BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
Dan is correct in that it's not possible for a user to input his or her own chord diagrams. It is possible to have PG Music's preset chord diagrams displayed with the chord symbols, though.
To do this ...
When in the 'Lead Sheet Window' (#1), click on "Opt" (#2), select "Notation Options" (#3) and then select the "Guitar Chord Diagrams" dropbox (#4) to choose your display type.
Regards, Noel
P.S. Remember that what Oliver plays is determined by the chords you type on the Chord Sheet thus these chord diagrams are appropriate. I also believe that most of Oliver Gannon's guitar work is available as notation and tab.
Yes, you can use the default chord diagrams, but you likely may have other voiceings in mind.
BIAB – 2025, Reaper (current), i7-12700F Processor, 32GB DDR4-3200MHz RAM, Motu Audio Express 6x6 - My SoundCloud (Tip: No need to create a SC account to hear music - just hit ESC ).
Dan is correct in that it's not possible for a user to input his or her own chord diagrams. It is possible to have PG Music's preset chord diagrams displayed with the chord symbols, though.
To do this ...
Thanks Noel. In my situation I need to be able to go in there and input my own chord diagrams. As you probably know for any given guitar chord there are dozens and dozens of different ways to play it on the guitar fretboard.
I require the same thing BiabGuy. I am now about to give you and the rest of the forum a big laugh.
1. I print out the lead sheets from Biab with standard chord names spelled out.
2. I launch one of several programs I have where you can choose from a wide array of guitar chord diagrams....or create and name your own. I prefer MusEdit (free) but there are quite a few others.
3. In MusEdit, I create as many diagrams as are required...any that I'm not familiar with...and print them out on a single sheet of paper.
4. I cut them out and Scotch Tape them to the BIAB Lead Sheet.
5. I insert the finished product into plastic sheet protectors and insert same into my chart binder.
6. I prepare to be laughed at whenever other musicians see what I've done. But I could care less. I'd rather provide comic relief than to waste time remembering really obscure chords that show up once in 500 songs!!!!
NOTE: As has been stated, you can have BIAB show guitar chord diagrams with a LITTLE flexibility. You can choose a style of chords...like "jazz" or "high jazz" and the diagrams will be different.
But as you know, you need acces to a LOT of different inversions to keep consecutive chords close to each other on the fretboard, especially in up tempo songs.
That's a great idea. At the end of the day, it's whether or not the final product does the job it's intended for. Sounds to me like you're on a winner.
That's a great idea. At the end of the day, it's whether or not the final product does the job it's intended for. Sounds to me like you're on a winner.
Happy New Year to you and your family, Noel
Thanks Noel. And Happy New Year to you and yours too.
Sorry, but that's not a good answer. Think how that kind of answer would go be over if the question was related to Real tracks or something similar. It would just not be acceptable.
Notation, and this is really what we are talking about, hasn't been updated in Years! The typical answer has been to use whiteout. Cut and paste is another version of this kind of answer.
Just getting the job done isn't enough. The job needs to be done correctly. Let's stop accepting a second rate notation system in an otherwise fabulous piece of music software. There is nothing in BIAB that works as poorly as notation. It has needed an upgrade since 2004.
Maybe next year, but I am not I am not holding my breath
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643) Windows 10 (1909)
Sorry, but that's not a good answer. Think how that kind of answer would go be over if the question was related to Real tracks or something similar. It would just not be acceptable.
...Just getting the job done isn't enough. The job needs to be done correctly. Let's stop accepting a second rate notation system in an otherwise fabulous piece of music software. There is nothing in BIAB that works as poorly as notation. It has needed an upgrade since 2004.
Yes. As I mentioned, when you have Oliver Gannon, a jazz guitarist who knows a thing or two about guitar chord diagrams as a developer of BIAB and brother of the Peter Gannon and nothing is done to implement customizable guitar diagrams you begin to wonder what the heck is going on?
I too resorted to using another program for notation (Musescore) which is a shame. I must input all the chords to my songs twice! Once for BIAB and once again for Musescore.
I'm not asking BIAB to become a notation program. Far from it. But simple guitar chord diagrams. Come on.
And they don't have to be connected to the actual music in any way. Just allow us to input dots on the fretboard, that's all.
You rarely see comments about Real Tracks / Drums that complain about problems. They also get updates with every release - not so notation.
