|
Log in to post
|
Print Thread |
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
Veteran
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047 |
Within the typical realm of BIAB(music) endings. What chords would be used for A. Arbitrarily picked AA would be one.... Am would be one... and  Functionally probably any chord within the A key would work. But what chords are typical to use for good sounds.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,809
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,809 |
Typically,,,,
The chords in a given key that are generally used include the 1,4,5 and 6m. Of course you are not limited to these 4 but they do tend to be the most common.
In C that equates to
1=C
4=F
5=G
6m=Am
You can extrapolate that to any root being the one.... 1=A....4=D....5=E and so on....
Typically... notice I used the word typically.... you will end on the root of the key or the ONE chord....same one you start with normally. There are ALWAYS exceptions.
For example, you can play the song in a minor key and end it on a major.... or the other way around.
My childhood piano teacher told me that to easily determine a key....aside from looking at the key signature, look at the last chord in the song and you will know the key.... most of the time.
Last edited by Guitarhacker; 01/05/15 11:18 AM.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,567
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 24,567 |
Hi Frank,
Keeping in the key of A major you could end on Amaj7, F#m7 (also called A6), Aadd9 or A6/9.
Good luck.
Back in my day the only time we started panic buying was when the bartender shouted "last call"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047 |
Guitarhacker,
Excellent writeup for me, appreciate your time.
Just put into my PG bookmarks.
Mario,
Again very good information.
Not trying to be too exotic, just nice music.
Both, I'm trying to work on some UserTracks endings
and hit a glitch, this will help make the monkey go away.
Thank you both for your help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,732
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,732 |
To add on to what the others said, here's more info.... A picture of some popular chord progressions. Once you know your key you can take any path and write a chord progression:  Here's the page that came from. Nice intro to theory if you haven't had much in the past: Songwriting Tips Another cool reference, the circle of 5ths. Shows you what keys have the amount of sharps and flats and their associated minor keys on the inner part of the circle: 
 Steve BIAB/RB 2022, Pro Tools 2020, Korg N5, JBL LSR 4328 Powered Monitors, AKG/Shure Mics.
PC: Win11 PRO, 4 TB M2 SSD, 2 TB HD, 128 GB Memory
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047 |
sslechta,
I do have some amount of music training in my early years,
if only I'd have spent more time at it.
I do have Chord Progressions for Songwriters by Richard J Scott.
One of our members did recommend this some time ago, and
picked it up. Excellent book.
The circle of 5th's is one of the nicer one's I've seen.
Will print it for use.
My dark area, what was normal or typical endings chords within the BIAB realm.
guitarhacker nailed the specific chord selection nicely, and MarioD for key suggestions A key.
AECG will be primary keys used for the endings which is
based on the PG Music's supplied UserTracks 10 minute template.
With solidrocks and Jim Fogles help am almost to a point
endings will be part of new UT's I post.
I thank you for taking the time also.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,495
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,495 |
Frank, I don't if you've ever looked at Nashville notation in BIAB but I find it very useful. All I need to know are the 6 chords built on the first 6 notes of a major scale and I can write in any key I want without having to worry about chord names and song keys. Here are the 6 fundamental chords for a major key ... - 1, 2m, 3m, 4, 5 (also 57), 6m
For example, the chord progression C-Am-Dm-G7-1 in the key of C is 1-6m-2m-57-1 (since notes C, A, D, G are notes 1, 6, 2, 5 of the C major scale). If I change to the key of Ab major, it's still 1-6m-2m-57-1  From a Nashville notation (and BIAB) perspective good chords to finish on would include: 1, 1maj7, 16, 12, 169 (in the key of C these are C, Cmaj7, C6, C2, C69). Note: If you haven't used too many adventurous chords in the body of the song, then it is highly likely that the unadorned chord 1 will be the best choice to end on.If you're interested, to switch on Nashville notation in BIAB 2014/5 ... 1. Click on "Chord Display".  2. Follow the choices I've highlighted below.  - In the first image above, you can see the 2m, 27, 59. This song I'm working on is in Ab major and I find it much easier to think of numbers rather than Bbm, Bb7, Eb9, etc.
Just some thoughts. Noel
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 15
Enthusiast
|
|
Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 15 |
Back around 1960 I hired a guy to play lead on a recording. His only question was What dot are we playing on?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 53
Enthusiast
|
|
Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 53 |
A 2 5 1 in A would be Bm7 E7 Amaj7 which would finish the tune for you. You could swap the Amaj7 for A69,
Also
3 6 2 5 1 would work, C#m7 F#m7 Bm7 E7 Amaj7, once again the final chord could be A6 or A69,
In both examples the chords could be one or two per bar it all depends on how you here the song and style as well
Dell Optiplex i3 quad core,8gb mem,500gb
nvidia gtx750graphics,
Win10
ESI studio monitors
Presonus AudioBox iOne interface
Presonus Studio One 3
BiaB2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,809
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,809 |
Just a short follow up as to why you look at the last chord and not necessarily the key signature.... as my piano teacher instructed me to do...
