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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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OP
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Hi, I have programmed a solo piano with a simple E sus chord. However, it always plays E sus7. I don't want the 7 and I can't figure out how to play it without. I have attached the file I am working on. Advice appreciated.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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HopelessRomantic, BIAB will play ordinary sus chords. Simply type in Esus. That being said, there are a couple of reasons why you may be hearing a sus7 chord. These are ... 1. BIAB is automatically extending the chords. To alter this behaviour, right click somewhere on the chordsheet, select "Song Settings" and activate "Force Song to Simple Arrangement" (see below).  2. The other possibility is that one of the Realtracks you are using (if you are using RTs) does not have a simple sus chord in it's make-up and it only contains sus7. In this case, BIAB will choose sus7. To identify this, simply solo each track and listen to it individually. You'll soon be able to work which RT is playing the sus7. If this is the case, the easiest way to solve the problem is to change RTs and to find one that will play sus4. Hope this helps, Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2014
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OP
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Hi, thanks for the reply it appears that the RT does not have an Esus, just Esus7, which is too bad because it is otherwise perfect for my song. the RT is PNCALIS "Rock, California Solo Piano Accompaniment". I can't seem to find anything similar. Suggestions appreciated.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Hi again,
There are workarounds that could solve the problem. Again it will depend on whether or not the chord is present in the original RT audio.
FIRST WORKAROUND
1. Save your song with a new name so that the original is always available if things go wrong.
2. Change all the Esus chords to E5 - this chord only plays the root and the 5th of the chord (there is no 3rd nor 4th nor 7th present).
3. Generate the song. Let it play through just to make sure that it's properly generated. (Do not worry that it doesn't sound how you want.)
4. Freeze the track that the Piano sits on. AN asterisk will appear in the track's name indicating that it is frozen. (Freezing the track will stop it from being generated in the future.)
5. Now change all the E5 chords back to Esus.
6. Save the song
7. Generate the song.
Because the piano is frozen it will not generate and will continue to play E5. The instruments that can play Esus will then provide the missing A note. Sound-wise, this will not conflict with E5 (piano) since the 3rd is not present in E5. In theory, this approach should work provided the E5 chord is present in the RT audio.
SECOND WORKAROUND
Have a look at the midi Supertracks and see if there is a midi piano that will do the job.
Midi piano sounds like the real thing and will fill in well. Because it's midi, if 7ths are added to the sus chord, these are easily edited out using Piano Roll mode.
Regards,
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 15
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OP
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Thanks, Noel.
For this track, I am only using BIAB's piano and playing everything else in another DAW. I tried the E5. It actually works out pretty well against the Esus on guitar.
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,486
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Thanks, Noel.
For this track, I am only using BIAB's piano and playing everything else in another DAW. I tried the E5. It actually works out pretty well against the Esus on guitar.
Cool! One of the arranging principles that I keep in mind from my days of doing classical harmony is that it's usually better not to double a dissonant note (i.e. 4ths, 7ths, etc.) across too many parts. When I come to finalising my arrangements, I usually test different variations of arrangement and determine if it's better to have all instruments play the dissonance or only one. BIAB makes this so easy to do  All the best with your song! Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Jun 2003
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Thanks, Noel.
For this track, I am only using BIAB's piano and playing everything else in another DAW. I tried the E5. It actually works out pretty well against the Esus on guitar.
Cool! One of the arranging principles that I keep in mind from my days of doing classical harmony is that it's usually better not to double a dissonant note (i.e. 4ths, 7ths, etc.) across too many parts. When I come to finalising my arrangements, I usually test different variations of arrangement and determine if it's better to have all instruments play the dissonance or only one. BIAB makes this so easy to do All the wbest with your song! Noel Wonderful tip. Sorta BB's equivalent to the way the Hard Day's Night opening chord was built: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gwfH9oAiPH0(I think that chord was discussed around here recently, with other links.) Happy New Year to all. -Ron
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Band-in-a-Box for Windows
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,486
Veteran
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Thanks, for the Youtube link, Ron.
Happy New Year to you, too!
Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
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