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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Nov 2008
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Joined: Nov 2008
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I am trying to put in a tune that has a coda. I have tried putting it in as an 1st ending. I realize that BIAB (2008.5) automatically makes two bar endings. I however habve gone into Options, Preference, Arrange and checked "allow any endings". I'd like my ending to be 8 bars so i set the Edit Repeats and Endings dialog from 2 to 8 but it always goes back to 2. Perhaps I need to use a coda instead. Is there any tuturial on how to use a coda?
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Band in a Box calls it a "Tag" -- BB often uses pro session terminology that once may have been slang, but has become part of the compendium through usage. "Coda" is from classical musics, and means the same thing. From the BB FAQs page for BB 2008:
30. How do I use tag endings? Why does the 'tag exists' box sometimes become unchecked automatically?
In Band-in-a-Box, a tag is a group of bars played after the final chorus of a song. You can find tag settings under Edit | Settings (for this song). Set the 'Tag exists' field to Yes and then choose the tag starting and ending bars. If you have "Generate 2 bar ending" selected, the ending will play automatically after the tag.
Note that the tag will only work if there is more than one chorus. If you placed a checkmark in the 'tag exists' box in the song settings dialog, and it became unchecked, this means that your song is set to have only one chorus. In this case a tag is irrelevant because it would simply be the last bars in your chorus.
Rightclick on the bar where you want to jump to the Coda or Tag, then select Song Settings. Note the Tag Exists area near the bottom of the Song Settings window, fill it out to suit. --Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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While I do understand that this can be done in the software, I, on the other hand prefer to unfold the chorus into one big chorus as BB calls it....
I simply copy the ending measures in a chorus and paste it on the end making any needed edits to make it work.
That's how I do tags. I can opt for one, two, or more tags into the ending.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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While I do understand that this can be done in the software, I, on the other hand prefer to unfold the chorus into one big chorus as BB calls it....
I simply copy the ending measures in a chorus and paste it on the end making any needed edits to make it work.
That's how I do tags. I can opt for one, two, or more tags into the ending. +1 for this method. For any songs with anything more than a simple tag end, one big chorus is the way to go. Far more flexible when it comes to parts and variations also.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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WW,
If you right-click the bar in question, in the drop-down list is Repeats/Codas etc.
Left-click and this brings up all your options and a Help button.
HTH.
Percy
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Try my method to "clean up" the song.
Unfold the chorus and it will display exactly like it plays.... then edit it accordingly.
All that stuff about tags and repeats and such was too complicated to deal with for me when I first started using BB to write my tunes..... to simplify the process, I started unfolding everything and that is one of the first things I do now on a new song.
When writing, I need the muse to flow and trying to figure out how to do this or that was blocking that muse......
Unfold.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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I'm not sure that I agree that unfolding is the correct answer. I rarely unfold.
It seems that multiple choruses, tags, intro's etc are there for a reason and ought to be able to be used properly and effectively. If there is a problem with those functions, then they need to be sorted out, rather than just making a song that is supposed to have multiple repeat choruses not actually using those repeats to make it play correctly.
Unfolding it not how I would approach resolving it. To each their own, though.
Just sayin'
Regards
VideoTrack
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Sometimes, it's just too complicated for me to even try to use the musical "road maps" to notate where a song is to go next.
V V C V C B C TT.... to me that is easier done unfolded. It's a simple matter of copying and pasting the parts and I know it goes where it's supposed to go.
I'm not knocking or putting down those who do use the "proper road maps" in their music. Heck, as a music student learning piano, I certainly learned to read the signs.... ||:repeat:||, DC al Coda, coda, etc....
Now days, I take the path of least resistance.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Sometimes, it's just too complicated for me to even try to use the musical "road maps" to notate where a song is to go next.
V V C V C B C TT.... to me that is easier done unfolded. It's a simple matter of copying and pasting the parts and I know it goes where it's supposed to go.
I'm not knocking or putting down those who do use the "proper road maps" in their music. Heck, as a music student learning piano, I certainly learned to read the signs.... ||:repeat:||, DC al Coda, coda, etc....