For example: lets keep this easy... if you look at the key signature and there are no accidentals.... sharps or flats to indicate a key, the assumption is the song would be in the key of C. However, Am also shares the same exact key sig. So if you look at the ending chord, and see a root of A with the chord notes being A C E.... the key sig is actually indicating the key of A minor and not C Major.
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492 |
To put some more emphasis on that:
There are seven different modes for each key signature. Examples are given in the key of A. The two most common are
Ionian, better known as the major scale, starts at A, and
Aeolian, better known as the normal minor scale, starts at F#.
Then there are
Dorian, starts at B
Phrygian, starts at C#
Lydian, starts at D
Mixolydian, starts at E
Locrian, starts at G#.
This is not to confuse you, but if you end a song with the key signature of A (= ###) with an ending chord E6/9 suggests that this song is played in "E Mixolydian". Some song examples from the different modes have been posted somewhere in this forum some time ago.
Last edited by GHinCH; 01/06/15 03:11 AM.
Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
|
|
Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492 |
Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047
Veteran
|
|
OP
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 4,047 |
There is so much to learn and absorb.
Will work thru some of the "outstanding" information
and try to learn what I currently am able to use.
Appreciate all of the time and help all of you have
shared with me and the rest of the members.
Knew when the question was posted, there was a lot
more then simple answers.
But, did not want to lock in A key A ending G key G ending.
Thank you very much!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,495
Veteran
|
|
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 20,495 |
Frank, Some additional thoughts ... 99.9% (estimated) of the music I've played over the years will end on chord 1 of the key. That is, if it's written in A major, it will end on an A major chord; if it's written in C minor, it will end on a C minor chord. Herb has already said this. The reason for this is because the purpose of an ending is to provide closure and that's what finishing on the tonic chord does - it's home base. Where things are different is how that last chord is approached and there are many, many different ways to do this. In other words, the final chord is not about musical creativity, it's about providing the listener with a sense of ending for the aural journey they've just been on. The chord progression that leads to the final chord, though, can be very creative. Working in the key of A major, here are some endings that occur to me as I sit here typing. If you want to try these in BIAB, the "|" character is used to represent a bar line. Nashville notation for these endings is in blue.- A | D | E7 | A
- 1 | 4 | 57 | 1
- A | Bm/D | E7 | A
- 1 | 2m/4 | 57 | 1
- A | D | E7 | F#m | D | E7 | A
- 1 | 4 | 57 | 6m | 4 | 57 | 1
- A | D | A/E E7 | A
- 1 | 4 | 1/5 57 | 1
- A | D | E7 | D/A A
- 1 | 4 | 57 | 4/1 1
- A | D Dm | E7 | A
- 1 | 4 4m | 57 | 1
- A A/G | D/F# Dm/F | A/E E7 | A (good for slowish tempos)
- 1 1/7b | 4/6 4m/6b | 1/5 57 | 1
- A C#m | D D#dim | A/E E7 | A
- 1 3m | 4 4#dim | 1/5 57 | 1
- A A/C# | D B7/D# | A/E E7 | A
- 1 1/3 | 4 27/4# | 1/5 57 | 1
Hope these ideas give you some more inspiration! Noel
Last edited by Noel96; 01/07/15 12:51 AM. Reason: added Nashville notation
MY SONGS...Audiophile BIAB 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Band-in-a-Box for Windows
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 53
Enthusiast
|
|
Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 53 |
As a side point, just because the key sig has no sharps or flats does not mean the song doesn't change key. The key sig only dictates what the notes are NOT the chords, also tunes can have no sharps or flats in the key sig and be written using accidentals, eg song in G only has 1 sharp (F#). could use the key sig for C and use notate the F# using '#'accidental.
The final chord of a song is normally the home Key, also don't just restrict your chord selection to just 1 4 5 6. ALL the chords are open to use and also chords from other keys. Music that stays in one key can get boring not always but it can.
Dell Optiplex i3 quad core,8gb mem,500gb
nvidia gtx750graphics,
Win10
ESI studio monitors
Presonus AudioBox iOne interface
Presonus Studio One 3
BiaB2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!
If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!
If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!
Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.
PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!
PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.
The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.
The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.
Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!
Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.
Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!
Order now!
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!
We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.
Happy New Year!
Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.
Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forums57
Topics86,086
Posts799,975
Members40,031
| |
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean