Originally Posted By: Matt Finley
One of the first things to do entering any song into BIAB is to set the key, assuming you know it.
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Set the style and tempo. [I chose AF68MOD.STY and a tempo of 105.]

Click on the Key icon and set the key to Dm using the left-hand column of the choices (assumes BIAB 2015 or 2016) [If you have already entered the song without doing that, see below]

Enter the chords (Dm for the first 8 bars etc) out of the tenor sax fakebook

Enter the melody notes (four Cs, then D etc.)

Save the song as "Footprints Bb" or "Footprints Tenor", or something like that; make up a convention to follow

Click on the Key icon and select Cm (one full step lower than whatever the tenor sax key is) in the left-hand column

Save the song as Footprints C or Footprints Concert
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Note that we did not use any of the several transposition functions in BIAB. We could have, but this way is easier, by using only the Key icon, and saving the song in two keys. If you use the transpose function, you can forget it is on! Trust me on this, I play instruments pitched in F, G, A, Bb and C.

Also note that, if you want to remain faithful to Abersold's non-use of key signatures (which I do not recommend), you can just use the Key icon on either version you saved and change the key to C using the right-hand column (which will not transpose). This is a bad idea in BIAB, though, because BIAB uses the key signature to make many decisions about harmony and accidentals.

If you have already entered the song as written in the Bb fakebook, then before converting it to concert pitch, just click on the key icon and select Dm from the right-hand column.

Questions?


Much appreciated Matt. I'll apply the procedure you described above when I get a chance later today.

The Jamey Abersold books are a sidebar since they come with their own background music. My main purpose for needing to be able to do this is for application to other practice materials that address technique and familiarity of scales and chord variations and therefore except for scales have no key signature posted. Coincidentally I already have the syle you posted selected.

This would be so much easier if there were a title on the dash that read "Track Key". I could simply set it and go.

I'll let you know whether or not I succeed.

Last edited by maticulus; 02/02/16 06:25 AM.