As a gigging musician, I've played more 3 chord songs than I can count. Plenty of 2 chord songs and more than enough 1 chord songs. (IMO, any 1 chord song is too much – as it is very difficult to improvise a long, interesting melodic solo over one chord.)
As Mario pointed out, MIDI is unlimited.
If I want that piano part to be a clav, synth, guitar or whatever, click, click and it's done. If I want to change sounds every two measures (or whatever) – presto change-o.
If I want that part up or down an octave, no prob.
Wanna add a song specific figure with the same sounding instrument as the rest of the song – play it in.
Using Real Band or exporting your tune as a MIDI file and importing to a sequencer/DAW gives you absolute unlimited editing and customizing capabilities.
Do you want a specific note on top of the chord when BiaB puts it in the middle, click click or drag and drop.
Don't want that drum roll between the A and B section, copy/paste.
Want a different roll there, again copy/paste.
How about a ride bell or cowbell instead of a ride cymbal? Drag/drop.
Longer ending or better intro, your sequencer/DAW/RealBand is your friend.
Need a rhythmic kick, or need to add or subtract instruments to a BiaB hit - easy-peasy.
Real crescendos, diminuendos, accelerandos, or ritardandos instead of the rough ones available in BiaB - couple of clicks and it's done.
This only scratches the surface.
Back On Topic.
Songs need variation and development. A lot of one chord songs do that by changing instruments, adding and subtracting them, adding song-specific figures and develop those figures and so on. This can easily be done with MIDI styles.
EDM songs have changes that happen through them, if you pay attention, you will notice them. Granted, they aren't as obvious as the chord changes in a multi-chord song, but they are there and take a different kind of listening to discover them.
That's where a good MIDI EDM Multi-style comes in. Instead of A and B sections, you have A, B, C, and D. By adding/subtracting the individual instruments in the A-B-C-D parts you can expand that and have the gradual changes that make EDM interesting to the dancers.
No need to be unkind gentlemen. He is entitled to his opinions and questions.
SBM, Here is the issue I see, and I think Mario makes a good point. BiaB is limited only by ones imagination for the most part. It is equipped with a style maker where you can create any style you want. Heck you don’t even need a style. Just add tracks. If you use midi you can run that through just about any synth or midi instrument you want. You can add or subtract notes.
If You want a two chord Rap song find a midi drum and bass groove you like and run it through a good synth let it drone on for ever and Rap away.
Honestly I don’t think this type of music was ever best created in BiaB. Abelton live, acid pro, or any other audio loop based programs are better suited for these genre’s.
Here’s another thought BiaB does handle audio loops, so buy a good loop library that is aimed at rap, electronic or dance music, whatever suits you, and load the loops and type in the two chords you want and hit generate. I really think it would be sooooo easy to accomplish.
Certainly worth exploring don’t cha think?
Last edited by Rob Helms; 05/17/2311:45 AM.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
I can fly my airplane to the truck stop to get a pack of cigarettes. I have done that in Arizona. That is a pretty convoluted way to get a pack of cigarettes. I was sitting in the airplane, waiting for a thunderstorm to pass. I drove off the runway across the desert and parked behind the truck stop.
My point is that while BIAB more or less is only limited to how skilled one is at using it, it may, in fact, may not be the best program to generate every form of music that exists.
I don't have to defend BIAB. It is the only program that exists that does precisely what it does. If you like it, use it. If you can not make it do what you want it to do, look for something else.
It may be a while before "The Notorious B.I.G" is a track on BIAB...lol
So, if you are upset about people talking about what "young people" like, don't worry; you will be old soon enough, and then they will be telling you what "old people" like...lol
Being angry and upset is not very logical, to begin with. You being angry with me is like you drinking poison hoping I die.
I'm not sure where this thread went off the rails. Who is angry?
Swingbabymix asked a question about a style I certainly can't help him with (my specialty is Brazilian jazz, as far from two or three chord music as it gets).
I suspect from past observation that many of us are not skilled in the type of music he is asking about. After a rocky start because of difficulty in translations, Swingbabymix has really come along here. He has even made some good suggestions about how to improve BIAB. He has his own ideas about what he wants and thinks is the future of music, and his ideas are worthy of being listened to. I hope everyone keeps an open mind and helps him when you can.
Does there exist in BIAB a song demo using only two chords, and perhaps contemporary rhythms? I don't know.
BIAB 2026 Win Audiophile. Software: Fender Studio One 8, Swam horns, Acoustica-7, Notion 6, Song Master Pro, Win 11 Home. Hardware: Intel i9, 32 Gb; Fender Quantom HD8 & Faderport 8, Royer 121, Adam Sub8 & Neumann 120 monitors.
