Background: We watch Finding Your Roots on PBS from time to time and this was inspired by that program. The instrumental uses a minimum of BiaB (drums only) and I’m not sure how many chords it has. I’m thinking two. There is no chorus or bridge and my goal was to invoke a sense of ants marching in a line.
Technicals: 90 BPM and mixed in Studio One
BiaB: RealDrums in style:BluesRockFunky16ths^3-a:Snare, HiHat , b:Busy Snare, Ride
Me: Electric Bass Studio One Drum Sequencer (Hi Hat) Korg Keyboard 1. Flute 2. Nylon Guitar 3. Grand Piano 4. Synth 5. Bells 6. Choir Voices
Poem: Deoxyribonucleic acid, much better known as DNA Affects you as a person, every year and every day
In 1869 a Swiss doctor first isolated it from surgical bandages After deductive reasoning, much hard work and scientific practices
Then Watson, Crick, Gosling and Franklin came along in ‘51 Establishing microbiology with a Nobel Prize they had won
The double helix, so beautiful and unique Fundamental to life, so intelligent, so sleek
Common in every cell you will ever grow Hair and muscle and the blood that flows
Far more than just a polymer or chemistry on a shelf It’s smart enough to replicate and even repair itself
Not entirely perfect and it can make mistakes But it does its best on land in rivers, oceans and lakes
It wants to live and strives to survive Yet I wonder if it knows it’s alive
Some from your parents and relatives you never knew A family heritage and bio-chemical brew
Like a column of ants marching straight in a line DNA moves backward and forward thru space and time
We can trace it back thousands of years from a very small sample From people and reptiles and plants for example
Letters and words and finally your biography Much more elegant than simple photography
Tweaking it could cure cancer or cause great harm Let’s proceed carefully and not bet the farm
Is it thriving elsewhere in our galaxy we can’t yet say But if it is, I’d bet it’s made of T’s, C’s, G’s and A’s
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
I like the simplicity of your song, it's kind of mesmerizing.
After the math song, you could offer online courses to get people interested in science who wouldn't otherwise be interested.
The obvious chords for your song would be C, G, A, and T, but that last one is really hard to play. Most musicians don't even know it!
Hey BD, thanks for the listen and comment. I'm flattered by the online course idea but I'm having too much fun making music with BiaB. However, I do hope that somehow and by chance that somewhere young people will decide to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) as a career in large numbers. At least here in the States young folk (generally speaking) are not interested. The number of very large global problems continue to grow, including the potential for WWIII. We need a full pipeline of young, sharp minds to solve today's and tomorrow's problems.
And I like your sense of humor, that "T" chord might be a tad hard to play
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
"Marching Ants" is a term in Photoshop. hehe. Very cool, Steve. This tune develops much like I'd imagine a strand of DNA would, always building to that wonderful potential. Sounds like a factory of life, not the corporate kind; for them the music would be much faster. This tune very cool indeed!
Originally Posted By: B.D.Thomas
The obvious chords for your song would be C, G, A, and T, but that last one is really hard to play. Most musicians don't even know it!
HAHAHAHAHAHAH
Enjoy whatever happens! marty
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 12, EZDrummer
I like the constant drone you have happening underneath with the changing elements on top to keep things interesting.
Bass sounds great, and I like the melody on the flute.
Your poem would work well as a spoken word thing happening on top of the music I think.
I enjoy listening to your work, keep them coming!
Hey Dave, I really appreciate your kind comments. It's funny how you and others describe my work in terms that make total sense but that I don't realize while producing it. "Constant drone" is a good example. I just try to communicate musically in ways that make sense to me and hope that something I do might make sense to others.
Maybe Vic will volunteer to speak some of the poem . . . he has a great voice.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
A terrific bed of bass drums and that blowing synth. Everything on top belongs becasue the bed is well made. COOL.
Hey Ray, thanks so much for the listen and analysis. "Blowing synth" is another great descriptor. It's fun to think about all the struggles, triumpths, random happenings and ancestors that contributed to the DNA you now have.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
"Marching Ants" is a term in Photoshop. hehe. Very cool, Steve. This tune develops much like I'd imagine a strand of DNA would, always building to that wonderful potential. Sounds like a factory of life, not the corporate kind; for them the music would be much faster. This tune very cool indeed!
