actually an organ solo! Definitely not recorded with a guitar.  After a bit of playing around, I found something interesting. Just for fun, I tried using the "transpose" option in the notation window and set it to various settings (-24, -12, 0, 12, 24) to see if maybe the track was just in the wrong octave for a guitar. It turns out that when I set the transpose function to 24, magically, I was able to "fix" the problems I was having when manually selecting a position. It seems to work fine now. So, problem solved, for the moment. The only question remaining is: Why? Does anybody have any idea why the position control seems to work in some cases, but breaks in other cases, requiring the user to manually transpose the track?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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Veteran
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502 |
Quote:
Thanks for the feedback, Mac. I think a lot of the new RealTracks with RealCharts were definitely recorded this way, because if you watch the fretboard view, the guitarist seems to be really intelligently choosing his position... it definitely looks like the work of a human playing a MIDI-enabled guitar, not an algorithm trying to calculate positioning.
ALL of the Realtracks are recorded "that way".
SOME of the MIDI guitar tracks are recorded using MIDI Guitar and Live Player, many more are likely to have been done with older methods, such as step-entry or whatever "static" methodology.
Quote:
However, in the particular song I'm having trouble with, that did not seem to be the case, because the track I was looking at in the notation window was actually an organ solo! Definitely not recorded with a guitar.
After a bit of playing around, I found something interesting. Just for fun, I tried using the "transpose" option in the notation window and set it to various settings (-24, -12, 0, 12, 24) to see if maybe the track was just in the wrong octave for a guitar. It turns out that when I set the transpose function to 24, magically, I was able to "fix" the problems I was having when manually selecting a position. It seems to work fine now.
So, problem solved, for the moment.
The only question remaining is: Why?
Does anybody have any idea why the position control seems to work in some cases, but breaks in other cases, requiring the user to manually transpose the track?
Well, in the case of an ORGAN track, likely that the MIDI notes used, whether Realtrack or MIDI, were not in the right octave for Guitar Notation, which, as you likely know, is written in the Treble Clef, but actually sounds one octave lower than written.
I think that organ part must have been TWO octaves away from the Guitar Notation's thirdspace C since you "found" it with a 24 half step transposition.
Organ is "that way" -- meaning that, since the organ operator controls the Stops on the organ, there is no real "Middle C". For example, If I am using the 8' Stop, then switch to the 4' Stop, with both voices using the same pipe or sound, then playing the 4' stop one octave lower on the manual would deliver the exact same sound as the 8' -- but the notation would be one octave lower in a MIDI rendition nonetheless.
Don't worry, if you keep working and practicing towards the goal, one day you will find that you are completely CAGED on the neck and can just look at notes on the staff and know what position to pick in order to come from the notes in the previous bar and head towards the notes in the succeeding bar, even when sight reading.
Have Fun,
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944
PG Music Staff
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PG Music Staff
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 15,944 |
If the track has "guitar channels" on it (ie MIDI channels 11 to 16), then they will get displayed on the guitar window on those channels (channel 11 = string 1, channel 12= string 2 etc.).
If the track ** doesn't ** have guitar channels, then they will display at whatever the current fret position is.
If, for learning purposes, you wanted to rechannel a guitar part that had guitar channels, to one that didn't, you could do it as follows.
e.g. assume that a guitar track (RealChart from a Guitar RealTrack) has channels 11 to 16 so will play at that exact location on the fretboard. But instead, you want to see it all played at the 5th position (if possible).
-[main menu] Edit Copy/Tracks, and copy the Guitar MIDI track to the MELODY track,
- [main menu] Melody-Edit-Utilities- Change Channels by, and put in a number like -16 (minus 16). That will rechannel all events by -16, which puts them all on channel 1 (since it won't go lower than channel 1).
- [main menu] Melody-Track Type =GUITAR (that will put tab on the melody notation, and show the melody notation transposed up an octave, which is needed for guitar.
Now, you can play the Melody track, and it will display on the guitar fretboard window, and will display at whatever position you want. Click on the guitar, at the bottom of the fret (ie on the fret #), to change the current position, which is marked by a white box.
Have Fun!
Peter Gannon
PG Music Inc.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 39
Enthusiast
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OP
Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 39 |
Thanks, Mac. That makes perfect sense. I guess it's pretty clear that the organ range and guitar range don't match, so it takes a little bit of intervention on the part of the user to make the notation window happy.
I'm actually working hard towards the goal of having a really solid knowledge of the fretboard (for example, I'm using flashcards to burn CAGED into my memory), but I guess it will take a lot of time and effort before I can effortlessly play any chord or melody in any position. Until that point, I will enjoy the journey!
...and BIAB will be my most powerful learning tool!
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,661
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Quote:
...but I guess it will take a lot of time and effort before I can effortlessly play any chord or melody in any position.
It takes a lifetime if you are lucky... and if you are not, it takes two lifetimes. 
Quote:
...Until that point, I will enjoy the journey!
Now that is the right attitude, you and me both. 
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
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I found that taking one pattern at a time and working the you-know-what out of it to be the faster approach.
I worked the C pattern for a week, then the A pattern for a week (while still revisiting the C pattern) etc.
Five weeks that made a huge difference.
There's an upside to my method, too -- you can use whatever pattern(s) you have woodshedded like that immediately when soloing, etc. on the gig.
Was a big, "Aha!" for me when I got into transcribing great guitarists, and realized that there are many whose signature soloing style relies on only one or two of the patterns rather than switching around through all 5. The G pattern is used by quite a few, especially those who keep the Blues idiom close at hand in their jazz soloing. G. Benson is a good example of that. The G and the Blues Penta can be worked simultaneously from within the same four frets, a piece of the Major, then a piece of the minor Penta, then a piece of the Melodic or Harmonic minor, back to a bit of the Penta, etc. -- always looking for places to use the Tension Notes of b5, #5, b9 and the all-important #9, which is the b3 of the minor pentatonic blues scale as well as the flat 3 of the minor scales.
At least, for me, back then I was concentrating on moving from knowledge of Trumpet, then Piano and Organ, over to the Guitar neck, but always bear in mind that there are many different ways to look at and think about these things, everyone must find the method of thinking that works for themselves IMO. For example, a lot go Modal in methodology whereas I tend to view every scale and mode as being made up of their prerequisite pair of Tetrachords.
Finally, do not overlook how many of the greats get a lot of mileage out of the Shells and Tritones, using only two or three notes to make up a chord, whether comping or chord soloing. Another big "Aha!" moment came for me when I figured out that the 5 note can and should be dropped from any chord stack. The 5 makes a chord too "bottom heavy" by creating what the old classical organists called the Resultant, a Ghost Note one octave below the Root at half amplitude. Great for Rock, not so great for Jazz. So investigate the Shells and Tritone usage thoroughly. Tritone is a bargain in that each one represents the 3 and b7 of two chords at the same time.
And be sure to investigate what Peter Gannon posted above, that's info from the creator of Band in a Box there.
Have Fun,
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 39
Enthusiast
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OP
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 39 |
Thanks very much, Peter and Mac (and jazzmandan)!
That's all very useful information. I will definitely try out the method that Peter mentioned above for re-channeling tracks with guitar channel information. That seems like an invaluable tool.
By the way, Peter, your Jazz Guitar Master Class is great! I'm working through the chord theory section at the moment.
Brett
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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.
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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®!
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.
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