Hi guys, really dig BIAB. My uncle Butch has the program and I've been at my cousin's house a lot trying to help my cousin and my uncle learn how to use the program better. We all are big fans of old country music (Hank, Loretta, Patsy, etc) and they want to mainly generate some country styles, to improvise over (my uncle plays lap steel) and to sing over (my cousin Melissa is a great singer). I play drums and a little guitar myself so I'm not much of a use to them when they have all these great drum sounds and beats in all the styles, but I have fun learning the chord changes and stuff.

Some questions I had:

1. How does one completely customize the song form, so we can do say, a longer intro? I tried putting in the chords manually for Loretta's "I'm A Honky Tonk Girl" so my cousin could practice it for karaoke (using one of the RealStyles that has the same "feel" as the song), but it only lets me have a 4-bar intro (the original song as some of you may know has an 8-bar intro). The chords are different throughout the whole intro, so I can't put a repeat in there. Is there a way to manually create your lead sheet so there's not really an A and B section, but just... inputting the chords bar by bar as you go? I sure hope so.

2. Can anyone list the most useful styles for old, classic country? (Specifically Loretta Lynn and Hank?) There are SO many. I think my uncle has the Everything Pak or whatever... it has a ton of RealStyles.

3. When using the Melodist to create a melody to your own chord progression (such as me inputting the chords for "I'm A Honky Tonk Girl"), how do I choose a Melodist style that doesn't sound completely ridiculous over the chords... it defaults to Pop 8ths Eagles or something, and when I deselect "Generate Chords"... it seems like none of the styles remotely sound like old country (on the Melodist track, anyway). The Country 16ths are all too busy. I was hoping to generate a melody that is more "lead vocal" than some crazy jam. Any way to do this?

I appreciate all of your help! We would love to get the most out of this program, and so far we're kind of lost... thanks!


Last edited by major7th; 09/11/13 01:54 AM.