Not me, Rob! To much air traffic in New York...lol
Actually, the last time I flew into NYC, the weather was so bad the controllers at JFK were kind enough to give me a hand and would have let me land my small twin there if I wanted to.
So, Matt, perhaps no one is angry.
I was certainly not talking about Swingbaby.
So...Swingbaby, I put this together for you as a demo. If you tell me precisely what stile you are looking for, I will make you a demo.
Here is something typical out of BIAB. Two chords, A, Bb.
Dancehall style, very rhythmic, very modern sounding.
Yeah those are great examples of using BiaB to piece together different genres. Adding sounds from 3rd party sound libraries can open up the window for almost anything.
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
After work. Studying music is my hobby. Always like to analyze the chord progression of some songs. I learned a lot about music through this. But the funny thing is, I like rap songs and dance music after all. Read an article a few days ago, I was surprised to find that many of their favorite songs chord is very simple.
I thought it was interesting, and I remembered if there was a simple DEMO of chords in BIAB, let me see. Yes, a lot of songs are just a phrase. But it's interesting to do it through different passages.
26 Songs That Only Use Two Chords: ( 26首只使用两个和弦的歌曲 )
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.
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.
I feel the same about BIAB even though the RealTrack are great, for my purpose I don't use them I use BIAB 2009 and BIAB 2015 and midi styles I just prefer to use Roland Sofware and Hardware, from microsoft GM synth , TTS1 up to my Integra 7 I am a junkie for Roland sounds My first synth was a Roland U20 and I used it for more than 8 years before purchasing a JV2080; an so on I love the flexibility of MIDI styles believe me, I have modified everything in a Bee Gees style and made a Lou Reed style with it you can also make several different songs from a single chord sheet by changing the midi parameters
Bernard Rasson
BIAB Audiophile 2021, BIAB Megapak 2015 (for midi-only projects), Cakewalk, Roland XV-5080, Roland Fantom XR, Aria AC60 Nylon Strings Guitar, Almansa Spanish Guitar, Fender Stratocaster Japan, two laptops Je parle français
These videos are great. Thank you for sharing. I will download it and watch it over and over again.
I like one of the songs in it. <<Nirvana-something in the way>>
I watched the video. I understand a truth.
Whether the song is good or not is not a question of the number of chords. It depends on what the singer wants to express. Just those chords fit. This is my feeling.
Thanks to all the above friends! Each of you has made me progress.
I may have some problems expressing it. through recent studies. I have some new discoveries. Let me say it again. What I call music that young people like. In fact, I prefer some modern drums myself. Such as HIPHOP, TRAP and so on. Also for this reason I found BIAB LOOPS which was rarely opened in the past.
I newly discovered the "pick a loop" dialog today I tried to make some LOOPs of my favorite drums and bass, and then put them into the MIXER, and it felt much better.
FWIW - I have been following this thread and think it breaks down into two things:
1-With RealTracks you are limited to what BiaB gives you. That is great for jazz, country,blues, etc with a few snippets of other genres.
2- With MIDI there are no limitations. With good MIDI sounds, a little imagination, and a little MIDI knowledge you can create any genre you want. Note's BiaB styles proves that. BiaB MIDI styles are not set in stone. They can be increased or decrease in tempo with no artifacts. You can change instrument sounds plus a lot of other control over the styles.
I believe that I am in the minority with my song using virtually all MIDI, thus my bias thoughts!
YMMV
The MIDI that the teacher mentioned means the MIDI SuperTrack in BIAB, right?
FWIW - I have been following this thread and think it breaks down into two things:
1-With RealTracks you are limited to what BiaB gives you. That is great for jazz, country,blues, etc with a few snippets of other genres.
2- With MIDI there are no limitations. With good MIDI sounds, a little imagination, and a little MIDI knowledge you can create any genre you want. Note's BiaB styles proves that. BiaB MIDI styles are not set in stone. They can be increased or decrease in tempo with no artifacts. You can change instrument sounds plus a lot of other control over the styles.
I believe that I am in the minority with my song using virtually all MIDI, thus my bias thoughts!
YMMV
The MIDI that the teacher mentioned means the MIDI SuperTrack in BIAB, right?
Actually what I said applies to all MIDI, Supertracks, MIDI styles, and any third party MIDI loops. MIDI is MIDI regardless of where it originated.
Life is short so make sure you spend as much time as possible on the Internet arguing with strangers.
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
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Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
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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)
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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)
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