Cold Rain And Snow is a traditional folk song that nowadays is most frequently heard as a bluegrass tune (as a traditional arrangement we own all rights to it). Some sources date it back to Appalachia in the 1870’s. During our bluegrass years we heard many, many interpretations of it. We thought that a blues version might be fun so here’s the result of that. We tweaked the lyric to make it from a lady’s perspective. Folks often argue over the scale suggesting that it is Dorian or Mixolydian. Meaning our two chord version is in an unknown key … at least to us. 😀 Hope it works for you and thanks to our music partner PeterF for the guitar rhythm and solos and to PG Music for the great session players. Comments are always welcome. We appreciate your time to listen.
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
I've never heard this song before, but then bluegrass is a genre that I've never explored much.
This is GREAT! Love the laidback groove, and Janice and Peter are awesome as usual. Mix is perfect, Bud! As far as key goes, I would say it's in 'C'. Not that I know much about theory, but when I was noodling along on my guitar while the song was playing, those were the notes that fit.
Outstanding arrangement and production. Janice sounds awesome as always. She really has some great phrasing here. The mix is upfront and punchy. Peter's guitar tones are perfect and never overplayed. So tasteful.
I also wanted to mention the piano track - it sounds like it was custom played especially for this track. It almost has a vocal quality.
I've never heard this song before, but then bluegrass is a genre that I've never explored much.
This is GREAT! Love the laidback groove, and Janice and Peter are awesome as usual. Mix is perfect, Bud! As far as key goes, I would say it's in 'C'. Not that I know much about theory, but when I was noodling along on my guitar while the song was playing, those were the notes that fit.
Loved it!
Speaking of genres I just discovered The Grateful Dead did a version! BTW the two chords are Cm and F so that’s where you found the notes. But what key would have those two chords? 🤷♂️ Glad you liked it. We appreciate your comments!
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
Wow, ya'll are so, SOoooo good! All of you really knocked your parts out of the park. Every time I hear Janice sing I hear something special that I haven't heard before, and this is no exception. Everything here is fab.
Not familiar with other versions the song, but am confident you did it more than full justice. I play it pretty loose with theory on the blues, but I'd label this "Cm blues" and call it a day. Or not, 'cause it makes me feel good, and though that sounds wrong for the "blues", it's really all that matters. Ha!
DC Ron BiaB Audiophile Presonus Studio One ASUS I9-12900K DAW, 32 GB RAM Presonus Faderport 16 Too many guitars (is that a thing?)
What a great --no, better than that-- idea. Make this classic in a Blues style. Man, you can't go wrong with that idea when you have Janice, who sings better than just about anyone in that genre, and Peter, who can play Blues with the best of them. I listen to your stuff a lot, especially your Blues albums. I've played this songs many times in many different ways, but this is the best version ever.
Enjoy whatever happens! marty
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@babumusic51 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/marty-straub Band in a Box, Reaper, Cakewalk, Ozone 11, EZDrummer
Outstanding arrangement and production. Janice sounds awesome as always. She really has some great phrasing here. The mix is upfront and punchy. Peter's guitar tones are perfect and never overplayed. So tasteful.
I also wanted to mention the piano track - it sounds like it was custom played especially for this track. It almost has a vocal quality.
A big fan!
Bob
Bob, thank you for those kind comments. They mean a lot us. And we are very glad you liked the piano as it was comped from multiple regenerations. Those MidiSuperTracks are a lot of fun.
Appreciate it!
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
Your voice is as strong and expressive as ever. I haven't heard this song before. After hearing, your version, I can't imagine that it wasn't anything else but blues. So, I had to find me a bluegrass version.
Peter's guitar work is exemplary as usual. Mix is crystal clear.
Another very beautiful song. Well done Janice & Bus The style is very well chosen. Laurent
Thank you!
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
Classic quality production all around and Janice's voice is superb.
Some favourite Waoist Adages: #1: Play on the Way. #13: Ask not for whom the flower blooms, it blooms for you. #58: Bring consciousness to it. #63: On the road to effortlessness, effort must be made. #92: Be Love Now, the rest will come on its own.
Wow, ya'll are so, SOoooo good! All of you really knocked your parts out of the park. Every time I hear Janice sing I hear something special that I haven't heard before, and this is no exception. Everything here is fab.
Not familiar with other versions the song, but am confident you did it more than full justice. I play it pretty loose with theory on the blues, but I'd label this "Cm blues" and call it a day. Or not, 'cause it makes me feel good, and though that sounds wrong for the "blues", it's really all that matters. Ha!
Thanks … a lot. The vocal comments are much appreciated. I (Bud) am obviously biased but I’m gonna mention that she did all of the lead on one take and the harmony on one or two which is typical of her but I thought this one would be tougher. OK enough bragging on my wonderful bride! And we are most happy that these blues made you feel good!
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
Two Chords? The right TWO chords. The superb rendering of "This a way..." is worth the price of admission alone. Then there's Peter's filigree and Bud's tracking & mixing. Absolute cool.
Cheers rayc "What's so funny about peace, love & understanding?" - N.Lowe
Well, those harmonies really take this over the top, along with some of the other more subtle BGVs. Which is not to diminish how stellar the lead vocal is . . . because it's a treat . . . as much as that slick lead solo. Wonderful mix!
What a great --no, better than that-- idea. Make this classic in a Blues style. Man, you can't go wrong with that idea when you have Janice, who sings better than just about anyone in that genre, and Peter, who can play Blues with the best of them. I listen to your stuff a lot, especially your Blues albums. I've played this songs many times in many different ways, but this is the best version ever.
Thank you Marty. And your kind words are very special given your familiarity with the tune. Genre twisting is always fun! 😀
J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
Well done, Janice! An edge to your voice I'm not sure I've heard before. Peter: I love how your solo is both a "solo", but also sits in the mix, without being too far forward ... excellent. This blues and rock take on it really works! Congratulations to all involved, the production (Bud, I'm looking at you) is nothing short of flawless.
Your voice is as strong and expressive as ever. I haven't heard this song before. After hearing, your version, I can't imagine that it wasn't anything else but blues. So, I had to find me a bluegrass version.
Peter's guitar work is exemplary as usual. Mix is crystal clear.
Thank you. That is a hard core traditional bluegrass version for sure as are most of them. There are a few more progressive BG versions - one by Peter Rowan and Tony Rice used the same odd scale as ours. Glad it worked for you!
J&B
PS Here’s the progressive BG version. WAY long but worth a few minutes as the musicians are great. The lady bass player has a degree from Berklee and also a degree in nuclear engineering. Tony Rice is among the best. It’s a great example of musicians supporting each other.
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos are here on our website.
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)
Join Tobin as he takes you on a tour of the new user interface in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®! This modern GUI redesign offers a sleek new look with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, and a smoother workflow. The brand-new side toolbar puts track selection, the MultiPicker Library, and other essential tools right at your fingertips. Plus, our upgraded Multi-View lets you layer multiple windows without overlap, giving you a highly flexible workspace. Many windows—including Tracks, Piano Roll, and more—have been redesigned for improved usability and a cleaner, more intuitive interface, and more!
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Windows Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Windows & Mac Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the XPro Styles PAKs 1 - 10 are on sale for only $29 ea (Reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Order now!
XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
Introducing Xtra Styles PAK 21 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) is here with 200 brand new RealStyles!
We're excited to bring you our latest Xtra Styles PAK installment—the all new Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher)!
Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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