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#35841 09/09/09 12:30 PM
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A lot of my songs have 3-5 choruses, and I have the "vary substyles in middle choruses" checked, so that after once through with the 'a' substyle, it plays the 'b' substyle until the last Chorus. However, most of the time, it seems to be a letdown to go back to the 'a' substyle on the last Chorus, when momentum in the song has been built and I want to keep it going right out to the end of the song. What's a good way to continue the 'b' substyle in the last Chorus? Will I have to modify each song to double the length of the song form (Chorus) and set up repeats on the second copy of the song form, and apply the 'a' substyle to the first (non-repeated) Chorus, and the 'b' substyle to the repeating part?

Also, this may be spitting into the wind, but doesn't the term "Chorus" refer to a specific *part* of a song, and not the whole song form? In BB terminology, it seems to refer to the song form (minus the intro and ending). This has bugged me, but not to the point that I want to quit my resplendent life here in San Diego and go live in Yellowknife, N.W. Territories. :-)

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--Doug


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When I want the last chorus to be entirely in the 'b' style I make the entire chorus
a tag ending. In doing this the "tag" could be well over 36 measures in length.

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In BIAB, chorus is everything between the Intro and Tag/Ending. That's just how it is.

For your other problem, you can use Bar Settings to define certain things such as a drum style for a particular chorus. Click on your bar, press F5 and you'll see a screen where you can define which chorus, which drum style, etc.

.or.

you can unfold your whole song and have total control over everything.

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Last edited by Rachael; 09/09/09 02:51 PM.
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Quote:


Also, this may be spitting into the wind, but doesn't the term "Chorus" refer to a specific *part* of a song, and not the whole song form? In BB terminology, it seems to refer to the song form (minus the intro and ending). This has bugged me, ...




This comes up periodically.

First, let me state that it is not a BIAB thing to call the Chorus what BIAB calls it.

This is sound music theory as taught at university level.

*Musically* the Chorus consists of the part the lyricist calls the "verse" plus the part the lyricist incorrectly calls the "chorus".

BIAB also recognizes the only other true song form, calling it "One long song" in the "Unfold to one long song" menu item. This is actually termed the, "durchkomponiert" -- in the German for it because that's where the forms were originally scholastically identified at some point.

One thing I've always appreciated about Band in a Box is that the developers strive to do things musically correct like that.

It is still possible to divide the Chord Grid visually to show the verse/chorus colloquialism if that is what you are after, now that we have the "New line at Part Marker" option.

***I can think of wo ways to get the song to play the B substyle for the last chorus.

One is to use that "Unfold to One Long Song" command and then manually insert part markers where you want them.

The other set up the head as A substyle by itself on the Chord Grid, like an intro, then have the actual Chorus area be only the number of repeats you need forcing B, with a TAG ending that is a whole chorus length, again forcing B.


--Mac

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*Musically* the Chorus consists of the part the lyricist calls the "verse" plus the part the lyricist incorrectly calls the "chorus".




Yes, this is a perennial misunderstanding. There is a BIG difference for singers and songwriters as opposed to musicians who don't sing or write as to exactly what a 'chorus' is. For those whose primary interest is instrumental tracks, it is all Chorus. But it is NOT to us singer / song writers

NOI, Mac - but tell me, in a SONG, what do you remember? The lyrics or the music?


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NOI, Mac - but tell me, in a SONG, what do you remember? The lyrics or the music?




I immediately, almost unconsciously, go for the Melody and most of the time, the bassline that defines the underlying chord change.

My wife can't understand that either, she is word/lyric oriented to the point where I sometimes wonder if a Melody is even needed...

Diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks, Sam. I believe that both are *learned* activities, depends upon your focus point, I think.


--Mac

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Good point, Mac

I always start with lyrics - rhyme, rhythm and meter. So, I guess I listen for that.

You would have melodic instrumentals charting your life? I have lyrics and vocals

I have also noticed that there is a BIG difference between lyricists and poets. Even lyrical poets are more song writers to my mind... Modern poetry? I am about as far removed from that as Jazz is from Country. I really don't understand modern poetry at all

That said, I like Jazz. I can understand it (though I am not impressed by 32nd notes all the time and 'free' Jazz - to my mind that is BS). I cannot understand Modern Poetry - to my mind, most of the time it is BS. Totally 'free' Jazz is, to my mind, music played to impress other jazz musicians. Similar with 'modern' poetry.

That does not mean to say I am against development or progression, per se - merely to say that if you have a message to get acrosss... KISS


Anybody can m*sturbate. Do we have to watch or listen?


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Karaoke King

--------------------

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The more you learn about a subject, the more you can appreciate that subject.

I don't knock the lyricists at all. Matter of fact, a good lyricist usually amazes me, that not being my forte.

Sam, Jazz and Country have more in common than you apparently think at the moment. Why do so many subjects have to always be so divisive?


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Does it not depend on the kind of Jazz and Country?


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--------------------

Turning that corner again - I have to keep following that dream, no matter what
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