Originally Posted By: B.D.Thomas
The obvious chords for your song would be C, G, A, and T, but that last one is really hard to play. Most musicians don't even know it!
HAHAHAHAHAHAH
Hey Marty, I wasn't aware of the Photoshop connection, I'll have to look that up.
A developing strand of DNA is a wonderful thing indeed.
Thanks as always for your listen and articulate replies. You have a skill in descibing the works of others that I wish I had.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
I like the idea to combine science, poetry and music. This instrumental has organized structure and sounds organic. Clever usage of instruments, hypnotic bass and nice mood created with synths, the flute fits well. You surely have captured the marching ants. I like your beautiful and thought-provoking poem. "It wants to live and strives to survive/Yet I wonder if it knows it’s alive", very profound, I once read about DNA being a conscious living entity, but I haven't thought about its implications yet, maybe I'll write my own DNA song when I have figured it out
Bass Thumper. Tastefully, simplistic Cool idea and execution. I double Dave on: "Your poem would work well as a spoken word thing happening on top of the music"
Actually that what I was expecting to happen before I read Dave's comment. Good mix. Thank you for sharing.
It's quite a courageous choice to stick through the whole with only two chords, D and Gm. I listened to it until the end without getting tired of it. There are clever tricks here and there to keep the audience from getting bored. Enjoyed my listen a lot.
I like the idea to combine science, poetry and music. This instrumental has organized structure and sounds organic. Clever usage of instruments, hypnotic bass and nice mood created with synths, the flute fits well. You surely have captured the marching ants. I like your beautiful and thought-provoking poem. "It wants to live and strives to survive/Yet I wonder if it knows it’s alive", very profound, I once read about DNA being a conscious living entity, but I haven't thought about its implications yet, maybe I'll write my own DNA song when I have figured it out
Janne
Hey Jannne, many thanks for the listen and kind words.
I haven't heard about any theory that says DNA is conscious, I thought I conceived that idea (from an artistic/poetic perspective). Oh well, such is life
Hmmmm, here is an equation that you prompted: science + poetry + music = ? . . . . hopefuly not noise!
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Bass Thumper. Tastefully, simplistic Cool idea and execution. I double Dave on: "Your poem would work well as a spoken word thing happening on top of the music"
Actually that what I was expecting to happen before I read Dave's comment. Good mix. Thank you for sharing.
Misha.
Thanks Rusty. I wish my DNA allowed me to have a pleasing voice --Thump
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Steve, IMHO this is your best to date. Your ability to compose has risen extremely fast as you are composing some fantastic music lately which each song better than the previous song.
I love the groove and feel of this one..brilliant work! Super dynamics also.
You wrote "However, I do hope that somehow and by chance that somewhere young people will decide to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) as a career in large numbers. At least here in the States young folk (generally speaking) are not interested. The number of very large global problems continue to grow, including the potential for WWIII. We need a full pipeline of young, sharp minds to solve today's and tomorrow's problems.
And I like your sense of humor, that "T" chord might be a tad hard to play"
They are not required to take science or engineering and do not have to pass math. When I went to school many many years ago we had to take and pass some math and some science classes. If you failed you had to take it over again and pass in order to graduate. THAT is what is missing in our schools today.
Also a lot and thankfully not all of young people are not self starters and are lazy. They are used to getting trophies for just participating.
BTW, the T chord isn't that hard. All it takes is three bagpipe players all playing in different keys! Of course you never know what key a bagpipe is playing in in the first place - ducking and running for cover
My boss calls me "the computer". Nothing to do with intelligence. I go to sleep if left unattended for 15 minutes.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
I enjoyed the poem as well, although I'm sure you know that neither Gosling nor Franklin received a Nobel prize.
Thanks David, I sort of knew Gosling and Franklin didn't win the Nobel. Don't know the details but I understand it is/was a controversy.
I guess I took some artistic liberty in including them in the same phrase as Watson and Crick to at least show they participated. You are right.
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
It's quite a courageous choice to stick through the whole with only two chords, D and Gm. I listened to it until the end without getting tired of it. There are clever tricks here and there to keep the audience from getting bored. Enjoyed my listen a lot.