So, although I love BIAB, and I have been a user even before there were year numbers on the product, I am frustrated by PGMusic's lack of upgrades for a piece of their product. There have been only a handful of upgrades in the whole life of the software. Adding a PDF printer was the latest, and most of us already had a virtual printer anyway. Before that, it probably was multi-line lyrics and fakesheet probably about 2004 - and that 10 years ago.
We need a better notation tool within BIAB.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643) Windows 10 (1909)
I think this falls under the one piece of software that is trying to do it all and PGMusic is not alone in this. Biab is an accompaniment program that adds basic notation. It is not a notation program.
The same conversation is going on over on the Sonar forums, a lot of users are complaining about the poor notation in Sonar. Sonar is a DAW not a notation program.
Just think about this for a minute. If you want the best accompaniment program you buy BiaB, you don’t buy it for notational purposes. If you want full-blown notation you should buy a notation program. Just think how you would feel if PGMusic took the basic notation they have now out of the program!
However it is a good idea to add your improvement ideas in the wishlist forum. You never know!
Note that I hope PGMusic spends more time improving the accompaniment side than the notation side, but YMMV.
Also note that I agree with you on this issue but I think a notation program is a better fit, but that’s just me.
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... I too resorted to using another program for notation (Musescore) which is a shame. I must input all the chords to my songs twice! Once for BIAB and once again for Musescore. ...
Just a question about this statement: Musescore opens BIAB files and does import the chords. As far as I know, it is the only notation program that does, and it's important the BIAB community knows and is not confused by this. I realize you have been talking about notation shortcomings, so could you please elaborate what you meant, and explain why you are entering chords twice? Are you referring to chord symbols, or guitar chord diagrams? Thanks.
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
This is a great piece of accompaniment software - there is no argument there.
If I could export to reasonably priced notation software, I would do it in an instant. But, and it is a big BUT, you cannot export the information you need to recreate the notation. Unless something has changed, you cannot ship chord letters (Dm, Emaj7 etc) and you can't ship the lyric structure (repeats, DSalcoda etc) which are vital for notation.
Now Musescore reads a BIAB file and attemps to produce notation from it, but from what I have seen it is rudimentary, and certainly not worth investing any time in to make it work. I am also not about to rewrite all of my music to another piece of software, that would be a huge effort. If BIAB / PGMusic can't produce notation that looks like sheet music, then let's get an interface with something that can. I need the same quality in the notation that I have in the accompaniment. I am sure it's not an easy task, or it would have been done years ago. Just 'fess up, and let's move on.
PGMusic, under the tab for OTHER SOFTWARE, already lists Finale and PrintMusic as third party software "to complement your PG Music software". So lets find a way for it to do exactly that. PrintMusic is $99. I'd gladly pay that if it could read, interpret and print from a BIAB file. The last I knew it could not.
My point is that with such a great product in BIAB, why do they short change the notation? Some of us need the fake book - I envy those that can do without it. I can do without much of BIAB but I don't complain when it gets updated (or fixed). It's time for NOTATION to shine as bright as the rest of the product.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643) Windows 10 (1909)
Dave, I don't disagree with any of your comments. It would be great to enhance the notation capabilities, either within BIAB or, more likely, exporting to another dedicated software that does notation. I'll give you a +1 as well.
As for MuseScore, yes, MuseScore does read chord symbols directly from BIAB files. It is the only software I have seen that does (and I have tried Finale and use Sibleius and especially Encore). But you are correct that MuseScore is rudimentary. There are lots of challenges getting it better than 90% correct. Of course, it's free.
I think Music XML is still the answer. BIAB can now produce a Music XML file of the melody for use by Sinsy, the online vocal synth. I'm hoping that in the next year, PG Music works further on this and gives us full export of BIAB files as Music XML. Then we can use the notation program of our choice (and it's a very personal choice, given the differences in approach of the notation programs).
BIAB 2025 Win Audiophile. Software: Studio One 7 Pro, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Roland Integra-7, Presonus 192 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Thaks Matt We have been through this before, and I agree that musicxml is probably the best answer. However, I really just would like PGMusic to upgrage notation so that it keeps pace with the rest of the product. If they feel that that is to create a file to be read by a specialist program, or that they can incorporate a new notation program, or even if they "go it alone", I don't really mind.
My point is that notation needs some work done on it so that it can produce quality fake books or sheet music, that mirrors the rest of this great program.
And just to get back to the point of this thread, guitar chords need to be looked at again. I play guitar, and I have never used the chords as they do not match any of the fingerings that I use.
BIAB for Windows Version 2019 (643) Windows 10 (1909)
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