I set the key...I set my first chord in the first bar...I would love if BIAB had a popup window that would suggest to me what chords are commonly played next AND give me a button to click so I can hear the chord. this would be a nice tool to use when songwriting.
this image is very simplistic but should convey the idea. more advanced chord options could be added and it should not be limited to only the more common chords. it would be great if it would play a bar using the currently selected track!
That's a great idea. I reckon there would be many users out there who would like ideas on what chord follows the one just used.
Believe it or not, I actually created my avatar with the Nashville notation to give users a way of working out what chords travel to and from other chords. I had intentions of writing how to do this in "Tips and Tricks". I just haven't got around to it yet. You've inspired me. I'll get my thoughts together over the next couple of days and write it up. (The beauty of using Nashville notation in BIAB is that because it is independent of key, it works equally easily in all keys.)
Sometimes I use the chord builder option to demo different chords to help me determine what chord sounds like a chord I hear in my head. The trouble is I want a progression but don't know music theory well enough to identify the progression so I end up using chord builder to go through the alphabet and demo chords to find the root and then go through the chord variations to find the right variation.
It would be great to have a pop up option ease that process. I just don't understand how an option can help me determine the chord progression I want when I don't know enough music theory to give the option a hint.
Jim, the hint comes from the key you chose and what chord you used last. So you would do nothing different than you do now...type in a chord and the popup automatically suggests possible chords to go to next.
This is a good idea IF you can select to turn it off!
Yes, because not all the users will use that.
My advice : buy a good a harmony book and study it seriously. You will get a real knowledge of harmony and a better control over your music.
So, for pro results, you have to envisage passing chord, modulations, extended chords, chords with bass inversions, frequency of chords changes, ....according to the genre (rock/pop/latin/world/...) and the style (ballad/fast T° songs/...), and not forgetting also that chords should also be driven by the melody and countermelody...
My advice : buy a good a harmony book and study it seriously. You will get a real knowledge of harmony and a better control over your music.
Do you also advise people not to use Band-in-a-Box because they should instead learn to play the instruments themselves to "get a real knowledge" and "better control over your music"?
Obviously, we use tools to get the results we want. Adding a tool like this will help us achieve those goals!
My advice : buy a good a harmony book and study it seriously. You will get a real knowledge of harmony and a better control over your music.
So, for pro results, you have to envisage passing chord, modulations, extended chords, chords with bass inversions, frequency of chords changes, ....according to the genre (rock/pop/latin/world/...) and the style (ballad/fast T° songs/...), and not forgetting also that chords should also be driven by the melody and countermelody...
Yes, of course you're right, but band in a box is widely used by a lot of people, with different interests and different backgrounds.
For example, I've extensively used BIAB to teach music theory and harmony, and I can clearly see how helpful would be a built-in Chord wheel for a lot of students (specially beginners).
I personally would not have a big need, but certainly there are many users who would get a benefit. So yes, +1
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
This is a great idea! Thanks everyone for all the input on this subject! I agree this feature would be great with the option to disable for user not interested.
I also just posted an idea to also include the ability to select chord progressions using Roman numeral, similar to the Nashville number system but intended to be used for experimenting with chords and learning music theory.
Computer: Macbook Pro, 16 inch 2021 DAWs: Pro Tools, Logic, and Maschine plays drums, percussion, bass, steel pan, keyboard, music producer/engineer
Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!
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Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: The Newly Designed Piano Roll Window
In this video, we explore the updated Piano Roll, complete with a modernized look and exciting new features. You’ll see new filtering options that make it easy to focus on specific note groups, smoother and more intuitive note entry and editing, and enhanced options for zooming, looping, and more.
Band-in-a-Box 2026 Video: AI Stems & Notes - split polyphonic audio into instruments and transcribe
This video demonstrates how to use the new AI-Notes feature together with the AI-Stems splitter, allowing you to select an audio file and have it separated into individual stems while transcribing each one to its own MIDI track. AI-Notes converts polyphonic audio—either full mixes or individual instruments—into MIDI that you can view in notation or play back instantly.
Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®
With your version 2026 for Windows Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
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MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
Android Band-in-a-Box® App (included)
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FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
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