Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
#193176 02/03/13 12:23 PM
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 162
C
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
C
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 162
I am using BiaB 2013 and would like to enter a C+9 chord, (C,E,G,D).

From the manual: (Quote) - Use "=" for "+"; the program automatically converts "=" to "+" so that chords like C+7 can be entered without using the shift key. (Unquote)

From this I typed: C=9 but nothing happens. As an experiment I then tried the example in the manual, C=7, still nothing. I tried this with and without Number Lock and using both sets of keyboard numbers.

Okay, I know that I could enter the Cmaj9 chord (C,E,G,B,D). Some might debate that this would do but this is not what I want and, in any case, the manual does suggest that C+9 is available.

Can anyone help with this please.

Thanks

Edit: I just installed the latest update (366) and still can't enter this chord.

Last edited by ClassicMan; 02/03/13 12:38 PM.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,026
Not on my Biab computer, but did you try C9+?

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 162
C
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
C
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 162
Hello Tommyc and thanks for your reply.

Yes, I can enter C9+ but this is based on an augmented chord (C,E,G#,Bb,D).

So if the C+7 or C+9 won't enter for you as well, it seems that I am entering correctly.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,717
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,717
I think you have to put in Cadd9.


I arrived early to a restaurant.
The manager asks, "do you mind waiting a bit?"
I said no.
"Good", he said. "Take these drinks to table 3"

64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 162
C
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
C
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 162
Quote:

I think you have to put in Cadd9.




Hello Mario and thanks for replying.

This is interesting. I tried typing Cadd9 and the chord shown in the score was Cadd2.

I would interpret that to be: C,D,E,G which, of course, are the correct notes but with the D placed in the same octave. Whereas I interpret a Cadd9 to be; C,E,G,D with the D in the next octave.

Maybe to a guitarist the Cadd2 and Cadd9 are exactly the same with the D placed low in the chord or an octave above depending on fret position.

Anyway, I think I'll have to make do with what BiaB offers so, Cadd2 is what it has to be.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Different Styles or different Realtracks may just handle the Cadd2 differently and you might be pleasantly surprised to find that some of them do indeed play the 2 at least an octave up. This is also somewhat genre dependent. For example, a jazz piano track that features open chording is likely to spread those notes out anyway. Guitar is likely to put the nine on or at least near the top, even though its called a 2 here.

Fakebook stuff is not standardized. Whereas one author might use "C+9" to indicate Cadd9, that usage disallows being able to write other of the true 9 extensions.

C+9 is rather ambiguous, I would be wanting to know if the writer was calling for a Sharp 9, and Augmented with added 9 or the more conventional addition of the Dom 7 in there as well.

Because there is no defacto standard for fake chording, though, things are what they are.

I like the fact that Band in a Box tries to use the most descriptive ways of labeling the chords, though. That takes at least one ambiguous problem away from the thing.


--Mac

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 162
C
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
C
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 162
Quote:

Different Styles or different Realtracks may just handle the Cadd2 differently and you might be pleasantly surprised to find that some of them do indeed play the 2 at least an octave up. This is also somewhat genre dependent. For example, a jazz piano track that features open chording is likely to spread those notes out anyway. Guitar is likely to put the nine on or at least near the top, even though its called a 2 here.

Fakebook stuff is not standardized. Whereas one author might use "C+9" to indicate Cadd9, that usage disallows being able to write other of the true 9 extensions.

C+9 is rather ambiguous, I would be wanting to know if the writer was calling for a Sharp 9, and Augmented with added 9 or the more conventional addition of the Dom 7 in there as well.

Because there is no defacto standard for fake chording, though, things are what they are.

I like the fact that Band in a Box tries to use the most descriptive ways of labeling the chords, though. That takes at least one ambiguous problem away from the thing.


--Mac




Thanks Mac, Cadd2 works for me.

Much appreciated.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,574
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,574
In version 2013, Cadd9 and Cadd2 both give Cadd2.

Also, C2 will play the same thing. In earlier versions of BIAB**, Cadd2 and Cadd9 were changed to C2.

**Version 2012 or earlier.

Last edited by Matt Finley; 02/04/13 05:55 PM.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Quote:

In version 2013, Cadd9 and Cadd2 both give Cadd2.

Also, C2 will play the same thing. In earlier versions of BIAB, Cadd2 and Cadd9 were changed to C2.





That's the same thing in both versions, Matt...



Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,574
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,574
Maybe you mean, they sound the same? Perhaps I wasn't clear. You do know that the file, pgshortc.txt shows that entering 'add2' and 'add9' converted automatically to 2, correct? And that this behavior changed in a recent version? This thread began by the OP knowing what he wanted and how to spell it, but not how to enter it.

I have already reported the need to update the contents of pgshortc.txt to Support.


BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Look at what you put down for the differences between versions.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,574
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 27,574
I re-read my posts, and I don't see any mistake. The only thing I don't remember is which was the BIAB version where the behavior changed. It was within a year, I think. What do you think is not correct that I wrote, Mac?

Thanks.

EDIT - I found it. Support for the 'add2' chord was new in version 2012.5. Since 2012.5, things have behaved differently than before 2012.5, as I described. If one tried to study pgshortc.txt to find out what's going on, one would be misled.

Last edited by Matt Finley; 02/04/13 05:59 PM.

BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 43
A
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
A
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 43
I am an all Real Tracks user - mostly jazz stuff - and have never been able to get BiaB to generate a Cadd9 (CEGD). I have typically used C2 in its place, accepting that the resultant sound isn't exqctly what I wanted, e.g., with the D in the next higher octave. Since I just recently installed BiaB 2013, I just re-tried Cadd9 (which immediately changed to Cadd2 upon entry) with several differnt RealTracks piano tracks (#771, 1729, 1549, 1998 and 1610), and it generated neither 2nds or a 9ths. It generated all simple triads! So Cadd9 apparently doesn't work - at least not with RealTracks.

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
If the pianist who played the Realtrack did not play any Cadd9 chords (or C3 either for that matter) then there won't be any from the pool for BB to select. It picks the next possible alternative that has as many of the notes as possible in it.

771 is Acoustic Jazz Swing piano. The Cadd9 is an unlikely chord to find under that specified genre.

1729 is a Pop Ballad piano. While there may be examples of Pop Ballad with the add9 chord in them, well, if there aren't any in the raw Realtracks recording to pick from, then there can't be any in the generated track either.

1549 is Country Swing piano. Add9 is not typically played in that genre either.

1998 is not listed in my Realtracks picker. Don't know if it is because I may not have it (supposed to have them all here) or if that isn't a typo in the post.

1610 is another Pop Piano style, same as above would apply, the Add9 chord again isn't a typical for the genre.

When I require specified chord stacks on the piano, I don't hesitate to try using one of the MIDI jazz piano styles that are more able to replicate those specified chords and then add Realtracks to substitute for other instruments such as Bass, etc. With a half decent MIDI synth, piano is one of the more realistic of MIDI sounds. Mixing the MIDI piano in with one or more Realtracks takes it up a notch in terms of realistic sound as well, yielding a sum that is greater than the parts.

Listening to the "raw" Realtrack files in your folders, you can hear every chord and note played in the pool that BB must use in order to create the Track. If you don't hear any add9 chords, BB cannot make them using that particular raw Realtrack recording. This is just the way Realtracks work.

Doesn't make sense to blanket declare being an "all RealTracks user" to me, maybe you ought to try MIDI piano in a few cases where the RealTrack can't do exactly what you need it to do.

On the other hand, none of the Piano Realtracks you mention are Jazz Realtracks, other than that one Swing example. You might choose from the Jazz piano Realtracks and see if you can find one that will work with your chosen song as well as being able to play the required chord the way you want to hear it. Octave of the 9 may be a nonissue - consider that a guitar player (and even a pianist) can elect to put that nine *anywhere* as regards the octave and it will still fill the air with the "add9" sound simply because there won't be a seventh involved. If there is a piano and a guitar playing the rhythm comp together, the 9 played on the guitar may be an octave or more lower in pitch than the one played by the pianist at the same time. But if you need to specify with Band in a Box, then you need to find Realtracks and MIDI styles that will actually play the add9 in order to do that.


--Mac

Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 791
PG Music Staff
Offline
PG Music Staff
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 791
For any RealTracks that were released before 2012.5, an "add2" or "add9" chord would not have been recorded. In that case I would suggest these chords because they are usually recorded:

CMaj9 (this will include a 7th)
C9 (this will include a flat 7th)
C2 aka Csus2 (no 7th but will work well if you don't need the 3rd)


And as Mac explained, the octave of the 2nd will depend on the player's style.


Blake

PG Music Inc.
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 43
A
Enthusiast
Offline
Enthusiast
A
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 43
Mac and Blake - thanks for the replies.
Mac: I hadn't thought about the fact that for RealTracks, the Cadd9 would most likely not have been played by the artist when recording a genre for which that chord would not be typical. When I say "I am an all RealTracks user", I mean that I attempt to build every tune using RealTracks. But I do occasionally use some MIDI voices (usually acoustic or electric bass or acoustic piano) to "fill in" parts of a tune where I can't direct RealTracks to play someting precisely as I want it, and I also use MIDI in tunes where I want strings. But since most of my BiaB work is to produce jazz backup tracks for live performance (my wife sings and I play a Yamaha WX-5), I find that that RealTracks gives me the realistic sound I want 99% of the time. By the way, RealTrack #1998 was released with BiaB 2013. It's Miles doing a great funky jazz sound on an acoustic piano!

Blake: Thanks for the answer re: the fact that Cadd9 would only work in RealTracks released in 2012.5 or later. I tried it out with a couple of the jazz piano and guitar tracks that were released in 2013 for which a Cadd9 would be considered an approriate chord (1987 and 1991) and it worked great.

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
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!

All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!

It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.

What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?

XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!

Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!

The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.

The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.

The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.

Note: 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.

The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac Videos

With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.

Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.

Check out this forum post for "One Stop Shopping" of our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Videos!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Mac is Here!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.

Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Special Offers
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac and save up to 50% on most upgrade packages during our special offer—available until May 15, 2026. Visit our Band-in-a-Box® packages page to explore all available upgrade options.

2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.

Holiday Weekend Hours

As we hop into the Easter weekend, here are our holiday hours:

April 3 (Good Friday): 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM PDT
April 4 (Saturday): Closed
April 5 (Easter Sunday): Closed
April 6 (Easter Monday): Open regular hours

Wishing you an egg-cellent weekend!

— Team PG

Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!

If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!

If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!

Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,223
Posts802,079
Members40,071
Most Online64,515
Apr 8th, 2026
Newest Members
geswho22, Orchestr8, dimtass, Quamido Pirendo, Allan63
40,071 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 125
zedd 110
DC Ron 94
rsdean 87
Noel96 75
Today's Birthdays
Jed, Richard Gibbons, UZER
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5