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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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marty c Offline OP
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Hi and Merry Christmas,
Just got my new hard drive in tonight. Upgrade from 2013. Amazing, delivery on Christmas eve!

I plan to use this for creating backing tracks for live settings. My question - is there a preferred method to do this?

Right now I get the chords from a tab website. Not knowing the time or tempo, I am guessing at where the chords go. Not knowing is it swing or even, 4/4 or 6/8, is the tempo best set at 70 or 140, etc. One chord for measure, two, four? I guess it's easy to see I am not a music scholar. I mainly fingerpick and play chords. I read tab and chord charts and never had any music classes. Is there hope or or did I just make a mistake in my purchase?

I mostly want to create stuff for church. Some of the Christmas songs seem to be the hardest.

Would using the auto chord recognition help to determine some of these parameters? Is there an easy way? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Marty

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Try googling "Xmas biab" or "hank williams biab" or something like that. A little experimentation will reveal that there are thousands of Biab songs ready to go available on the web.

to the right of the tempo window there are two buttons marked 'tap.' Put the mouse there and then tap four times on the mouse button with your finger. BiaB will figure out what your tempo is.

Study the songs that come with BiaB to learn more about how these things work. Look in the folder called "50SONGS" in your c:\BB folder. Load the demo songs from the style picker.


> Here is a post about 'Swing' vs 'even' from another thread >

Here is a way to divide beats into groups of two:

"Gran-Pa-John-ny, Gran-Pa-John-ny, Gran-Pa-John-ny..."
These are called eighth notes in America.

Here is a way to divide beats into groups of three, called triplets:

"Gran-pa-pa Jon-a-than
Gran-pa-pa Jon-a-than
Gran-pa-pa Jon-a-than..."

The first pattern would be called "even" eighth notes. An idea of "swing' can be had from the second pattern. In place of "Gran-pa-pa Jon-a-than," try saying only the first and third syllables:

"Gran * pa Jon * than
Gran * pa Jon * than
Gran * pa Jon * than"

...leave out the second syllable of "Grandpapa" and "Jonathan" to get a "long-short, long-short" pattern.

Now try some of the styles marked EV (even) and some marked SW(Swing) in the style picker. Listen to how the beats are divided into two-part and three-part divisions. Try chanting "Gran-pa-pa Jonathan" in the two ways described here and see what fits.

(Note that my description of "swing," above, is OK for beginners, but not quite perfect. Its a jazz thing.)

Last edited by flatfoot; 12/24/13 07:28 PM.

Flatfoot sez: Call me when 'Talent-in-a-Box' is ready to ship! -- [8{>

Got some tunes on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/flatfoot50
.
My BiaB lesson site:
http://jdwolfe0.wixsite.com/learnbiab
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marty c Offline OP
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Perfect. I did not know there were demo songs or songs on the web already made. That's great. I guess I can start with an already created song and experiment to learn more.

I appreciate the music class. That's a big help. That really does clear things up.

I have never listened to jazz and find it quite challenging. The chords are really different than many I have ever played. I am trying to learn more about it since it helps to broaden my limited skill set. I am in my mid-fifties and it's never too late to learn something new. I can imagine I am in for a huge learning experience as I get more into BIAB.

Thanks for your willingness to share your knowledge. This forum is a big help and I read from it each day.

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Go for it Marty! Flatfoot gave some good tips there. Don't be too reserved to get your hands dirty on something new, (especially Jazz, he he)


BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Professional & Windows 11, Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors
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Originally Posted By: marty c
I can imagine I am in for a huge learning experience as I get more into BIAB.


Yup, there is a learning curve here. Fortunately, you have the most effective music learning tool on the planet in front of you - and the most fun one. Its a tool that every musician needs and is used by very many music teachers.

Start with the songs that you know. Play with them until you get whats going on with chords, structure etc. If the blues are not already your strong suit, work with them before tackling the jazz tunes.

And please say some more about your experience, skill level and the music you like.


Flatfoot sez: Call me when 'Talent-in-a-Box' is ready to ship! -- [8{>

Got some tunes on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/flatfoot50
.
My BiaB lesson site:
http://jdwolfe0.wixsite.com/learnbiab
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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.

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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.

Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!

Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows 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.

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