Now days, I take the path of least resistance. Good comment Herb, yep, I can see your point. I too trained classically, music theory, scales, exams, Dal Segno's, DemiSemiQuavers, Arpeggios, Appoggiatura's (I hope I can remember the spelling), the lot. Yes, the full-blown way perhaps wasn't nearly as much fun... Cheers VideoTrack
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: May 2000
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Depends on what I need to accomplish here.
It is good to have options.
Whether using the "Unfold to one long song" (;durchkompniert)or the choruses, it is the end performance that really counts.
For those who must have a printed LeadSheet that makes sense, though, it is best to learn how to properly use the Choruses, Tag, etc. in order to be able to print a LeadSheet that the other musicians won't balk about (and understandably so).
In the real world of Music Theory, there is no such thing as a "Verse and a Chorus" as being separate. Those are terms used to describe Lyrics, not music. In actuality, the Verse AND the Chorus represents only a Chorus, musically speaking.
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 647
Journeyman
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I find that it is best to build the song "unfolded". This means setting the number of choruses to 1, and intially seeting the number of bars to 200 or so. The actual number isn't important as you can fix it later.
The next thing is to determine where the song starts - this is often bar 5, but not always. Then where does the first ending start, and how long is it. This information all goes into the drop-down list is Repeats/Codas etc.
You might also find that you can use repeats, rather than endings.
The thing to remember is that this as a PRINT function and does not affect the flow of the song. BIAB plays the unfolded song, whether you have the repeats or endings correct or not.
The DS-Coda works if you want to jump from somewhere in the song to get to a specific set of bars at the end. (remember in the unfolded song, the coda will always be at the end)
If the coda is really just a different ending, you don't need a DS-Coda at all. I also often have the song just drop through the last ending (or repeat) to add the final bars that I need.
For the most part, it does work if you remember all of the fake book stuff is just a print function. BIAB plays the bars in a linear manner, and not based on your 'printed' presentation.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643)
Windows 10 (1909)
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 392
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@MAC..."In the real world of Music Theory, there is no such thing as a "Verse and a Chorus" as being separate. Those are terms used to describe Lyrics, not music. In actuality, the Verse AND the Chorus represents only a Chorus, musically speaking."
With great respect Mac, I can't agree with you on the above.
"Verses" and/or "Choruses" may or may not have lyrics. Instrumentals of course, have no lyrics at all so if those sections only related to lyrics, there would be no such thing as instrumental music.
And learned musicians in the jazz and "pop" worlds use "verse" "chorus" terms differently and yet quite correctly for their respective versions of music.
So, there really isn't ONE correct definition of those terms in theory. It depends on the genre.
I also hold that versus and choruses of the MUSIC have, by definition, a quite different character musically and to the ear...are quite distinguishable...as would be the "bridge" or "middle 8" as bridges are sometimes called.
Just to go one step further to say that "lyrics"...which aren't "music"...but rather are poetic...have stanzas not versus or choruses.
All the above is why single composers are properly cited as "Words and Music by...." While co-composers are "Words by X and Music by Y".
Having said all THAT...it is nevertheless true that co-authors of a composition have an undivided interest in the copyright to BOTH the words and music regardless.
Best,
Jim
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Well, Jim, we have and use as living language and as such, these types of definitions are subject to the changes that become inevitable. Nothing wrong with that.
The point I waa trying to get across, however, is that still today in Universities and other Music Schools, for the most part, the old nomenclature that came out of Germany some two or more centuries ago, is the terminology taught.
And there is likely very good reason for that, but as you say, those who view it differently are able to perceive - and use - terminologies that they like better.
Consider the word, "verse" - which connotes the written word and not a musical passage that has no lyrics or words to it.
I have yet to run across a musical composition form that defies being laid out in the Classical Chorus method or the Durchkomponeirt (One Long Song) method.
But sometimes it takes a bit of study of the particular song in order to figure out exactly what constitutes the repeated Chorus, musically, not lyrically, speaking.
Nuthin' wrong with either method.
After all, it is what it sounds like when its done that is the goal, not the methodology.
"Git-R-Done!"
--Mac
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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