Best regards.
Shigeki Adachi
Hey Shigeki, many thanks for the listen and comments.
I'm relatively new to music and until 10 minutes ago I didn't know the chords I played on the keyboard (Nylon Guitar). I just hunted and pecked until something sounded good to me. You can hear this most clearly in the intro after the flute.
Here is what I played. I looked up the chords from here
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Steve, IMHO this is your best to date. Your ability to compose has risen extremely fast as you are composing some fantastic music lately which each song better than the previous song.
I love the groove and feel of this one..brilliant work! Super dynamics also.
You wrote "However, I do hope that somehow and by chance that somewhere young people will decide to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) as a career in large numbers. At least here in the States young folk (generally speaking) are not interested. The number of very large global problems continue to grow, including the potential for WWIII. We need a full pipeline of young, sharp minds to solve today's and tomorrow's problems.
And I like your sense of humor, that "T" chord might be a tad hard to play"
They are not required to take science or engineering and do not have to pass math. When I went to school many many years ago we had to take and pass some math and some science classes. If you failed you had to take it over again and pass in order to graduate. THAT is what is missing in our schools today.
Also a lot and thankfully not all of young people are not self starters and are lazy. They are used to getting trophies for just participating.
BTW, the T chord isn't that hard. All it takes is three bagpipe players all playing in different keys! Of course you never know what key a bagpipe is playing in in the first place - ducking and running for cover
Hey Mario, as usual you've given me much to respond to.
First, thanks so much for the listen and kind words. You may not know this but I have learned SO much just from listening to your compositions; not to mention your insights.
Second, You are spot on regarding US education. I too had to take and PASS mandatory courses in high school and college. If you flunked, you repeated, and if you don't repeat you didn't graduate. Pretty simple and appropriate but not so today.
The good news for us is that we have and can rely on technically educated and highly motivated young folk from other countries to design our next generation medical devices, transportation systems, weapons, etc. For example, with world events as they are we need smart "youngsters" to develop high-engery particle weapons capable of destroying ICBMs in their boost phase. This way Putin has got very little to threaten the world with. That said, we need hundreds and hundreds more engineers and scientists to enter the workforce every year than we currently have. Babyboomers are retiring left and right.
I happen to be born here but have worked with brilliant engineers and scientists from Israel, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Austraila, Germany, Bangledesh, India and elsewhere. And often their English is better that the "home-growns". Our K-12 system is amoung the worst worldwide but thankfully our College and University system is amoung the best. Go figure. 40 or so years ago, the crem de la crem would come here, get their college degrees and then go back home. Iran is a good example. I had many Iranian classmates in college, many if not all have gone back home with their degrees to support Iranian technology. The Iranian drones that are now killing Ukranians is only one result. Another is their nuclear program. But now, for a variety of reasons, more and more are choosing to stay here, plant roots and contribute to our tech economy. I just hope we can remain an attractive place for such people going forward. My primary doctor was not born here and he is top shelf and a hell of a nice guy.
Third, you gave me a good laugh about the 3 "deaf and blind" bagpipe players playing a T chord . . . Just a joke. For you bag players we love ya !
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677 BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
Really interesting listen . . . I wasn’t sure what to make of it as I began listening . . . and to be honest, three minutes in, I’m still not. But it is, as BD said above, mesmerizing . . . you just kind of keep listening to it. And the subtle changes in new introduced sounds keeps the listener intrigued to hear what comes next . . . or me at least. Not sure if it’s quite my thing ultimately, but I’m glad I listened to it. Very creative work!
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.
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!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
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)
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
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)
One of our representatives will be happy to help you over the phone. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday, and 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST Saturday. We are closed Sunday. You can also send us your questions via email.
One of our representatives will be happy to help you on our Live Chat or by email. Our hours of operation are from
6:00AM to 6:00PM PST (GMT -8) Monday thru Friday; 8:00AM to 4:00PM PST (GMT -8) Saturday; Closed Sunday.
Dansk
Deutsch - Windows
Español
Français - Windows
Italiano - Windows
Nederlands
Polski
Português
Svenskt
русский
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Korean